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Here are this week's features. Clicking the "more resources like this" link below each listing will present a list of our most recent additions for the same subject area and grade level .
All of Inflation's Little Parts - Grades 7 - 12
As the saying goes, "It's the economy, stupid." As we near the 2008 Presidential election, the US economy continues to be an important talking point. Some report that the country is already slipping into recession, but what does that mean? This graphic, designed by the New York Times, is the kind of visual presentation that can really help put this discussion into perspective. Presented as an amped-up version of the traditional pie chart, the chart shows what percentage of the average consumer's spending is devoted to everything from cable TV to gas to fast food to postage. The graphic also shows the relative increase or decrease in that cost over the past year. For example, students may enjoy seeing the comparison between money spent on men's clothing versus that spent on women's clothing, with additional comparative data on shoes, accessories, and children's clothes! This site requires Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.. 9292
In the Classroom:
This relatively simple graphic has a very wide variety of possible applications. If you teach personal finance and budgeting, students can use this chart to compare the average American's spending with their own. If you teach economics, the fact that the items that have increased the most in the past year are gasoline, fuel oil, firewood, and eggs (OK, eggs?) will bear out the impact of the rise in the cost of crude oil and the chaos in the middle east. If you teach civics or government, you can show how the changes in the economy affect what citizens want from their politicians. If you teach math, the graphic's real-life data could be used as a basis for computation and problem solving. Because it's Flash-enabled, the "mouse over" effects and the ability to zoom in and out to see greater detail (how much does the average American spends on ham versus turkey? It's on there!). This site would work well on an interactive whiteboard or projector. |
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Grow Up - Grades 2 - 6
This interactive learning adventure challenges students to create pictures displaying four different stages of an animal's life-cycle. Students can choose the habitat that the animals come from. Habitats include gardens, cliffs, ponds, and hedgerows (American teachers will have to explain the British vocabulary!). Students race the clock to complete the animal in time. Clues and scientific information is provided throughout the activity. FLASH is required for this web activity. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..
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In the Classroom:
Use your interactive whiteboard or projector for this science activity as you study animal life cycles. This resource is also ideal for independent work on laptops or cooperative learning groups. |
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Innovation Orbit - Grades 6 - 12
This NASA-inspired time line introduces the great minds of science. It also makes the connection that advances in science have come from others “standing on the shoulders of giants.” From Nicolaus Copernicus to present-day scientists, each scientist has a short biography and conversational quote that is a clue to the contribution of another scientist. Place the mouse cursor in the middle of the orbit and move it to the left or right to control the time line forward or back in time. Hold the mouse in the middle to stop on the scientist of choice. Click the picture to read the biography. Click on the link light to follow the conversation between scientists. This site requires Flash. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.. 9220
In the Classroom:
What a great introduction to science through the centuries! Use this time line to start a unit on scientific research through the ages. Students can select a scientific concept such as gravity or immunizations and develop a “family tree” to show contributing scientists from the past and into the present. A family tree can be created in a word document using an organizational flow chart or as a PowerPoint presentation with links to various scientists. Students can record narrations with an inexpensive microphone onto the PowerPoint slides to give “voice” to these past giants.
This site is best viewed in 1024 x 768 screen resolution. You might want to practice controlling and moving the time line to get the feel of it. Be sure to play the entire presentation at least once to have it in the local computer memory for a smooth presentation with your students. The website has a sound track so consider turning it down or muting it, as it can be distracting. |
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Clifford - Play Sound Match - Grades 0 - 2
This kid-friendly phonics activity challenges students to match up letter sounds. Students are presented with a picture of an object; they may click on the object to hear it read aloud. Then several pictures are shown below the original picture. Students click and drag the objects with the same sound into a "word box." A word list is created that can be printed upon completion. This game continues with new word lists provided. The best part of this website is that non-readers can easily navigate this site by clicking on the sound buttons to hear the words read to them. Of course, they will need to turn up the sound or use headphones! This website would also be useful with young ESL and ELL students. The website requires Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.. 9287
In the Classroom:
Use this website as a learning center at a computer cluster or on individual computers. You might want to demonstrate the activity on an interactive whiteboard or projector before sending the students off to explore on their own. Provide this link in your class newsletter and list the site on your class webpage so students can practice their phonics skills at home. |
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Physics Education Technology - Grades 5 - 12
Simulations can be run online by clicking on the desired simulation, but will not be saved. The simulations can also be downloaded to computer, CD, or USB by clicking on the "one at a time link" or download the whole set of simulations by clicking "choosing the full install." The troubleshooting link provides links for installing Flash and Java which are required to run. The link also contains frequently asked questions. Flash and Adobe Acrobat can also be installed by visiting the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.. 9264
In the Classroom:
Use these simulations initially in a unit to identify and discuss as a class the basic concepts. After more introduction, the simulations can be used as a lab assignment that generates data to be analyzed. Students can view the simulations and write about the concept or the fundamental principles. This will allow the teacher the opportunity to determine where student misconceptions are present. These activities can also be used as a review or in lieu of standard homework assignments that are repetitious but do not provide concrete or visual representations of the concept. |
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You Quote It, You Note It - Grades 6 - 12
This interactive site is meant to help students understand what is and is not actually plagiarism. It allows students to "pick" a student to walk through the tutorial with and does a good job of explaining why something is plagiarism and how to fix it. The actual tutorial takes about 10 minutes. Although this is geared to Acadia University students, it is very pertinent to middle and high school students, as well, and very easy to understand. This site requires Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.. 9254
In the Classroom:
This is a great follow-up site when discussing plagiarism with students. If you have access to a computer lab, students can work independently or in pairs through the tutorial and then check each other's work. |
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Sleepover Planet - Grades 3 - 8
This highly motivating website demonstrates step-by-step how to prepare a school musical. The website includes lyrics, drama vocabulary terms, musical notations, scenery, props, and an introduction to various types of music (including calypso). There is a Directors link that includes curriculum information, a glossary, and more. Use the website to teach your class about calypso music, drama vocabulary terms, and many other details pertaining to music and drama. This website requires Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.. 9095
In the Classroom:
Use this website to prepare a drama and/or musical with your students. Or pick and choose smaller segments of the website to incorporate into your lesson plans. If you plan to have students write and perform short plays as part of a social studies or interdisciplinary unit, this site is a great reference. Share this lively website with your students on an interactive whiteboard or projector (be sure to turn up the volume). |
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Test Designer - Grades 0 - 12
Test Designer allows teachers to quickly and easily create multiple-choice, true or false, fill-in-the-blank, and open-ended questions for tests and worksheets. Browse through thousands of previously-created tests in subject areas such as Algebra, Earth Science, Geography, U.S. History, and Vocabulary. Test Designer also provides simple graphics that can easily be added. Teachers can e-mail tests and worksheets to students, teachers, and parents. Make sure to allow plenty of time to read directions and maneuver the site prior to creating tests. There are some minor unobtrusive advertisements at this site. The required membership is free! 9286
In the Classroom:
Use this website to create personalized quizzes and tests for your students. You could also ask students to design their own tests for each other to review using your teacher log-in or appoint a student “quizmaker” each week for the content your class has covered, making this an assignment that each student does once per semester. |
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