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A Colonial Tour from TeachersFirst - TeachersFirst
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): boston (10), colonial america (95), jamestown (6), philadelphia (10), roanoke (6), williamsburg (7)
In the Classroom
Use this colonial tour as a starting point for a virtual experience of colonial America. Assign different student groups to each colonial location, and have them create an extended virtual "tour" using a tool such as Google Earth, reviewed here, or (simpler) MapHub, reviewed here. Then have the groups take each other's tours to "discover" the colonies! If you don't have enough time for an extended project, share aspects of the tour and supplement by sharing photos from Google Earth's Panoramio layer on your projector or interactive whiteboard.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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WordSift - Stanford University
Grades
4 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): dictionaries (47), reading comprehension (148), reading strategies (96), thesaurus (22), vocabulary (238), vocabulary development (94), word clouds (13), word study (60)
In the Classroom
This is a classic tool to promote "before reading" strategies and vocabulary development. Use WordSift to preview text to be used in class and define vocabulary before reading to increase reading comprehension. Have students use WordSift with different portions of text to identify key words and vocabulary for class presentations. Use WordSift to discuss different meanings of words using images presented through the site. This site isn't only for English teachers, share with Science and Social Studies teachers to use in their classrooms with reading texts in their content areas. ENL/ELL and learning support teachers will want to share this as a support for any reading assigned in regular classes. Be sure to show students how to copy/paste to WordSift texts from informational web pages and news stories on the web, as well. Share this link as a Favorite on your public page so students can use it anytime.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Old Radio World - OldRadioWorld.com
Grades
4 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): 1930s (20), 1940s (14), 1950s (8), listening (93), oral history (13), radio (20), world war 2 (160)
In the Classroom
As a class, listen to a couple of radio shows, taking note of the sound effects heard. Use your interactive whiteboard or projector to list the sounds. Have the class speculate about what objects could have created each sound. Post the radio site on your web page and assign the students to determine what household objects are responsible for the sounds for homework. Back in class the next day, use your interactive white board to share the student discoveries. From here it would be natural to have your students create a two- or three-minute radio show for a topic being studied in history or science. Students could also turn part of a short story into reader's theater (including sound effects) and record it as a radio broadcast. Use a site such as PodOmatic. Another idea would be to introduce a unit on the 20th century, the Great Depression, or WWII or by having the class listen to a broadcast from that time period. Have them experience radio as it was, with everyone huddled around to listen (and no multitasking!). Talk about how the changes in entertainment formats have changed the way we interact in our homes. To hone in listening skills, you could create a worksheet with questions to answer, or have students take two column notes, asking questions about what they are hearing in the left column.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Multicultural Canada: Wayang Kulit - Lynn Copeland, Simon Fraser University
Grades
3 to 12tag(s): canada (24), myths and legends (37), readers theater (12), stories and storytelling (58)
In the Classroom
In language arts classes, study universal stories and myths while discovering the culture of Indonesia and shadow puppetry. Dramatize the elements of good versus evil, characterization, and plot. Discover a unique twist to Readers' Theater. Storyboarding opportunities allow for a simpler construction of a story performance with fewer background scenery or props necessary. Sound and musical accompaniments can add to the creativity of the performance. Reluctant readers through gifted learners will enjoy the flexibility and creativity of the art of shadow puppetry.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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LiveBinders4Teachers - Barbara Tallent
Grades
K to 12tag(s): classroom management (120), teaching strategies (50)
In the Classroom
Use these prefabricated binders as the base for your own binders! Also, connect with other adventurous technology using teachers to glean new ideas and discover even more new tools.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Science Bob Q&A - Steve Galgas
Grades
3 to 9tag(s): questioning (36)
In the Classroom
Use questions as a good bank of "hooks" to start classroom discussions on various topics. Allow students time to expand the question and arrive at their own answers, and then have them view the actual given answer. From here, students can accept or reject the answer by finding more information on the topic.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Topmark Interactive Whiteboard Resources - Topmarks
Grades
K to 12tag(s): descriptive writing (42), energy (131), environment (248), forces (37), grammar (137), literacy (121), literature (222), map skills (63), maps (219), novels (34), persuasive writing (58), poetry (192), preK (269), religions (95), rhythm (20), rivers (16), seasons (37), shakespeare (99), speeches (23), spelling (98), water cycle (22), weather (160)
In the Classroom
Use activities offered on the site on your interactive whiteboard or projector either as a whole class activity or use your whiteboard as one of the learning centers in your class. Share with parents on your blog or classroom newsletter as a resource for practice at home.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Central Park Conservancy - Central Park Conservancy
Grades
4 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): animals (295), environment (248), national parks (29), plants (147), trees (18), virtual field trips (122)
In the Classroom
Use this resource to plan a trip to the park. Or, create a virtual field trip by designating specific places on the website that students have to visit. Have students locate different buildings, art, and trees in the park. It could be a great way to do a virtual leaf collection (in this case - tree collection) with the site's tree database. Have students find at least ten different trees and then create a presentation providing different information about those trees, including their locations in the park. Assign small groups to explore one facet of this site and create a multimedia presentation using one of many TeachersFirst Edge tools. Some tool suggestions are: PBWorks, Site123(blog/webpage), Renderforest (newscast video), and Genially (poster/bulletin board). Use the site to help teach geography content such as latitude and longitude by having the students create a map to "escape the park."Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Online Conversion - Robert Fogt
Grades
3 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): conversions (37), measurement (123), temperature (35), time (91)
In the Classroom
Following a lesson on conversions, allow students to access the site to check answers. Mark this site in your favorites and share it on your TeachersFirst public age for quick access. Use as a handy resource on your interactive whiteboard or projector anytime that conversions come up in your classroom. Share this site with students through your class web page or TeachersFirst public page as a resource to use outside of class-- even when cooking with mom or dad!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Money Instructor - Money Instructor
Grades
K to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): business (52), careers (141), financial literacy (91), investing (8), money (114)
In the Classroom
Print off worksheets to use in your classroom. Search for lessons on any money-related topic you are studying in your classroom. Elementary teachers: be sure to check out the lesson "Teaching Elementary Money Skills." In secondary classrooms, check out the lessons on savings and investing, business and career, and more. Create a link to the interactives on your classroom computers to use as a center or for free time.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Student Produced Video Field Trips - TeachersFirst
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): video (264)
In the Classroom
Read through the step by step and get started! TeachersFirst offers all the practical advice you need to try this 21st century approach to real world learning.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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TeachersFirst Brain Twister - TeachersFirst
Grades
3 to 9In the Classroom
Since elementary and middle school curriculum content varies from location to location, it is unlikely that every question will fall within the scope of your school's curriculum. High point questions may fall outside standard classroom fare. Five-point questions tend to be at the knowledge/comprehension/application level of Bloom's taxonomy and closer to "normal" content. Ten pointers are more likely cross-curricular application/analysis, and twenty pointers require analytical thinking and a wider experience level, such as knowledge of current events or information beyond normal curricula. Twenty pointers may require more than one student's input.Do the questions as a whole-class activity with a projector or interactive whiteboard with students contributing the portions of knowledge they do know toward solving the question. Using teamwork and thinking aloud can often help the group reach a conclusion that no single member could do on his/her own. They can each test different math answers to see which one is correct. This process will not only foster thinking aloud and group communication, but also model test-taking skills for multiple choice.
Alternatively, do the Twister in small groups, with one student an answer entry but others as researchers on neighboring computers to find out what the group does not know. It may be helpful to assign roles: moderator (assigns what to find out and helps the group reach consensus), keyboarder (enters responses, may conduct research in a new window), or researchers (find information as assigned). Use the Twisters to model and teach information literacy skills in a high-motivation activity. Or offer the Twisters as an enrichment challenge or extra credit option for students to do at home. Ask parents to be on the honor system to sign a note indicating the score their child achieved. Since parents may be overly interested in helping, you may want to simply give extra credit for anyone completing the quiz, no matter the score. Be sure to mark this ready to go exclusive in your favorites and share it on your teacher class web page.
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Globetracker's Mission - TeachersFirst
Grades
2 to 6tag(s): continents (33), directions (11), earth (184), landforms (38), latitude (10), longitude (9), map skills (63), maps (219), oceans (147)
In the Classroom
See "Lesson Ideas" from the Teacher Edition page for a complete list of ways to use this creative unit with younger students, on laptops with student partners, or as semi-independent work. Be sure to share the link on your teacher web page for students to share at home (or check on the next episode, if they can't wait!).Encourage parents to join the fun on the mission by sharing the suggestions listed under "Parent Info."
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The 50 States - TeachersFirst
Grades
4 to 8tag(s): california (16), new york (24), states (124), texas (7)
In the Classroom
Use this site on a projector or interactive whiteboard to discuss and informally assess prior knowledge as you start your study of the 50 states. One easy use would be for testing students on knowledge of the capitals. Open the site on the interactive whiteboard or projector, and you can test students not only by state recognition on the map but with what the capitals are. State location and capitol information are not clearly stated until clicked on, so this would be a fairly easy formative assessment in review the information.Comments
Great resource!Ladisha, VA, Grades: 9 - 12
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Learning to Give - Points of Light Institute
Grades
K to 12tag(s): african american (111), animal homes (57), animals (295), character education (78), charts and graphs (171), colonial america (95), communities (33), data (151), diversity (39), ecology (102), environment (248), heroes (24), money (114), recycling (46)
In the Classroom
Use this site as a resource for all subject matters, search for subject and browse resources. Share with other teachers in your building or district including teachers of the arts. Get your students involved! Challenge cooperative learning groups to create a multimedia presentation using one of many TeachersFirst Edge tools reviewed here discussing one of the topics at this site. Some tool suggestions are (click on the tool name to access the review): Canva Infographic Maker, Lucidpress, Powtoon, and MoocNote.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Project Based Learning for the 21st Century - Buck Institute for Education
Grades
K to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): assessment (144), Project Based Learning (23), Research (86)
In the Classroom
Use these ideas in any subject area classroom. Aspects of PBL can be used in introductory activities or whole units. Use driving questions to stimulate student curiosity to know more about how curriculum applies to their lives. Use this PBL framework to give students freedom to research aspects of the content or problem of personal interest. Be sure to view the resources to adequately plan for a successful unit project that incorporates 21st century skills utilizing engaging activities and content.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Victorian Christmas - TeachersFirst
Grades
4 to 8In the Classroom
Save this site as a favorite on your desktop and use it to add supplementary activities to your classroom before Winter Break. Many of the sites can be used as webquests, classroom activities or Learning centers. This could be a great way to mix the holidays into content, comparing today's celebrations to those of the 19th century.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Make a Victorian Cornucopia - TeachersFirst
Grades
3 to 10In the Classroom
Try this easy activity during a Christmas 'Round the World unit or as part of a study of the Victorian Era. Have students take digital pictures of the steps and include them on your class web page or wiki (with captions!) so others can try the activity at home. Older students could enhance their learning by posting the photos with and explanation using a portfolio tool such as Seesaw. Seesaw also offers tools for incorporating blogs. Alternatively, students could transform their learning by annotating images taken of their activities with text, URL's, or videos using ThingLink. Make cornucopias as gifts for a visit to a local nursing home or children's home so the activity becomes a service project.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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A Victorian Christmas - Malcolm Warrington
Grades
4 to 8In the Classroom
Use this website during a unit on Christmas or Victorian history. Enhance learning and allow ENL/ELL students to try using Text to Speech Reader, reviewed here, which will allow these students to follow the highlighted text as the article or passage is read to them. Consider extending learning by having students create their own online Victorian "albums" using a tool such as Smilebox, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Video: Social Media - Common Craft
Grades
K to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): blogs (65), podcasts (106), social media (48), video (264)
In the Classroom
If you are looking to learn more about various social media, check out this short video. Learn more about the "flavors" you could use in your own classoom. For research projects have students create a blog, wiki, or even a podcast and compare the pros/cons of each regarding communication and safety. Create podcasts using a tool such as podOmatic, explained here. If you use "centers" in your classroom, put the video on a "center" computer, do a "right click" on the video, select "save as" and save to the "center" computer.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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