TeachersFirst - Featured Sites: Week of Mar 11, 2012
Here are this week's features. Clicking the tags in the description area of each listing will present a list of other resources with this topic. | Click here to return to the Featured Sites Archive
TimeSearch History - HistoryWorld
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): search engines (49), timelines (55)
In the Classroom
Make this one of your bookmarks on classroom computers used for research, and suggest that students add it to their own research repertoire. Consider a classroom activity that begins with a common starting place (a date, an event, a character), and has groups of students follow their own self-guided path through the links. Where does each group end up? Why are the paths different? After having student explore on their own, have them "teach" how they found the information most important to them. A projector or interactive whiteboard is ideal for such a demo.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Solar System Scope - Sunaeon
Grades
4 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): earth (185), map skills (57), moon (73), planets (112), seasons (37), solar system (109), sun (71), time zones (7)
In the Classroom
The change in seasons is a difficult concept for students to understand. Use this interactive tool to show the sun's position at various times of the year and how the sunrise and sunset times change. This is terrific to share on an interactive whiteboard or projector, then have elementary (or even middle school) students "act out" the roles of sun. moon, and earth by moving about the room. Turn down the music to avoid distraction. Show how sunrise and sunset are also different at various points on the globe. Allow students the opportunity to play with the tool first and ask them what they notice and what questions they have. Inquire together to understand the various concepts. Share on an interactive whiteboard or projector with a student emcee to run the inquiry. Be sure to include this site with your study of map skills, longitude, and latitude so students can see how our maps and nature's actions fit together.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Word Hippo - Wordhippo.com
Grades
2 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): antonyms (12), dictionaries (48), spelling (98), synonyms (15), vocabulary (238), vocabulary development (91), word study (60)
In the Classroom
Use this site for vocabulary development and word study assignments, such as writing sentences, paragraphs, or essays using new words. Since the site permits translation, this would be a valuable tool in world language classes, ENL/ELL classes, and more. Introduce this site on an interactive whiteboard and elicit examples to show the class how quickly it works. Have students create their own word walls with synonyms, antonyms, sentences, and more for their latest vocabulary words. Try a tool such as Padlet, reviewed here, for each student to create an online "wall" with words aligned to color coded stickies for synonyms. antonyms, etc. Alternatively, have students create class challenges for their peers with color coded matching activities for the interactive whiteboard matching words to synonyms, antonyms, and an appropriate fill in the blank sentence. Share this as a favorite on your teacher public page for handy reference any time students encounter an unknown word. Even subject area teachers such as science and social studies will find this tool handy for students with weaker vocabulary levels.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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America Saves - Consumer Federation of America
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): financial literacy (89), money (114)
In the Classroom
To show what they have learned from this site, challenge students to extend their learning and create an online graphic to share using Web Poster Wizard, reviewed here, or PicLits, reviewed here. Share this site with students to explore on their own, then challenge them to create a newspaper article about savings strategies using Printing Press, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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