TeachersFirst - Featured Sites: Week of Jan 13, 2013
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
Google Arts & Cultural - Google
Grades
9 to 12tag(s): 1900s (73), 1910s (7), 1920s (14), 1930s (20), 1940s (14), 1950s (8), 1960s (26), 1970s (10), 1980s (7), 20th century (62), africa (142), asia (105), civil rights (200), cross cultural understanding (170), holocaust (42), impressionism (6), jews (30), pearl harbor (14), south africa (13), spain (13), world war 2 (160)
In the Classroom
Because of the visual impact of this resource, it's perfect for use on an interactive whiteboard (or projector as a complement to a study of the historical period or issue serving as the focus for each theme. Students can hear the voices of children who were affected by the Holocaust, see photographs of Apartheid era South Africa, and view primary source documents related to the life of activist Steve Biko. Allow yourself a little time to play with the site before you use it, as it may not be immediately intuitive. Overall, however, the impact of the images and video found here will add real power to your lessons. Challenge your students to use the search tool to find visual media related to events or topics you are studying and to explain the relationships. Even world language teachers will find the media available here a way to share a rich nuances of another culture.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Voya Unsung Heroes Awards Program - Scholarship America.
Grades
K to 12tag(s): grants (15)
In the Classroom
Applications are accepted annually generally with a deadline of April each year. Nominate yourself or a colleague.Comments
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Writing Felonies - Kevin Brookhouser
Grades
7 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): grammar (134), grammar review (31), punctuation (25), spelling (98), writing (324)
In the Classroom
Use the videos as an introduction or review. After watching the video, have students make up their own sentences following the correct pattern of the grammatical form you want them to learn or review. Then have students exchange papers and check each other's work. Share individual links with students who need help with a repeated error. They might even watch an engaging video to self-solve their error!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Futurity - Futurity.org
Grades
9 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): earth (184), environment (246), medicine (56), nutrition (135), scientific method (48)
In the Classroom
Enter an email address to receive daily e-news. Use these articles as a way to connect current research to material being studied in class. If you are looking for informational texts to use for Common Core practice, this is a great place to start! Use to highlight the use of the scientific method and the importance of publishing findings. Critique the presentation of data and graphs. Determine if raw data could be presented in a different way. Assign students to choose a research topic from this site and research background information to present as a poster or a multimedia project. Have students make a multimedia presentation using one of the many TeachersFirst Edge tools reviewed here. Include this site in resources for career explorations or science fair inspiration.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Dance, Factors, Dance - Stephen Von Worley
Grades
4 to 10tag(s): factoring (25), factors (29), number sense (70), prime numbers (26)
In the Classroom
This is an excellent visualization tool for demonstrating factors and prime numbers. View as a class on your interactive whiteboard (or projector) and explore the different patterns displayed. Have students watch for patterns as numbers grow, or question what happens when numbers are odd or even. Have students explore the site on their own; then use as a journal prompt for students to discuss their exploration of numbers. Ask students how they visualize numbers in their own heads. You may be surprised to learn that some students have visual images of number concepts! Teachers of gifted or visually talented students may want to ask them to create their own "visualizations" of numbers using an animation tool from the Edge.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Instant Google Street View - Nick Nicholaou
Grades
4 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): map skills (59), maps (212)
In the Classroom
Assign students various countries, regions, or continents to make comparisons. Identify the biological, geographical, cultural, and social issues that exist in the world, based on what the pictures show and what their research uncovers. Bring a greater understanding to current economic and environmental issues in many countries. World language (or world cultures) classes can help students understand the cultures of the countries where the language is spoken. Compare specific attributes of two countries using an online Venn Diagram, such as the one reviewed here. Another idea: have cooperative learning groups use this resource to create online books about the country of their tour using a resource such as Bookemon.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Web of Stories - WebOfStories.com
Grades
8 to 12tag(s): architecture (72), environment (246), family (51), heroes (24), mental health (35), politics (116), religions (84), space (215), video (263)
In the Classroom
Choose from videos on the site to watch on your interactive whiteboard (or projector) for any range of subjects. Make science more real by sharing these stories. Embed videos using the code on the site onto your class website or blog for students to view at home. Have students record responses using an online tool such as the Interactive Two Circle Venn Diagram (reviewed here) to create a visual comparison of two different videos on any given topic. Share videos with students to view when exploring career options.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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I Fake Text - iFakeText.com
Grades
2 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): creative writing (123), text to speech (20), writing prompts (60)
In the Classroom
Have two characters from a book or two famous people text each other. Create short poetry using this tool. Provide some opening text and ask students to write their guesses of the other person's answers. Have students practice a dialogue or questions and answers. Create a fake text of a conversation and have students use inference skills to state what happened before and after the conversation. You could even use it as a writing prompt. Teach important texting etiquette using this tool. Use a fake text on your interactive whiteboard (or projector) to display word definitions in a fun way. Use this site with your ESL/ELL students (or those learning to read) and have the site READ the text to the students. The ability to use the "text to speech" makes this an easy tool for any age student to try! Tear down the boundaries of delayed reading. Create fake texts of homework or project reminders and post them on your class wiki or web page.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Wolfram Demonstrations Project - Wolfram Mathematica
Grades
4 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): addition (127), animals (295), architecture (72), computers (110), division (97), fractions (158), geometric shapes (135), gravity (42), logic (162), maps (212), money (114), multiples (15), multiplication (121), plants (149), psychology (65), statistics (121), subtraction (108), weather (160)
In the Classroom
Explain how to use the Demonstrations on your interactive whiteboard (or projector). Allow students to explore on their own classroom computers. (Remember to download the CDF player onto each computer or request it in advance from your tech department.) Challenge students to create a talking avatar using a photo or other image (legally permitted for reproduction). Use avatars to explain activities performed using a Demonstration. Use a site such as Blabberize, reviewed here. The beauty of the demonstrations is that it allows students to manipulate and "play" to view the impact of changes made, allowing many opportunities for classroom discussion. Ask students to predict the impact of changes using the manipulate command; then discuss the actual impact as it occurs.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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