The website is:
February 28, 2013
Hierarchies (Nature, Society)
This is aimed more for the upper grades, but it could also have some fantastic utility for the lower grades as well. I've always found hierarchies fascinating and difficult to piece together in my mind. The following website below is great, because it puts hierarchies you didn't even know existed into a visual form, along with extensive explanations. This can be great to help your students understand the way hierarchies are built in society and nature. Here are a few samples from the website:
February 27, 2013
February 26, 2013
What is Wild About Me?
Students get creative while creating "wild" images using the Build Your Wild Self web site from the NY Zoo and Aquarium. The writing part of this project makes students think creatively and makes them think of the characteristics of animals they already know. The website can also be used as a reference to learn more about animals and find out what new skills they would have with their new animal parts.
For this project, save the picture to your desktop and copy it into a Google Doc, make a poster on Google Drawings or Google Slides document to add the writing piece.
February 21, 2013
Reminder - Save to your "Home" Folder
MPS Home Folder
One way to back up your files is to use your MPS Home Folder. If you have important documents/files, you will want to make sure to have some sort of backup and this is one option that is available to you. When you login to your computer you will get a folder on your desktop called "Home". Pull any file folders or documents that you want to save into this home folder. This way, if your computer unexpectedly crashes, you have your files safely stored and can gain access to them. Another advantage to having things saved in your "Home" folder is that you can login to any computer within Minot Public Schools, your "Home" folder will open allowing you access to things you have saved. The students also have a home folder that is available to them when they login to a computer in the district.
February 20, 2013
Amazing 1st Grade Resources
**Compiled by a First Grade Teacher on Pinterest
These resources are organized by Month and also by subject area.
Several Boards have been created around specific stories from the Scott Foresman Reading Street Series.
February 19, 2013
In need of a brain break activity
or something to do during inside recess!?!?!
Check this out:
It's a fun little line dance from the popular Ice Age character, Sid. It's clean, and it'll get them moving. :)
Here's a quick run-down of the line dance:
1. Step forward 2 steps and shake it!
2. Step backward 2 steps and shake it!
3. Step your left foot out and then back in. Step it out again and "drift" over.
4. Step your right foot out and then back in. Step it out again and "drift" over.
5. Criss-cross jump and do the "man wave" to the right.
6. Criss-cross jump and do the "man wave" to the left.
7. Hop 2 times and shake it!
8. Plant and pivot your left foot as you step your right foot 3 times so you're facing a new wall!
9. Start over!! :)
February 18, 2013
QR Codes
To read this code download any QR Reader onto your
iPad, iPod, iPhone, or Android
Here is just one of many you may download from the App Store
Designing your own QR Code is easier than you think!
Simply go to http://www.the-qrcode-generator.com
Type in the text or url that you want to share and...... PRESTO..... a QR code is created!
Your students will love to scan these codes to figure out what they say!
Photo Archives
THE 100-YEAR-OLD PHOTO BLOG
History in HD is a vintage photo blog featuring thousands of high-definition images from the 1850s to 1950s. The site is named after Shorpy Higginbotham, a teenage coal miner who lived 100 years ago.
© 2013 Shorpy Inc.
and
SEARCH MILLIONS OF HISTORICAL PHOTOS
Search millions of photographs from the LIFE photo archive, stretching from the 1750s to today. Most were never published and are now available for the first time through the joint work of LIFE and Google.
February 15, 2013
Reading Bear
Scroll down once you open the page to get to the lessons without logging in.
Reading Bear teaches children to read by introducing phonics principles painlessly and systematically, while teaching new vocabulary.
February 14, 2013
Edmodo
Edmodo is a very user-friendly online classroom tool. It requires no student logins- a plus for the elementary teacher whose students will not likely have email addresses. It allows for privacy as the teacher remains in control of who has access to the site and who doesn’t.
It looks something like this:
Instructions to set up a new Edmodo account.
***If you are part of the Minot Public School District, you will want to set up your account through this link. *** Edmodo mymps.us
If you are outside of the Minot district, you can get started by going here
Biographies and Autobiographies
Click on these links for a large number of lesson plans and resources on: Biographies, Autobiographies.
The following links have a huge assortment of resources for for teachers. These speeches, biographies, and autobiographies have small descriptions, audio, and sometimes video. Those who like it and want more can sign up for the free website to access additional features:
Notebook files:
Click here for a variety of Notebook files on the topics.
And a freebie:
Cool general lesson plan ideas.
The following links have a huge assortment of resources for for teachers. These speeches, biographies, and autobiographies have small descriptions, audio, and sometimes video. Those who like it and want more can sign up for the free website to access additional features:
Click here for a variety of Notebook files on the topics.
And a freebie:
Cool general lesson plan ideas.
Fairy Tales
Below are a variety of resources, mainly audio and video, for fairy tales and fractured fairy tales. I hope you find something useful!
First, this is a real gem. It's a website with free audio recordings of most fairy tales, (and lots of other books as well) and everything is public domain, so teachers can use it guilt-free. It also lists the length of each reading, along with allowing you to download them if you prefer. The site is:
- http://www.booksshouldbefree.com/genre/Fairy_tales
In addition, there is also a ton of recordings available via the Librivox project. The website does excellent work, but I can't say I'm a huge fan of the way it's organized. It's difficult to find what you are looking for, but when you do it's great! To make things easier, I am linking to two sections that might be relevant to the teachers.
First, is the Fairy Tales Section.
And second is the Children's Section.
In addition, teachers who are interested can check out this link, which is a playlist of Golden Fairy Tale Classics, this link for animated Hans Christian Anderson fairy tales, or this link for Grimm's Fairy tales.
Unfortunately, a lot of fractured fairy tales are copyrighted and relatively new, so difficult to find online, but here are some great resources anyhow. (I'm sure a lot of the books listed are available in the library.)
Click here for tons of great info and examples of Fractured Fairy Tales compiled by a passionate teacher.
And here's a free one if you are interested.
Finally, here's a playlist of Fractured Fairy Tales to run contrary to the Golden Fairy Tales. These should be OK to show, since it's being used in the curriculum.
Learning about the Presidents
The following links are nice, quick resources for learning about the presidents. Enjoy!
This is the one that has the most potential. The site doesn't look like much, but after you click the presidents name it gives you all kinds of fun stuff to do, along with facts, biographies, and everything imaginable: click here.
This one has games that you might want to use: click here.
NASA’s Space Place is a comprehensive website filled with fun facts, videos, galleries of photos, activities, books, interactive games, puzzles, quizzes, and missions for classroom use. The categories include Space, Sun, Earth, Solar System, People & Technology, Parents & Educators, and Fact of the Day (which is followed by activities that support that fact). Each category has 30+ games, experiments, & activities. If any of these categories are in your curriculum, this site is a place to explore to find ways to enhance your lessons. There are also a few apps for iPads, iPods, and iPhones. Check it out!
NASA: Make Seed Paper
Thanks to Darlene Pullen, MDEC and Glenda Fauske, NDSU for sharing these sites!!
There's a fun new activity on NASA's Climate Kids website. Instead of just emptying the paper-shredder receptacle into the recycle bin, recycle it yourself! Make your own recycled paper greeting cards - and then plant them! This "seed paper" activity is easy and fun, and produces a greeting anyone would find endearing for Valentine's Day or Mother's Day. Visit http://climatekids.nasa.gov/seed-paper.
February 13, 2013
President's Day Wordle
Use this site to find biographical information about each president - usa for kids
Then use that information to make a wordle! Type the text into the wordle creator and students can change the style, color and fonts. You could also have students choose a few words in their wordle and have them share with why they included those words. Add a picture of the President for display
This wordle is about Dwight Eisenhower:
Fun with Animal Reports
Students will LOVE adding a new step to their animal reports! Have the students put themselves in the animals shoes by using Blabberize on the computer or a free app called FaceTalker in the iPad. The students do research on an animal, as usual, finding all of the important details and facts that are required. From there, they create a script as if they are the animal telling the world all about how they live. This is when Blabberize and/or FaceTalker come into play. Before using either application, the students will want to find a front-facing picture of the animal with his mouth closed and have it available on their computer or iPad.
If you use Blabberize on the computer, the teacher will want to create one account, and all students will use this account to complete their work. This way, the reports will all be in one place and easy to locate. Click the words below to watch this short tutorial on how to use Blabberize.
If you have an iPad or iPads in your classroom, FaceTalker will take you through the steps of adding your picture, your mouth placement and recording. Then you will export the report to the Photo Gallery on the iPad for easy viewing.
If you use Blabberize on the computer, the teacher will want to create one account, and all students will use this account to complete their work. This way, the reports will all be in one place and easy to locate. Click the words below to watch this short tutorial on how to use Blabberize.
If you have an iPad or iPads in your classroom, FaceTalker will take you through the steps of adding your picture, your mouth placement and recording. Then you will export the report to the Photo Gallery on the iPad for easy viewing.
Here is an example of a FaceTalk movie.
I'VE NEVER SEEN A SNOWMAN LIKE THAT!
Students create a wacky snowman using this interactive site http://swf.whodressup.net/Build_a_Snowman.swf.
It lets the user change hats, heads, clothing, feet, and even backgrounds, and objects. Students make a snowman paste into a word processing program. Students write about their snowman using as many descriptive words as they could in each sentence.
February 12, 2013
http://www.safeshare.tv/w/qFeDxOTexl
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