TeachersFirst: Online Tools

Online Tools:

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Rubric Maker Grade K to 12 - Scholastic- 8601

This online tool allows you to assess student work by creating an original rubric. Users are able to enter up to 10 skills. Each of the skills is scored on a 5-point scale (5: Proficient, 4: Capable, 3: Satisfactory, 2: Emerging, and 1: Beginning). This is an excellent tool to individualize and differentiate instruction. Parents will be pleased to see specific areas of strength and areas of need. The Rubric Maker could be used with any grade level and in any subject area.

In the Classroom:
Use this FREE online tool to create individualized or leveled rubrics for your class assignments in any subject.

Letter Writing Generator Grade 3 to 8 - Read Write Think (Iron Monkey Interactive)- 8665

Despite text messaging, the formal letter still has its place in our world. Students write either a business or friendly letter through the prompts of this interactive tool. While generating their letter, they also learn the five parts of the letter and punctuation clues. Along the process, prompts ask for the needed information. When finished, print a well-formed letter. The online tool supplies the format; the student still must supply the words.

In the Classroom:
Note: the tool does NOT save letters, so allow enough time to complete the activity and print before closing the site. Teachers, you may want to print out the ‘addressing an envelope’ tip sheet. This activity would work well in a letter writing computer center on a single classroom computer or cluster, or as a whole class activity in the computer lab. High school teachers, don’t be shy to use this online tool for a refresher course on the rudiments of letter writing, perhaps to thank teachers for recommendation letters! Even though it may be geared for upper elementary use, your students will benefit from generating letters through prompts.

Rubrics and Rubric Makers Grade K to 12 - TeAchnology- 8602

This online tool provides teachers with a multitude of "ready to personalize" rubrics. Teachers simply fill in their name, school name, and the name of the project - and a personalized rubric appears. You may think that sounds too "generic", but there is more. The broad topics include basic reading skills, behavior, class participation, handwriting, lap reports, maps, oral expression, persuasive writing, science projects, and many more! There is also a feature to create your own rubrics from scratch (you personalize and customize the entire document). The website does have additional features for a fee, but the use of the rubrics is free!

In the Classroom:
Use this online tool to create original rubrics before introcuding a new project. Be sure to review the rubric with your students on a projector or interactive whiteboard, to be certain that they understand your expectations. As you approach project deadlines, consider collaboratively "evaluating" a sample project with students by displaying the rubric on an interactive whiteboard and marking/highlighting the rubric using the pens.

Mindomo Grade 1 to 12 - - 8178

TF Edge Tool: for the moderately adventurous technology user. Create collaborative mind maps (graphic organizers) using this online tool. See an example created by our editors. The example gives some ideas for uses of this online graphic organizer tool. The tool requires Flash. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

NOTE: There is an advertising area at the right side of the screen on this free tool. TeachersFirst has been in communication with the Mindomo creators to assure that the ad content will not be alluring or inappropriate in the classroom. They are extremely responsive and interested in making their online tool practical for teachers.

In the Classroom:
The site requires membership (basic level is free). Have students create graphic organizers in cooperative groups as a study guide for unit content, to collect information for a group research project, or show examples of an important concept. Share and compare the organizers on an interactive whiteboard or projector in class and allow classmates to suggest changes. Skills needed: join the site, practice with the tools (don't miss the notes feature!). Save up to 7 "private" maps and an unlimited number of "shared" maps.

Make a map available online by saving and clicking "yes" for sharing, then clicking the Save by URL icon. This will copy the URL onto your computer's clipboard so you can paste it into a word doc or even your teacher web page. Imagine sharing several student made "study guides" in the days before the unit test.

Note that maps that are shared can be seen by the public, but not altered. You specify members who may collaborate and make alterations. For students to collaborate using this tool they must have individual memberships, requiring an email account. These memberships must be activated from their email. So, if students do not have email that is accessible from school, classroom use BY STUDENTS will be severely limited. Editor's note: we asked the Mindomo folks about spell check and student safety issues. They are still developing this tool, so they MIGHT address these issues at a later date.

Let's Read It Again Grade K to 3 - Intl Reading Assn.- 8758

This lesson uses a bilingual (Spanish-English) picture book to increase comprehension and reading skills in ESL students by having them retell the story in a variety of ways. Many non-ESL/ELL students would benefit from the same skills.They make vocabulary lists, make diagrams, retell the story, and rewrite the book using their own words. Teachers can generalize the knowledge gained after using this lesson plan to incorporating other bilingual books while teaching ESL students. This site requires Flash. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

In the Classroom:
Allow ESL/ELL or other students to work on the various online tools included in this lesson on their regular classroom computer or cluster, printing the products and sharing them in partner-reading or other activities with non-ESL/ELL students. Learning support students would also benefit from the comprehension strategies involved.

My Brochure Maker Grade K to 12 - POC Technologies- 8683

This site offers an easy to use online tool to create brochures or flyers in minutes. Choose a theme, customize with your photos and add text. Brochure printing directions are included. Print or save the brochure to print at a later date. Saving requires a valid email address. You could use the teacher email to protect student safety, if students do not have their own email. Be sure to turn off your pop-up blocker so you can “see” all the site content. This site requires Flash. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

Note from TF editors: this site seems to be subject to high traffic that slows it to a snail's pace. You might want to try it at "off peak" hours (NOT U.S. EST between 11 and 3). We hope they will upgrade their servers soon, since this slow speed may make it impossible for you to use in your classroom. Stay tuned!

In the Classroom:
This site would work well for an individual or pairs of students to create a brochure or flyer on a state, country, health topic, and more. Then share using a projector or interactive whiteboard as students act as "tour guides" or health experts. Teachers can also make brochures about their classrooms to hand out at back to school nights or to new parents throughout the year.

Note: the emails generated by this site MAY be blocked by spam filters in your school. Test it first before assigning students to cretae and save work!

My Newsletter Maker Holiday Edition Grade K to 8 - POC Technologies- 8682

Use this online tool to create eye-catching newsletters for your classroom, for students to write for their families, or for your student club. Follow the easy step by step directions to pick a fall or winter theme, add text, photos and borders. Most likely, the themes change over the course of the year, so check back again in spring. Save the newsletter on the site or email to share the latest news. This site requires Flash. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

In the Classroom:
This site would work well for an individual or pairs of students to create a newsletter on a class topic or theme. Be sure to turn off your pop-up blocker so you can “see” all the site content. The content available is seasonal, but the options allow plenty of flexibility. At Thanksgiving, elementary teachers will appreciate this tool as a way students can create Thankful lists. Note that the program does NOT save your work, so allow enough time to complete and print the newsletters in one sitting.

Rubric Maker Grade K to 12 - Recipes4Success- 8603

This handy online tool allows you to create customized rubrics "on the fly" for any subject or project. You can print the rubrics directly from the website. You choose the age level (primary, elementary, middle, or high school) and input the name of your rubric. Then a blank rubric appears for you to fill in the details. The blank rubric includes space for the criteria, plus a range to rate (gradations) the quality of the students' work. There are also ready-made rubrics you can print out. The website provides explicit direction about how to use the website (they are in PDF).

In the Classroom:
Use these free rubrics with any grade level and any subject area. Note that in the free version you LOSE your work when you close the page, so make sure you have printed first!

Quizlet: The End of Flashcards Grade 3 to 12 - Brainflare: Andrew Sutherland- 8577

TeachersFirst Edge Tool: For SLIGHTLY adventurous technology users. Most teachers can figure this one out very easily. Only the sharing and group capabilities make it an "Edge" entry. This online tool allows you or your students to enter vocabulary terms and definitions to create electronic flashcards and quizzes to enhance word study in any language or a content area. Students may choose to create electronic tests, or the networking page allows them to interact and learn with other users who have the same words. Teacher or students can create groups to share word lists. As wonderful this technology is, the coolest thing about Quizlet might be in its history--its creator is presently a high school senior (2007-2008)who tells his inspiring story and shares his blog through links at his site. See a sample matching activity about TeachersFirst created by our editors to show a variation on using this online tool for simple words/definitions.

In the Classroom:
Skills needed: Join the site (free). Membership asks for an email, but our editors discovered that a "pretend" email address also works. Email allows you to notify others that you want to share a word list or activity with them, however. If your school does not permit student email accounts, use a mythical account and KEEP A LIST of students usernames (non identifying) and passwords. They WILL forget them!

Explore, follow directions, or watch the (SLOW to download) demo to get the idea of how the site works. Save your "sets" and decide whether you want them to be completely public, just for you personally, or shared with a "group." Create your own groups for each class or subject. Be sure to note the fact that you can upload vocabulary lists by copy/pasting from various formats--- a real time saver!

How to use this? Content and English teachers may set up their personal network of users. Learning support teachers will want their students to create their own quizlet sets and help learn them in the process! Teachers may create your own sets of words, or let students do the work for themselves and each other. Use the interactive white board for quick flashcard or electronic testing using your sets. Foreign language and ESL/ELL teachers will find many word sets already built and ready to use at this site. Helping students study for the SAT vocabulary test? Check out the QuizMarklet feature that is explained in the blog section. QuickTime is needed to view the 'how-to-use' video (SLOW to load!!!). If you team teach with others at your grade level, take turns making the online Quizlets to accompany your science or social studies chapters. Be SURE to share this tool on your teacher web page for students to use at home.

Word Shape Generator Grade 1 to 4 - A to Z Teacher Stuff Tools- 8388

Teachers can generate their own personalized word wall worksheet, customized to the words they enter. This online tool allows you to generate word shape worksheets with the word list at the top of the page and the word shapes below. Students then fill in the appropriate word from their word list.

In the Classroom:
Special education teachers, ESL teachers, or regular teachers with students who are dysgraphically- or dyslexically-challenged will find this a valuable tool. Any student who learns visually would find this helpful in learning their spelling words. This tool generates the worksheet quickly.

Magic Vocabulary Grade K to 5 - Viktor Gayol- 8271

This online tool and vocabulary site creates up to thirteen games, puzzles, and worksheets from a word list the teacher inputs on the home page. The working database contains about 2000 English singular words, but doesn't include abstract nouns. There are some ready-made activities already done for you as examples: body parts, Christmas, family, feelings, foods, and more. Typical activities include findaword, matching, multiple choice quizzes, memory, word scrambles, and labeling. There is a charge for subscription to the services, but users who recommend someone to this site receive a one-year subscription free. One caution: set the speed to "tortoise" on the "STOP" game. Even adults can't click the mouse fast enough above that speed!page. This site requires QuickTime to hear the audio. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox. .

In the Classroom:
Use this for a center with vocabulary review activities in any primary classroom or with speech and language or special ed students for vocabulary development. Using it in ESL classes will also be great, even on an interactive whiteboard with a small group. Students can also use the games on their own to practice vocabulary outside of class, so be sure to include the link on your teacher web page.

Protopage Grade K to 12 - Protopage- 8257

TeachersFirst Edge Entry: For very comfortable technology users who need more sophisticated capabilities than your TeachersFirst home page. This online tool creates a highly visual "home page" that can incorporate multiple elements simply by dragging and dropping them in place. Not unlike Google's personalized homepage, the elements look like little sticky notes or boxes, but there is far greater flexibility and a wider variety of content readily available. You can also make the page local (simply use it as the "home" on your classroom computer), shared by a select group (passworded), or completely public. You can easily make a theme or unit page for quick access of resources, complete with directions.

In the Classroom:
How would you use this in your teaching? Create a set of RSS feeds for current events or a specific curriculum topic such as weather and make them available for an in-class activity, complete with directions. World language, world cultures, or geography teachers can profile a location on the globe, complete with local weather and news. Make separate tabs for separate activities. Students can access them by password or publicly from outside of class, as well. For primary grades, make simple instructions right on the desktop for a computer center activity. Use color coding of the instructions to differentiate for different children (Sam, I want you to do the yellow one). If your school permits students to set up accounts on web services, have groups make Protopages on an assigned topic, collecting and organizing resources, images, and information: "A Protopage Guide to Cells" or "Shakespeare's Times." Gifted and highly-able students will go crazy!

Skills needed: Join (free). Check out the Intro, Overview, and Quickstart to see how it works. Play to your heart's content, including making tabs. Learn about RSS feeds and other Widgets-- including sticky notes. Share the URL with those you wish to have use it. Note: this works on Internet Explorer 6 and higher and on Firefox. If your users are on older web browsers, the developers recommend upgrading. This may be a problem for some. Check with your end-user computers before you spend too much time making the perfect Protopage!

If you allow students to create their own Protopage, you will need to have very specific rules about content, since there are non-educational elements available.

instacalc Grade 6 to 12 - instacalc- 8122

TeachersFirst Edge Entry: for technology users who like math and like to "play." This online tool lets you create(or "share" someone else's existing) online calculations/spreadsheets. You can also display instant graphs of the spreadsheet contents. The spreadsheets are displayed in terms that ordinary people can understand and allow you to "plug in" numbers to see instant results. Some of the shared calculators already online are surface area and volume of geometric solids, interest calculators, body mass index, and more sophisticated business functions. The best way to see how the site works is to read through their "tour" then click to browse through the examples, especially the shared ones. Even if you never create your own, this tool is great!

In the Classroom:
Skills needed: Visit the site and observe how the shared examples work. If you find one you like, you can get the link (try the little disk icon) to go directly to it. If you are feeling more adventurous, try creating one of your own, perhaps for calculating the class average on a test. Your web-savvy students will love this tool for collaborative lab reports or graphs of statistics. For safety's sake do not use any student names or information if you share calcs online.

podOmatic Grade 1 to 12 - podOmatic- 8094

TeachersFirst Edge Entry: for moderately adventurous technology users. Create simple audio podcasts using this online tool and the free space they provide. Simply put, this tool lets you create and place sound recordings online for people to listen to and/or download from a web site. The site itself is a "web 2.0," social networking style site, so some schools may have it blocked. Ask about unblocking just YOUR teacher account so you can have students access it from school.

What can it do? You can record sound directly with the microphone built or plugged into your computer and make it available for people to listen to online or download to their MP3 player. See and hear a sample we made for you. Some possible uses: You record your homework assignments or directions; students create "you are there" recordings as "eyewitnesses" to historical or current events; students create advertisements for concepts studied in class (Buy Dynamic DNA!); students write and record their own stories; language students or beginning readers record their fluency with reading passages; allow parents to hear their child's progress reading aloud,etc.

In the Classroom:
Skills needed: Join site (free), attach a mike or use a built-in computer mike, create the podcast by clicking a record button,(you may have to tell your computer to "allow" nonsecure items over and over), carefully select or SKIP many sharing mechanisms for safety's sake, limit any identifiable information with the podcasts, choose a background for your podcast page, share the link only with your students and parents. If you have students record podcasts as assignments, you may need multiple accounts because the free accounts have limited file space. An elementary teacher might have enough space for 25 students to keep a limited number of products, depending upon length. The site will tell you how much space each podcast takes and how much you have left.

Make Beliefs Comix Grade 2 to 12 - Bill Zimmerman- 8061

Looking for an alternative to a quiz or an assignment of boring vocabulary definitions written on notebook paper? Trying to find a way to prompt students to write even short passages? Trying to teach simple dialog to ESL/ELL students? Working on appropriate language and interpersonal skills with emotional support students? Looking for a creative way to make clever newsletter additions, bulletin board items, or class rules? Use this great online tool for both students and teachers to create web-based or printed comic strips from a selection of characters and voice bubbles-- and with your OWN text!

Our editors made a sample for you to see. This site requires Flash. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

In the Classroom:
This one is ideal for an interactive whiteboard. Demonstrate the tool on the whiteboard and allow the class to create a strip together before you share the link on your teacher web page. Have students create strips as a quiz or other assignment and email the links to you. No more papers to carry around and grade! Build a collection of comics on different curriculum topics to use as anticipatory sets/activators or to spark discussion. Have younger students make comic strip greeting cards for Mother's Day. The possibilities are endless.

The site creators tell us that Makebeliefscomix (as of early 2008) accepts accent marks and characters from Spanish, French, Italian, German, Latin, in addition to English, they hope soon to add Chinese and Japanese.

CAST UDL Book Builder Grade K to 12 - CAST- 8060

TeachersFirst Edge Tool: For more adventurous technology users-- and those who are willing to take the time to learn the tool. This fabulous, FREE online tool allows you to create your own interactive "books" to help young readers learn reading strategies to build comprehension. The tool allows you to enter your own text, images, and hints. The finished product is a very polished-looking book in a form that you can save on your computer or burn to a CD and use over and over and over with students for years to come.

Be sure to try the model books and read the tips for writers and illustrators. Click to see a sample we made for you and placed on our site.

In the Classroom:
Skills required: joining the site (free), locating or writing your own copyright-free text, locating or creating images for which you have the rights to make more than one copy (Fair Use does not apply!), copy/paste the text and resize/upload the images--following simple directions to create the pages and accompanying hints. Be sure to learn about the three interactive characters who teach the strategies! Publish and download the files of the finished "books" and save on your computer. Extract the zipped files and save locally, on your network, or burn to CD so your students can access them directly.

The uses of this one are endless. If you take the time to get permission from the publisher to use text from some of your textbooks or reading books, you could create interactive versions to use in your classroom or with special ed students. More simply, use student-written stories and artwork (scanned -- or created in Paint)to create the "book." Imagine creating a class "book" at the end of a unit on Communities or Animals, and including images you take with your digital camera. If you copy the CD's, students could sign out the "book" and read it to relatives using their home computer. You can keep the "library" of past books to help future classes. Or ask your middle/high school or gifted students to create books as writing/service project for struggling readers to use.

Math Worksheet Generator Grade 1 to 8 - The Canadian Teacher- 7730

Use this set of simple online tools to generate worksheets for everything from magic squares to converting fractions, decimals, and percents. You set the requirements for the worksheet, add a title and directions, and the generator "makes" the sheet, ready for you to print and copy for classroom use. Topics include: premade sheets from Gr 1-4, flashcards, math bingo, metric conversion, multiplication charts, Least Common Multiple,Greatest Common Factor, Exponents, and more. Teachers from Gr 1 to pre-algebra can use this one!

In the Classroom:
After you print the worksheet and before you close the page, be sure you click to generate the answer sheet! Share this link on your teacher web page for parents and students to make practice activities for at-home review. Be sure to include directions on your web page for what settings students should use (number of decimal places, for example).

Younger students will love "playing teacher" and making sheets at home for their parents or for each other at school. If they check the answers manually, they will practice, too! Suggest this idea to elementary parents at conferences and give your students some stickers to "correct" their parents work!

See user comments on this resource. -

Graphic Organizer Maker Grade 1 to 12 - Recipes4Success/Tech4Learning- 7688

This handy online tool lets you create customized graphic organizers "on the fly" and print them from the web site. There is a paid version of the site, but this FREE tool lets you choose the type of organizer you want, customize the Title and Directions, and print. Organizer types include Venn diagrams, KWL, scientific method, and many more. Learning support teachers will want to use this for students to create study materials.

In the Classroom:
Use these printed organizers as study support for any content area topic. Many are excellent options for reinforcing reading skills in the content areas, even for senior high students. Include this on your teacher web page so students can create their own organizers to study for tests or prepare presentations.

To make a new organizer, simply click "new," write title and directions, and print the small "print" icon. It may be easiest to take their default directions and change them for your purposes. Note that you LOSE your work when you close the page, so make sure you have printed first!

Easy Test Maker Grade 1 to 12 - EasyTestMaker- 5885

Use this handy online tool to generate tests using a variety of formats - multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, true and false, short answers, and more. Just complete a free registration, then start creating and customizing your assessment. Follow the prompts to select font size and style, choose a format, enter each question and answer, and print the test and answer key. Your tests are saved online and can be easily accessed or edited from anywhere.

CuePrompter.com: The Online Teleprompter Grade 2 to 12 - Hannu Multanen- 8986

This handy online tool (Windows only--sorry) makes any computer screen into a "teleprompter" (scrolling screen with the text YOU paste in). No membership or log in is required. Just open the site and copy/paste in the text from a word doc (or type it in, but there is no way to SAVE it on the site). We recommend keeping your text ready-to-copy/paste and saved in another program. Set the font size and screen size to large or small. When you are ready to "speak," click the "start prompter" button. The speed controls are at the top of the screen. Remember that F11 will make any web page full screen without menus and toolbars. If you are fortunate enough to have a rear projection screen, the text can even be reversed. Anyone who wants scrolling text can just paste and go. The maximum text length is 2000 characters, but you could always have a second window ready and switch mid-speech. See System Requirements if you cannot get it to work.

In the Classroom:
Why bother with this one? Lots of reasons! Once they see it, your students are sure to come up with more, but here is a start: Try making a sample dialog for students to follow out loud as your project it in a foreign language or ESL/ELL class. Be sure to write in script format so they know who is speaking! Or share this tool with students who need help getting their nose out of their notes in presenting speeches. They can run it on a laptop only they can see and look out at the audience past the prompter. The comfort of having their text right there will ease many butterflies.

An alternate use: build reading fluency by having students read aloud from this tech-tool. They will be FAR more motivated to read up to speed! Speech clinicians may want to try it for articulation practice, as well.

trIntuition's workBench Grade K to 12 - trIntuition- 8892

TeachersFirst Edge entry: for adventurous technology users. This amazing tool allows users to create web pages and full web sites without any special software, using online drag-and-drop tools. The resulting pages are polished and professional far beyond what you would expect from an online tool. The free version allows you to create single pages or full sites, including uploaded files, and save them. Viewers can access them online (via a unique URL you request) or from downloaded files you can easily create. See a sample our editors made here. The sample includes many ideas for ways to use this tool with your students. For better examples of the visual possibilities, look at the gallery of examples trIntuition workBench offers. They are superb! You and your students can access the tool from any online computer that has the necessary version of Flash: both Mac and Windows. A premium level of membership provides the ability to set up groups and collaborate, but it does cost money. The free version is still quite impressive. One distinct advantage of the ability to download a finished product is the fact that OFFline projects using copyrighted materials can still fall under Fair Use, assuming you limit the number of actual copies. You can also avoid any school policy concerns about posting student work online by keeping it within your school or network. To be able to use ALL tools, be sure you have Flash 9 or higher. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.. If you are not allowed to install software, fear not. All but a very few tools and all finished products work in Flash 7. If you can see the TeachersFirst "What's New" on our home page, you can use the workBench!

In the Classroom:
Skills needed: Join the site (free). We recommend that you tour the examples, then start a new project and/or view the tutorials accessible through a question mark in the top left corner. Make sure you spot the ways to SAVE your project, view and use the site map that is generated for you automatically, and obtain both a URL and a downloaded copy of your project. Projects do NOT save automatically!
Safety and logistics issues: all users must set up an account with an email address. One email address is permitted to have multiple user names and passwords associated with it. If your students do not have school email (and most do not), you have three options:
1. Create a single, whole-class account using an "extra" email account of your own. Note that you do not need to be able to access the email from school to get started (no confirmation routine). This works fine for a few projects or a whole-class project.
2. Create multiple username accounts (one for each student or group), all using your "extra" email account as their email. This will send the username/password reminders to your email for record-keeping.
Remember that in the free version, each account is separate , so you cannot "share" images, etc. without uploading them to EACH account.
3. 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. If you teach multiple sections, use numbers and have each class period use the same set of numbers. There are "sabotage" risks. See the second page of our editor's trIntuition example for solutions to that. Such Gmail subaccounts will come in handy for just about any web 2.0 tool you use in class, so the effort is worth it. Just keep a record of WHO is using which account!

Possible uses for trIntuition workBench? Portfolios; college application "visual essays;" digital biodiversity logs (with digital pictures students take); online literary magazines; personal reflections in images and text; research project presentations; comparisons of online content, such as political candidates' sites or content sites used in research (compared for bias); science sites documenting experiments or illustrating concepts, such as the water cycle; "Visual" lab reports; Digital scrapbooks using images from the public domain and video and audio clips from a time in history -- such as the Roaring Twenties; Local history interactive stories; Visual interpretations of major concepts, such as a "visual" U.S. Constitution. Imagine building your own online library of raw materials for your students to create their own "webscreens" as a new way of assessing understanding: you provide the digital pictures, and they sequence, caption, and write about them (younger students) or you provide the steps in a project as a template, and they insert the actual content of their own. After a first project where you provide "building blocks," the sky is the limit on what they can do. Even the very young can make suggestions as you "create" a whole-class product together using an interactive whiteboard. Consider making a new project for each unit you teach so students can "recap" long after the unit ends.

NDSL Science Literacy Maps Grade K to 12 - The National Science Digital Library- 8798

Enter a search term or click the pulldown of science topics to see a graphical representation of how standards-based math and science concepts fit together and interrelate, then click on a single standards to find web resources and lesson plans specifically for that concept. Seeing the concepts organized in a hierarchy from K to grade 12 and "connected" to the precursors and following standards makes it much easier to see where your students have been and where they are headed in science before and after you teach them. The best part is that you can find exactly the resources you need to get them where they need to go.

In the Classroom:
Mark this in your Favorites on TeachersFirst to access it every time you start a new science topic or unit. Consider sharing a simpler version of the same map, created in Inspiration or using an online tool such as Gliffy (our review here) or Mindomo (see review )to show your students how the content in your science classes fit with their prior knowledge and connect from unit to unit. About a month before the year ends, challenge them to work in small groups and create their OWN annotated concept maps of the "big ideas" studied during the school year.

Spiderman in Amazing Adventures Grade 5 to 9 - U.S. Dept. of Education- 8744

This site offers 16 interactive activities that involve words for kids: from rebuses to word searches. Although geared for intermediate students, this is a fun site for up to 9th graders for a break in the activity and spark a creative project. It has the trademark Superman comics and is specifically for getting students actively involved in thinking and writing. The site may load a little slowly because it is actually an "archived" resource of the USDOE.

In the Classroom:
If you have access to a lab, assign small groups of students to different activities and then put them all together into one package for the kids to share. After practicing with the pages on the web, students can continue the activity by making up their own rebuses, word scrambles, or writing the dialog. Use online tools such as ToonDoo to create comics from digital pictures or create digital rebus puzzles on PowerPoint slides using current vocabulary words.

Cornell-Notes.com Grade 4 to 12 - Ryan Stewart - 8714

Create ready-to-go notetaking sheets for your students or have them create their own using this online tool that generates pdf (Acrobat Reader) files to your specifications. Once you choose the options you want under Create Your Personal Notepaper (blank, ruled, etc), click Submit to see your "perfect notetaking sheet" in Acrobat Reader. Click "Save a copy" to keep it or simply print it out on the spot. Results require Acrobat Reader. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

This resource was featured in a recent New Teacher Hotline Podcast as one of the Tech Toolbox resources. Hear more about it on the podcast .

In the Classroom:
If you require a notebook for your course, this is the perfect tool. Share the link from your teacher web page so students can create their own, customized sheets. Be sure to demonstrate how it works, then "write" a sample set of Cornell-style notes by sharing it on your interactive whiteboard so students can see how to use them! Learning support and study skills teachers will love this one. Middle school science and social studies teachers should encourage a consistent note-taking system like this so all students can find what works for them. Perhaps try different variations until students figure out which is best.

My Album Maker Grade K to 12 - POC Technologies- 8686

This site offers an easy to use online tool to create a photo album in minutes. Choose a theme and customize with your photos. Print, email or save the brochure to print at a later date. Be sure to turn off your pop-up blocker so you can “see” all the site content. This site requires Flash. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

In the Classroom:
This site would work well for an individual or pairs of students. Take digital pictures of a science experiment or other class activity, write captions for each picture and create an album page. Combine the pages into a class book. This would be a great way to "collect" nature specimens or document biodiversity in the school yard without disturbing any flora or fauna. Special ed, ESL, speech/language, or foreign language teachers teachers would also like the options for student-created or personalized, illustrated vocabulary guides. Create on together with your students or assign them to make one as an assessment. Elementary teachers will love the possibilities for Mother's Day gifts!

Sketchcast Grade K to 12 - Richard Ziade - 8666

TeachersFirst Edge Entry: for moderately adventurous technology users. This simple-to-use online tool allows any user to create a "recording" of a drawing without without narration. Simply draw on a "whiteboard" space on the computer screen (and, if you wish, record yourself talking as you draw). The finished product is available as a mini-video (recorded in Flash) that can be shared via URL or embedded in a blog or wiki, much the same way people share YouTube videos. See a sample created by the Edge editorial team with some ideas for ways to use a Sketchcast. Requires FLASH.

In the Classroom:
Skills needed: Join the site (free). Membership requires an email address, but appears to work just fine with a "made up" address (warning: email notifications for forgotten passwords will not work if you pretend!). Watch the sample sketchcast, if you wish. Create a sketchcast (be sure to plug in a mike and check "with voice" if you want sound. When finished, name it, and publish it. You can copy/paste the URL from the page that shows the Sketchcast to share it, click to email it to someone, or copy/paste the code they provide to embed it in your blog. Edit or delete from the My Account page.

Some concerns: there is no way to keep your sketchcast private. Any visitor to the Sketchcast site can see it or link to it. They can also COMMENT on it--possibly a problem as you try to protect students. Also, your students can see any Sketchcast that has been made on the site, so content may NOT be appropriate to all classrooms. (Stick figures can be suggestive or scary, too!). There is a link to report any abuse of the site. The Edge team recommends some combination of a student-user agreement, signed by parents as well or close monitoring if you choose to use this in class. The safest way to SHARE Sketchcasts you make for students is to embed them in your blog so they will not "see" the rest of the Sketchcast site. NEVER allow students to create user names or Sketchcasts that are identifiable by unscrupulous outsiders. One other limitation is the difficulty of drawing with a mouse. If you have access to graphics tablets, these would really help. You might also try "drawing" with your finger with the site open on an interactive whiteboard!

Ideas to use Sketchcast: allow students to submit assessment quizzes using sketchcast instead of written essays (especially those with writing disabilities); create teacher-made explanations of concepts or math processes for students to access and play from your blog for review; Allow young ones to draw and talk about animals they have learned about (on the interactive whiteboard, then embed their videos in the class blog; have students talk about musical notes or symbols as you draw them and record for later review; allow students to do prewriting for assignments in Sketchcast; challenge students to create a visual explanation of an abstract concept, such as democracy or energy. The options are endless.

Our Story Grade 4 to 12 - Wisdom Ark, Founder Andy Halliday- 8576

TeachersFirst Edge Entry: For moderately adventurous technology users. Designed for families to record a time line of events in their lives, this online tool serves the classroom teacher as an electronic time line for a collection of "stories." Each event on the "playable" timeline is a "story." See a quick sample here . Free membership allows you to add "stories" with up to six uploaded images each (no more than 3MB per image). You can also pull in photos from your Flickr or Yahoo picture account. The timeline is 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 from your teacher web page. You can invite others to add, if you wish. You must be a member (free) to add to a story or timeline. See below for a special TeachersFirst member opportunity to request FREE premium membership. This resource was featured in a recent New Teacher Hotline Podcast as one of the Tech Toolbox resources. Hear more about it on the podcast .

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 time line using local, national, or international current events. Or look back in time and create a historical time line, scanning old pictures or using copyright free images from the Library of Congress American Memory Collection. Other ideas: 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 rock cycle, of a plant or tree, timeline or life cycle of migratory animals, personal timelines-- suitable for younger students only if they work with a parent's account. Elementary students could even interview grandparents and create a class timeline about their grandparents for Grandparents' Day. For collaboration, link up with another classroom in another town (or another country) to build a time line 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 ans seasons!).

To have students log in on their own (13 years and older please), they will need individual email accounts. Our editors did notice that "fake" emails seem to allow you to establish membership. This does not comply with the user agreement, however, and your students may forget passwords. They will be unable to receive reminder emails with false addresses. Keep a record!
Some safety/content concerns: There is advertising on the side of the Ourstory pages (free version). There is also an "Explore" button which allows you to see random timelines by the general public (most are tame, BUT there is no control. Others can also COMMENT on timelines created in the free version. TeachersFirst recommends using a teacher account and carefully monitored spaces unless you have a written agreement and parent permission for students to use the full tools of the site with their own memberships (13 and over). You can limit problems by allowing students to take turns adding to a whole-class account with a single log-in. You can set the account to only show the changes with your approval.

The TeachersFirst Edge team has arranged with OurStory to explore classroom-friendly solutions. TeachersFirst members may email to support(at)ourstory.com and mention your TeachersFirst membership in the email to obtain a FREE premium account to OurStory. The premium account will allow you to set up individual stories for each of your students all from one log-in ("create a new profile"), block comments on a public story, use OurStory without advertising, and set up "privacy circles" for small group projects. Premium accounts also have more space for photos and can include videos. We will contact teachers using these free accounts for a quick follow-up later in the school year to learn more about possible site improvements and share great ideas for classroom projects.

Skills needed: Join the site (free or email a request for free premium version), Read through HELP, if needed. Under Settings, carefully choose approval levels and email notification, as well as personal URL for your story. Click Add Story to create an event("story")/item on your timeline. Upload or link to pictures (you could tag a set on Flickr for the project), continue adding and share the URL for others to see. Invite them to be allowed to add to the story. Adept users can Export the timeline to a blog or set up RSS feeds for changes so you know what is happening to YOUR Story and those your students are working on. Two recommendations: Under Settings, turn OFF "post image recommendations" to avoid image suggestions from Yahoo. Warn against the unsafe option of "Submitting a story to be Featured" on the story view page.

Project Based Learning Checklists Grade 1 to 12 - ALTEC: Advanced Learning Technologies in Education Consortia- 8574

This online tool creates checklists for your class projects. Oral presentations, writing, multimedia, or science projects will become a cinch to grade when you have exact guidelines generated by this site. Not only will it be easier for you to assess, but it gives students exact knowledge on what is needed. Just choose a grade level, then choose from a list of project guidelines (or add your own), and make a checklist with the touch of a button. You may even personalize your checklist to your own specific criteria.

In the Classroom:
If you do not want to figure out the math and relative weights of a scored rubric, these checklists share project expectations in a simple list form. You must save the web page URL for your checklist in order to view it later. Include a completed project checklist link on your teacher web page for students and parents to refer to as they work on projects at home. Note: There is no database of other teacher-generated checklists. With very young students, you will want to use the "add your own" option to write very simple text for a checklist that they can read.

Rubistar Grade K to 12 - 4teachers.org- 8564

This online tool gives teachers an easy way to find and create rubrics to fit any project. Join for free, then browse existing rubrics made by others or create your own, starting from scratch or from a template provided. You can even make rubrics in Spanish. Search rubrics by keyword or by subject. Choose "permanent rubric" if you wish to save your rubric on the site for more than a week. You can use one of your previous rubrics as the basis for a new one, simply by choosing to "duplicate" it (then make changes). This site receives funding through the U.S. Dept of Ed, so they do "track" use by zip code. There is also a tool to analyze your rubric scores for a project, though it seems a bit cumbersome.

In the Classroom:
Use this tool to create rubrics in advance for any project you assign and share them with students. If you realize that you need to make changes before the final projects are turned it, it is easy to do so from the saved rubric. >

Once your students are completely familiar with the rubric process, consider allowing them to have input into designing a rubric to evaluate something: new inventions, the best way to solve an engineering problem, best mystery, the best design for a bridge, etc. Then use this tool together as you design a class rubric on an interactive whiteboard or projector. What a great way to develop higher order thinking skills!

sketchfu Grade 6 to 12 - Matt Rubens and Andrew Chen- 8553

TeachersFirst Edge entry: for slightly adventurous technology users. Create simple drawings (or elaborate ones) and share them in animated form using this online tool. The VERY simple drawing tool space records your drawing actions, allows you to replay to see it in quick motion, and "publishes" the result on a web page. The site is designed as a social drawing space where you can view others' work and share your own, but students could use it just for class--and so could you. See a silly sample diagram made by our editors. This site requires FLASH. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

In the Classroom:
Skills needed: Join the site (free). They say it requires email, but it works with a "nonsense" address, so students COULD set up a quick account. We recommend using a single class account with the teacher's email so you can monitor content. It appears that multiple computers can log into the same account at the same time. Once on the site, SKIP the profile info (not required) and friends, and go right to "draw something." Use very simply tools to diagram a process (photosynthesis?), build an art drawing to show how simple geometric shapes can interact as the basis for complex drawings, or illustrate a simple allegorical story with basic shapes (The Dot Meets the Line?). Use Replay to watch it.

When you are ready, click "publish" and copy the URL they provide (skip the email part) so you can show the animation on your interactive whiteboard or place the link in other presentations. You can also DOWNLOAD the still image.

Safety concerns: Since the site has drawings by anyone, we do not recommend allowing students to browse freely. You never know what people might "draw"! Share the site on a supervised computer or an interactive whiteboard or projector to avoid adventurous curiosity in class. Let the students do that at home under someone else's supervision. The site policies state that content should be rated "PG."

How would you use this? Challenge students to use the tool to explain complex processes in simple graphic terms. Since text is very difficult, you may want them to narrate their animations themselves. Art teachers will want to browse some of the beautiful drawings done by others on this site and share the animations to show techniques of building color, shape, cross-hatching ,etc. to make an image. (There is an opacity variation tool, but you have to "earn" it---our reviewers did not get that far).

ToonDoo Grade 3 to 12 - Jambav- 8499

TeachersFirst Edge entry: for slightly adventurous technology users. Create your own one to three panel comic strips or --even better- have your students create them using this simple online tool. The libraries include many cartoon figures, voice bubbles, and more. You can also upload your own photos using the Imaginr(or pieces from them) and create your own characters using the Traitr. For a longer story, make a TOONBOOK instead of a single TOONDOO strip. See a sample made by our techno-savvy editors in just a few minutes. The "published" products can be shared online with the world, shared with a limited audience (probably the safest for students), or kept completely private (visible only to you when logged in).

In the Classroom:
Skills needed: Register(free). Registration asks for an email address, but abc@123 works just fine. There is no email validation process. Log right in. Play with the "Create Your Own" tools to make a TOONDOO or TOONBOOK, including locating characters, resizing, re-ordering, entering text, etc. IF you are feeling adventurous, try upload an image to include. When you are ready, publish the product, publicly by sharing the URL or to opt for a limited audience.

Potential safety concerns: If you are having students create their own TOONDOOS, you will want to prohibit their accessing the links to "popular" TOONDOOS and others available to the public, since the site is open for anyone's idea of "funny" content. Our editors did not see anything objectionable, but you never know.

How can you use this in the classroom? Once you have laid the ground rules, have students create strips with characters explaining a science concept. Or show the steps in a process or procedure, such as the water cycle. Older students can create political satire cartoons. If you have students work from your account, you can provide the "raw materials" of some digital pictures for them to make cartoon explanations of lab safety procedures or nature species. Even little ones can write sentences. Have them work with a partner---and LIMIT their choices to 3 character options so they do not keep changing their minds!

Bibme Grade 6 to 12 - team exibeans- 8408

BibMe is a one-stop source for all kinds of bibliography needs. It is a great online tool for bibliographies--and more. It even has a function for those students who don’t remember all the information for the source you cited. BibMe allows you to search from a database of millions of entries to find your source and autofill in the information. If you have the source in front of you, you can enter your entries manually. BibMe also offers resources to help you cite your work properly in the ‘Citation Guide’ section. It offers examples in MLA, APA, and Chicago formatting, making it useful for a wide variety of schools.

In the Classroom:
This is a great tool for students who are both learning to cite correctly and as a helpful tool for those who forget some of the "little" things that count when writing a bibliography. It offers a great example, too, of the difference between what is in a "Works Cited" page and what actually appears in the text as a citation. Teachers can use this on a Smartboard or simply through a computer lab or projector to demonstrate the correct way to cite as well as mistakes to avoid. Be sure to include the link on your teacher web page for students finishing reports in the wee hours of the morning on the due date.

There is a free membership available (requests an email address but allows you in without using it--try a bogus one?). Set up a free account for yourself so you can "save" example bibliographies. Your school policies may not allow individual student accounts, though it is worth asking your administration, since the tools are quite useful and definitely education-oriented. Be sure to keep a receord of student usernames (NOT their real names, please) and passwords in your TEACHER plan or grade book for those who "forget."

Word Search Maker Grade K to 7 - A to Z Teacher Stuff Tools- 8389

This is a time-saving online tool for any subject. Reinforce concepts and spelling with your own customized word searches. This tool allows for a variety of options for the placement of the words or even the shape of the grid puzzle. Teachers can personalize the font styles and sizes as well.

In the Classroom:
Read the home page carefully for directions on setting your browser for a more customized look. Landscape mode works best for most puzzles. Make sure you take their suggestion of copying your word list onto your clipboard just in case you lose the word search. For younger students, consider sharing a word search on an interactive whiteboard and letting them "highlight" the words with a finger in different colors.

See user comments on this resource. -

vixy.net (beta) Grade K to 12 - The Vixy project: Takuma Mori- 8177

TeachersFirst Edge Entry: For the most adventurous technology users. This online tool can convert online videos such as the ones you find on YouTube into a portable format you can play at school when filtering blocks access to the regular video site. You will likely have to do the conversion on a home computer and bring the file to school on a USB storage device or CD. With the rapid growth of YouTube as a participant forum, the content is most always blocked by school filtering, yet SELECTED videos may have real usefulness in the classroom or even in professional development settings.

In the Classroom:
Skills needed: locate the online video and copy the URL. Open the Vixy site and paste the URL into the converter. Click to convert to AVI for windows or Mpeg4 for Mac, then download the file. Save the file to your local computer, then transfer to your portable device (USB or CD). The complication: Windows will require the DivX plug-in to play as an offline video file, such as in Windows Media Player. There is a link from Vixy to download it, but you may not be allowed to install it on your school machine. You could bring the install file to school on CD and ask your tech department to install it for you, if your machine does not already have it.

Why bother? YouTube and similar sites provide videos that are powerful tools in political campaigns and social commentary. Such videos may be worth the effort for your American Government or history class. YouTube also hosts artistic films and examples of literary genres applicable in the English classroom, as well. Sharing these videos, licensed under Creative Commons Share and Share Alike Licensing, is LEGAL, especially for your classroom use.

Math Word Problems Grade 3 to 7 - Jim Cornish- 7428

This online tool provides teachers with a wealth of mathematical word problems and other challenges. Some examples of topics include mental math, graphing, addition squares, basic multiplication and more. Many of the pages require Adobe Acrobat Reader.

In the Classroom:
This site has a great variety of math activities (most are not interactive). Use a projector to challenge your students daily with a new mathematical word problem as a "warm up."

Project Poster Grade 2 to 12 - 4Teachers.org- 7332

Use this terrific online tool for your students to create posters or short reports in a poster format. The teacher sets up an account (for free), and follows simple directions so students can upload images and write about their project or pictures. The site even includes management tools so you can keep separate classes of students and see their work by class. Students can share the URL for their posters with grandparents or parents to show off their good work!

In the Classroom:
Plan to spend some time reading through the direcdtions and trying out this tool before you assign it to students.

Students will need to know how to locate and upload a file for an image (such as a digital picture) to place it in their poster. If you allow them to use images from the web, the tool asks them to give information on their image source, as well (hooray for ethical use of the Internet!). If you use digital pictures of students, be SURE that you do NOT use full names on the site. You should get parent permission for uploading any student images, even if anonymous.

Some uses for this simple tool: book reports (take a digital photo of the book cover), biographical posters of famous people (images from the web), "all about me" posters, posters about community members such as veterans of World War II whom students interview and photograph, author posters, fictitious character studies, science posters on processes or terms with accompanying digital pictures to illustrate, etc. The possibilities are endless. Once students know the tool, they can use it over and over.

Into the Book Grade K to 6 - Wisconsin Educational Communications Board- 7236

This interactive site is a work-in-progress as of 2006, but is destined to be a MUST-HAVE for anyone who teaches reading. The site includes sections for both students and teachers. Teach about the eight concepts of reading comprehension: Prior Knowledge, Making Connections, Questioning, Visualization, Inferring, Summarizing, Evaluating, Synthesizing. The Teacher portion provides lessons, videos, teacher tips, recommended books, links, rubrics and downloads. The Student portion offers interactive, technology-based activities for each of the comprehension concepts. Check out the student-created Visualizing activities, including drawing pictures and adding music using the online tools.

IMPORTANT: To enter the student portion, try using first name plus the number 1(Ex. Mary1).

In the Classroom:
Share the tools on a projector for the first time, then use them as center time for students.

Gliffy Grade K to 12 - - 7125

TeachersFirst Edge entry: for the moderately curious technology user. Research verifies the power of graphic organizers in promoting strong thinking skills and comprehension for all ages. Gliffy is a FREE online tool for creating graphic organizers without purchasing ANY software. Individuals or groups can create the organizers or the class can create them together, such as in a brainstorming session on a projector. You can assign students to "map" out a chapter or story or assign groups to create study guides using this tool collaboratively. Your students are certain to enjoy this tool and be forced to THINK in the process. You can export the graphic organizers to a blog or "publish" them on the web -- all for free. See an example of a published diagram/organizer made by our editors for more ideas.

In the Classroom:
Skills needed: join the Gliffy site (free), play with the tools and toolbars to create diagrams, access help and FAQ to collaborate, publish, or embed diagrams in your blog or other web page. Easy to medium difficulty. Note: collaborators need individual email accounts to gain access. If your students do NOT have personal email, you may want to create group email accounts on Yahoo or GMail for which only YOU know the password and can log in for groups to work in class in order to avoid the safety and school filtering issues of student email access. This would also be a great tool for group projects in YOUR grad classes!

Tabblo Grade K to 12 - Tabblo Inc.- 7079

TeachersFirst Edge entry: for the more adventurous technology user. Tabblo allows you to make very professional-looking posters, brochures, photo layouts using an online tool. Join the site for free and use photos you "borrow" from Flickr, other Tabblo users, or uploaded from your own digital image collection. The hitch: you cannot PRINT OUT the finished Tabblo results from the web page. You CAN share it online (they'll give you the link) or pay to have it printed. Why bother? Primary teachers may want to use this site as a way to share images of a classroom special event with parents (by email invitation to view it online). Since you can designate your images and finished Tabblo as PRIVATE, there is no safety concern. Older students can actually make Tabblos of their own from images you provide or images they take with a digital camera. Our editors made a sample for you to view online. We used their sample images, so the content does not really "make sense." Be sure to read the TEXT of the sample Tabblo for more ideas on how to use the tool in the classroom.

In the Classroom:
Use Tabblos for professional-looking, student-made projects (perhaps pay to print the BEST one?) to illustrate concepts, show steps in a process, document a lab experiment, Tech skills needed: ability to upload pictures (for which you OWN the rights), Tagging photos and finished Tabblos, reading step-by-step directions and Help to master simple drag and drop, template selection, text editing, etc involved in making the Tabblo, copy/paste of URL to share a Tabblo, careful reading of sharing options. Our advice: start small and think about management issues if you are allowing students to upload photos. It might be easiest to provide a set, tagged with your class name, for the first time you use this tool. The students are guaranteed to ask for another Tabblo activity!

Stained Glass Collage Grade K to 12 - FX Palo Alto Laboratory- 7009

TeachersFirst Edge entry: for the more adventurous technology user. Create printable, downloadable, emailable, or online versions of photo collages in a stained glass style using this free online tool. You must join (free) to make an account. You can upload digital pictures or transfer them from Flickr (see TeachersFirst Edge for more info on Flickr). The products can have all sorts of uses or simply be an artistic project. Be sure to read About Stained Glass Collage for tech info and ideas.

In the Classroom:
Upload photos to a teacher account and allow students to create "stained glass" collages from your collection. You can document a field trip, illustrate a concept or process, such as "autumn," "healthy eating," or photosynthesis. Demonstrate first on a projector or interactive whiteboard, if available. Some other ideas to illustrate: lab safety, food groups, mammals, acceleration, branches of government, etc. The only limit is your imagination! You can also make great collages for an open house PowerPoint show or for your web site (assuming you OWN the rights to the images).

Rubric Builder Grade K to 12 - Landmark Project- 6783

This free, online tool was created by a veteran teacher for you to be able to create your own rubrics. Search for rubrics already made by others using the keyword search. Ex. enter "persuasive" to find loads of persuasive writing rubrics. You can create an account for free, then access rubrics made by other teachers ("clone" them to edit and use one that is close to what you need). You can also start from scratch. The rubric generator creates a printable version you can come back and get every time you need it. More techno-savvy users can also copy the html code for their finished rubric to put on another website.

In the Classroom:
When you first arrive, you won't see much without joining, though you can use the search feature to see examples. Once you join the site, mark it in your Favorites and include the "access code" you made for yourself as part of the notes for the Favorite, so you will remember what you used! You can share rubrics with teacher-colleagues and save lots of time! You can also edit them after use, if you discover that you need to change scoring or wording.

Historical Hurricane Tracks Grade 4 to 12 - NOAA- 6642

Here's an online tool that lets users compare the tracks of different hurricanes from a listing of more than 30 years' data. It's a great tool that can be used to illustrate the variety of paths these storms take. Try comparing different years, different periods of the year, etc. to see the variations.

In the Classroom:
This site is a great interactive "hypothesis testing" tool for student "hurrican predictors. Note that it requires a speedy connection, and the results will take a few seconds to appear.

So you have to do a research project? Grade 4 to 8 - - 6259

The next time a research project is assigned, lead your students to this helpful site that provides useful tips, printable worksheets, and links to online tools that can help build information literacy skills. Includes hints on developing a focus, choosing a source, organizing notes, avoiding plagiarism, and more.

Create a Timeline Grade 1 to 12 - Ourtimelines.com- 5925

This online tool lets you create a timeline of an individual's life using dates from 1000 AD to the present year. Enter the person's name and dates, add events (historic or personal) and their beginning/ending dates, and click the "generate" button.

Paragraph Punch Grade 4 to 6 - Merit Software- 5817

This online tool gently guides students through each step of the writing process - pre-writing, writing, organizing, editing, rewriting, and publishing - and provides helpful tips along the way. The goal is to create a basic paragraph based on a prompt generated by the site. Completed paragraphs can be copied and pasted into a word processing program for final editing.

Make Your Own Kaleidoscope Grade 4 to 12 - - 4320

This is an online tool that lets users experiment with lines, fills, and color to create their own kaleidoscope. There are lots of possible imaging, color, and mathematical connections that one might draw from this one. It’s also just plain fun to try. This site requires FLASH. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

Rubrics for Web Lessons. Grade 1 to 12 - San Diego State Univ.- 2047

Learn about rubrics and essentials for authentic assessment using rubrics from this article.

In the Classroom:
The links to various online rubric generators provide some examples and tools for you to try creating your own rubrics (or use some ready-made ones).

Rubrics to the Rescue Grade 1 to 12 - TeachersFirst- Melissa Rivers, M.Ed.- 162

TeachersFirst expains the essentials of rubrics: What are they, why use them, types of rubrics, and ideas forinvolving students in creating rubrics. The article includes links to online tools for creating rubrics or to find ready-made rubrics, ready for download. Teachers old and new will like the succinct explanations and ready tools for authentic assessment.

In the Classroom:
Mark this resource as a Favorite for quick access to everything you need when preparing to give a project-based learning assignment.

Test Designer Grade K to 12 - Tribrio, Inc.- 9286

Test Designer allows teachers to quickly and easily create multiple-choice, true or false, fill-in-the-blank, and open-ended questions for tests and worksheets. Browse through thousands of previously-created tests in subject areas such as Algebra, Earth Science, Geography, U.S. History, and Vocabulary. Test Designer also provides simple graphics that can easily be added. Teachers can e-mail tests and worksheets to students, teachers, and parents. Make sure to allow plenty of time to read directions and maneuver the site prior to creating tests. There are some minor unobtrusive advertisements at this site. The required membership is free!

In the Classroom:
Use this website to create personalized quizzes and tests for your students. You could also ask students to design their own tests for each other to review using your teacher log-in or appoint a student “quizmaker” each week for the content your class has covered, making this an assignment that each student does once per semester.

Assign-A-Day Online Calendar Grade K to 12 - 4Teachers.org- 9229

Put your assignment calendar online and enhance teacher, student, and parent communication! Assign-A-Day is a free web-based calendar tool that provides an easy way to create monthly calendars for each subject area or grade level. Registration is free and takes you to your calendar manager page after you log on. Customize the calendar colors, font style, and size to make a unique look for your class. Create or edit assignments from any computer that is connected to the Internet. Add links to websites or your TeachersFirst favorites as part of an assignment. Invite colleagues to share the calendar and work collaboratively with you. Students and parents can see the calendar by visiting the web site (no log-on required) and entering the teacher name in the search box. The calendar can be printed out as a grid or a list for student and parent use at home. This website requires Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

In the Classroom:
Consider creating a shared calendar for a grade level or subject area with your colleagues! Be sure to give your students and parents the web address to the Assign-A-Day web site. They can find your calendar using your name or calendar ID number. If you have a teacher web page, add a link to Assign-A-Day or ask your web master to add a link on the school web page. Besides assignments, use the online calendar to remind students and parents about other class-related items such as field trip forms, materials for science projects, great weekend family events, and the birthdays of historical figures. Since this is a public calendar, remember to protect your students’ safety by not including student names. Check with your Information Technology department to make sure the web site is not blocked at school so that you can add assignments during prep time.

Scratch Grade 1 to 12 - Lifelong Kindergarten Group, MIT Media Lab- 9202

Teacher's First Edge Review: for moderately adventurous technology users (and those who are allowed to download/install or request free software). Want to get in touch with your inner child? Get Scratch! Warning: The use of this application is quite fun and engaging! Scratch is a downloaded program that creates interactive stories, animations, games, music, and art. This application can be used for bringing simple ideas and projects to life. It has great use as a paint program without using the animations. Downloads/install files are available for Mac or PC. Other links include a Getting Started pdf, Help screens to show what each block controls and how to use, and a Reference Guide which provides an overview of the interface. A support page is also available for help in using the application.

Material created can only be viewed within the program. Drawings are not saved as a jpg or pic file. However, a "snapshot" of the screen can be created by using these keys in Mac: apple, shift, and 4 and click/drag to surround the portion to save. In PC use: control/print screen. These snapshots can be uploaded or used as a picture in other applications. PDF guides require Acrobat Reader. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Skills needed: Download and install the program or have your tech folks do this for you.

Quick start: Click stage and in the center pane, click on backgrounds. Click on paint to make a new background. Different colors, pens, and materials can be used to create the background or an image can be brought in from your computer. Objects in Scratch are called a Sprite and can be added in by choosing the folders below the screen. By clicking the script tab, blocks can be moved in to create motion, add sounds (even record your own message), and change the look of the Sprite. Blocks are linked on to each other to create a series of events. A control block dragged to the top of the blocks control which key starts the event. Advanced options include adding variables and other controls.

Safety/Permissions Concerns: Be sure to check with your Technology Department, as many districts require authorization to download or install new applications. Projects can be shared online; however an account is required. Be sure to check your district's policy for creating student accounts online and using student email for verification. Many districts require a parental permission prior to creating an account. If online accounts are desired, another alternative to entering student emails exists. 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.

Work is saved to the computer itself and only shared online via an account. To avoid problems concerning content made by outsiders or issues with sharing, save the work locally and either create your own gallery on a supervised class website/wiki or set up a single account where you share the "best" projects online via your own log-in. Remind students of the school's Acceptable Use Policy and consequences of violations, if you do allow them to join/share. Images used should adhere to all copyright rules. Use pictures taken in class or those with Creative Commons licensing (and provide attribution!).

Practical tips: Students quickly catch on to this program when allowed to play and easily see what they can make from it. Provide a simple assignment with defined rules/tasks to learn the tools. Younger students may familiarize themselves more easily working with a partner. Have students use a storyboard to write down what they will do/draw/say in their creation in order to keep tabs on what students and their creations.

Possible uses: For the lower grades, Scratch provides unlimited possibilities. Use as a new way to show vocabulary usage. Use the paint program to add information to a picture from your class field trip or science experiment. Use Scratch to help in storytelling a concept in a new and unique way, such as how rocks are formed. In the upper grades, use Scratch to show complex material in a new way. For example, students can draw DNA and show replication, etc. through their drawings and storytelling. Draw the different movements of landforms in plate tectonics. Draw or illustrate solutions to Math problems.

Typogenerator Grade 1 to 12 - ladyK- 9164

This simple online tool creates an artistic image from any text you enter. The text is artistically manipulated in a random pattern with colorful backgrounds and repeated "echoes" of the words or parts of words. First, allow your eyes to adjust to the pale gray, low-contrast screen. Then type your text into the small ("please enter text") space, choose your format(portrait or landscape) and click "generate." The tool will search Google for images and generate a VERY stylistic way of "looking" at your words. Be patient while the tool works. You also have options to try again, keeping selected characteristics of the first image.

Once you have an image you like, be sure to click 640 by 480 (just above the image) to get a larger version. The larger image can be copied of saved, simply by RIGHT-clicking on it and choosing "copy" or "Save image as." Once you have the image saved, you can print it full page on letter size paper, include it in a PowerPoint show, or print smaller photo-size copies to use as "flash cards" for your visual students. Printing from Windows Picture and Fax viewer or simple Mac image software allows you to choose the final image size and layout. See a sample of a simile/metaphor image (a .jpg image from "save image as" so you can see how your computer will open saved Typogenerator images). NOTE: images used as part of the generator may be subject to copyright. Do not use these images for any commercial use or on a web site.

In the Classroom:
Make your own posters or bulletin boards of key terms your students are learning. Have students create their own "visualizations" of important vocabulary and print them on "flashcards,"writing their definitions on the back. Your visual learners will remember the terms better, even from these "fractured" versions, once you bring them to life with color and depth. Art teachers will love the chance to "play" with and critique the images as examples of graphic design.

Block Posters Grade K to 12 - blockposters.com- 9042

Make a poster in a snap using this easy tool. Just upload your photo, slice it, and your poster size images will be downloaded to your computer--ready for printing. View the site's gallery for poster ideas. The pictures are downloaded into a PDF file. Adobe Acrobat is required. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

In the Classroom:
You could actually use this tool in any subject or grade level to create visual displays for your classroom or have students make their own (upper elementary and older). If you allow students to use this site, beware that the images in the Gallery may change frequently. What may be 'art' to some may be questionable to others. For art teachers, the use of this tool offers endless possibilities. Student artwork will take on a different air when blown up to gallery-sized prints. Teachers, think E-A-S-Y bulletin boards!

PBwiki Grade K to 12 - PBwiki. Inc.- 9006

TeachersFirst Edge entry: for slightly adventurous technology users. This online tool lets you and your students create a collaborative "space" online in any subject, allowing as many people as you want to edit, make changes, add new content, etc. You may be familiar with wikipedia, but wikis can be so much more! A recent poll of "high tech" educators cited wikis as the one web-based tool they could not live without! If you have not tried a wiki yet, visit the TeachersFirst Wiki Walk-Through for a detailed, step-by-step explanation and starter help, including dozens of ideas for ways to use a wiki in your classroom.

If you are not sure which wiki tool is best for you, see our detailed TeachersFirst review of PBwiki features, pros, and cons(done as part of the TeachersFirst Wiki Walk-Through).Ignore the persistent and pervasive suggestions that you upgrade to a fee-based membership!

In the Classroom:
Skills needed: Click through the first two steps to create a free wiki, including the name (which becomes part of the wiki URL). Be sure to select "education" as the answer to "What is this wiki for?" Wait for your confirmation email (may take a while...check junk mail folder). After the email, choose whether your wiki is public or private (visible to members only or to the public). Set a "key" (password), if you wish. Bypass the offer to PAY. Use the Quickstart steps to configure the wiki just the way you want it or simply play to learn the Clickable editing toolbar. Add and edit pages, invite new members, explore the three template options and a few options for "skins." You may want to become familiar with the tool as a teacher-created site at first so you know its capabilities before turning students loose.

See the TeachersFirst Wiki Walk-Through for practical management and safety tips.

Safety concerns: Students need email accounts to have individual log-ins (consider using one GMail account you own, with separate sub-accounts). Note: with this wiki tool, you do not have the option of "locking" certain pages or setting different "levels" of users. You and your students have equal access to make changes, once you make them "members." There are also "plug-ins' (widgets) available from the toolbar, some of which may connect you to sites with unmonitored content. Decide ahead of time what you policies are concerning use of the "plug-ins."

Wetpaint Grade K to 12 - wetpaint, inc- 9005

TeachersFirst Edge entry: for slightly adventurous technology users. This online tool lets you and your students (aged 13 and up, according to Wetpaint policy) create a collaborative "space" online in any subject, allowing as many people as you want to edit, make changes, add new content, etc. You may be familiar with wikipedia, but wikis can be so much more! A recent poll of "high tech" educators cited wikis as the one web-based tool they could not live without! If you have not tried a wiki yet, visit the TeachersFirst Wiki Walk-Through for a detailed, step-by-step explanation and starter help, including dozens of ideas for ways to use a wiki in your classroom.

If you are not sure which wiki tool is best for you, see our detailed TeachersFirst review of Wetpaint features, pros, and cons(done as part of the TeachersFirst Wiki Walk-Through).

In the Classroom:
Skills needed: Click through the 3 steps to create a free wiki, including the name (which becomes part of the wiki URL). Follow instructions to send an email requesting conversion to an ad-free space. Follow in-context help to