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Information is Beautiful - David McCandless
Grades
5 to 12Keep in mind that many commenters are very spirited in their discussions! Preview the comments before sharing with your class.
tag(s): data (151), infographics (56), oil (22), oil spill (13), visualizations (11)
In the Classroom
Use the site to teach data and the display of data graphically. Allow groups of students to choose a graphic and report to the class on how the data was made more meaningful using the graphics that were chosen. You may also want to share this link as a research tool for debates or presentations on science or social studies topics. Discuss the science, history, or math behind the data collected. Discuss other information and ways of presenting the information in order to create a more interesting graphic. Provide students with options to share their findings in a multimedia presentation using Sway, reviewed here, or challenge students to create a video and share using a site such as SchoolTube, reviewed here. OR have cooperative learning groups narrate a picture using a tool such as Thinglink, reviewed here. When using data in class, discuss what makes the graphic visually appealing. Consider using data (or collecting your own) to create class graphics that show the data.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Vistas - Dr. Dana Leibsohn and Dr. Barbara Mundy
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): cross cultural understanding (172), cultures (172), explorers (65), hispanic (34), resources (83), spanish (108)
In the Classroom
You could share this site with your students on your interactive whiteboard or projector and at the same time create a timeline for the Spanish Americas using a tool such as Timeline Infographic Template, reviewed here. What a wonderful resource for higher level students during Hispanic Heritage Month!There are several themes listed on the site and each theme starts with a video that is less than five minutes. You might want to put small groups of students in charge of a theme, and have them explore the site for what their theme is all about (be sure to go over the titles in the Library with them). Enhance learning by having the small groups use a tool such as Mindmeister, reviewed here, to create and share concept maps of the important ideas about their theme. They may want to use the images from the site, too, so be sure to remind your students that they must cite their source, and give credit to the people who created this site when they create a project on line.
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Ocean Find Your Blue - Smithsonian Institute
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): ecosystems (80), food chains (18), oceans (147), pollution (52)
In the Classroom
Use this resource when discussing food chains, ecosystems, and any environmental topic. As oceans are one of the biggest places we are seeing environmental degradation, many ecological concepts can be taught just by looking at what is going on in the oceans. Assign students a project to learn about an ocean species and create an informational multimedia or conventional project such as a wanted poster or a save the animal poster. Have students create online posters on paper or do it together as a class using a tool such as Web Poster Wizard (reviewed here). Research our impacts on the ocean and create an awareness campaign including posters, research information on a class website, and blog posts about the ocean as a resource. Find scientists you can connect to in the classroom that can discuss about this fabulous resource. Have students brainstorm topics about the oceans and let them search for relevant articles that relate to their interests. Do one-sentence summaries of these short articles to practice summary writing.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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World Government Data - The Guardian
Grades
6 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): agriculture (47), cross cultural understanding (172), data (151), energy (131), financial literacy (91), population (50), statistics (120)
In the Classroom
Find data belonging to a specific country through its own data portal page. Collect similar data and data sets from more than one country at the same time to compare and contrast and identify trends. For example, view categories such as Agriculture, Crime, Culture, Economy, Education, Energy, and more. Enter keywords to find data matching your needs. Use this site to look at data and determine reasons for difference. Encourage students to find articles written in these various countries to explain culture differences. Students can also make infographics (data visualizations) to display comparisons and contrasts. Make connections with educators in these countries to encourage discussions between the different classes either through multimedia or blogs. Resources such as Classchats or Skype in Schools can get you started.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Imgur - Imgur
Grades
K to 12tag(s): images (260), photography (121)
In the Classroom
Use in the classroom to quickly upload and share images. Create albums where individual photos can be titled or captioned. Have students categorize photos and describe them. Use for any project, class explanation of concepts, experiments, or demonstrations. Share pictures of class happenings, speakers, field trips, and other opportunities you would want to share.Users must be able to find a suitable image for upload from their computer or the Internet. Follow the very simple directions to manipulate the image. Since no registration is necessary, Imgur is easy and safe to use. Be aware that relying on services such as these can be a problem if the site no longer exists in the future. Be sure that students understand rules for sharing appropriate and inappropriate images and copyright concerns.
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SlideShare - SlideShare, Inc.
Grades
K to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): images (260), photography (121), slides (43)
In the Classroom
Pull published slide shows for use in your classroom. Download a slide show as a template and modify it for your specific needs. In science class, have students record each other completing a lab activity. Then have the students put that footage into a slide show with snapshots of work and products of the lab. Have students create a voice over track and sync it using the slidecast part of the site. It would make for a powerful learning experience. Post slide shows of class notes and have students comment on what they understand or do not understand as an online discussion. If you teach online through cyberschool or virtual learning programs, use slidecast to create "teaching tracks" to go with your notes. It allows you to create a short, but helpful lecture for your distance learners. They will appreciated the verbal aspect of the learning.This website allows you to upload, so you will need a basic understanding of where your files are located on your computer to do this. However, you are not required as a member to upload anything unless you want to do so. An interesting and valuable feature of this site is that it will allow you to sync audio files or podcasts with your slide show, creating what the website has coined a slidecast. You can create groups to share slideshows privately to only your group members.
Edge Features:
Parent permission advised before posting student work created using this tool
Includes social features, such as "friends," comments, ratings by others
Requires registration/log-in (WITH email)
Products can be embedded
Products can be shared by URL
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Earth View - The Living Earth
Grades
K to 12tag(s): earth (184), globe (12), iwb (31), maps (215), seasons (37), weather (160)
In the Classroom
This tool is great for all levels. Use this as part of a science, social studies or geography lesson. Put this site up on your interactive whiteboard or projector. When using this with young students, use the zoom feature and zoom into different areas of the world to show them day and night. What a great way to teach about opposites. When using with older students show them how to find locations using the latitude and longitude feature. Use the different views with both younger and older students so they can see how the earth looks from the moon and from the sun.Use custom weather imagery as part of a unit on weather and global atmospheric patterns.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Timelines.tv - timelines.tv
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): britain (27), great britain (16), westward expansion (39)
In the Classroom
If you are trying to create a visually rich lesson plan, this site is easy to navigate, and the video clips are classroom friendly: short and focused. There are links to related content off-site, and a message board, so preview these individually before using. While studying similar topics, modify what students learn by asking them to create their own timelines using a tool such as Sutori, that can include images, text, and collaboration.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Longwood Central School District SMART Board Lessons - Longwood Central School District
Grades
K to 12In the Classroom
These lessons are great for the new SMART Board user or the seasoned pro. Use these if you need a lesson but don't have time to create one from scratch. View the lessons and use them to help you create your own lesson. Click the different tabs to view the different grade levels. Please note that all of these activities require SMART Notebook software (which comes with SMART brand IWBs). Don't have SMART brand IWB's? Some files will work using the SMART Notebook Express online viewer available here. (Download the notebook file from Longwood's collection to your desktop and then upload to SMART Notebook Express site.) If you use a lesson, go to the staff directory under District Information -> Email Directory and send the creator a thank you. Think how great it would be to receive an email from a teacher "out there" thanking YOU for sharing?Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Google Earth - Tech hints - Louise Maine
Grades
K to 12tag(s): earth (184), landforms (37), landmarks (22), maps (215)
In the Classroom
Use this resource to learn about and become acquainted with Google Earth. Google Earth is a free application download.Find some great resources and project ideas on this technology hints site. Be sure to check the Google Earth review here for other great ideas. Take your students around the world using the fabulous tool. Create narrated tours for students (or have students create their own). The possibilities are immense with Google Earth.
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Across the World Once a Week: Collaborative Microblogging for Cross-Cultural Understanding - TeachersFirst
Grades
3 to 12tag(s): cross cultural understanding (172), cultures (172), twitter (13)
In the Classroom
Join XW1W with your class using a single X (formerly Twitter) account or any blog or wiki tool where you can share student answers to the weekly question. If you cannot access X (formerly Twitter) at school, that is not a problem. You do not even have to use X (formerly Twitter) (though this is a great way dip your toes into X - formerly Twitter). See the FAQ page for specific hints on using XW1W with your students. Share the XW1W idea with teaching colleagues in other places, and perhaps even with families to try at home. Want to learn more about X (formerly Twitter) and teaching? See TeachersFirst's X (formerly Twitter) for Teachers page.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Maps ETC - Florida's Educational Technology Clearinghouse
Grades
6 to 12Maps are also available in PDF format so you can download and print for classroom use. Note however, the very specific terms of the license under which these maps are available. A limit of 25 maps can be used in a single project without special permission, and a link to Florida's ETC must be included when maps are used on websites. The license is clearly spelled out and would also serve as a good exemplar to use with students to teach them how to credit the resources they find on the internet.
tag(s): maps (215)
In the Classroom
Each of the maps is available as a GIF or JPEG file to use on an interactive whiteboard (or projector), or to insert in a document or website. Use this site for nearly any historical research project. Have students make a multimedia presentation using one of the many TeachersFirst Edge tools reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Historvius - Historvius
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): europe (84)
In the Classroom
Because the information uploaded to Historvius is user generated, teachers should preview the site before using it with students. Because the site is constantly growing, it may be most useful as an opportunity for students to research their own local sites and create a collective submission as a group or whole class under teacher supervision. Since Historvius editors must approve and edit any submissions, the upload won't be instant, but students should find it exciting to be part of building the database themselves. The editor-approval process makes the site "safer" and far less likely to include inappropriate content.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Interactive Mathematics - Murray Bourne
Grades
8 to 12tag(s): charts and graphs (170), differentiation (82), probability (98)
In the Classroom
Share this site on your interactive whiteboard or projector and allow students to explore on their own or with groups. Use the World Population Display during Social Studies and Geography classes. Art teachers can use the Math of Beauty interactive to teach the Golden Proportion (explained within the site). Use lessons on the site to introduce new information or review before end-of-unit assessments. Create a link on your classroom website or blog for students to access the site from home.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Daylight Savings Time - Web Exhibits
Grades
5 to 12tag(s): cultures (172), measurement (123), sun (71), time (91)
In the Classroom
Divide students into cooperative learning groups to explore the site. Have them present the different anecdotes and incidents to the class using different media such as video, booklets, etc. Challenge students to create a video and share using a site such as SchoolTube (reviewed here). Or create an online book using a tool such as Bookemon, reviewed here. In addition to the anecdotes on the site, gifted students can be challenged to find additional stories that relate to Daylight Saving Time. Introduce this site on your interactive whiteboard or projector then have students explore this site independently or in small groups. Use the site as a discussion starter when assigning a creative writing assignment with a topic such as, "I forget to turn my clock back and..."Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Cool Earth - Mark Ellingham
Grades
K to 12tag(s): carbon (17), climate (82), ecology (102), environment (246), sustainability (45)
In the Classroom
Introduce this site by sharing photos on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Then have students explore this site independently or in small groups. Include this site on a list of hotlinks for students to access when researching the Rainforest, climate change, sustainability, or carbon footprints. Save this site in your favorites on classroom computers for students to view rainforest maps, ask questions, or read magazine articles. Enhance learning by asking students to visit the site and create an interactive multimedia presentation from the information they learn there using Sway, reviewed here. Register your school with Cool Earth and take advantage of the free lesson plans and resources they offer. The ultimate experience would be to personalize student learning and sponsor a tree or organize a fundraiser to purchase an acre of land. Ask students to research their tree, or the biome biodiversity characteristic of their acre. Include a link to this site on your class web page for students to access both in and out of class.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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2020 Census - US Census Bureau
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): census (13), demographics (13), population (50)
In the Classroom
First, it's important for students to know that the US Constitution requires a census, and second, that the information gathered is used in a variety of important ways that affect them directly. The first data posted looks at how shifts in population density will change the way various geographic areas of the country are represented in the US government. Consider reading the Director's blog for further analysis of how census data is being used on a local, state, and national level. Of course, the data are perfect for using in math and civics classes for teaching graph reading and creation, and for providing real-life information to use in statistical analysis. A civics or sociology class might download a copy of the census form and consider what the questions tell us about how families live in the 21st century. What questions might students add to a future census form that would reflect how things are changing for their generation?Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Show my street - showmystreet.com
Grades
2 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): maps (215)
In the Classroom
Have students choose any place, then post the link to it on a blog, wiki, or website, and write a description of it. Describe what they would see out of their window, create a story about what they hear or see, or describe their family and what's inside of the house. Research the history of the area to determine how it may have been different in the past. Of course you will went to avoid posting personal information on the web, but students could write fictional stories or keep personal information out of their writings. Describe the wildlife (plant or animal) that exists in their area. Describe the community of people in the area or an important neighbor and why they are important. Create a persuasive essay why their house (or school) is the best, friendliest, etc. in the area. Use tools to determine the distance between houses or to local historical places, places of interest, etc. Use the image as a powerful tool for writing.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Mapcrunch - MapCrunch
Grades
2 to 12tag(s): maps (215)
In the Classroom
Assign students various countries, regions, or continents to make comparisons. Identify the biological, geographical, cultural, and social issues that exist in the world, based on what the pictures show and what their research uncovers. Bring a greater understanding to current economic and environmental issues in many countries. World language (or World Cultures) classes can help students understand the cultures of the countries where the language is spoken. Compare specific attributes of two countries using an online Venn Diagram, such as the one reviewed here. Another idea: have cooperative learning groups use this resource to create online books about the country of their tour using a resource such as Bookemon,Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Tripline - Byron Dumbrill
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): maps (215)
In the Classroom
Suggested uses on the Tripline site are to use along with moments in history such as Paul Revere's ride and Lewis and Clark's expedition to demonstrate stops along their path. Other classroom uses would be for students to create a Tripline map of their summer vacation to use as an enhancement to a regular report, map out your favorite sports team's schedule, historic state sites, map out where characters in a novel travel around a city, state, country. and world using images to enhance the setting, and music. Registration does require an email address. Tip: rather than using your personal or work email, create a free Gmail account to use for memberships. If you plan to have students register individually, you may want to create your own Gmail account with up to 20 subaccounts for each group of students (by code name or number) within your classes. Here is a blog post that tells how to set up Gmail subaccounts to use for any online membership service.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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