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BBC Bitesize - BBC
Grades
K to 12
BBC Bitesize is an educational support site designed for students in the United Kingdom. Although much of the material is labeled based on United Kingdom grade definitions, the site...more
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BBC Bitesize is an educational support site designed for students in the United Kingdom. Although much of the material is labeled based on United Kingdom grade definitions, the site is very easy to use for students in any location. Begin by selecting from three main grade bands - primary, secondary, and post-16. Within each grade band, narrow down choices even further by age. If looking for a specific content area, scroll down to almost the bottom of the home page to select "view all subjects." Content includes quizzes, videos, articles, learning guides, and more. Registration isn't required, but it allows you to save items as favorites.
tag(s): game based learning (205), quizzes (90), video (266)
In the Classroom
Bookmark and save this site to take advantage of the many resources on this site to supplement classroom instruction in any topic. If you teach history, use Bitesize to provide information to students from the British perspective. Add links to games or quizzes on your classroom website for students to practice at home. Use Padlet, reviewed here, to organize and share resources with students. Organize games and online activities into columns based on different topics to make information easy to find. Have students compare and contrast British terms and units of measurement with your system of measurement and common phrases. Use a Venn Diagram creator like the one found at Class Tools, reviewed here, to show comparisons with the British examples. If working with older students, enhance learning by using Fiskkit, reviewed here, as a tool for collaborative discussions of the articles found on Bitesize. Share the URL of an article using Fiskkit and ask students to highlight portions within the story to discuss the content.Virtual Field Trip Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12This collection of reviewed resources includes our best virtual field trips. Peruse the list of websites and many suggestions for ways to use them in teaching almost any subject or...more
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This collection of reviewed resources includes our best virtual field trips. Peruse the list of websites and many suggestions for ways to use them in teaching almost any subject or grade. Be sure to read the "In the Classroom" suggestions for examples of ways to use virtual field trips as part of a lesson or unit.
tag(s): virtual field trips (128)
In the Classroom
This collection includes virtual field trips for all grades. Each review includes several classroom use ideas. Get out your projector (or interactive whiteboard) and take your students on an adventure. Have students go on a "field trip" with a partner or independently on laptops or other devices. Explore the activities suggested.Instant Street View - Nick Nicholaou
Grades
4 to 12If you use Google Maps you know they offer a street view for locations; Instant Street View saves a step and takes you directly there. Type in any address to ...more
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If you use Google Maps you know they offer a street view for locations; Instant Street View saves a step and takes you directly there. Type in any address to browse any location. Some locations don't offer street view, in that instance Instant Street View shares the Google Map view.
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This site includes advertising.
tag(s): maps (220), virtual field trips (128)
In the Classroom
Bookmark this site on computers for quick use at any time. During current events discussions, share a street view of locations with students to provide context for the area. When discussing famous buildings, or locations, share a street view to provide students with a 360-degree view of the actual area. Find an interesting location and use street view as a starter for a creative writing project. Extend student learning by having students share their stories using a website creator like Hashify, reviewed here. Hashify is a simple website creator that offers options for adding links and images to the site.Learning with Santa Tracker - Google
Grades
K to 8Google for Education provides a collection of games and lessons tailor-made for the December holidays at their site for teachers. Choose from games for social studies, language, computer...more
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Google for Education provides a collection of games and lessons tailor-made for the December holidays at their site for teachers. Choose from games for social studies, language, computer science, and geography. Games include topics like coding, learning other languages, and understanding maps. Click the home page icon in the upper left corner to find translations for offered in several languages and more.
tag(s): christmas (38), coding (85), cross cultural understanding (173), cultures (180), game based learning (205), holidays (187), map skills (63), maps (220)
In the Classroom
Add this site to your tool kit of December teaching resources. Include the games on classroom computers and add to your class website. Replace paper posters and have students share their favorite activities using an on line poster creator like Web Poster Wizard, reviewed here, or PicLits, reviewed here. After practicing coding using the games provided on this site, enhance learning by challenging students to create their own game using a tool such as Scratch, reviewed here.
This resource requires PDF reader software like Adobe Acrobat.
Virtual Field Trip to Ellis Island - Scholastic
Grades
3 to 8This 30-minute video guides viewers through the history of Ellis Island and the process faced by immigrants reaching the island. The narrator shows different areas of the buildings...more
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This 30-minute video guides viewers through the history of Ellis Island and the process faced by immigrants reaching the island. The narrator shows different areas of the buildings on Ellis Island and interviews park rangers sharing stories of their families along with personal stories of immigrants. Choose from the links at the top for additional Scholastic resources for teaching about immigration and Ellis Island.
tag(s): ellis island (6), immigrants (34), immigration (68)
In the Classroom
Include this video with your other resources for students using a bookmarking tool like Symbaloo EDU, reviewed here. Symbaloo includes icons to make organizing and sharing information easy for any topic. Enhance learning by asking students to interview family members to learn about immigrants in their family tree or research famous immigrants. Have them create a webpage using Hashify, reviewed here to share information about their family member including country they came from, reasons for leaving, their immigration experience, and their life in America. In addition to telling stories about immigrants, create a timeline using Time Graphics Timeline Maker, reviewed here that allows you to create interactive timelines.National Cowboy Museum - Online Unit Studies - National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum
Grades
3 to 8Learn about the exploration and pioneers of the American West through several online unit studies for middle school students in PDF format. Scroll down the page to find "Emigrants...more
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Learn about the exploration and pioneers of the American West through several online unit studies for middle school students in PDF format. Scroll down the page to find "Emigrants Crossing the Plains" utilizes the paintings of Albert Bierstadt created during his journeys along the Oregon Trail. "End of the Trail" focuses on the sculptures of James Earle Fraser depicting spiritual representations of Native Americans. Madonnas of the Prairie: Depictions of Women in the American West is found under Previous Exhibits Educations Guide and features works focusing on women in the late 19th century to the early 20th century. Each unit includes an introduction, discussion questions, and teaching activities. There are many more unit studies to investigate. Also check out Collection Highlights from the top menu, scroll down and find many works of art; scroll over the art to get the title then click the image to find more information about many topics from the old west.
tag(s): art history (103), artists (85), native americans (109), westward expansion (39)
In the Classroom
Add these teaching units to your current resources for teaching about westward expansion of America, Native Americans, the 1800's, or explorers. Have all students research and discuss other artwork depicting American expansion, ask them to use Padlet, reviewed here, to organize and curate their saved resources. Ask your more tech-savvy students to build a timeline of events based on westward expansion or Native Americans using Timeline Inforgraphic Templates, reviewed here, or choose from other timeline creation tools located here. Include images, web links, and videos to create interactive timelines. Use the "Wandering Western Chest" links as a starter to creating your own Western Chest. Include books, artifacts, drawings, and more and share as an introduction to your western unit.
This resource requires PDF reader software like Adobe Acrobat.
Microsoft Bing - FUN - Microsoft
Grades
4 to 12Bing Fun offers a selection of web-based mini games in a variety of formats like puzzles and trivia quizzes. Scroll down the page to choose from the available options including ...more
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Bing Fun offers a selection of web-based mini games in a variety of formats like puzzles and trivia quizzes. Scroll down the page to choose from the available options including quizzes on current news and geography. Most quizzes offer several options for level of difficulty, the current news quiz allows students and teachers to select quizzes for several different weeks.
tag(s): logic (161), Microsoft (80), problem solving (233), puzzles (149), trivia (19)
In the Classroom
Include Bing Fun as a link on your classroom computers and share the link on your class webpage. Have students try their skill on Sudoku and other logic puzzles to increase problem solving skills. Use the current news questions as a starting point for discussions in social studies classes. Ask students to choose one of the questions as a starting point for digging deeper into the topic. Have students share weekly podcasts discussing current topics and background information. Spotify for Podcasters, reviewed here, provides free podcasting tools.Dollar Street - Gapminder
Grades
3 to 12Think of everyone in the world living on one street; the poorest people are on the left and the rich on the right. Everyone else falls somewhere in the middle. ...more
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Think of everyone in the world living on one street; the poorest people are on the left and the rich on the right. Everyone else falls somewhere in the middle. That is the setup of Dollar Street, a searchable, visual database sharing income features from 264 families from around 50 countries and including over 30,000 photos. Take a quick tour to learn how to use the interactive and understand financial guidelines used based on income per month. Use the drop-down boxes to select specific criteria including the number of beds, homes, or family snapshots. An additional dropbox allows you to select specific countries to view.
tag(s): cross cultural understanding (173), cultures (180), family (51), financial literacy (93), globe (12), homes (5)
In the Classroom
Most teachers will want to bookmark this site to use in many different situations. Share Dollar Street on your interactive whiteboard to compare and contrast your community and living situation to those around the world. When reading books mentioning other countries, look up financial information using this site to help students understand typical living situations. Use Dollar Street as a starting point for research projects. Ask students to create a virtual field trip to their chosen location using Google My Maps, reviewed here. Google My Maps includes tools for labeling stops on a map as participants follow locations created.Empatico - Builders
Grades
2 to 5Although Empatico is no longer a tool to connect to other educators and students through video, it still offers an Empathy Framework with numerous excellent activities for your K-12...more
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Although Empatico is no longer a tool to connect to other educators and students through video, it still offers an Empathy Framework with numerous excellent activities for your K-12 classroom. Use the search at the top of the page to find lessons and activities for your students. Scrolling down the page, find Featured Activities, the Empathy Framework, Daily Practices, Classroom Activities, Virtual Exchanges, and activities in Spanish. Daily Practices offers valuable lessons such as mindfulness, managing big feelings, compassion, and more. Classroom activities include Kind vs UnKind Words and several Book Club topics like Gratitude, Building Bridges, and others. A note about the Virtual Exchanges: Empatico is no longer a video connecting tool, so they suggest using Zoom, reviewed here or Google Meet.
tag(s): climate (84), collaboration (93), commoncore (73), communication (129), cross cultural understanding (173), cultures (180), empathy (34), family (51), globe (12), maps (220), weather (160)
In the Classroom
Expand upon the activities included with Empatico to dig further into the topic of your activity. If you typically have students write in paper journals, try an online blog using a simple blogging tool like edublogs, reviewed here. edublog offers tools for creating class and individual blogs. Enhance and extend your Empatico project by finding a partner classroom using ePals, reviewed here; enroll your classroom and collaborate with others asking your partner classroom to participate in one of the Virtual Exchanges from Empatico. Instead of a written report at the end of your sessions, have students create an original video using Adobe Creative Cloud Express Video Maker, reviewed here to share information and new perspectives gained through your Empatico activities.America's Rainforests - Prince William Network
Grades
4 to 12Join science experts to visit America's rainforests in Puerto Rico and Alaska through an electronic field trip shared on this site. The hour and a half long webcast presents information...more
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Join science experts to visit America's rainforests in Puerto Rico and Alaska through an electronic field trip shared on this site. The hour and a half long webcast presents information on plants, animals, and features of the rainforest. America's Rainforests also includes a variety of lesson plans aligned to science standards for teachers along with a student section with more information about this biome.
tag(s): biomes (110), rainforests (18)
In the Classroom
Include this site with your teaching materials on the rainforests. After learning about America's Rainforests, have students find and map rainforests around the world. Have students create maps sharing this information using Zeemaps, reviewed here. Zeemaps allows students to create audio recordings AND choose various locations on a map where they find rainforests. Use Zeemaps to modify technology use by creating animated maps featuring various location stops that can feature text, video, and audio. As a final project, have students create a Symbaloo Learning Path (reviewed here). This site allows users to personalize a learning activity featuring videos, games, quizzes, and more.Rainforest Lesson Plan - The Wild Classroom
Grades
K to 8Don't let the basic look of this website fool you; it contains many resources for teaching about the rainforest biome. In addition to the information on the home page, there ...more
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Don't let the basic look of this website fool you; it contains many resources for teaching about the rainforest biome. In addition to the information on the home page, there are many resources found by clicking on icons near the top of the page next to the arrow stating "Click on me." Learn about species found in the rainforest, scientist profiles, rainforest conservation, and a small selection of locations around the world containing rainforests.
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This site includes advertising.
tag(s): biomes (110), habitats (92), rainforests (18), scientists (67)
In the Classroom
Include this site as part of your teaching resources for the rainforest biome. Instead of creating a folder on student computers with links to various resources, consider using a bookmarking site like Symbaloo, reviewed here, to gather all of your favorite sites into one easy to use place for students. Instead of taking notes into a notebook as students gather information about the rainforest, have them write blogs sharing facts, images, and discussion of conservation efforts. Replace paper pen by asking students to write blogs sharing information learned using a tool like Edublog, reviewed here. Edublog offers tools for creating class and individual blogs. As a way to enhance student understanding, challenge students to complete a culminating project for your biome unit by creating and sharing custom maps using Google My Maps,reviewed here, to send visitors on a virtual field trip of rainforests across the globe. With Google My Maps students can embed images and videos on pointers and shapes for any given location.Google My Maps - Google
Grades
4 to 12You may already be familiar with Google Maps, reviewed here, but Google My Maps takes working with maps a step further. Use Google My Maps to create...more
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You may already be familiar with Google Maps, reviewed here, but Google My Maps takes working with maps a step further. Use Google My Maps to create custom maps with features you add. Add points or shapes to any location, use the embedded search to find places then save to your map, import information from spreadsheets, and customize your map with colored icons and your uploaded images and videos. Collaborate on your project just like you would with Google Documents, then embed maps into your website or blog.
tag(s): maps (220), virtual field trips (128)
In the Classroom
Share Google My Maps on an interactive whiteboard or projector to create virtual trips for many situations. Create a trip to biomes around the world, visit places mentioned within books, map out battlefield locations for different wars, or find and save different kinds of landforms on your map. The possibilities are as endless as your imagination. Embed completed maps onto your class webpage or blog for students to view when reviewing for tests or quizzes. Have older students complete their own Google My Map project to create their own virtual field trips. This site is perfect to use in conjunction with TeachersFirst Reading Treks, to follow the adventures of characters in the featured stories. Not ready to create your own maps? Use the explore feature on the site to find many examples of maps made by others.ClustrMaps - Free Website Map Widget - ClustrMaps
Grades
K to 12Add a real-time map of your website or blog's visitors with this geo-location hitmap. Download then customize the widget with your preference of colors, size, and stats available for...more
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Add a real-time map of your website or blog's visitors with this geo-location hitmap. Download then customize the widget with your preference of colors, size, and stats available for viewing. Follow the steps to create your customized code then place on your site.
In the Classroom
Students will love seeing the wide variety of visitors to their classroom website. Have a student share locations of viewers with other students, then research to learn more about those areas around the world. Ask students to create an annotated image of any location including text boxes and related links using a tool such as Image Annotator, reviewed here. Display a world map in your classroom and pin locations of viewers on the map for students to see at all times.TeachersFirst Reading Treks - Make Learning a Journey - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12Your students can visit the world and build their background knowledge when they choose to read a book in conjunction with Reading Treks. Find fiction and informational books at every...more
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Your students can visit the world and build their background knowledge when they choose to read a book in conjunction with Reading Treks. Find fiction and informational books at every reading level. Each Reading Trek unit has a downloadable PDF with Common Core State Standards, ISTE Standards, Grade Level, Ideas and Activities for using the Reading Trek in class, and a list of Helpful Resources. There is also a Google Maps (KMZ) file. Under the About TeachersFirst Reading Treks on the home page find step-by-step instructions for when you're ready to use a Reading Trek. TeachersFirst is just getting started creating Treks for books. Do you have a suggestion? Select Suggest a Trek from the left menu to let us know about it. We'd love to hear from you!
tag(s): independent reading (81), maps (220), reading comprehension (149), reading lists (77)
In the Classroom
These units are perfect for use with a whole-class novel, literature circles, or individual reading! Ask students to keep a journal about what they are reading and learning. Replace traditional paper and pen journals using an easy virtual journaling tool such as Penzu, reviewed here. With Penzu you can add images or your own artwork as illustrations. If you are conducting literature circles a good tool to use for small group assignments and communication is Asana, reviewed here, or Canvas Free LMS, reviewed here. For students or student groups to share their book with their peers, challenge them to enhance their learning and design an interactive multimedia poster using Genially, reviewed here.Bing Maps - Microsoft
Grades
K to 12Use Bing Maps as your online resource for mapping locations and more. Allow Bing to recognize your location, then find and map directions anywhere. Additional features allow you to...more
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Use Bing Maps as your online resource for mapping locations and more. Allow Bing to recognize your location, then find and map directions anywhere. Additional features allow you to view current traffic along the route. Additional icons offer nearby locations for restaurants, gas stations, and more. Choose different views for viewing maps including road, aerial, and street-side views. Sign in to Bing Maps using your Microsoft account to save and access your collections from any device.
tag(s): directions (11), maps (220), Microsoft (80)
In the Classroom
If you teach geography, this one's a must. It is also helpful for showing students WHERE a story or news event takes place. In lower grades, use it to show students the basics of their community. Teach map skills by showing students their own community. Zoom in on their street or the school. This site is perfect for sharing on an interactive whiteboard. Set up a class Microsoft account (or use student accounts if permitted). Have students create their own custom route plans to tour historic sites. Challenge math students to plan the most economical route to visit several vacation destinations, including gas mileage and gas prices. Have students create place-marker files of the important places in the life of a famous person or the route traveled by a particular unit during the Civil War. Have student groups create place-marker files to show environmental sites, habitats, landforms, or anything you can place on a map. Share or embed student-created maps using the links and embed code provided.Habitats - Smithsonian Science Education Center
Grades
2 to 6Learn about animal habitats through this interactive where players match animals to their correct habitat. Use buttons to navigate between habitats, then drag and drop animals into...more
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Learn about animal habitats through this interactive where players match animals to their correct habitat. Use buttons to navigate between habitats, then drag and drop animals into their correct location. Upon proper placement, click to learn more about individual animals with pictures and a summary including images and additional facts.
tag(s): animal homes (57), animals (295), coral (11), deserts (16), habitats (92), jungles (5), wetlands (7)
In the Classroom
Use this site as an anticipatory set or "activator" to introduce a unit or lesson on a projector or interactive whiteboard. Share this site on classroom computers to use as a center during your habitat or animals unit. Instead of oral presentations of research findings, have students create animated movies online using Powtoon, reviewed here. Have students choose an animal or habitat to research further, either individually or as a group. As a class, use a mapping tool such as MapHub, , to create a map of different habitats and add display markers featuring text, photos, and videos and information about the animals found in each location.Anyplace America - AnyplaceAmerica.com
Grades
4 to 12Anyplace America provides an extensive resource of free topographical maps of the United States. Choose maps by water, land or man-made features, or browse maps featuring each state....more
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Anyplace America provides an extensive resource of free topographical maps of the United States. Choose maps by water, land or man-made features, or browse maps featuring each state. Maps include local information as well as nearby points of interest, weather statistics, and photographs. Most also have a link to download a color PDF of the featured map. Google and the U.S. Geological Survey provide the maps used on this site.
tag(s): bridges (11), glaciers (17), landforms (39), maps (220), mountains (10), national parks (29), natural resources (37), rivers (16), volcanoes (55), water (102)
In the Classroom
Bookmark this site to use when teaching about landforms, bodies of waters, or geographic features. Be sure to create a link on classroom computers or your class website for students to access at any time. Have students use a mapping tool such as MapHub, reviewed here, to create a map of local landforms with audio stories and pictures included.
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Capital Toss - ABCya
Grades
2 to 5Match capital cities to their states and countries with this entertaining game. Match ten correct to earn different forms of the ball toss. Miss three in a row and the ...more
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Match capital cities to their states and countries with this entertaining game. Match ten correct to earn different forms of the ball toss. Miss three in a row and the game is over.
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This site includes advertising.
In the Classroom
Use this site as an introduction to state or country capitals. Share a link on your class webpage and classroom computers for practice as a center. Take this information a step further and have students create an annotated state image, including text boxes and related links, using a tool such as Image Annotator, reviewed here.MetKids - The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Grades
2 to 12Explore over 5,000 years of art in three exciting ways at this vibrant, interactive site from The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Along the menu at the top find Explore the ...more
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Explore over 5,000 years of art in three exciting ways at this vibrant, interactive site from The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Along the menu at the top find Explore the Map, where you choose and double click red or yellow markers to explore fun facts and videos about art worldwide. Next, hop into the Time Machine to learn more about specific times, geography, and big ideas such as inventions or creatures. Also, find Videos that teach about celebrations, share art made by kids, or provide detailed directions for creating your art, all on the menu bar across the top.
tag(s): africa (148), art history (103), artists (85), asia (116), china (81), europe (84), inventors and inventions (80), japan (57), middle east (50), myths and legends (37), russia (36)
In the Classroom
This site is perfect for use on classroom computers or for a blended class for students to explore on their own. Streghthen student learning by asking them to find information for a specific period of time or country and label what they find important using Webnote, reviewed here; tell students to be sure to save the URL to share their notes and questions with you and their peers. Next, transform classroom technology and extend learning by showing students how to embed media into an interactive time line using Sutori, reviewed here. With Sutori you can include images, text, and collaboration, or Preceden, reviewed here, for creating multi-layer timelines for over lapping events.EarthCam Live Webcam Network - EarthCam, Inc
Grades
K to 12Discover what is happening all around the world, live, as it takes place. EarthCam's network includes live webcams featuring weather, traffic, animals, and more. Discover webcams by...more
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Discover what is happening all around the world, live, as it takes place. EarthCam's network includes live webcams featuring weather, traffic, animals, and more. Discover webcams by topic or explore popular offerings. Scroll further down the home page to choose webcams on a clickable map by location. Because webcams may feature streaming from inside homes or contain other personal information, do not have young children access them without supervision. Previewing all videos before sharing with the class would be wise.
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This site includes advertising.
tag(s): cultures (180), globe (12), maps (220), webcams (19)