TeachersFirst - Featured Sites: Week of Apr 22, 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
Picturing Words: The Power of Book Illustrations - Smithsonian Institution Libraries
Grades
6 to 10tag(s): artists (75), medieval (26), primary sources (100), renaissance (31)
In the Classroom
History and English teachers studying the Medieval time period can show the primary source of the illuminated alphabet script on The Canon of Medicine. Then have students create a mini-bio for themselves, starting with illuminating the first letter of their name. Use this site to study how the power of pictures can enhance text. The Process section explains how the Gutenberg Press used wood blocks or metal cuts along with the letterpress to print a book with images. Have your students view the "Process" part of this site, and look at several books printed in the Gutenberg time period. You may want them to further investigate the workings of the Gutenberg Press and what it took to make a book (materials and time). Then have your students make a simple, illustrated book using a program like Bookemon reviewed here. Have them use a timeline tool such as History in Motion,You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Draw.io - JGraph, Ltd.
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): brainstorming (18), concept mapping (17), graphic organizers (41), mind map (24), venn diagrams (19), visual thinking (8)
In the Classroom
Demonstrate creating a mind map or other diagram on an interactive whiteboard or projector, and then allow students to try to create their own. Use this site for literature activities, research projects, social studies, or science topics of study. Use Draw.io to create family trees or flow charts. Learning support students could team up to map out the important concepts from a unit visually as a review activity. Use this mapping website as an alternative to a traditional test, quiz, or homework assignment in literature, social studies, or science. Have students demonstrate their understanding by creating a graphic organizer about the main points or map out a step-by-step process (life cycle). Be sure they name their organizer BEFORE they start work with their name --or code name-- so you know who did it (they could EMAIL it to you!) or have them print their results to turn them in. Anonymously share and compare different students' "views" of a unit so students can "see it through someone else's eyes."Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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ChronoZoom - Microsoft Research
Grades
8 to 12The site's creators freely admit that they don't really know where the project will lead, and what technologies might emerge that will help them create more content for the site. There are some caveats for using the site. First, the site assumes a particular theory of the creation of the universe, and the timeline of its existence. Second, the site can lend itself to aimless "mousing," or the temptation to simply click and move the mouse to see how the site will react, with no attention to the content at all.
tag(s): charts and graphs (183), evolution (97), Microsoft (54), timelines (47)
In the Classroom
This is a big idea, still in its early stages. Obviously it has usefulness as a way of visually demonstrating the sheer immensity of time, and the relative insignificance of human existence in comparison. You could use this site as an intro to any history or geology class simply to generate BIG questions that students want to know. Consider asking gifted students, or students interested in technology applications to imagine what the site COULD be. How would they create a visual overview of--forever? How can one prioritize what matters? But on an interactive whiteboard--WOW! If you, as current students seem to be, are comfortable with imagining the world as a series of hyperlinks rather than a linear march, this site has limitless potential.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Oxford Owl Reading - Oxford University Press
Grades
K to 6This site includes advertising.
tag(s): independent reading (106), preK (271), reading lists (69), reading strategies (54)
In the Classroom
Use this site as an anticipatory set or "activator" to introduce one of the free online books on a projector or interactive whiteboard. Then encourage students to use it individually or in pairs. Refer your ESL/ELL and learning support students to this site for extra, assisted reading practice.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Shmoop Snoops the Gods - Shmoop
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): greek (37), greeks (30), myths and legends (26), romans (33)
In the Classroom
This site is perfect for use in any history, literature, or social studies class. Use the site to engage your students in the study of mythology. Use the site on an interactive whiteboard to read about a different god each day. Have students work in groups to create a similar site for a god that isn't represented. Since the site is broken down into different areas like, wall, emails and gossip, have students extend the site by creating new content for each area of the site. The site also has a nice collection of photos that can be used in reports or for other projects.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Minyanland - Minyanville
Grades
2 to 6tag(s): financial literacy (104), money (158)
In the Classroom
MinyanLand would be great as a year-long project. Students can visit MinyanLand throughout the year in the classroom (and at home) to learn about money, investing, spending, earning, and the economy. It is a natural fit in the math classroom where students are already working with money and numbers. MinyanLand would be best in a lab or laptop cart setting where each student has access to a computer. If you don't have a lab for students, use classroom computers as a learning center. Students can take turns at the center throughout the week to interact in MinyanLand. Tips: Even if you don't want to use the virtual money in class, consider letting parents know about the opportunity to tie household chores to learning. Students can play in class and earn virtual money at home.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Energy ebook - IKT Forlaget
Grades
3 to 12tag(s): energy (182), solar energy (37), water (129)
In the Classroom
If you study energy in your science curriculum this ebook is a super resource and addition to your classroom library. Set up the ebook on classroom computers during independent reading time for some non-fiction reading material. The ebook is great for all levels of readers. Confident readers can read the book independently while struggling readers may want to read along with the audio. Use the ebook as a "big book" on an interactive whiteboard or projector to read about energy as a class or center. Brainstorm with Edistorm (reviewed here), having students add sticky notes of things they learn - or questions-- about energy on the online shared whiteboard.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Spider Scribe - spiderscribe.net
Grades
2 to 12tag(s): brainstorming (18), graphic organizers (41), mind map (24)
In the Classroom
Have your class create organizers together, such as in a brainstorming session on an interactive whiteboard or projector. Easily add images to maps for young students, ELL learners, or non-readers to understand relationships and learn vocabulary. Or you can assign students to "map" out a chapter or story or assign groups to create study guides using this tool. Use this site for literature activities, research projects, social studies, or science topics. Use this site to create family trees or food pyramids in family and consumer science. Have students collaborate together (online) to create group mind maps or review charts before tests on a given subject. Have students organize any concepts you study; color-code concepts to show what they understand, wonder, and question; map out a story, plot line, or plan for the future; map out a step-by-step process (life cycle).Edge Features:
Requires registration/log-in (WITH email)
Products can be embedded
Products can be shared by URL
Multiple users can collaborate on the same project
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NOVA Body and Brain - NOVA/PBS
Grades
3 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): carbon dioxide (13), carbon footprint (9), earth (196), environment (274), human body (110), nuclear energy (24), nutrition (147), solar energy (37), space (221)
In the Classroom
Discover some terrific lessons about a variety of topics. For example, under Environment find a great lesson for Capturing Carbon: Where Do We Put It? Find background information to understand the material and questions for discussion that can be used with your class. Find additional resources along the side.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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