252 current-events results | sort by:
return to subject listingDollar Street - Gapminder
Grades
3 to 12tag(s): cross cultural understanding (165), cultures (145), family (51), financial literacy (89), globe (12), homes (4)
In the Classroom
Most teachers will want to bookmark this site to use in many different situations. Share Dollar Street on your interactive whiteboard to compare and contrast your community and living situation to those around the world. When reading books mentioning other countries, look up financial information using this site to help students understand typical living situations. Use Dollar Street as a starting point for research projects. Ask students to create a virtual field trip to their chosen location using Google My Maps, reviewed here. Google My Maps includes tools for labeling stops on a map as participants follow locations created.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Internet Safety for Kids, Teens, and Students - CoolTechZone - Dean Chester
Grades
K to 12tag(s): cyberbullying (40), internet safety (113)
In the Classroom
Share this article with peers during online safety discussions. Include a link to this article on your class website as information for parents. You may also want to point out information from the article during Meet the Teacher sessions for parents and guardians. View this article on your interactive whiteboard with students and highlight key phrases or information that is important in your specific situation. As students learn about online safety, replace paper and pen writing journals with blog postings. Use a site like edublogs, reviewed here. Edublog offers tools for creating class and individual blogs. As a culminating activity and to modify student learning, ask individuals or groups of students to create an online book with advice and information about online safety using a tool like Book Creator, reviewed here. Book Creator is easy to use even for the youngest of students and offers a variety of editing opportunities.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Media Literacy - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12tag(s): critical thinking (118), cyberbullying (40), digital citizenship (89), evaluating sources (28), internet safety (113), media literacy (106), news (227), primary sources (119), professional development (407), social media (54)
In the Classroom
Today's messages come in many forms and literacy can no longer refer simply to the ability to read and write. Prepare your students to be literate citizens with this collection. Many are ideal for whole-group instruction, while others would work best on individual devices. Read the reviews to find classroom use ideas with each review. Although the list of tools is mainly geared towards grades 4-8, there are a few resources for the primary grades.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Web Literacy for Student Fact-Checkers - Michael A. Caulfield
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): ebooks (40), internet safety (113)
In the Classroom
Include this ebook with your resources when teaching online safety to students. Share a link on your class website or newsletter for parents. The short chapters work well with providing a lesson of the week with different techniques for determining the validity of web content. Share portions of the book on your interactive whiteboard or projector during classroom discussion. Use your smart board tools to highlight important content as you take a look at online information together as a class. No smart board? No problem! Use your projector and eMargin, reviewed here, to highlight and annotate as a class. Use an online tool such as Interactive Two Circle Venn Diagram, reviewed here, to compare and contrast different versions of an online article. When finished, enhance learning by having students make a multimedia presentation using one of the many TeachersFirst Edge tools to share their research into online information. Some tool suggestions are (click on the tool name to access the review): Visme, Adobe Creative Cloud Express for Education, and Clipchamp.As an ongoing activity have students create blogs sharing online safety tips using Telegra.ph, here. There is no registration with Telegra.ph, and you'll get a unique URL for sharing. With Telegra.ph you just click on an icon to upload images from your computer, add a YouTube or Vimeo, or Twitter links.
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PyeongChang 2018 - PyeongChang2018
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): DAT device agnostic tool (147), korea (20), olympics (41)
In the Classroom
Use this site to follow and compare the latest information from the 2022 Winter Olympics and 2018 Olympic Winter Games. Ask students to share stories from the Olympics using an online bulletin board like Padlet, reviewed here. Padlet allows users to create columns for posts, add columns to sort information by country, sport, or daily events throughout the Olympics. Have students make video recordings sharing daily updates during the Olympic games using a tool such as Typito, reviewed here. Share videos using a tool such as SchoolTube, reviewed here. As a final project, have students create a Symbaloo Learning Path, reviewed here, to share information learned. Symbaloo Learning Path's offer the ability to add videos, websites, and quizzes into an interactive learning experience.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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PyeongChang 2018 - The International Olympic Committee
Grades
K to 12tag(s): countries (73), korea (20), olympics (41), sports (81)
In the Classroom
Bookmark this site for use during the 2018 Winter Olympics to find daily events and up to date information on medals earned by individual countries. Instead of just viewing daily information, involve your classroom by creating your own spreadsheets to record and view medal counts by nation, athletes, and sports. Take this a step further by converting your spreadsheet into a more visual table format using Tableizer, reviewed here. Incorporate the Winter Olympics into your social studies lessons to learn more about the participating nations. Use Google Maps to locate countries, then have students create an Image Annotator, reviewed here, to share information about that country including population information, athletes, sports represented, and geography. After completion of the Olympics, ask students to create a multimedia presentation sharing their observations from the Olympics and new information learned using a tool like Sway, reviewed here. Sway is an easy to use tool from Microsoft offering many features to create interactive reports and presentations.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Global Speed Chat - Jennifer Hesseltine
Grades
K to 8tag(s): chat (41), collaboration (94), cross cultural understanding (165), questioning (35)
In the Classroom
Visit the archives to view activities from previous years. Join the Global Speed Chat with your class as an excellent way to learn about other students and countries through questions tailored to learn more about different cultures. Have students use a mapping tool such as Mapskip (reviewed here) to create a map of locations sharing responses on the site's Padlet (with audio stories and pictures included)! this site as a model to set up your own Padlet reviewed here for to share information about students in your class or school.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Climate Kids Time Machine - NASA
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): carbon (17), climate (83), climate change (93), earth (186), oceans (149), temperature (34)
In the Classroom
Share these timelines on your interactive whiteboard as an introduction to your unit on weather and climate change. Include a link to the site on your class webpage and classroom computers for students to explore on their own. Have students research causes for climate change, then make a multimedia presentation using Powtoon, reviewed here, or Sway, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Childnet Resources - Childnet International
Grades
K to 12tag(s): cyberbullying (40), internet safety (113)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the many free resources found on the site including classroom lessons about cyberbullying and Internet safety. Share information with parents on your website or during Open House activities. Redefine learning by having students make a multimedia presentation such as a poster, brochure, or infographic about information learned using Visme, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Social Media: Digital Literacy + Citizenship - New York City Department of Education
Grades
K to 12tag(s): digital citizenship (89), internet safety (113), social media (54)
In the Classroom
Share information from this site with your peers and other staff members as you work to develop guidelines for social media lessons and acceptable use in the classroom. Include a link to this site on your class webpage for parent use at home. During your social media lessons have students share tips and ideas using Padlet, reviewed here. The Padlet application creates free online bulletin boards. Sort ideas on the Padlet into columns based on different social situations, types of online media, or consequences of inappropriate behavior. Challenge cooperative learning groups to create weekly social media advice videos using a tool like Typito, reviewed here, which is a simple tool to use to modify student technology use. Then share the videos on a site such as TeacherTube reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Climate Kids - NASA
Grades
3 to 6tag(s): air (103), animals (288), carbon (17), climate (83), climate change (93), energy (132), oceans (149), plants (148), weather (161)
In the Classroom
Include Climate Kids with any unit on weather, oceans, or climate change. Share the site on your interactive whiteboard to feature specific games and activities for your students. The entire site may be overwhelming for younger students; instead of creating a link to the main site, create separate links to games and activities on classroom computers and on your class website. Upon completion of your unit, enhance learning and modify classroom technology by having students create a simple infographic sharing information about climate change using Infogram, reviewed here. Extend learning by having students take pictures of your local environment, then create an annotated image sharing potential effects of climate change, including text boxes and related links, using a tool such as a tool such as Image Annotator, reviewed here, for younger students, or Google Drawings, reviewed here, for older students. Google Drawings allows you to annotate an image with links to videos, text, websites, and more. Not familiar with Google Drawings? Watch an archived OK2Ask session to learn how to use: OK2Ask Google Drawings, here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Twitter Chat: Social Studies When Time is Limited - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12tag(s): professional development (407), twitterchatarchive (175)
In the Classroom
Is your social studies time limited? Check out this archived chat for tools and tips to use in your class to make social studies stretch past the limited time allotted. Share this tool with your colleagues interested in learning more tips and tools to use in social studies lessons.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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EarthCam Live Webcam Network - EarthCam, Inc
Grades
K to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): cultures (145), globe (12), maps (207), webcams (15)
In the Classroom
This site would be an excellent addition to any science, social studies, or world cultures class. Teachers click on a webcam in different parts of the world to see things like weather and basic geography. Share the videos on an interactive whiteboard or with a projector. In early elementary, use webcams to introduce the world visually with a projector or on an interactive whiteboard. Select specific webcams and create shortcuts on classroom computer desktops for students to "see what's happening" on a certain continent as you study the seven continents. Use this resource to visit different areas that have been effected by natural disasters. Use animal webcams for students to observe animal behavior and keep a "lab journal" of what they see. Instead of the traditional paper and pencil "lab journal," have students keep a virtual journal about what they are learning. Use an easy virtual journaling tool such as Penzu, reviewed here. With Penzu you can add images or your own artwork as illustrations. Challenge students to further research the animal(s) they observed and to create an interactive map showing where the animals can be found with a tool like MapHub, reviewed here. With MapHub students can include display markers featuring text, photos, and videos!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Teaching Children Philosophy - Book Modules - TeachingChildrenPhilosophy.org and Squire Family Foundation
Grades
K to 12tag(s): brain (56), character education (77), cross cultural understanding (165), cultures (145), ethics (21), logic (163), psychology (67), religions (85)
In the Classroom
Although created using children's books, this site is perfect for introducing philosophical discussions to students of any age. Choose two books that represent different sides of an issue to share with your class. Create a mind map including different ideas represented within topics using a tool such as Mindmeister, reviewed here. Then have students create an annotated image demonstrating their viewpoint including text boxes and related links using a tool such as Google Drawings, reviewed here. Google Drawings allows you to annotate an image with links to videos, text, websites, and more. Not familiar with Google Drawings? Watch an archived OK2Ask session to learn how to use: OK2Ask Google Drawings, here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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ToonyTool - ToonyTool
Grades
2 to 12tag(s): comics and cartoons (53), communication (138), creative writing (122), digital storytelling (152), summarizing (22)
In the Classroom
There is a multitude of ways to use comics/cartoons in the classroom. For instance, create one-page discussion starters to help students keep up with current political issues. Use comics to show sequencing of events, for example, explain the sequence of a story, a science concept, or current event! When studying about characterization, create a dialog to show (not tell) about a character. Use comic strips for literature responses. Another idea - why not use the comics for conflict resolution or other guidance issues (such as bullying). Sometimes it is easier for students to write it down (or draw the pictures) than use the actual words. Emotional support and autistic support teachers can work with students to create strips about appropriate interpersonal responses and feelings. World language and ENL/ESL teachers can assign students to create dialogue strips as an alternative to traditional written assessments; summarize through a comic. Challenge students who move through other assignments more quickly to create a cartoon for review of a topic studied in class. Make a class book of the comics created throughout the year using Book Creator, reviewed here. Book Creator includes features for students to easily create digital books using their own text, videos, and images.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Jewish Kids: Passover - Chabad.org
Grades
K to 5In the Classroom
Keep this site in mind as an easy place to learn about the Jewish holiday of Passover, Jewish symbols relating to Passover, and a little information about Judaism. Classes studying world cultures, the Hebrew language, and/or international holidays can learn from this site and also use it as a model to create similar games and projects for other cultures and languages. Select music for students to listen to while completing coloring pages and puzzles.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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iCivics, Win the White House - iCivics
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): elections (82), presidents (133)
In the Classroom
Start out using this site with your projector or interactive whiteboard with the whole class. Walk through the beginning of the game and demonstrate the built-in help which is useful for students who might need additional guidance. Have individuals play or create small group teams of campaign staff to guide the candidates. Students or groups may play multiple times. After registering, the site will save games and students can send messages. Use the Achievements badges and points for student assessments. Have students research the debate topics and compare the different aspects of the game to real-life examples in the news. An easy to use Extension Pack for Teachers provides more activities and assessments.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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National Geographic Kids - National Geographic
Grades
K to 7This site includes advertising.
tag(s): animals (288), blended learning (37), countries (73), endangered species (27), environment (246), plants (148), reading comprehension (146)
In the Classroom
This site is perfect for interactive whiteboards or projectors. Display the site on your whiteboard to use as a learning center for students. Select videos for lesson introductions for flipped or blended learning activities. For language arts, practice finding the main idea or summarizing stories using these interesting informational texts. ENL/ESL learners can also find accessible news stories here. Choose words from stories to include with weekly spelling tests or as vocabulary builders. Assign different stories to groups of students to summarize and present to the class. Enhance learning by challenging cooperative learning groups to create videos about any article on the site. Upload images (use Creative Commons or other copyright-safe pictures) and use moovly, reviewed here, for this project. Then share the videos on a site such as TeacherTube, reviewed here. Use the site for learning games that will appeal more to younger students. Preview all video since some feature animals hunting which may upset some students.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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USA Today Rio Olympics Guide - YouTube - USA Today
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): olympics (41), south america (39), sports (81)
In the Classroom
Share videos with your students as you follow the Summer Olympic games from your classroom. Use the "how to watch" sports videos as a model, then have students create their own videos describing how to watch their favorite sport. Share their videos on a site such as TeacherTube, reviewed here. Research Olympic athletes and their countries, then have cooperative learning groups create podcasts sharing news about the Olympics. Use a site such as podOmatic, reviewed here to complete a podcasting project.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Protecting Children's Privacy Guide - Paul Bischoff
Grades
K to 12tag(s): internet safety (113)
In the Classroom
Share information from this article with students as part of your ongoing lessons in cyber safety. Share a link on your class website as a resource for parents. Have cooperative learning groups create podcasts sharing online safety tips and suggestions. Use a site such as PodOmatic, reviewed here, for a podcasting project.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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