TeachersFirst - Featured Sites: Week of Jul 31, 2011
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
Clorox Classrooms - The Clorox Company
Grades
K to 5This site includes advertising.
In the Classroom
Find great lesson plans that would be great in a health and science cross curricular unit. Students use simple tools such as thermometers and more to collect data and compare results. For a creative extension and informational writing activity, have students create their own "germ" profiles by using a paint program to draw a picture of an imaginary germ, its f vorite environment, and the things humans can do to keep it under control. Use a tool such as Thinglink, reviewed here, to upload student-drawn images and have students narrate about them.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Hohli - Charts Builder/Anton Shevchuk
Grades
2 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): charts and graphs (170)
In the Classroom
You will want to play with this tool before using it in class, but it is very simple to use. Use anywhere numerical data is collected and is best shown in a chart. Collect data in a science, survey, or math class and display it using different graphs to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using each graph type. Use for quick creation and sharing of created graphs. Create charts together easily on an interactive whiteboard when introducing the different types to elementary students. Have students operate the board so their peers can see how the tool works and give each other oral directions as they problem solve together. Then make the chart site a small group center during math class for further practice on a computer or interactive whiteboard. Save this site in your favorites for quick retrieval any time students need to make a quick chart. For student practice, have them chart time spent on homework or hobbies, favorite pets, etc. Reinforce good study habits in middle school by having students make charts of their average grades or time spent on independent reading.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Word Spy - Paul McFedries
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): dictionaries (48), slang (15), vocabulary (239), vocabulary development (93), word study (60)
In the Classroom
This is a great find for gifted students, those working to advance their vocabulary levels, and for ESL/ELL students who may be puzzled by rapidly changing idiomatic language around them. Be sure to include this site on your class web page for students to access both in and outside of class for future reference. When teaching word study, such as roots and affixes, include this site to show how new words evolve and that language is a living thing. Perhaps even share a word a day from this site for students to guess the definition.During a study of dictionary skills, discuss with students how new words might come to be in the dictionary. Have small groups of students brainstorm slang words they've heard around school and their neighborhoods. Once they have their list, they can look these words up on Word Spy. For any word that isn't there, have them create an online, interactive poster using Adobe Creative Cloud Express for Education, reviewed here, or simple web page using Jimdo, reviewed here, as a page that could be included in Word Spy.
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