TeachersFirst - Featured Sites: Week of Jan 29, 2012
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 go to the Featured Sites Archive
Engrade - Engrade
Grades
3 to 12
0 Favorites
0 Comments
Engrade is a comprehensive grade book program complete with tools to create quizzes, wiki pages, calendars, flash cards, create discussions and send messages to and from students, parents...more
Here is the direct link to share this resource review. Feel free to copy and paste this URL into an email or place it on your web page or blog so others can read this TeachersFirst review:
Engrade is a comprehensive grade book program complete with tools to create quizzes, wiki pages, calendars, flash cards, create discussions and send messages to and from students, parents and administrators. The best part is all of this is free and both FERPA and EU Safe Harbor compliant. Student information security is a top priority for this company. This is a great way to slim down the number of log-ins and passwords students must have. Instead of using three different log-ins and passwords in three different programs for grade book, online tests and quizzes, and wikis, it is one stop shop. This site could help you save time and confusion for both teachers and students.
In the Classroom
Sign up for an account (email required) and keep track of student scores, create quizzes for students, and make discussion boards for online conversations about things that happen in your classroom. Quizzes can be graded from the grade book program, directly entering the scores into your records. Be sure to provide this information (link) on your class website for parents to access.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Moment Garden - Chris Kundinger and Zachary Garbow
Grades
4 to 12
0 Favorites
0 Comments
This site allows you to create electronic/colorful timelines! Though Moment Garden was designed for families to record their child's timeline of events or family gatherings, this tool...more
Here is the direct link to share this resource review. Feel free to copy and paste this URL into an email or place it on your web page or blog so others can read this TeachersFirst review:
This site allows you to create electronic/colorful timelines! Though Moment Garden was designed for families to record their child's timeline of events or family gatherings, this tool can make an electronic timeline and slideshow on any topic. The "moments" are intended to be shared with others by URL. If you simply want them to see the timeline, you can provide the link (URL) via email or put the link on a web page. You can invite others to add to the timeline through their email address, if you wish. You must be a member (free) to add to a story or timeline.
tag(s): timelines (31)
In the Classroom
If you use this tool as a teacher-only, or whole-class account, you can keep a digital/timeline scrapbook of class events throughout the year. Make a timeline using local, national, or international current events. Make timelines as part of a unit in history, cell growth in science, and any project, story, or biography. Or look back in time and create a historical timeline, scanning old pictures or using copyright free images from the Library of Congress American Memory Collection.Have your students create biographical timelines for artists, musicians, writers from a certain period in history, the twentieth century in different countries, World War II timeline, Civil War timeline, timeline of insect stages, timeline of the rock cycle, of a plant or tree. Have students create timelines of the life cycle of migratory animals or even personal timelines. Students can work in small groups or individually. Want something more elaborate from your students? Have have them use Moment Garden for the timeline and Glogster, reviewed here, for their overall report. They can then show their timeline as a link on their Glogster report.
More ideas: Students could interview grandparents and create a timeline about their grandparents for Grandparents' Day. For collaboration, link up with another classroom in another town (or another country) to build a timeline that shares events in each local area so students can see what was happening at the same time in another location, maybe in the opposite hemisphere (compare weather and seasons!).
Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
Rating (click star to set rating):
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
QuietWrite - James Yu
Grades
4 to 12
0 Favorites
0 Comments
QuietWrite is a writing tool ideal for those who get distracted by all the colors, squiggly lines, and choices that appear on a word processor. At QuietWrite you'll find a ...more
Here is the direct link to share this resource review. Feel free to copy and paste this URL into an email or place it on your web page or blog so others can read this TeachersFirst review:
QuietWrite is a writing tool ideal for those who get distracted by all the colors, squiggly lines, and choices that appear on a word processor. At QuietWrite you'll find a very calming look, and by pressing the full screen view (F11) you can even get rid of the menu bar. Your work is saved every few seconds so the writer doesn't even have that distraction to think about. You don't have to make an account to use QuietWrite, but if you do it's free. There are several advantages to having a free account. Revisions are saved frequently, so you can see the history of revisions for a piece. This is handy if you delete something that you later decide you want to include. Another feature is the account settings. Here you can change the font, font size, background color, and color of the text. If you have an account, but don't sign in, you can just start typing. When you're done you can sign in, and QuietWrite will save that writing in your account for you. If you have a free account you will have an ad on your home page, but not on the page where you write.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): blogs (47), brainstorming (8), process writing (13)
In the Classroom
Having no distractions on the page when writing could help students with ADHD or those who are perfectionists. This program allows them to get their ideas down, then they can work on spelling and grammar in a word processor. With older students you may want them to use their email address and create their own account. QuietWrite would be good to use for brainstorming and "quick writes" when you want the students to get their thoughts on (virtual) paper and without worry about spelling and punctuation as part of the thinking process. Once students are done with their "quick writes" or brainstorm, if they don't have an account, they can copy and paste their writing to a word processor. This would allow them to save their "quick write" and, if they choose to develop it later, they can work on the spelling and grammar as a separate step.Challenge students to write a "blog" post from a soldier during a war that you are studying. Write a dialog between main characters from a piece of literature. Create poetry, study sheets, practice spelling words, and more. By sharing the URL, students can even collaborate on projects in any subject area!
Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
Rating (click star to set rating):
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
JellyCam - Chris Dennett
Grades
4 to 12
0 Favorites
0 Comments
Interested in stop motion animation, but think it is too complicated? JellyCam is a free program for creating stop motion movies. Easily use images from your computer or ones captured...more
Here is the direct link to share this resource review. Feel free to copy and paste this URL into an email or place it on your web page or blog so others can read this TeachersFirst review:
Interested in stop motion animation, but think it is too complicated? JellyCam is a free program for creating stop motion movies. Easily use images from your computer or ones captured from your webcam. Select images, and then quickly arrange them into a sequence. Then determine how many images you want per frame. JellyCam is a free download. Adobe Air is required and is a free and simple install. View the demo video to learn more about the neat site! Unfortunately, JellyCam does not offer sound yet.
In the Classroom
Use JellyCam to show time consuming or difficult processes broken down frame by frame. For example, long games of Chess could be turned into a video that just highlights player moves. For Science, show processes such as diffusion and osmosis (drop food coloring in water and watch it spread over time) or create DNA models that you actually show moving performing a process one step at a time. In math, build geometric structures or find math in everyday actions. Create a stop motion of actors throughout a scene. Groups of students can create the dialogue that they imagine happening with the scene. Show the creative process in creating a work of art.
This resource requires Adobe Flash.
Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
Rating (click star to set rating):
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
obooko - Tony Stanton, Sarah Bainbridge, Tim Johnson
Grades
7 to 12
0 Favorites
0 Comments
Join the writers and readers of obooko, the free site to publish and read ebooks. Readers' Choice Awards of 2011 winner for free eBooks , obooko offers a platform to ...more
Here is the direct link to share this resource review. Feel free to copy and paste this URL into an email or place it on your web page or blog so others can read this TeachersFirst review:
Join the writers and readers of obooko, the free site to publish and read ebooks. Readers' Choice Awards of 2011 winner for free eBooks , obooko offers a platform to share your work and read the works of others. Become a reviewer and write comments on other ebooks. As authors, you retain all rights with no charges or contracts. This site is legal and does not infringe on copyright laws. There are numerous categories to choose from: Romance and Women, Crime, Religion, Thriller, Mystery, Teens, and much more! This site is not intended for children under 13. Some of the content may not be appropriate for the classroom. So be sure to preview.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): creative writing (53), ebooks (7), mysteries (17), novels (12), poetry (159), religions (22)
In the Classroom
For your language arts class, obooko contains many examples of contemporary writing. Selections for critiquing and editing are readily available without hurting any class member's feelings. Look at examples for current ideas and places to begin brainstorming. Included are free templates for different types of writing. Have each member of your class become a published author! Use the titles as writing prompts or read only half of the story and have students finish it in their own way. Bring each student's story into the lives of many. Assign critiques using obooko. You might even create a school or class obooko literary magazine during poetry month.Library/media specialists may want to select certain ebooks to load on school iTouches for students to read and review. Start an obooko reading club with these free options.
If you are uncomfortable sharing here or school policy prohibits it, have your classes create a similar website (wiki) with published pieces from your school or class. Not familiar with wikis? Check out the TeachersFirst Wiki Walk-Through.
Edge Features:
Parent permission advised before posting student work created using this tool
Includes Interaction w general public/ public galleries with unmoderated content
Includes social features, such as "friends," comments, ratings by others
Requires registration/log-in (WITH email)
Products can be shared by URL
Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
Rating (click star to set rating):
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Trap It - Gary Griffiths, Hank Nothhaft, Jr, David Schairer
Grades
4 to 12
1 Favorites
0 Comments
This site collects your choice of news you want to read. Scroll down to choose from pre-made "traps" or make one for your own interests. At Trap It you can ...more
Here is the direct link to share this resource review. Feel free to copy and paste this URL into an email or place it on your web page or blog so others can read this TeachersFirst review:
This site collects your choice of news you want to read. Scroll down to choose from pre-made "traps" or make one for your own interests. At Trap It you can create "traps" that contain only news stories of interest to you or your students. You can search topics. For instance, if you enter "space," you will get tons of sources for the space industry, outer space, etc. Or you can narrow it down to space station and select sources that focus only on that area. You can search your subject area, for example, science and get all news stories about science, or narrow that down to environmental science. You can create and delete "traps" at any time. You can share your articles of interest by using twitter, e-mail, Google+, or Facebook.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): news (124), newspapers (22)
In the Classroom
There are many ways this tool can be used. For example, a "trap" will display multiple articles related to a world issue or event. During election years, use traps for students to follow political races. Create a trap of most appropriate articles as a reading/writing prompt, sharing the trap's url on a wiki, via Edmodo reviewed here, or a class Twitter account. Students can read the articles and then discuss them, write a response, or summarize them as an assignment. Older students could create "traps" to show real world connections to curriculum, for example, articles about housing construction in math class, then discuss or write about the math skills required to build houses. They could create their own science "trap" collecting articles of interest related to plants, animals, vaccines, or diseases.Want to learn more about sharing and collecting class work on wikis? Visit the TeachersFirst Wiki Walk-Through. Looking for more ways to use Twitter in the classroom? Check out the TeachersFirst's Twitter for Teachers page.
Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
Rating (click star to set rating):
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Tildee - tildee.com
Grades
4 to 12
0 Favorites
0 Comments
Create tutorials for anyone about anything using this tool! Start from an easy to use template and share your tutorial via a unique URL. Your tutorial can have text, screen ...more
Here is the direct link to share this resource review. Feel free to copy and paste this URL into an email or place it on your web page or blog so others can read this TeachersFirst review:
Create tutorials for anyone about anything using this tool! Start from an easy to use template and share your tutorial via a unique URL. Your tutorial can have text, screen shots, and videos. You don't need to register to start a tutorial, but if you want to save, edit or delete it, you'll need to sign up with your email address. Tildee is free. You can also view public tutorials by searching. At the time of this review, there were many well done Tildees on topics such as: How to Use Google Translate, Camtasia: The Beginnings, Glogster, How to Make Professional YouTube Background, and much more.
tag(s): assessment (27), tutorials (35)
In the Classroom
Tildee could become a very powerful tool in your classroom. Have students use it to demonstrate what they understand about any concept you teach. Tildee would be the ultimate in "show your work" to explain how students came to a conclusion. Students could use Tildee for persuasive speeches, or speech and debate by uploading facts, videos, and images to prove their point during their speeches. They can also use it to write sequenced directions. Students in history, math, science, art or music classes could showcase their knowledge by creating a tutorial about any topic: how an animal became endangered and the steps to reverse this, the major events that led up to the Civil Rights Movement, or the Holocaust, how to reduce a fraction, the cycle of a cell, or anything else you feel would be worthy of assessment. Physical Education teachers could create tutorials for any move for any sport or exercise, i.e. how to do a proper sit-up or push-up. Teachers can use this site to create tutorials for absentees and/or review and post the URL on your webpage.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
Rating (click star to set rating):
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
My Fake Wall - myfakewall.com
Grades
4 to 12
0 Favorites
0 Comments
Create a fake Facebook wall with this site. Upload images, write wall posts, create likes (just like in Facebook,) and comment on fake posts you create. Click Change or Edit ...more
Here is the direct link to share this resource review. Feel free to copy and paste this URL into an email or place it on your web page or blog so others can read this TeachersFirst review:
Create a fake Facebook wall with this site. Upload images, write wall posts, create likes (just like in Facebook,) and comment on fake posts you create. Click Change or Edit to add images or click "Add" to add posts or comments. At the time of this review, the site was fairly slow to open. Be patient - it is worth the wait..
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): digital storytelling (30), social networking (40)
In the Classroom
Create a fake Facebook page using My Fake Wall to publish biographical information about any historical figure in any subject area. Use My Fake Wall to create a fake Facebook pages about a character in a novel. Create posts that outline the tension that the characters have for one another in the Facebook page. Create Facebook type pages about scientists and their contributions including reactions of others to their discovery or invention. Research why these inventions were particularly very important and the scientific knowledge that changed as a result. Create a Facebook page about artists, musicians, politicians, etc. Challenge the students to step into the person's character to create an informative understanding about the person and their contribution. Create a blog post that discusses their thoughts about the process, linking the My Fake Wall page in the body of the post. In upper elementary grades, have all students generate a starter "Fake Wall" offline about a famous person (or people) you are studying. Then vote on one to maintain as a class using this online tool.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
Rating (click star to set rating):
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Biodigitalhuman - Healthline Networks
Grades
7 to 12
1 Favorites
0 Comments
Use this exceptional tool to look inside the human body in a detailed 3D view. Definitions, descriptions, and common conditions of that structure show in the pop up text. View ...more
Here is the direct link to share this resource review. Feel free to copy and paste this URL into an email or place it on your web page or blog so others can read this TeachersFirst review:
Use this exceptional tool to look inside the human body in a detailed 3D view. Definitions, descriptions, and common conditions of that structure show in the pop up text. View male or female anatomical structures down to the most incredible detail. Use the slider along the bottom to rotate the image 360 degrees. View the videos, health tips, injury or disease causes or symptoms, and other structures. Choose which system to view: urinary, digestive, reproductive, muscular, nervous, or many others. Of course, this site is "anatomically correct."
tag(s): body systems (28), human body (46), medicine (27), reproduction (7)
In the Classroom
Use this resource in an anatomy/physiology, biology, or health class. Use as a resource to understand structure and function as well as common health ailments and their effects. Share this site on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Provide this link on your website for students to use who are studying human body systems. Assign a different "system" to each student (or cooperative learning group). Challenge students to create multimedia presentations on their system using one of the many TeachersFirst Edge tools reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
Rating (click star to set rating):
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Groundhog Day and Possum Night Talking Storybook - Mighty Book
Grades
K to 3
5 Favorites
0 Comments
This is a talking storybook that tells the story of Groundhog Day (and a bit more.) Animations and silly music help bring the story to life and add interest for ...more
Here is the direct link to share this resource review. Feel free to copy and paste this URL into an email or place it on your web page or blog so others can read this TeachersFirst review:
This is a talking storybook that tells the story of Groundhog Day (and a bit more.) Animations and silly music help bring the story to life and add interest for students. Students can follow along as text is highlighted when being read. The story can also be stopped at anytime and pages can be flipped forward and backward.
tag(s): holidays (97)
In the Classroom
This would be a great site to use on classroom computers as a center close to Groundhogs Day. Show the book on your interactive whiteboard or projector and have students circle and find adjectives, nouns, or verbs in the story.
This resource requires Adobe Flash.
Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
Rating (click star to set rating):
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
The Readability Test Tool - David Simpson
Grades
1 to 12
0 Favorites
0 Comments
Test any website's readability using The Readability Test Tool. Test readability by URL or direct text input from any source (such as copy/paste of student writing). Simply enter...more
Here is the direct link to share this resource review. Feel free to copy and paste this URL into an email or place it on your web page or blog so others can read this TeachersFirst review:
Test any website's readability using The Readability Test Tool. Test readability by URL or direct text input from any source (such as copy/paste of student writing). Simply enter the web address (URL) and get the readability of the site on several scales. You can also check your own webpages by using the "referer" section. You will get a score for the most used readability indicators: Flesch Kincaid Reading Ease and Grade Level, Gunning Fog Score, Coleman Liau Index, and Automated Readability Index (ARI). The tool also includes explanations of each scale. These tell much more than a simple "grade level."
tag(s): independent reading (32), readability (7), writing (287)
In the Classroom
Use this tool to offer differentiated resources for the different reading levels in your class. If you do discover that a website you want to use is over your students' independent reading level, you can still use it, just open Lingro (reviewed here) first; then enter the URL (web address) you want them to read. Lingro is a study aid and open content dictionary that makes all of the words (on a particular website) clickable for definitions and translation. Of course, if the sentence length or complexity is at a much higher reading level, simple word definitions will not make it "readable" for struggling readers.Why not have students put in the URL for their blog or wiki (or simply paste in a writing sample) to see the level at which they are writing? This is one way to encourage writing as a craft and challenge students to include more varied vocabulary ad sentence structure in their writing.
Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
Rating (click star to set rating):
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
iCharts - iCharts, Inc.
Grades
2 to 12
0 Favorites
0 Comments
iCharts creates a new place to publish online charts (with interactive info on mouse-clicks) based on public or private data. Format charts as you see fit. Share charts using Facebook...more
Here is the direct link to share this resource review. Feel free to copy and paste this URL into an email or place it on your web page or blog so others can read this TeachersFirst review:
iCharts creates a new place to publish online charts (with interactive info on mouse-clicks) based on public or private data. Format charts as you see fit. Share charts using Facebook or Twitter or embed them in a website or blog. Clip and save iCharts that you like into your account. You can also browse all types of interesting charts made by others.
tag(s): charts and graphs (113)
In the Classroom
This site is great for classroom work or teacher-created mapping. You will want to play with this tool before using it in class, but it is very simple to use. Use with any numerical data that is best shown in a chart. Collect data in a science lab, survey, or math class, and display it using different graphs to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using each graph type. In reading class, practice reading charts/graphs that accompany informational texts using the various examples here. Use for quick creation and sharing of graphs. Create charts together easily on an interactive whiteboard (or projector) when introducing the different types to elementary students, then embed your examples on a class web page for students to revisit. Have students operate the board so their peers can see how the tool works and give each other oral directions as they problem solve together. Then make the iChart site a small group center during math class for further practice on a computer or interactive whiteboard. Save this site in your favorites for quick retrieval any time students need to make a quick chart. For student practice, have them chart time spent on homework or hobbies, choice of favorite pet, etc. Reinforce good study habits in middle school by having students make charts of their average grades or time spent on independent reading.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
Rating (click star to set rating):
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Not Just Sushi - Dr. Min Liu and Team
Grades
6 to 10
0 Favorites
0 Comments
Not Just Sushi is a webquest about the Japanese culture, current and historical, centered around food as an entry point. There are three quests for you to choose from and ...more
Here is the direct link to share this resource review. Feel free to copy and paste this URL into an email or place it on your web page or blog so others can read this TeachersFirst review:
Not Just Sushi is a webquest about the Japanese culture, current and historical, centered around food as an entry point. There are three quests for you to choose from and for your students to complete: Creating a Japanese Travel Guide, Creating a Japanese Cookbook, and Creating a Japanese Restaurant. Students will learn historical, geographical, cultural, nutritional and other information about major Japanese food, through this site and links provided on this site. For students to use the notepad, a tool to take notes on what they find as they explore virtual Tokyo, you need to register them. If you do not want your students to use the notepad, you do not have to register; just have your students log in as guests. Once you have chosen (and clicked on) a restaurant or residence to explore, you will hear a conversation in Japanese with balloons in English. Be sure to click around on the image to learn information and to find the resource links. Though the website states this is for sixth grade, it is suitable for a range of grades.
tag(s): cross cultural understanding (32), cultures (56), japan (56), webquests (25)
In the Classroom
Create small groups of students, then use your interactive whiteboard or projector introduce the site. There are descriptions and plans under the "Teacher's Guide" for each of the three projects. You may want to post the link to the directions on either your website, or use PearlTrees reviewed here not only for the project directions, but to direct your students to only one or two of the sites listed.Students making the "Travel Guide" can use an online program like SimpleBooklets reviewed here to present their final project to the class, or My Brochure Maker reviewed here if you want the brochures for your bulletin board. Students creating the "Cookbook" can use a site such as Bookemon reviewed here. Students interested in completing the "Japanese Restaurant" project can simply create a menu by using a site like Web Poster Wizard 7332reviewed here.
This resource requires Adobe Flash.
Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
Rating (click star to set rating):
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
100 Snowballs Game - ABCya!
Grades
K to 4
3 Favorites
0 Comments
What can you do with 100 snowballs? Find out with this interactive activity where students can let their imaginations run free with creating a winter scene using 100 snowballs. The...more
Here is the direct link to share this resource review. Feel free to copy and paste this URL into an email or place it on your web page or blog so others can read this TeachersFirst review:
What can you do with 100 snowballs? Find out with this interactive activity where students can let their imaginations run free with creating a winter scene using 100 snowballs. The activity is easy to use, simply click and drag each snowball anywhere in the scene. Finished creations can be saved to your computer or printed using links at the top of the activity.
In the Classroom
This site would be perfect for the 100th day of school activities! Use in a computer center and have students group the snowballs into different size groups and count how many are in each pile. Have students create a scene using the 100 snowballs then write a poem about their creation.
This resource requires Adobe Flash.
Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
Rating (click star to set rating):
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
Close comment form