TeachersFirst - Featured Sites: Week of Dec 9, 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
Fakebook - Class Tools
Grades
4 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): book reports (30), creative writing (130), social networking (86)
In the Classroom
Engage and create interest in classroom learning with Fakebook. This site is wonderful for creating interest in many subjects. In social studies, instead of a typical biographical report have students create a Fakebook page about their famous person. Write about presidents, founding fathers, famous scientists or artist, a civil war soldier, and much more. Have students create a timeline of any historical event (the page should be named for the event). Use Fakebook to outline the plot of a book, play, or film, then share with students while studying the material. To use Fakebook to study literature, create a page for the central character, book's author, or the setting of the book or play. For a unique twist is science class, create a Fakebook page for a periodic element or another science topic. Use the page to describe "the life" of that atom or element. In world language classes, have students do this activity (about themselves) in the second language they are learning. Create a Fakebook page for the first day of school to introduce yourself to students or at Open House for parents. Challenge students to create and share a page about themselves during the first week of school. Share a Fakebook page with students to demonstrate proper netiquette and social sharing. Be sure to share a rubric with students for all expectations of what should be included on their page. Make Fakebook one of the options for your gifted students doing projects beyond the regular curriculum. With no membership required, this tool is simple enough for younger gifted students who have parent permission to post work to the web. We could pretend that they do not know what Facebook looks like, but we would be deluding ourselves!You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Newsola - Nick Nicholaou
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): countries (76), financial literacy (104), news (244), sports (86)
In the Classroom
Use this site to select current events for the day. Follow the same news thread for a period of time to look at changes and possible reasons for the change in the news. Be sure to check news stories from other countries for a different viewpoint on issues. Create a class discussion for the differences in viewpoints. Challenge cooperative learning groups to explore ONE of the subtopics (Showbiz, World, Finance, etc..) and present the highlights to the class. Have students make a multimedia presentation using one of the many TeachersFirst Edge tools reviewed here.Comments
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Key Seeker - Keyboarding for Kindergarten - annrymer.com
Grades
K to 2tag(s): alphabet (59), keyboarding (33), preK (271)
In the Classroom
Demonstrate how to play on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Allow students to try this site on their own on classroom computers or a center at the interactive whiteboard. Share this site on your class website or blog for students to play at home.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Vodcast Book Trailers - Brian Dawson/Palm Beach Schools
Grades
K to 5tag(s): book lists (120), book reports (30), guided reading (38), independent reading (106)
In the Classroom
Use this site to show a book trailer on your interactive whiteboard or projector before heading to the library for students to choose books. Create a link on classroom computers for students to view book trailers on their own. Use this site as a model and challenge students to create their own book trailers and share them using a tool such as SchoolTube reviewed here. Share this site on your classroom website or blog using the embed code given.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Education Buzzword-o-matic 9000 - 121 Writing
Grades
K to 12tag(s): newbies (15), parent conferences (22), professional development (217)
In the Classroom
Challenge yourself to avoid using these terms without explanation, or create a tongue in cheek faculty room game. Try this: spin the buzzword generator and the teacher who is "it" has to explain it in layman's terms in 30 seconds or less! Many of the terms are actually ones teachers should know. Ask mentor teachers to use the site to talk about pedagogy, politics, and the terms a new teacher MUST know. Share it with your student teacher or newbie teacher colleague as a humorous way to underscore the importance of staying up to date (and of avoiding jargon with parents). Teacher education programs can use this to acquaint teachers-to-be with the latest buzzwords - with a little sense of humor.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Find the Data - FindTheBest.com
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): countries (76), data (144), ecology (120), politics (104), sports (86), transportation (40), trivia (18)
In the Classroom
Find and compare data for almost anything your class needs! Compare salaries or life spans between countries. Use an online tool such as Interactive Two Circle Venn Diagram (reviewed here). Find and compare economic data for your state, look for the biggest meteor to hit the earth, or find the earliest recorded sighting of a meteor. Share with students to use when completing research projects. Have students share the information by creating a multimedia presentation using one of the many TeachersFirst Edge tools reviewed here. Bookmark this site to use to find data or interesting facts at anytime.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Fasten Seat Belts - 43 Films ASBL
Grades
5 to 12tag(s): asia (71), cross cultural understanding (141), cultures (106), europe (71)
In the Classroom
World language teachers may want to use these videos throughout the year to discuss cultural norms. Use the videos to introduce the concept of "culture" in a world cultures or social studies class. View videos before taking students on field trips-- real or virtual -- to Asia or Europe. Introduce the site to students, then challenge them to find other tips to share and create their own videos to share using a tool such as SchoolTube reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Nourish Interactive - Maggie LaBarbera
Grades
K to 6This site includes advertising.
tag(s): myplate (24), nutrition (147), obesity (14), preK (271)
In the Classroom
Bookmark and save this site as a resource for your nutrition unit. Find healthy recipes to make with your class. Send recipes home and ask parents to send them in for a healthy eating day. Several printables include games such as matching fruits, puzzles, and checklists - use these in classroom centers. Create links to games on classroom computers and share via your classroom website or blog for students to try at home. As a class, make an interactive healthy cookbook using a tool such as Bookemon, reviewed here and share it with parents to read together at home.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Ipod Physics - Derrick McNeill
Grades
10 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): energy (182), gravity (50), nuclear energy (24), waves (21)
In the Classroom
Use this site to reinforce ideas from the classroom and check students' knowledge. Use any of the resources as a tutorial, concept check, or additional practice before tests or quizzes.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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UnShortenMe - Unshort.me
Grades
K to 12tag(s): browser (6), internet safety (118)
In the Classroom
Use this to access sites especially those shared with your PLN through RSS or Twitter. Many times, the original link is not blocked but the shortened URL is because of the shortener service's url. Save this tool in your favorites to access when needed.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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My PBLWorks - Buck Institute for Education
Grades
3 to 12tag(s): problem solving (261)
In the Classroom
There are a variety of projects presented at different grade levels. Don't hesitate to look at one that seems beyond or below your grade level. They are easily adaptable. For instance, the one by Biz World created for third through fifth grade students to experience entrepreneurship can easily be adapted to a product that high school students might be interested in such as earrings, designing a class ring, or a video explaining how to conquer levels in a video game.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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