TeachersFirst - Featured Sites: Week of Jun 24, 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
Nature Works Everywhere - The Nature Conservancy
Grades
3 to 9tag(s): conservation (107), natural resources (49), scientists (66), water (129)
In the Classroom
Be sure to save (bookmark) this page on your blog, wiki, or class website for easy access. Provide a link on a classroom computer for ease of access during an ecology unit. Allow opportunity for students to look at the information on the site to find a topic of interest to them for further research. Or choose a project to do together as a class or school in connection with Earth Day. Create an awareness campaign for students to educate others in the community about the science behind nature, why it is important to conserve, and simple actions that everyone can do. Have students create online posters on paper or do it together as a class. For the novice technology user try these two tools to enhance technology use in your classroom: PicLits, reviewed here, or Web Poster Wizard, reviewed here. For the more experienced transform the use of technology in your class with Sway, reviewed here, or give students a choice of projects to complete with Genial.ly, reviewed here. Both Sway and Genial.ly will allow your students to create multimedia projects.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Venngage - Venngage
Grades
7 to 12tag(s): data (144), infographics (52), posters (43), vocabulary (249)
In the Classroom
Consider creating Infographics of material learned in class and for better understanding and connection with other topics and the "real world." Make curriculum content more real with infographics that students can relate to. Have students create their own infographics with this site to display what they have learned from a unit of study, how vocabulary words are related to the unit content, or as a review before a test. It could even be a replacement for the test! Connect data found on the Internet to information needed to understand that data. (Consider looking at different ways to show the data which can generate bias.) Use your interactive whiteboard or projector to allow student groups to present an Infographic about a book they've read, related news article, etc. Create Infographics about events such as Earth Day, D-Day, Take Your Child to Work Day, and other observances.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Privacy Pirates: An Interactive Unit on Online Privacy - Media Smarts
Grades
2 to 4tag(s): cyberbullying (47), internet safety (118)
In the Classroom
This site would be perfect to use during an Internet safety unit. Using an interactive whiteboard (or projector) have your students work their way through the tutorial. Allow groups of students to discuss the answers before submitting them on the game. Once the tutorial is complete put the link to the game on your classroom computers and let the students try the interactive during center time. Have students create their own Internet treasure hunt using the information learned on the site. Use one of the multimedia tools reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Make an Animation - ABCya!
Grades
2 to 8This site includes advertising.
tag(s): animation (63), creativity (98)
In the Classroom
This site is useful for both teachers and students. During the first day of school, create a simple animation to share with your class. Highlight information about yourself, class rules, highlights from the year, and more. Create math animations showing different geometric shapes on 2-3 slides (just click to copy a frame, rather than remaking the slide) and giving the students a chance to guess the shape before the answer is provided on the next slide. Challenge students to create their own animations "introducing themselves" to the class. Students could also create animations to demonstrate what they have learned about a piece of literature, a science unit, social studies theme or unit, or more. Save the students' work and share the animations on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Challenge your gifted students to create animations about their in-depth interests or curriculum concepts they have pretested out of so others in the class can learn from them. This tool is simple enough for bright students in early elementary to navigate on their own, a real asset when your gifted ones are working alone while you teach others.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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ScanUrl.net - ScanURL.net
Grades
K to 12tag(s): computers (102), internet safety (118)
In the Classroom
Use this site as part of your Internet safety unit. Scan various websites to see how safe they are. Use this site when you receive an email with an unfamiliar web address. This is one you will want to keep in your favorites, for sure. Parents would like to know about it, too!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Course hero - Course Hero, Inc.
Grades
5 to 12tag(s): infographics (52), note taking (36)
In the Classroom
Use Course Hero to introduce note taking for your study skills class or integrate into any subject. After introducing each note-taking strategy mentioned, have your students try each type and decide which works best for each individual. Immediately after your first audio lecture, give a pop quiz. Let students try note taking and discover the value for success. Use as a remediation tool for learners who need more reinforcement. Introduce in gifted classes, when these learners can no longer rely on simply remembering. At your parent orientation, give this site as a resource. And be sure to provide this link on your class website.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Watch2gether - Sailer Interactive
Grades
3 to 12In the Classroom
Use for teaching a concept with others by viewing portions of videos and chatting content and main points with each other. Use for reviewing materials for exams or to prepare for project creation. Be sure to set rules on changing videos when in sessions with others. All of the following suggestions will extend your blended learning classroom: set up a snow day or evening video viewing time and URL to watch and discuss videos together with the teacher for extra help or enrichment; an online back to school night, share a video at a specified time and invite parents to join you and chat their questions. What a bonus for parents who travel and can't be there! Offer video/chat how-to sessions for major projects, such as science fair or other major independent work. Enhance video instructions for any major assignment by scheduling a watch together session. Use together with Khan Academy videos for math class. Make your "flipped" or blended learning classroom more social using Watch2gether.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
Multiple users can collaborate on the same project
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I Speak Math - Julie Reulbach
Grades
5 to 10tag(s): charts and graphs (183), data (144)
In the Classroom
Use this site as a resource for finding varied math activities for your class. Search the site for math stations to find tips for running math stations in your classroom.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Peter Rabbit Fun and Games - Frederick Warne & Co.
Grades
K to 4This site includes advertising.
tag(s): authors (97), literature (223), preK (271)
In the Classroom
Invite your students to star in their own puppet show. Each show will be unique as students make decisions about what will happen to their characters. Share the activities and stories on your projector or interactive whiteboard. Allow students to view each other's puppet shows. After reading through character descriptions, students can write their own Peter Rabbit tale, staying true to the character traits they read about on the site. Create a class book of the students stories (each student contributing 1-2 pages). Use an online tool such as Bookemon, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Sozo Exchange - Sozo Exchange
Grades
9 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): figurative language (14), idioms (37), listening (78), news (244), pronunciation (38), vocabulary development (96)
In the Classroom
This is a great find for independent ESL/ELL students who want to improve their oral comprehension and knowledge of vocabulary along with its idiomatic language and slang expressions. Keep the link to this program on your computers at school and on your web page for home use, too. Parents wanting to learn English could use this site too!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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