TeachersFirst: Week of August 2, 2009

Featured Sites - Week of August 2, 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 .

Presidents in Waiting - Grades 6 - 12 - permalink
Fourteen US Vice-Presidents have gone on to become US Presidents. This site examines the lives of these fourteen men. Navigate the site by using the interactive timeline, and then focus in on images of each of these men, along with brief biographies. There is a pull down bar that allows you to specify which president to learn about. In addition, there are video interviews with four of the five living Vice-Presidents: Dick Cheney, George H.W. Bush, Dan Quayle, and Walter Mondale. 10123

In the Classroom:
Students might consider how the role of the Vice-President has changed over the course of US history. While the duties of the Vice-President are actually fairly limited, several of these Vice-Presidents became Presidents as a consequence of the death or assassination of the President. Students doing research on any of these fourteen former Presidents might find the information about their Vice-Presidencies useful. The images from this site would also be helpful projected on an interactive whiteboard or projector. Have cooperative learning groups create multimedia presentations to share with the class. Use a site such as Voicethread reviewed here. This site allows users to narrate a picture. Challenge students to find a photo (legally permitted to be reproduced), and then narrate the photo as if it is a news report.

For similar resources, click the appropriate keyword: US Vice-Presidents | US Presidents |

Making music - Grades 0 - 8 - permalink
Learn to play music by playing this simple on-screen piano. Simply press a piano key or run your finger down the keys on a touch screen to play the notes. Mouse users can also click on the keys. The keys are in different bright colors and marked with the note they play. 10149

In the Classroom:
Learn the keys and the notes of a piano with this site. Use this site with an interactive whiteboard or projector for a great group or class option. Music teachers can use this site on the interactive whiteboard while teaching students the sounds (and order) of the keyboard.

For similar resources, click the appropriate keyword: piano | music | notes |

Supalogo - Grades 3 - 12 - permalink
Need to create a quick logo? This logo generator is fast, easy, and free to use. No registration is required. Enter your text and click "options" to customize your logo. Options include a list of fonts, two gradient colors, and one outline color, and text sizes. View your logo before downloading as a png image or generating an embed code. You will need to know how to navigate finding images saved on a computer or using embed codes with various sites or blogs. Here is an example created by the TeachersFirst editorial team:

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In the Classroom:
Students can create custom logos for class blogs or site. Logos can also be created for use with multimedia projects and presentations. Have groups design logos for their project or for your class, then use them throughout the year to promote pride of ownership in class projects and accomplishments. During the first week of school, have students design “personal” logos that tell about themselves and include them on your class web page. Demonstrate this site on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Then have students try out the site on their own.

Timeline Index--People, Periods, Places, Events.... - Grades 6 - 12 - permalink
Young people do not always have a very good sense of time in a historical sense. They may view the Vietnam War, the invention of the light bulb, and the Protestant Reformation in much the same way: things that happened a long time ago. This site provides timelines for any possible historical subject and allows you to search by keyword, date or category to find different timelines. Search philosophers, painters, science, religion, middle ages, industrial age, Africa, Oceania, CDs, and countless others. Using the familiar five Ws (Who, When, What, Where, and Which) as a starting point, you can access timelines that are nested and hyperlinked allowing you to get more and more specific or general. In addition, most entries have links to outside websites that relate to the topic. There is also a “This Day in History” section, “Today’s Birthday,” and a “Quotation of the Day.” You can also download related history “widgets” if your district allows their use. As with any site that includes links to outside sites, exercise some caution in using the site. 10119

In the Classroom:
Younger students might grasp the timeline concept more easily using this website as a starting place. Older students may enjoy just "noodling" around on this site and seeing how different topics and times inter-relate. Check out the “Today in History” section together on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Challenge students to research a topic and create their own online timelines using a tool such as xtimeline reviewed here.

For similar resources, click the appropriate keyword: timelines | US History | World History |

Maths online - Grades 0 - 12 - permalink
Use these free math activities for learning math concepts from number grids to Algebra. There is something here for all grade levels. Examples include "Millennium Bug Racing" for mental math games between players and "Transformation Golf" for a great way to learn spatial relationships. At the time of this review, this site included eight interactive math activities.

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In the Classroom:
Use the Interactive whiteboard or projector to introduce this site and the activities. Create a station as a learning center for concept introduction, review, or practice. Use many of these activities and give students the opportunity to explain the math concept behind it to check for understanding. List this site on your class website or wiki for use both in and out of the classroom.

For similar resources, click the appropriate keyword: games | math | algebra | counting |

EtherPad - Grades 2 - 12 - permalink
TeachersFirst Edge review: for even slightly adventurous technology users. Ether pad is a tool for writing and collaborating in real time between up to 16 different contributors-- without erasing or overwriting each other's work! This tool starts up instantly, requiring no log-ins, tricky features or difficult tools. If you can type (and choose your favorite color), you can work on an EtherPad, a "pad" of virtual paper out in space on the Internet. The free version allows you to invite others to join you, either by sending them an email or, even easier, giving them the URL to your "pad." Here is a sample EtherPad, ready for you to add your own ideas for using EtherPad in the classroom! Unlike Google Docs, this tool does not require user accounts or email addresses, so even young students can participate in an EtherPad. 10147

In the Classroom:
Skills needed: Nothing special. No log-in needed Simply click "Create a new pad" or click/paste the link for an existing one, and away you go. Enter a name for yourself in the box at the right of the pad and click the colored square to set a color for the highlighting on your typing. Type away. Delete, add, etc. To Save, click "Save revisions" and SAVE NOW. Be sure to click SHARE and copy the URL (Ctrl+C to copy), so you can keep it in your favorites or recorded somewhere. Or you can email it to yourself. It will be impossible to find your "pad" without it! Up to 16 others can work on the pad at the same time, and their work will show in their own colors. When you and your collaborators are done with your "pad," click "Export" to save it as a word doc or other option. Try looking at the different versions you can "revert" to as your group works, too!

Safety/Security Concerns: Be sure you are within school policy to have students put work online. Have them use initials or a coded identifier instead of their real names. Each pad is public, if someone knows the URL, so outsiders could possibly add inappropriate content, but there is no display of "recent pads" or other ways someone could discover students' work. Students could also locate another student/group pad by URL and vandalize each other's work. Since changes can be reverted, all will not be lost.

Possible Uses: Have students make multiple "pads" to comment and write on several class topics. Ex. students add responses to questions, evaluations of web links, or critiques of passages assigned for in-class perusal and discussion... create an Etherpad collaborative "study guide" for the passages. A social studies teacher could provide links to seven articles on Iran today and students respond, explaining what they think is important about each article (a "pad" for each). Use Etherpads to evaluate web site/blog authority or bias. Younger kids could write cooperative stories on the pad(s) to use vocabulary, grammar skills, practice punctuating dialog, etc. World language teachers could have students compose dialog or scenes to act out on video. In Reading class, have students collaborate to compose a "main idea" statement or summary of a written passage, including in higher level content area reading. Pass-the-pad: use the pads to "jigsaw" summaries or explanations of new content knowledge between expert groups. Keep a master list of the pad URLs so groups can access and change as they learn. Eventually publish the "final" version by exporting it. Cooperative writing groups can revise on drafts (copy/paste in from other docs) - then export the version the writer likes best. BRAINSTORM in real time or across times and places. Write cooperative lab reports. "Meet" with another class (or screenpal) using Skype to talk and Etherpad to write, making notes together of your plans for an upcoming event or working together to compose a story, letter, or script. Write cooperative stories or poems. Keep student council or club "minutes' and plans. Be sure to add your own ideas on the sample EtherPad made by our review team.

For similar resources, click the appropriate keyword: online tools | collaboration | writing |

Toys from trash - Grades 0 - 10 - permalink
Looking for simple ways to showcase simple math and science concepts? No money for classroom materials? Look no further. Use these simple instructions for making educational toys using everyday materials. Each toy easily demonstrates concepts that are basic for understanding processes of science. View an unbelievable amount of toys under the following categories: "Amazing Astronomy," "Pumps from the Dump," "Math Magic," "Paper Fun," Tipping Toppling Toys," Motor and Generator," "Electricity and Magnetism," "Newton Unplugged," "Fun with Pressure," "Fun with Light," "Toys from Trash," "Simple Sounds," "Strong Structures," "Flying Toys," "Force Fun," "Spinning Toys," and others. View annotated photos of the construction process or download detailed instructions. This site requires adobe Acrobat. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page. 10135

In the Classroom:
Share this site on your projector or interactive whiteboard. Use the simple directions and pictures for students to make their own manipulatives. After creating and observing, students can share their observations and the math and science processes can be uncovered. Use these to uncover misconceptions and dispel myths that undermine understanding of processes. Group students to choose one manipulative and present the concept to the class. Challenge cooperative learning groups to create their own “Toy From Trash.” Have the groups create videos to share their “toys” and instructions. Share the video clips using a site such as Teachers.TV reviewed here.

Online Classic Children's Books - Grades 2 - 12 - permalink
This digital collection of over 500 classic children's books (and other literature) offers search by titles in alphabetical order and also by author. The list includes poetry, nature stories, historical fiction, legends, fables, individual biographies, ethical faith stories, and more! Much of the collection offers full text. Click on the name of the author to learn more about him or her. Click on the name of the piece of literature to see a summary or read the full text! 10141

In the Classroom:
If you are looking for favorite classic stories to use in your classroom, try this site. Project the text on your interactive whiteboard as examples for grammar exercises, such as highlighting adjectives or punctuating dialog. Practice “main idea” on your whiteboard using passages from a classic. Have students choose a book using this list. Instead of traditional book reports, have students create multimedia presentations. Have cooperative learning groups create podcasts using a site such as PodOmatic (reviewed here). Another idea: have students create online posters using a tool such as Wallwisher (reviewed here).

. Include this site on your website, wiki, blog, or newsletter that promotes summer reading. ESL and ELL students will appreciate having a ready source for extra reading.

For similar resources, click the appropriate keyword: classic children's books | classic children's authors | mythology |

Festicite - Grades 4 - 12 - permalink
This site contains a plethora of user-generated poems, tools for making poetry writing simple, opportunities to make comments on the poetry of others and also to submit one's own poetry. Students and teachers can search for poems by looking at those that have come in most recently, or by searching by categories, called "Tags." To search using this option, you must click on the “poems” tab at the top of the site. Be sure to know your school's policy on having students submit their work before allowing your students to share their poetry. Avid poetry lovers can also subscribe to poetry feeds using this site. 10057

In the Classroom:
Use this site to show your students that anyone can become a poet when they balk at reading poetry. Share some of the poetry on your projector or interactive whiteboard. Read some of your required poems and then look at the "Tags" and ask your students to decide where poetry written by others should be placed. Go on to ask them if they can think of other Tags to add. Since many of the poems here have holiday themes, use this as a quick activity before a holiday or to encourage students to reflect on family holiday traditions. ESL or ELL students will not have to worry so much about their grammar when embarking on poetry writing! They'll love to be thought creative. If you are permitted to “publish” your students’ poetry, why not go one step further and have them narrate a picture using the words from their poem at a site such as Voicethread reviewed here. Or have students share their poems using a podcasting site such as PodOmatic (reviewed here).

For similar resources, click the appropriate keyword: poetry writing | poem | poems |

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