Hello everyone,
There are a wealth of resources that can be so helpful in moving us forward with our game plans.
One approach I take in seeking out web sites is to spend some time "Googling" sites in the content area I am teaching. I look for interactive sites where students will be very active--where they will take on an active role in the activity, as opposed to listening passively. By Googling the topic with the words "interactive" I'm usually able to find some excellent sites. For example:
http://www.starfall.com/
(early reading)
http://www.mrnussbaum.com/ (all kinds of resources in game format)
http://www.mathplayground.com
(math games)
http://www.edheads.com
(nice interactive activities for simple machines, weather, others)
http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/vLibrary.html
(wonderful site with virtual manipulatives for math)
http://jamit.com.au/fraction-games.htm (nice fraction practice games)
http://www.decimalsquares.com/dsGames/ (decimal game practice)
http://www.internet4classrooms.com/ games and resources for all grades)
http://www.funderstanding.com/coaster roller coaster simulation--nice for physics
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/kids/flash/flash_watercycle.html the water cycle
http://urbanext.illinois.edu/gpe/ plants
http://yucky.discovery.com/flash/ fun biology site
http://www.andythelwell.com/blobz/ electrical circuits—nice interactive
http://www.nga.gov/kids/zone/zone.htm interactive art site--very nice site
http://www.sfskids.org/templates/splash.asp
http://www.mypyramid.gov/kids/ health site
http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/ social studies, science
http://ratify.constitutioncenter.org/constitution/index_no_flash.php interactive US constitution
http://www.innerbody.com/htm/body.html human body
http://www.windows.ucar.edu/ (science)
http://bensguide.gpo.gov/ (Ben Franklin gov't (social studies))
Since one of my goals is to create lessons that encourage creativity to a greater extent, I'd like to focus on ways to use technology to move students toward self-directed creativity. I like spreadsheets as a way to foster analytical thinking--giving students a foundation in how to use spreadsheets opens up a lot of possibilities for them. A project where students collect data that is meaningful for them, and then use a spreadsheet to analyze that data can help students develop their skills of hypothesizing, analysis, and critical thinking.
Tools like VoiceThread, PowerPoint, and related presentation software packages can faciliate a more constructivist based approach to learning content where the emphasis is on students making personal connections to the material and making it their own.
Social networking type technology and wikis and blogs encourage the kind of interactive exchanges that promote creativity and problem solving.
I look forward to reading others' ideas.
Susan
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Resources
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Thank you for the great sites, Susan. I have just begun my research of early educational interactive sites. I am excited to see the vast amount of resources that are out there. It is easy to get used to using the few we do work with (not that many in my class - but growing) but I like to add variety even if just to give these young students exposure to sites. I also think I would be great to send a list of sites home for parents to examine with their children.
ReplyDeleteThanks again,
Lynn
Susan, thank you for your words of advise of looking for interactive sites. I still remember from last class how you told us to always add "interactive" at the end of our search phrase. I have not forgotten that! The biggest hurdle I have to overcome in finding my resources is the time to search! That's why I'm so excited about blogs where we can share what we've found to help the next person who may need some help (like me :) I am always appreciative of your input and ideas!
ReplyDeleteHi Lynn,
ReplyDeleteI am glad the sites were helpful. Yes--sharing sites with parents can help parents to work with their children. I wonder if posting them to a class website might work well?
Thank you for posting to my blog.
Hi Kitty,
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean--time is such a scarce resource. I love the idea of sharing sites and other resources--a school wide wiki or blog where teachers would not need to "reinvent the wheel" or re-do what someone else has already done in the way of searching.
Thanks for posting to my blog.
I've approached my principal about implementing a wiki, I even set one up for the school, but she won't move forward with it. Technology is such a blessing, but to others it must seem very intimidating! I've learned I'm just going to have be an example and hope one day they will follow :)
ReplyDelete