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CurriConnects Book List: 100 Leaders - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12
4 Favorites
0 Comments
This CurriConnects list offers books for student independent reading about leaders. This list of leaders includes a wide sampling from politics to literature and the arts to entertainment....more
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This CurriConnects list offers books for student independent reading about leaders. This list of leaders includes a wide sampling from politics to literature and the arts to entertainment. CurriConnects thematic book lists include ISBN numbers for ordering or searching, interest grade levels, ESL/ELL levels and Lexiles '® to match student independent reading levels to challenge, not frustrate. Don't miss other CurriConnects themes being added regularly. If your school or public library does not have the books, try interlibrary loan!
tag(s): artists (47), book lists (83), politics (71), presidents (88), scientists (40)
In the Classroom
Use this list as you study any topic that features leaders: the founding fathers, famous scientists, and much more. Encourage students to read about leaders in diverse fields - including the one you are studying - to compare and discuss what makes someone a successful leader and why people rise to the top among their peers across time, place, and circumstance. You could also form an afterschool book club around this list or use the nonfiction listings as practice with informational texts.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Lingo Hut - lingohut.com
Grades
4 to 12
0 Favorites
0 Comments
Set your sights high to learn world languages! Find both visual and audio lessons. Choose a language from Chinese, Dutch, Japanese, Polish, Russian, or Spanish. A list of tutorials...more
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Set your sights high to learn world languages! Find both visual and audio lessons. Choose a language from Chinese, Dutch, Japanese, Polish, Russian, or Spanish. A list of tutorials appears including the tutorial's author and short description of lessons. Learn colors, counting, days of the week, common phrases, or more challenging language skills. Practice speaking using the microphone tab and say words on your own. Click on the links in the tabs of the tutorials to try the interactives: matching games, flashcards, and tic tac toe.
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tag(s): chinese (45), japanese (43), russian (20), spanish (88)
In the Classroom
This is a wonderful site to use with students to get a taste of other languages, including during study of world geography or cultures. Assign different tutorials that complement classroom activities. Share this site on your class website or blog as a resource for practice at home. Use this site on your interactive whiteboard to introduce and review world language terms. Obviously this site has many uses in the world language classroom. But this tool could also be used as enrichment for students or even an after-school club! Your verbal-linguistic gifted students would also enjoy learning and comparing basics in several languages. If you have ESL/ELL students who speak one of these languages, invite others to learn basics to converse with and respect their peers.
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DigitWhiz - Kasey Brown and Elliot Feinberg
Grades
4 to 8
5 Favorites
0 Comments
DigitWhiz is an amazing math program (set up like a game) that guides mastery in five key math skills: multiplication, division, integer operations, like terms, and solving operations....more
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DigitWhiz is an amazing math program (set up like a game) that guides mastery in five key math skills: multiplication, division, integer operations, like terms, and solving operations. It is geared for ages 8+. Playing the interactives allows the program to evaluate skills and prescribe activities leading to mastery and development. This tool differentiates the difficulty levels for each student. Activities are easy to follow and include directions. Set up an account for an entire classroom to view class or individual student progress. Import names from a current list or add names manually. The full site is in Flash so does not work on iOS devices; however, there is a link to a free iPad version.
tag(s): division (113), integers (35), multiplication (160), operations (85), order of operations (20), problem solving (150)
In the Classroom
Demonstrate the site on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Create a classroom account and allow students to use the program on classroom computers. Share this site with parents to use at home. Parents can create their own account. Use this site as a math intervention resource for students that need additional practice in mastering math skills addressed by this program. More advanced students could use this site for enrichment and advancement as this site caters to students' current levels.
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Wild Kratts - Kratt Brothers Company / 9 Story Entertainment production.
Grades
2 to 7
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Join Aviva, Chris, Martin, Jimmy, and Koki on their quest to save the animals of our world. Based on the PBS television show, explore biology, zoology, and ecology of our ...more
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Join Aviva, Chris, Martin, Jimmy, and Koki on their quest to save the animals of our world. Based on the PBS television show, explore biology, zoology, and ecology of our planet. You will also learn small ways to make a big impact on saving our world. With a login, you can save points earned from games and receive special powers from animals to compete and survive in the games using your avatar. You do not need any email account to register/sign in. Explore the avatar creation area, games, creaturepedia, habitats, and videos to help learn about animals. Click on the Teachers Link (For Grownups) at the top of the page to find lesson plans, printable PDFs, objectives, and more.
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tag(s): africa (173), animal homes (20), animals (202), ecology (125), habitats (60), zoology (6)
In the Classroom
Capture kids' interest in biology, zoology, and ecology with Wild Kratts. Joining in adventures with the gang, allows students to learn about animals, habitats, and the planet. Use this site as a resource in science. Share the videos and/or interactives on your projector or interactive whiteboard. Add the site as an enrichment area for everyone to explore. Use the adventures to inspire either narrative or expository writing. Use as a technology resource for digging in deeper for your common core content area. With using your avatar, students can experience and make connections with each of the animals given. ESL/ELL and learning support students will find this site useful with reading, video, and demonstrations of the different featured animals. Your science club will enjoy the experiences of the Wild Kratts. Using the area you live in, have students work in groups to study the animals, birds, reptiles, fish, and arthropods. Create a wiki with the research of your area. Or have students create their own blogs highlighting what they have learned. Have students create blogs using Instablogg ( here). This site allows you to create "quick and easy" blogs to be used one time only. A unique URL is provided and this site is as easy as using a basic Word program. Share your research and stories with other classes in your own school, students' families, and more.
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QR Voice - Marcel Duran
Grades
K to 12
3 Favorites
0 Comments
Type or dictate text and click to generate a QR code that will say the text aloud. Simply type text or click the microphone to dictate text. There is a ...more
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Type or dictate text and click to generate a QR code that will say the text aloud. Simply type text or click the microphone to dictate text. There is a 100 character limit, so the message must be brief. Click the QR code button to generate the QR code. Right click to SAVE the QR image or copy the image url (provided above the image) to share it. Here is a sample to try with your QR reader. When you follow the code, it takes a few seconds for the site to load the spoken text. At the time of this review, the languages available included Portugese, Spanish, French, Japanese, English, and Italian.
tag(s): qr codes (12), text to speech (16)
In the Classroom
The use of QR Codes in the classroom is limitless, and adding an audio option makes them even more accessible. QR Codes can be used with portable devices or webcams on desktop computers. Create QR codes for assignments with quick directions, rubric information, editing instructions, or web resources. Create a QR code to go home on student planners reminding them to do their homework. Add a QR Code to tell your schedule or learning goals. Share QR code audio announcements of special events to your families. For study guides, provide QR codes for answers so students can self-check. Create a living history museum of any time period, with simple explanations or fast facts. For vocabulary words in English or any other language, provide correct pronunciations or sample sentences and definitions of each word. Have students create QR codes as study guides or a way to present information. Use the QR codes in world language classes (Japanese, Spanish, French, etc...). With very young children, you can put a QR code on signs labeling classroom objects and have them scan with mobile device cameras to hear (as well as see) the words for the object. This could be very helpful for non readers or English language learners.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Scrumy - Robert Brend, Mike O'Malley, Dan Kordi
Grades
4 to 12
6 Favorites
0 Comments
Scrumy is an easy to use project management or planning tool. Create a project by adding the name you want to the Scrumy URL. Or have Scrumy name your project ...more
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Scrumy is an easy to use project management or planning tool. Create a project by adding the name you want to the Scrumy URL. Or have Scrumy name your project for you by clicking on the "New Free Project" button. Once your page opens, a prompt guides you to click on "Create a Story." A story is really a grouping of tasks. It's a category or goal that you can split into multiple tasks. Prompts guide you through setting up the rest of your tasks. You can assign tasks to different people. The color coding allows you to quickly see who is doing what. There are To Do, In Progress, Verify, and Done columns to work with. Once you've learned the steps, you can hide the tutorial. If you need assistance, there is lots of help on their About page. If you don't see what you need there, their email support is almost instantaneous!
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tag(s): organizational skills (54)
In the Classroom
Are you responsible for multiple tasks at school over and above teaching? This program will help you stay organized. Teach project planning and sequencing tasks. Have students use this for planning "how-to" demonstration speeches, or students with IEPs can work toward goals with intermediate steps listed on Scrumy. Your gifted-but-disorganized students would benefit from trying this tool. You might even want to model and use it with an entire class during major projects to teach time management. When your students are working in small groups on research projects, presentations, and even literature circles, this would be a great program for them to stay organized. All you have to do is share the URL for others to see, move, create, and change tasks.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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WikiBrains - WikiBrains.com
Grades
4 to 12
12 Favorites
0 Comments
Wikibrains helps you brainstorm in a web format. No membership is required to get started. When you brainstorm on Wikibrains, you are also performing a basic Internet search in the...more
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Wikibrains helps you brainstorm in a web format. No membership is required to get started. When you brainstorm on Wikibrains, you are also performing a basic Internet search in the sidebar. Create a brainstorm web on Wikibrains by entering one word or phrase. Choose Public or "Only me" from the little eye icon to determine who can see your brainstorm. Follow the prompt to add more words or phrases: "Makes me think of..." Click ADD to include each new entry in your web. As you enter words, the sidebar on the right shows related search results. You can copy/paste the url for your PUBLIC brainstorm and send it to others so they can join in or so you can add later. You can also share on Facebook and Twitter without joining. Create a Wikibrains account to alter your brainstorm webs -- adding custom paths and links between elements. Another perk of having a Wikibrains account is the option to browse other users' webs and modify them for your own use.
tag(s): concept mapping (20), creative fluency (7), mind map (21)
In the Classroom
Consider creating a free class account so you can save webs to rename and edit later. Assess prior knowledge in any subject area using WikiBrains at the start of a lesson or unit. Build creative fluency with a vocabulary word or a concept as a starter. Generate webs of related words, synonyms, and more to build new vocabulary. Build web search skills (what do I use for keywords?) using a brainstorm and watching the search results to narrow research terms. Use WikiBrains as a story starter activity. Choose a topic, then add words or phrases to build ideas. Create a WikiBrain for any content topic and build to find and explore connected events and ideas. Have students collaborate together (online or at an IWB or center) to create group mind maps for review before tests. Have learning support students generate maps for the terms and concepts they must learn. Demonstrate the activity on an interactive whiteboard or projector. Allow students to try to create their own graphic organizers. Use this site for literature activities, research projects, social studies, or science topics of study. Use this site to create family trees. Have students collaborate together (online) to create group mind maps or review charts before tests on a given topic. Use this mapping website as an alternative to a traditional test, quiz, or homework assignment. In literature or social studies, have students demonstrate their understanding by creating a Wikibrain web about the main points. Be sure that they NAME it using initials in the starter phrase so you know who did it. (They could EMAIL the link to you) or have them print their results to turn in. If you set up a whole-class account, students can rename and alter a starter web you provide. Challenge gifted students to create maps that show relationships and associations beyond the required assignments. What other connections can you see or find for this concept we learned?Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Julian Germain Classrooms Portraits Project - Julian Germain
Grades
7 to 12
5 Favorites
0 Comments
View portraits of classrooms in many cultures 2004-2012, taken by photographer Julian Germain. The collection is actually from a book. As Archive Magazine reviewer Tom Shakespeare...more
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View portraits of classrooms in many cultures 2004-2012, taken by photographer Julian Germain. The collection is actually from a book. As Archive Magazine reviewer Tom Shakespeare explains, "By presenting different pupils, different schools, different year groups, Germain asks questions about contemporary educational practices and social divisions." The photos are clearly deliberate portraits, not candids, but offer a glimpse into other cultures and a chance to ask questions about why a class ( and classroom) might look the way it does, inviting discussion about what we have in common and how each culture conducts and values education.
tag(s): cross cultural understanding (63), images (165), media literacy (21)
In the Classroom
Share these photos as a writing prompt about cultural differences in a world cultures class or as a way to get students thinking before writing an essay about their "dream" school. Use the common experience of school as an entry point into conversation about cross-cultural understanding. Share on a projector or whiteboard as students use powers of observation to notice what might be different about life in another culture and how school reflects a culture's value systems. Have them write a blog post about what they see. Have students create blogs using Instablogg ( here). This site allows you to create "quick and easy" blogs to be used one time only. Use this site In art class or even as a media literacy exercise. Have students jot down the words they would use to describe the emotions they see/feel in these images. What message is the photographer conveying about school? Extend the discussion by challenging students to take their own photos to portray "school." Share the photos on a class wiki, blog, or online scrapbook using a tool such as Beeclip, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Inklewriter - Joseph Humfrey and Jon Ingold
Grades
4 to 12
5 Favorites
0 Comments
Create interactive, choose your own adventure ("branching") style stories with inklewriter. This site is ideal for anyone to create a story and then share with others via a unique URL....more
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Create interactive, choose your own adventure ("branching") style stories with inklewriter. This site is ideal for anyone to create a story and then share with others via a unique URL. These stories allow for others to create their own path or choose an existing one. Begin by choosing to read stories or create your own. Type parts of the story including the title, author, beginning, introduction, and add sections as needed. After each paragraph is the option to create different outcomes of the story, offering choices the reader makes. The site contains excellent tutorials for getting started with stories. When finished, share the url for your story using Twitter or Facebook or copy the URL to share and bookmark as you wish.
tag(s): creative writing (102), digital storytelling (69), narrative (22)
In the Classroom
View stories on the site together to understand the components of the site and discuss how different choices in characters and settings lead to different story outcomes. (Be sure to preview stories before sharing, since there is "public"' content.) Watch the tutorials together on your interactive whiteboard (or projector) before students begin to write stories. Create a short story together as a class to become familiar using the site. Assign a group of students to create an interactive story each week to share on your classroom website or blog. Have students create a story diagram before beginning a story on inklewriter; then use the site to complete the project. Create class stories to teach about literature, geography, reading comprehension, history, science concepts, and more.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Pen.io - Anthony Feint
Grades
K to 12
1 Favorites
0 Comments
Write and publish a very simple blog post or writing piece instantly. Pen.io is also ideal for collaborative on drafts. All you need to do to create a page is ...more
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Write and publish a very simple blog post or writing piece instantly. Pen.io is also ideal for collaborative on drafts. All you need to do to create a page is to choose a name and a password for editing. You receive a URL you can give to your friends along with the password so they can collaborate. Or simply share the url for others to read your page. You can include a video by using the "video" tag and add another page by using "page" tag. This is a simple tool and requires NO membership. If using in the classroom, be sure to preview PUBLIC CONTENT. Recent featured pages show on the home page. There is no commenting feature on pages, but others can click to "like" a page.
tag(s): blogs (62), editing (27), process writing (18), proofreading (11), writing (300)
In the Classroom
Publish student writing projects such as short stories, poems, and reports. Publish study guides before tests. Publish directions for assignments. With the options for password protected editors, students could post a collaborative report and have others help edit the work. This is an easy way to set up a student blog, especially if the focus is on writing rather than multimedia. Users can add as many pages as they want to a Pen.io document. Have students write a progressive story where they each add a portion. Practice vocabulary in English or world languages by having students add sentences throughout the year, continuously using the newest words. Just make sure that students use the same password for all the stories started in a class.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Incredibox - So Far So Good
Grades
K to 12
0 Favorites
0 Comments
Create musical compositions with Incredibox. Express your inner musician with a simple way of creating personal musical masterpieces. Simply drag and drop. Add beats, melodies, a chorus,...more
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Create musical compositions with Incredibox. Express your inner musician with a simple way of creating personal musical masterpieces. Simply drag and drop. Add beats, melodies, a chorus, and special effects to create a musical creation. You can even add clothing and hats. Use RealPlayer to save your musical masterpieces.
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tag(s): musical instruments (18), rhythm (14)
In the Classroom
In music class, discuss the different elements in compositions. Use in any class as background music for podcasts, movies, PowerPoints, or blogs. Highlight and honor the musical geniuses in your classroom with this easy tool. Allow your learning support students instant success while challenging gifted students to create the perfect piece. Use in writing class to create mood. Play a composition as background while reading poetry or doing artwork. Help students memorize mnemonics by accompanying them with an audio track a la rap. Use music tracks as a writing prompt and enjoy the fun.Edge Features:
Parent permission advised before posting student work created using this tool
Includes Interaction w general public/ public galleries with unmoderated content
Includes social features, such as "friends," comments, ratings by others
Products can be shared by URL
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Snapguide - Heavy Bits
Grades
2 to 12
2 Favorites
0 Comments
Looking for an easy to use "how to" guide? You must visit Snapguide! Find various topics: Sports & Fitness, Technology, Cooking, Music, Arts & Crafts, Gardening, and countless others....more
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Looking for an easy to use "how to" guide? You must visit Snapguide! Find various topics: Sports & Fitness, Technology, Cooking, Music, Arts & Crafts, Gardening, and countless others. You can view all of the content of this site without joining. Create your own "how to" guide on any topic. It's a "snap" to create the directions with pictures. You must have an iOS device to create a guide. Download the app onto your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to create a guide for explaining anything! Each page contains a picture and text to explain the parts for your guide.
tag(s): computers (29), crafts (29), directions (16), fitness (40), photography (114), sequencing (30), speeches (13)
In the Classroom
Share the ready-made snapguides in various classes: family and consumer science, music, art, photography, science, computer, and more! Create your own snapguides to share with your class on any subject matter. ESL/ELL and other special needs students will learn better seeing the photos along with the instructions. Use Snapguide to explain a lesson or a project that has multiple directions. Use Snapguide for directions for parents. Create a snapguide for your students when leaving plans for a substitute teacher. Students can also create their own snapguides to use as presentations and even for sequencing practice. These re the perfect prompts for writing and giving informative, how-to speeches. Students can explore the guides available and follow directions or even evaluate their effectiveness. Have cooperative learning groups create their own snapguides to share a new topic with the class.Edge Features:
Parent permission advised before posting student work created using this tool
Includes Interaction w general public/ public galleries with unmoderated content
Includes social features, such as "friends," comments, ratings by others
Requires registration/log-in (WITH email)
Requires download/installation of software
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Talk Typer - 2012 TalkTyper
Grades
K to 12
5 Favorites
0 Comments
Your spoken words are instantly changed to written text. Just click on the microphone and speak. Follow simple directions and immediately begin to dictate. As soon as speech is ready,...more
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Your spoken words are instantly changed to written text. Just click on the microphone and speak. Follow simple directions and immediately begin to dictate. As soon as speech is ready, it appears in red, and you push ok. Corrections are suggested in red. If your speech is not recognized, there is an alternatives button to help you dictate correctly. You can also click on the speaker button to hear the written words played back to you. Click the blue arrow to move the text down to the larger text box. There you can store several phrases or sentences together. Choose to print, email, or tweet your message. Talk Typer is also available in a variety of languages. Be sure to speak slowly and clearly. This is best used with short phrases or sentences.
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tag(s): text to speech (16)
In the Classroom
Talk Typer is a very versatile tool, for students, parents, and teachers alike. Bypass poor typing skills, dysgraphia, dyslexia, and physical disabilities. Use this tool in emails, documents, or anything requiring typed text. Use in your writing class so students can either write or edit their work. Use when you are in a hurry with emails requiring long text. Use for your newsletters or family emails. Emerging literacy students will enjoy the success they have with their oral language into written word. Improve content and forget about mechanics of writing or typing. Focus in on grammar and mechanics after seeing the recognized mistakes. Include this website on every tool bar and as a favorite on your class web page. Ell students can speak English, play it back, and correct it until it "sounds right" and expresses their ideas correctly.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Sodaplay - Soda, Ltd.
Grades
3 to 12
3 Favorites
0 Comments
This site is just plain fun! It is an environment for building moving creatures and then watching them walk, move, or fly. Younger students will enjoy watching the robot-like creatures....more
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This site is just plain fun! It is an environment for building moving creatures and then watching them walk, move, or fly. Younger students will enjoy watching the robot-like creatures. Turn the gravity on and off. Reverse gravity and watch the creature spring up to the ceiling! Be sure to read the well written introduction and instructions before you start creating. Check the gallery to view other creations.
tag(s): creativity (86), engineering (69), gravity (39), inventors and inventions (94), problem solving (150), robotics (14)
In the Classroom
Create fantastic creatures that teach students the basics of design, robotics, movement, gravity, and more! Challenge students to write creative stories about their new creatures. Share this site (and students' designs) on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Be sure to include this link on your teacher site or on a class computer to encourage play and learning. This is design thinking in virtual form. In language arts class, use student-created models as one option for visual aids to accompany "how to" speeches. Use this during a unit on inventions or to offer gifted students a design challenge.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Widbook - Flavio Aguiar
Grades
K to 12
2 Favorites
0 Comments
Write, read, and share digital books with Widbook. Create a digital book that contains text, images, and videos. You can rearrange content on pages and upload images, etc. Invite others...more
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Write, read, and share digital books with Widbook. Create a digital book that contains text, images, and videos. You can rearrange content on pages and upload images, etc. Invite others to make contributions to your books. Create a profile on the site to begin your book or collaborate with others (or you can skip this step). Books you create become a part of your profile. If you allow it, other Widbook users can add content and or comments to your books. You can change setting to allow comments and additions on a book or not. Likewise, you can search for others' books and contribute to their books. The only way to share your books is with others logged into Widbook or other social media (Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest).
tag(s): creative writing (102), descriptive writing (20), expository writing (23), paragraph writing (8), persuasive writing (32), process writing (18), writing (300)
In the Classroom
Create books on any subject for your students to review or learn. Set up a whole class account or use individual accounts with those 13 and older if school policy allows it. Challenge students to create a book as a multi-media presentation instead of a typical book report. This would be great to use for a student/star of the week presentation. Each week add a student's information. Do this together as a class on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Create a link (and log in) on classroom computers for students to view the book when they wish. Use this tool for groups to collaborate on science concept tales, poetry books, general writing, math problem solve-its, and more. ANY grade can use this tool with a whole class account, depending on the amount of direction by the teacher. Have students create a book as an end of the year culminatng/review project.Edge Features:
Parent permission advised before posting student work created using this tool
Includes Interaction w general public/ public galleries with unmoderated content
Includes social features, such as "friends," comments, ratings by others
Requires registration/log-in (WITH email)
Multiple users can collaborate on the same project
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Playfic - Andy Baio and Cooper McHatton
Grades
4 to 12
3 Favorites
0 Comments
Create interactive, text-based games with this simple tool. Perhaps you remember a text-based game called "Adventure" from back in the early days of computers. Be sure to watch the...more
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Create interactive, text-based games with this simple tool. Perhaps you remember a text-based game called "Adventure" from back in the early days of computers. Be sure to watch the tutorial on the home page that also teaches you how to navigate the stories themselves. By clicking on the "Learn More" when you're signed out, or the "About Us" when you're signed in, you can view the "cheat sheet" that will certainly make your first creative attempt at Playfic more enjoyable. Experiment with Playfic games created by others and time yourself. if you get stuck, you can look at the source code. Create your own Playfic for any topic that interests you, whether it's fiction or not. Note that there is no moderation on games created by others, so preview before sharing with young people.
tag(s): creative writing (102), creativity (86), digital storytelling (69), mysteries (20), puzzles (165)
In the Classroom
"Gamification" of learning is a hot topic in 21st century learning. Use this simple tool to make it happen. Use for any digital storytelling: fact or fiction. In social studies, have students create an interactive game based on life during the Depression or any historic era. Have them create a "Where in the world is ..." for geography. World language students could make a simple game (in the language they are studying) about daily life. Gifted students will love creating games on their favorite topics, so make this a research-and-create-a-game approach for independent projects. Science students could make a game about what might happen in certain weather or life as a fossil. Have your language arts students create mystery or survival stories or even a different ending to a story you've read together. Warning: all stories are PUBLIC and your students will be able to view other's stories. You'll either want to have a class account or monitor this closely.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Wix - Giora Kaplan, Avishai Abrahami, Nadav Abrahami
Grades
7 to 12
3 Favorites
0 Comments
Wix makes creating your own website EASY! Wix has over 100 visually rich templates for you to choose. Or you may choose a blank template and upload your own material. ...more
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Wix makes creating your own website EASY! Wix has over 100 visually rich templates for you to choose. Or you may choose a blank template and upload your own material. The easy, "drag and drop" elements allow even the novice technology user to create their own website. Choose to have your website in Flash or HTML. Wix does all the work for either of these. Choose from 100s of images, fonts, menus, music files, buttons, and widgets, or upload your own. There are video tutorials that will take you from beginner to website designer in 8 steps!
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): blogs (62), portfolios (18), social networking (76)
In the Classroom
Your students, 13 and over, may register by email if you want them to create a page to present a project, or for club web pages. Use a whole class account for students under 13. This program would be nice for developing student portfolios, small group presentations, even journals about career research. Create a Wix website page to publish biographical information about any historical figure in any subject area. Use Wix to create pages about characters in a novel. Create pages about scientists and their contributions including reactions of others to their discovery or invention. Research why these inventions were particularly important and the scientific knowledge that changed as a result. Create a page about artists, musicians, politicians, etc. using the same guidelines as above with scientists. Challenge students to step into the person's character to create an informative understanding about the person and their contribution. In upper elementary grades, have all students generate a starter page offline about a famous person (or people) you are studying. Then vote on one to publish as a class using this online tool. Have teens begin a "Me" portfolio in middle grades, one that they can continue to develop as they approach college and/or career. Encourage them to showcase links to online projects, favorite images they have taken or created, artwork, music, writing samples, and personal interests. This is the ideal way to build a positive digital footprint that students can actually use well into the future.Edge Features:
Parent permission advised before posting student work created using this tool
Includes Interaction w general public/ public galleries with unmoderated content
Includes social features, such as "friends," comments, ratings by others
Requires registration/log-in (WITH email)
Premium version (not free) includes additional features or storage
Products can be shared by URL
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Jostens Personal Yearbook Pages - Jostens, Inc.
Grades
4 to 12
2 Favorites
0 Comments
Create your own personal yearbook pages. This tool is as easy or elaborate as you would like. After uploading your photos or images, Josten's Yearbook will take care of creating ...more
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Create your own personal yearbook pages. This tool is as easy or elaborate as you would like. After uploading your photos or images, Josten's Yearbook will take care of creating four pages. All pages are set up with your photos for you to view, add text, and edit; you can build your own pages from scratch. After creating your page, invite friends to edit your pages and help you customize them. Friends can also create their own pages to add to your yearbook. Anyone using (or adding) to the yearbook page must be registered. Share your pages via email or Facebook. Printing is not free. Creating and online sharing are free.
tag(s): digital storytelling (69), images (165)
In the Classroom
There are endless uses for a program like this in the classroom. Students could create yearbook pages as part of a biography unit about famous people in history or characters in fiction like Harry Potter or Huck Finn. They could create pages showing (and explaining) the steps in a science lab or the steps in creating a product in crafts class. They can showcase their own drawings in an art class. They could create the steps and explanations for something they do well as part of an expository writing assignment. Incoming freshman in high school could produce pages about what they want to accomplish in high school or create epitaphs for themselves and their friends. Your imagination will come up with limitless ideas for this program. Emotional support or autistic support teachers can use this tool for students to build self esteem and personal planning skills. Teachers of gifted could have students research a famous gifted person and create a yearbook page about him/her. Be sure to model and enforce ethical use of images found online!For younger students you may want to create a class account, create several projects, and invite the students via email. If your students don't have email, you may want to create a school gmail account with sub accounts for your students. Read tips for safely managing email registrations here.
Edge Features:
Parent permission advised before posting student work created using this tool
Requires registration/log-in (WITH email)
Premium version (not free) includes additional features or storage
Products can be shared by URL
Multiple users can collaborate on the same project
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Drama in the ESL Classroom - Jessica Davis
Grades
2 to 12
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0 Comments
Find a wealth of resources for using drama in the ESL/ELL classroom. The same activities can also be useful for other subjects. The improvisation resources are especially exciting,...more
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Find a wealth of resources for using drama in the ESL/ELL classroom. The same activities can also be useful for other subjects. The improvisation resources are especially exciting, offering definitions, examples of activities, links, and visual examples of how you can use improvisational techniques. In addition, information and activities on using plays, process drama, and reader's theater for language teaching abound. Use play writing for another aspect of language teaching. There is a complete curriculum for offering an independent class in drama for ESL/ELL students. Although this site may appear plain vanilla, there are sprinkles throughout, making this tool very valuable and informative.
tag(s): acting (20), creative writing (102), plays (22)
In the Classroom
Use this site as the starting point for group projects like having the students write and produce their own play(s). This is a great find for gifted students as well as students studying any modern language as the play writing and acting techniques can easily be adapted. Challenge cooperative learning groups to create videos of the plays they write and produce. Share the videos on a site such as TeacherTube reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Koshland Science Museum Challenges - Koshland Museum of Science
Grades
4 to 12
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Empower your students to get involved and solve some of the world's pressing problems. Join Koshland's Museum of Science Challenges. Join in by learning new skills, thinking critically,...more
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Empower your students to get involved and solve some of the world's pressing problems. Join Koshland's Museum of Science Challenges. Join in by learning new skills, thinking critically, and solving a problem. Challenges include background information. Look at the past challenges and discover the critical thinking and unique problem solving that won. Peek into future challenges to lead your students in new directions. Find resources, lesson plans, activities, virtual field trips, and web quests. Share your challenges and solutions on Facebook.
tag(s): brain (53), climate change (44), critical thinking (64), diseases (52), dna (62), energy (150), light (37), pollution (60), problem solving (150), space (154), water (101)
In the Classroom
In your classroom, offer challenges first as a problem based learning situation. Have students discover the background information and thought processes involved. Using these skills, apply to your own community. Start challenges at your school, community, state, or country level. Create a challenges competition at your school. Explore the teacher resources that apply to your classes.
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