Common Craft........Tutorial Videos

Are a series of videos on youtube that explain “how to” in simple English. This youtube link list a series of short videos on understanding things such as twitter, blogger, etc……

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=common+craft+&oq=common+craft+&gs_l=youtube.3..0l10.35942.37409.0.38142.6.6.0.0.0.0.93.467.6.6.0...0.0...1ac.aQEbNxX3hKg

Virtual Field Trips

Virtualfieldtrips is a guided exploration through the world wide web that organizes a collection of pre-screened, thematically based web pages into a structured online learning experience. (Foley, 2003) Below are some sites I found that may be of interest.


http://lib.utexas.edu/geo/onlineguides.html

http://www.simplek12.com/virtualfieldtrips

http://www.field-trips.org/trips.htm

http://www.uen.org/tours/

http://www.museevirtuel-virtualmuseum.ca/index-eng.jsp;jsessionid=ED9AAFB5DAB7C603979E6A09591BF69B

http://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/fil/pages/listvirtualgr.html

Prezi ....... Book Trailers

A literacy assignment students can create are Book trailers. 
Below outlines how to make a book trailer. 

How To Make A Book Trailer on Prezi

This is a youtube link that demonstrates a completed sample of a book trailer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1R4ElYFq6ww&playnext_from=TL&videos=lao1MGyQdQs&feature=rec-LGOUT-exp_fresh%2Bdiv-1r-2-HM

Flickr

Flickr is a photo sharing site.  Within the site, there is a creative common section that students can go under.  Students can use these pictures for school projects.

Math Chimp

Math chimp offers free online math games...

http://www.mathchimp.com/index2.php

Cite Your Work

Cite this for me is a free generator tool "to help students prepare their whole bibliography or reference list quickly and easily. It uses the Harvard referencing style, one of the most common referencing styles...."

Very easy to use: http://www.citethisforme.com/book

Grammar videos

There are youtube videos on Grammar that students can view and/or use as examples to create their own version as a media assignment. At this link there are several examples that you can view http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlBfnqgnhzw / http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaaCKqddcJs

Wordle - - Remembrance Day

Students expressed what they felt about Rememberance Day by brainstorming words using their senses. This is the wall they created with Wordle.

Remembrance Day

Some individual student works by Sebastian, Samantha, Kendra, Jorge, Jaiden and Emma:

Science Videos

There are 91 simple science videos located on Vimeo. The videos give an explanation of various science topics for students. A good way to introduce a topic in class or allow students to use this site as part of an independent study. http://vimeo.com/user697789

Kids Health

The other day I sat with my student teacher to give him some ideas and suggestions for a lesson he was preparing for my class. I gave him a website that I have been using for several years to help with my Health and Science Lessons. At that point it occurred to reblog this information.
Kids Health is a place to find videos, games, assessments, articles and lesson plans for all ages. There is a section for teachers that offer teacher’s guides in different grade levels. The worksheets and articles are available for download in a PDF file. The site is also divided for Parents, kids and Teens.

Comics in the Classroom

Comics in the classroom is just that; a list of web comic links that you can choose from to use in the classroom. However, it is up to you to decide the appropriateness. This site was created by a teacher promoting differentiated learning using comics. There are some lesson plans avaialable as well. http://comicsintheclassroom.net/oowebcomics.htm

Comic books - - - Kidjutsu Webcomics

Kidjutsu is another site to introduce reluctant readers to in order to get them to read. Kidjutsu is a directory where kids can find and read comics online for free. These comics are from Webcomic and manga creators. http://www.kidjutsu.com/browse/rating/13

Comic Books--Graphic Novels

In my May 17 post I mentioned a site where we can access comic books but they are geared more for Teens. This next one, Love to Know Children's Books is a website that list sites to locate free on line comic books to help promote literacy. These sites are Educational Free Online Comic Books to use with your students of any age.
http://childrens-books.lovetoknow.com/Free_Online_Comic_Books
Comic Books are a great way to help students build comprehension skills.

Bitstrips for Schools

Once again my class is using Bitstrips to create comics. This is a great home school connection. It is a safe web service that empowers students to create and share comics with other students.

Students will build their literacy skills especially boys.

Wordle

I will be posting some of my students works, for this year, on how we have been using wordle. I found this powerpoint that shows some ways that I have used Wordle in the past. In previous posts, last school year, you will see some of their works.

Wordle In The Classroom

View more presentations from Hellen Harvey

Comic Life

Comic Life is an Ontario Software Aquisition Program Advisory Committee licensed software (OSAPAC for short), which is free for Ontario teachers to use in the classroom and at home. Students from all grades can create comics. Visit the site to read details, resources for Comic Life and curriculum connections.

http://www.osapac.org/

Math

A place to practice math skills for grades K-8.

http://ca.ixl.com/

Link to Learning

I have been using this site for several years. This site links you to websites that support the Ontario Curriculum. There are web based student learning and interactive activities available in all curriculum areas. There is a section for Elementary and Secondary grades. There is also a Just for Teachers area that a teacher can link to teacher lesson plans and teaching ideas, technology integration, assessment and evaluation and on-line learning.

Prezi

On my March 26, 2011 post I talked about Prezi. I went back into that post and embedded a sample of how this on line tool works.

Multiplication

These are games to help with Math skills. There are activities, flash cards and games. Multiplayer games are also available.  http://www.multiplication.com/games

 

 

 

Ideas Worth Sharing

A friend of mine asked me if I am familiar with Sir Ken Robinson. I've heard of him but never actually sat to listen to him speak. We watched one of his talks. He is a very witty but profound man. He discusses what makes us passionate and creative; he firmly believes that we need a revolution in education. We need to challenge what we take for granted. What is our purpose and function in society? You can find his talks on Ted.com
The talk is: Bring on the Learning Revolution
http://www.ted.com/talks/sir_ken_robinson_bring_on_the_revolution.html#.Tps8nIL5-ew.blogger

Ted Ideas Worth Sharing for many other speakers. http://www.ted.com/

Thanks David for sharing.

Music--Free

Music can be used for videos or school projects. There are mixters, videos and podcasts.
http://ccmixter.org

Free Clip Art

Royalty Free Public Domain Clip Art
http://www.clker.com/

Free Stock Images

Stock images from 10 categories
http://www.turbophoto.com/Free-Stock-Images/

Current Events

LesPlan is an educational Canadian current events site that helps teachers help students to critically assess current issues. You can subscribe to monthly resources but the site does offer free current events that teachers can download and use.

I found this site a great resource. Eventually, I even subscribed with them for my monthly issues. Very worthwhile.

http://www.lesplan.com

Technology??

Original Technology. My students left this on the black board on the last day of school.

Newspapers

Online Newspaper Directory for the World. This site lists newspapers by country and region.

http://www.onlinenewspapers.com

Smart BoardI

I am always looking for sites that focus on cross curricular interactive activities. I usually save them in my favourites but forget to share on my blog. This is one of them.
http://its.leesummit.k12.mo.us/smartboard.htm

Cyberkidz

http://cyberkidz.net/cyberkidz/home.php

Games for math, literacy, geography, creativity and science. An educational platform that can be used with a smartboard or interactive whiteboard. Children can play these games at home as well.

Storybook Publishing.... Student Publishing

This is another site where each student writes and illustrate their own story. Only 10 students grade 8 and lower required for free publishing. Each student will receive a free paperback of their own story. Check out the site to get more information. http://www.studentpublishing.com/

File Hosting Services--Dropbox, Filestork

I found more file sharing services:

In order to avoid sharing email with students, Blogs, Wikis and Google Docs are alternate ways students can submit work instead of written assignments. Another option is to use a file sharing website.

FileStork https://www.filestork.net/ Teachers create a "stand alone" request which will allow you to post an upload link on your blog or website. Visitors use that link to upload a file. People that upload files to your Dropbox through File Stork do not have access to files within your account.
Drop Box https://www.dropbox.com/ Is a service for file sharing....it is free. There is a video you can view in order to learn how to use it.

Templates--Sparklebox

I came across this site when I was looking for writing templates for my students. http://www.sparklebox.co.uk/cll/writing/frames

File hosting Services...File Dropper, Letscrate, Minus

I came across this information through links.
File Dropper http://www.filedroppercom/createaccount.php Simply upload your file and File Dropper will assign a unique URL that can be shared with anyone.

Letscrate http://letscrate.com Once you drag your file onto Letscrate, the site will provide you with a URL that you can send to others in order to be able to access your file. The file will only be there for 30 minutes unless you sign up for a free account in which case the files will be there for as long as you need them.

Minus http://minus.com Just drag your file onto the rectangular canvas. Once your file is on the canvas Minus will provide you with links to share your file with others.

Whiteboard--Draw It Live

Draw It Live whiteboard is an online whiteboard. You can have anyone that you give your URL that is assigned to your whiteboard to collaborate with you on drawing, brainstorming, etc. http://www.drawitlive.com/

Page Flip Flap

Page flip flap is an online tool to convert work into an online book with page turning effects. Teachers can use this site to create an e-book of their students' writing for parents and others to view.


http://www.pageflip-flap.com/

Magazinify

Believe it or not, one thing I still don't own is either an e-reader or some kind of "smart" technology that enables you to down load text. I was on firefox browser comparing items when I came across Magazinify. The site state that Magazinify organizes articles you wish to read, converts them to pdf format and mails them to you at the end of the day. I found this to be interesting and wondered how can an educator use this? Simple.....Magazinify will create ready to read copies of articles you wish to have in your class, eliminating annoying ads and popups. If you don't have firefox, just drag the bookmark toolbar to your browser. http://magazinify.com/
Here is a link from CNET describing how to set this all up.
http://howto.cnet.com/8301-11310_39-20092117-285/get-web-articles-delivered-to-your-inbox-in-pdf-form/

Go Social Studies go

A Social Studies teacher created multimedia books on Social Studies topics. This site is divided into 4 sections: Ancient Histories, World Geography, World Religions and Colonial America. Within each book there are videos, images, text and links to additional sites. Canadians will find site useful. http://www.gosocialstudiesgo.com/

Boom Writer

I'm always searching for new literacy ideas to motivate my students to read and write. On several sites I read about BoomWriter so I decided to investigate what it is all about. A guest author writes the starter chapter. Students write the following chapter within an allotted time anonymously. Their peers vote on the best chapter. The winning chapter gets added into the book which is then published. A great way to motivate students to write. http://www.boomwriter.com/

Create a Website using FrontPage

Frontpage is a software tool used to design, create and publish your own website. The following site offers a teacher's guide and a tutorial on how to create a website. It also offers a free print tutorial if you prefer a printed copy. http://www.actden.com/fp/

Lexile Reading Level

I attended a workshop on Integrating technology in Literacy. Through discussions with colleagues I acquired the following link: http://www.lexile.com/findabook This site will give you the lexile reading level for a book by entering the book title.

Spongelab-- Science Lab

Spongelab Interactive offers educational science games. There are 3-D games. This is a free Beta site. You can create a class and link to your favourite lessons.
http://www.spongelab.com/slxdev

Animoto Video Creation

An online tool for creating videos and presentations. Educators can apply for a FREE account to use in the classroom. You can create presentations using images, video clips, music and text.

Animoto for Educators.

Incredible Art

Another site that shares free Art lesson plans.

http://incredibleart.org/

Thank you El for sharing this site with me.

Weebly and Webs

Create a free class website.
https://education.weebly.com/
http://www.weebly.com/ ; can use with students of all ages.
http://www.webs.com/ ; create professional looking sites

You must create a free account for both.
Both are free but will charge if you use own domain name. Without paying, your domain will be http://www.me.weebly.com/ or http://www.me.webs.com/

Teach Kids News.......newspaper

Teaching Kids News is a site that makes teaching current events accessible to students in an interesting format and friendly. This site is for grades 2 - 8. The site offers curriculum connections that teachers can use. www.teachkidsnews.com

ABCya Web Games

ABCya is a free educational kids computer games and activities for elementary students created by teachers.
http://www.abcya.com/

Digital Books

My class and teaching partner's class created their own poems and typed them on the computer, drew pictures that reflected their poems and then each student scanned his own picture. Then each student took their picture and added it as a background for their poem. Once all this was done, each class created a digital book of poetry using Photostory.

Smart Board Activities

http://pbskids.org/whiteboard
Interactive whiteboard games that teachers can use that are age appropriate for Language Arts, Arts, Social Sciences and Math.

Commercials using Movie Maker

My 10 year old students were to take any commercial that did not deal with food and re-invent it to promote healthy eating. They were to make sure that there was a clear focus to their commercial. This media literacy assignment allowed the students to work cooperatively with others and to be creative. After completing a story board, they used digital cameras to record short clips and then used Movie Maker to create commercials. Using Movie Maker was everyone's first experience. As a class, we reviewed the completed assignments and discussed areas that needed improvement, such as timing, lighting and focus for topic. Some assignments are posted below.

Teach Kids Art

I've visited this blog many times. There are a lot of great creative ideas to do . There are lessons and pictures that can be followed. Its not computer technology but I thought I'd share this with you....how about Media?
http://teachkidsart.blogspot.com/

Comic Strips -- Bitstrips

Students wrote about a book they read using Bitstrips.

Comic Books -- Graphic Novels

I was surfing the net when I came across this website. It gives a list of free online comic books that are available as full issues and are completely free. They are not appropriate for children so they are more fore teens.
http://www.lorencollins.net/freecomic/#marvel

Virtual Poster Assignment

In my February 3rd post, I wrote about an assignment involving creating virtual posters. My students did a good job. Below are a couple of examples. If you click on the side bar link "Technology Students Use" under the title Tech Tips, you will be able to see more examples of Virtual Posters that my students created.

By Hugo:


By Mark:


By Mary Kate:

Environment

As part of my unit on the environment and conservation of energy, my students and I viewed work created by students for students on think quest, the site I mentioned on a previous post.
http://library.thinkquest.org/08aug/00877/

Literacy Lessons

Booklists to coincide with a particular theme or lesson: http://www.mandygregory.com/BOOKLISTS2.htm

Inferencing lessons: http://www.mandygregory.com/Inferencing_mini_lessons.htm

Project-based learning

A global program that provides interactive project-based learning to students and participants in several countries. A site for both Teacher and Students. Completed projects can be viewed by everyone in the world. Password protected and safe---AND Free. http://thinkquest.org/en/

Hosted by:

Edmodo--Social Network for the Classroom

Edmodo
1. Edmodo is a secure social learning network for teachers and students. Sharing information in real time. http://www.edmodo.com/
2. View following youtube video that explains what Edmodo is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtFOPNK28Sc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHtwgZEHzNs

and     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uc5wEdGpxi4

DotSUB

As I mentioned below about looking for the video The Raven, I found it on Dot Sub....any video any language website. This site is great. You can view, upload, transcribe (add subtitles) and translate any video into any language. Read the tutorials to get a better understanding on how it works. http://dotsub.com/
A idea to use with struggling readers or just learning a new language.

The Raven---animated video

I was looking for a good quality video of the animated version of Edgar Allen Poe's The Raven. I found The Simpson version on Dot Sub:
http://dotsub.com/view/58591756-7128-488c-bfe9-22463d46d907

Shakespeare Videos-- Animated Tales

I was searching for a BBC video when I came across the BBC Shakespeare Animated Tales. Google video link has them all organized for you:

Click on the picture for the link.

OR

http://www.google.ca/search?q=bbc+animated+shakespeare&hl=en&rlz=1T4DACA_en-GBCA267CA267&prmd=ivns&source=lnms&tbs=vid:1&ei=dtKXTYOqAqbh0gGr6OHkCw&sa=X&oi=mode_link&ct=mode&cd=3&ved=0CAsQ_AUoAjge
                                 OR
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=bbc+shakespeare+animated+tales&aq=0

Google Lit Trips--Mapping Literacy Journey from Novels

What a way to introduce Literature to students!!!

You definitely need Google Earth and a media projector to take your students on this journey. By using Google Earth, this site plots out 3 dimensional journey that a novel takes. Each plot also includes podcasts and screen shots of locations. You can contribute to the mashup of literature. This site is regularly updated.

http://www.googlelittrips.org/

Artist--Emily Carr

Vancouver Art Gallery features an interactive section to display Emily Carr's artworks, an information section and a teacher resource section. http://www.virtualmuseum.ca/Exhibitions/EmilyCarr/en/index.php

Art Education--Ideas and Critical Literacy

I was working on an art lesson to introduce to my students. I came across Cybermuse. It provides resources, demonstrations and lesson plans from contemporary to classic art. There are tabs at the top of the page that you can scroll to investigate.

Art lessons

Lessons can be adapted for any age and grade.

Read Write Think

ReadWriteThink has many lesson plans for teacher use and student interactives. Cross Curricular lesson plans. Supports excellent approaches to teaching literacy and critical thinking.

Into the Book ........ Literacy

While I was working on my master's degree, I came across this website. I refer to it all the time to help me with some literacy lessons. The site is called Into The Book. I was so used to using this site that it never occured to me to mention it here until yesterday when I went on it.

This site provides the teacher tools to help students learn strategies in reading comprehension and across the curriculum for Primary. However, lessons can be adapted.

The Environment--Critical Literacy--Loop Scoops

On PBS Kids Go, there is a link called Loop Scoops. This link has videos to get kids thinking about things in life and what they can do to the environment. The videos on this site are only viewable in the US HOWEVER, underneath the video box there is a link that is viewable for countries outside the US. The link takes you to youtube. Below is the link to the videos:

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMZerTyvyMs


• Kidfriendly sites about helping the planet: http://pbskids.org/designsquad/parentseducators/resources/harmless_holder.html

Google Search Engine -- Smart notebook

Google has a search engine to help find smart notebook files on the web. http://www.google.com/cse/home?cx=016810805021913517955%3Abkals5ej7yg

View Google video to become Directors and Producers

I am currently teaching my students how to use movie maker. I showed them various videos I found on Google video on movie production and editing. The following link will demonstrate how to edit clips in order to create a publication.

http://video.about.com/desktopvideo/Windows-Movie-Maker-editing.htm

Under google video there are other movie basic resources that a teacher can use in the area of video productions to assist in teaching the lesson. I found Google video very helpful. My friends at AICT, from work, recommended Video Production-shotlists and Storyboards and Kids in Action-the rule of thirds by Nortel LearniT. Also, through my search I found other videos created from Nortel that you can view.

Fit For A Feast

This is a kids website that promotes healthy eating, physical fitness and other fun facts and activities. There is a video section that demonstrates various "how to" dance steps that you can use to teach dance with your students. This would help anyone that would need help in teaching the dance portion of the curriculum. http://fitforafeast.com/index.htm

Health

KidsHealth is a site for kids and teens that avoids doctor language that anyone can understand. It provides information about health, behaviour and development. You can access articles, games, movies and much more. http://kidshealth.org/kid

Web-based student learning

My students worked on the forces unit for science in class. In order to support their learning I had my students work on two web-based activities...one was specifically on Bridges (Super Bridge, build a bridge) and the other on forces (forces lab). There are other classroom activities and material that can be used at this site. http://www.pbs.org/teachers

Prezi--Alternative to Powerpoint Presentations

Create presentations live and on the web. It is a cloud based presentation. The canvas is zoomable.

The history of CANDY!!! (and other sweets) on Prezi

Coca Cola Company on Prezi

http://prezi.com/

Thanks Letizia

Teacher Vision--Lesson Plans

Classroom ready lesson plans and educational activities for every day of the year.

http://www.teachervisioncanada.ca/

Blogging--Edublog

I am always looking for a safe way to use technology with my students.Not all students have email in order to participate posting onto blogs. Edublog is the answer to safe and secure blogging with your students and teachers can manage students. http://edublogs.org/

you and your students can share materials, news, videos and work

have online discussions, collaborations and class publications

home-school connections

Youtube video will demonstrate how to start a Blog on Edublog,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FIk653lvkk

Technology Tips

I've just created a new blog. Why you ask? I keep finding so many good things on the net and I needed a place to save the resources i find so that I can share with my students. Also, I needed a place where they can post their completed work for me. Visit my blog, Technology Students Use You can find the link on the side bar.

Using Newspapers in Class

The website below has the image of the front page of many newspapers from around the world. Updated daily, it can be used in the classroom for world issues, geography, literacy and even cultural studies. The front pages are in their original and unedited form......ensure that material available for that day is deemed appropriate. http://www.newseum.org/todaysfrontpages/flash/

Children's Learning Network Website

Kids Know It Network is free and it is kept up to date. It provides educational Websites in Astronomy, Biology, Dinosaur, Geology, Geography, History, Math and more. It even offers free educational Movies. This is a great Elementary teacher's classroom....it also is a perfect way to have students spend some of their free time.A great world to visit.

Play Jeopardy on the Smart Board

Play Jeopardy using existing games OR create your own! Thanks Nick. http://jeopardylabs.com/

Instructional Powerpoint Games

This website is full of instructional PowerPoint games. http://jc-schools.net/tutorials/PPT-games/

Thanks Nick.

Villain Point of View

As a writing assignment, my students took traditional fairy tales and wrote in the point of view of the villain from the fairy tale they selected. They added these as "letter to the editor" for the articles they were writing. Also, to add to their creativity, we took the tales (stories) and randomized the words to create symbols for each fairy tale. I'm posting a few examples of the images.

The finished articles had: letter to the editor, a retell of the fairytale and message of the story. They also had to make sure that the reader was able to infer what the articles were about just from the sub titles. This task covered many strategies....

Kids Encyclopedia

Kidipede is a kids encyclopedia. A great History and Science resource for kids. There are teacher's guides to help on how to use the site with your students.

http://www.historyforkids.org/

Pictures for Projects--FREE

When teaching about copyright we talk about what public domain is. One of several sites that I mention is ookaboo. This site offers free pictures of everything on Earth.

http://ookaboo.com/o/pictures/

Another site to try is http://pics4learning.com/

Students can use these pictures on web sites and for classwork: It is copyright-friendly for anyone to use.

Funbrain - - - Educational Games, Books and Comics

Funbrain is a site that helps kids develop their math, literacy and problem solving skills. This site offers free educational games, online books and comics for students from K-8. Just click on the image and it will take you to lots of interactive learning.

Randomizing Words--Students Create

Students had a great time with this activity. I did not post examples of similar activities prior to this; this time I did. Below are a couple of examples.

 Who is St. Valentine?

 Describe Mom and Dad....

Valentine Words

My students are currently working on adding words to various images to create custom shapes. The randomized word work is from http://www.wordle.net/

Virtual Posters .... Glogster

Virtual Posters that can be integrated in any subject area. What an amazing way to introduce writing and creativity!!! I introduced Glogster to my students this year. Once I showed them the basic tools, I told them to go home and play with it. I asked them to create 3 posters on whatever they wanted. It was important that I allowed this practice because it would have been very difficult for them to produce an assignment for me right away. I wanted them to enjoy glogging. After a couple of weeks of practicing, They will create a poster for Social Studies. Below is an example from one of my students. It was his first attempt: He even linked two videos!!!

Create a Graph

We use Excel to make a graph....it can be a challenging task for young children. This was recommended by a friend, and I like it. It is reminiscent to Excel, such as step by step tabs, which eventually allow anyone to use Excel without difficulty. Very simple to: produce graphs, download and print.
Just click on the image.