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Plimoth Plantation - Plimoth Plantation
Grades
3 to 8
2 Favorites
0 Comments
Plimoth Plantation (that's the original spelling) is a reconstruction of the Pilgrim settlement at Plymouth. Take a field trip to the Plimoth Plantation just in time for Thanksgiving....more
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Plimoth Plantation (that's the original spelling) is a reconstruction of the Pilgrim settlement at Plymouth. Take a field trip to the Plimoth Plantation just in time for Thanksgiving. From Learn at the top menu, find and slide down to Bring Plimoth Patuxet to Your School and take a virtual field trip to an English village and Wampanoag home site from 1627. Go inside a Wetu, or home, and look. Become a historian and uncover what really happened on the first Thanksgiving. Primary sources give accounts from the Wampanoag traditions to the English home of Pilgrim Mary Allerton. Each student will finish with a printed exhibition panel. Dig into your ancestry to find out if you are a pilgrim. Find actual genealogical profiles. Explore the museum collections of artifacts. Find these resources under the Learn tab at the top menu; slide down to Teachers Tools, and scroll down the page until your find the resources menu on the left. Besure to check out the Digital Resources!
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In the Classroom
Change the commercial traditions of tradition and bring on a study of history. Fascinating worlds of primary resources are at your computer! Virtual field trips, historical sleuthing, genealogy, and so much more. Challenge your students to take a closer look and decide for themselves. Debate information lines the pages of this website. Have students keep a virtual journal about what they are learning (that is new to them) from Plimoth Plantation. Use an easy virtual journaling tool such as Penzu, reviewed here. With Penzu you can add images or your own artwork as illustrations. Study history not false information. Share this and other sections of the TeachersFirst Colonial America tour as part of your study of the colonies so students can see what these historic locations look like today.
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Vi Hart's Math Videos - Vi Hart
Grades
5 to 12
8 Favorites
0 Comments
Vi Hart's math videos have become very popular. They have even been featured on various cable shows. She also includes her Twitter information, so you can follow her. In the ...more
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Vi Hart's math videos have become very popular. They have even been featured on various cable shows. She also includes her Twitter information, so you can follow her. In the link, "Math Doodling," are several videos on doodling in the math classroom sure to entertain Math teachers and students alike. Titles include Stop-Motion Silly Band Fight, Sick Number Games, Snakes + Graphs, Stars, Binary Trees, and others. Be sure to also check out the link to Mathematical Food which contains demonstrations of slicing apples into Platonic Solids, slicing a cubic apple to find a regular hexagon, and how to arrange candy corn into Sierpinski's Triangle. Another wonderful resource is the link on balloons. Directions for making tetrahedrons, icosahedrons, and other shapes are all included. If you like Vi Harts Vimeo site, check out her blog here.
In the Classroom
This site is perfect for a Math fun day! Share the video clips on your interactive whiteboard or projector or set them up as stations on laptops. After catching students doodling during Math class, show one of the doodling videos to show students how their doodles can really be productive! Your visual learners will love it. Have fun with balloons creating shapes demonstrated on the balloon page. Challenge students to create the shapes after being shown a picture -- but before seeing directions. Use some of the topics when researching ideas for Math Fairs or Math Nights at school. Provide this link for student to explore outside of the classroom. Even girls may find they like math presented in such humorous ways.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Radio Lingua Network: One Minute Languages - Radio Lingua
Grades
3 to 12
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Find quick language lessons of 2 - 3 minutes each for a wide variety of languages: Portuguese, Japanese, Catalan, Danish, Gaelic, Greek, Irish, Luxembourghish, Mandarin, Norwegian,...more
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Find quick language lessons of 2 - 3 minutes each for a wide variety of languages: Portuguese, Japanese, Catalan, Danish, Gaelic, Greek, Irish, Luxembourghish, Mandarin, Norwegian, Polish, Romanian, Russian, Turkish, and more. Each separate language site has a total of ten lessons. All the lessons have audio support. Most language packs cover basic conversational skills including greetings, counting, numbers, and common words and phrases. Although more advanced lessons are available for purchase, the 10 quick lessons are free.
In the Classroom
Use this site on a projector or interactive whiteboard to discuss and informally assess prior knowledge as you start your study of a specific country or new language. Mark this site on your classroom or lab computers so students can take advantage of the free lessons and use them for review. List this link on your class website for students to use both in and out of the classroom. In a world cultures class, have cooperative learning groups spend a class/period learning the basics of a new language. Have the groups create a multimedia presentation using one of the many TeachersFirst Edge tools reviewed here and share their new language with the class. Gifted students would love to compare new languages discovered on this site.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Engineering Bones - Teach Engineering
Grades
5 to 8
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This lesson plan about engineering bones uses inexpensive materials and is engaging for students to complete. Beyond teaching about biology and health, this can also help students understand...more
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This lesson plan about engineering bones uses inexpensive materials and is engaging for students to complete. Beyond teaching about biology and health, this can also help students understand some of the problems with being disabled, especially disabled people who have lost limbs in the armed services or through tragic accidents. While teaching science concepts or health topics, students are developing a greater awareness and appreciation for differences in people.
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In the Classroom
Try using this lesson plan as part of a health unit on accidents and amputations. Or, in biology class talk about the mechanics of the muscles in the leg and the advances that medicine has taken to help create better prosthetic devices. Link scientific inquiry to "real" problems. Consider inviting a guest who works with amputees to meet with your class via Skype as part of this lesson.This would also make a great extension activity for those students who love science and work well independently. Gifted students would enjoy the challenges of this very complete lesson package. If your school participates in a science fair, this would be an ideal project. Thinking about an after school science club? This would be a perfect activity to engage both male and female middle schoolers.
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Free Puzzles - Jimmie Dean
Grades
6 to 12
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This site offers many puzzles and math logic activities in an easy to use format. Puzzles are sorted by difficulty level and topic such as logic, geometry, or math. New ...more
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This site offers many puzzles and math logic activities in an easy to use format. Puzzles are sorted by difficulty level and topic such as logic, geometry, or math. New puzzles are indicated on the home page and is updated often. There is also a quiz of the day and that solution can be accessed without registration. Puzzles can be accessed without registering to the site; however, to receive solutions, you must register then solutions will be sent via email. You may want to consider setting up a separate email account (gmail) specifically for the site so that each student doesn't have to register individually.
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In the Classroom
Consider setting up a class email account so that students can use the site then have solutions emailed. If you plan to have students register individually, read tips for safely managing email registrations here. Use the problems for a problem of the week or day. Have students write problem-solving methods used in their math journals and share with other students.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Paul's Online Math Notes - Paul Dawkins
Grades
9 to 12
1 Favorites
1 Comments
This site was created by a university-level Math instructor; however, it can be useful for high school Math students and teachers also. Contained within the site are downloadable notes...more
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This site was created by a university-level Math instructor; however, it can be useful for high school Math students and teachers also. Contained within the site are downloadable notes and tutorials for Algebra, Calculus I, 2, and 3, Linear Algebra, and Differential Equations. Each set of notes is quite in-depth and includes detailed definitions, examples, and tips. Notes can also be printed in PDF form. Be sure to scroll down to the bottom portion of the site for an Algebra/Trig review, Common Math errors, and advice on how to study Math.
In the Classroom
This site is perfect to use with gifted students who are ready to move on to more complicated math skills. Allow them to explore and learn higher level skills on their own. Print PDF's relating to classroom concepts being taught for students to place in their Math journals. Use this site to review skills taught in previous courses.
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Comments
I like this idea. A homework assignment could be to print a page and then be required to make up a problem that fits the subject area. Thank you, HeatherHeather, CA, Grades: 9 - 12
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MathPuzzle - Martin Gardner
Grades
6 to 12
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If you are looking for many different variations of math puzzles, look here. This site contains many puzzles of all kinds, together with links to other puzzles and mathematical recreation...more
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If you are looking for many different variations of math puzzles, look here. This site contains many puzzles of all kinds, together with links to other puzzles and mathematical recreation pages. The puzzles are marvelous, though many are a bit hard to understand -- often the author starts talking about a group of puzzles without explaining what the puzzle is. You may also have to work your way through some other random thoughts by the author; however, the puzzles on the page are worth sifting through the page to find them. Puzzles are listed in order of being added to the site, it may be easier to find items by looking on the right-hand side of the page and following the links listed under "Math Games". Activities are listed here by title without any explanation or picture, it would have been easier if they were in alphabetical order; however, this is still easier to find than scrolling through the long page of activities.
In the Classroom
Introduce the site on your interactive whiteboard or projector then challenge students to choose a puzzle to solve. Have students explain the solution to the class. Use puzzles as a Problem of the Week for homework or extra credit by posting on your classroom website or blog.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Puzzle Picnic - Johan de Ruiter
Grades
4 to 12
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0 Comments
This site offers well over 1000 logic puzzles to solve online. Puzzles are searchable by genre, level of difficulty, author, and date. Difficulty levels range from 1 to 5 stars ...more
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This site offers well over 1000 logic puzzles to solve online. Puzzles are searchable by genre, level of difficulty, author, and date. Difficulty levels range from 1 to 5 stars with 5 stars being the most difficult. Over 50 different types of puzzles are included from Sudoku, Battleship, Disconnect Four, and Diamonds. When searching by genre there is a link explaining the puzzle type included under that heading. Membership in the site is free and not necessary to solve puzzles; however, members can see puzzles they have already solved, statistics, and perhaps most interesting - can create their own puzzles to upload to the site. Membership does not require an email address.
In the Classroom
Introduce the site on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Then create a link on classroom computers or the computer lab for students to explore. Challenge students to create their own puzzles to share with other classmates.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Mr Nussbaum's Math Games - Greg Nussbaum
Grades
K to 6
2 Favorites
0 Comments
MrNussbaum.com was developed with the idea that crucial concepts, themes, ideas, and fact sets taught in the classroom can be enhanced over the internet through interactivity. Furthermore,...more
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MrNussbaum.com was developed with the idea that crucial concepts, themes, ideas, and fact sets taught in the classroom can be enhanced over the internet through interactivity. Furthermore, for teachers to have a reliable k -8 internet site to use in the computer lab or in the classroom, that likely covers one or many themes currently being taught. The Math portion of the site contains dozens of interactives labeled by grade level and topic. Directly below the links to all different topics offered on the site, there is a color-coded display to help correctly identify grade-level suggestions for activities. For example, red for 1st Grade, orange for 2nd, and so on. Many different topics are offered including fact practice, estimation, rounding, fractions, decimals, money, time, coordinate grids, metric and standard units, and more. Many of the games offer an introductory video explaining how to play. If your district blocks YouTube, the videos may not be viewable. Some activities require a name, Mr. Nussbaum recommends that students never use their actual name but makeup something. Names are not stored and login isn't required to play.
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In the Classroom
Make a shortcut to this site on classroom computers and use it as a center. This site offers multiple levels, so it is easy to differentiate for ability levels within your class. Share this link on your class web page and/or in a parent newsletter for practice at home.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Shine + Write - Transum Software
Grades
2 to 6
1 Favorites
0 Comments
This site offers a large collection of math resources that can be used on your interactive whiteboard or individual computers/learning stations. Activities include interactives such...more
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This site offers a large collection of math resources that can be used on your interactive whiteboard or individual computers/learning stations. Activities include interactives such as broken calculator, fraction spinners, ice cream combinations, and many more. Be sure to check out the Starter of the Day with an activity for each day of the week, there are archives so you can choose from many different options.
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In the Classroom
Introduce this site on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Then have students explore this site independently or in small groups. Create a link on classroom computers so students can choose from the different activities. Provide a link on your classroom website or blog for access from home. Display the Starter of the Day activity as students arrive in class for students to begin as they arrive. Create a class book with sample problems from the site and student explanations of their answers.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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ABCya - ABCYA.com, l.l.c,
Grades
K to 6
12 Favorites
0 Comments
ABCya.com, created by a web developer turned computer teacher, provides educational games, videos, and activities for elementary students. Nearly every subject is included. Simply click...more
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ABCya.com, created by a web developer turned computer teacher, provides educational games, videos, and activities for elementary students. Nearly every subject is included. Simply click on your grade level (K-5) and find what is available under language arts, math, and other subjects. Specific topics range from basic typing activities to creating word clouds to grammar games (at all levels) and so much more. The interactives are teacher approved and offer colorful and attention grabbing ways for learning. Opportunities for sharing on Facebook, tweeting, and sharing on social bookmarking sites are incorporated. This is a MUST SEE site for elementary teachers looking for some great practice sites for basic skills!
In the Classroom
Share this site on your interactive whiteboard or projector, demonstrate how to use the specific tool/activity. Create a learning center on your whiteboard or on individual laptops and allow students to try it out on their own. List this as a student and parent resource on your classroom website. Use this site to informally assess skills to tell you which students to allow to do alternative work or go ahead. Allow your gifted students to explore new concepts while providing necessary reinforcement for those learners that need a technology-inspired method to help master learning goals. This is an excellent tool for differentiating. Provide as an anticipatory guide for new units.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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YouTube Play: Live from the Guggenheim - Youtube Play
Grades
5 to 12
1 Favorites
0 Comments
Join YouTube and the Guggenheim Museum in recognizing a biennial review of the best online videos from around the world. As a form of modern and contemporary art, celebrate free ...more
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Join YouTube and the Guggenheim Museum in recognizing a biennial review of the best online videos from around the world. As a form of modern and contemporary art, celebrate free access every day for your virtual field trip from a Webby award-winning nominee site for 2011. A panel of 20-25 experts chooses from a selection of over 23,000 videos submitted. Explore art, music, movement, poetry, and prose on this creative video site. The option of subscribing to recent uploads is available at no charge. Click "continue" to see thumbnails of all available winners. If your district blocks YouTube, then this site may not be viewable. Not all comments posted are appropriate and videos should be previewed before viewing in the classroom setting.
In the Classroom
Capture your students' interest in the modern world of technology. Share this video on your interactive whiteboard or projector (be sure to use full screen mode). YouTube Play can be used in a variety of classroom settings; art, music, technology, language art, drama, science, or political science.In the art classroom, explore the emerging world of creative video. Determine elements of design, technology, photography, and movement. Discover the integration of music, sound, and movement in video in many creative ways. Use the site to demonstrate how to convey a message through creative animation. Express a creative editorial on a current events or important issues that challenge our world such as over-population, fossil fuels, or pollution. Have students create innovative political campaign videos. Take your technology classes to a new level of excellence. Add a visual component to poems, prose, or narratives as an additional interpretation device. Introduce storyboarding techniques to create videos with a tool like online sticky notes that can be move around such as Webnote, reviewed here, easily share Webnote using the URL. Have your students make their own videos using a tool such as Adobe Express Video Maker, reviewed here, and then share them via TeacherTube, reviewed here.
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Find It - Lyndsey McCollam
Grades
K to 4
4 Favorites
0 Comments
Deceptively simple, this game offers the opportunity for students to test their observation skills. Within the big picture, try to find the small piece shown to one side. There are...more
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Deceptively simple, this game offers the opportunity for students to test their observation skills. Within the big picture, try to find the small piece shown to one side. There are two levels of difficulty for those wanting to test their skills further. When stuck, click on the help button to be shown the missing piece. Build your visual discrimination skills!
In the Classroom
Display on the interactive whiteboard or projector and allow students to explore on their own and improve visual discrimination that is useful for reading and more. Create a link on classroom or lab computers to use as a center. Discuss with students different strategies and clues provided within the game that helped them find the missing picture.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Brain Teasers - Pedago.net
Grades
4 to 12
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0 Comments
This simple site offers hundreds of brain teaser problems along with answers. Categories include friends, math, logic, optical illusions, puzzles, and more. Some topics are NOT suitable...more
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This simple site offers hundreds of brain teaser problems along with answers. Categories include friends, math, logic, optical illusions, puzzles, and more. Some topics are NOT suitable for the classroom (such as dating.) Each brain teaser is fairly short and includes a link to click on the answer.
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In the Classroom
Choose a problem to use for a problem of the day or problem of the week in your classroom. Students can explain the problem solving process in math journals. Use several problems in a math problem-solving center. Copy several problems and have students store them in math folders to complete when finished with other work.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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K-5 Math Teaching Resources - Nicola
Grades
K to 5
4 Favorites
1 Comments
This site offers a vast amount of resources for elementary math teachers. Activities are described within the site and also available for PDF download. The site was originally intended...more
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This site offers a vast amount of resources for elementary math teachers. Activities are described within the site and also available for PDF download. The site was originally intended as a digital storage place for the creator's resources used in consulting work and evolved into a place to share math resources with other teachers. Included topics are numbers, geometry, and measurement/data. After choosing a topic, activities are divided by grade level. Be sure to look at other grade levels for activities that can be modified for your teaching situation. Also available on the site is extensive information about Math Journals (warning - their math journals are for sale on the site; however, information to make and use your own is free). Other topics include math games, centers, projects, mental math, and resources - including some for interactive whiteboards.
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In the Classroom
Use this site as a resource to supplement current classroom activities. If you are just implementing math journals, this site is a wonderful resource for ideas and implementation. Print out game directions for use at centers or in folders. Share this site on your class webpage for students to access both in and out of the class for extra practice and/or enrichment.Comments
This site has proved an invaluable resource for teachers at my school. Lots of great resources for Math Centers/small group work and the journal tasks for K-5 are all really good! Highly recommend it to any teachers and/or math coaches trying to get their head around the Common Core Standards.Jane, , Grades: 0 - 5
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Multicultural Canada: Wayang Kulit - Lynn Copeland, Simon Fraser University
Grades
3 to 12
2 Favorites
0 Comments
This unique site by Multicultural Canada is part of a digitization project that aims to tell the stories of the cultures that make up Canada. Other modules include Chinese, ...more
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This unique site by Multicultural Canada is part of a digitization project that aims to tell the stories of the cultures that make up Canada. Other modules include Chinese, Japanese, Scottish, Indonesian, Italian, Jewish, Vietnamese,and Pakistan collections are included in the learning modules. Detailed lesson plans, related resources, with rubrics are included. IN this module, Simon Fraser University shares their collection of Wayang Kulit, or shadow puppetry from Indonesia. Wayang Kulit often portrays moral or political messages. The university featured the exhibit, Crossing Oceans, Crossing Cultures, which includes the shadow puppets and stories about good and evil, respect, duty, friendship, and loyalty. The website shows some of the Wayang Kulit shadow puppets, as well as providing information on traditional stories. Photographs of several intricate shadow puppets are included. Ideas for projects using a variety of free downloads are suggested. There is also an introductory video.
In the Classroom
In language arts classes, study universal stories and myths while discovering the culture of Indonesia and shadow puppetry. Dramatize the elements of good versus evil, characterization, and plot. Discover a unique twist to Readers' Theater. Storyboarding opportunities allow for a simpler construction of a story performance with fewer background scenery or props necessary. Sound and musical accompaniments can add to the creativity of the performance. Reluctant readers through gifted learners will enjoy the flexibility and creativity of the art of shadow puppetry.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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BrainBashers - Kevin Stone
Grades
3 to 12
3 Favorites
0 Comments
BrainBashers offers many different types of puzzles, riddles, brain teasers, and optical illusions. The site is updated daily so new material is always readily available. Each time...more
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BrainBashers offers many different types of puzzles, riddles, brain teasers, and optical illusions. The site is updated daily so new material is always readily available. Each time you open the site, find a new fun fact along with an odd word and its definition. The site is organized into puzzles, games, illusions, fun stuff, and logic games. Sudoku puzzles of different difficulty levels are also available. The link for teachers includes puzzles for schools and useful pages including optical illusions, memory tests, and logic puzzles.
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In the Classroom
Use the odd words daily for students to learn new vocabulary. Share the fun fact on your interactive whiteboard or projector as a class discussion starter. Print and share Sudoku and other puzzles as challenge activities. Use logic puzzles in class for practice with problem solving skills. Share the site on your classroom website or blog for students to access at home.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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TeachersFirst Brain Twister - TeachersFirst
Grades
3 to 9
46 Favorites
0 Comments
These ten question quizzes, written by Thinking Teachers, are changed each Friday and are ready to go with one edition for middle school students and one for elementary students. The...more
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These ten question quizzes, written by Thinking Teachers, are changed each Friday and are ready to go with one edition for middle school students and one for elementary students. The quiz presents ten questions, one at a time. You have only ONE try to pick the correct answer, so think carefully. You get points for each correct answer, totaling up to a possible 100. When you finish, you see your score and how long you spent. Questions are intended to stretch your thinking. Printable versions are available along with answers to the previous week's Twister. A new version of the Twister is mobile-friendly and adjusts to any screen size. Take the Twister with you wherever you go!
In the Classroom
Since elementary and middle school curriculum content varies from location to location, it is unlikely that every question will fall within the scope of your school's curriculum. High point questions may fall outside standard classroom fare. Five-point questions tend to be at the knowledge/comprehension/application level of Bloom's taxonomy and closer to "normal" content. Ten pointers are more likely cross-curricular application/analysis, and twenty pointers require analytical thinking and a wider experience level, such as knowledge of current events or information beyond normal curricula. Twenty pointers may require more than one student's input.Do the questions as a whole-class activity with a projector or interactive whiteboard with students contributing the portions of knowledge they do know toward solving the question. Using teamwork and thinking aloud can often help the group reach a conclusion that no single member could do on his/her own. They can each test different math answers to see which one is correct. This process will not only foster thinking aloud and group communication, but also model test-taking skills for multiple choice.
Alternatively, do the Twister in small groups, with one student an answer entry but others as researchers on neighboring computers to find out what the group does not know. It may be helpful to assign roles: moderator (assigns what to find out and helps the group reach consensus), keyboarder (enters responses, may conduct research in a new window), or researchers (find information as assigned). Use the Twisters to model and teach information literacy skills in a high-motivation activity. Or offer the Twisters as an enrichment challenge or extra credit option for students to do at home. Ask parents to be on the honor system to sign a note indicating the score their child achieved. Since parents may be overly interested in helping, you may want to simply give extra credit for anyone completing the quiz, no matter the score. Be sure to mark this ready to go exclusive in your favorites and share it on your teacher class web page.
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Curiosity - Discovery Channel
Grades
8 to 12
1 Favorites
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See fascinating questions contributed to Discovery by actual people. View the multimedia answers to understand the facts about to the question. Apply to become an expert to help answer...more
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See fascinating questions contributed to Discovery by actual people. View the multimedia answers to understand the facts about to the question. Apply to become an expert to help answer questions. Select subject topics along the bottom to view questions.
Warning: there are sexually related questions. You will want to preview before sharing in class. And you may also want to make this site a teacher-lead activity only.
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In the Classroom
Looking for an answer to a student question? Check here first. The answer may be waiting for you! Promote scientific curiosity by featuring a question a week as a class intro. Consider creating a similar page on your class site (or wiki) sharing student questions to guide student research and presentation of answers in an engaging manner. Challenge more able students to add their own thinking questions/answers as alternatives to curriculum they have already mastered. Not comfortable with wikis? Check out the TeachersFirst Wiki Walk-Through.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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5 Minute Mystery - Mystery Competition, LLC
Grades
4 to 12
14 Favorites
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This mystery reading game helps increase reading comprehension and critical thinking skills in an innovative way. The basic game is free. You can sign up to have two mysteries a ...more
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This mystery reading game helps increase reading comprehension and critical thinking skills in an innovative way. The basic game is free. You can sign up to have two mysteries a week sent to you, or you can use their archive. There is an indepth "How to Play" section, on the top menu bar, where you can read the instructions. After reading a mystery you select the correct sentences that are clues, and select a character that the clue either exonerates or implicates. Points are awarded for each clue you get correct. You can set up a leaque or several leagues to track students' performance and progress.
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In the Classroom
Use your projector or interactive whiteboard to show your students the directions for getting points by selecting the correct clues and solving the mystery. To begin with, as a class, read a mystery and discuss what the clues might be and whether they implicate or exonerate each suspect. Once the students have volunteered their ideas for which sentences are clues, submit them to see the score. The program will highlight the answers you should have had, if you got any wrong. Model for your students a discussion about why those are the correct answers and why the ones they submitted weren't. Eventually they can have this discussion by themselves in small groups. Those of you with multiple classes will want to create a league for each class.Eventually you can have small groups of students compete against each other by creating leagues. Have your students come to consensus about the clue sentences and who the real perpetrator is by voting using Tricider, reviewed here, or Vevox, reviewed here.
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