Featured Sites Week of: Sep 22, 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
GR8CTZ - Great Cities of the World - Vadim Temkin
Grades
8 to 12
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GR8CTZ - Great Cities of the World is a geoguessing game where you are transported to a world city and have to guess the location based on views from Google ...more
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GR8CTZ - Great Cities of the World is a geoguessing game where you are transported to a world city and have to guess the location based on views from Google Maps street views. Look and walk around a bit before attempting a guess. You have three tries to get it right. Start the game after choosing options such as levels, language (English, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish), and city subset options. Although very simple looking, this is an intriguing option for exploring the world without leaving home!
tag(s): countries (63), cross cultural understanding (175), map skills (66), maps (222)
In the Classroom
Use this tool on an Interactive Whiteboard (or projector) with an entire class. Students can work as a class, individually, or in groups to identify locations based on clues. Use the clues to discuss information about social structure, livelihood, religion, landforms, and other cultural information. Use this information to uncover and correct misconceptions and discuss cultural differences in countries outside the US. Go beyond the map to learn about the various foods, agriculture, and other aspects of their lives. Research the local ecosystem to determine native plants and animals found in the country. Create a poem or story set in that locale using information learned through research.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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The Bean Game - Jana Darrington Utah State University Extension
Grades
6 to 12
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Learn to manage money while having fun living on a 20 "bean" salary using this printable game. Use the directions and discussion questions to play two rounds of the game. ...more
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Learn to manage money while having fun living on a 20 "bean" salary using this printable game. Use the directions and discussion questions to play two rounds of the game. Although it is possible to play with individual players, the site recommends groups of between 2 and 5 players for optimal results. Even though this game is "low tech," it is a great teaching tool!
tag(s): financial literacy (92), game based learning (326)
In the Classroom
Use the Bean Game as part of your financial literacy unit as a center activity. When finished, have students create blogs. If you are beginning the process of integrating technology, have students create blogs sharing their learning and understanding using Tumblr, reviewed here.
This resource requires PDF reader software like Adobe Acrobat.
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New Bedford Whaling Museum - New Bedford Whaling Museum
Grades
6 to 12
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The New Bedford Whaling Museum allows students to explore science, history, literacy, and art without leaving home. The site offers hands-on activities including lesson plans, slideshows,...more
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The New Bedford Whaling Museum allows students to explore science, history, literacy, and art without leaving home. The site offers hands-on activities including lesson plans, slideshows, and activity guides for students in grades kindergarten through twelve. Examples of activities posted include: Whales: Giants of the Ocean, Scrimshaw Art, Adaptations: Creature Features, and more. Each lesson comes as a PDF accompanied by a Google Slides or PDF presentation.
tag(s): 1700s (39), 1800s (90), colonial america (86), marine biology (33), whales (12)
In the Classroom
The museum's exhibits on the Arctic and whale migrations and habitats are useful from a historical perspective. Consider using early maps and photographs from Arctic exploration to compare with current maps in a discussion of global climate change. Use information about current and past whale habitats to illustrate the impact of ocean changes on the largest of its inhabitants. Students doing independent research will also find the individual images in the museum's extensive collection useful. Have students act as curators for an imaginary special exhibit, perhaps creating a map using MapHub, reviewed here, to add points of interest with display markers featuring text, photos, and videos.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Classic Books - Library of Congress
Grades
K to 12
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Explore this collection of public domain, classic books for children and teenagers from the Library of Congress. They are organized in alphabetical order. There are 51 books for younger...more
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Explore this collection of public domain, classic books for children and teenagers from the Library of Congress. They are organized in alphabetical order. There are 51 books for younger children, 6 books for teens, and 6 books for adults. Each has a short summary, a link from which to read the book, and a link to more information about the book. Enjoy these stories online. Although they aren't audio books, they could be very useful with all ages.
tag(s): book lists (167), independent reading (85), literature (215)
In the Classroom
Share the classics on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Challenge your tech-savvy or gifted students to bring a classic to life by using Book Creator, reviewed here. Share this public domain collection on your class website, blog, or wiki as a good place to find classics (FREE). Create a learning station on your classroom computers using these books.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Science vs Magic - Nico Disseldorp
Grades
8 to 12
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Science vs Magic offers four tools for exploring math concepts. Tools include Let's Play: Ancient Greek Geometry, Fractal Machine, Logic Grid, and Elementary Cellular Automata. Click...more
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Science vs Magic offers four tools for exploring math concepts. Tools include Let's Play: Ancient Greek Geometry, Fractal Machine, Logic Grid, and Elementary Cellular Automata. Click the "About" link for each activity to view the author's blog, which describes the different components and suggested uses. This is a neat mind-stretcher activity. Explore the site a bit before sharing with students.
tag(s): angles (51), fractions (174), geometric shapes (152), greeks (45), logic (177)
In the Classroom
Share this site with students for exploration of geometric concepts. Have students take screen shots of different outcomes then share their explorations with classmates. (Screenshots on a Mac: Shift+ Command+4; on Windows, press the Prtscrn key then PASTE into a document.) Have cooperative learning groups create podcasts demonstrating their understanding of one of the concepts. Use a site such as PodOmatic (reviewed here).Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Words of the World - The University of Nottingham
Grades
6 to 12
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Develop your vocabulary and understanding of culture through words. The site offers a series of short videos presented by experts from the University of Nottingham's School of Cultures,...more
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Develop your vocabulary and understanding of culture through words. The site offers a series of short videos presented by experts from the University of Nottingham's School of Cultures, Languages, and Area Studies. Each video takes an in-depth look at the story behind many words of the world, including where they came from, what they mean, and how the words have changed over time. Simply click on any word in the visual to view the video. Most videos are less than 5 minutes in length. This site was created in the United Kingdom, so you may notice some slight pronunciation (or spelling) differences from American English. Many of the videos are hosted on YouTube. If your district blocks YouTube, then they may not be viewable.
tag(s): cross cultural understanding (175), vocabulary (255), vocabulary development (106), word study (59)
In the Classroom
Words of the World is a great site for some quick vocabulary building, but even more it is a window into words as vital components of culture and history. Share these videos on your interactive whiteboard (or projector) for a quick lesson on the background and meaning of several words. Use it to talk about how words can also define a time period in history or a concept that is vital to a particular culture. Explore language as PART of a culture as you study different countries. Find out what words are unique to that culture. Use this site as an example, then challenge cooperative learning groups to create their own word background videos of culture-connected words and share them on a site such as TeacherTube reviewed here. Share a link to videos using links provided on your class website for students to view as a word of the week. Challenge students to use the word of the week in class discussions or other written work throughout the week.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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