Showing posts with label websites. Show all posts
Showing posts with label websites. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Upper Grades Link Party
Monday, March 5, 2012
Science Websites
Kids Know It Network : kid friendly science songs
I've played some of these songs for my class before, and they enjoy it. My personal favorite is called Sir Isaac Newton for teaching about forces and motion. The songs are appropriate for all of the elementary grades and cover topics from astronomy to physics, and even non-science topics such as language arts and math.
Gamequarium : science videos (like Bill Nye!)
This website has free videos on a very wide range of science topics. There are also full length Bill Nye videos! It does not require a sign up, has no ads, and is completely free to watch. Longer videos, such as Bill Nye, are broken up into 3 parts, but it's easy to go from one to the other, it gives you a chance to question students on what they've learned.
Bitesize : science videos and games
This website is produced by the BBC for all grade levels and subjects. Of course I use the science section the most. You can select a topic, read a passage, play a game, and take a quiz. I've done this on interactive whiteboards, and even in the computer lab as part of science tutoring. The games are pretty fun. I just spent about 30 minutes playing some with my husband. :)
I've played some of these songs for my class before, and they enjoy it. My personal favorite is called Sir Isaac Newton for teaching about forces and motion. The songs are appropriate for all of the elementary grades and cover topics from astronomy to physics, and even non-science topics such as language arts and math.
Gamequarium : science videos (like Bill Nye!)
This website has free videos on a very wide range of science topics. There are also full length Bill Nye videos! It does not require a sign up, has no ads, and is completely free to watch. Longer videos, such as Bill Nye, are broken up into 3 parts, but it's easy to go from one to the other, it gives you a chance to question students on what they've learned.
Bitesize : science videos and games
This website is produced by the BBC for all grade levels and subjects. Of course I use the science section the most. You can select a topic, read a passage, play a game, and take a quiz. I've done this on interactive whiteboards, and even in the computer lab as part of science tutoring. The games are pretty fun. I just spent about 30 minutes playing some with my husband. :)
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Donors Choose
Donors Choose is a wonderful philanthropic website that allows teachers to post projects they need funded. The requests vary from basic school supplies to technology to field trips.
My first project was posted this morning. I am trying to fund a digital microscope to use in the classroom next year (or even this year if it gets funded in time!).
Some companies will match donations, making it easier to get the funding you need. You don't have to apply separately for this - the companies let Donors Choose know the type of projects they'd like to fund, and if your project meets their criteria, then it automatically applies the "Double Your Impact" offer. I am lucky that the ECA Foundation is able to match donations made to my project.
Hopefully we'll be able to get the $92 needed to fund my project. If you know of anyone able to make a tax deductible donation, I'd appreciate you passing my project along!
My first project was posted this morning. I am trying to fund a digital microscope to use in the classroom next year (or even this year if it gets funded in time!).
Some companies will match donations, making it easier to get the funding you need. You don't have to apply separately for this - the companies let Donors Choose know the type of projects they'd like to fund, and if your project meets their criteria, then it automatically applies the "Double Your Impact" offer. I am lucky that the ECA Foundation is able to match donations made to my project.
Hopefully we'll be able to get the $92 needed to fund my project. If you know of anyone able to make a tax deductible donation, I'd appreciate you passing my project along!
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Class Dojo
When I have a difficult class, I'm willing to try almost anything to maintain a productive atmosphere. ClassDojo is one of the things I tried, and it has worked pretty well with my kids.
Once you sign up, you'll create your classes. Since I have two classes, I titled them "homeroom" and "switch class". I know, super creative. In each class, you'll have to input your kids' names. Dojo (as me and my students call it) will randomly assign avatars to each child.
After I put in my students, I changed the positive and negative behaviors to those that work for me.
I don't use it every day because I don't want my kids to get bored with it. I like to change things up to keep it fresh sometimes. When I do use it, I'll either project it on the SmartBoard or on my TV. Apparently you can also use this on your phone while walking around the room and in the halls, but I haven't tried it.
To make it worth their while, the person with the most positives at the end of the day (or sometimes end of the week) will get some kind of reward like a homework pass or a pencil. Students who end up with 3 negatives at the end of the day get a "mark" on their Responsibility Card.
The kids enjoy it, and it provides a little incentive/reminder to stay on task.
Once you sign up, you'll create your classes. Since I have two classes, I titled them "homeroom" and "switch class". I know, super creative. In each class, you'll have to input your kids' names. Dojo (as me and my students call it) will randomly assign avatars to each child.
After I put in my students, I changed the positive and negative behaviors to those that work for me.
I don't use it every day because I don't want my kids to get bored with it. I like to change things up to keep it fresh sometimes. When I do use it, I'll either project it on the SmartBoard or on my TV. Apparently you can also use this on your phone while walking around the room and in the halls, but I haven't tried it.
To make it worth their while, the person with the most positives at the end of the day (or sometimes end of the week) will get some kind of reward like a homework pass or a pencil. Students who end up with 3 negatives at the end of the day get a "mark" on their Responsibility Card.
The kids enjoy it, and it provides a little incentive/reminder to stay on task.
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