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 12
14 Favorites
0 Comments
Create a "fake" Facebook-style page for anyone or anything! It's a good idea to do a little planning ahead of time, then just follow the directions on the landing page. ...more
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Create a "fake" Facebook-style page for anyone or anything! It's a good idea to do a little planning ahead of time, then just follow the directions on the landing page. Give your page a name and add an image from your computer. (They insert an image for you if you do not select one, however, you can change the image by clicking on it and selecting one from your computer.) Of course you will need to use a Creative Commons or other copyright-safe image. You can also add videos and links, edit the profile, and your page is almost ready. You must add at least one post and one friend to save work. Under the "Friends" block, you can add blocks such as Family, Major Speeches, etc. Choose "save" from the options on top left side of the page, enter a password, and your unique URL for your Fakebook page appears. Be sure to copy and save this link as it is the only time it is given in the setup process. If you are prepared with images and links, page creation is quick and easy with a small learning curve. Share your Fakebook page with the link to your page.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): back to school (63), book reports (28), creative writing (121), digital storytelling (150), firstday (22), social networking (64)
In the Classroom
Engage and create interest in classroom learning with Fakebook. Fakebook is terrific for creating interest in many subjects. Instead of a typical biographical report in social studies, students create a Fakebook page about their famous person. Write about presidents, founding fathers, famous scientists or artists, Civil War soldiers, and more. Have students create a timeline of any historical event (name the page for the event, such as World War II). Use Fakebook to outline a book, play, or film plot, then share with students while studying the material. To use Fakebook to study literature, create a page for the central character, the book's author, or the book's setting. For a unique twist in 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 with parent permission to post work to the web.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Newsola - Nick Nicholaou
Grades
6 to 12
5 Favorites
1 Comments
This free site provides a color-coded mashup of current news headlines, clickable to see the full articles. View various sections of the news separately by clicking on the colored icons...more
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This free site provides a color-coded mashup of current news headlines, clickable to see the full articles. View various sections of the news separately by clicking on the colored icons along the top. Sort into World, National, Finance, Tech, Showbiz, and Sport. To read the full article, click on the brief story (in the box). Use the drop-down feature to search news stories in a variety of other countries.
tag(s): countries (72), financial literacy (92), news (227), sports (80)
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
david, TX, Grades: 9 - 12
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Vodcast Book Trailers - Brian Dawson/Palm Beach Schools
Grades
K to 5
3 Favorites
0 Comments
Enjoy short book trailers similar to movie trailers on the Palm Beach Schools Vodcast page. These exciting book previews make choosing a new book easy! Scroll down the bar to ...more
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Enjoy short book trailers similar to movie trailers on the Palm Beach Schools Vodcast page. These exciting book previews make choosing a new book easy! Scroll down the bar to the right of the main video screen to view options. Each book trailer is approximately one minute in length. They are just right to inspire interest without giving away the whole book.
tag(s): book lists (161), book reports (28), guided reading (32), independent reading (86)
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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Nourish Interactive - Maggie LaBarbera
Grades
K to 6
1 Favorites
0 Comments
Nourish Interactive is a great source of nutrition tips, tools, and interactives. Play interactive activities from topics including food groups, balanced meals, the food pyramid, healthy...more
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Nourish Interactive is a great source of nutrition tips, tools, and interactives. Play interactive activities from topics including food groups, balanced meals, the food pyramid, healthy messages, and nutrition word games. Choose the teacher portion of the site to find lesson plans to accompany each of the "games." View and print many free printables on the site including holiday themed activities, gardening, calendars, and goal setting pledge sheets. Find many nutritional recipes just for kids under the "What's Cooking with Chef Solus" portion of the site. Choose from recipes broken into categories by meal type and snacks. Vegan and vegetarian recipes offer something for everyone!
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): myplate (18), nutrition (137), obesity (8), preK (261)
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. Some games require flash which is not supported on all browsers.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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UnShortenMe - Unshort.me
Grades
K to 12
2 Favorites
0 Comments
This tool reveals full URLs for links that have been shortened using URL shortener tools (like bit.ly, tinyurl.com and others). Many of the URLs created by the shortening sites are...more
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This tool reveals full URLs for links that have been shortened using URL shortener tools (like bit.ly, tinyurl.com and others). Many of the URLs created by the shortening sites are blocked by school content filters (because the shortener websites are actually blocked). Try un-shortening the URL with this tool to access the content and to know what you are headed for! Enter the URL and click the button. Shortened URLs can also hide undesirable content, so seeing the "real" URL can prevent embarrassment such as opening something unexpected in front of others.
tag(s): browser (7), internet safety (113)
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 12
15 Favorites
0 Comments
Find many ready to go, subject specific, Common Core aligned projects free for your use. Developed by the Buck Institute for Education, who are THE experts for project based learning,...more
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Find many ready to go, subject specific, Common Core aligned projects free for your use. Developed by the Buck Institute for Education, who are THE experts for project based learning, the PBLU projects are designed to save you time in the project based learning process. However, each project is flexible enough to customize it to your needs. Sign up for their newsletter to stay updated about new project development. You can even suggest a project for them to create through the Community Wish List.
tag(s): problem solving (226), Project Based Learning (25), Research (84), STEM (269)
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.
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