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Bad Science - Alistair B. Fraser
Grades
8 to 12
1 Favorites
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"Be very, very careful what you put into that head, because you will never, ever get it out" warns the quote at the start of this page. Bad Science is ...more
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"Be very, very careful what you put into that head, because you will never, ever get it out" warns the quote at the start of this page. Bad Science is the site that debunks the "myths and legends" that are sadly distributed by the misinformed. It is a great site for checking understanding and pinpointing student misconceptions. Many popular ones are addressed in the links offered on this site. Learn about Bad Astronomy, Bad Chemistry, Mad Meteorology (including clouds, rain, greenhouses, and others), and the Pathetic Fallacy. The drawback to the site is that it can seem a little condescending but it may be a byproduct of the author's disgust with bad science.
tag(s): weather (175)
In the Classroom
Students could be assigned different false science statements to research and design their own science news articles comparing fact and fiction. Why not make this a multimedia project and have students complete a podcast, online poster, or narrated photo! For podcasts, try podOmatic, reviewed here. To create an online poster use a site such as Padlet, reviewed here. Challenge cooperative learning groups to find a photo related to their topic (legally permitted to be reproduced), and then label the photo by adding voice bubbles to explain what they learned using a tool such as Phrase.it, reviewed here. To find Creative Commons images for student projects (with credit, of course), try Vesteezy, reviewed here. A class could also be assigned a specific false science fact to research and participate in a class blog or message board discussion via the class web page or wiki site. Students could also use the fiction as the basis for their own "Myth busters" episodes. Reading teachers looking for passages to use in reading comprehension practice, such as finding main idea and supporting details will find these non-fiction passages informative and interesting for their students. Make a temporary copy of one of the explanations to display in your interactive whiteboard software as students highlight key ideas and separate out supporting details using the whiteboard tools. Your science teachers will LOVE you for it!You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Literature-Map - Marek Gibney
Grades
5 to 12
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Finished reading the most recent book by your favorite author and looking for a new author to explore? You and your students will find authors you are likely to enjoy ...more
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Finished reading the most recent book by your favorite author and looking for a new author to explore? You and your students will find authors you are likely to enjoy based on similar authors you (and others) identify as favorites. The choices display visually in a moving, web-style "map." The author's names are dynamic, moving around the page as other authors are identified. Content changes as more people participate in the site.
tag(s): authors (114), literature (214), movies (52)
In the Classroom
While this is a free site, in order to participate in all its functions, each student will need to sign up for a "flork" account which is open to worldwide use and discussion forums. Teachers may want to limit student use to the content that does not require membership or use a whole-class account created by the teacher. This site could be used with an interactive whiteboard or projector to illustrate how author selection works and show relationships between similar authors. Students may search individually for new authors. In higher level literature classes, ask students to explain why certain authors are shown as similar. What similarities do they see? Have students use this question as a prompt for a blog post or full expository writing piece.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Read Up On It! - Library of Canda
Grades
1 to 12
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Though this site is archived, it is still intact and ready for use. This site promotes reading in themes from the Canadian Library. The themes are designed to promote reading ...more
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Though this site is archived, it is still intact and ready for use. This site promotes reading in themes from the Canadian Library. The themes are designed to promote reading and give educators resources that worked for this group. It promotes children's literature also. The site itself contains reading lists in French and English. The lists are centered around themes. There is also ways to share your success with the kit and pose questions in an open forum. They offer tips and suggestions on ways to encourage reading and learning among children and adolescents.
tag(s): reading lists (76)
In the Classroom
Use these recommended book lists and discussion questions as a way to inject something new into your classroom. If there is a theme that matches up with one already existing in the classroom, this website is excellent for enrichment. Use the free recommendations in your classroom.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Spell with flickr - Erik Kastner
Grades
K to 12
7 Favorites
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Looking for a clever way to display a title? Enter your words, and this site will look through flickr pictures to create titles from individual pictures. Note that ads display ...more
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Looking for a clever way to display a title? Enter your words, and this site will look through flickr pictures to create titles from individual pictures. Note that ads display throughout the site as well as while the images are loading. Simply take a snapshot of the words (use print screen for PC or command-shift-4 on a Mac) or drag each letter image to your desktop. Alternatively, use the embed code provided. Don't like one or more of the letters? Simply click each letter and a new one will be generated. See an example here.
tag(s): images (266)
In the Classroom
Students can use this site to create interesting and unique titles for projects, presentations, or blog titles. Use this site to make your lessons grab your students' attention (which isn't always easy). Decorate your classroom with intriguing signs and reminders created using this tool. Have students use this site themselves for projects, intriguing spelling practice, or more. Kindergarten teachers might like to "show" students what their names look like in multiple type fonts and to make bus list bulletin boards using these creative lettering forms. Art teachers can use this tool to demonstrate different types of letter graphics and letter collages. This might be a good link to list on your class website so families can access the site at home.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Root Word Lesson Plans - Myvocabulary.com
Grades
4 to 12
1 Favorites
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Looking for some new tricks to teaching vocabulary and root words? This site offers root-word lesson plans, interactive puzzles, and class activities. There are 3 levels of difficulty....more
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Looking for some new tricks to teaching vocabulary and root words? This site offers root-word lesson plans, interactive puzzles, and class activities. There are 3 levels of difficulty. Level 1 is designed for grades 4-6, level 2 is for grades 7-8, and level 3 is high school level. The activities use both Greek and Latin "roots and cells" to help students deepen their vocabulary. Examples of the activities include definition match, synonym and antonym encounters, word stories, and more. Some of the puzzles are printable. This site does include some unobtrusive advertisements.
tag(s): grammar (139), greek (45), latin (23), root words (10), vocabulary (251)
In the Classroom
If you teach vocabulary to students in grades 4-12, visit this site for some new ideas! Use it to teacher cognates in Latin class, as well. Share the puzzles on your interactive whiteboard or projector. List this link on your class website for students to practice both in and out of the classroom.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Rubric Gallery - RCampus
Grades
K to 12
3 Favorites
0 Comments
This site contains links to many different sources for rubrics. You can search by grade level, subject, or type making it easier to find an appropriate rubric. ...more
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This site contains links to many different sources for rubrics. You can search by grade level, subject, or type making it easier to find an appropriate rubric.
tag(s): assessment (143), rubrics (38)
In the Classroom
Use this site to search for rubrics for any type of assignment or classroom use. Material isn't limited to academic use, it also includes attendance, homework, and other types of rubrics.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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King Lear - Full text - Mass. Instit. Technol.
Grades
9 to 12
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Full text of King Lear, from the e-texts collection at MIT. ...more
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Full text of King Lear, from the e-texts collection at MIT.
tag(s): king lear (3), shakespeare (98)
In the Classroom
In a class where textbooks may be short this is an excellent site to insure everyone has access to King Lear. This would also be useful for a class reading of the play. Open the site on the interactive whiteboard or projector, and click on the link that allows you to display the full play on one fluid page. From this point, assign students parts and let them read aloud. Just make sure to keep up with the scrolling as students read!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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WriteReader - WriteReader
Grades
K to 5
4 Favorites
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The scientific research behind WriterReader is that one develops and improves reading skills by writing. With WriteReader, kids create their books, including text, pictures, and voice...more
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The scientific research behind WriterReader is that one develops and improves reading skills by writing. With WriteReader, kids create their books, including text, pictures, and voice recordings. Adults/Teachers have space on the page to write comments and make corrections. The interface is so simple that even a young child can use it successfully after some adult guidance. Open the Features tab in the top menu to see an index of all features categorized by Literacy Development, Easy Book Creation, Publishing and Sharing, and Teacher & Student Management, each with several links to explore. Click the Resources Center tab on the top menu to select Lesson Plans, Templates, Writing Prompts, Videos, and more. The basic plan offers 40 books and all the essential features. Register using your email or Google account. After logging in, use the menu bars in the upper-right corner to find Guides, which include a Parent Letter, a Quick Start Guide, a Template, and a few other get-started items.
To create student accounts, you can enter students manually, or students can join the class using a class code. WriteReader has upgraded its page templates to support older students. US English, UK English, Dansk (Danish), and Svenska (Swedish) are available. There is also an introductory video on the landing page that will help everyone get started. This video resides on YouTube. If your district blocks YouTube, the video may not be viewable. WriteReader has added new premium features, including Read Aloud, Voice Search, Book Templates, and more. For these, you must pay.
tag(s): digital storytelling (166), literacy (124), multilingual (82), reading strategies (93), science of reading (37), writing (308)
In the Classroom
WriteReader is so simple that very young students can use it successfully after a demonstration on a whiteboard or projector. While creating their books, students will be able to add images and multiple pages, delete pages, include voice-over, use color on pages, view one page at a time or the entire book, and toggle between letter names/sounds and no audio. Use this tool to design simple projects using student drawings to tell the story. Have students draw and annotate stories about their summer at the beginning of the year and share them with classmates. Students of any age love to draw, so why not have them draw their impression of what the message to the reader was after hearing a story, and then explain it in writing? Nonreaders and ENL/ESL students, in particular, will benefit from hearing letter sounds as they begin writing in their new language.Edge Features:
Includes an education-only area for teachers and students
Parent permission advised before posting student work created using this tool
Includes social features, such as "friends," comments, ratings by others
Requires registration/log-in (WITH email)
Multiple users can collaborate on the same project
Includes teacher tools for registering and/or monitoring students
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Rudyard Kipling - Historic UK
Grades
9 to 12
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While Kipling is not a staple of today's reading lists, many of his works have become classics. This British site offers a biography, listings of books and poems, a poem ...more
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While Kipling is not a staple of today's reading lists, many of his works have become classics. This British site offers a biography, listings of books and poems, a poem of the day, and links to related resources and publications. It could be useful as part of an author study or for a student interested in finding additional books by the author.
tag(s): authors (114), literature (214)
In the Classroom
This site is a sure winner for a student author study in small groups or individually, as well. Include this site as a link on your teacher web page during a study of Kipling's writings, and ask students to investigate one of his interests or part of his background to share with the class. Share them with a multimedia poster using a tool like Adobe Creative Cloud Express for Education, reviewed here, or a podcast recording using Spreaker, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Cartoons for the Classroom - The Association for American Editorial Cartoonists
Grades
6 to 12
7 Favorites
0 Comments
Cartoons for the Classroom offers over 400 one-page downloadable lessons featuring two or three political cartoons related to current events and several questions for discussion that...more
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Cartoons for the Classroom offers over 400 one-page downloadable lessons featuring two or three political cartoons related to current events and several questions for discussion that relate to those cartoons. Alternatively, download the cartoons alone along with space to "draw" your own conclusions. Also find an evaluation form for you and your students use. Click "Home" on the top left of the list to go to the home page and "Interactive Lessons - Updated Every Monday" (usually a political comment). A picture is worth a thousand words, and editorial cartoonists have been boiling down the foibles of politicians and public figures throughout history. One needs only to know about Thomas Nast and his cartoons of Boss Tweed during the 19th century to know that cartoons have a deep impact on political discourse.
tag(s): comics and cartoons (61), politics (124), satire (5)
In the Classroom
These one-page discussion starters could help students keep up with current political issues, provide an opening or closing activity, or serve as an enrichment activity for students who move through other assignments more quickly. Available either with or without guiding questions, and covering a wide range of relevant and timely topics, they are perfect to keep as a Plan B or for an emergency substitute teacher activity. Elsewhere on the site are links to Weekly News Videos with prompts for discussion, and other information about political cartooning through history; most of these latter links connect to outside sites so be sure and preview carefully. In an art class, create a "political" option during a line drawing unit for current events enthusiasts to draw their own political cartoons. Include these cartoons during a unit on humor and satire in an English/Language Arts class or gifted program.
This resource requires PDF reader software like Adobe Acrobat.
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Can I have a Word? - Barbicon Education
Grades
6 to 9
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This site offers new ideas and resources for teaching creative writing in the classroom. Choose from four thematic areas - each with audio recordings of works by contemporary poets,...more
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This site offers new ideas and resources for teaching creative writing in the classroom. Choose from four thematic areas - each with audio recordings of works by contemporary poets, related visual presentations to stimulate ideas, and downloadable resources for use in classroom activities.
tag(s): multimedia (62), vocabulary (251)
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EasyDefine - Prabbav Jain
Grades
4 to 12
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Create definition lists easily and completely. Simply enter the terms, and click "generate" to create a list of words with definitions. View synonyms, download as a document, or email...more
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Create definition lists easily and completely. Simply enter the terms, and click "generate" to create a list of words with definitions. View synonyms, download as a document, or email your list to others. Be aware: there are no filters on this definition site, so ANY word (appropriate or not) can easily be searched by students. Use under teacher supervision with students likely to enter inappropriate terms for immature reactions.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): dictionaries (49), synonyms (15), vocabulary (251), vocabulary development (102), word study (58)
In the Classroom
You must know where you are saving downloads on your computer to save the list as a document. Pay attention and name files with meaningful file names, such as "chapter17vocab." Enter your list with one term per line or separated by commas, etc. Click on advanced options to add other options to the search: number or alphabetize the definition results, maximum definitions, and hiding parts of speech.Create definitions easily for word lists in any subject area. Have students enter a series of similar words to see variations in connotations. For example, enter various words that mean "fat" and discover the variability in positive and negative connotations. Follow up with a ranking or sorting activity with the same words on interactive whiteboard to build word choice options. Have students generate individualized reading vocabulary lists for content are reading chapters or literature. Click on the synonyms tab to find related words. Save as a document for easy sharing in groups. Advise students to collect definitions and compare to those they write in their own words. As with any other reference, students should be cautioned to be sure these are accurate definitions needed for the context in which they are studying the words.
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The Biography Maker - Jamie McKenzie and the Bellingham Public Schools.
Grades
4 to 12
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Writing biographies is a staple of English and history classes. This site takes students through the process in a way that will make reading them more palatable. It will also ...more
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Writing biographies is a staple of English and history classes. This site takes students through the process in a way that will make reading them more palatable. It will also help students delve deeper into a person's life , making it memorable for them. Divided into four groups (Questioning, Learning, Synthesis, and Storytelling), it helps students understand how to take facts and apply them to a real live person. It wraps up with the six effective traits of writing, reminding students that biography writing shouldn't just be a recitation of facts. The "learning" section does link students to Yahoo encyclopedias and Google (with search hints included), so be aware of that feature. This site serves as a guide for writing a biography of anyone (including students themselves).
tag(s): questioning (37), writing (308)
In the Classroom
All material at this site is copyrighted, so it must be viewed online. For students who do best with step-by-step instructions, this site is a gem! You might have one group research authors from a particular country while others do artists, musicians, scientists, etc. A class report from each of these groups would do a good job of encapsulating a country or area of the world within any given time period. Teachers seeking independent projects for students who "test out" of a unit can assign this site's step-by-step instructions as a meaningful alternate activity.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Latin-Greek Quizzes - Senior Scribe Publications
Grades
10 to 12
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Students can strengthen their vocabulary in preparation for the SATs with this collection of word challenges. Based on Latin and Greek derivatives, these diagnostic tests and quizzes...more
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Students can strengthen their vocabulary in preparation for the SATs with this collection of word challenges. Based on Latin and Greek derivatives, these diagnostic tests and quizzes include a self-correcting component, making them ideal for independent practice.
In the Classroom
Include this link on your class website (or wiki) for students to practice both in and out of the classroom. Students could use the site for SAT prep, Latin review, or English review. The site can also be used as a learning center or station at the culmination of a unit on root words. Encourage students to make flashcards of roots they find difficult, and use them to study outside of the classroom.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Aspects of the Antebellum Christmas - Tim Crumrin
Grades
7 to 9
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This site looks at Victorian Christmas observances from the American point of view. Focusing on holiday celebrations between 1830 and 1860, this site examines the growth of the Christmas...more
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This site looks at Victorian Christmas observances from the American point of view. Focusing on holiday celebrations between 1830 and 1860, this site examines the growth of the Christmas holiday as we know it, examining those traditions that have continued into the 20th Century and those that are but a memory.
In the Classroom
Use this website as a resource during a unit on Christmas, or while looking at the differences in American life before and after the Civil War. Extend learning and challenge students to create a Venn diagram using an online tool like 2 and 3 Circle Interactive Venn Diagrams, reviewed here, and then writing about their learning and understanding using Telegra.ph, reviewed here. With Telegra.ph you just click on an icon to upload images from your computer, add a YouTube or Vimeo, or X (formerly Twitter) links. This blog creator requires no registration.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Poetry 4 Kids - Kenn Nesbitts
Grades
4 to 8
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Add this Kenn Nesbitt poetry site to your resource of kid-friendly poetry. This site is a treasure with podcasts, a rhyming dictionary, games, videos, tips and lessons for kid to ...more
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Add this Kenn Nesbitt poetry site to your resource of kid-friendly poetry. This site is a treasure with podcasts, a rhyming dictionary, games, videos, tips and lessons for kid to write poetry. Browse through dozens of examples and choose a few to illustrate rhyme scheme, meter, or alliteration. These are not literary masterpieces, but they will engage your most resistant students, and perhaps inspire some original poetry. If your school blocks YouTube, the videos won't be viewable.
In the Classroom
Ask your students to choose a favorite poem from this site and use it as a model for their own poem. Have them pay attention to the rhythm and rhyme of the poem they like. Create a class book of poems using Book Creator, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Room Escape Maker - doctorfou.com
Grades
8 to 12
3 Favorites
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Room Escape Maker takes the popular room escape adventures online. The only way to escape is to solve a series of puzzles using hints and strategies as you find your ...more
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Room Escape Maker takes the popular room escape adventures online. The only way to escape is to solve a series of puzzles using hints and strategies as you find your way out of the locked room. Browse through the selection of games created by others to find ideas on how to use this site. When ready, choose "Create Game" to start. Begin with your chosen canvas or background, then follow the prompts to add items and clues to your escape room.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): game based learning (303), gamification (92), makerspace (39)
In the Classroom
Increase student engagement in any subject through this form of gameplay! Create games to introduce the main concepts within the escape room. Ask students to create a game using what they have learned to share with their peers. Before creating a game, have students map out information and strategies they will include in a blog format using a tool like edublogs, reviewed here. Ask fellow students to share comments describing their problem-solving process as they try to escape the room.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Bartleby.com
Grades
6 to 12
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For those needing literary, writing, or historical reference information, this site provides one-stop shopping. The site collects on-line versions of several dozen standard reference...more
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For those needing literary, writing, or historical reference information, this site provides one-stop shopping. The site collects on-line versions of several dozen standard reference works, and it also offers a search interface that can make short work of finding even the most obscure information.
tag(s): literature (214)
In the Classroom
Include this site on your teacher web page for students and parents to access as a reference.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Lightning Bug - Martin Jorgensen
Grades
4 to 12
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The title graphic on this site tells it all: "Your writing partner, helping you write a story from beginning to The End." Intended for young writers to be able to ...more
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The title graphic on this site tells it all: "Your writing partner, helping you write a story from beginning to The End." Intended for young writers to be able to use on their own, this site includes ideas and exercises to find story ideas, develop the story, improve it, finish it, and share it in writing contests or publications. The notebook paper "look" adds appeal to pages that might otherwise be text-heavy, and the tone is supportive but not condescending. There are teacher resources, including printables for writing exercises, and extensive links and ideas for the classroom. Don't miss the writing prompts in the teaching resource area under "Dozens of writing ideas for the classroom." You can also find tips on setting up writing centers in your classroom and lesson plans for teaching story writing. The quick links in the footer of the home page provide a good overview of the site's extensive topics. Note: the site does have a small book sales area and links to both X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook. These are likely to be blocked by your school web filter and are not essential for use of the site. If students use the site from home, their use of these social tools to learn more about writing and writers should be in accordance with their parents' permission and the tools' age policies.
In the Classroom
Share this site both in and out of class as a place where story writers can stretch, refresh, and improve. Many of the writing lessons and activities are also well-suited to interactive whiteboards or projectors. You can plan an entire story-writing unit or simply improve on certain aspects of writing here. Share the link on your class web page for students to access when they are stumped for writing ideas. Steer your motivated writers to explore this site on their own or assign small groups to become specialists on one of the writing exercises and then teach it to the class or blog about it. Use the ideas from this site for students to write cooperative stories using a wiki or a tool such as Primary Pad, reviewed here. Encourage young writers to submit entries in writing contests listed here or to explore the site further during summer and holiday breaks.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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100 People - 100 People Foundation and VIF
Grades
6 to 12
1 Favorites
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This site takes the global population (there are 6.7 billion of us) and simplifies it to 100 People to help students understand what kind of people make up their community ...more
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This site takes the global population (there are 6.7 billion of us) and simplifies it to 100 People to help students understand what kind of people make up their community and the world beyond. On the first page of the website you will see a lesson plan video to view. There are 12 other videos for you to use.
There are two lesson plans for this site. The first one, "World Portrait" is where students survey and select 100 people to represent their community and the world's population. There are also suggestions for how a class might select one person. The plan is download-able and has ideas that include criteria for the people who are nominated, discussion topics and activities, questions for the community profile, a questionnaire for the people nominated, an image release form, just to name a few. Student results are to be captured in film, photography, music and text. The other lesson plan on this site is titled "100 People Under the Sun." In order to download this lesson you must register, it is free, but you will have to log in when viewing the plan. With this lesson "...students will develop key leadership skills to help raise their community's awareness of its energy use, as well as its motivation to advance sustainable approaches."
There are two lesson plans for this site. The first one, "World Portrait" is where students survey and select 100 people to represent their community and the world's population. There are also suggestions for how a class might select one person. The plan is download-able and has ideas that include criteria for the people who are nominated, discussion topics and activities, questions for the community profile, a questionnaire for the people nominated, an image release form, just to name a few. Student results are to be captured in film, photography, music and text. The other lesson plan on this site is titled "100 People Under the Sun." In order to download this lesson you must register, it is free, but you will have to log in when viewing the plan. With this lesson "...students will develop key leadership skills to help raise their community's awareness of its energy use, as well as its motivation to advance sustainable approaches."
tag(s): population (53), statistics (126)
In the Classroom
This project is the perfect opportunity to collaborate with others in your building! Math students could complete a school and community survey (which could tie in with 2010 U.S. census). Social Studies students could interpret data collected in the survey (also could be tied into the 2010 census) and extrapolate parameters for nominations. Language Arts students would finalize the nominations and develop the essays. Technology, yearbook, and art classes can draw the portraits or produce them digitally, create a video for submission to 100 People project, and your more advanced technology students can create a website for content display. WebNode, reviewed here, or a wiki would be great tools to use for the website! Not familiar with wikis? Check out the TeachersFirst's Wiki Walk-Through.Of course, you don't have to collaborate with others. This unit would work well in any world culture class at any level, or even in language arts when studying multicultural literature and settings. Here's another idea: Many of us have seen the video Did You Know? Predicting Future Statistics>. The beginning states "If you are one in a million in China there are 1,300 people just like you." But it also gives statistics like "During the course of this presentation 60 babies will be born in the U.S., 244 babies will be born in China, and 351 babies will be born in India..." You can use your and your student's ideas to come up with your own statistics. Something like how many people will be working and sleeping between the hours of midnight and 6:00 A.M. in the U.S., China, and India (or any other country you wish to include). Use this to lead to discussions of time zones and all sorts of other peripheral ideas and decisions students will have to think about.
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