TeachersFirst: Week of July 26, 2009

Featured Sites - Week of July 26, 2009

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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 .

We Choose the Moon - Grades 0 - 12 - permalink
Relive the Apollo 11 moon mission in rich multimedia format. Follow the mission in "real time" exactly 40 years later, including all transmissions. For those who are not old enough to remember the 1969 mission, the real experience is powerful. For those who do remember, this site can spark personal commentary and oral history of the historic days during the summer of 1969. Offered by the John F. Kennedy library, this re-enactment started in 40-year-old "real time in July, 2009, but can be accessed and experienced in all or in part at any time after its "conclusion" on July 20, 2009. This is the ultimate "primary source"! 10146

In the Classroom:
Bring your class into the space exploration era on a projector or interactive whiteboard (be sure to turn on speakers!). Include this experience as part of a unit on the 1960s, a science study and comparison of technologies since the 1960s, or as part of a unit about the moon. Allow students to explore and navigate the site on their own, then write a "blog post" as an astronaut or a NASA worker in 1969. "Follow" the mission in real time over a period of several days, letting it run on your classroom computer, and assigning different students to report on the day's events. Explore some of the actual flight data in physics class as a practical application of some of Newton's laws. Use this site as a spark for students to collect oral histories on this and other events of the 1960s, using media resources as prompts to talk with family and friends about their recollections.

For similar resources, click the appropriate keyword: apollo 11 | kennedy | space race | moon |

Teaching Tolerance - Grades 0 - 12 - permalink
Teaching Tolerance is a project of the Southern Poverty Law Center and seeks to provide educators with tools to reduce prejudice of all kinds. You might already be familiar with this group's "Mix it Up" initiative which seeks to get middle school and high school students to sit with someone new for one day during lunch at the cafeteria. This site contains lesson plans, links for teachers, parents, teens, and kids, current topics related to prejudice, an on-line version of the Teaching Tolerance magazine, an order form for free curriculum materials, and links to other resources.

The teacher’s link offers classroom activities (many interactive) that tie in with the lesson plans. There is also a link to receive FREE kits and handbooks! The “Parents” link offers activities and ideas for ages 2-17! There are online activities, recommended books, “talking points” for parents, and more. The “For Teens” link includes a wealth of resources: video clips, lessons, 10 steps to take action, downloadable posters, essays, and true stories. The Kid’s link offers “read,” “Explore,” and “Play” options for elementary (and younger middle school) students. A “sign up” box appears when you first enter the site, click on the X to remove the box. 10124

In the Classroom:
Of course, the obvious uses for this site include preparing for Black History Month or Women's History Month, consult this site for more than that! Don’t just visit the Teacher’s link, but check out the kids and teens links for videos and interactive that you can share on your projector or interactive whiteboard. If you are unsure of how to approach a touchy subject with your students--either a subject from the news like the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" rules, or something that is happening in your school or community, this site can provide resources for you and your students. Subscribe to Tolerance.org's emailed newsletter, or order one of the curriculum kits; the newest one is Viva la Causa about Cesar Chavez and the struggle for justice for farmworkers in the 1960s. This is a great addition to your school’s bully program! Take advantage of the free lesson plans, class activities, interactive, and book recommendations. This is definitely one to list on your class website!

Kidlandia - Grades 0 - 4 - permalink
Imagine a land that your students can claim as their own. Kidlandia grants that wish--for free. With a simple sign-in, your students chose a landform, type in their own names, enter their birth date, then enter the names of 20+ other people (parents, grandparents, whomever you wish). The map is magically created with their personal names, such as “Melissa Island” and “Brady Sea.” If sharing email addresses is allowed, students may share their map with others. 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.

Although much of this site is free, there are links to purchase the maps and other “extras.” So be sure to warn students NOT to click on those options. Flash is required at this site. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page. 10043

In the Classroom:
Use this site to reinforce map skills using students’ own personalized maps! If you have a classroom wiki page, link the student maps to share with viewers. Challenge students to write stories to go along with the maps and email them to grandparents and parents along with the map link. Print the maps for a creative bulletin board on map making skills.

Universcale - Grades 2 - 12 - permalink
Want to make more connections between the smallest things in the world and the largest? Universcale has an opportunity to view vast differences in size using a slider and images from the largest of things (planets, etc.) to the smallest (portions of atoms). Additional information is provided with the images. Choose "Full Screen Mode" or "Normal Screen Mode." Grasp the physical differences and presence of various objects in the living world around us. 10112

In the Classroom:
Have individuals or groups work to identify object size and make connections not only about size, but other physical properties. Use creative writing for students to express what they feel as they are moving through the size differences. What a great way to teach proportion on math class! Identify the sizes to determine increases or decreases, proportion, scientific notations, etc. Identify how the understanding of a specific item has changed throughout history. To show what they have learned from this site, challenge students to create an online graphic (comparing two items) to share using Tabblo reviewed here. Even elementary teachers can use this “viewer” to help students understand science concepts of size. Try it on an interactive whiteboard and have students operate the controls.

For similar resources, click the appropriate keyword: natural world | microscope | matter | organisms |

Math Tool Chest - Grades 0 - 5 - permalink
Learn basic math skills with this exciting site. Each chest offers and experience with a math concept: tables, coin toss, spinner, counter, graphs, fractions, attributes, place value, money, and pattern blocks. Tools for each game include "Erase," "Start Over," "Camera," "Paint," "Set Up," and "Hide Data." The character in the lower right hand corner offers help to the player. Speakers are required to hear the help prompts. You are able to turn the sound ON or OFF. There is a calculator available at the bottom of the screen. This site is available in both English and Spanish. Use the print function to share results.

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In the Classroom:
Use these great games to teach or reinforce various math functions. This is definitely one to save in your favorites and list on your class website or blog. Share this site on an interactive whiteboard or projector as an introduction to a math unit or as review.

For similar resources, click the appropriate keyword: money | probability | patterns | numbers |

Nevada Test Site Oral History Project - Grades 9 - 12 - permalink
Oral history has become an increasingly important tool in understanding recent history. This site chronicles the stories of those who have been personally affected by the testing of nuclear weapons in Nevada between 1951 and 1992. You can browse a very rich list of individual transcripts or search by category of interviewee. There is a fairly short list of video interviews. There is a nice timeline that puts the development of nuclear weapons in the US into perspective. Finally, there is a link to information about the test site as a place, both as a place for testing, a place for protesting, and a sacred place to native people. 10122

In the Classroom:
This site might serve as a useful supplement to a unit on the Cold War. Students doing research on nuclear testing will find the transcripts and video interviews very valuable as primary source material. The timeline would be helpful projected on an interactive whiteboard or projector as part of a discussion of recent American history. Use this site for research about the Cold War and World War II. Have students create a multimedia presentation using Voicethread reviewed here to narrate a photo as if it is a news report.

For similar resources, click the appropriate keyword: nuclear testing | Nevada | Cold War |

Color Scheme Designer - Grades 2 - 12 - permalink
Need help determining colors for a project, website, blog, bulletin board, or (if fashion challenged like me) today's outfit? Use this great site to determine colors that look great together for your next project. Point and click on the portion of the color wheel to pick a central hue of your choosing. Decide among the following choices: monochromatic, complementary, triad, tetrad, among others to choose a selection of colors. View examples of your choice as it would appear on a web page. Use the RGB values for entering into the color number for your web page. RGB values are six characters (numbers and letters) following a # sign. Save your scheme ID number for future reference. 10109

In the Classroom:
Art teachers can teach basic design and color wheel principles using this tool on an interactive whiteboard or have students experiment with different color schemes to demonstrate their understanding of color concepts. Be aware that some monitors and projectors may not have the color responsiveness that other hardware has, making it more difficult to “see” the subtleties on this site. Use this tool for creation of coordinated website, wiki, or blog pages. Students will find an unlimited number of color schemes to choose from in the creation of their projects. Not sure what a “wiki” is? Have no wiki worries – check out the Teacher’s First Wiki Walk-Through reviewed here.

For similar resources, click the appropriate keyword: color wheel | monochromatic | color | complementary |

How To Do Research - Grades 3 - 8 - permalink
"How To Do Research" is a great starting point for teaching even the youngest researchers how to begin. Follow Research Rocket for an educational ride through all of the steps of conducting research. Students will be guided through all phases of research starting with Planning the Project and moving their way through Search for Information, Search the Internet, Take Notes, Use the Information and finally, Share What You Know. The information is provided in a colorful and interactive manner with plenty of examples, tools and helpful hints. What a great way to walk students through a research project without leaving any questions unanswered or stones unturned. 10116

In the Classroom:
Project the site on an interactive whiteboard or projector and begin as a whole group with "Step 1- Planning the Project." Spend time reviewing each phase and proceed with assigning students research to do on their own. Reconvene to check student work, answer questions, and move on to the next step in the research project. Make sure to check out all of the great ways to share the research! Have students create multimedia research projects! The options are endless. How about creating podcasts demonstrating what they learned about their research topic. Use a site such as PodOmatic (reviewed here). Have cooperative learning groups create online books using a tool such as Bookemon, reviewed here. Another idea: use a tool such as bubbl.us (reviewed here) to create and share concept maps about the research topics!

For similar resources, click the appropriate keyword: research | brainstorm | bibliography |

Frontline: Breaking the Bank - Grades 9 - 12 - permalink
A website connected to an episode of Frontline, this site looks at the recent collapse of several large "superbanks," and how these bank failures have been connected to the general economic downturn. Many PBS shows' sites are built around the concept of having students "watch the show and discuss"; these require teachers to buy or find a copy of episode. However, this site includes access to the full episode (requires Flash), which can be viewed as a whole or in sections. The resource list is very comprehensive and would give students who are researching national or global economics many good sources. Finally, there is analysis, set up in Q&A format that stands alone, and could be used if you don't want to use classtime to view the video episode. 10117

In the Classroom:
Although this site deals with the 2008-2009 banking crisis at a level that is probably more in-depth than most teachers have the opportunity to deal with, it would be useful for an economics class or a recent American history class. You might consider some portions of it during a discussion of the Great Depression in the 1930s, to help students connect that economic time with the present. Finally, this might be a good resource site for students who are interested or who are working on more comprehensive projects. Why not have students create a multimedia presentation of their own demonstrating their understanding of the connection between the bank failures and the economic downturn. Have students create (and respond) on class wikis. Not comfortable with wikis? Have no wiki worries – check out the Teacher’s First Wiki Walk-Through reviewed here.

BusSongs.com - Grades 0 - 12 - permalink
Nursery rhymes and other children's songs have been passed down through the centuries carrying various messages within them. BusSongs.com offers the lyrics and downloadable music for over 2,000 nursery rhymes and children's songs. The songs are arranged by genre or easily searched for by title. The list contains songs for such categories as camp fire tunes, traditional and multicultural songs, holiday songs, learning songs, and much more. Don't forget to turn up your speakers! 10114

In the Classroom:
Use these silly songs in primary grades for those early readers who benefit greatly from rhyme time. For the elementary level, these songs would be helpful when introducing poetry and alliteration. Teach the historical, political and cultural connections that go hand-in-hand with many of these tunes and rhymes. Middle school students will be quite surprised with some of the hidden meanings of the songs such as Ring-Around-The-Rosy. For fun, choose a couple of tunes to sing as a group during the long bus ride to a class fieldtrip location! Have cooperative learning groups explore songs and create a video explaining (and singing) the songs. Or have them write and video record their own lyrics about a historic event or science concept, accompanied by the audio recording of the tune (available for some songs). Have students share the videos using a tool such as SchoolTube reviewed here.

For similar resources, click the appropriate keyword: songs | nursery rhymes | verse | lyrics |

Chirbit - Grades 8 - 12 - permalink
Teachers First Edge Review: For serious technology users. Upload an mp3 or wmv audio file, record your own voice, or enter text for the site to provide a text-to-speech recording. Here is an example of the site reading the TeachersFirst home page text. (The audio quality is not terrific for this tool feature). 10125

In the Classroom:
Skills needed: Be able to manage and find any audio files on your computer. Recording of voice requires knowledge of internal and external microphones. Use the "text to speech" option for an easy way to record using a computerized voice. Register using an email address, though verification is not required. You do need a microphone either attached or built in to your computer to record chirbits.

Safety/security: Categories shown include Confessions, Jokes, and Pickup lines, among others. Though these are quite humorous, they may be inappropriate. Chirbits created become public, however by choosing "Settings" across the top, check the box to protect your chirbits and make them private. If each student is to have their own account, check your school policies on whether student work may be displayed online and what information is permitted. Check your school policies about accessing/sharing student email on school computers. 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. Consider creating a class chirbit with a global email. You may want to require that students initial their contributions in order to get credit. Accounts have an RSS feed where you can follow others to keep up with the chirbits created. You may allow students to self-register, but be sure to keep a written record of their passwords for when they “forget.” Click on "Profile" and then the gear symbol to copy a link to share. You may want to create a word doc, Favorites folder, or other “collection” of the URLS to all your students projects in one place for easy work at grading time. Some teachers use a class wiki or blog with links to all projects from there.

Possible uses: Use chirbit to record quick assignments or responses. Create prompts which require clever answers such as viewpoints of famous people in your subject area. Use chirbits to record thoughts or facts of the day. Use chirbits to record how to solve problems, define vocabulary, or to understand class material. As closure at the end of class, ask a student to record a “chirbit” summary of the most important concept for the day’s lesson. You could even have a competition to decide which group/pair has composed the best sentence for a chirbit recording and have them make the recording on the spot.

For similar resources, click the appropriate keyword: text to speech | audio | audio files |

Crimes Seen and Investigated - Grades 5 - 12 - permalink
This site delves into forensic science and offers students a chance to solve a crime. Students begin to understand an underworld science by collecting clues of things left behind, namely bugs, maggots, and other disgusting creatures! The lesson plan includes readings, steps to solving the crime including collecting evidence, creating a DNA profile, evaluating the evidence, and listening to an expert. Standards are provided.

Be aware: at the time of this review, the link to the video mentioned in this lesson plan was not working properly. Our editors found it, so you can access it directly from here: http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/science-of-natural-history/forensic-sleuth/forensic-entomology/. This site does include some appropriate advertisements for the museum. The site requires Adobe Acrobat and Flash. Get both from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page. 10098

In the Classroom:
Combine ideas from this site and the TeachersFirst "Who Did It" unit for a crime-solving extravaganza of science. Project this site on your classroom projector or interactive whiteboard to provide stimulation for the students about to embark on the crime solving. Divide your class into teams to collect, analyze and assess the clues left behind. Challenge students to create their own CSI investigation story or scene. Have students create an online book (story) about their mystery using a tool such as Bookemon reviewed here. Or have the groups create a video of their “forensic file” case using a sharing tool such as Teachers.TV reviewed here.

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