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. 7351

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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Want to see what else we've been up to? Check out our recent additions.

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 .

Word Champ - Grades 3 - 12
This free website allows users to choose a target language (out of a list of 100!) or English to learn new language through vocabulary drills, flashcards, flashcards with pictures, translation, listening comprehension, dictation, vocabulary, grammar, and word form practice. Management tools allow teachers to set up classes and monitor their students' progress, a feature often unavailable on free sites. Teachers can choose to either use the vocabulary list already in the program or set up their own. The site claims to have helped many people increase language ability to the point of being able to read web pages in other languages. Full interactivity engages the student in the process of language study and acquisition. A "web reader" takes authentic texts from native language newspapers and provides translation of any words when the reader passes the mouse over the unknown word. Pronunciation of those words is another option available. Users have the option of downloading vocabulary lists as MP3 files. 8819

In the Classroom: Use this site to set up extra vocabulary practice and reading for your language students. Have students create their own practice exercises for each other! Add your own vocabulary and homework assignments to materials available already within the program. Make sure to include the link on your teacher web page for outside practice and quick access.

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Picture Prompt Story Starters - Grades 0 - 4
This page offers a series of illustrated, printable story prompts. Printing in portrait or landscape for larger spaces between the lines. Another option includes a black and white drawing that the children can color before or after writing the story. The pages also contain a box to write a word list for help spelling more difficult words. The story topics include many seasonal and holiday offerings, as well. Some of this site requires FLASH. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.. 8901

In the Classroom: Use this site with beginning readers, beginning writers, and ESL students to reinforce the skill you are teaching and to show connections between reading and writing. Make it available for your active writers to choose their own prompts, too, or for parents to use at home during breaks. Special ed teachers will appreciate these prompts as a way to promote language development. Use the pictures to record students' vocabulary on the lines below as they "tell you about the picture."

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P.A.C.E. Trek 2008 - Grades 0 - 12
Ready or not - PACE Trek 2008 is coming soon. This challenge (created by a former 5th grade teacher), encourages students to get fit while virtually "racing" Paul James Staso. The PACE Trek 2008 is FREE and open to school groups of all ages (or individuals). The challenge runs from April 28, 2008 - May 14, 2008. The website provides specific details and requirements for students in elementary, middle, and high school.

The PACE Trek 2008 challenge all began because of a promise that Paul James Staso made to his daughter's 5th grade class. Mr. Staso promised that he would run solo across the United States. During the summer of 2006, Mr. Staso ran the 3,260 miles that he had promised. There is a video included at the website that highlights his journey. Since then, Paul James Staso has begun to challenge students to get fit (and he even teaches geography during the trek). This website requires FLASH. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.. 8926

In the Classroom: For the PACE Trek 2008, classes need to walk or run every day during the 13-day challenge. This totals no more than 15-minutes per day. Registration is free. Click on your age group to read overall curriculum goals, expectations, and to register you "team". Why not include the challenge as a joint project between your Health/P.E. classes and geography curriculum? Mr. Staso will also teach about the geography of the areas that he travels. What a wonderful way to get your students excited about exercise. Now, get going!

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Online Stopwatch - Grades 0 - 12
What a wonderful tool to use in any classroom. This website provides an online stop watch (as the name suggests). On the home page, you have your choice of a stop watch (counting up from 0) or a countdown (for the number of minutes or seconds you choose). There is even a "large stop watch" link that makes the counting a full-screen adventure (perfect if you are using your desktop computer at a distance -- easier for students to see). The stop watch and countdown both require FLASH. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.. 8923

In the Classroom: There are many uses for this practical online tool. Get out your projection screen (or even the classroom desktop computer) and make sure the speakers are turned up. Use this tool for students to practice speeches, or to limit time for a quiz or spelling test. Shrink the stopwatch window in the corner of your interactive whiteboard as you time different teams completing a drag-and-drop challenge. The countdown feature could also be used for timing the rotations from center to center. You can even use the timer for reading fluency exercises or physical education warm-ups! A clever classroom management tool would be to start the visible count-down on your computer screen when you want the class to settle down for directions or to transition to the next subject. Kindergarten students can practice counting along with the watch!

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Universal Leonardo - Grades 6 - 12
Leonardo da Vinci is one of history's greatest geniuses. This site looks at Leonardo's work in ways that highlight how comprehensive and interdisciplinary his impact has been. Of course, you can examine his individual works of art, but this site is organized along threads, which you can access through a traditional menu or through an interactive web. Follow Leonardo's influence in math, through his inventions, in his understanding of the human body or his examination of the natural world. There are also some just-plain-fun flash-enabled games to play: make the Mona Lisa smile broadly by correctly answering questions about her, practice mirror writing, or see if you can power his glider across a ravine. 8944

In the Classroom: Because Leonardo's work crosses so many curricular boundaries, teachers from many different disciplines might find this site useful as part of a lesson on a projector or interactive whiteboard, particularly when painting "the big picture" for students (no pun intended!). Art teachers, of course, can access Leonardo's work, but science teachers can use the interactive games to illustrate principles of physics or early understanding of the human body. History or literature teachers might use the site to personify the term "Renaissance Man" for students studying the time period. Whatever your discipline, be sure to make the link available from your teacher web page for curious students to explore outside of class.

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National Museum of African American History and Culture - Grades 6 - 12
Currently, the National Museum of African American History and Culture exists only virtually; it is not slated to be a physical location until 2015. Therefore, the creators of this website have to do much more than showcase a traditional museum and its artifacts and provide driving directions. The centerpiece of the site is its interactive web, which appears just below the "masthead" of the site. Enlarge it (which requires a "pop up"), and you can see a visual representation of the complex connections among issues, historical figures and cultural icons related to African American History. Click on any link on the web to be taken to further information. There are also traditional lesson plans (under the education link) and a great interactive timeline. This is a rich resource for Black History Month or an African American perspective on many historical topics. 8943

In the Classroom: A great tool for individual research, add this site to your teacher web page so students can access it from home. Use the "threads" web on an interactive whiteboard to illustrate how culture, history and issues are related in complex and unexpected ways. Use the resources you can access through the "web" to illustrate lessons.

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Investigate Biodiversity - Grades 9 - 12
How do you understand biodiversity without seeing it first hand? By following the expeditions of teams of conservationists in seven different locales around the World! Read about the expedition, see maps and learn country facts, meet the team, and view impressive photos. Read the Dispatches of the teams to learn about the people and species in the area, tools used in the exploration, and issues for the region. Click on the activities for quick quizzes and other activities using the Internet for related research. Each expedition uses different formats and activities that are available. Other links of use: Saving Biodiversity, Conservation Careers, and Species Focus. 8938

In the Classroom: Use this site as a specific example of how biodiversity is being preserved. Introduce it on a projector or interactive whiteboard, then have students follow the information of the conservationists and determine what activities are being used throughout the world. Use the Saving Biodiversity link and click on What You Can Do. Students can create a plan for maintaining the biodiversity where they live with photo documentation. Use a wiki (or bulletin board for a low tech option) to demonstrate the biodiversity in that area. If you use Google Earth, consider creating placemarker files to document your project.

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Asterpix - Grades 6 - 12
TeachersFirst Edge entry: For slightly adventurous technology users. This site is useful to create an interactive video (hypervideo) through the use of hyperlinking. Just like hyperlinks in a document, create hot links to notes, websites, and other material you link to from parts of the video. The links appear as little circles (hotspot markers) that are clicked to reveal the information you "attach." Add more information to your video for students to access during the playback. Easy-to-follow directions and quick tours to get you started. When the video is done, you can generate and embed a code in your blog or website. Video can also be emailed. Quicktime and FLASH are required. Get them from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.. 8940

In the Classroom: Skills needed: Site is free, but you must join to create your own videos. Videos must originate from YouTube or TeacherTube (see editorial comment below). You can always upload your own originals to one of these sites, if you wish to annotate a video you shot for use in class, such as a science demo. Paste the YouTube url into the search function, click on a part of the video you want to label, and add notes to, or link to a website. No special skills needed. A teenager or techno-comfortable teacher will figure this one out in one minute. The only challenge is determining what notes and links to use. Keep a second window open to copy and paste website addresses quickly. Watch the demos for quick learning of how to use this application. Safety concern: some featured videos available on the site's home page, especially those under "Entertainment," may not be appropriate for school viewing. If your school does not have an actively-enforced student acceptable use policy with specific consequences for accessing inappropriate content, you may want to avoid this page or generate such an agreement for student and parent signatures before allowing students open access to Asterpix. You can always create products of your own and share them directly by URL or by embedding them in your blog. Does your school block YouTube? Try creating a video using an original from TeacherTube instead. Or follow your school's technology policy to request unblocking of specific YouTube video URLs that are directly related to curriculum. Editorial comment: Be sure to SHARE the completed examples (and student-made products) with administrators and school decision-makers to demonstrate why school policies should permit such powerful opportunities for teaching and learning. Perhaps you can advocate, at the least, quicker unblocking of specific videos (24 hours or less?) for classroom use or permission for teachers to unblock on a per-computer basis. Your efforts to respect policies while pro-actively advocating for appropriate change will benefit all teachers and students. Possible uses for annotated videos: Use a video and have students add information to check their understanding, such as to label the actions they observe during a chemistry demo and add links to web pages that explain the underlying concepts. Create teacher-made videos to share individually or on a projector with students of ALL ages to illustrate and annotate concepts that are especially challenging or simply to help students visualize the connections between the words they read or hear and the real world examples. Shoot on-site video at the zoo or at a pond study site, then add annotations later. Use videos already available, but add the explanations using the terminology from your curriculum and allow student so access then for review or extra help. Secondary students will love using Asterpix themselves and will give a new dimension to presentations they create. Teachers can use the interactive video for extra tutorial work, explanations of topics, etc. The possibilities are endless!

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Want to see what else we've been up to? Check out our recent additions.

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 .

Lincoln Bicentennial: 1809-2009 - Grades 0 - 12
If you are preparing for Lincoln's 200th birthday or a unit about the 16th President of the United States, check out this site. Designed for students in all grades, there is an interactive timeline, online quiz, podcasts, detailed lesson plans for all grades K-12 (with standards), printable pages, research information, suggested literature for all ages, information about the Civil War, Gettysburg, and more! Much of the site requires Flash; some of the printables require Adobe Acrobat. You can get both from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page. 1564

In the Classroom: Be sure to save this site in your favorites! Share the interactive timeline, online quiz, and podcasts using your projector or interactive whiteboard. Use this site for research about our 16th President. Have students create a blog from Lincoln's point of view (or from a slave's point of view AFTER the Emancipation Proclamation). Use the lesson plans designed for the grades that you teach. (Don't miss the history, language arts and writing, and art lessons).

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Looking for Lincoln - History Hunt - Grades 2 - 8
This site, originally created for students to use during a family field trip around central Illinois, shares information all about Lincoln. Students click to choose a location (Lincoln's Law Office, Lincoln Courthouse, Lincoln's Tomb, and several others). Once "at" the location, students are given some basic facts about the locations, a "History Hunt Question" with several clues to help them solve the mystery, and a "Mystery History Object" with pictures of artifacts from the time period and a brief description of the picture. This site is excellent, but does not provide the answers to the "History Hunt Questions." However, most are easy to find at the site. What a fabulous way to celebrate the 200th birthday of one of the USA's greatest leaders. 161

In the Classroom: Take your students on this virtual hunt during the month of February. Why not visit a new place each day, share the information, ask the History Hunt Question, and share the picture and information about the artifact. Share the site on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Have students create their own "History Hunt Questions" about the town where you live and any connections to Lincoln: Underground Railroad Houses, a courthouse that defends the rights of all races, or even a mint where they make Lincoln pennies. Have students share their History Hunt Questions on a class wiki or online as a Place Spotting challenge (Read more about Place Spotting here ). Younger students will need to do the “hunt” as a whole class activity because of the reading level and sophistication of some of the History Hunt pages. If you have the chance for lower elementary students to work together with older “buddies,” they could enjoy the hunt together without teacher guidance. Gifted students and better readers in lower grades could also work on their own.

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Lincoln's 200th birthday coincides with Obama inauguration - Grades 6 - 12
This website is essentially a news article highlighting the inauguration of Barack Obama (the first African-American president in U.S. history) and the celebration of the 200th birthday of Abraham Lincoln. This article compares the two American heroes. The theme of Obama's inauguration is Lincoln and how the two men are similar. Both took office during critical times in U.S. history, both faced huge challenges, both are from the state of Illinois, and both are known for their inspirational speeches. 9720

In the Classroom: Share this article with your students. Have your class compare Lincoln and Obama. If they both had cellular phones, what do you think they might text to each other? Have students research the two men and then create a fictitious wiki that the men might have written back and forth to one another. Have students write their own articles comparing the two men.

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Podcasts: Civil War Tours - Grades 4 - 12
This site includes 14+ podcasts focusing on famous battles of the Civil War. Each location also includes a detailed map, brief description, dates, and more. Most are rather lengthy ranging from twenty to fifty minutes. This site opens slowly at times and requires Flash and Adobe Acrobat. You can get both from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page. 3273

In the Classroom: Share the podcasts on your projector or interactive whiteboard. (Download in advance to avoid delays). While listening to the podcast, project the map on the screen for students to view. After hearing a podcast have students create blog entries from the perspective of the soldiers at the battle. In younger grades, brainstorm ideas together before they start writing the blog entry. In the older grades, have a debate. Divide your class into two debate teams (Confederates or Union). Draw names randomly and allow the teams time to research the REASONS why they support their side of the war. For a shorter assignment, have a class discussion about how the Civil War and battles would have been different if the television (and YouTube) was around to broadcast the highlights of the battles. Would the war have ended more quickly or lasted longer? Why? Another idea: divide your class into groups and have the cooperative groups create local maps that highlight a location that has connections to Abraham Lincoln or the Civil War (if applicable).

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A Problem, A Penny, A President - Grades 0 - 5
This interactive site offers a short slide show about Lincoln. It all starts when Michael can't figure out how to take his papers home (he has no pockets). Lincoln pops out of a penny and teaches Michael about the 16th president (himself), the Civil War, the Lincoln Memorial, the penny, and a trick to take your papers home: put them in your hat! This site offers basic background information on the president and his legacy, perfect for even the youngest of students. The site has the option of reading the online story with text only or including audio. This site includes Florida standards. 9068

In the Classroom: Share the slide show on an interactive whiteboard or projector. Or have students work on individual laptops (or desktops) to listen to the story on their own. Since audio is available, even the youngest students can participate. What a fun way to celebrate Lincoln's 200th Birthday or Presidents’ Day! After viewing the slide show, have students write age-appropriate letters to Lincoln, asking him specific questions about topics highlighted in the slideshow. In younger grades, discuss the questions together and brainstorm a class list.

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Whole Lotta Lincoln - Grades 6 - 12
There are many sites about Lincoln. However, this site takes a personal look at Mrs. Abraham Lincoln (plus a "whole lotta" Mr. Lincoln). There is a short video that delves into the life of Mary Todd Lincoln (a must-see in the secondary grades). There is also a lot of research information about Lincoln's presidency and personal life, slavery, the Civil War, and how his words and actions live on in people today. This site requires Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page. 9721

In the Classroom: Be aware that the video of Mary Todd discusses the death of some of her children, so decide whether this is appropriate for your students. Use an interactive whiteboard or projector to share this unique look into the life (and love) of the Lincolns. Have students write a blog entry from the perspective of Mary Todd, what must her life have been like? What advice could she give Laura Bush or Michelle Obama? Use this site with your students who are more focused on the interpersonal and intrapersonal intelligences. These aspects of his (and her) life will provide connections for the students to better understand Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln and U.S. history.

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Civil War@Smithsonian - Grades 7 - 12
This outstanding site examines America’s most profound national experience through artifacts that are housed in the Smithsonian Institution. Twelve topics - including Slavery and Abolition, Appomattox, Life and Culture, Weapons, and Mathew Brady - link to virtual collections of objects that can be individually explored. A Civil War timeline is included. Some of the interactives require Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page. 5409

In the Classroom: This site is an excellent addition to a unit on slavery and the Civil War OR an art class! Have students write captions for the pictures. Challenge students to create a blog entry from Lincoln, a slave, Mathew Brady, or someone else shown in pictures. What were they thinking? Why did they do what they did? How would life have been different if the Internet was around during the Civil War?

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Stixy (beta) - Grades 0 - 12
TeachersFirst Edge entry: for slightly adventurous technology users. Create collaborative visual and verbal spaces where you can “post” and share ideas, images, snippits of text, sticky-notes, photos, documents, and more using Stixy. The product makes a bulletin board of items, reminders, comments—essentially everything you could throw onto the front of your refrigerator and more. You can share the stixyboard by URL. Here is an example of a Stixyboard created by the TeachersFirst Edge team. At the time of this review, Stixy was testing a calendar feature with a limited test group. Some features of Stixy appear a bit slow, but the tool still says it is in beta testing. Be patient as the pages load. (Watch the little status report in your lower left in Internet Explorer; it will tell you that things are loading.) 9631

In the Classroom: Skills needed: Join (free) using an email address. Note that you do not need to access this email to be able to log in right away (handy when some email is blocked at school!). It will help if you forget a password, though. Use your extra, memberships email account (such as Gmail). If you plan to have students create individual accounts with their individual email accounts, check school policies. Another option is to use your teacher Gmail account and set up subaccounts for up to 20 students to register (by code name or number). Here is a blog post that tells how to set up GMail subaccounts to use for any online membership service. If you plan to have students collaborate using a Stixyboard, they will need to be able to log in individually, using either a Gmail subaccount or their own email accounts. To share a board, click Options. You can find the URL for the board there, as well. Safety/security concerns: Sharing of Stixyboards is completely controlled by the users who create the boards. If students only “share” with those within their group, there is no “contact” with outsiders. Make sure they include you as a shared member on any collaborative project so you can monitor student work. Check school policies (and obtain parent permission, if necessary) before allowing students to post any work to the web. Stixy does not promote public sharing and commenting. Possible uses: Teachers can use Stixyboards shared by URL to assign or create web-based tasks: directions and tasks to do on the web (with links), collections of writing prompts (images AND text), or calendars. Students –even young ones – will catch on to the tools of Stixy very quickly to create their own Stixyboards. Have students “collect” quotes and images to convey a message or profile a concept or time period: a Stixyboard about the 1960’s, a writer’s journal of ideas for future writings, a collection of images that use LINE as a major design element, a board full of questions on a new curriculum topic -— a visual KWL chart that can be added to, rearranged, and edited as the unit proceeds -- almost a cognitive “journal” as learning proceeds. For example: Thoughts about Macbeth or The Great Depression. As students read a piece of literature or a challenging speech such as the Gettysburg address, they can collect, question, and comment on snippets from the text, including their own “I wonder” or “what if” notes. Have students make a Stixyboard of the water cycle or other processes, including images and notes to explain each step, then “turn in” the URL for their work or share it with others for changes and additions. (Changes are logged as part of the “list” at the left of any board.) For art classes, assign students to collect and annotate images as they prepare to create artworks of their own, just as artists collect materials in design notebooks and sketchbooks. Some thoughts on giving credit and copyright: Since it is simple to add notes, students can easily keep track of the SOURCES of anything they collect into a Stixyboard, such as images or quotes, simply by copy/pasting URLs into a "Credits" note. Make sure you require them to do this kind of citation, especially if they use any images. Note that a password-protected (see options) Stixyboard CAN use downloaded images from the web under Fair Use, provided you limit access to that board ONLY to members of that class.

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