TeachersFirst - Featured Sites: Week of Oct 11, 2015

Here are this week's features. Clicking the tags in the description area of each listing will present a list of other resources with this topic. | Click here to return to the Featured Sites Archive

 

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Odyssey - CartoDB

Grades
6 to 12
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Build interactive, map-based stories without coding skills using the Odyssey open source library. Click Create Story to begin and follow the prompts to choose a template for slides,...more
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Build interactive, map-based stories without coding skills using the Odyssey open source library. Click Create Story to begin and follow the prompts to choose a template for slides, scrolling, or an animated story template. Add story content, images, links, and more within the "sandbox." When finished, publish directly to GetHub, download, or share as iFrame to embed directly into your blog or website.

tag(s): digital storytelling (142), gamification (74), images (270), interactive stories (20), maps (208)

In the Classroom

Most storytellers will find a bit of a learning curve to working with Odyssey, click on the three bars on the left top of the home page to find the Quick Start Guide tutorial for using the site. Share this site with tech-savvy students so they can be experts and help others become familiar with using the site. Use Odyssey for creating map-based stories based on works of literature, important events in history, or mapping scientific discoveries. Odyssey is perfect for use with gifted students when creating multimedia presentations.

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Shape America - Shape America

Grades
K to 12
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Shape America is the home page for professionals involved in school-based health, physical education, and physical activity. Their comprehensive site offers information and guidelines...more
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Shape America is the home page for professionals involved in school-based health, physical education, and physical activity. Their comprehensive site offers information and guidelines for physical education, dance, and early childhood education. Choose the Standards & Guidelines link to view national standards for health, dance, physical education, and sport.

tag(s): dance (26), fitness (49), sports (78)

In the Classroom

Bookmark and share this site with your school's physical education teacher and coaches. Share a link to the physical activity guidelines on your class website as information for parents. Share this site with older students as part of any health unit, ask them to create a home health plan based on guidelines provided on the site.
 This resource requires PDF reader software like Adobe Acrobat.

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Ecosystem Explorer - PBS LearningMedia

Grades
4 to 9
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Use this collection of videos, activities, and infographics to delve deep into the ecosystems of vultures, wolves, and sharks. Use the videos to introduce the ecosystems and discover...more
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Use this collection of videos, activities, and infographics to delve deep into the ecosystems of vultures, wolves, and sharks. Use the videos to introduce the ecosystems and discover the complicated relationship between animals and humans. Play through the interactives to discover more about the ecology and conservation of the worlds of these magnificent animals. The PBS series "EARTH A New Wild" inspired this resource. Click to Launch the interactive and choose one of the three worlds. Control the sound with the controls along the top. In each screen, view any of the materials including the interactives by clicking on the colored dots.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): animal homes (56), animals (278), ecology (99), ecosystems (71), habitats (87)

In the Classroom

Use this as an introductory activity into ecology. Students can work together on the same animals or have a group work together at exploring all three. Identify some similarities or differences between the needs and environments of all three animals. Use an online tool such as Interactive Three-Circle Venn Diagram, reviewed here, to help with the comparison. Identify some common issues with conservation, interaction with humans, and other issues facing these animals today. Extend the discussion with a student project, researching other organisms found within any of these three environments.

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Odd Squad - Odd Squad

Grades
1 to 4
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Odd Squad had its start with the television series Odd Squad on PBS Kids. Join the squad as an agent to solve challenges using reasoning and math skills to "put ...more
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Odd Squad had its start with the television series Odd Squad on PBS Kids. Join the squad as an agent to solve challenges using reasoning and math skills to "put things right again." The activities promote a variety of levels to differentiate for each student. The interactive activities strengthen reasoning and challenge an understanding of math concepts. Find episodes of Odd Squad, the Wall of Agents, and the Wall of Villains on this site and bring the television series to life. After registering, earn agent awards for achievements.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): critical thinking (112), logic (163), problem solving (225)

In the Classroom

Challenge your math, science, and gifted classes with a variety of activities and provide differentiation for each student. Introduce Odd Squad on your interactive whiteboard to gain interest and excitement. Make center time engaging and beneficial for each student. Use cooperative learning groups to add more engagement and shared verbal reasoning into the interactives. Be sure to include this site on your class webpage for students to access both in and outside of class for further practice.

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I need a resume - mitchs.co

Grades
10 to 12
1 Favorites 0  Comments
Use this tool to craft and format a better resume. Create a beautiful, free resume in minutes. I need a resume is convenient and uses a simple yet sophisticated template. ...more
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Use this tool to craft and format a better resume. Create a beautiful, free resume in minutes. I need a resume is convenient and uses a simple yet sophisticated template. Enter your information in the fields and move through the screens. At the end, change your font and other settings. Click the cloud button to print. You can go back and edit your resume, but be sure not to delete your computer cache!
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): careers (139), writing (315)

In the Classroom

After generating the information needed for a resume, enter the information on this site to create a quick and easy to read resume. Share this site on an interactive whiteboard or projector with students to create resumes for summer jobs and more.

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Lightning Maps - Blitzortung.org

Grades
4 to 12
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Find the location of current lightning strikes in the World (U.S., Europe, and Oceania) in real time. Click the various areas to jump to that portion of the map, or ...more
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Find the location of current lightning strikes in the World (U.S., Europe, and Oceania) in real time. Click the various areas to jump to that portion of the map, or grab the map to move to the desired location. This resource uses Google Maps and portrays the lightning strikes as flashing dots. Choose the delay in the upper left-hand corner from strikes within the last hour to those in the last minute. The sound is set to create a "tick" sound for every strike. Change the volume in the tools in the upper right. Other tools include Fullscreen, Thunder sound, Clouds, and Rain Radar. Turn on the location of the various reporting stations. Those familiar with Google Maps will see the option of switching from Map to Satellite view.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): weather (163)

In the Classroom

When discussing the weather, use this resource for locating the current position of lightning strikes. Use this resource as an introduction to weather. Student groups can brainstorm what they observe, on the maps, to determine why thunderstorms form. Research various types of clouds and storm systems and how they form. Create a challenge in your class and view various weather maps to determine where students predict the next lightning strikes will form.

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Pablo - Buffer

Grades
K to 12
1 Favorites 0  Comments
 
Quickly create and share engaging social media images with Pablo - no registration required! Choose the shape of your image to match the platform where you will share, namely ...more
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Quickly create and share engaging social media images with Pablo - no registration required! Choose the shape of your image to match the platform where you will share, namely a wide rectangle for Twitter and Facebook, the smaller rectangle for Pinterest, or square for Instagram. Add text for the header, body, or as a caption and edit the font type, size, and colors. Select a background image from Pablo's 600,000 free images or upload your own image; reposition the image as you wish. Select from several templates such as Quote, Announcement, and more. When finished, use links to Tweet, share on Facebook, or download and use any way that you like.

tag(s): back to school (62), graphic design (50), images (270), posters (47), quotations (20), social media (53)

In the Classroom

Engage your class by creating a teaser for upcoming units using an image created with Pablo. Create images with favorite quotes as an introduction to any lesson. At the beginning of the year, print out images with inspirational quotes to put on bulletin boards. Share what you created on your website or blog. Have students create an image to "introduce" themselves to the class during the first week of school. Link or embed the introductory presentations in your class wiki, and have others guess who is portrayed. Use this tool to create short story summaries.

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Giphy - Jace Cooke & Alex Chung

Grades
K to 12
1 Favorites 0  Comments
Search and share animated GIF files with Giphy. Search using keywords or browse by categories, authors, or stickers. Create a free account to save your favorites. Easily share or embed...more
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Search and share animated GIF files with Giphy. Search using keywords or browse by categories, authors, or stickers. Create a free account to save your favorites. Easily share or embed GIF's using the codes provided.

tag(s): animation (61), images (270), photography (131)

In the Classroom

Share an animated GIF to get student's attention! A cat reading a book is one way to begin reading time! Show any science concept a student should look at several times to see every aspect of the event. Some ideas to search for might be the development of an organism, cell division, a chemical reaction, formation of stars, or a bullet in slow motion. Do you want to reveal portions of a video outlining the travels of historic expeditions, addition of the states to the US, or any other historical event captured in a video? Use a looping animated GIF! Every subject could use one of these GIFs to generate interest in a class activity or new content. Use these examples as inspiration to create your own animated GIF's using GIFMaker, reviewed here.

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