TeachersFirst - Featured Sites: Week of Oct 8, 2023
Here are this week's features. Clicking the tags in the description area of each listing will present a list of other resources with this topic. | Click here to return to the Featured Sites Archive
Cornell Garden-Based Learning - Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Grades
8 to 12
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Project S.O.W. (Seeds of Wonder) is designed for educators who work with youth aged 13-19 and centers around personal growth, community connection, and equity. The Food Gardening with...more
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Project S.O.W. (Seeds of Wonder) is designed for educators who work with youth aged 13-19 and centers around personal growth, community connection, and equity. The Food Gardening with Justice in Mind provides a comprehensive resource for individuals interested in food gardening emphasizing sustainability, social justice, and community engagement. It offers practical lessons, resources, and guidance for individuals at all skill levels, fostering a deeper understanding of the connections between food, gardening, and social change. Each unit contains five to seven ready-made lessons where students work together to explore growing food, relationships with the land and food system, and practice leadership in their communities. Activities in the fully downloadable curriculum connect to New York State Learning Standards and 4-H life skills.
In the Classroom
Add this project or one of the units to your arsenal of tools for teaching the Sustainable Development Goals explained in World's Largest Lesson , reviewed here. Show the introduction to S.O.W. on your interactive whiteboard to the class focusing on the links for Seeds for Supper (a beginning gardening experience). If you don't have a school garden, there is a link to Gardening in Containers in Seeds for Supper, which would be easier and more affordable for a classroom or individual students. As you and your class move through the unit, have students use Wakelet, reviewed here to keep a list of notes and links. Be sure to include images of your before and after garden. As a culminating project, use Flip, reviewed here to have students describe the most useful information they learned from this unit. Ask them to comment on their peer's responses.
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Oxfam's Education Resources - OXFAM
Grades
3 to 9
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Find an extensive list of free resources for developing learning about global issues from Oxfam's collection for education. These resources aim to give students the materials and activities...more
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Find an extensive list of free resources for developing learning about global issues from Oxfam's collection for education. These resources aim to give students the materials and activities to think critically and act responsibly. In this collection, you'll find activities, lesson plans, quizzes, PowerPoint presentations, and more. Topics explore high-interest issues for learners ages 7 to 14. Examples of a few cases are Children's Rights, Sustainable Clothing, Climate Change/Emergency/Challenge, Where Food Comes From, and much more. The units are downloadable in PDF format and include plans for different age groups, a teacher overview, related links, a detailed resource outline, and PowerPoints (where applicable).
In the Classroom
These units are very comprehensive! Choose a unit to complete as a class using your interactive whiteboard or projector to show students all activities, links, and other resources. Then go through some titles and descriptions of several units and ask the class which ones they would be interested in exploring. You may want to use a tool such as Padlet, reviewed here, to keep this organized and eventually form student groups. Students interested in the same topic can form small groups to explore their topics. For younger students, structure this in a very organized way in that all students will look at the links for their unit on a certain day and divide them up with their group to explore and share with other group members after a given time. For older students you could modify their technology use using a tool like Workona, reviewed here, to keep student groups organized and moving forward in their research. At the end of the research, enhance student learning by having student groups share with the class what they learned using a multimedia tool like Genially, reviewed here. With Genially, students can choose what type of presentation they want to use (interactive poster, infographic, videos, games, etc.).
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A Looming Plague: The Fight to Contain a New Locust Invasion - Tara John and Bethlehem Feleke, CNN
Grades
6 to 12
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Explore the reasons locusts threaten food security in Kenya, Ethiopia, and Somalia with this CNN interactive. Scroll through to learn how the coronavirus pandemic is hampering the region's...more
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Explore the reasons locusts threaten food security in Kenya, Ethiopia, and Somalia with this CNN interactive. Scroll through to learn how the coronavirus pandemic is hampering the region's ability to implement efforts to fight the impending maturation of locusts that reproduce quickly and devastate crops. The interactive also takes viewers through a timeline of extreme weather events leading to the threat to African crops.
In the Classroom
Include this interactive with lessons about African countries, climate change, weather, or insects. Engage students by exploring this site together using Microsoft Whiteboard, reviewed here, or Google Jamboard, reviewed here, to add notes, images, or create diagrams sharing students' thoughts. For older students, have them explore the site independently and share ideas on a collaborative whiteboard. Ask students to research the problems faced due to locusts and include information from previous infestations. As students conduct their research, use a collaborative site like Milanote, reviewed here, for groups to share articles, images, and brainstorm ideas. Extend learning further by asking students to become the problem solvers and share their suggestions for solving the problem both long term and short term. Provide options for groups to present their findings through various methods of digital media. For example, ask a group to use Google My Maps, reviewed here, to create a virtual tour of the problem areas and add images and notes with their suggestions. Have another group use tools found at Genially, reviewed here, to create a presentation that includes interactive images, infographics, and videos using templates found on the site.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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My Plate Match Game - Dairy Council of California
Grades
2 to 6
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My Plate Match is an interactive game for students to learn all about nutrition and healthy eating. Students will learn all about the food groups by dragging and dropping the ...more
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My Plate Match is an interactive game for students to learn all about nutrition and healthy eating. Students will learn all about the food groups by dragging and dropping the food items to the appropriate section of their plate. Not only will they learn about the food groups, but they will also learn how to stay active for 60 minutes per day.
In the Classroom
Use this interactive as an anticipatory set or "activator" to introduce a unit or lesson about nutrition on a projector or interactive whiteboard. Discuss not only the colors of the food groups but the portions on the plates. Make a shortcut to this site on classroom computers and use it as a center. Use Padlet, reviewed here, to enhance learning by having students brainstorm a list of activities, games, and sports they would suggest to be active 60 minutes per day. With Padlet you can create columns for the different types of activities. Post a link on your class website for parents and students to use at home.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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15 Spanish Christmas Dessert Recipes - Spanish Sabores
Grades
K to 12
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Do you need new ideas for a Christmas Around the World celebration or a unit about Spain? Try some authentic Spanish dessert recipes for starters. The easy to follow directions ...more
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Do you need new ideas for a Christmas Around the World celebration or a unit about Spain? Try some authentic Spanish dessert recipes for starters. The easy to follow directions along with vibrant images offer interesting suggestions to liven up any event. Also on this site is "15 Spanish Christmas Recipes For A Traditional Holiday Feast." Be sure to check those out, too!
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This site includes advertising.
In the Classroom
Ask parents to volunteer to cook and bring in items for celebrations. Have students create an annotated image including text boxes and related links using a tool such as Image Annotator, reviewed here to describe the different foods or ingredients. Have students create maps using Zeemaps, reviewed here. Students can add text, videos, and location stops from their around the world food tasting! If teaching Spanish, have students rewrite recipes in Spanish.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Kid World Citizen - Becky Morales
Grades
K to 6
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Kid World Citizen offers a large variety of resources to encourage kids to become global learners and thinkers. Explore categories such as books, food, and art to find international...more
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Kid World Citizen offers a large variety of resources to encourage kids to become global learners and thinkers. Explore categories such as books, food, and art to find international learning activities. Look for topics on specific countries using the map search. Be sure to check out the For Fun area with links to movies, music, games, and toys.
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In the Classroom
Bookmark this site for use throughout the year when teaching about countries, holidays, and for cross-cultural literature resources. Choose a country to explore each month using resources found on the site. Learn about your students' backgrounds to find countries and regions to explore using activities on the site. Use an online tool such as Interactive Two Circle Venn Diagram, reviewed here, to compare and contrast your culture with that of a different country.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Produce Oasis - P-O-P Interactive, Inc.
Grades
4 to 12
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Produce Oasis is a source for information about selecting and preparing herbs, fresh fruits & vegetables. The site includes healthy recipes, seasonal information, history, and nutritional...more
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Produce Oasis is a source for information about selecting and preparing herbs, fresh fruits & vegetables. The site includes healthy recipes, seasonal information, history, and nutritional & dietary data about your favorite fruits and vegetables! To explore the site, choose from one of the categories from the menu on the right: Blog, Cookware, Food, and Science.
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In the Classroom
During a unit on healthy eating, challenge your students to create a web exhibit collection about the nutritional value of fruits and vegetables using a tool such as Pocket, reviewed here, to share all of the important links, information, and even brief descriptions. Use the site with students to create healthy menus and find alternatives to fast foods. If you are a family and consumer science teacher, try out some of the recipes in class! Have students choose a recipe and create a "how-to" video using moovly, reviewed here to share with the class. Share the videos using a tool such as SchoolTube, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Kids Web Japan - Ministry of Foreign Affairs Japan
Grades
3 to 9
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Introduce Japan to school-aged students around the world through this site. It is divided into several different portions for exploring, beginning with Explore Japan (scroll down to...more
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Introduce Japan to school-aged students around the world through this site. It is divided into several different portions for exploring, beginning with Explore Japan (scroll down to Learn) which contains maps, calendars, and basic facts about Japan. Learn about popular culture in the Play portion where information is presented about biggest fads in Japan, virtual culture to try out online, games, and quizzes. Another interesting part of the site is the Explore section to discover different aspects of the country from climate to housing and government. Find out about Japanese schools, cities, and young artists in the Try box that offers information and virtual visits to different areas of the country. This site is viewable in seven different languages.
In the Classroom
Introduce this site on your interactive whiteboard and allow students to explore on their own or in pairs. Use the site to create Venn Diagrams to compare and contrast life in Japan with life in the United States. Take a virtual field trip to Japan by exploring different cities and cultural activities offered on the site. Find a recipe for one of the Japanese foods listed on the site and make it to try in class. Assign cooperative learning groups a specific part of this site to explore. Challenge groups to choose and make a multimedia presentation using Genially, reviewed here where they will find nteractive prese ntations, images, infographics, charts, and more.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Disney Healthy Living - Kids - Disney
Grades
K to 7
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Use Disney's Healthy Living for kids to learn more about different foods and energy. View videos and enoy activities to learn about balancing food, portion control, recipes, healthy...more
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Use Disney's Healthy Living for kids to learn more about different foods and energy. View videos and enoy activities to learn about balancing food, portion control, recipes, healthy habits (proper hand-washing), and exercise for a healthy lifestyle. Directions are spoken and written for many types of learners. Use the search box to find a food quiz.
In the Classroom
Use this as an introduction to a unit on nutrition or as a follow up to review what students have learned. Create a healthy living campaign at your school through creating posters, newsletters, and mini lessons that when added up can make big changes. Have students create online posters on paper or do it together as a class using a tool such as Web Poster Wizard, reviewed here, or PicLits, reviewed here. Have students keep track of what they eat and compare diets to make recommendations for change. Consider creating a campaign of pledges that students and parents can take for healthier living.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Popcorn! - The Popcorn Board
Grades
1 to 6
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Popcorn! offers a bowlful of information on that universally-loved food. Not only does it list the history behind the food, but it provides games, trivia, arts and crafts, printables,...more
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Popcorn! offers a bowlful of information on that universally-loved food. Not only does it list the history behind the food, but it provides games, trivia, arts and crafts, printables, reading and math lessons, science and health lessons and a booklist dedicated to the topic of...POPCORN! Who knew there were so many children's books based on this simple treat?
In the Classroom
The site can also be incorporated into social studies and history for the many uses of popcorn by various cultures. For example, include the site in a Thanksgiving unit. Follow the seed to plant information for a life cycle unit in science. Add it to a health curriculum under healthy eating habits and food groups. Do not forget to check out the worksheets and lessons for math and reading.
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Food Fight - Tourist Pictures
Grades
9 to 12
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Food Fight is a five minute film illustrating the history of American warfare from World War II until the present. Using stop-action photography, the film uses food products emblematic...more
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Food Fight is a five minute film illustrating the history of American warfare from World War II until the present. Using stop-action photography, the film uses food products emblematic of each culture to represent the conflict. For example, the U.S. is represented by hamburgers and french fries; the Germans by pretzels and bratwurst. Quite simply, the effect is brilliant, albeit a little gross. Included is a separate "cheat sheet" revealing which countries or cultures are being represented by which food product and an overview of the conflicts portrayed.
In the Classroom
The film is embedded in the site as a link to YouTube, so systems that block YouTube access may not be able to access this without a work-around.While there is no real content to this site other than the film itself, it would be a great addition to a modern U.S. history course or a discussion of current world politics. However, teachers will need to set the context carefully and provide discussion questions afterwards. Watching pretzels and bratwurst mow down a line of matzo, or hamburgers flattening a hundred sushi will spark laughter; it is our responsibility to translate that into a discussion of the Holocaust or the use of atomic weapons. Younger students will just giggle, but older students, with prodding, will find the film thought provoking. You might want to use it mid-unit after mastering the basic facts of WWII so you can raise the level of discussion to a more nuanced approach.
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Medieval Food, Banquets, and Feasts - Springfield k12
Grades
7 to 12
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You'll find lots of information on Medieval Food, Menus, Banquets, and Feasts. But you can also learn about Medieval Manners, Recipes, Gambling, Music, a blog, and more! This site is...more
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You'll find lots of information on Medieval Food, Menus, Banquets, and Feasts. But you can also learn about Medieval Manners, Recipes, Gambling, Music, a blog, and more! This site is a must-see if you study medieval history and want a high-interest theme-based unit.
In the Classroom
If you teach World History, this is the perfect site to get some extra ideas to make your unit more interesting for your students. In the blog, you will find information about Eleanor of Aquitaine, Castles Gardens, Saint George the Dragon Slayer, and others. If you have weak readers in the class, you may want to use Read Ahead, reviewed here to create a guided reading activity for the blog articles. Enhance learning by having small groups of students choose a topic from the blog for further investigaion and then report about it to the other groups using Genially, reviewed here where students can choose their type of multimedia presentation. Have you heard about the novel A Proud Taste for Scarlett and Miniver, the life story of Eleanor of Aquitaine (who married two kings and gave birth to two kings) by E.L. Konisburg? It is a perfect fit to add historical fiction to your history classroom.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Cheeses of France
Grades
6 to 12
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Do you know how many varieties of cheese there are in France? Navigate this site with your students and discover the rich tradition that cheese has in the history of ...more
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Do you know how many varieties of cheese there are in France? Navigate this site with your students and discover the rich tradition that cheese has in the history of France.
In the Classroom
Use this site in a home economics class before discussing the different varieties of foods, or your World Language class when teaching French. The site would make a great example on the interactive whiteboard of the wide world of food that exists.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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