TeachersFirst - Featured Sites: Week of Jun 3, 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
Stencyl - Stencyl, LLC
Grades
6 to 12
4 Favorites
0 Comments
Stencyl allows you to design and build your own games without any knowledge of programming. Download the program and use their Photo Shop "like" toolset to create the game ...more
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Stencyl allows you to design and build your own games without any knowledge of programming. Download the program and use their Photo Shop "like" toolset to create the game of your dreams. Scroll down to the bottom menu to find Stencylpedia and get started by viewing videos, demos, and sample projects. Click Education from the top menu to find a Teacher Toolkit to get started. Scroll down the page to find Lessons such as Quick Start Guide and several other teaching guides. Stencyl also has a library for backgrounds and actors, or you can import graphics from your Mac or P.C. The click and drag capability empowers those with a creative game idea to see it come to reality without knowing any code. Share your game with Stencyl, or on your own site or blog. Stencyl also has tools for creating iOS (iPhone, iTouch, iPad) and Android games, but they are not free (rats!).
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This site includes advertising.
tag(s): game based learning (179), gamification (78), quizzes (91)
In the Classroom
Create games for student review and/or practice, or use to assess knowledge before and after a unit. View example games for an idea of what you can create using this tool. One of the best learning tools for kids is to have them create their OWN games. Use your own teacher account so you do not need student emails at school. Ideally, students can create games for either learning or review for their fellow classmates. Assign a small group of students to create a game and then act as "host" to present their research information on a topic and keep the "audience" engaged. Learning support teachers might want to work together with a small group of students to create review games on a projector or interactive whiteboard. The process of creating the game provides another layer of review/practice before students play the game for more repetition.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
Requires registration/log-in (WITH email)
Premium version (not free) includes additional features or storage
Requires download/installation of software
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Steve Spangler Sick Science Videos - Steve Spangler
Grades
K to 12
4 Favorites
0 Comments
Steve Spangler has brought his fun and educational science experiments to his YouTube page. At the time of this review, the channel had over 400 science experiments in short (approx....more
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Steve Spangler has brought his fun and educational science experiments to his YouTube page. At the time of this review, the channel had over 400 science experiments in short (approx. one minute) videos. Each video demonstrates step by step how to conduct the experiment but leaves it up to you to decide the science involved. Choose from the featured playlist, browse through uploaded videos, view by fan favorites, or search the channel using a keyword or term to find experiments. Videos can also be sorted by newest or oldest additions. Subscribe to the channel (using your YouTube login) to receive updates when new videos are added. Many include links to further detail and experiment how-tos on Steve's regular web site. The videos are hosted on YouTube. If your district blocks YouTube, then they may not be viewable.
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This site includes advertising.
tag(s): experiments (52), optical illusions (10), solar energy (34), water (101)
In the Classroom
Show a video on your interactive whiteboard (or projector) as an introduction before conducting an experiment in class. Stop the video before the ending and have students predict what will happen. Have students journal their thoughts to the science at work in the video. Have students create their own comics to explain a topic using comic-creation tools from this collection. Share this site as a resource for science fair projects or for a school science night.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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X (formerly Twitter) 4Teachers - Gina Hartman
Grades
K to 12
4 Favorites
0 Comments
Are you looking for fellow educators to follow on X (formerly Twitter)? If so, this wiki is a great starting point. Choose from many different categories of educators such as ...more
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Are you looking for fellow educators to follow on X (formerly Twitter)? If so, this wiki is a great starting point. Choose from many different categories of educators such as librarians, early childhood, professional development, and much more to begin your search. Each link leads to a list of educators to follow on Twitter along with a short description about themselves, simply click on the X (formerly Twitter) handle to go to X (formerly Twitter) and begin following. Be aware: there is a warning on the top of the main page that the wiki is now "locked down" due to spamming. You are still able to access all the links. You are not able to edit without joining.
tag(s): social networking (64), twitter (18)
In the Classroom
Explore the site to discover and follow educators who match your interests and needs. Read the Tweets about what is happening in other classrooms to gain some new/fresh ideas. Want to know more about X (formerly Twitter)? See TeachersFirst's X (formerly Twitter) for Teachers page.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Childrens University of Manchester: Interactive Learning for Key Stage Two - The University of Manchester
Grades
3 to 6
2 Favorites
0 Comments
The Children's University of Manchester contains excellent mini-lessons and interactive lessons for students on a variety of science, history, literacy, and art topics. Key stage 2...more
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The Children's University of Manchester contains excellent mini-lessons and interactive lessons for students on a variety of science, history, literacy, and art topics. Key stage 2 is roughly equivalent to grades 3-6. Topics include The Body and Medicines, Energy and the Environment, Ancient Egypt, The Earth and Beyond, Teeth and Eating, Microorganisms, the Brain and Senses, Talking Textiles, and Words. Choose a topic to learn more about (explained by a professor at the university). Then explore by choosing from activities on the sidebar. Activities include short videos, matching activities, slide shows, and more. Since this site was created in the UK, you may notice some slight spelling and/or pronunciation differences than in American English.
tag(s): body systems (41), brain (56), dental health (15), egypt (48), energy (130), environment (237), human body (94), medicine (56), organisms (15), root words (10), senses (20)
In the Classroom
The interactive lessons on this site are perfect for your whole class using an interactive whiteboard or projector. During the interactive lesson, students can operate the board/mouse to interact with the material. Most lessons will have enough opportunities to involve the whole class. The site is also ideal for individual instruction in the computer lab setting. Introduce students to a new topic with these mini lessons, videos, and educational games that can be expanded on as part of a larger unit.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Storyboarder (was Storyboard Generator) - Australian Centre for the Moving Image
Grades
4 to 12
8 Favorites
0 Comments
Though this site is about storyboarding for videos, the storyboard template and concepts can be used for any storytelling (books, comics, short stories, etc.). Try out this tool demonstrating...more
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Though this site is about storyboarding for videos, the storyboard template and concepts can be used for any storytelling (books, comics, short stories, etc.). Try out this tool demonstrating storyboarding concepts. You can build your own storyboard using resources from the free media library. Be sure to watch the introductory video (2 minutes) to understand some of the terminology used on this site. Choose Storyboards by hand from the top menu bar. Follow the directions for reviewing "shot types." Next, scroll down the page to find a script "The Deal" and a "shot list" for beginners. Print the storyboard, and continue following directions. Then, watch the eight and one half minute on digital storyboarding. Your created script that can be embedded, linked, or shared. Be sure to check out the many instruction videos included on the site for tips on creating storyboards. Registration with email is required to share and save storyboards.
tag(s): comics and cartoons (53), digital storytelling (150), images (261)
In the Classroom
Demonstrate how to create and use a storyboard using this tool on your interactive whiteboard (or projector). View stories from the gallery for inspiration before attempting to have students create their own. Create a storyboard and share when teaching creative writing techniques or story mapping. Have students tell the story they have viewed. Challenge students to create a storyboard of readings recently finished in class as a review of characters and story plot. Use storyboards as the first step in planning larger projects from plays to videos.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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KizClub Learning Resources for Kids - KizClub.com
Grades
K to 3
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Practice alphabet recognition, sound/symbol relationships, and early reading skills through printable activities. Activities are geared towards the preschool and young elementary school...more
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Practice alphabet recognition, sound/symbol relationships, and early reading skills through printable activities. Activities are geared towards the preschool and young elementary school child. Print games that practice rhyming and upper and lowercase letter matching. Print and share stories or use the phonics lessons and activities about consonants, vowels, and more. Additionally, the site provides activities for early education topics such as animals, colors, and shapes. All activities are in PDF format and most are available to print in either black and white or color. Printables are certainly not "high tech," but sometimes they are just what you need.
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This site includes advertising.
tag(s): alphabet (51), phonics (50), preK (261), printables (37), sight words (21), sounds (42), spelling (97)
In the Classroom
Print and use activities from the site in your classroom as a supplement to current materials, for centers, or individualized activities. Send home activities from the site for extra practice. Share the site with parents through your classroom website or newsletter for additional home practice with language arts skills.
This resource requires PDF reader software like Adobe Acrobat.
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Culture Talk - Five College Center for the Study of World Languages
Grades
2 to 12
0 Favorites
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Explore culture through interviews and discussions taped by people from countries around the world. The interviewees vary in age and social economic status. Find cultural snippets...more
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Explore culture through interviews and discussions taped by people from countries around the world. The interviewees vary in age and social economic status. Find cultural snippets by area of the world; each country has many offerings organized by subject. The index also offers the same pages organized by topic. Video pieces are also divided into different grade levels: elementary, middle, and high school. Written text accompanies each video clip so you can read what you are hearing. Some interviews are in English. However, most are in the language of the country and translated into English. There is a disclaimer on the site that reads, "... be aware that these videos reflect actual authentic speech, with all the stops, starts, and hesitations that come with everyday conversation. We have not corrected grammatical errors, and the videos sometimes show highly colloquial language, local slang, and region-specific speech patterns."
tag(s): cultures (131), interviews (15), journalism (72), video (260)
In the Classroom
Explore world cultures in today's vernacular: video.Challenge students to write a comparative essay, contrasting information from similar culture talks about different countries. Have cooperative learning groups make a Livebinder, reviewed here to compile and share information from all over the web on one or more countries once they gain an overview from this site. Be sure to require they critique the sources they find and annotate/organize them into subtopics, etc. to show their understanding of how the pieces fit together. Of course you will want to model and teach appropriate documentation of any sources of images and media you use. Be sure to use copyrighted works legally. To help your students with this, try using a site such as Bibme, reviewed here. Challenge ESL/ELL (or any) students to make similar culture videos about their countries of origin or their family heritage as part of a world cultures exploration.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Negro Leagues Baseball Museum - Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, Kansas State University
Grades
6 to 12
1 Favorites
0 Comments
This site has strong content focused on the historical importance of the Negro Leagues Baseball teams. Clicking on Progams and About find the offerings of the NLB Museum, and a ...more
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This site has strong content focused on the historical importance of the Negro Leagues Baseball teams. Clicking on Progams and About find the offerings of the NLB Museum, and a searchable archive of photographs and multimedia resources that can be used either in conjunction with the lesson plans (which include national standards benchmarks), or independently.
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This site includes advertising.
tag(s): baseball (32), black history (128), civil rights (197), racism (78), sports (80)
In the Classroom
This is a great resource for "hooking" students interested in sports into the study of the Civil Rights Movement, understanding racism and bias, or modern US History. Consider including the resources here in your recognition of Black History Month as well. Share the introductory video on your projector or interactive whiteboard. Ask cooperative learning groups to explore a specific part of this site and create a paper poster or modify student learning by challenging them to use a tool such as Web Poster Wizard, reviewed here, or enhance learning using PicLits, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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