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Media Literacy - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12
3 Favorites
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Peruse this curated list to find resources related to media literacy. Media literacy is a set of skills that help people to analyze, evaluate, and create messages in a wide ...more
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Peruse this curated list to find resources related to media literacy. Media literacy is a set of skills that help people to analyze, evaluate, and create messages in a wide variety of media modes, genres, and formats. To become media literate, students must learn to raise the right questions about what they are listening to, watching, or reading. Media literacy education is about helping students become competent, critical, and literate in all media forms so that they can appropriately interpret what they see or hear rather than blindly accepting what they are told. This collection of resources includes lesson ideas, activities, and resources for teaching media literacy skills. Be sure also to check out the media literacy professional learning resources.
tag(s): critical thinking (117), cyberbullying (40), digital citizenship (89), evaluating sources (28), internet safety (113), media literacy (106), news (227), primary sources (119), professional development (409), 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.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Web Literacy for Student Fact-Checkers - Michael A. Caulfield
Grades
4 to 12
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Web Literacy for Student Fact-Checkers is a timely ebook containing strategies for determining the truth of online statements. Each chapter discusses specific information on how to...more
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Web Literacy for Student Fact-Checkers is a timely ebook containing strategies for determining the truth of online statements. Each chapter discusses specific information on how to find deleted pages, who paid for a website, and using context clues to determine truthfulness in statements.
tag(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 12
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PyeongChang 2018 was the official 2018 winter Olympics site from the South Korean Olympic organizing committee. This site contains information for attending the games including transportation,...more
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PyeongChang 2018 was the official 2018 winter Olympics site from the South Korean Olympic organizing committee. This site contains information for attending the games including transportation, hotels, and information on purchasing tickets. Choose the Spectator Guide link to download apps containing information for spectators including event updates and daily news for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
tag(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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Winter Olympics: South Korean President hopes Winter Games bring 'inter-Korean' Peace - CNN
Grades
7 to 12
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This short article shares information from an interview with South Korean President Moon Jae-in and his desire that the 2018 Winter Olympics bring peace to the countries of North and...more
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This short article shares information from an interview with South Korean President Moon Jae-in and his desire that the 2018 Winter Olympics bring peace to the countries of North and South Korea. In the interview, the South Korean president compares the 2018 Olympics to the 1988 Seoul Games and his belief that those games were an essential piece to ending the Cold War era.
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This site includes advertising.
In the Classroom
Although this article is short, it has many possibilities for use to introduce debate and discussion about the role of the Olympics in international politics. Share the article with students to read at home or independently at school before the start of the Olympics. Gather student comments and reactions to the article using an online bulletin board like Lino, reviewed here. As the winter Olympics progress, ask students to share articles reinforcing or reputing the president's view on a blogging site such as Telegra.ph, reviewed here. With Telegra.ph you just click on an icon to upload images from your computer, add a YouTube or Vimeo, or Twitter links. This blog creator requires no registration. Use Flip, reviewed here, to record student video discussions of interactions between Olympic nations and predictions on how those interactions may or may not lead to long-lasting peace. As a final presentation, ask students to use Odyssey, reviewed here, to analyze events and stories from the Olympic games. Odyssey allows you to create stories using the power of maps and geography.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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PyeongChang 2018 - The International Olympic Committee
Grades
K to 12
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Find complete and up to date information on the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in PyeongChang on this site from The International Olympic Committee. Use the search features and links to...more
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Find complete and up to date information on the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in PyeongChang on this site from The International Olympic Committee. Use the search features and links to find information about South Korea, participating athletes, countries, and events along with medal updates as the games progress.
tag(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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Above the Noise - KQED
Grades
6 to 12
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This YouTube Channel, created for middle and high school students digs deeper into issues (environmental, health, social and more) affecting their lives. Based on science and research,...more
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This YouTube Channel, created for middle and high school students digs deeper into issues (environmental, health, social and more) affecting their lives. Based on science and research, episodes provide information to help teens make informed conclusions on topics like fake news and social media. Just below the video link see the discussion questions for use before, during, and after videos. You can also click the PBS Learning Media link to find standards-aligned free lesson plans, viewing guides, transcripts, and more for each episode. If your district blocks YouTube, the videos may not be viewable.
tag(s): character education (77), drugs and alcohol (28), social media (54), social networking (64), social skills (23), sociology (24), video (262)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the educator guide by clicking the link to the PBS Learning section for your selection and explore big questions found within each episode. Subscribe to this channel to receive notifications of new video additions. Use a tool such as MoocNote, reviewed here, to add questions directly into the YouTube videos for students to complete as a blended, flipped, or remote learning lesson and before (classroom) instruction. Use a tool such as Voxer, reviewed here, for students to discuss their thoughts on the topic of each video.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Year-End Roundup, 2016-2017: Questions for Writing and Discussion - New York Times/The Learning Network
Grades
7 to 12
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The Year-End Roundup includes 179 questions asked by the New York Times Learning Network between September 2016 and June 2017. Each prompt promotes discussion on current events appropriate...more
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The Year-End Roundup includes 179 questions asked by the New York Times Learning Network between September 2016 and June 2017. Each prompt promotes discussion on current events appropriate for students 13 years and older. Choose the link to any question to read a short article with background information and suggested points to consider. Download the complete list in a PDF form for easy reference; however, this form doesn't include links to the articles and additional information.
tag(s): debate (40), persuasive writing (57), process writing (38), writers workshop (31), writing (323)
In the Classroom
Bookmark and save this site as a resource for writing prompts, current events discussions, or as a springboard to debate topics. Before writing, encourage students to research their topic and take notes. Use an online note-taking site like Google Keep, reviewed here, to save and share notes. Have students share their completed projects in a blog and ask for feedback from their peers using Telegra.ph, reviewed here. There is no registration with Telegra.ph and you just click on an icon to upload images from your computer, add a YouTube or Vimeo, or Twitter links. Take completed writing projects one step further and ask students to create a Odyssey, reviewed here. Odyssey offers the ability to tell a story through interactive maps including video, images, and more.
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Global Speed Chat - Jennifer Hesseltine
Grades
K to 8
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Global Speed Chat is a global collaboration for kids with monthly activities during the school year. Monthly tasks include questions such as "What Did You Bring for Lunch Today?" and...more
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Global Speed Chat is a global collaboration for kids with monthly activities during the school year. Monthly tasks include questions such as "What Did You Bring for Lunch Today?" and "Create a Global Poem." Classes respond with posts to the Global Speed Chat Padlets. Watch the 2-minute tech tip video on the site to learn more about this collaborative effort.
tag(s): chat (41), collaboration (94), cross cultural understanding (167), 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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Syrian Journey: Choose Your Own Escape Route - BBC
Grades
6 to 12
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This interactive takes you through the journey of a Syrian refugee trying to flee to Europe as he or she faces difficult choices along the way. Select your character to ...more
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This interactive takes you through the journey of a Syrian refugee trying to flee to Europe as he or she faces difficult choices along the way. Select your character to begin. Based on real stories, routes and options provide factual dilemmas faced by the refugees. Scroll past the interactive on this site to find more information about the Syrian refugees through videos telling their survivor stories.
tag(s): middle east (43), problem solving (225)
In the Classroom
Include this interactive with any lessons on current events or the Middle East. Allow students to explore on their own to learn about the choices faced by the refugees and the outcomes of their decisions. Share the locations using Google Earth, reviewed here. Have students use Fakebook, reviewed here, to create a "fake" page similar in style to Facebook about a refugee as they attempt to make their way out of Syria. Alternatively, have a student or group of students write a memoir in the voice(s) of a refugee about their experiences using Book Creator, reviewed here, or Ourboox, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Miles of Ice Collapsing Into the Sea - New York Times
Grades
6 to 12
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Miles of Ice Collapsing Into the Sea is an animated three part dispatch from a reporting trip to Antartica. Complete with images and text with links. This site tells ...more
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Miles of Ice Collapsing Into the Sea is an animated three part dispatch from a reporting trip to Antartica. Complete with images and text with links. This site tells the story of scientists researching the collapse of vulnerable portions of the Antartic ice sheet. Scroll through the page to learn about the mission and research taking place.
tag(s): antarctica (30), climate (83), climate change (93), oceans (149)
In the Classroom
Include these animations and text with any lessons on climate change, oceans, or weather. Enhance learning and build student understanding for your weaker readers and ENL students by creating and sharing a guided reading activity with Read Ahead, reviewed here, prior to reading. Share the locations using Google Earth, reviewed here, and have students research other locations experiencing the effects of climate change.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Climate Kids Time Machine - NASA
Grades
4 to 12
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See how the earth is changing by going backward and forward in the Climate Kids Time Machine. Choose a topic to begin from sea ice, sea level, carbon emissions, or ...more
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See how the earth is changing by going backward and forward in the Climate Kids Time Machine. Choose a topic to begin from sea ice, sea level, carbon emissions, or average global temperature. Drag the slider on each timeline to view representations of change over the span of time.
tag(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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Amaze - Ann-Kathrin Grebner, Michael Durgner, G Widschwendter, M Ardelt
Grades
5 to 7
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Amaze has animated videos providing factual and informative information about sexual development to adolescents aged 10-14. Their goal is to counter misinformation about puberty, sex,...more
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Amaze has animated videos providing factual and informative information about sexual development to adolescents aged 10-14. Their goal is to counter misinformation about puberty, sex, and sexuality while developing accurate representations of healthy body development and relationships. It is important to take note of ratings when viewing videos on Amaze. Green indicates videos appropriate for all young people and blue indicates videos suitable for those of the older range from 10 to 14 years old. Choose videos from the different categories or select favorite videos from the home page. Each video includes a "dig deeper" button with additional information for discussions. Be sure to check out the section for educators containing lesson plans for 5th and 6th grades, book suggestions, and other resources. Registration isn't necessary; however, it allows users to save favorites and create personalized video playlists. If your district blocks YouTube, the videos may not be viewable.
tag(s): adolescence (12), difficult conversations (61), diseases (69), hiv/aids (15), sexuality (15)
In the Classroom
Be sure to follow suggestions for age appropriateness and have appropriate parental permission when using this site in the classroom. Share this site with school counselors and teachers of sex education. Use Amaze as a resource for discussions involving relationships, personal safety, and other teen and preteen issues. When appropriate, share a link to videos on your class webpage. Amaze is an excellent site to share with parents as they face difficult issues that arise during the teen years. Have students create personal blogs for their private reflection about these videos and discussions.Comments
I have used Amaze videos for 9th gradersLinda, IL, Grades: 9 - 12
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Childnet Resources - Childnet International
Grades
K to 12
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Childnet International (was Know IT All Resources) provides Internet safety resources and information for parents and teachers. Support information includes presentations for primary...more
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Childnet International (was Know IT All Resources) provides Internet safety resources and information for parents and teachers. Support information includes presentations for primary and secondary teachers, leaflets for parents, and toolkits including lessons and activities for teaching online safety.
tag(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.
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Social Media: Digital Literacy + Citizenship - New York City Department of Education
Grades
K to 12
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Find social media guidelines for students, parents, and educators at this site from the New York City Department of Education. The section for students includes information and activities...more
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Find social media guidelines for students, parents, and educators at this site from the New York City Department of Education. The section for students includes information and activities for students 13 years and older and those younger than 13. For parents, the site details the family's role in responsible social media behavior. Educator information includes staff guidelines as well as teacher guides to student social media.
tag(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.
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Twitter Chat: Social Studies When Time is Limited - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12
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This archived Twitter chat is from May 2017 and will open in Wakelet. View this archive to learn tips and tools to use when teaching social studies. Find ideas about ...more
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This archived Twitter chat is from May 2017 and will open in Wakelet. View this archive to learn tips and tools to use when teaching social studies. Find ideas about how to incorporate more social studies when your time is limited during the school day. Browse the strategies offered by the chat moderators and participants.
tag(s): professional development (409), 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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Mind Over Media - Media Education Lab
Grades
6 to 12
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Learn to recognize the power of communication and understand today's "new" forms of propaganda through critical analysis and discussion using tools found on Mind Over Media. Browse...more
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Learn to recognize the power of communication and understand today's "new" forms of propaganda through critical analysis and discussion using tools found on Mind Over Media. Browse through the site to learn the four techniques used to influence others along with specific examples. Be sure to check out the section for teachers that includes a complete six-lesson curriculum aligned to Common Core and other National Standards. Share a link to this site for parents to use as a resource for discussing ways people try to influence teens at home. The videos reside on YouTube. If your district blocks YouTube, the videos may not be viewable.
tag(s): advertising (26), critical thinking (117), OER (43), propaganda (8)
In the Classroom
Discover the many ready-to-go free lesson ideas to include with classroom discussions of propaganda and persuasive advertising techniques. Share the Learn section with students as part of a flipped lesson, then have students provide examples of propaganda they find on TV or the Internet. Ask students to find advertising demonstrating two opposing points of view, then, with younger or less technically experienced students, use an online tool such as Interactive Two Circle Venn Diagram, reviewed here to compare and contrast information found. With older or more technically experienced students, use a tool such as Whimsical Mind Maps, reviewed here to create charts or a mind map to make the comparison.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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EarthCam Live Webcam Network - EarthCam, Inc
Grades
K to 12
1 Favorites
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Discover what is happening all around the world, live, as it takes place. EarthCam's network includes live webcams featuring weather, traffic, animals, and more. Discover webcams by...more
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Discover what is happening all around the world, live, as it takes place. EarthCam's network includes live webcams featuring weather, traffic, animals, and more. Discover webcams by topic or explore popular offerings. Scroll further down the home page to choose webcams on a clickable map by location. Because webcams may feature streaming from inside homes or contain other personal information, do not have young children access them without supervision. Previewing all videos before sharing with the class would be wise.
This site includes advertising.
This 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 12
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Teaching Children Philosophy offers a large list of favorite children's books to use when discussing philosophical ideas with students. Choose from the alphabetical book list or select...more
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Teaching Children Philosophy offers a large list of favorite children's books to use when discussing philosophical ideas with students. Choose from the alphabetical book list or select from topics including ethics, the mind, and more. Each book's suggestions include a summary of the plot, discussion guidelines, and philosophical discussion questions.
tag(s): brain (56), character education (77), cross cultural understanding (167), 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 12
5 Favorites
0 Comments
ToonyTool has a simple canvas to quickly create a single-frame comic, a cartoon strip, or an animation. With ToonyTool, you can add a dash of humor to get the message ...more
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ToonyTool has a simple canvas to quickly create a single-frame comic, a cartoon strip, or an animation. With ToonyTool, you can add a dash of humor to get the message across. Start your canvas and choose a single comic, a comic strip, or a video from the tab in the upper left corner. Choose one of their background pictures, or upload one of your own. Create a title or type part of your message in the Meme text bar. Choose a character or two, add a prop, and select speech bubbles to type a message. Everything is easy to move around by just dragging and dropping. At the bottom of the page, find tools to share and edit your comic. Share via print, download, email, or online. There is no registration required.
tag(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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When Tragedy Hits - NewseumEd
Grades
6 to 12
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When Tragedy Hits, is a simulation based on the Virginia Tech massacre and its aftermath. It is intended for the class as a whole and to help students understand reactions, ...more
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When Tragedy Hits, is a simulation based on the Virginia Tech massacre and its aftermath. It is intended for the class as a whole and to help students understand reactions, interactions, and the ethics involved - from the role of the media, law enforcement, technology and citizen journalists, and others. The lesson should take about 90 minutes. Find a Teacher Overview, Setting the Scene, Scenarios, and Role cards, all in PDF format for you to download and preview. You must be a registered NewseumEd member to access this resource; however, membership is free.
tag(s): journalism (72), media literacy (106), news (227)
In the Classroom
Read all materials before presenting this simulation to the class. You may decide participation may be too difficult for some students - those with a personal connection to this or similar tragedies. Make a copy of Setting the Scene and Scenarios for each student. Project the PDFs with the projector and ask students to volunteer for a read-aloud - read-around with all listening to one person and then another. Use the accompanying discussion questions. Consider giving all students a chance to voice their opinions (even the shyest and quiet ones) by using a tool like Backchannel Chat, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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