TeachersFirst: Week of March 7, 2010

Featured Sites - Week of March 7, 2010

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Here are this week's features. Clicking the "more resources like this" link below each listing will present a list of our most recent additions for the same subject area and grade level .

Shake, Rattle, and Slide - Grades 3 - 9 - permalink
This interactive site focuses on showing and telling students about volcanoes, earthquakes, and glaciers. The text information is also available as audio; many fun activities reinforce the information given on the introductory sites. Because of the dual presentation (oral and written), the site is easy for ESL/ELL students to use as well. One especially interesting activity involves showing students the history of the geologic earth and asks them to imagine squeezing all the earth's history into one day. 10728

In the Classroom:
Use this site as an anticipatory set or “activator” to introduce a unit or lesson on geology and/or natural disasters on a projector or interactive whiteboard. When a disaster is in the news, use this site as the starting point for individual or group projects in response to their curiosity about the news event. Have ESL/ELL students use this to introduce other students to some possible disasters that occur in their parts of the world. Another option would be to divide students into cooperative learning groups to explore the site. Have them create presentations on different parts of the information found in the site and its activities. Use the information they find as a jumping off place for doing further research on areas that interest them.To show what they have learned from this site, challenge students to create an online graphic to share using Tabblo reviewed here

Free BrainingCamp Math Activities - Grades 5 - 10 - permalink
Free Brainingcamp Math Activities includes 8 interactive lessons with practice and follow up on the following topics: Bisection, Box Plot, Median, Pythagorean Theorem, Random, Rate, Rounding, and Surface Area. Each topic starts with a mini-video lesson, followed by an interactive activity, and finishes with a question portion with an Assessment Report showing student level of mastery. 10792

In the Classroom:
Take advantage of the free lessons by having students view the lessons to support previously learned concepts. Try using this site as a starting point for small group projects. Students can imitate the lesson model by creating a presentation with visual and audio explanations. Have cooperative learning groups create their own math videos. Share the videos using a tool such as Teachers.TV reviewed here.

Amazing Cells - Grades 7 - 12 - permalink
Learning about cells and its functions? Use this site's expansive resources to identify and understand the structure and the complex functioning of the cell. View videos of actual cells, compare cell sizes to other objects, and find answers to complex interactions in the cell. 10426

In the Classroom:
Use many of these resources on an interactive whiteboard or projector to bring information up close. As your class studies cell parts and the workings between them, have groups of students investigate information about a specific cell part, and report their findings to the class. Share findings by creating an interactive online poster ("glog") using Glogster EDU, reviewed here.

For similar resources, click the appropriate keyword: cells | organelles | cell processes | cell size |

Reading Games - Grades 0 - 5 - permalink
Students will love the engaging reading games on this site and may not even recognize that they are also learning while having fun! Rhyming will come alive as students create their own rap song, catch a big one while fishing for sight words. New and developing readers will enjoy playing these games to develop skills needed as part of their literacy diet. 10731

In the Classroom:
Use the activities on this site for review of grammar skills such as homophones, antonyms and synonyms. Struggling students will benefit through additional practice of sight words, digraphs and sequencing skills in a non-threatening way. This is definitely one to list on your class website!

For similar resources, click the appropriate keyword: phonics | grammar | language | sight words |

Basic Intergenerational Financial Literacy - Grades 2 - 12 - permalink
This site provides tools for financial literacy including an introduction to basic financial ideas and vocabulary, budget decision practices, and ideas for including students in conversations about money. Although the page looks very text-heavy the linked activities are more interactive. Activities may be introduced at school but are well-suited for parents and students to do together at home.

10805

In the Classroom:
Use the resources on this site to enrich a mathematics unit on money or a mini-society social studies unit. Share the site links and printables with parents at open house or conferences, so students can further engage in financial literacy topics. Use the value ranking resource as a discussion starter for older students. Students can complete activities independently and then share with a peer.

For similar resources, click the appropriate keyword: money | financial | spending |

Symmetry Game - Grades 2 - 5 - permalink
The Symmetry Game allows students to learn basic information on 10 geometrical shapes including the number of sides, corners, and lines of symmetry. Students can test their knowledge by playing a quick, basic game on the number of lines of symmetry a shape has. 10806

In the Classroom:
Share this site on your interactive whiteboard or projector then as a center for individual practice. Have students use this game to prepare for a geometry test or even standardized testing. Include this site on your class web page for students and parents to access as a reference.

For similar resources, click the appropriate keyword: lines of symmetry | shapes |

Census in Schools - Grades 0 - 12 - permalink
This census site is huge! It will help you teach your students what they count and why! Developed by Scholastic, this site is for grades K-12. "Census in Schools" has so many resources they can't all be given justice here. There are four tabs at the top for teachers, kids, teens, and materials. There are other tabs that have word games, memory games, and quizzes. There are a plethora of links to other sources on each page.

While exploring, our reviewer visited the “Teacher” tab and clicked on "lesson plans" and found lesson for mapping, the history of the census, and relating the census to the student's classroom. There were two sets of lessons here for K-2 and 3-4. Standards/benchmarks for language arts, math, social studies, and geography for K-2 and 3-4 were included. There were worksheets to download for both levels, a story to read, “Who Counts,” with comprehension questions to answer, and mapping activities. The site also had links for additional resources and a letter for the parents about the unit....and that was only ONE link on the "Teacher" tab. Whew! The rest of the site is just as thoroughly and professionally done as the lessons for K-4 lessons. 10813

In the Classroom:
The K-4 lessons are perfect to use the way they are, or you might want to do some comparing of information between the different grade levels within your school. Another idea is to pair up third and fourth graders with the kindergartners or first and second graders to read the story and work on the worksheets together. Of course, using your projector and interactive whiteboard with the whole class is a must for explanations of the lessons. This site is very colorful, so project what you can! You may want to introduce this unit with a catchy, educational song and video about the census reviewed here. For teachers of older students there are "Lessons Using the 2000 Census Data," "Quick Facts," and much more. One last suggestion: Once you’ve completed your census unit, discussion, etc. You might want to have your class participate in the “100 People: A World Portrait” project reviewed here.

For similar resources, click the appropriate keyword: census | mapping | censdat |

Let's Be Counted - Grades 2 - 12 - permalink
Wow! What a creative way to introduce a census unit, or to just make your students aware of the importance of the census. This is a four minute video, "Music-Based Messaging Prototype encouraging young Hispanics and African Americans to participate in the census." It is a YouTube video with a catchy tune and photos of every ethnic group one can think of. The information in the song is also printed on the screen. The video is available in Spanish and English. As they say in their pitch: “It’s fun, motivating, digital, downloadable, overcomes literacy issues, and is environmentally friendly.” After viewing the video, scroll down the screen and you'll find the time line for the music and facts presented in the video. Keep scrolling and you'll find the number of iterations for certain message phrases, and information about other applications and services. If YouTube is blocked in your school, you CAN download the videos at home and bring them in “on a stick” using a tool such as Vixy, reviewed here. 10814

In the Classroom:
Share this video and song on your projector and screen, or whiteboard, as students come into the classroom. Use it as a lead-in to a discussion about the importance of the census. You can post some of the information from Scholastic's “Census in Schools” reviewed here. From this same site you can go to “It’s About Us,” and find a "Reference Page" with "Census Facts" that you can use in elementary, middle school, and high school classrooms. One last suggestion: Once you’ve completed your census unit, discussion, etc. You might want to have your class participate in the “100 People: A World Portrait” reviewed here. Don't forget about the possibility of using the census in math class to understand data and graphing, as well.

For similar resources, click the appropriate keyword: census | literacy | music | censdat |

100 People - Grades 6 - 12 - permalink
This site takes the global population (there are 6.7 billion of us) and simplifies it to 100 People to help students understand what kind of people make up their community and the world beyond. On the first page of the website you will see a lesson plan video to view. There are 12 other videos for you to use.

There are two lesson plans for this site. The first one, ”World Portrait” is where students survey and select 100 people to represent their community and the world’s population. There are also suggestions for how a class might select one person. The plan is download-able and has ideas that include criteria for the people who are nominated, discussion topics and activities, questions for the community profile, a questionnaire for the people nominated, an image release form, just to name a few. Student results are to be captured in film, photography, music and text. The other lesson plan on this site is titled “100 People Under the Sun.” In order to download this lesson you must register, it is free, but you will have to log in when viewing the plan. With this lesson “...students will develop key leadership skills to help raise their community's awareness of its energy use, as well as its motivation to advance sustainable approaches." 10817

In the Classroom:
This project is the perfect opportunity to collaborate with others in your building! Math students could complete a school and community survey (which could tie in with 2010 U.S. census). Social Studies students could interpret data collected in the survey (also could be tied into the 2010 census) and extrapolate parameters for nominations. Language Arts students would finalize the nominations and develop the essays. Technology, yearbook, and art classes can draw the portraits or produce them digitally, create a video for submission to 100 People project, and your more advanced technology students can create a website for content display. Glogster EDU, reviewed here or a wiki would be great tools to use for the website! Not familiar with wikis? Check out the Teacher’s First Wiki Walk-Through reviewed here.

Of course, you don't have to collaborate with others. This unit would work well in any world culture class at any level, or even in language arts when studying multicultural literature and settings. Here's another idea: Many of us have seen the video "Did You Know? Predicting Future Statistics." (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7FP1kgtD8U). The beginning states "If you are one in a million in China there are 1,300 people just like you.” But it also gives statistics like "During the course of this presentation 60 babies will be born in the U.S., 244 babies will be born in China, and 351 babies will be born in India..." You can use your and your student’s ideas to come up with your own statistics. Something like how many people will be working and sleeping between the hours of midnight and 6:00 A.M. in the U.S., China, and India (or any other country you wish to include). Use this to lead to discussions of time zones and all sorts of other peripheral ideas and decisions students will have to think about.

Forward Thinking Museum - Grades 8 - 12 - permalink
This is a treasure trove of contemporary photography and film. The "Forward Thinking Museum" is where students build knowledge of photography and film while discovering how the visual arts can elicit meaning. The website contains a listing of exhibitions by groups and individual artists. Right from the classroom, students can witness the work of artists worldwide and watch professionals speak passionately about their life’s work. The enthusiasm of the spotlighted artists is infectious and inspiring. It is impressive how the site integrates the study of science, history, philosophy, and literature with the photographic experience. Every three months artists are encouraged to submit their own photographs for selection in their on-line virtual gallery. 10708

In the Classroom:
This website is useful for teaching the arts and to challenge your students higher level thinking skills. For example, quotations from history, literature, or philosophy synthesize with evocative images. The pairing of quotations with art provides teachers with an engaging way to initiate student discussion and debate. This is an excellent way to demonstrate how the visual arts can overcome language barriers and ignite thought. A new developing feature is on-line workshops free to all public schools.

WWF Footprint Calculator - Grades 3 - 12 - permalink
Determine ecological footprints with this site. Click start and answer questions about food, travel, home, and stuff. Amounts and questions use British units so students may need help in understanding them. At the end, the ecological footprint is displayed as well as strategies for reducing footprints. 10429

In the Classroom:
Use this site to determine how each of us affects the environment. Bring math into the classroom by converting British units to American units. Students can research how each of these categories affects the environment and create action plans for reducing their footprint. Follow the action plans and retake the quiz after to see the change in footprint. Create Public Service Announcements in the form of posters or videos to share information. Have students create online posters on paper or do it together as a class using a tool such as Project Poster (reviewed here or PicLits (reviewed here.

For similar resources, click the appropriate keyword: footprint | ecology | erthday |

Twiducate - Grades 2 - 12 - permalink
Teachers First Edge Review. Looking for a microblogging (think twitter) option for collaboration or networking in your classes? Use Twiducate to create a microblogging platform with the students in your classes. Maintain privacy and a safe structure for collaborative learning. Post questions to elicit responses or use the safe environment for students to receive feedback on works in progress. Not sure about this resource? Twiducate was created by a group of teachers in Southwest Ontario to provide this type of service to students and teachers. 10800

In the Classroom:
Skills required: For moderately adventurous technology users. Create an account easily with information about your school and title. Though an email is required, create your account without email verification. Make a class name and code that students can use for Twiducate. Manage many options through your home page including adding students, entering bookmarks to share with students, viewing the public timeline (you may find a teacher to collaborate and share with,) and create more classes. Students do not need to register themselves and are added in through the teacher. As students are added, a password is generated for them.

Safety/security: Use this safe, private, closed system to blog and network in your classes. Students are able to access this site outside of school and collaborate there as well. Invite parents into this network and let them see what is going on. Teachers are able to moderate all posts and remove any unwanted posts. Consider printing the screen of student names and passwords for a hard copy in order to access the information. Be sure to discuss rules of etiquette for posting and commenting in order to teach students effective use of these types of services. Be sure to include actions for broken rules. Check your school policies about using such a resource and whether special permission slips may be required.

In the classroom: The possibilities are endless. Use for posting homework assignments. Share and publish bookmarks for students to use. Respond to students trying to get test dates and other assignments changed! Collaborate among small or large groups. Create study groups for review and learning of information. Use small time information gathering more effectively: Assign every two students a concept to research and share learning with the rest of the class for discussion. How can you be sure that each student has completed work? Have them blog their information through Twiducate. Each group would have a specific key word that they use at the start of their posts. Search for a keyword at the top of the screen to bring up all those related posts! Watching a movie that requires students to answer questions? Post prepared questions throughout the movie to elicit responses from students. Allow students the ability to blog their reactions to documentaries and work together for understanding. During poetry month, have student do oral poetry reading while others microblog their reactions to the poem as they listen. Share weekly links and comments about current events via microblog. If you are willing to risk it invite students to microblog questions and reactions to teacher and student presentations in progress. Suddenly listening is an active endeavor! Provide this resource for groups to collaborate in and out of class and offer options for learning at any time.

For similar resources, click the appropriate keyword: social networking | posts | twitter | post |

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