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
Venngage - Venngage
Grades
7 to 12
Like the looks of Infographics but wish it were as easy as creating a Powerpoint? This website aims to empower you to easily create infographics in a short time. It ...more
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Like the looks of Infographics but wish it were as easy as creating a Powerpoint? This website aims to empower you to easily create infographics in a short time. It is worth the free registration to gain access. Create beautiful Infographics by creating a title and then choosing a template or color scheme. Create your own templates using a range of color, label, and font choices. Click on the elements on the template to change the words, add widgets, create charts, and more. Use the slider along the top right to move between edit mode and preview mode. Go beyond traditional charts by including word clouds, treemaps, bubble charts, and more. Click Save as Template (helpful in creating labels and examples for students to follow) to save your style for later. Click Publish to make the Infographic public or private. You can save the Infographic as an image, share via URL, or use an embed code to place on a wiki, site, or blog. Click on your dashboard to view additional templates shared by creators and to find your Infographics. With the free plan you can create 5 infographics.
tag(s): data (150), infographics (57), posters (43), vocabulary (242)
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.Privacy Pirates: An Interactive Unit on Online Privacy - Media Smarts
Grades
2 to 4Learn about online privacy and how to distinguish between information that is appropriate to give out and information that is not. You are required to collect map pieces that will ...more
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Learn about online privacy and how to distinguish between information that is appropriate to give out and information that is not. You are required to collect map pieces that will lead you to the pirate's treasure! The site is broken down into two sections. A tutorial offers a step by step guide and a free play area where you can explore on your own.
tag(s): cyberbullying (44), internet safety (116)
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.
This resource requires PDF reader software like Adobe Acrobat.
Make an Animation - ABCya!
Grades
2 to 8This cool tool, developed especially for older elementary to middle school students, allows you to create simple animations. You are provided with 40 frames. Click to choose your color,...more
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This cool tool, developed especially for older elementary to middle school students, allows you to create simple animations. You are provided with 40 frames. Click to choose your color, brush size, and more. The site includes the options to copy a frame, draw with a pencil instead of a brush, save, undo, clear and start over, and more. This is a simple to use tool. More in-depth instructions are provided on the site. Animations are saved as a .gif file. Read the tips on the home page to learn how to open your downloaded .gif.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): animation (66), back to school (55), creativity (87), firstday (22)
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.ScanUrl.net - ScanURL.net
Grades
K to 12This tool provides a way to scan a URL to see if it contains a virus or links to malware that can destroy your computer. ScanURL will provide you with ...more
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This tool provides a way to scan a URL to see if it contains a virus or links to malware that can destroy your computer. ScanURL will provide you with a checklist letting you know how safe a site is to visit.
tag(s): computers (109), internet safety (116)
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!Course hero - Course Hero, Inc.
Grades
5 to 12Take note of Course Hero with your class. Course Hero looks at various note-taking methods and explores each (using infographics and more). The featured infographic here shows results...more
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Take note of Course Hero with your class. Course Hero looks at various note-taking methods and explores each (using infographics and more). The featured infographic here shows results on written vs. computer note-taking. Discover different types of note taking and research for each. Find the most effective ways to take notes. Caution: this is a public blog, so you may want to preview comments before allowing students to explore on their own. Or simply share this site together with your class rather than using it for individual exploration.
tag(s): infographics (57), 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.Watch2Gether - Sailer Interactive
Grades
3 to 12Use this free site to create a private chat room where you can watch videos with others at multiple locations in real-time. Create a chat room and use the link ...more
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Use this free site to create a private chat room where you can watch videos with others at multiple locations in real-time. Create a chat room and use the link to send to others. Use the Facebook app to post to Facebook. Watch the video synchronously while making comments in the chat window. Note: Members of the chat can change the video at any time, and it will change for all those in the private room. You can lock this function by going to settings, find this function, and choose between All members or Moderators only. Want to save the chat? Copy and paste to share later or use screenshots (command/shift/4 on a Mac or print screen on PC.) Save your room and go back later to view the chat and watch more videos with your friends. You can monitor the chat the same way you did for changing the video, moderators only. See How to Use Watch2Gether to find which video formats are supported.
tag(s): blended learning (36), chat (41), differentiation (85), Online Learning (36), remote learning (54), social media (50), video (267)
In the Classroom
Use for teaching a concept with others by viewing portions of videos and chatting content and main points. Use for reviewing materials for exams or preparing for project creation. Be sure to set up who can change videos and monitor the chat 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 fairs or other major independent work. Enhance video instructions for any significant assignment by scheduling a Watch2gether session. Use Watch2gether 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
I Speak Math - Julie Reulbach
Grades
5 to 10I Speak Math is an idea-filled and informative blog from a math teacher currently at a project-based private school in North Carolina. Posts are updated often and include pictures of...more
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I Speak Math is an idea-filled and informative blog from a math teacher currently at a project-based private school in North Carolina. Posts are updated often and include pictures of classroom projects along with links to resources used. Examples include a kinesthetic box and whisk-ers plot activity, foldables for functions and graphing, and reflections upon students grading their own tests. Explore the site further by viewing top posts through the link on the side bar. Search the site using the search box on the top of the page. Most posts include several tags. Click on a tag to find other posts with the same topic or click on popular tags located in the tag cloud on the side bar.
tag(s): charts and graphs (169), data (150)
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.Peter Rabbit Fun and Games - Frederick Warne & Co.
Grades
K to 4Bring Beatrix Potter's incredible artistry to life. This whole site is fashioned into a virtual popup book where you can meet the characters, watch videos of the stories, play games,...more
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Bring Beatrix Potter's incredible artistry to life. This whole site is fashioned into a virtual popup book where you can meet the characters, watch videos of the stories, play games, and find fun things to make and do offline. Try to "Find Peter" (before Mr. McGregor does!), take part in an Easter egg hunt, collect snowflakes to earn special downloads, help Peter find his way through a maze, and play a vegetable picking game. Read character descriptions of each of Beatrix Potter's characters and even watch video clips of Peter Rabbit. Create an interactive Peter Rabbit puppet show and star in the puppet show by uploading a picture. Teacher's resources include six learning modules and printable posters and certificates.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): authors (108), easter (10), eggs (5), holidays (194), literature (221), preK (289)
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.
This resource requires PDF reader software like Adobe Acrobat.
Magic Tree House for Educators - Random House Children's Books
Grades
K to 4Bring the Magic Tree House books to life in your classroom with materials created just for educators. Scroll through this site to find activity guides for many Magic Tree House ...more
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Bring the Magic Tree House books to life in your classroom with materials created just for educators. Scroll through this site to find activity guides for many Magic Tree House books and graphic novels; some include corresponding activities, such as crossword puzzles and matching games. The Educator's Guides provide grade-level suggestions, lexile level, and cross-curricular classroom connection ideas.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): book lists (168), guided reading (32), literature (221), preK (289)
In the Classroom
Use the Educator Guides on this site to engage students and expand their knowledge when reading the Magic Tree House Series books. Keep this resource on hand to find books to integrate reading activities with other classroom lessons. Use the ideas from the Educator Guides as part of choice board activities or within an educational playlist. Learn more about choice boards and playlists by viewing the archive of OK2Ask: Choice Boards for Differentiation, Pt 1, and OK2Ask: Playlists to Personalize Learning.
This resource requires PDF reader software like Adobe Acrobat.
Sozo Exchange - Sozo Exchange
Grades
9 to 12Sozo offers daily online broadcasts for learning English. Older teens and adults will enjoy learning English through daily feature videos, pronunciation assists, and interview clips...more
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Sozo offers daily online broadcasts for learning English. Older teens and adults will enjoy learning English through daily feature videos, pronunciation assists, and interview clips which include lesson features and online review exercises. You can contribute to online surveys, learn idioms, and take quizzes with free registration. Subject matter is designed for teens and adults.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): figurative language (19), idioms (30), listening (93), news (226), pronunciation (34), vocabulary development (95)