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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 .
Congress For Kids - Grades 4 - 10
This website provides students with a wealth of information on the federal government. Specific topics include independence, constitution, branches of government, elections and more. The "for kids" title inaccurately characterizes some fairly sophisticated topics and vocabulary. There are three quizzes, plus activities on nearly every page. Some of the activities are interactive and require FLASH. This site has won numerous awards - check it out! Some of the text is too challenging for younger students and will require an adult or more able reader. 7360
In the Classroom: Try an interactive whiteboard and introduce your students to the United States government. There are numerous interactive activities provided at this website. Then turn them loose to investigate a specific topic or set of questions on their own or with a partner. |
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Book Cover Creator - Grades 2 - 8
Create covers for student-created reports or books with this interactive site. Choose from several styles: front and back, front only or full dust jacket. Templates for covers with text only or text and illustration are included. Flash is required. If you see a blank screen, download the Flash plugin from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page. 7344
In the Classroom: Have students write and illustrate a book for younger students, then create a full dust jacket to give the book a professional look. Share the stories during a meet the author/book signing event with a younger class. Present the books to the younger class library so they can be enjoyed over and over. OR use the full dust cover as a book report template. As always, preview and create a sample cover to decide what options you want your students to use. NOTE: Make sure you allow enough time to create and print the cover in one session, as there is no way to save work. |
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Time Trek! - Grades 4 - 9
This site is presented as a "time machine" that will allow students to visit cultures from 1200 BC (Ancient Egypt) through a fictional city in 2800 CE. Each "visit" provides information about the geography, culture and history of the city under consideration. After students have visited the cultures, there are also games, puzzles and activities related to the cultures discussed.
This is a Thinkquest contest winner. Thinkquest sites are created by students, but the winners have been judged as exemplary in a major international competition. The graphics and interface are the real stars with this site. The "time machine" buzzes and clicks and there is plenty of flash and animation. The information provided for each culture isn't anything particularly insightful, however, but this would be an excellent high-interest site for less academically motivated or to introduce younger students to the basics. They will even get a giggle out of considering that the city of the future (in 2800 CE) is powered by hamsters running on wheels! 7387
In the Classroom: Use this site as an inspiration for students to create their own multimedia visit to another culture using software you have available. Perhaps YOUR students can provide more insightful information for their peers as a culminating activity for a unit on a culture. |
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Human Anatomy Online - Grades 4 - 12
Human Anatomy Online is so packed with information, students could spend hours maneuvering through the text. This site provides detailed information about the entire body as well as common procedures and interesting facts. The simple, colorful visual aids make it very easy to understand the make-up of all of the systems as well as many of the body processes such as reproduction, muscle strength, cardiovascular health and much more. Be careful to keep students focused on the area of concentration. Otherwise, they could become overwhelmed with the quantity of information and get off track. Great for research projects and health units. Make sure to check out the fantastic tutorials, animations and description index. There are some minor advertisements at this website. This site requires Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page. 7352
In the Classroom: This site gives wonderful opportunities for visual, interactive lessons and enrichment. Include an in-class activity based on this site in your unit on body systems and/or list the link on your teacher web page for students to review before the unit test. If you have an interactive whiteboard, consider using the site as the unit introduction, as well. Share this site during the Olympic games to learn more about the muscles and systems required for the various sports.
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Teach Engineering Resources for K-12 - Grades 0 - 12
Engineering Resources is a K-12 website that contains a multitude of information and closely correlates each lesson to national and state standards. As they explain it, the site uses "engineering as a vehicle to integrate math and science fundamentals." The lessons are organized, simple, hands-on, inexpensive, and use real-life examples for children to relate. The lessons include pre and post assessments as well as extension activities. Here is a great opportunity to cook with the sun and visit a water treatment plant and hydro electric power plant right in the classroom. Make sure to check out the Living Labs for REAL-life experiments and data for students to use. 7373
In the Classroom: Search for activities and ideas by grade level and curriculum topic using the Search and Advanced Search buttons. Lesson plans include resource links for you and for students, as well. |
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Writing Sparks - Grades 3 - 7
Jim Cornish provides numerous writing prompts for use in the upper elementary/middle school classroom. Specific writing styles include narrative, expository, journal, descriptive, personal and more. The prompts provided by Mr. Cornish are supplied in a pre-made, appealing printable form for easy planning. There are also links for writing rubrics and to a variety of additional on-line sites with a multitude of writing prompts. The prompts open in pdf (Acrobat) handouts and require Acrobat Reader. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.
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In the Classroom: If you are looking for some new ideas for writing prompts, this website provides creative and fun assignments. Maybe even make it available to students on your classroom computer or teacher web page so they can browse the prompts and find one they like. These writing prompts would provide nice opportunities for morning work, journaling and on-line blog sessions.
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Flash Animations for Physics - Grades 9 - 12
Find FLASH animations free and available for your Creative Commons Use in your classroom on this simple-but-useful site. Topics include waves, quantum mechanics, vectors, optics, oscilloscope, nuclear, electricity and magnetism, general mechanics, and more. As explained in the Creative Commons link at the bottom of the page, you are free to copy and/or alter the animations for noncommercial use as long as you give proper credit and are willing to share them in a similar fashion. 7353
In the Classroom: Try introducing these on a projector or interactive whiteboard in class, then have your students use them as part of their own illustrated explanations of physics applications. Armed with digital cameras or video, they can juxtapose these animations together with real-world examples, where appropriate, to demonstrate their understanding of the concepts. Ask them to make PowerPoint shows or videos to "teach" the concepts as review for others!
Be sure to include a link to this page on your teacher web site for your visual-spatial students to use while reviewing for tests or doing homework. |
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PocketMod - Grades 0 - 12
TeachersFirst Edge Entry: for slightly adventurous technology users (NOT difficult!). This VERY simple tool lets you or your students make simple, folded small booklets that fit in a pocket. You choose what will appear on each page: from blank space to lines to calendars or checklists. Then print the single sheet (and run copies!) for a student "organizer" useful for homework assignments, long-term project deadlines, checklists, even student-made study guides. Students use the booklets the old fashioned way: by WRITING in them; but the clever, customizable format lets you teach organizational skills in a way that works. REQUIRES FLASH!
See a sample PocketMod checklist, notes, and calendar booklet (with a separate page of folding directions) and one made from a PDF of the Pennsylvania Science and Technology Standards, converted using the free downloadable software. 7400
In the Classroom: Skills needed: go to PocketMod and follow simple drag-and-drop visual screen to create the PocketMod from their many organizer options. Print and fold (NO Acrobat Reader required). More skilled users should consider downloading the free "PDF to PocketMod" converter that will take any pdf document and format it to the small, foldable format. If you have handouts in pdf format or can make them from your scanner/copier, you can make ANYTHING into a PocketMod. The converter assumes you have Acrobat Reader.
Possible uses: have students design their own study guides before a chapter test or maintain a project checklist to be submitted along with the completed project to build better organizational skills.
Warning: Students will quickly learn that PocketMod is a great way to make CHEAT SHEETS. Be forewarned of student cleverness! |
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