Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers

Kids level Dictionary that translate English words into; French, Spanish, German & Portuguese. Limited word list. Also has an Information section from the word list that is more like a mini Encyclopedia. The picture dictionary is a valuable tool for ESL/ELL students trying to communicate in a regular classroom.

tag(s): communication (125), vocabulary (255)

This site from Duke University offers a well-designed natural history and tour of Florida's everglades ecosystems as part of its overall study of wetlands. Special sections explain the role of wetlands and their relationship to the rest of Florida's natural resources.

tag(s): wetlands (7)

Use this middle-grades environmental science unit to help students investigate where lead comes from, how people are exposed, why children are especially vulnerable, and how prevention, public policy, and environmental justice connect to the issue. Designed for grades 5-8, the unit combines background information with a pre/post test, five lesson plans, research, discussion, writing, debate, field experiences, student and teacher reading lists, and additional resources. Students examine sources of lead in homes, air, soil, food, water, paint, gasoline, and batteries, then move into lead toxicity, regulations, community action, and environmental equity. Several activities are ready to adapt, including source-identification group work, a community contamination debate, environmental justice research, and a field trip or guest-speaker experience. Because the curriculum was written in 1997, teachers should verify current medical guidance, lead regulations, exposure recommendations, and statistics before using it in the classroom.

tag(s): conservation (98), environment (246), pollution (57)

Help students connect environmental science to the health of their own homes, schools, and communities with this nine-day, resource-based curriculum unit for fourth and fifth graders. The unit introduces environmentalism, ecosystems and food chains, oil spills, nuclear power, hazardous waste, toxic chemicals, pesticides, lead, and other environmental health concerns through readings, research, discussion, role-play, mapping, and hands-on science investigations. Activities include collecting visible air-pollution particles, constructing food chains, modeling an oil-spill cleanup, researching alternative energy sources, comparing household cleaning alternatives, and contacting a local health department about lead risks. A separate section walks students through the scientific method, making it a useful source of ready-to-go investigations and background information. Because the unit was written in 1996, teachers should verify time-sensitive statistics, health recommendations, and scientific claims before using them with students.

tag(s): conservation (98), ecology (113)

The Russian Mir space station is how history, but this site from the PBS NOVA series provides a nice overview of the first permanent space station and how it fell victim to the changes in Russia's economy and politics. Great images and interviews, too.

tag(s): space (252)

This is a beautifully designed online exhibition that showcases Himalayan artistic and cultural items in stunning detail. The narrative explains the significance of items in Tibetan culture and some of the history of this ancient land. Suitable for inclusion in any survey of oriental or East Asian art and culture.

tag(s): art history (109), china (79), india (33), religions (120), sculpture (17)

The Smithsonian presents a very complete look at the historical role of nuclear subs as peacekeepers.

tag(s): navy (8)

Internet4classrooms is a free web portal designed to assist anyone who wants to find high quality, free Internet resources to use in classroom instruction, developing project ideas, reinforcing specific subject matter areas both in the class and at home. Information is organized by grade level, or subject area. Web 2.0 tutorials include links for information on: apps for iPod, iTouch, blogs, audio/pod casting, collaboration, graphic organizers, file converters, html editors, open source, organization tools, PLN tools, presentation tools, social bookmarking, survey makers, web browsers, video/photo, Wiki, and Word Cloud Generators. Links for Assessment Assistance give extra ways to assess in a fun technological twist. A daily dose section offers quotes, brain teasers, question of the day, and intersecting trivia. Join an RSS feed to get the latest updated information. Up to date, active links are reviewed continually. At the time of this review the Interactive Test Resource for 7th grade assessment had several broken links.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): graphic organizers (60), polls and surveys (44), professional development (299), social networking (55)