TeachersFirst - Featured Sites: Week of May 13, 2018
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
Economic Games - Nicolas Gruyer and Nicolas Toublanc
Grades
8 to 12tag(s): business (47), financial literacy (92), game based learning (171), simulations (8), stock market (9)
In the Classroom
Include games from this site as part of economics and financial literacy lessons. This site is perfect for use with gifted students for independent study with peers. After completing games, ask students to use a digital storytelling tool like Book Creator, reviewed here, to explain complex financial concepts in an easy to understand manner.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Gridlock Buster - Center for Transportation Studies University of Minnesota
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): problem solving (226), transportation (32)
In the Classroom
Share this game with students on classroom computers and challenge them to move up through the different levels. Challenge students to create their own traffic-based game using Scratch, reviewed here. Challenge older students to find a local intersection that needs adjustments and offer suggestions for improvement. Ask them to share their ideas using Sway, reviewed here. Encourage students to include video, photos, and graphs as part of their Sway presentation.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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KoiKiwi - Ecological Games For Smart Kids - KoiKiwi.com
Grades
K to 12tag(s): earth day (60), ecology (100), forests (28), pollution (50), ponds (3), recycling (46)
In the Classroom
Select games from this site to include with Earth Day or environmental units. Include a link to games on classroom computers and your class website for students to access during learning centers or at home. Instead of using worksheets or short response quizzes, ask students to create an infographic sharing information learned during your science unit. Canva, reviewed here, offers easy to use templates for designing infographics. Collaborate with a classroom in a different state or country using Global Virtual Classroom, reviewed here, to compare and contrast environmental issues found in your different locations. Continue your collaboration using Flip, reviewed here, to create student video responses to essential questions raised during your ongoing discussions.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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QuoDeck - Ptotem Technologies
Grades
5 to 12tag(s): flash cards (43), game based learning (171), gamification (74), quiz (66), quizzes (89), test prep (66)
In the Classroom
Use QuoDeck to share content for flipped learning, or for a quick assessment during lessons. Share quizzes on an interactive whiteboard or with a projector at the end of a lesson. Allow students to create quizzes and flashcards to share with the class. Use video and picture quizzes as an introduction to new content to gather information on students' prior knowledge. Create your own micro-learning management system (micro-LMS) to deliver content through short, focused lessons. Be sure to download the micro-LMS whitepaper for a better understanding of how this works.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Symbaloo - Learning Paths - Symbaloo
Grades
K to 12tag(s): bookmarks (47), curation (35), DAT device agnostic tool (143), game based learning (171), gamification (74), multilingual (66), personalized learning (9), playlists (10), Teacher Utilities (146)
In the Classroom
You will want to use Symbaloo Learning Paths for many different types of classroom instruction! Create lesson plans to differentiate learning and assign based on student needs and interests. Embed a lesson on your class website for students to complete at home. Using this site allows you to create a clear and concise learning path for any lesson. Share it on an interactive whiteboard with students as you follow through any learning path. Be sure also to include a link to the lesson on your class website for students to use throughout the unit and as a review. Use Symbaloo Lesson Plans as enrichment for independent learning for advanced students, or for remediation with students needing additional help. This site is perfect for use with ENL/ESL students - include links and activities to resources in their native language or add tools for practicing English. There are too many uses for Symbaloo Lesson Plans to include here, be sure to take the time to learn how to create and use this wonderful tool with your students!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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GooseChase edu - Andrew Cross
Grades
3 to 12tag(s): creativity (91), DAT device agnostic tool (143), game based learning (171), gamification (74)
In the Classroom
Use GooseChase in your classroom as part of your project based learning activities. Assign a series of activities to groups for completion. Differentiate projects based on student interest and ability. Use one of the many educational games already in the library to see great examples of how to use GooseChase for any subject area. GooseChase would be an excellent addition to staff meetings. Have participants locate information on websites, textbooks, or throughout your school as part of professional development. Create a GooseChase for students as part of a nature walk outside of your school, ask younger students to find different geometric shapes, or have students draw pictures of main characters in books as part of a GooseChase mission.Edge Features:
Includes an education-only area for teachers and students
Requires registration/log-in (WITH email)
Premium version (not free) includes additional features or storage
Multiple users can collaborate on the same project
Includes teacher tools for registering and/or monitoring students
Requires download/installation of software
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Plickers - Nolan Amy
Grades
1 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): assessment (146), DAT device agnostic tool (143), game based learning (171), gamification (74), qr codes (17), questioning (32), quiz (66)
In the Classroom
Create greater student engagement and increased student interest in your classroom with Plickers. Students give their input anonymously. Print out Plickers' cards and hand out to students. Use an interactive whiteboard or projector to explain how the Plickers cards work. Create questions, with or without images, and add multiple choice answers. Project your questions and possible answers. Have students hold up their card in the position that reflects their answer. Use your mobile device and Plickers mobile app to scan the cards. You will see a bar graph with student responses on your mobile device. These can be saved to your Plickers account. Use Plickers to answer exit questions or to see what students remember from the previous day. Use for formative assessment to identify misconceptions that students may have at the start of a unit. There are cards with larger fonts for young students or the visually impaired. ENL/ESL teachers could use this for vocabulary or sentence structure practice. Unless your school or district has access to a matte-finish for laminating or matte-plastic pockets, you may want to collect the cards at the end of class.Edge Features:
Includes an education-only area for teachers and students
Requires registration/log-in (WITH email)
Includes teacher tools for registering and/or monitoring students
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Bioman Biology - Brett Baughman
Grades
5 to 10This site includes advertising.
tag(s): body systems (40), cells (80), classification (22), dna (44), ecology (100), evolution (85), game based learning (171), genetics (76), human body (93), meiosis (7), photosynthesis (20), respiration (10), scientific method (47)
In the Classroom
Introduce this site to your class on an interactive whiteboard or projector to review and reinforce concepts. If you are lucky enough to have access to iPads for your students, you could have the activities downloaded as apps to use for stations or early finishers. Be sure to include this site on your class webpage for students to access both in and outside of class for further practice. Have students create animated movies online using Adobe Express Video Maker, reviewed here to demonstrate biology concepts. Use an online flashcard maker, like Flashcard Stash, reviewed here, to review concepts before quizzes and tests.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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