TeachersFirst: Week of August 23, 2009

Featured Sites - Week of August 23, 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 .

Lure of the labyrinth - Grades 6 - 9 - permalink
Use this free learning tool that combines the best research of game theory to learn about pre-algebra. A compelling story is woven through multi-level puzzle play to build pre-algebra skills in proportions, fractions, ratios, variables, equations, and operations. Lure of the labyrinth is an underground world inhabited with monsters and really gross food and slimy materials sure to make a middle school student smile. Students operate in this activity as a monster avatar in a shadowy factory. The mission is to rescue and save their missing pet as well as others. Play this game individually or in teams. Players can communicate online to exchange ideas and strategies which encourage collaboration. Click on the "educator's guide" for great ideas and suggestions for integrating the game into your curriculum and the "quick start" for learning the basic ins and outs of the game. Videos are also available for learning the basic skills. Most students, however, know how to approach games and learn as they go. Registration with an email address for this site is required. Teachers should record student logins and passwords for students who may forget. Be sure to read the recommendations on the site for login creations as well as your district recommendations for student registrations. 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. 10165

In the Classroom:
Share this site on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Use this site to sharpen and advance pre-algebra skills using problem sets in this fun filled activity. Students groups can work collaboratively on solving problems. You may want to provide this link on your class website for additional enrichment at home (even if you don’t have the time to do the activities during class).

For similar resources, click the appropriate keyword: pre-algebra | puzzles | fractions | equations |

Simple Machines - Grades 3 - 8 - permalink
This site offers an exciting interactive activity utilizing the four standard simple machines. Come along with “Twitch,” the main character in this activity. Help Twitch find the spare robot parts throughout the museum and create simple machines. The site is very entertaining and even older students will enjoy learning through playing. At the conclusion of the activity, the force used for each segment of the game is displayed. Players are awarded points based on how little force was used as "Twitch" does not like to exert more effort or force than necessary.

The intro to the game is definitely worth watching to give students the "why" of the game. The only drawback is that while the player is to be reading the directions, the cursor changes to types of food and "Twitch" chases after it to eat the food. This could be distracting for some students. Although, it does add to the humor and excitement of the game. 10188

In the Classroom:
Share this site on your interactive whiteboard or projector. This site could be added to the class wiki to be played once basic lessons on simple machines have been completed, either as practice or reinforcement. It could be done in class or as homework.

The activity could also be used as a launch pad for a unit on simple machines. This game could be a great hook if the intro is played on the interactive whiteboard and the students are then allowed to play the game at their own pace.

For similar resources, click the appropriate keyword: Simple Machines | Force |

Educational Videos for kids - Grades 0 - 12 - permalink
This incredible site is a database of videos on an abundance of topics! They are arranged by topic and very easy to access. The general subjects include physical science, life science, earth and space, social studies, math, English, and the human body. Each of the subjects includes 10+ topics. And each of the topics includes countless videos. You truly have to see this collection to believe it! There are lessons “ready to go” on video: Civil Rights Movement, Ice Age, Allergies, Subtracting Negative Numbers, Electricity, and MANY others.

NOTE: Although the videos are listed on this site, they actually “live” elsewhere on the Internet, so some videos may be blocked in your school (those on YouTube, for example). Always pretest to be sure the video you hope to use is accessible at school! 10185

In the Classroom:
Share these videos on your interactive whiteboard or projector. This is a great site to use when planning for substitute teachers, as an introduction to a new unit, or even as additional information on a specific topic.

Challenge cooperative learning groups to create their own videos about topics being studied in social studies, science, math, or nearly any other topic. Share the videos using Teachers.TV reviewed here. Include this link on your class web page for students to access outside of schools for reinforcement and further exploration of concepts.

Whyzz - Grades 0 - 8 - permalink
Find yourself stumped by all the strange questions students have? Are you looking for somewhere to go where adults can find the answers? Use this site to ask your question. Just type your question into the text box and several options for answers appear. The site was created for use by parents with young children, but it can really appeal to any age. Answers are written by site experts and by users themselves. Talk about the “source” of information as you share this site with yoru students! Registration is not necessary to ask questions. In order to add comments or an answer to another question, you must register. Registering requires use of an email address. If you choose to register your class, here is a tip: rather than using your personal or work email, create a free Gmail account to use for memberships. If you plan to have students register individually, 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 to set up GMail subaccounts to use for any online membership service.

Once registered, your whyzz are kept as a record for review later. Site members can also comment on whyzz answers which are offered by many professionals. Each answer also features a section called "exploration" where additional learning can take place as well as "related whyzz." Check the spotlight, browse categories, and look at a featured answer. 10166

In the Classroom:
Teachers may be the experts but the greater gift is helping students find answers. Use this site as a class to receive kid friendly answers to normal and weird kid questions. Whyzz not only give the why, but also the hows and the whats! Have students create interactive projects that share the answers to the “WHY.” Have students create online posters on paper or do it together as a class using a tool such as Project Poster (reviewed here or PicLits (reviewed here. Share the link with parents of younger elementary students to use at home, as well!

For similar resources, click the appropriate keyword: why | questions |

Math Interactives - Grades 3 - 12 - permalink
Looking for interactive math resources and their use in everyday life? Math Interactives provide a variety of topics with interactive options for each. View "Use it" to access guided practice for students or "Explore it" for activities that can be used as a teacher demo or practice activities. Additional quicktime videos about the topic and support materials are included. Example topics in the "Number" category include Fractions, Integers, and Exponents. Other categories include "Patterns and Relations," "Shape and Space," and "Statistics and Probability."

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In the Classroom:
Use these great activities with an interactive whiteboard or projector to engage students and identify underlying math rules. Students can work individually or in groups on the "Use It" activities for guided practice in understanding the math concepts. Use the "Explore it" activities for additional practice or to uncover the math concepts. Students can create their own interactive directions using wikis, video or photo tutorials, or podcast which can be shared with others. Not sure where to begin with the multimedia projects? Not comfortable with wikis? Have no wiki worries – check out the Teacher’s First Wiki Walk-Through reviewed here. Having students create a video? Use a video sharing site such as Teachers.TV reviewed here. Looking to narrate an image? Try VoiceThread reviewed here. Not sure where to create Podcasts? Try a site such as PodOmatic (reviewed here).

Wordnik - Grades 0 - 12 - permalink
Use wordnik (still in beta, at the time of this review) to find definitions, examples, and more about words you enter into the search box. Many examples of the word used in context will help you better understand the definitions. No need to register (even though there is an opportunity to sign up), as searching for words does not require a log in. Simply enter your word and click "find a word." Several examples, definitions, and other dictionary entries appear. Click on additional tabs across the top such as "related words," "pronunciations," "examples," and "etymology." Under pronunciations, play an audio file to learn how to pronounce the word.

Important note: As with many dictionaries, students will be able to find words that are not appropriate for the classroom. A quick check of the web browser’s History will tell you what they have been looking up should you notice a bit too much “interest” in looking up words! Wordnik does add an exclamation point graphic next to inappropriate (swear) words.

If you register, you can add notes to each entry for future use, report typos, and enter information about words. Registering requires use of an email address. If you choose to register your class, here is a tip: rather than using your personal or work email, create a free Gmail account to use for memberships. If you plan to have students register individually, 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 to set up GMail subaccounts to use for any online membership service. 10172

In the Classroom:
Use wordnik when students are stumped with definitions or uses of a word. Demonstrate how context clues can help readers understand meanings. Increase vocabulary by finding words that are giving students problems during a lesson and assigning those words to be examined by students. Use wordnik to find words of the day. Students can use wordnik to find examples of the word and create technology or conventional displays of information. Have students create online posters displaying their new vocabulary words. Use an online poster creator, such as Wallwisher, (reviewed here). Another technology infused idea: create an online glossary book as a class (or in cooperative learning groups) using a tool such as Bookemon, reviewed here.

D - Scribblemaps - Grades 2 - 12 - permalink
Teachers First Edge Review: For ANY technology user or for slightly adventurous ones, depending on the features you wish to use. Create a colorful and personalized map with added scribbles and labels. Add pictures, draw or create shapes, and illustrate with other options. Save your map as a file, save the URL to return later, or use an embed code to place the annotated map into a blog or site. Many zoom and search functions are available, including Google Maps terrain and satellite views. 10173

In the Classroom:
Skills needed: Users need to be able to play with the scribblemaps buttons to see what they do. Identifying the url of an online picture is necessary in order to place into a map (right-click to look at the properties.) Copy/paste the completed map’s URL to send to others or revisit later. Understanding of using embed codes in a site, wiki, or blog is necessary to be able to share in that manner.

Using Scribblemaps: Find tools across the top of the map. Click on each icon to select, drag map, erase, scribble, draw lines or shapes, place text in a text box, add a placemark, add an image, or change the colors of lines. Click menu for options such as "Save," "Print," "Widget" (embed code,) and "Save a KML" (Google Earth layer,) among others. Saved maps can be reloaded by URL. Search for specific places and zoom in for greater detail or turn on different views.

Safety/Security concerns: As no login is necessary to use, students can use anonymously. Go to the MENU to Save a map and COPY/paste the URL provided at saving so you can return to it later or share the map with others via email or URL. Note that anyone who accesses the map can alter it. Here is a sample created quickly by TeachersFirst staff. Students should be cautioned about damaging work by others.

Classroom use: Share this site (and how to use it) on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Instead of a conventional poster or report, consider using scribble maps to display information learned. Use for any subject area, but it would be especially good for history, geography, and world cultures. Easily draw a timeline on a map. For example, enemy occupation during war , the days of the Battle of Gettysburg, or westward expansion of the US can easily be drawn through the creation of scribble lines. Follow geographic areas in literature and use scribblemaps to provide the basics of the story or character. Review art from around the world, discuss contributions of cultures, or find the origins of animals and plants from around the world. The possibilities are endless!

For similar resources, click the appropriate keyword: maps | scribble |

The National Parks: America's Best Idea - Grades 4 - 12 - permalink
Ken Burns has been busy again, this time creating a film about the US National Parks. The film debuts on Public Broadcasting in September 2009; the site carries a clip film. In conjunction with the film's release, PBS stations and national parks across the US have planned activities. The site carries a calendar of events that you can customize by state to see what might be near you. To make the site more collaborative, you can submit a story and pictures about a visit to a national park which will become part of the resources available to others. There is an extensive bank of other web resources as well. Coming soon will be lesson plan packets available to teachers. 10175

In the Classroom:
One section of the site enables you to design a national park postcard to email to a friend. Groups of students might research individual national parks (links to the NPS site appear on this site) and circulate their own postcards to other groups. Students can also "collect" national park badges that can be cut and pasted into personal or class websites. You could also have cooperative learning groups create multimedia projects about various National Parks. Have students create online posters or do it together as a class using a tool such as Project Poster (reviewed here) or PicLits (reviewed here). If you are near a national park, be sure and check the calendar of events and consider a field trip. If you are near a park, your students could create an online park tour to share with others far away! Try a tool such as Tabblo (reviewed here)to create it!

For similar resources, click the appropriate keyword: National Parks | Ken Burns |

Swine Flu - Made Simple - Grades 0 - 8 - permalink
This site offers a short (5-minute) video explaining the Swine Flu. Learn about the symptoms, causes, how to avoid spreading the flu, and more. This site does include some advertising. To avoid advertising, click on the full screen box (bottom right). 10192

In the Classroom:
Share this site on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Have cooperative learning groups create multimedia presentations (focusing on causes, the flu itself, how it spreads, how to better protect themselves, etc.). Have groups create commercials about their topic, and complete additional research. Video the commercials and share them on a site such as Teachers.TV reviewed here. Provide this link on your class website for students to share with their parents. See also this full listing of TeachersFirst Editors' Choice listings on the H1N1 flu.

For similar resources, click the appropriate keyword: H1N1 | Swine Flu |

History Animated - Grades 6 - 12 - permalink
You know how TV documentaries highlight their explanations of war with cool battlefield animation? This site enables teachers to project animations on an interactive whiteboard or projector as a supplement to class presentations. The site has its limitations: at the time of this review, only animations of the Pacific theatre of WWII, the Civil War, and the American Revolution are available. More battles are promised for the future. The animation is rudimentary; moving dotted lines, the usual color-coded boxes to represent troops, and fairly primitive sounds. Students who are used to high graphic video games might even find the animation amusing, and middle school boys are sure to laugh at the "explosions" that represent conflicts. Sadly, there are typos in the text that accompanies the animations. Nearly all links worked at the time of this review. On the other hand, the site will provide visual learners with maps, the details of troop movement, and a good overview of the wars' major battles. 10174

In the Classroom:
The obvious use is to illustrate battles on an interactive whiteboard or projector during a lecture or class discussion. This site might also be useful as a link students can explore from home as part of a homework assignment or enrichment activity. Have students research this site and other information about their “battle” and create a multimedia project. How about a “talking map” indicating where a battle took place with audio recording. Use a site such as Mapskip (reviewed here).

A group of talented future animators might be challenged to envision similar animations for battles that are not already included. Note that you can register on the site to be notified as future battles are added.

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