For years a website called Marco-Polo existed that contains tons of lesson plans. Recently Verizon acquired the site and added a whole bunch of neat and free things. If you haven’t checked out Thinkfinity in a while it is well worth your time. Upon your first visit you will see a list of Content Partners listed down the right side. These are not ads…they are the links to your content area. Be sure to check yours out-it has a wealth of lessons, interactive web sites and web resources for K-12 in all content areas.
If you would like more information just let me know…
2/28/08
ROXER
Looking for a way for you or your students to create easy drag and drop interface web pages.
Try ROXER.
Free sign up, free pages. Pretty simple.
You can add pictures, text, different backgrounds, and some other nifty features like videos and slideshows. There are many templates to get you started and lots you or your students could do.
It really just doesn’t get much easier than this….
Here is my example: it took 5 minutes….
http://seneta.roxer.com/BRANDT
If you would like more information just let me know…
Try ROXER.
Free sign up, free pages. Pretty simple.
You can add pictures, text, different backgrounds, and some other nifty features like videos and slideshows. There are many templates to get you started and lots you or your students could do.
It really just doesn’t get much easier than this….
Here is my example: it took 5 minutes….
http://seneta.roxer.com/BRANDT
If you would like more information just let me know…
2/20/08
Toondo
Cartoons and comic strips are a great way for students to express concepts at any age. Toondo is a free service that allows anyone to create a comic. These comics can be simply created using their library of images and graphics, or you can use some of their more sophisticated tools to bring in your own pictures and manipulate them however you want.
Students can create comics to convey ideas, tell stories, explain concepts, define vocabulary, or whatever else you can think of. It is a great way to bring out the creative side of our students.
Once the comics are created they can be printed…or embedded into a webpage, blog, wikispace, etc….
If you would like more information just let me know…
Students can create comics to convey ideas, tell stories, explain concepts, define vocabulary, or whatever else you can think of. It is a great way to bring out the creative side of our students.
Once the comics are created they can be printed…or embedded into a webpage, blog, wikispace, etc….
If you would like more information just let me know…
2/7/08
timelines
Let’s stick with the time theme this week. There is a neat website called xtimeline. It allows you to view and make visual times about anything.
Here’s the basics.
There are two sides to this site…
1. Look at timelines people have already created. I emphasize people. This does not make them 100% accurate…but it does give you a lot to look at and think about-and most of them give sources for their info. You may or may not find what you are looking for…
(there are many great historical, biographical, art and scientific ones.)
Some of it is not educational….
(As much as I enjoyed the timeline of Brad Pitts life I would be hard pressed to find classroom use.)
2. You can create your own. Have kids do research, find pictures and facts and create timelines based on your content area.
Free log in is required to make your own, but it is open to view without an account . Students will never look at timelines the same again!
If you would like more information just let me know…
Here’s the basics.
There are two sides to this site…
1. Look at timelines people have already created. I emphasize people. This does not make them 100% accurate…but it does give you a lot to look at and think about-and most of them give sources for their info. You may or may not find what you are looking for…
(there are many great historical, biographical, art and scientific ones.)
Some of it is not educational….
(As much as I enjoyed the timeline of Brad Pitts life I would be hard pressed to find classroom use.)
2. You can create your own. Have kids do research, find pictures and facts and create timelines based on your content area.
Free log in is required to make your own, but it is open to view without an account . Students will never look at timelines the same again!
If you would like more information just let me know…
2/4/08
Time is on your side...
This is just a quick tool for fun. Ever need a timer? Activ-Studio has one-but what the heck…this one is just more fun!
http://www.fieryideas.com/flash/timer.swf
It is pretty simple-just hit the play button-and you can put up to 20 minutes of time to count down, pick some music and let the fun begin.
As I viewed this site-I started to wonder what else it had available…WOW. If you have time-you must check this out.
http://www.fieryideas.com/freebies.php
They make software but they have freebies. EVES and RAMS-check out the math daily tasks and the writing tools. The super dice seems like it would work at all grade levels. There are all kinds of neat little games/activities that would be TERRIFIC for the whiteboard.
You can log in for more access-it’s free.
ENJOY!
http://www.fieryideas.com/flash/timer.swf
It is pretty simple-just hit the play button-and you can put up to 20 minutes of time to count down, pick some music and let the fun begin.
As I viewed this site-I started to wonder what else it had available…WOW. If you have time-you must check this out.
http://www.fieryideas.com/freebies.php
They make software but they have freebies. EVES and RAMS-check out the math daily tasks and the writing tools. The super dice seems like it would work at all grade levels. There are all kinds of neat little games/activities that would be TERRIFIC for the whiteboard.
You can log in for more access-it’s free.
ENJOY!
1/31/08
wizard of voz...
Here is a neat little tool…this website takes text of any kind and converts it to an audio file. You can listen to it immediately online or download it to your hard drive. The website it simple and there is no sign up or login. Just type or paste some text (English, Spanish, or Italian) and click the “Create MP3” button. A new window will open and will provide two options: To listen, click the green play button. To download the file, click the “Download mp3” link.
The possibilities of this are endless…can you imagine turning text into audio files for our students who have trouble reading-or for review for a test to play over and over again in their mp3 players?
The computer voice is kind of scratchy but it is clear enough to understand. I also found another site called www.bluegrind.com
This site follows the same concept but is a little more involved as you need a log in/account. It is still free and still allows you to download or listen but the process is also a little longer. Either way the possibilities are out there…you just have to find them.
1/28/08
Ugly Betty
(Ok…so now I have your attention.)
I found a great website that has all kinds of free stuff…but I could never remember the name of it-until Ugly Betty came along!
The website is Brainy Betty.
What kind of free stuff you might ask?
Free Power Point backgrounds (very cute)
Free Word templates
Free Excel templates
Free graphics
And much much more….
As I always say-why recreate the wheel!
Check it out-there is something for everyone.
Like always…if you would like more information just let me know.
1/18/08
Google Docs Rocks
Do you have 2 minutes and 50 seconds?
As I sat thinking today how I could explain Google Docs in a brief tech tidbit I thought this might be easier. The video is called IN PLAIN ENGLISH-very well done.
http://www.teachertube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=77c5560d4cd9c3ffb6cd
(Be patient. Give adequate load time.)
Things to think about if you watch:
1. If a grade level or department wanted to collaborate on something to send to parents, colleagues or students-wouldn’t this be easier?
2. Several English teachers are having their students submit papers for editing-either to them or peer review.
3. Not only are there Google docs, but Google spreadsheets and Google Presentations-you could have students collaborating on Power Points and then presenting them from Google…no more wondering-how will I get their presentation to my computer.
4. Google docs also allows you to access your documents from ANYWHERE!
If you would like more information just let me know…
As I sat thinking today how I could explain Google Docs in a brief tech tidbit I thought this might be easier. The video is called IN PLAIN ENGLISH-very well done.
http://www.teachertube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=77c5560d4cd9c3ffb6cd
(Be patient. Give adequate load time.)
Things to think about if you watch:
1. If a grade level or department wanted to collaborate on something to send to parents, colleagues or students-wouldn’t this be easier?
2. Several English teachers are having their students submit papers for editing-either to them or peer review.
3. Not only are there Google docs, but Google spreadsheets and Google Presentations-you could have students collaborating on Power Points and then presenting them from Google…no more wondering-how will I get their presentation to my computer.
4. Google docs also allows you to access your documents from ANYWHERE!
If you would like more information just let me know…
1/7/08
BeFunky...
What a great tool to make pictures a little more interesting. This website called BEFUNKY lets you take an image and cartoonize it or sketch it. The site is free and not only lets you sketch/comic a picture-it then lets you add borders and other graphics and accessories such as glasses, hats etc. What a great way to add an artistic element to a project or a newsletter home. What about adding it to a presentation in class? Think outside of the box and there are a lot of ways you could 'befunky'!
1/2/08
Flashcards!
Who doesn't love a good flashcard. This site is great. It allows you to create, find and share flashcards from K-12. Work smarter-not harder!!!
http://www.flashcardexchange.com/
http://www.flashcardexchange.com/
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