TeachersFirst: Week of August 16, 2009

Featured Sites - Week of August 16, 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 .

Stop Disasters - Grades 4 - 12 - permalink
Create different scenarios for disasters in this easy to use interactive for learning about disaster prevention. Stop Disasters is free and plays in the browser window without download to a computer. Each scenario has different skill levels (easy, medium, or hard) and choices that appeal to a wide range of ages. Each time a scenario is played; results continually vary just as natural disasters in the real world. Choose from the following disasters: "Hurricanes," "Earthquakes," "Tsunamis," "Wildfire," or "Floods." Scenarios run in under twenty minutes and scores can be saved by entering a name. Replay of games update top scores. Click on "Information" for materials for both students and teachers. Materials include additional links for information as well as downloadable fact sheets. This site requires Flash and Adobe Acrobat (for downloaded fact sheets.) Get both from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page. 10134

In the Classroom:
Create groups of students to run scenarios. Student groups can analyze and determine best scenarios and courses of actions for prevention. After play, groups can analyze past disasters for real life perspectives as well as current conditions in the world for current disaster prevention measures. Use an interactive map to plot locations students find for each disaster. Have students use a mapping tool such as Mapskip (reviewed here) to create a map with audio stories and pictures included! Student groups can create a conventional or multimedia presentation on the different types of disasters and possible locations around the world.

Soshiku (Homework Tracker) - Grades 5 - 12 - permalink
No homework turned in? Then your students must not know about Soshiku. This free site came into existence by a 17-year-old student, Andrew Schaper, who was tired of searching for easy-to-use, reliable homework tracking sites. Creating Soshiku alleviated his frustration. Using Soshiku requires a quick registration for login information, and then it sends out reminders to your students via text messaging, email, or web interface. Do you want to learn more? Click the “Take A Tour” button to learn all about this useful site! As with any site registration, check with your school’s policy on email address sharing and membership. Rather than providing personal email addresses, try Gmail. You can 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.

At the time of this review, there were no ads to worry about. For those projects that require collaboration, this site allows users to share information with other group members, assign tasks and share important documents. (Again, the ability to monitor what your students will be sharing is nil, so beware of school policy.) 9789

In the Classroom:
For students who need additional help in organizing assignments (think about your focus-deficit students), encourage the use of this site through sharing this link on your class website. With school policy in check, teachers may opt to set up student accounts early in the school year. Perhaps, setting up accounts can be performed school wide during computer classes.

For similar resources, click the appropriate keyword: Homework Tracker | organizer | task organizer | |

Book Foldables - Grades 0 - 8 - permalink
So you’re going to make books for the creative writing projects your class has been working on? You need a quick format that looks amazing. Try this Foldables site. Here you will find a variety of book formats, including an accordion style, lapbooking, door folds, shutters, and many more. Because each foldable is in .pdf format, having a fast internet connection is advantageous. Be patient waiting for downloads! Once the foldable is downloaded, you will find directions and samples from which to make your own. This site requires Adobe Acrobat Get it here: TeachersFirst Toolbox page. 10131

In the Classroom:
Make a sample of each book and display them on a bulletin board. When making books throughout the year, the suggestions are readily available for your students to see. Put a sample of each in your writing center. Have an adult volunteer make a cache of blank foldable books at the beginning of the year so they are immediately available when your students finally “publish” their writing projects.

For similar resources, click the appropriate keyword: book making | foldables | publishing | creative writing |

Discover the Forest - Grades 0 - 8 - permalink
Bring the forest into your classroom with these educational interactives. Match animal tracks, learn how to use a compass, and create leaf rubbings. Download and print the "Book of stuff to do outside." Sound can be turned on or off along the bottom of the site. This site requires Adobe reader. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page. 10163

In the Classroom:
Discover the forest from the classroom. Find nature sounds and create your own nature podcast or audio recording. Use a site such as PodOmatic (reviewed here). Collect leaves from around the area to create your own leaf rubbings and posters. Create animal tracks of domestic animals to view the difference in tracks.

For similar resources, click the appropriate keyword: nature | forests | erthday |

Visual Economics - Grades 6 - 12 - permalink
This site presents economic facts in graphic form. Want to see a map of unemployment rates around the world? How about an illustrated pie chart of how the average US consumer spends money? Wasteful government "earmarks"? You will find these here and more. Possible bias alert! The creator of the site is an online credit and loan company, which may have a particular agenda in mind.

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In the Classroom:
Most of the graphics here are perfect for a one shot view on an interactive whiteboard or projector. Teachers should be aware that it's possible to comment on each of the graphics. Scrolling down reveals whatever someone may have sent in as a comment; preview carefully. One particular graphic, the consumer spending pie chart, would be useful in a consumer math class or "Real Life 101" class. Any of the charts could be used for real life data in a math class, or to teach students how to interpret charts and graphs, a topic appearing on most standardized state tests.

Solar Symphony Game: Sounds of the Solar System - Grades 3 - 12 - permalink
This visually exciting site offers both background information on the planets and a unique way for students to remember the order of the planets. To play the game, students hit the letter key that corresponds to the beginning letter of the planet name whenever the planet, rotating around the sun, hits the "hot zone." The music, flashing lights, planetary movement, and other effects make this activity extremely engaging. Students will love the excitement of this game so much they will not even know they are learning something! This site is up to date (Pluto is not included). Gustav Holst’s famous composition, The Planets serves as the musical accompaniment! The site has some minor advertisements. 10144

In the Classroom:
Share HOW to use this site on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Have students try out the site on individual computers. Make sure you provide headsets! Be sure to list this site on your class website, blog, or wiki for students to use as a review for their study of planet names, solar system planet order, and speed of rotation. Music teachers can use this site as an example of musical description as students explore the planets. Be sure to turn up the speakers!

For similar resources, click the appropriate keyword: solar system | planets | astronomy |

Bookshare: Books without Barriers - Grades 2 - 12 - permalink
This site allows FREE access to a number of books, newspapers, and magazines, all using adaptive technology. After a free registration (available to participants with documented limited vision), members can download books, textbooks, and newspapers in a compressed, encrypted file. They then read the material using adaptive technology, typically software that reads the book aloud (text-to-speech) and/or displays the text of the book on a computer screen, or Braille access devices, such as refreshable Braille displays. The advantage to this site is that it offers newer books and other written materials than many other online digital libraries. Besides written items, a number of videos are available which assist or focus on typical Bookshare users, many featuring them as success stories. A special page of information for teachers with limited vision students includes information such as other resources, reading lists, and handouts. 10143

In the Classroom:
If you have students with limited vision or certain specific qualifying learning disabilities in your class, be sure to save this useful resource in your favorites. List this link on your class website or wiki or email it to parents of these children. If possible, share this site with those teachers working with students with limited vision and qualifying disabilities.

For similar resources, click the appropriate keyword: limited vision materials | adaptive technology | visually impaired | disabilities |

Over the Top - Grades 3 - 12 - permalink
Use Over the Top to explore life as a World War I soldier in the trenches. This interactive adventure is in the form of a story. An introduction page sets the stage for the site as well as providing helpful hints and an overview. Click "Begin Your Adventure" to start. For connections with slower speeds, click on "Low Graphics Version" for a faster alternative. Enter a first name, last name, friend's name, and city to begin. Check your school policies on whether student names may be displayed online and what information is permitted (perhaps initials are suggested), then enforce that policy with your students. The pop up shows an animated cartoon, written narrative below, and audio that reads the narrative. The scene can be replayed for any information missed. Audio can be adjusted in the upper right hand corner and the narratives can also be displayed in French. Turn to the next frame using the arrow to the right. Go back to the previous screen with the left arrow. Click on words that are underlined as they are live links that bring up definition boxes for understanding of key vocabulary terms. At points in the story, students can choose one or more options for more detailed stories. Students and buddy names as well as the name of the town appear throughout the story. 10155

In the Classroom:
Share this site on your interactive whiteboard or projector, if individual computers aren’t available. If students are working in groups or individually, don’t forget the headsets!

Students can pass through the scenes by recording vocabulary words. Have students identify the minor and major difficulties that soldiers during world War I faced. Research how the needs of soldiers were met those days and the agencies or people that helped the troops. Have students create a podcast, or other multimedia project to share their findings. For a podcasting site, try PodOmatic (reviewed here). Compare and contrast military stories today with those of the past to find parallels and differences in military service throughout history. Have groups create an online Venn Diagram comparing the similarities and differences, try a FREE site like this one, (reviewed here). Create class discussions of propaganda, expectations of the military, and different ways that soldiers are portrayed by the media, the public, and in other print materials.

Study Stack - Grades 4 - 12 - permalink
This site is filled with study tools to help students learn information in a variety of subject areas. Stacks of topics related to geography, history, math, languages, medical, tests (SAT, ACT, etc.), science and more are linked with collections of learning tools that include virtual study cards, matching games, word search puzzles, and hangman games. There really is something here for nearly all subject areas and grade levels! Students can select the tool that works best for them and work at their own pace until they are satisfied with their progress. If you can’t find a stack to fit your needs, you can edit existing lists or create customized study stacks. The site also allows you to print out study cards, or export flash cards to study them via cell phones, PDA, or iPod. Email the stacks to peers or connect with Study Stack through Facebook. Some of the activities require Java. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page. 10129

In the Classroom:
Encourage parents to use this site as a study-at-home tool for their students. Link your blog or website to this site by entering your url at the bottom of the homepage. Make sure your guidance counselor at your school is aware of this site as a tool for studying those college entrance tests. Be sure to save this site in your favorites.

SnapPages - Grades 9 - 12 - permalink
Teachers First Edge Review: For adventurous technology users. Create a website in mere minutes using this free and easy to use interface. There is a "Pro Account" that is for a fee, but the "Personal Account" is FREE! An email address is required for site creation. Enter a username (which will be the name of your site). This tool offers highly visual, pleasing “looks.” 10179

In the Classroom:
Skills needed: Entering and remembering usernames and passwords are necessary. An email address is required to verify information before beginning. If students are creating pages, be sure to check with your district policy on student use of email as well as publishing of student information. You may wish to have a master snappages site or other website that links to all the student sites for ease of finding information. Alternately, use a word document to record student sites. If snappages are used primarily as a student blog, use feed settings on the blog page of the master site to import feeds from all students in the class. Users need to be able to enter correct url's of sites to manage feeds. An understanding of feeds and management of simple sites is necessary.

To use SnapPages: After verification through email, follow the screens to choose your template, learn basics of the site, and create pages through the control panel. Pages that can be created include "Home," "About Me," "Blog," "Photos," and "Calendar." Click on the page to change, click "Edit," and then click on each text or headline field to edit these sections. Buttons below allow changes in heading, font, and other styles. Click "Cancel," "Save," or "Preview" at the bottom of the page when done. Easily change permissions or revert to a previous version. Click on "Applications" to access the various pages created. Also access your themes, and friends through "Applications." Through the Friends tab, you can chat (called a "Gab",) exchange information, and create a profile. Clicking on "Help" takes you to the user forum, FAQ pages, and more help. Easily import feeds from another blog. These feeds do not just appear along the side as a link, but will bring in all posts in chronological order. See an example Snappage here: http://hurricanemaine.snappages.com

Safety/Security: This site allows outsiders to comment, mark favorites, or interact with blog posts. Many school policies prohibit such interaction, so be sure to check your school policy. You will want to discuss these features in the context of Internet Safety or establish specific written class rules and consequences for interacting with outsiders. Students can create their own snappages including blog pages. Look and discuss different privacy options for best use of the pages. Consider a class snappage with multiple authors to create class content instead if individual pages are not needed. Students must have individual accounts (email required). 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.

All students will have access to comment on each others' work, so you may want to spell out specific consequences for inappropriate commenting depending on your students. Address possible misuse (especially of the gab function,) by discussing consequences and managing project/class time to keep students on task.

Possible uses: Have students create their own snappages. Link these feeds together on a master snappage for ease of finding recent blogposts. Students can easily comment on each others' work and begin great conversations about issues in any content area. Create a class snappage with multiple authors that report on class projects, happenings, or important information. Share major class events, photos (within school policies), or even student artwork using this visual forum. Senior high students might want to create art or writing portfolios for use in college admissions.

For similar resources, click the appropriate keyword: website | blog | photos | web page |

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