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Knoema - World Data Atlas - Knoema
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): atlas (5), data (151), infographics (56), map skills (63), maps (220), natural resources (37), resources (83), united nations (6)
In the Classroom
Bookmark this for student research, whether it be for individual country data or for comparative data by topic. Use the maps on an interactive whiteboard (or projector) to provide a visual representation of the data. This is a great source for authentic data for students to practice their analytic skills, or just to find out what the GDP of Antigua and Barbuda is. This is a resource that will see frequent use. Share it during math units on data, as well, so students have authentic numbers to "play with." Have them write their own data problems and questions for classmates to solve. Challenge your most able student to determine why two countries are so different.Life on Earth - BBC
Grades
6 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): climate change (100), earth (184), earth day (60), earthquakes (46), planets (113), writing prompts (61)
In the Classroom
Look at the various metrics based on your age to gain perspective on many science and history topics. Look at the impact of human behavior on the environment or at the "big picture" of what one human can do in a lifetime. Consider comparing the changes on Earth based on a student's age versus a teacher's age (if you're brave enough to tell!). You can also dial back the clock 100 years, but choose times in modern history for the comparison. Don't forget to use the dropdown menus on each chart for more information. For example, pick any planet to see how old you'd be there. Small groups of students could discuss and analyze different components of the site and present their findings to the larger class. Include this in math class as a way to apply multiplication formulas or conversions. Use observations on this site to spark blog posts of evidence-based writing. Have students make visual representations of their life on Earth as an infographic. To learn more about infographics in the classroom, see TeachersFirst's Now I See!.LunaPic - lunapic.com
Grades
K to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): editing (93), images (263), photography (131)
In the Classroom
Use this tool anytime photos need to be edited for use on class blogs, wikis, or sites. In primary grades, use this tool to edit pictures from a field trip, science experiments, and more. Share the editing process with your younger students on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Edit the project together! Encourage older students to use this tool on images for projects or presentations. Use it to edit pictures to match historic looking pictures for reports or to set a mood. Of course, you will want to require that students give proper credit for any starter image they obtain from copyright-safe (CC licensed) sources.Legend - Jay Meistrich and Grant Watters
Grades
K to 12tag(s): calendars (37), DAT device agnostic tool (147), organizational skills (88)
In the Classroom
Any student would appreciate having an online time/task management tool they can access anywhere, but learning support students and disorganized gifted students need one. If they are over 13 or have parent permission, this is perfect! You may want to model using this online tool to help middle and high school students learn better personal organization. Share this site on your interactive whiteboard or projector during the first week of school to help students set up their own accounts. Parents may appreciate learning about this site also. Use this site professionally to keep yourself organized! Make a demo account for a mythical student and organize it together so students can see how it works. Teachers in lower grades can use this tool for their own productivity.Cartoons for the Classroom - The Association for American Editorial Cartoonists
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): comics and cartoons (55), politics (118), satire (6)
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.Royalty Free Music - Kevin MacLeod
Grades
3 to 12This site includes advertising.
In the Classroom
You might want to share this site on your interactive whiteboard (or projector) before student use to demonstrate how to use the search and how to work around the many advertisements on the site. Play musical selections for students to "name the instrument" or talk about musical elements and styles in music class. Have partners explore the site to find examples of different rhythms or styles they prefer. Use Royalty Free Music for soft background music during quiet work times in your classroom. Share with students for use in multimedia presentations. Try sharing this resource with students when they are creating podcasts, slideshows, and other media projects. This would also be great for performance groups such as drama clubs or musicals that need background music. Use background music for poetry readings during poetry month. Have them try making a "sound rebus" story on your class wiki, with words and sound links to tell what happens. Download sound effects and add them, worry-free, to projects or productions. Make sure students realize that "royalty free" does not dismiss the need to give proper credit for their source!Behold - Alexei Yavlinsky
Grades
5 to 12tag(s): creative commons (28), images (263), photography (131)
In the Classroom
Use this tool to find high quality images for classroom projects. When using images on a web page or wiki, use ImageCodr reviewed here to correctly use and give proper credit. BOTH the image AND the licensing will be displayed. Post images as writing prompts, you-name-it science questions, or world language conversation starters, all from a simple Flickr image search! Use images as examples of design principles or art elements. Be sure students understand the different types of images available and use ones that are licensed correctly in their own media projects. Model use of this tool for using images from Flickr. To give image credit in a slide show or other media project, click to see the full image on Flickr, double check the license information, and copy the url for the Flickr page. Paste it into a credits are below the image on your slide. Of course, you will want to give (or subtract) points for the ethical use of images by giving proper credit.Geography Awareness Week - National Geographic
Grades
5 to 12tag(s): globe (12), map skills (63), maps (220)
In the Classroom
Have older students pair up with a younger classroom to create and share events for Geography Awareness Week. Celebrate Geography Awareness Week in your classroom or school using supplies and resources provided on the website. View all of TeachersFirst's Editor's Choices for Geography Awareness Week here.Webnote - Tony Chang
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): brainstorming (18), collaboration (93), note taking (36), organizational skills (88), writing (324)
In the Classroom
Use a Webnote to collaborate when collecting ideas, brainstorming, and more. There are many classroom uses for electronic note taking. Science and math students can jot down the steps or reminders of what they did in a lab or math problem. History students can take notes on the text they are reading. Students in all subjects can take notes for a test or create questions for a test on Webnote. Language Arts students can keep track of characters in a novel and write responses as they read. Writing students can use this tool as a place to jot down ideas or first drafts. Make sure your students COPY and save the url to their own webnotes. They can "tun them in" to you by url or share them with classmates. Have the next student add notes in a different color, perhaps arguing or elaborating on some of the original notes.Past/Present - Experience History From the Inside Out - Center for New American Media and Muzzy Lane Software
Grades
5 to 11tag(s): 1900s (72), critical thinking (128), game based learning (205), immigrants (34), immigration (68), industrialization (12)
In the Classroom
Prepare to use this activity in your classroom by thoroughly exploring the documentation and videos before you plan to use it. Introduce this interactive to students on a projector or whiteboard using the demo videos and videos about Anna and Walter. Next, have students pair up and sign up for an account. One must be Walter, and one must be Anna. The characters both meet the same townspeople and participate in the same global events, but the roles and social positions are different, so they will have different tasks. Pairing students will allow for maximum participation in post-activity discussions.Down the Drain Project - The Center for Innovation in Science and Engineering
Grades
3 to 12tag(s): environment (252), recycling (45), water (104)
In the Classroom
Bring problem-based learning into your classroom and share the results globally. Encourage multiple classrooms or schools in your area to participate. Extend the project by having collaborative groups find water saving ideas to employ in school, at home, or in the community. Find ways to share results locally in newspapers or news channels to encourage community involvement. Present findings with a variety of multimedia: PowerPoint, Prezi, reviewed here, video, podOmatic podcast, reviewed here, artwork, poetry, or song.Holt Interactive Graphic Organizers - Holt
Grades
2 to 12tag(s): concept mapping (15), graphic organizers (48)
In the Classroom
Mark this site on your class web page, put it on your task bar, and add to all student computers. Demonstrate by using and creating your customized graphic organizer. Turn it into PDF format and save or print. Get students in the habit of using graphic organizers to improve achievement, organization, and details.MergeFil.es - mergefil.es
Grades
K to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): conversions (37), worksheets (69)
In the Classroom
Use MergeFil.es to easily combine documents for viewing in one format. Combine lesson plans for a complete unit including handouts, worksheets, and more. Create a quick PowerPoint presentation by combining several different file formats. Ever find terrific activity sheets, but they need tweaking to make them work for your classes? This tool helps save time by allowing you to edit PDF files in Word to avoid reinventing the wheel; be aware of copyrighted materials. Science teachers can take lab activities and refine questions or add instructions as needed for their classrooms. English teachers can add standardized test prompts to preexisting general worksheets to tailor the activity to suit their state's testing needs. Mergefil.es is a helpful tool for students entering contests or completing applications offered only in PDF form.Raindrop.io - Mussabekov Rustem
Grades
K to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): bookmarks (43), collaboration (93), curation (32), DAT device agnostic tool (147)
In the Classroom
Use Raindrop.io to create a bank of resources for each content unit within your subject or your class. Have students download and use the materials you provide via Raindrop to make their own projects, complete webquests, or to learn independently. Create a separate class account for students to curate their own lists of bookmarks and resources. Use this tool to compile web treasure hunts to learn or introduce any topic within your content area. Collect links to informational texts for students to read "closely" a la CCSS. With younger students, create collections of audio books for children to view and listen to. Share simple interactives teaching colors, numbers and more for a computer center. Have students create their own Raindrop as a place to store links for a project and ask them to attach it to attach it to their final project. Share a link to your Raindrop on your class webpage. Save pictures of class activities with a Raindrop collection to share with parents. Encourage your gifted students to curate collections of media and articles above the level of current curriculum or for individual research on related topics they are interested in. Share these "advanced" collections with all students to spark personal learning.GoSoapBox - Go Education, LLC
Grades
5 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): chat (41), classroom management (120), communication (129), polls and surveys (49)
In the Classroom
GoSoapBox provides an opportunity for instructors to think outside the box for greater student engagement and participation. Is your classroom BYOD? Use GoSoapBox for free! Use the polling feature to access prior knowledge, or use it as an exit slip. Assign multiple choice quizzes as formative assessments throughout the class to differentiate instruction. Post questions and topics to foster higher-level thinking using the discussion tool. The Social Q&A tool allows students the opportunity to communicate and collaborate for understanding. Use the Social Q&A as a back channel during lectures or videos to make sure you address all student questions. Students can vote on the questions posted in the Social Q&A. Use this feature to address the most pressing needs of the class. GoSoapBox is a useful site to organize and collect meaningful data to make sure you are meeting all the needs of your learners. Try it during Back to School night as your school begins BYOD so parents can see the power of engaging EVERY learner.The British Library - The British Library Board
Grades
7 to 12tag(s): art history (102), britain (26), england (50), great britain (16), maps (220)
In the Classroom
Create a link to the British Library website on classroom computers for students to explore on their own or with a partner. Use as part of any lessons about British history. Have students find and explore old maps and compare with current maps. Compare the maps using an online tool such as Interactive Two Circle Venn Diagram (reviewed here). View television and radio news archives together on your interactive whiteboard (or projector) to learn about the world from a British perspective about any time period such as World War I or World War II. Explore British authors and poets and view their manuscripts online!The Q&A Wiki - wiki.answers.com
Grades
8 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): questioning (36), wikis (14), writing prompts (61)
In the Classroom
Share the Q&A Wiki with students on your interactive whiteboard (or projector) and explore answers to classroom questions. Post a question, and challenge students to share their response. Use choices of questions from this site as writing prompts for informational writing. Have students find good (and not-so-good) examples of how-to responses as they learn to write their own step by step directions. Challenge students to explore the site to find incorrect or incomplete answers to questions and use this as part of a lesson on evaluating Internet sources. How can you decide whether the information is accurate? Provide this link on your class website for students (and families) to use together.Asian Art Museum Educator Resources - Asian Art Museum
Grades
5 to 12tag(s): art history (102), artists (84), asia (116), china (81), chinese new year (5), cross cultural understanding (173), japan (56), korea (21)
In the Classroom
Introduce this site on your interactive whiteboard (or projector). Allow students to explore on their own or in collaborative groups. Replace more traditional tools for brainstorming and have students or groups collect ideas and findings using Padlet, reviewed here. The Padlet application creates free online sticky note boards. Bookmark and use this site to find resources for Chinese New Year activities. Expand learning by having students create online posters individually or together as a class using a tool such as Web Poster Wizard, reviewed here, or PicLits, reviewed here.Quotery - Jason Bacchetta
Grades
3 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): bulletin boards (15), quotations (19)
In the Classroom
Make a shortcut to Quotery on classroom computers or include it on your class web page for students to use as a resource for projects. Encourage leadership, hope, and inspiration! Use quotes as a theme for writing prompts or even to relate to the theme of a story. Have students find quotes as examples of figurative language. Add quotes to end of year slide shows or videos. Use the quotes to inspire personal or classroom mission statements. Have students include a quote when turning in work, and explain how it inspired or helped them. Add music or art to explain a quote. During the first week of the school year, share this site with students. Challenge students to choose a personal "quote of the year" to set the tone for their goals. Have students put the quote in their notebook, folder, or device desktop. Choose a few quotes to hang around your classroom. Show students how to keep favorite quotes in an idea bin where they keep thoughts, thoughtful questions, and pieces of inspiration. Choose a sticky note tool from the Teachersfirst Edge as a collection space.Somewhere - Benjamin Netter
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): images (263), photography (131)