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		TeachersFirst is one of the places I go when looking for a great lesson idea. Click on the button to visit their site directly and find more like them or visit some of the links I've found while visiting their web site! These reviews are reproduced by permission of TeachersFirst. TeachersFirst.com is the web resource by teachers, for teachers. Copyright © 1998, 2006 by Network for Instructional TV, Inc. All rights reserved.
New Teacher Helpline Let's say you're a newbie who's nearing the end of your first year, and you still have questions -- maybe even some doubts about your future in the classroom. You might want to grab a few minutes (hard as that can be) and check out Scholastic's "New Teacher Helpline." The Scholastic board seems to be well populated, with responses coming both from other visitors and from a savvy moderator who is also a full-time teacher. The range of participants is K-12, but heavier on the K-8 end. For a sample, take a look at the post "Bad Teacher?" and the replies: http://snipurl.com/bad_teacher Around the World in 80 Seconds This math/ geography practice activity challenges students to answer several math questions in 80-seconds. Each correct answer flies Maggie and her plane to a new destination in the world. Students can choose a difficulty level of easy or hard. They can also choose to play the game using addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, or a mix of all four. http://www.missmaggie.org/scholastic/roundtheworld_eng_launcher.html Layers of Time - Fossil Game The fossil layers are all out of order! Which came first, sharks or dinosaurs? Dragonflies or flowers? Join paleontologist Sterling Nesbitt as you try to set the record straight. http://www.amnh.org/ology/features/layersoftime/ For Kids by Kids Online This site offers important information about safe Internet use. It addresses kids' favorite ways to use technology, including cell phones, chat rooms, instant messaging, e-mail, etc. A glossary of Internet terms and warnings throughout the easy-to-read pages make the information accessible. It also motivates the students who use it to proceed carefully and thoughtfully while communicating and downloading information. The three levels (beginning, intermediate, and advanced) differentiate for prior Internet knowledge, rather than grade or reading level. The site is an excellent introduction to doing Internet research, as well. Note - This site comes from the UK, so some of the language is distinctly British. http://www.fkbko.co.uk/EN.php?lang=EN mathmistakes.info Use Math Mistakes to uncover the most common math errors and perhaps learn a little more math as well. This site has "Real Mistakes from Real Student Work” and “Math Facts Students Should Know." Browse "Common Algebra Mistakes," "Common Trigonometry Mistakes," and "Common Calculus Mistakes" by using the drop down menus along the top or through the brightly colored buttons. Each area is also broken down into smaller subject areas such as "Pre-algebra" and "Radical Expressions" with several examples given for each. Each example provides the problem and the example mistake that is made. Rolling your mouse over the problem provides a clue to the error, while rolling over the correction area provides the right answer. There are also explanations of the errors and how to avoid them. Choosing the drop down on the example page allows the student to view as a plain web page or as a pdf file. Other links include "Algebra facts," "Trigonometry facts," and "Calculus facts" which contain flash cards and learning center activities. http://mathmistakes.info 60 Second Shakespeare This is a fabulous site for the Shakespeare teacher or simply the Shakespeare fan. It includes all of Willie's most famous plays done up in student-friendly and attractive, attention-getting form. The challenge is for students to develop their own '60-second' bit of Shakespeare. The site includes examples of different formats and offers everything from teacher lesson plans to "master classes" in teaching students how to do things such as audios, films, and photo slideshows as well as the more common newspaper articles and acting classes. The site also allows viewers to “vote” on their favorite renditions. http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/shakespeare/60secondshakespeare/index.shtml Autism4teachers This comprehensive web site, written by four teachers, offers an excellent starting point and wets the appetite for anyone seriously looking into autism. Autism4teachers offers a snapshot of many of the current and research-based concepts in the area of autism. The information provided It provides enough information to enable you to research even further. http://www.autism4teachers.com/ Spelling City Your students will want to learn their spelling words (or capitals, states, or other lists), when you introduce them to this site. With the atmosphere of city-life, students or teachers generate their own list of words (or use the pre-saved ones at the site). What a great way to differentiate and have student individualize their lists! From there, students have the options of Test Me, Teach Me, or Play a Game. Check this one out if you teach spelling! You could link it to your classroom web site. http://www.spellingcity.com/ Way Back Summer Vacation “Travel” is perhaps a better name for this site. Students love to dream of vacation and plan a fantasy trip. Explore destinations in the USA through reading the information at these links, and don't forget to send postcards along the way. Three links feature information on car camping, Miami Beach, and summer camp. Definitely check out Tim Hollis’ interview in the ‘Buzz’ section. He discusses some out-of-the-way places to vacation in the south. Challenge your class to make their own list of lesser-known places to explore in our area! Before you know it it will be summer vacation! http://pbskids.org/wayback/summer/index.html Save the Apples This math practice game is sure to excite your students. The challenge is to help a monkey swing on a vine across the water (and keep the apples from the crocodile). The best aspect of this game, is that you can choose addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division. You can also choose the difficulty level (easy, medium, or hard) to differentiate student practice levels. http://www.playkidsgames.com/games/apples/savetheApples.htm Wolf Quest This fabulous website from the Minnesota Zoo about wolves and habitats in Yellowstone allows participants to "live" as a wolf, raise their young, explore the wilderness, go hunting, and survive. Students can work alone or with partners, as they learn about wolves in the wild. They can consult biologists, write original stories, create drawings, and more. This is the first episode; future installments are expected in late 2008. Students and/or teachers must register (free) to use the program. Recommend you use a single class/teacher registration in order to prevent inappropriate postings "clever" students might make on the community discussion boards. There are also detailed lesson plans (click on Wolf Info > classroom activities). The lesson plans include national science standards. http://www.wolfquest.org/ 2008 Olympics in Beijing This official Olympic site supplies historical and current information about Olympic activities and venues. Centered mostly on the 2008 Olympics (August 08-24), it also offers general information about past Olympics. Students may play interactive Olympic games (click on Fun Page at the left). Learn French, English or Chinese by clicking on the "Learn Foreign Languages with Fuwa" area to the right on the homepage. Teachers may download a multitude of Olympic posters from this site, as well as view videos promoting this historical Olympics in China. Want to build an Olympics' unit? This site supplies much of the crucial information needed. French teachers will appreciate the simple audio sentence practice available. Whether you are planning fitness or reading incentives or trying to tie your math content to a real-world event, this site will give you the "official" Olympic info you need. http://en.beijing2008.cn/ PowerPoint Palooza This site contains nearly 200 PowerPoint slide shows focused on history lessons, particularly at the middle, upper levels or advanced placement level. These presentations range in size from a dozen or so slides each to over 145 slides. You can save them, modify them, and use them in your classroom. http://pptpalooza.net/ Virtual Autopsy This intriguing web site gives students a front row seat to anatomy and physiology. It is for anyone who loves science and can't get enough of CSI and for those of us old enough to remember Quincy. The site provides 18 virtual autopsy cases. Each case includes a presentation about the case, history of the patient, and results of examinations performed on the patient. The cases each offer students an interactive human body. Students can click on various body parts to learn more about the health of each of the systems of the body. Once students have investigated the case, they are asked to identify the cause of death (the web site provides 5+ possibilities for each case). If the students guess the cause of death incorrectly, they receive clues. Upper level http://www.le.ac.uk/pathology/teach/va/titlpag1.html Browser Books This web site was created to allow beginning readers to read books on their web browser. Readers can click on the triangle in the lower right-hand corner of each page to turn the pages. If they are unsure of a word, they can click on it to hear a child's voice read the word to them. The books have been sorted by level and by subject. http://staff.prairiesouth.ca/~cassidy.kathy/browserbooks/index.htm Big Dog's Grammar The beauty of this web site is its wide grade range usage. It offers simple topics, such as subjects and verbs, but also offers misplaced modifiers, consistency, and MLA guides. Click on any of the categories and the page walks a student through very simple explanations of the structure. It then offers students self-tests, which they can take immediately to see if they understand. It provides instant feedback with each question, so students are guided before making too many mistakes. http://aliscot.com/bigdog/index.htm The Online Picasso Project This site lets you explore everything you ever wanted to see and read about Picasso. Whether you are trying to inspire an art project with some visuals before turning students loose with their own materials or are teaching a lesson in art criticism, this site is great. A few of the resources open a little slowly simply because of the large volume of information that is loading. The site seems to work best when you go in through "biography." http://picasso.tamu.edu/picasso/ Birthday Moons Students learn about the moon and its phases by finding their own birthday's lunar phase in the year they were born. They then graph, compare, and write about their birthday's lunar phases in different years. Extension activities are also offered. http://btc.montana.edu/ceres/html/Birthday/birthday1.htm Rubric Maker This handy online tool allows you to create customized rubrics "on the fly" for any subject or project. You can print the rubrics directly from the website. You choose the age level (primary, elementary, middle, or high school) and input the name of your rubric. Then a blank rubric appears for you to fill in the details. The blank rubric includes space for the criteria, plus a range to rate (gradations) the quality of the students' work. There are also ready-made rubrics you can print out. The website provides explicit direction about how to use the website (they are in PDF). http://myt4l.com/index.php?v=pl&page_ac=view&type=tools&tool=rubricmaker Toy Theater This simple, musical activity presents students with a simple toy piano (with colored keys). Students can play the piano, save it, and then play the sounds back. This website would be extremely useful in an elementary or middle school music class, or a science class learning about sound. Once you're done with this explore the rest of the site - It's awesome - art, math, reading, and much more! http://www.toytheater.com/pianopuppet.html Check out this Periodic Table! Who says the chemistry department can monopolize the periodic table? This site highlights various charts, graphic organizers, tables, and other ways to express information visually. Teachers, especially high school, will appreciate this page to show the various ways to make their students' presentations more meaningful. Those who teach reading skills and how to interpret visual data will love all the examples. Hold your mouse over each square of the periodic table to view each type of visual. http://www.teachersfirst.com/getsource.cfm?id=8578 Count the Money This interactive game challenges students to count change and do mental math. There is a piggy bank and coins presented to the students. They are given the total amount and are challenged to add up the money correctly to equal the total amount. This timed activity is simple to use and quick. http://www.mathplayground.com/Count_The_Money.html Cogito This powerful site will challenge your brightest students and get everyone thinking. Designed to spark interest of young scientists and thinkers in real world issues, this site is run by Johns Hopkins' famous program for gifted youth. Find feature articles on current research, Nobel laureates, and hot topics such as global warming. Explore the links for MANY outstanding sites not specifically for "education" as much as for real-world investigation and learning. http://www.cogito.org/Interviews/default.aspx Butterflies: Unlocking the Mysteries of Metamorphosis Take your students on an adventure to the NABA International Butterfly Park. This website includes three components. The first component is a printable page for students to complete during their journey. If your students are studying metamorphosis, you can print the journal pages for students to complete while on the "journey". Then use a projector to take your students on a butterfly adventure! There is a simple registration process for the teacher. It takes only a few minutes and is free! Next, students are taken on an interactive field trip around the NABA International Butterfly Park. The final portion of the website includes an "ask an expert" page where students pose questions to the experts - this option is not available on all eFieldtrips. http://www.efieldtrips.org/Butterfly/ The United States Mint - History In Your Pocket Strike it rich and help your students make heads and tails of coins! The United States Mint H.I.P. Pocket Change™ Web site was launched in July 1999. H.I.P. Pocket Change is a fun educational tool for students and teachers that generates interest in coins, the United States Mint, and U.S. history. This is a teacher friendly site with adaptable lesson plans whatever the grade level. http://www.usmint.gov/kids/flashIndex.cfm Inventing Modern America: From Microwave to Mouse These two interactive games, "Invention Connection" and "Which Came First," introduce students to the world of inventions while challenging them to use higher-level thinking skills. They're much tougher than they look! Consider using them as the basis for a group activity in the computer lab. http://www.mit.edu/afs/athena/org/i/invent/www/ima/games.html NOVA: Dogs and More Dogs If your class studies animals (or pets), this site from NOVA is a great one for high interest among students. It originally accompanied the show aired in 2004. Be sure to check out the Dogs Around the World game to match up breeds with their environments and lesson plan ideas for ways to include the site as part of a study of biodiversity, and human influence on species. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/dogs/ Algebasics This very complete site provides audio tutorials with visual cues as the voice explains the steps. The topics span across a comprehensive Algebra curriculum, from basic order of operations and absolute value to quadratics. If your students can turn on the audio, they can see a narrated walk-through of almost any problem type they select from menus of examples. This site would be great as a homework helper on your classroom web page! http://www.algebasics.com/home.html Google Guide Show your students how to quickly find definitions in an instant! Google has pulled together descriptions of how to use some of the new features available by just using the search box. In addition to searching and finding driving directions, users can now check flight times, do math problems, check the routes of packages, see travel conditions, obtain stock quotes, get definitions and more. At the bottom of the page, searchers can link to more shortcut offerings, including Google Guide's Cheat Sheet and Google Guide's Coffee page. http://www.googleguide.com/favorite_shortcuts.html Hidden Pictures: The Farm As part of your unit on farm animals, you may want to use this interactive games finding the hidden pictures of farm animals. Use this on an interactive whiteboard or as a center during your study of animal homes and habitats. http://www.niehs.nih.gov/kids/farm.htm Math Maze Be Maze-merized! The self-declared mission of this site is to "make people love math." You will find a history of math, information about mathematicians, math games, information about how math applies in many "real world" professions, even downloadable banners and wallpapers for pro-math folks. This is a Thinkquest contest winner, 2006. http://library.thinkquest.org/05aug/01951/ Catch, Cash and Community This is an online simulation game focuses on sustainable fishing. Students can manipulate variables (numbers of fishing boats, catch quotas) and see how those changes affect both the bottom line and the environment. Each change results in a year's worth of data (up to 15 year's worth), and then reactions from different stakeholders. The game could be helpful in showing students that "success" in a business that affects the environment can be measured in a number of ways: cash flow, environmental impact, community support. The game could be played cooperatively by groups of students on an interactive whiteboard. The game can be played at a basic level and at an advanced level, and there is a demo. http://www.stockwatchgame.org/ Indigenous Peoples Literature This site is a wealth of resources on indigenous peoples of the Americas, including both North and South America. You can find poetry, artwork, daily wisdom, information about languages and leaders, and much more. Be sure to scroll down within the frame set or you will miss most of the content. http://www.indigenouspeople.net/ipl_final.html Online Etymology Dictionary As the author explains, "Etymologies are not definitions; they're explanations of what our words meant 600 or 2,000 years ago." Use this quick online reference to locate the point in time when a word entered into usage the way we know it-- or to find out what it used to mean, such as in Shakespeare. I put a link to this on my site because in science we're always talking about were a word is derived. http://www.etymonline.com/index.php Educational Uses of Digital Storytelling A fantastic and complete site that tells you all you need to know about making digital stories with students. The wide grade level range shows the versatility of the site for use with any student based upon his readiness to tell stories. The site includes everything from goals to resources to the step-by-step process used to create the stories. http://www.coe.uh.edu/digital-storytelling/ Musicals 101 This one’s admittedly for fans of musical productions, but music and theater teachers will likely find a good deal of useful information and guidance here. The content includes sections on how musicals are written, staged, and produced, as well as a section on show rights and recordings. http://www.musicals101.com/ Body and Mind This site takes the notion of “fitness made simple” to a new level. This Centers for Disease Control site provides a wealth of resources for children looking to maintain healthy and fit lifestyles. With resources on healthy snacking habits, an activity planner, and a quiz to help analyze your fitness level, this site helps make fitness, safety, and disease prevention fun for kids. There is also a teachers’ corner for help integrating these activities into the classroom. http://www.bam.gov/ My Hero Here is proof that you need not be famous to be a hero. This site offers capsule biographies of hundreds of people who have made remarkable contributions to our world through their lives and activities. There are featured heroes and a large collection of biographies indexed by theme. This is a great site for students who ask, “Sure, but what can I do…?” http://www.myhero.com/home.asp Above the Influence This beautifully constructed site walks students through some serious and thought-provoking questions about the effects of peer pressure on their decision-making. Visitors can take the interactive quiz to find out how they stand up to external influences then learn ways to deal more effectively with them. http://www.abovetheinfluence.com/above-it/default.htm Games Gallery Quick thinking and nimble fingers are needed in these fast-paced, off-beat, art-based games. Enter the gallery, read the brief instructions, and prepare to play. Each game is different, and the longer you play, the tougher they become! Color mixing, sculpture, spatial representation, and sequencing are among the content areas addressed. http://www.artisancam.org.uk/flashapps/gamesgallery/ Playing with Shadows Introduce your students to the ancient Chinese art of shadow puppetry with this interactive site. In addition to revealing the basic mechanics of the art, this resource provides historical background, descriptions of traditional stories and characters used in shadow puppetry, and videos of actual shows performed by the Shaanxi Folk Art Theater – a renowned Chinese puppetry troupe. After observing the step-by-step process of puppet and stage creation, visitors can construct virtual puppets and create their own shows. This site might provide some inspiration for a very different kind of multicultural class project. Create your own shadow puppets from straws, tape, paper fasteners, and scissors; then add a simple cotton screen and light source. Instructions and illustrations are provided. http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/shadowpuppets/artsedge.html Floppy and the Puppies Provide some hands-on practice in basic reading and vocabulary skills with this entertaining, interactive activity. Using visual and contextual clues students must select the proper word to complete each sentence, then click-and-drag to insert. http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/magickey/adventures/floppy_game.shtml Classics for Kids - (For the Music Lovers) This companion to a weekly radio show by Cincinnati Classical Public Radio is a virtual musical playground for music students. The site describes, defines, illustrates and provides audio samples for more than fifty instruments, a searchable archive of past broadcasts (just click on the link to hear the entire show), a collection of engaging multimedia games, and a "Hear the Music" feature that introduces students to selected examples of musical classics. http://www.classicsforkids.com/index.asp American History AP Quizzes - This collection of interactive multiple-choice challenges has something for every AP history student. Topics cover U.S. history from early discovery and settlement to Kennedy's New Frontier and the Americas since 1970. http://www.historyteacher.net/USQuizMainPage.htm Hole In One - Students can apply their knowledge of squares and their roots to make your way through this interactive golf game. Players must estimate a value for "x." Each time a response is entered, a stroke is played. At the end of nine holes, a scorecard is presented. Both amateur and professional courses available. http://uk.knowledgebox.com/index.phtml?d=23364 Artopia This virtual playground for the visual and performing arts is filled with interactive experiences for student exploration. Music, painting, sculpture, theater, and dance are represented through thoughtfully structured activities that place students in the role of sculptor, music producer, art critic and more! A great resource for teaching the principles and processes involved in each art form. Includes printable word banks, informational videos, and lesson plans aligned to standards. http://cfmedia.scetv.org/artopia/index.html The Physics of Baseball This one hits it out of the ballpark if you're looking for baseball physics. This site catalogs more than a dozen resources from simple explanations to Java applets that plot fly ball trajectories. You'll find lots of resources for building lessons or demonstrating principles. http://www.npl.uiuc.edu/%7Ea-nathan/pob/index.html Where's the Sweet Spot? - Find out where and why at this Australian site. http://www.physics.usyd.edu.au/%7Ecross/baseball.html Penguins on Ice - Students can practice how to make a basic sentence more interesting by inserting descriptive words; practice adding correct punctuation to a statement; or create a sentence by arranging words in the proper sequence. This interactive writing activity is available with or without sound. It also has math activities! The penguins are adorable! http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/starship/english/penguinsonice.shtml PestWorld for Kids - Discover why pests like wasps, mice, ticks, roaches and other creepy crawlies like our houses so much. Students can try their hands at being pest detectives or pest rangers with this clever site that focuses on our most notorious nuisances – mosquitoes, roaches, wasps, mice, and termites. Learn how they have adapted to live with us and how we can successfully avoid them. Visit the teacher section for lesson plans, game cards, and coloring pages. http://www.pestworldforkids.org/ Why Did People Support Hitler? - Encourage students to think critically about events that led to the rise of Adolph Hitler with this interactive story board. After learning about the complex issues faced by German citizens after World War I, students can use this interactive tool to create a presentation reflecting their understanding of Germany's political environment during the 1930's. Completed storyboards can be viewed, saved, or printed. This is a great site for high school social studies teachers to check out. http://www.schoolhistory.co.uk/storyboards/hitler.htm Math for Morons Like Us - This site created by and for students covers math skills ranging from pre-algebra to calculus. Browse by topic to find easy-to-understand tutorials, practice activities, and quizzes. Make available as a resource for school or home reference. Great option to provide support for accelerated students. http://library.thinkquest.org/20991/home.html?tqskip1=1 Organic Chemistry Help This site is designed to be a supplement for students of organic chemistry. The interactive tutorials, laboratory guides, and self-grading tests are extremely helpful in clarifying fundamental concepts. Includes a message board (free registration required), glossary, and overviews on new research in organic chemistry. Teachers may wish to use this online resource as a lesson planning tool or as a "help" resource for students. http://www.chemhelper.com/ SAT Math Pro Help students prepare for the math portion of the SAT with this collection of more than 125 video lessons, interactive practice modules, timed quizzes, and tips on taking the test. The FREE site, created by a math teacher and SAT instructor, is excellent for independent, self-paced practice. http://www.satmathpro.com/ SAT Prep Help students prepare for the vocabulary section of the SAT with this interactive practice test. More than 3,000 multiple choice items, organized into 21 groups, are included along with a database browser that enables students to display and print the questions and correct answers. http://www.sat-preparation.co.il/ Buying My First Car Math skills meet real life in this unit plan that walks students through the very practical steps of purchasing a car. After choosing models they would like to "purchase," students must investigate financing options, insurance coverage, and maintenance costs. All data is then entered into a spreadsheet, graphed, and used for comparison and analysis. http://score.kings.k12.ca.us/lessons/firstcar.htm Flash Animations for Physics If you teach science you have to check out this collection of more than seventy Flash animations that illustrate important concepts in physics class. Topics include classical mechanics, vectors, waves, relativity, and more. The animations could be very useful reinforcements for lessons. http://faraday.physics.utoronto.ca/GeneralInterest/Harrison/Flash/ Internet Picture Dictionary This visual dictionary available in English, French, German, Spanish and Italian is a great site for primary through high school foreign language students. Visitors can choose a topic, view the associated words and pictures, and then test themselves using the activity links on the left side of the page. Interactive practice options include flashcards, fill-in-the-blanks, "stinky spelling" (fix the mistakes), and more. This would be an excellent site for the foreign language teachers to check out. The activity links provide a fun way to get some additional practice. http://www.pdictionary.com Geometry This collection of animated, java applets helps students grasp the concepts of congruent figures, parallel lines, the Pythagorean Theorem, and more. You might want to project these illustrations to work through and discuss the solutions as a class. http://www.ies.co.jp/math/java/geo/ The Art of Teaching the Arts: A Workshop for High School Teachers guides the viewer through seven "principles of artful teaching" that can enhance instruction in the arts. The series Web site extends learning through discussion questions, enrichment activities, and activities. http://www.learner.org/channel/workshops/hsarts/ Grammy in the Schools - There are many ways to build a career in music. This site from the Grammy Foundation is dedicated to helping talented students find career opportunities, and to helping schools develop programs to encourage budding musicians. There are grant resources, career ideas, commentary from successful musicians, and lots more. Music teachers should keep this one in their favorites. http://www.grammyintheschools.com/ Adjective Monster - This clever lesson plan helps students identify adjectives and apply what they've learned in a hands-on creative activity. After a class reading of Ed Emberley's award winning Go Away Big Green Monster, students are asked to classify adjectives according to emotion or appearance, choose the one they like best, and create a paper-sculpture monster that illustrates the descriptive word they have selected. http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/content/3795/ California's Gold Rush - The Oakland Museum offers this collection of "untold stories" about the gold rush in California. The site includes sections on art; natives and immigrants; and more. Lots of possibilities to a unit on westward exploration. http://www.museumca.org/goldrush/ Reconstruct a Beast – Find out what it's like to be a paleontologist and try to recreate extinct animals from fossil evidence. This interactive site allows visitors to untangle virtual piles of ancient bones and use them to recreate a prehistoric creature. If all the pieces are assembled correctly, the critter will come alive and walk right off the screen - really. Choose from four levels of difficulty. http://dsc.discovery.com/convergence/beasts/build/jigsaw.html Famous Problems in the History of Mathematics - Grades 7 - 12 Challenge your students with these timeless puzzlers that have inspired mathematicians throughout the ages. The site provides in-depth problem descriptions, links to well-defined solutions, mathematicians' biographies, and wonderful trivia to enrich your math class. http://mathforum.org/isaac/mathhist.html Democracy and Iraq: Creating a Constitution – This WebQuest puts students in the role of newly elected Iraq officials, intent upon writing a constitution for the recently liberated nation. Working in small groups and using the Constitution of the United States as a model, students must develop a document that will form the basis for a successful Iraqi government. Each group must then present their final document to the class for ratification. http://oncampus.richmond.edu/academics/education/projects/webquests/constitution/ Eternal Egypt Explore the people, places, and artifacts of 5,000 years of Egyptian civilization with this outstanding site. Start with the Guided Tour which introduces the site's many features and options for beginning the virtual journey, then investigate the maps, timelines, multimedia offerings, sites and museums, virtual library, and more. Try the interactive "Connections" option which illustrates the complex links between the characters, places, and objects that define Egypt. http://www.eternalegypt.org/EternalEgyptWebsiteWeb/HomeServlet?ee_website_action_key=action.display.splash Inside Tunnel "Harry" Experience one of World War II's most daring prison breaks with this interactive site that takes visitors to the Nazi POW camp Stalag Luft III. There students can take learn about the clever construction of a 300 foot escape tunnel - engineered by Allied airmen, and built using tools fashioned from tin cans. resource: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/greatescape/harry.html Gel Electrophoresis Have you ever wondered how scientists work with tiny molecules that they can't see? Here's your chance to try it yourself! Sort and measure DNA strands by running your own gel electrophoresis experiment. http://gslc.genetics.utah.edu/units/biotech/gel/ Double Helix Game This interactive game challenges students to make exact copies of a DNA molecule from three random organisms and find out which organisms they are. http://nobelprize.org/medicine/educational/dna_double_helix/dnahelix.html Arty the Part Time Astronaut This site is filled with interactive adventures, games, and engaging activities that introduce students to some interesting facts about the solar system. Visitors can board the virtual space ship to take a tour of the nine planets, investigate the science behind the four seasons, and learn about the mythology of the constellations. Check out the interactive activities that illustrate concepts of time, speed, and gravity. Teachers can download and print a helpful guide filled with reproducible quizzes, word games, and puzzles. http://www.artyastro.com/artyastro.htm Tech Teachers' Digital Filing Cabinet The site's goal is to connect technology to curriculum. Each professional development project is focused on improving instruction to directly boost student achievement. This resource has numerous links to Curriculum Resources and Integrating Technology. http://www.techteachers.com/resourcetable.htm Color Counting - Grades K - 2 Practice counting from 1 - 9 with this interactive activity. Students are given a number and must color in the correct number of animals. http://www.little-g.com/shockwave/colorcount.html Newsmania - Middle / High school Choose a level of difficulty, then try to accurately answer a series of questions based on recent news events. There is some useless trivia involved in this fast-paced, interactive game, but it does provide motivation for students to read the daily paper and pay attention to headlines. http://www.newseum.org/newsmania/ Biotech Adventure - Grades 8 - 12 This award-winning site takes students on an entertaining tour of biotechnology basics using interactive animation, concise descriptions, and streaming video. Don't be fooled by the initial cartoon-like graphics. This is not an elementary-level site! Topics include genetics, DNA structure and replication, cloning techniques, mitosis and meiosis, chromosomes, and hands-on applications of biotechnology in society. Check out the Teacher link for downloadable text, graphics, and movies. http://biotech-adventure.okstate.edu/ Dr. Seuss Follow the link below to find all sorts of activities and links to enrich Dr. Seuss books. If you love green eggs and ham get going! http://abcteach.com/directory/theme_units/month_to_month/c_march/dr_seuss/ Then take an interactive multiple-choice quiz which will test students' knowledge of the characters and content of many beloved Dr. Seuss classics while encouraging some sleuthing through the school library. A print-friendly version and answer key are also available. http://www.fi.edu/fellows/fellow7/mar99/probability/seuss_book_quiz.shtml Hog Busters Students can attend this virtual training camp, learn how to spot energy hogs, and lower their families' energy consumption in the process. They can complete all five interactive games to earn the highly coveted Hog Buster Certification. The site is truly engaging, and includes a printable checklist that students can use to evaluate energy use at home, student and teacher guides, loads of activities, energy trivia, and much more. Students will love it. http://www.energyhog.org/ Virtual Manipulatives - Grades 6 - 8 Here's a great collection of manipulatives that illustrate algebraic concepts and test problem solving skills. Click on the buttons above each activity to reveal instructions for use and links to the NCTM Algebra Standards. http://matti.usu.edu/nlvm/nav/category_g_3_t_2.html Croak The frog population in the town park is declining, and you must help Councilman Pierce uncover the source of the problem. This four-part interactive mystery requires students to investigate, interview, and research their way to a logical solution. The activity is perfect for group work and has the potential to engage the most resistant science student! http://www.accessexcellence.org/AE/mspot/croak/ Odyssey Online This extensive source, designed especially for elementary and middle school students, provides excellent information about the ancient cultures of the Near East, Egypt, Greece, and Rome. An additional section explores 19th - 20th century sub-Saharan Africa. Images of museum artifacts from each region are liberally distributed throughout the site, along with some interactive maps, occasional videos, and games. The Teacher Resource section provides lesson plans (aligned to national standards), suggestions for integrating art into the social studies curriculum, and helpful tips on using the site. http://www.carlos.emory.edu/ODYSSEY/index.html 10 X 10 - Middle/Upper Grade Levels Current events at the global level are updated hourly on this visual grid of words and pictures that highlights leading international news. Click on a thumbnail photo to read the related story. More compelling than a scan of the daily headlines, this ever-changing, unbiased site would be an excellent addition to a daily discussion of world events. http://www.tenbyten.org/10x10.html March Resources The month of March is filled with special events to commemorate. Use the many teaching resources on this site to develop activities for Women's History Month, National Nutrition Month, Youth Art Month, Music in Our Schools Month, and the Iditarod. Lesson plans, online projects, hands-on activities, and book reviews are provided. Created by Education World. http://www.education-world.com/a_special/march.shtml Dramania Grades 4 to 8 This is a quick collection of activities for individuals or groups, coupled with a collection of links for students, as well as a resources section for teachers and coaches. http://www.public.asu.edu/~atbrl/dramania.html Get Active Stay Active Couch potatoes, look out! This site encourages middle and high school students to get moving by providing them with resources that will motivate and encourage. Students can record their physical activity in an on-line fitness journal. By racking up 60 minutes or more each day, students can qualify for prizes and awards. Teachers can even involve an entire class by registering online for the President's Challenge. http://www.getactivestayactive.com/ My Hero Here is proof that you need not be famous to be a hero. This site offers capsule biographies of hundreds of people who have made remarkable contributions to our world through their lives and activities. There are featured heroes and a large collection of biographies indexed by theme. This is a great site for students who ask, “Sure, but what can I do…?” http://www.myhero.com/myhero/ Playing With Time Amazing sights await you in this site that takes a fascinating look at how the world around you changes. Visitors can actually control the passage of time - speed it up or slow it down - and view the coming of spring, the evolution of the continents, or the incredible functions of the human eye. Follow the Activities link to find some visually challenging interactive activities. This site would be an engaging addition to a life science or art lesson. Use the activities to encourage creative problem solving, or select one of the video images to use as a creative writing prompt. http://www.playingwithtime.org/index.html NOTE: This site may not work properly on older browsers. Cool Math for Kids Students can practice and review skills related to basic geometry, fractions, logic, and problem solving with these fun and interactive activities. Highlights include a virtual lemonade stand game (manage your own business to make a profit!), a collection of thought-provoking "Brain Benders," and "ArithmATTACK" - a computer driven game that challenges kids to see how many arithmetic problems they can answer in one minute. http://www.coolmath4kids.com/ Brain Explorer If you're looking for meaningful enrichment activities in the form of challenging, yet entertaining games and puzzles, this may be just what you need. The riddles, illusions, and other mental adventures are taken from the Brain Explorer, a book written for children from age 9 to 12. Brain-bending games include Memory Solitaire, Welcome to the Third Dimension, and Jumping to Conclusions. Some are entirely "on-line interactive," while others require some effort with paper and pencil. Created by the Exploratorium. http://www.exploratorium.edu/brain_explorer/ Archimedes' Laboratory Puzzles With puzzles to make, puzzles to solve, and optical illusions to observe, this interactive site puts brains and eyes to the test. The site also has a maze maker, math games, word games, and tricks to perform. the site also provides detailed directions and printable instructions for using these puzzles in the classroom. http://www.archimedes-lab.org/index.html Don't Burn - Build! - Grades 9 - 12 This well-organized WebQuest involves students in an authentic collaborative activity to design a new bridge for the city of Calcutta. Using skills involving critical thinking, research, geometry and physics, students must assume specific roles and work together to create an engineering solution. Helpful solutions, links to Web resources and worksheets, and evaluation rubrics are provided. http://oncampus.richmond.edu/academics/education/projects/webquests/bridge/ Math-Kitecture - Grades 8 - 12 Real life applications of math are explored through a collection of activities that engage student in learning about architecture. Skills involving estimation, measurement, proportion, and ratios combine as students draft a "to-scale" floor plan of their classroom. The site provides sample plans, instructions on using computer software to complete the activity, and a collection of links to other Web resources on architecture and mathematics. Related activities involve finding geometric shapes in buildings, designing a bedroom, and using a virtual 3-D model of Frank Lloyd Wright's Falling Water home to estimate surface area and volume. Visit the Teacher Notes for downloadable lesson plans, ideas, and reviews of the site. Links to standards are included. http://www.math-kitecture.com/ Changemaker - Grades 2 - 6 Choose a difficulty level and a national currency (Canadian, American, Australian, British, or Mexican), then start earning money in the virtual piggy bank by calculating the correct amount of change. Questions increase in difficulty as the value of the piggy bank increases. http://www.funbrain.com/cashreg/ Play and Learn - Grades K - 2 This site reinforces basic literacy skills through interactive activities that involve letter and numeral writing, word recognition, color, and shape. Early elementary students will enjoy the variety of games and activities that work best as supplements to classroom instruction or at home. Available in English, Spanish, French, and German. http://www.literacycenter.net/play_learn/index.htm Chemical Stuff This straightforward site, designed for high school students, offers numerous tutorials covering such concepts as the nature of proof; atomic, molecular, and formula mass. A series of well organized experiments provides assistance to chemistry teachers as well. While lacking in pizzazz, the site is rich in useful content. http://www.carlton.paschools.pa.sk.ca/chemical/ Odd One Out Sometimes a thought provoking activity is just the ticket to focus attention at the beginning of class. Challenge your students to try these brainteasers: the object is to determine which image or word doesn't belong with the others. (Middle -Upper grades) http://www.clickmazes.com/ooo/ixooo.htm World City If Victorian literature or history is your thing, don't miss this site that features a rather impressive virtual stroll through a gallery of recreated Victorian businesses. You can browse through the shops and offices, peek through windows, and explore back street craftsmen's workshops. Add this site to a study of Dickens and 19th century England. http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/frames.asp?http%3A//www.museumoflondon.org.uk/MOLsite /exhibits/worldcity/ Web Gallery of Art - http://www.kfki.hu/~arthp/welcome.html The more than 12,000 works of are represented digitally on this site include paintings and sculptures created in Europe between 1150 and 1800 AD. Many of the artworks include captions as well as biographic information about the artist. Use the search engine to zero in on a particular work or artist. Choose from a selection of virtual guided tours to better understand the historical or artistic relationships between museum pieces. Math Projects Journal - http://www.mathprojects.com/lessons.asp Spice up your pre-algebra, algebra, or geometry classes with the tips and ideas for interactive projects found on this site. Many of the downloadable lesson plans draw connections to other content areas: an ancient Greek myth is tested with the help of some modern math; track and field activities become the focus of a lesson on arc length. The World War II Memorial offers a fitting tribute to all those who served in World War II. While the current web site for the memorial deals almost entirely with dedication events, I assume it will evolve into a useful resource for classes studying the history of the second world war. http://www.wwiimemorial.com/ Wright Brothers' Centennial - http://www.teachersfirst.com/lessons/flight.cfm The 100th anniversary of Wilbur and Orville Wright's first successful manned flight is December 17th. TeachersFirst has a complete collection of web resources about flight and the centennial celebrations. Visit "A Century of Manned Flight" and pick the content that works for you. Remembering John Kennedy - http://www.newseum.org/kennedy/ Teachers searching for web resources on the Kennedy assassination are likely to be disappointed by the flood of non-authoritative, speculative sites from various conspiracy theorists. Teachers First recommends the Newseum's site on the assassination and its aftermath, which faithfully captures both the events of that tumultuous few days and the intensity with which most Americans experienced them. Katerpillars and Mystery Bugs This is from the University of Kentucky Department of Etymology. It provides activities, projects, games, and reading lists that can enhance a life science lesson on creepy-crawlies by introducing the real thing! Browse through the "Teacher/Parent Resource Materials" and check out the collection of units and lesson plans that require students to observe, interact with, and record their experiences with a variety of insects. The "Teacher's Guide to Six-Legged Science" provides invaluable background information and helpful tips, especially for teachers who are a bit tentative about welcoming bugs into their classrooms. You can find it at http://www.uky.edu/Agriculture/Entomology/ythfacts/entyouth.htm Perfect Mate Getting students to connect with Shakespeare can be a tough , but TeachersFirst has a great assignment. Their Perfect Mate assignment for Romeo and Juliet asks students and their parents to pick the ideal mate for their student, then compare the results. It's an assignment that can spark some interesting discussions while involving parents in their child's course work. There are printable forms available on the site. This lesson is at: http://www.teachersfirst.com/winners/romeo.htm?CFID=74625&CFTOKEN=40194604 Math 24 If you're looking for ways to help students improve mental mathematics, problem solving skills, tap into this on-line interactive game that is as educational as it is fun to play! Students can choose from three levels of difficulty. Can be used as an independent enrichment activity in the classroom. Recommended for grades 6th through 12th. Go to http://www.surfnetkids.com/games/math-24.htm By The People Is it possible to get kids excited about the Electoral College or campaign finance? Can students truly appreciate political humor? Browse through more than thirty interactive and creative lesson plans, organized by topic and grade level. Topics include the campaign trail, political polling, primaries and caucuses, political ads, and voting rights. Adobe Acrobat required for some activities. http://www.pbs.org/elections/kids/index.html Learn to Read / Grades K to 3 If you're looking for a resource that will engage reluctant readers or help new readers with unfamiliar vocabulary words, you may want to incorporate these fun and interactive stories into your classroom. Students can read through the interactive texts independently, click on troublesome words, and listen to their pronunciations. Select from movies, videos, and games that illustrate special sounds, pronunciations, and spelling rules. http://www.starfall.com/n/level-a/index/load.htm?f eHistory This incredible resource is not just for history fans! The comprehensive and well organized site includes a timeline of events, a glossary, battle outlines, biographies, and thousands of images and maps. Topics include ancient history, the Civil War, World War II, Vietnam, Desert Storm, and much more. A true gold mine for history teachers and students. http://www.ehistory.com/ 100 Years of Flight / Grades 6 - 12 Time Magazine created this site to commemorate the centennial of powered flight in fall, 2003. Predictably, the site relies heavily on the rich archive of Time-Life photos from the early twentieth century. There are also articles and commentary on many aspects of the growth of commercial and military aviation. http://www.time.com/time/2003/flight/ Discover Narnia This multimedia site takes students on a journey of Narnia, introduces them to the people, provides details and historical background for C.S. Lewis' beloved novels, and offers "test your knowledge" quizzes throughout. It can be used as an independent enrichment activity as well. http://www.narnia.com/ Check out Houghton Mifflin Publishing's collection of theme-based lessons and activities, most of which have been developed by classroom teachers. Each plan is a page or two long, and can easily be printed for later use. http://www.eduplace.com/search/frames/rdg_.html BrainQuest Subtitled "It's OK to be Smart," this site offers a collection of games, puzzles and activities designed to challenge active minds. There are also original articles, a 2 minute quiz, and a post card feature. http://www.brainquest.com/ Foucault Pendulums Here's a nicely illustrated explanation of the physics behind the Foucault pendulum and its use to demonstrate the rotation of the earth. The site's succinct structure would make it a neat little supplement to an appropriate physics or science lesson. It would also work well for individual use. http://www.calacademy.org/products/pendulum/ @rtRoom This is a nicely constructed collection of art and art appreciation activities. Well illustrated ideas and concepts could be used in a variety of settings and grade levels. If you're looking for art projects, there are dozens of ideas here. http://www.arts.ufl.edu/art/rt_room/ Understanding Geologic Time "Billions and billions of years" can be a tough concept to convey, and this site does a nice job of making it understandable secondary students. The site's interactive elements will help reinforce the content and the progression of life forms from the earliest to the present. http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/education/explorations/tours/geotime/index.html Math2.org Quick theorems, tables, identities, proofs and graphs for arithmetic, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, calculus, statistics, advanced topics, vectors, complex numbers, constants, etc., etc. http://www.math2.org/ Mission to Mars - Tools to Teach (Grades 1 to 12) Cornell University's Mars "Spirit" offerings for educators include detailed lesson plans, including a number of K-2 offerings that let students discover the planets at their own level. The site also includes lots of information and images on the rover's many international science experiments and their role in helping increase our understanding of the history of Mars. http://athena.cornell.edu/educators/ AAA Math Grades 3 to 12 This site offers a collection of interactive drill and practice exercises listed by grade level and topic area. The interactive features are attractive, though the drills simply give users the correct answer if they enter the wrong answer. For those who need the practice, these exercises could be useful. Go to - http://www.aaamath.com/index.html Fast Food Nutrition Finder Here's an interactive guide to the nutritional content of the menus of more than a dozen fast food chains. Students can enter nutrient ranges and limits and see which selections fit the category. Instructive and fun! http://www.olen.com/food/ GAMEQUARIUM 1500 online, interactive learning games and activities indexed by subject , topic, and theme. The underwater atmosphere encourages students to return for more learning fun. Have fun with the fish! http://www.gamequarium.com/ Citation Resources Need a quick, simple citation resource? Take a look at these awesome sites: http://www.noodletools.com/quickcite/ http://www.lib.duke.edu/libguide/works_cited GeoSpy National Geographic offers this site that will quiz elementary students on their knowledge of continents, countries, and the like. There’s plenty of auditory and visual reinforcement, and the site scores each child’s performance. Even the little guys can handle this one. http://www.nationalgeographic.com/geospy/ Copyright Kids is a copyright primer created expressly for students. It provides a structured introduction to various aspects of copyright and their implications for students, especially those using the web for research projects. This one could be a great classroom reference or an integral element of a unit on copyright issues. http://www.copyrightkids.org/ aphics make the site especially attractive to those who have grown up on video games. Go to http://www.greylabyrinth.com/index.htm Top of Page
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