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MapStory - MapStory Foundation
Grades
6 to 12
4 Favorites
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This tool is an interesting way to visualize geographic information by telling it in a story format. You organize knowledge in MapStory by becoming storytellers who create, share, and...more
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This tool is an interesting way to visualize geographic information by telling it in a story format. You organize knowledge in MapStory by becoming storytellers who create, share, and collaborate. You can help to improve understanding of worldwide issues over the course of history. MapStory is much like Wikipedia. It is a global database to tell stories over time using maps. View fascinating maps such as trends in US poverty, the spreading of diseases such as the Swine Flu, and the increasing use of the US Postal Service. View many topics from endangered species to economic development -- anything you can place on a map! By clicking on the "play" button, you can see the change over time through an unfolding story. Hover over the tabs along the top of the toolbar to select a category of stories. Be sure to also notice as maps scroll across the top of the screen. Click on maps of interest and view tools for saving in favorites or embedding in a site. Search the site for StoryLayers. The StoryLayers are data that have been uploaded to the site to apply in maps. Be sure to check out the YouTube videos which explain how to use this fascinating site. If your district blocks YouTube, then they may not be viewable. You could always view the videos at home and bring them to class "on a stick" to share with your class, if needed. Use a tool such as KeepVid, reviewed here, to download the videos from YouTube.
tag(s): interactive stories (31), maps (293), stories and storytelling (32)
In the Classroom
Find great MapStory maps to introduce a concept or explain a portion of the concept that may be difficult to introduce in class. Use one to show initially, eliciting thoughts and questions from students. Because it is an open database, maps could contain errors. Have students be on the lookout for any possible errors. Students can fact check, research, and rewrite information as needed. Consider creating an assignment that shows a change in information over time. This project would be applicable to any subject area. Consider creating a class account to maintain the MapStories created by your students. Imagine new information being added every year with new updates to the map! World language (or world cultures) classes could collaborate to create a map story about a specific culture.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Kids Know It Network - Mr. Bertoch, The KidsKnowIt Network
Grades
K to 6
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Created and designed by a classroom teacher, Kids Know It features games, podcasts, videos, worksheets and whiteboard activities. Designed for pre-k through sixth grade, this...more
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Created and designed by a classroom teacher, Kids Know It features games, podcasts, videos, worksheets and whiteboard activities. Designed for pre-k through sixth grade, this site features spelling, math, history, geology, geography, biology, astronomy, memory, and dinosaurs. Some of the activities require Java. Although this site does include many advertisements, they are worth weeding through to find the good stuff. Note: many of the links offered are NOT actually created by KidsKnowit. They are content from other sites, shown inside a "frame."
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): addition (239), dinosaurs (55), division (168), multiplication (220), operations (123), preK (291), space (218), spelling (168), subtraction (198)
In the Classroom
Use Kids Know for your students to explore in class centers. Use for curious students to explore subjects you do not always teach, such as biology, chemistry, ... or dinosaurs! Find activities for your projector or interactive whiteboard, interesting videos, and ways for students to practice spelling. Use the videos as a model when studying other subjects, giving students structure and ideas for making their own videos. Share the videos on a site such as TeacherTube reviewed here. Use as an example for students to create their own wiki for each topic you study such as native Americans, Civil War, fractions, or for an author study. Not comfortable with wikis? Check out the TeachersFirst Wiki Walk-Through. List on your class website as a fun way to explore!
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Dialect Survey Maps - Joshua Katz/North Carolina University
Grades
5 to 12
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Explore the vast diversity of language in the United States through a variety of dialectical maps. What is your dialect? Click on Take...more
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Explore the vast diversity of language in the United States through a variety of dialectical maps. What is your dialect? Click on Take this survey and find out to access the New York Times site that currently shares 25 of the questions in the survey. Then use the Dialectic Survey Maps site to understand the results more fully. Choose the dialect question from the dropdown at the left to see maps of results. Selections are color coded so it is easy to see where each result is on the map. There are 122 items on the survey and three types of maps to display the results for each item. See results via Static, Click(able), and City maps. Click on an area on the Static map or select one of the hundreds of City maps to get results in percentages by color.
tag(s): diversity (33), maps (293), word choice (27)
In the Classroom
Use your projector to show your class the different dialects for different areas of the U.S. Choose one of the kid-popular questions, i.e. Do you call a carbonated drink a soda, pop, or Coke? Show students how the results for your geographical area compare to others. If the New York Times site is still available, have students try the survey themselves for homework. Help students to notice that language is dynamic and changes according to region. Emphasize that using a dialect is not incorrect. They do not represent a language deficiency. Speaking a vernacular dialect is not the result of poor or incomplete language learning. Correctness in language is a matter of social acceptability. Though there is a "standard" English taught in schools, dialects must be respected as evidence of social identity and linguistic expertise. What are some examples students can give for special ways their family says something? What about in a social context, as in country western fans vs rapper fans? This site is also helpful for ESL/ELL and world language students to REALIZE that pronunciations and word choice vary and can identify where the speaker is from.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Population Education - Population Connection
Grades
6 to 12
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Learn about population! Highlights of this site include both world and US population counters. Be sure to check the Classroom tab to search for lessons, find information about population,...more
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Learn about population! Highlights of this site include both world and US population counters. Be sure to check the Classroom tab to search for lessons, find information about population, and even search by themes. Connect activities to your state's latest standards. This site also includes demonstration videos of some of the classroom activities. Click on the Curriculum tab at the top and slide to Population Information. Although the site is selling some teaching materials and workshops, there are free lessons available. There are 15 Infographics highlighting global issues and trends. Find out about carbon dioxide emissions and energy consumption, meat and paper consumption, global undernourishment, and many more issues. The videos are hosted on YouTube. If your district blocks YouTube, then they may not be viewable. You could always view the videos at home and bring them to class "on a stick" to share. Use a tool such as KeepVid reviewed here to download the videos from YouTube.
tag(s): population (62), resources (112)
In the Classroom
Use the "Find a Lesson" search to discover population education activities and information that will be useful in your curriculum or classroom. Find demonstration videos of how to use the lessons within the classroom. Be sure to preview and show the World Population Video (aka: the "dot video") to your classes. Share the video on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Use these resources when discussing population of organisms and then discussing human population.
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International Human Development Indicators - United Nations Development Programme
Grades
9 to 12
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Use the "Stat Planet" interactive maps to visualize development data around the World. Choose various indicators such as Poverty, Gender Inequality, and more. Change parameters of the...more
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Use the "Stat Planet" interactive maps to visualize development data around the World. Choose various indicators such as Poverty, Gender Inequality, and more. Change parameters of the graph and map. Use the Indicators and Data Explorer pages on this site to begin research about many factors of human development in the World. View the information in various languages.
tag(s): population (62)
In the Classroom
Student groups or the full class can view data and graphs of various indicators and brainstorm questions to understand the data. What factors exist in various countries or areas of the World? What conditions need to change to reverse troubling trends and to create greater equality of individuals in the World? Break these questions down into major focus topics to be researched and presented by members of the class. Since this site can be viewed in numerous languages, use this tool in a world language class. Gain understanding of the factors that influence places you read about in the news and faraway cultures. In government or civics classes, talk about how public policies affect or reflect development data. In math classes, use this site to see how statistics can be applied to decision making and international issues.
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Nelson Mandela Biography - bio.com
Grades
4 to 12
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Explore the life of Nelson Mandela with this informative site from Biography.com. Contents include facts of Mandela's life, photos, and videos profiling his life and leadership. One...more
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Explore the life of Nelson Mandela with this informative site from Biography.com. Contents include facts of Mandela's life, photos, and videos profiling his life and leadership. One especially useful portion of the site includes a printable study guide including vocabulary, extension activities, and more. There is a lot here to explore.
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This site includes advertising.
tag(s): 20th century (53), black history (61), civil rights (122), heroes (24), south africa (11)
In the Classroom
Share this site on your interactive whiteboard or projector as an introduction to your Civil Rights, Black History, or Heroes unit. Allow students to explore on their own. Use the study guide as a resource for vocabulary, deepening understanding, or for extension activities. Use an online tool such as Interactive Two Circle Venn Diagram, reviewed here, to compare Nelson Mandela to other Civil Rights leaders such as Martin Luther King. Have students create timelines about Civil Rights (with music, photos, videos, and more) using Capzles, reviewed here. Challenge students use Fakebook, reviewed here, to create a "fake" page similar in style to Facebook about Civil Rights leaders.
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Nelson Mandela - BBC
Grades
3 to 8
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Find a good introduction and overview of the life of Nelson Mandela geared toward elementary students (and middle school). View basic information, such as why Mandela is famous. Take...more
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Find a good introduction and overview of the life of Nelson Mandela geared toward elementary students (and middle school). View basic information, such as why Mandela is famous. Take a look at young Mandela, problems in South Africa, and his life as a world statesman. Scroll through several fun facts about Mandela, play a game of Audience with Mandela, explore photographs and videos, or take a short quiz. This site was created in the UK. American English speakers may notice some slight spelling or vocabulary differences.
tag(s): biographies (90), civil rights (122), heroes (24), south africa (11)
In the Classroom
Introduce this site on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Then have students explore this site independently or in small groups. Use this site as an anticipatory set or "activator" to introduce a unit or lesson for Black History Month or about heroes in Civil Rights. As you discuss Martin Luther King, Jr, include discussion of major Civil Rights leaders from other countries. Have students create an annotated image of Nelson Mandela including text boxes and related links using a tool such as Thinglink, reviewed here. Have students create maps of Mandela's journeys using Animaps (reviewed here). Students can add text, images, and location stops! Have students create timelines (with music, photos, videos, and more) using Capzles (reviewed here).
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Nelson Mandela - Facts - Nobel Media
Grades
3 to 12
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Explore information and facts about the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize winner, Nelson Mandela, straight from the Nobel Prize website. In addition to basic biographical information, view videos...more
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Explore information and facts about the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize winner, Nelson Mandela, straight from the Nobel Prize website. In addition to basic biographical information, view videos of Mandela's Nobel lecture, a bibliography of his writings, a photo gallery and much more. The question and answer portion of the site contains basic information useful for even the youngest students, while older students may enjoy exploring the wall to find comments shared by the site's readers.
tag(s): 1960s (30), 1970s (12), 1980s (9), 20th century (53), biographies (90), black history (61), civil rights (122), heroes (24), south africa (11)
In the Classroom
Introduce this site on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Then have students explore this site independently or in small groups. This site is perfect to include with Black History Month activities or in a unit on Civil Rights leaders. Have students create a simple infographic with words used to describe Mandela sharing their findings using Easel.ly, reviewed here or Venngage reviewed here. Have students create a word cloud of the important terms they learn from this site using a tool such as Wordle (reviewed here), Tagxedo (reviewed here), or WordItOut (reviewed here). Use an online tool such as Interactive Two Circle Venn Diagram (reviewed here) to compare South Africa at the time of Mandela's arrest to current South Africa. Have students use Fakebook (reviewed here) to create a "fake" page similar in style to Facebook about Mandela during his time in prison or after his release.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Global Closet Calculator - National Geographic Education
Grades
2 to 10
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Take a tour of your closet to find out where your clothes come from. Discover the concept of interdependence and the extent of our global footprints. Research where raw materials ...more
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Take a tour of your closet to find out where your clothes come from. Discover the concept of interdependence and the extent of our global footprints. Research where raw materials come from and how clothes are made. Consider the implications of manufacturing and transportation to get them to your closet. This interactive includes informative videos complete with transcript. You can save your place within the interactive by "getting a code" that you re-enter on return.
tag(s): natural resources (60), resources (112)
In the Classroom
When discussing the Food and Fiber system (materials used to produce food and the many products we use daily), use this site to gather initial information of where their items come from. As products are no longer made closer to our actual lives, many students are disconnected from the materials and processes used to create everyday products and are unaware of their global footprint. Students can continue research by investigating other items used daily to determine what they are made from, where they are manufactured, etc. Continue this process with the foods that they eat to show how many popular foods are very removed from the whole foods that we should be eating. In geography classes, have students use a reviewed geo/mapping tool from the TeachersFirst Edge to map the path across the globe from raw materials to finished products, just to make one pair of jeans. Discuss the role of natural resources and economics in determining this path.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Patchwork Nation - Jefferson Institute
Grades
9 to 12
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Is the US a melting pot? A tossed salad? The Jefferson Institute suggests it is a "Patchwork Nation." This site was originally developed to chronicle the 2008 US Presidential election,...more
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Is the US a melting pot? A tossed salad? The Jefferson Institute suggests it is a "Patchwork Nation." This site was originally developed to chronicle the 2008 US Presidential election, but has been maintained and updated since that time. It presents the vast diversity of the United States using demographic data and categorizing communities into one of a dozen community types. With names like "Campus and Careers," "Military Bastions," and "Evangelical Epicenters" each community type represents an important subset of what makes up the American Experience. This site drills down much deeper than the typical red state/blue state dichotomy and challenges us to think about what characteristics work to define US citizens.
tag(s): branches of government (50), census (19), communities (35), democracy (13), demographics (19), politics (99)
In the Classroom
This site could be useful in a variety of classroom settings. A sociology class might grapple with the generalizations inherent in each of the 12 community types. What does it mean to be a "Tractor Country" community? The associated charts and demographics can help prove or disprove those theories. A government class might consider the impact of these different community types all existing within one Congressional district. How might that legislator best represent those communities at the State level or the Federal level? An economics class might speculate on the distribution of wealth in the US. What factors influence that distribution? A US History class could speculate about how these different communities have come to be. What impact has immigration had? Industrialization? Geography? Are there regional differences that could stem from the Civil War? And a statistics class would find plenty of raw data to play around with. In a "Patchwork Nation," what does it mean to be "average"?
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Exploring Nature Educational Resource - Sheri Amsel
Grades
K to 8
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This free tool created by a botanist/zoologist is a useful resource about living things. Though some of the content requires a membership, there are many resources that are free. Find...more
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This free tool created by a botanist/zoologist is a useful resource about living things. Though some of the content requires a membership, there are many resources that are free. Find information, photos, and even free video clips. Note that illustrations are copyrighted by the site owner, and information from the site must be cited with the correct references given (examples are provided.) Be sure to check out all the tabs that include Plants and Animals, the Planet Earth, Science words and Pics, Human Body, and more. Don't miss the chance to Ask a Zoo Vet (under Bringing Science to You) and many activities for those as young as preK (see Words and Pictures).
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This site includes advertising.
tag(s): animals (288), earth (232), human body (127), plants (153)
In the Classroom
Use this resource for students to find information about a large variety of plants and animals for their research. The examples for citation reinforce the need to cite all sources used for a project. Be sure to include this site on your class website or bookmark it on a classroom computer for quick reference. Use information gathered to create conventional projects (i.e. posters or displays) or multimedia projects including podcasts, Infographics, or presentations. Find many ideas for creating presentations on TeachersFirst Edge.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Geokov - Geokov.com
Grades
5 to 12
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Use this free interactive mapping site to make additions to Google Maps, incorporating other data and maps with them. Add topographic maps and spatial or environmental data. This is...more
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Use this free interactive mapping site to make additions to Google Maps, incorporating other data and maps with them. Add topographic maps and spatial or environmental data. This is an easy tool for adding symbols and icons or for adding a drawing on a Google map. Find many of the simple tools along the top of the map. You can do something as simple as adding text labels or shading a region. Add data to the map using the tools below the map. Create a mashup of KML, GPX (easily imported from Garmin), WMS and GEORSS data sources. This video explains many of the features of Geokov. Please note this video is hosted on YouTube. If your district blocks YouTube, then it may not be viewable. You could always view the video at home and bring it to class "on a stick" to share. Use a tool such as KeepVid reviewed here to download the video from YouTube.
tag(s): environment (318), landforms (47), landmarks (27), maps (293)
In the Classroom
Take a virtual field trip through the map maker. Explore landforms and other terrain features from Google Earth and topographic maps. Easily create maps for field trips, presentations, classroom activities and more. Create a shade relief topographic map of any region. Doing an environmental study of an area or region? Find the region in this tool first and add the necessary information for classroom discussion or presentation. Use one of the many TeachersFirst Presentation Tools to present information learned. Tie information from literature, stories, history, and other sources to add value and interest to the maps.
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Vision of Humanity - Institute for Economics and Peace
Grades
6 to 12
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View interactive peace maps, reports, and news pertaining to peace around the world. A variety of qualitative and quantitative indicators are used to create a Global Peace Index. View...more
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View interactive peace maps, reports, and news pertaining to peace around the world. A variety of qualitative and quantitative indicators are used to create a Global Peace Index. View changes from 2008 to present. Choose various indicators to portray on the map and compare different countries. Click in the middle of the map on "About the GPI" (or other index you have opened) to read how it is calculated. Be sure to check out the Terrorism Index as well as a US Peace Index that compares each of the States in the United States. Hover over that States to view the actual rank. When the site introduces a new topic, that topic appears on the main page of this site. To get to the other topics, use the top tool bar.
In the Classroom
Use this tool to brainstorm questions about the various indicators shown on this site. What cultural, religious, and political forces affect each of the countries and their resultant scores? What factors can be changed in each of the countries to improve their scores? Debate various policy changes in your own or other countries. Explore possible changes the world can take in order to provide a better life for all citizens of the world. What are many of the differences that exist among the states in the United States? Consider adding this resource when students complete a study of an individual state or country.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Sheppard Software: Free Online Learning Games - Sheppard Software
Grades
K to 12
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Sheppard Software offers hundreds of online learning games for learners in a large variety of subjects. Topics include brain games, seasons, nutrition, and world geography. Search for...more
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Sheppard Software offers hundreds of online learning games for learners in a large variety of subjects. Topics include brain games, seasons, nutrition, and world geography. Search for specific topics or browse categories. Looking for a specific grade level range? Scroll down below the main icons to view recommended sections for different age ranges from preschool to adult. In addition to games, some categories include videos, timelines, and coloring activities.
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This site includes advertising.
tag(s): addition (239), alphabet (89), alphabetical order (19), animal homes (44), animals (288), capitalization (18), capitals (25), cells (104), colors (80), continents (48), counting (120), countries (77), decimals (131), dinosaurs (55), division (168), elements (37), endangered species (39), equations (153), estimation (46), fractions (234), geometric shapes (165), grammar (213), integers (41), landforms (47), life cycles (24), measurement (159), money (186), multiplication (220), number lines (25), number sense (94), numbers (200), oceans (150), order of operations (39), parts of speech (68), patterns (85), periodic table (51), place value (55), puzzles (207), states (164), subtraction (198), time (140), vocabulary (324), vocabulary development (124)
In the Classroom
Bookmark this site to use as a resource for computer center games and activities throughout the year. Share curriculum-related resources on your interactive whiteboard or projector. This site could work well in a BYOD or 1:1 classroom. Share with parents as a resource to use at home or as a summer skills review and refresher.
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Tour Builder (Beta) - Google
Grades
5 to 12
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Put any story on the map using Tour Builder (by Google). A Gallery shares examples. You would be wise to preview the Gallery before sharing since these are created by ...more
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Put any story on the map using Tour Builder (by Google). A Gallery shares examples. You would be wise to preview the Gallery before sharing since these are created by the general public. To create a tour, choose locations, add text, images, and videos to create a story to share with the world. Add up to 25 items to each pinned location. Options include three different types of storylines. You can decide how others view your story/tour and how your story will progress. Linear tales move the story along a line. The hub option tells the story from a central location. You can disable lines completely so stories are not tied to a specific sequence or timeline. Finished stories default to private view. You may share privately with friends and family or make public for anyone to view. The Google Earth plugin and a Google account are required to use Tour Builder. Some of the introduction/explanation videos are hosted on YouTube. If your district blocks YouTube, then they may not be viewable. You could always view the videos at home and bring them to class "on a stick" to share. Use a tool such as KeepVid reviewed here to download the videos from YouTube.
tag(s): digital storytelling (153), maps (293), timelines (64)
In the Classroom
Create a simple tour to share (or find one in the gallery). Share the tour on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Create tours of events from history, famous battles, scientific discoveries, biographies, and much more. The possibilities are endless. Create a timeline of famous people or a hub of locations related to a topic such as toxic waste sites or habitats for a certain animal. Tour settings for Shakespeare plays or an author's life. Tour Van Gogh's painting sites or map landforms such as glaciers. Have students who have Google accounts build a Tour of important events in their lives (or use a teacher-controlled account). In world language classes, create cultural tours in your new language. Scroll through the gallery for ideas on how others have used Tour Builder. You may just find some neat tours to share in the gallery.Edge Features:
Parent permission advised before posting student work created using this tool
Includes Interaction w general public/ public galleries with unmoderated content
Requires registration/log-in (WITH email)
Products can be shared by URL
Multiple users can collaborate on the same project
Requires download/installation of software
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Time Shutter - Dinah Darvas
Grades
6 to 12
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Time Shutter allows you to look at cities a hundred years ago and now. At the time of this review, you can click to choose San Fransisco or New York. ...more
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Time Shutter allows you to look at cities a hundred years ago and now. At the time of this review, you can click to choose San Fransisco or New York. View it on an iOs app for specific functionalities or use any Internet browser to interact with a Google map with placemarkers of older photos. After choosing a city, click on any of the map pins. View information and images representing both then and now with a short text history and information up to current times. View as a list to find all available landmarks. Optional registration allows you to upload your own photos of landmarks. Check back for more cities to be available in the future.
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tag(s): 20th century (53), california (27), landmarks (27), new york (26)
In the Classroom
Time Shutter provides an interesting look and comparison of landmarks across two time periods. Share Time Shutter on your interactive whiteboard when discussing events of the previous century or to explore landmarks from San Francisco or New York. Have students compare images and descriptions then use an online tool such as Interactive Two Circle Venn Diagram (reviewed here). Challenge students to create their own then and now maps using Animaps (reviewed here). Students can add text, images, and location stops!
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GlacierWorks - Glacier Works and David Breashears
Grades
6 to 12
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Learn about glaciers, the Himalayas, the people, and more as you take a virtual hike to a Mount Everest. The site includes two sections: Rivers of Ice and Explore Everest. ...more
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Learn about glaciers, the Himalayas, the people, and more as you take a virtual hike to a Mount Everest. The site includes two sections: Rivers of Ice and Explore Everest. View the beautiful video and scenery as you explore panoramic images of valleys and glacier at each of the eight stops along the way through Rivers of Ice. When finished, compare the size of Himalayan Glaciers today to their size in the 1920's. The team creating the site is still collecting more to add to the images and stories.
tag(s): asia (70), explorers (64), glaciers (15), mountains (14)
In the Classroom
Everest: Rivers of Ice is an excellent resource for use with any unit studying glaciers and river formation. Discuss the role of climate change in the lives of the people. That section of th site includes little more than images, but these could spark observations and discussions about how climate change might affect the people of the Himalayas. View different parts of the site on your interactive whiteboard (or projector) throughout your unit. Have students create a word cloud of the important terms they learn from this site using a tool such as Wordle (reviewed here), Tagxedo (reviewed here), or WordItOut (reviewed here). Have students create online posters individually or together as a class using a tool such as Web Poster Wizard (reviewed here) or PicLits (reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Queen's Diamond Jubilee - The Royal Household at Buckingham Palace
Grades
6 to 12
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This is the official site of Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee (2012), but it goes far beyond that single event. Find information about the history of The Queen's reign. Choose The...more
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This is the official site of Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee (2012), but it goes far beyond that single event. Find information about the history of The Queen's reign. Choose The Queen's Life link to view images, information by decade, and little-known facts about Queen Elizabeth. Find interesting facts and information about coronations and regalia for the last 900 years in the Coronation section. Explore the past 60 years of the monarchy with the interactive timeline beginning with the accession through current times. Choose the Games and Learning section to take quizzes and see history "pinned" in an online gallery.
tag(s): 20th century (53), britain (35), england (57), great britain (18)
In the Classroom
Bookmark and save this site as an excellent resource for information about Queen Elizabeth, the British Monarchy, and Britain. Use it as an overlay to any study of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st. If you study any British monarch or compare different systems of government, use these resources about ceremony and more to develop a sense of what the monarchy is all about, especially for American students less familiar with it. Have students use Fakebook (reviewed here) to create a "fake" page similar in style to Facebook about Queen Elizabeth.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Children's Literature with Social Studies Themes - University of Delaware Center for Teacher Education
Grades
K to 6
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Discover book titles to use with elementary level Social Studies content. Choose from grade level bands and the topics of Civics, History, Geography, and Economics. Each link leads...more
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Discover book titles to use with elementary level Social Studies content. Choose from grade level bands and the topics of Civics, History, Geography, and Economics. Each link leads to a list of book titles including author, subject, and a brief description. Some titles also include a "more" link leading to a short article referring to use of the book. This site includes a great mix of genres. Don't miss the nonfiction/informative text, perfect for meeting your Common Core standards.
tag(s): book lists (133), branches of government (50), guided reading (45), independent reading (129), literature (274)
In the Classroom
Bookmark and save for reference throughout the school year for use with Social Studies lessons. Save as a resource when choosing books for your classroom or school library. Use the included articles for ideas to include books with your Social Studies lessons and units. Need more book ideas to support curriculum? See TeachersFirst's CurriConnects.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Tsunami video - saitoart
Grades
6 to 12
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This dramatic video (approximately 5 minutes long) captures the view of a tsunami from a resident's perspective in Japan - without all of the extra YouTube "clutter." When viewed on...more
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This dramatic video (approximately 5 minutes long) captures the view of a tsunami from a resident's perspective in Japan - without all of the extra YouTube "clutter." When viewed on this site, comments on the YouTube video are not shown. Note that when viewed on YouTube, many of the comments are inappropriate for a classroom setting. If your district blocks YouTube, this site may not be viewable. You could always view the video at home and bring it to class "on a stick" to share. Use a tool such as KeepVid reviewed here to download the video.
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tag(s): natural disasters (19), tsunamis (18)
In the Classroom
Use this resource when discussing natural disasters such as Tsunamis. Share this short video on your projector or interactive whiteboard. Students can make observations individually or as a class and brainstorm particular items that they noticed. Use this information to discuss the formation and impact of a Tsunami. How do early warning systems work? Ask students to not just make observations of what they see, but draw inferences about the people and reactions of this and other natural disasters. Why are the people all standing on the hill to watch? Research various Tsunamis throughout history and their effects and locations. How did different government and non-government organizations handle these disasters?
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