TeachersFirst - Featured Sites: Week of Oct 16, 2022
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
My Media Choices - Common Sense Education
Grades
3 to 5
tag(s): digital citizenship (104), internet safety (117), media literacy (113)
In the Classroom
Although created for fourth grade, this lesson works well for grades three through five, with possible adaptations for additional grade levels. First, engage students by conducting a poll or survey of the different types of media your students regularly consume. For example, use a simple polling tool such as Kahoot reviewed here, or take a more in-depth survey using Microsoft Forms, reviewed here. Instead of completing worksheets as a paper and pencil activity, convert the worksheets into an interactive document using Google Docs, reviewed here, and assign within Google Classroom. Add questions or comments to the included video using EdPuzzle, reviewed here, to enhance learning. As an extension activity, ask students to share tips for safe media use by creating short videos to share on your class and school's websites. Use Adobe Express Video Maker, reviewed here, to create engaging videos from scratch or by using the templates provided.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Resources related to Source Reliability/Checking Sources - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12tag(s): evaluating sources (36), media literacy (113), Research (81)
In the Classroom
Use these resources for research projects across all subject areas, giving students a structured way to vet the websites, articles, and digital content they plan to use before incorporating them into a paper, presentation, or multimedia project -- helping teachers spend less time redirecting students away from unreliable sources and more time coaching deeper thinking. During current events discussions, teachers can use these tools to model real-time fact-checking, pulling up a news story or social media claim and walking students through the process of evaluating its credibility together as a class, building the habit of pausing and questioning before accepting information at face value.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Alison - Mike Feerick
Grades
10 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): business (50), careers (200), chinese (37), coding (106), communication (119), engineering (136), french (69), german (46), literature (212), multilingual (77), OER (42), Online Learning (34), politics (124), psychology (61), sociology (24), spanish (109), STEM (353)
In the Classroom
Use Alison to find professional learning courses, learn the basics of a new language, or for personal development. Share Alison with students to learn skills not offered in school or share with ENL/ESL students to use when learning English. Use Alison with student cohorts interested in learning about a new topic or preparing for college-level courses.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Education for the Real World - EVERFI
Grades
2 to 12tag(s): cross cultural understanding (177), financial literacy (93), game based learning (297), literacy (125), mental health (59), social and emotional learning (155), STEM (353), Teacher Utilities (205)
In the Classroom
Discover the many free resources on this site to provide individual lessons or complete learning units for your students. As students complete assignments, use the many offerings found at Class Tools, reviewed here, to enhance learning through creating timelines, completing graphic organizers, and more. For activities that include new vocabulary, use a digital game creation site such as Baamboozle, reviewed here, to review and practice new words and terms. Have students show what they know upon completion of any of the activities using Adobe Express for Education, reviewed here, to create a collage, poster, flyer, or multimedia presentation sharing their knowledge of the subject.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Microsoft Learn - Microsoft
Grades
8 to 12tag(s): communication (119), computers (114), Microsoft (55), OER (42), STEM (353)
In the Classroom
Share the Learn site with students interested in learning more about technology and considering careers in computer programming. Have students choose courses of interest to complete independently as part of a computer technology course. Share with the leader of after-school computer clubs to supplement their current material. You may also be interested in these printable, quick guides on how to use many of the most popular Microsoft products, such as Immersive Reader reviewed here or Live Captions.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Media Literacy - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12tag(s): critical thinking (168), cyberbullying (41), digital citizenship (104), evaluating sources (36), internet safety (117), media literacy (113), news (222), primary sources (125), professional development (301), social media (61)
In the Classroom
Today's messages come in many forms and literacy can no longer refer simply to the ability to read and write. Prepare your students to be literate citizens with this collection. Many are ideal for whole-group instruction, while others would work best on individual devices. Read the reviews to find classroom use ideas with each review. Although the list of tools is mainly geared towards grades 4-8, there are a few resources for the primary grades.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Smithsonian Learning Lab - The Smithsonian Center for Learning and Digital Access
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): animals (270), architecture (81), art history (103), aviation (50), black history (129), civil war (143), dinosaurs (47), explorers (65), images (263), inventors and inventions (87), Learning Management Systems (20), oceans (139), scientists (71), shakespeare (98), Teacher Utilities (205), volcanoes (62)
In the Classroom
Choose an image, artifact, or document from the Smithsonian Learning Lab and display it to the class. Have students use an observation routine such as See, Think, Wonder to describe what they notice, what they think it means, and what questions they have. Have students explore the Learning Lab and select 3-5 items that connect to a current unit (for example, the American Revolution, ecosystems, or famous artists). Students can create their own small collection and write a short explanation of why each item belongs in the group. Assign a document, photo, or piece of artwork from the site and have students add notes explaining important details, vocabulary, or clues. Students can identify what the source shows, who created it, and why it is important.Comments
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