TeachersFirst: Week of September 20, 2009

Featured Sites - Week of September 20, 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 .

Tween Tribune - Grades 3 - 9 - permalink
This site is jam packed with current news stories that are chosen by site coordinators for the "tween" (age 8-14) audience. Middle school audiences will find the article easy to read, relate to, and understand. The site is easy to navigate with a subject indexed toolbar and it is searchable. There is even a "your town" section for local news stories. All stories are current because the creators scour the internet weekly for age appropriate material. It greatly reduces the pressure of searching by giving an article research tool that is much more specific than simply using a search engine.

If you want to allow your students to post a comment on a blog, they do need to register with the site. Registration requires a username and password (no email address). Visit the “For Teachers” link to learn more about the site and how to use and customize (free) for use with your classes safely and in compliance with federal laws. 10239

In the Classroom:
The sky is the limit for potential and possibilities with this website. There are some minor warnings. If you want to allow your students to post to a blog, you will need to create a class and then have them enroll. The great news is that is free. As the teacher, you can moderate or delete posts before they are public.

There are lessons available on the site as well as a "Teacher's Lounge" where lesson ideas can be exchanged.

In a language arts classroom, students could be assigned to read and blog as a weekly writing assignment. The teacher can assign a specific article or have students choose. Have students read their articles on a podcast using PodOmatic (reviewed here). In science, articles from this site could be used to supplement science textbook reading with current articles that better interest students.

Articles are short and provide quick practice pieces for non-fiction reading comprehension. Project a story and ask students to write their own sentence for the main idea or to summarize. These quick pieces would fit well on your interactive whiteboard.

For similar resources, click the appropriate keyword: Articles | Research | Current Events |

Newsy - Grades 5 - 12 - permalink
This site presents current news stories from multiple perspectives, featuring videos and commentary from the world's top newspapers. All the video news clips offer a complete transcript (click on "transcript" just below the video window). General topics covered include the U.S., the world, the environment, culture, technology, economy, and politics. Students can see short news clips, make comments blog style, and read news articles from newspapers around the world. Anyone can view the material, but you must register to be able to make comments. 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. 10214

In the Classroom:
This site is ideal for your interactive whiteboard or projector, learning station, or on individual computers (with headsets). Use this site to keep your students up to date on current events. Have students compare the different versions of the same news stories to try and ferret out the facts and the way points of view affect reporting. Project the scripts on an interactive whiteboard to have students highlight language choices that provide a certain slant. ESL/ELL students will benefit from listening to the short news clips and being able to see the transcript of the report. Have your ESL/ELL students write their own comprehension questions and answers based on the podcast to check their own comprehension and to exchange with classmates. Use an online tool such as Interactive Two Circle Venn Diagram (reviewed here) to compare the differences in two newspapers' versions of the same news. Have ESL/ELL students present the news from a newspaper familiar to them if possible by having them prepare an introduction and questions. Learning support students can use the transcripts and videos in combination to understand and report weekly current events assignments for social studies class.

For similar resources, click the appropriate keyword: current news | news clips | video news | world newspapers |

Kikki's Workshop - Grades 0 - 5 - permalink
Calling all builders - this site has it all! View interactives, videos, the "Great Picture Book of Construction Equipment," "Everything about Construction Equipment," Q and A, printables, and more. This site is full of great information about construction equipment, perfect for invention units, physics of simple machines, engineering, and more. There is also a link to learn more about anti-mine equipment, sure to spark some serious class discussion with older students. 10275

In the Classroom:
During a physics unit on simple machines, have students look at the various components of the heavy equipment and analyze which simple machines they see as PART of these huge machines. Doing a unit on inventions? Discuss how the inventions of these machines were designed specifically to meet a need. Use this site during a unit on engineering as you learn about how these machines are designed to accomplish a specific task. With older students, discuss the uses of the anti-mine equipment. Create a class "Construction Wiki" where all students contribute after researching specific equipment. Not comfortable with wikis? Have no wiki worries – check out the Teacher’s First Wiki Walk-Through reviewed here.

KML Factbook - Grades 4 - 12 - permalink
Combine data sets from International agencies with the visualization of Google Earth 3D or Goog Maps 2D for a great way to look at data. Search data such as population growth rates, birth rates, education expenditures, and age structure diagrams by clicking and highlighting the data set and then clicking the "preview in map button." Click "download kml file" to save this file for others to see. This file can be embedded into a blog, wiki, or website. Choose between 2D, 3D, or data views for the information as well as using different coloring for portions of data. Rotate the globe on the screen to view other areas. Click on a country to view a pop up box that displays detailed information. Data sets can be downloaded through the link at the bottom. If you do not have access to Google Earth (free, loadable) software, you can use the data in Google Maps without installing anything. 10171

In the Classroom:
Assign students various countries within a data set to make comparisons. Tie the data to biological, geographical, cultural, and social issues that exist in the world. Bring a greater understanding to economic and environmental issues currently a problem in many countries throughout the world. World language classes can see this data to help students understand the cultures of the countries where the language is spoken. Have students use an online graphing tool such as Chartgo, reviewed here to display results. Compare specific attributes of two countries using an online Venn Diagram, such as the one (reviewed here). Another idea: have cooperative learning groups use this resource to create online books about the country using a resource such as Bookemon, reviewed here. How about having students research using this site and then create a project using Woices, (reviewed here). This site allows students to create audio recordings AND choose a location (on a map) where the story takes place.

Chartgo - Grades 2 - 12 - permalink
Create a graph simply and easily. Choose a graph type from a variety of choices such as Pie, Bar, Line, or Area. Also choose 2D or 3D as a dimension and add labels, legends, or gridlines. Enter text for the titles as well as the X and Y axes. Create your graph and view the image. Copy the URL for the graph and paste into a blog, wiki, or website to share. Right click on the graph image to save to your computer (use control click in a Mac.)

10211

In the Classroom:
Create data in your classroom and quickly create a graph to represent it. Share through links or adding images to blogs, wikis, or websites. Graphs can also be shared on an interactive whiteboard or projector for better analysis of data by the class. Graph results of a test, answers from students, favorite foods, fictitious budgets, class schedules, and whatever else is applicable in your classroom. Have cooperative learning groups create their own graphs to share with the class. Use this tool to create quick pie chart or bar graph on your interactive whiteboard whenever you count class votes or encounter other data so students “see” data on a regular basis and visual students have another way to absorb the information. Keep the link handy on your web page to access it quickly in or out of class.

For similar resources, click the appropriate keyword: graphs | diagrams | data |

Tickets to Fresh Adventures - Grades 0 - 3 - permalink
FoodPlay is a website (PDF file) that focuses on teaching good nutritional habits to young children. Through Tickets to Fresh Adventures, students can take a hands-on approach to learning the benefits of good nutrition. The printable PDF file provides 14 easy-to-prepare, kid-friendly, healthy snacks on ticket-style recipe cards. Instructions for making the snacks are located on the reverse side of each card. Print and laminate the colorful tickets for easy distribution. For a black and white version of the tickets, 10258

In the Classroom:
Create a "Recipe of the Day" using the Tickets for Fresh Adventure. Share the recipes on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Or print and laminate the recipes and create a learning center. Break students into small groups and have them create the dish together. Integrate language arts into the fun by including a "Food Journal" to record student thoughts and observations regarding the process of making the dish, the difficulty level and if they would make it again. How about creating a class wiki. Even if students are too young to type themselves, you could highlight the activity for the students and parents to see both in and out of the classroom (with student input, of course). Use the Food Pyramid to identify the food groups that are used in each recipe. Videotape each group making one of the recipes and use as a class presentation for various skills such as following directions and sequencing. Share the videos on a site such as TeacherTube reviewed here. Teach across the curriculum by adding the math concepts of measurement to the lessons. Be sure to list this site on your class webpage so students (and parents) can try some of these tasty treats at home.

ilikethispoem - Grades 7 - 12 - permalink
This poetry blog shares poems collected as a personal, non-profit exercise in sharing. The poems include audio recordings by the blog creator or from other sources (credited). Poems are categorized and display in full text versions.

Unfortunately, the categories include "erotic," so this site is NOT recommended for students to access on their own in your classroom or by your assignment! 10249

In the Classroom:
Share specific poems and recordings as well as the overall format of this poetry site during your unit on poetry. Project it or use an interactive whiteboard and the various tools to highlight, annotate, and more. Then challenge students to create their own WeLikeThesePoems blog using the same model: collect the poems (from copyright-safe sources), record a reading of them, and include a critique or statement explaining why they like the poems. Use a whole-class blog, but allow each student to contribute and to comment on the contributions of others. Allow students to "tag" poems they like with their initials, so anyone can "see" their list of like by clicking on that category tag. Not sure about how blogs work? Start from TeachersFirst's Blog Basics to learn how.

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

Learning Disabilities Resource Community - Grades 0 - 12 - permalink
This website offers a cache of Learning Disability information for teachers and parents submitted by members of this “community.” Articles, discussion boards, courses, intelligence tests, and links offer a full array of resources for you, for parents, or for staff development. Because content is user-submitted, there is a wide variety of information, and a few self-serving posts to “plug” a certain product. Most content is useful, easy to understand, and “agenda”- free. There are sidebar ads. You must do a quick sign-in to access all this site offers, including customizing your own webpage within this site. Sign-in does require an email address. 10260

In the Classroom:
This site would be great for parents who need to understand the scope of a Learning Disability in their child. Be sure to post this site on your class website. Customize your own page within this website to share with colleagues and parents. Middle and high school students mature enough to read about their own learning disability might find this site helpful, as well.

The Multiple Intelligence Inventory would be a great “first week” activity for students to complete to learn more about their own learning styles and strengths.

Calculation Nation - Grades 4 - 9 - permalink
Online games CAN help students learn! Use this free site to play math games against other opponents or a computer. Learn about fractions, factors, multiples, and symmetry among others. Practice important skills using basic multiplication and have fun learning math. In order to play all games, a log in is required. However, you can do some of the activities using a “Guest Pass.” Just click on the “Guest Pass” link to begin. With this option, you can’t play against other players – only the computer. At the time of this review, all five interactives were available to guests. Log in to play against others in and out of your class. Registering with the site also allows you to save your game.

Specific activities include "Square Off," "Factor Dazzle," "Fraction Feud," "Times Square," and "Slam Ball". Click on the "For Parents and Educators" tab to learn more about each game and the content area being addressed. 10224

In the Classroom:
Students can create a login to save their game play as well as challenge others in their class or elsewhere. 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.

You may allow students to self-register, but be sure to keep a written record of their passwords for when they “forget.” It may be worth your time to do advanced registration for your younger students. Consider creating class accounts that you control for students to login. Click on the "For Parents and Educators" tab to access set up and play directions as well as other related activities and suggestions for the classroom.

Fact Check Ed - Grades 4 - 12 - permalink
Confused about media messages? This is not only a problem for students but also adults. Use the lesson plans and examples in this site to teach students to be smart consumers and follow steps to analyze information and uncover truths. 10230

In the Classroom:
Follow the guide to lesson plans for great activities on "Deductive and Inductive Reasoning," "The Language of Deception," and "Background Beliefs" among many others. Attachments for each activity include student and teacher handouts. Use these lessons for 21st century literacy skills as well as for traditional reading comprehension activities made relevant to today’s “reading” media.

Brainflips - Grades 0 - 12 - permalink
Teachers First Edge Review: For the slightly adventurous. Use this free web site to create flashcards for teacher or individual student use. There is also a link to “Study Flashcards” that are already ready to go. There are literally HUNDREDS of ready to go flashcard packets: presidents, addition, algebra, music, and more.

If you are creating your own, you can add images, video, or audio. Study flashcards online or share with others in created study groups. Use flashcards to learn new information (question and answer are side by side,) study (shows the question and then the answer,) or quiz themselves by entering answers. Create a game with the flashcards by using a timer and score board on the site. Share flashcard sets with others by sending a URL address or create study groups to share. View public flashcards created by others by using their search feature. 10271

In the Classroom:
Skills needed: You can access the already created flashcards without any account, email, or age requirements. However, if you wish to create flashcards, an email and birth date is required to create an account. Users must be 13 years of age or older. Verifying email is required to create flashcards.

Using Brainflips: Use the Deck panel to enter flashcard deck title and other basic information. Use the Card panel to add, edit, and change the order of the flashcards in the deck. Create text or multiple choice answers for each flashcard and even enter alternative answers. Click "Insert" above the question field to add images, audio, and video to flashcards.

Safety/Security: Since an email and birth date are required, consider creating a class account for teacher use or for groups of students to use. Create teacher flashcards for class use by creating card decks and providing the URL for students to use. The home page of this site includes changing “featured” content contributed by the general public. Check ahead of time to be sure it is suitable for the classroom. You may want to send students to the flashcards via a direct link to the deck. You may want to prohibit or point out the links to advertising located along the top and sides of the site. Students must have individual accounts to create flashcards on their own(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.

Possible uses: Facts, spelling words, vocabulary, definitions, foreign language, root words, historical names -— all can easily be typed into this flashcard format for any subject. Plan a system of tags for sets on related material so they can be grouped. For example: tag all geography terms "geography" and all words from the same science chapter using the chapter number or topic. You can use multiple tags, too! In the computer lab, using a projector or interactive whiteboard, walk your students through making their own sets of flashcards or using teacher created flashcards for student and group use. Students or parents can then access their electronic cards at home or anywhere with a specific URL that can be placed on any teacher blog or website. No email address is needed to use the cards, only to create the cards. Include the link to your sets on your web page for students to study before tests. Collaborate with other teachers to create useful sets for all to use. Rotate responsibility each marking period among student groups in your class to create a set for each chapter/unit/week for the rest of the class to use as review. Give a special award (or bonus points) for the most creative, complete set that marking period. Learning support teachers may want to work together with small student groups to create verbal and visual card sets to accompany the chapters they are studying. Involve the students in the process so they can reinforce new content as they create their own “study materials” with color coding, images, and more.

Lightning Bug - Grades 4 - 12 - permalink
The title graphic on this site tells it all: "Your writing partner, helping you write a story from beginning to The End." Intended for young writers to be able to use on their own, this site includes ideas and exercises to find story ideas, develop the story, improve it, finish it, and share it in writing contests or publications. The notebook paper "look" adds appeal to pages that might otherwise be text-heavy, and the tone is supportive but not condescending. There are teacher resources, including printables for writing exercises, and extensive links and ideas for the classroom. Don't miss the writing prompts in the teaching resource area under "Dozens of writing ideas for the classroom." You can also find tips on setting up writing centers in your classroom and lesson plans for teaching story writing. The quick links in the footer of the home page provide a good overview of the site's extensive topics. Note: the site does have a small book sales area and links to both Twitter and Facebook. These are likely to be blocked by your school web filter and are not essential for use of the site. If students use the site from home, their use of these social tools to learn more about writing and writers should be in accordance with their parents' permission and the tools' age policies. 10247

In the Classroom:
Share this site both in and out of class as a place where story writers can stretch, refresh, and improve. Many of the writing lessons and activities are also well-suited to interactive whiteboards or projectors. You can plan an entire story-writing unit or simply improve on certain aspects of writing here. Share the link on your class web page for students to access when they are stumped for writing ideas. Steer your motivated writers to explore this site on their own or assign small groups to become specialists on one of the writing exercises and then teach it to the class or blog about it. Use the ideas from this site for students to write cooperative stories using a wiki or a tool such as Etherpad, reviewed here. Encourage young writers to submit entries in writing contests listed here or to explore the site further during summer and holiday breaks.

For similar resources, click the appropriate keyword: writing | prompts | narrative | story |

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