TeachersFirst - Featured Sites: Week of Apr 21, 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
BlogBooker - BlogBooker and LJBook.com
Grades
K to 12
Turn your blog in to a PDF book featuring all your blog's entries and comments. This tool works for the following blog tools: WordPress, LiveJournal, and Blogger. Creating the PDF ...more
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Turn your blog in to a PDF book featuring all your blog's entries and comments. This tool works for the following blog tools: WordPress, LiveJournal, and Blogger. Creating the PDF book is simple. Export your blog by following the directions given for each specific type of blog and then upload the file to BlogBooker. All your content and comments are assembled into a high-quality PDF file. Note that this process can take a few minutes or longer depending on the size of your blog. This is a great way to print your BlogBook or make an archive/backup of the blog. It could also be useful for students and educators as a way to save a blog as a portfolio item. At the time of this review WordPress, LiveJournal, and Blogger were all 100% FREE!
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): blogs (67)
In the Classroom
Print your BlogBook to share with your class. Use as a way to have an archive or back up of the class blog. Keep the PDF files for use in portfolios to show student work. Challenge students to create their own BlogBook about a subject they are learning in class. All three tools are free and fairly simple to use. In primary grades, the teacher would need to do most of the Blogbook work. Secondary students could create their own BlogBooks independently or in small groups.Civil War Interactive Poster - TeachingHistory.org
Grades
6 to 12The Civil War Interactive Poster uses historical images and primary source documents as an entry point for conversation about this period in American History. Click on any of the four...more
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The Civil War Interactive Poster uses historical images and primary source documents as an entry point for conversation about this period in American History. Click on any of the four quadrants to view items up close. Click on any asterisk within a quadrant for links to further images, related learning, and teaching resources. Each asterisk also contains a question to begin thoughtful conversations about the images.
tag(s): civil war (140), emancipation proclamation (14), gettysburg (15), history day (39), lincoln (67), slavery (79)
In the Classroom
This site is perfect for students to emcee on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Open up each quadrant to view images and documents provided. Have students discuss their reactions and thoughts on each of the representations before clicking on the asterisk to find specific information. Use the teaching resources and ideas provided to add context to Civil War lessons. Challenge students to create a talking avatar using a photo or other image (legally permitted to be reproduced). The avatars can be used to explain information provided by one of the images. Use a site such as Blabberize, reviewed here. Blabberize allows you to add speech and annotate images. To find Creative Commons images for student projects (with credit, of course), try Vecteezy, reviewed here. Challenge your students to use a site such as Timeline Infograhics Templates, reviewed here, to create an interactive timeline of information from this interactive poster along with other information learned during your Civil War unit. With Timeline Infographics Templates you can include text, images, and collaboration.Mark Twain in His Times - Stephen Railton, University of Virginia
Grades
6 to 12Mark Twain in His Times is a large archive of materials focusing on Mark Twain and how his works were created. Read about specific books. You can also navigate your ...more
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Mark Twain in His Times is a large archive of materials focusing on Mark Twain and how his works were created. Read about specific books. You can also navigate your way through the various other topics: Mark Twain on stage, marketing Mark Twain, or search using one of five different search tools. Choose one of the books to learn background on the book's roots, sources used, and other contextual information. View book agents kits used in marketing Mark Twain books, publisher's scrapbooks, and other images from this time period. Learn how books were bought and sold during Mark Twain's time (very different from today's e-readers!). Play the Mark Twain's memory builder game, designed by him to help people keep historical facts straight.
tag(s): literature (221), mark twain (8)
In the Classroom
Bookmark and use this site when teaching any Mark Twain books. Share images and content on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Allow students to explore on their own. Have students create an annotated image including text boxes and more using a tool such as Thinglink, reviewed here. Challenge students to upload a copyright-safe photo, and narrate as if it were Mark Twain looking back at his works or his life.Vocabulary Web Games - Sheppard Software
Grades
2 to 12Enjoy language arts interactives suited for elementary students through adult learners at Vocabulary Web Games. Elementary activities offer review of grammar and punctuation...more
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Enjoy language arts interactives suited for elementary students through adult learners at Vocabulary Web Games. Elementary activities offer review of grammar and punctuation concepts. Activities include Magical Capitals, Comma Chameleon, Adjective Adventure, and more. More advanced (secondary+) activities include practice SAT and GRE prep vocabulary, medical vocabulary, and computer vocabulary using a flash card format. Play word games such as word scramble and hangman by using the other interactive games on this site.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): capitalization (9), grammar (138), parts of speech (39), puzzles (149), test prep (69), verbs (26), vocabulary (243), vocabulary development (95)