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Substitute Survival: Tools You Can Use - Education World
Grades
K to 12
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This website provides substitutes with practical advice on surviving in a classroom. Most of the tips, websites and lesson ideas are more suitable for elementary or middle school, but...more
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This website provides substitutes with practical advice on surviving in a classroom. Most of the tips, websites and lesson ideas are more suitable for elementary or middle school, but many of the tips are practical in any classroom, any grade and any subject matter. New teachers and those headed into student teaching would be wise to read it, as well.
In the Classroom
Substitutes - don't go into the trenches empty handed, print out this useful survival guide (or make it a TeachersFirst Favorite so you can find it anytime) and be prepared for the unexpected!You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Math Starter of the Day - Transum Software
Grades
4 to 8
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This math website provides daily "math starters" in a variety of mathematic topics. There is one activity per day (366 for each year). This website provides a variety ...more
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This math website provides daily "math starters" in a variety of mathematic topics. There is one activity per day (366 for each year). This website provides a variety of math challenges that are creative, engaging, and easy to incorporate into your classroom routine.
In the Classroom
Use an interactive whiteboard or projector to share this website to start your math class. The activities are sure to clear the cobwebs in your students' minds. There is something for everyone.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Logic and Reasoning Games - Math Playground
Grades
K to 12
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Use this website to "clear out the cobwebs" in your students' minds. The site offers several interactive logic activities. Many require no reading. A few examples include Tetris, Rubik's...more
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Use this website to "clear out the cobwebs" in your students' minds. The site offers several interactive logic activities. Many require no reading. A few examples include Tetris, Rubik's Cube, Sliders, Towers and more.
In the Classroom
Use one of these on an interactive whiteboard as a brain warm-up at the beginning of class or as student enter the room. If you have a difficult group in a study hall, this site could keep them busy in a positive way. Substitutes will also love it! Include this link in your class's newsletter, classroom computer, or teacher web page for extra challenges and enrichment. Teachers of gifted can challenge their students to write "how to" directions for how to solve these puzzles, once they have figured them out!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Lateral Puzzles - WebRing
Grades
3 to 12
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Build higher level thinking skills, especially flexibility in how students visualize and interpret a brief story. This challenging and interactive website has Lateral puzzles, both...more
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Build higher level thinking skills, especially flexibility in how students visualize and interpret a brief story. This challenging and interactive website has Lateral puzzles, both "active" and "solved." Registration is required if you guess an answer to one of the "active" puzzles. Registration is not necessary for reading the puzzles and clues. This site gives a lateral puzzle, and then the readers can ask questions to the original poster. Some of the "solved" puzzles could be used with younger students. However, the site is geared towards middle school and high school aged students.
Not sure what a Lateral Puzzle is? Read the FAQ section!
Not sure what a Lateral Puzzle is? Read the FAQ section!
In the Classroom
Challenge your class with a "lateral puzzle of the day". This site would be perfect for your gifted students or to get everyone thinking at the start of class. Be sure to include the link on your web page! For an extra challenge when students have mastered the puzzles, ask them to analyze how they work and write some of their own.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Math Contest - Ole' Miss
Grades
3 to 12
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Find a problem of the week for elementary, middle and high school (algebra) as well as archived past problems on this simple site. You can submit your correct answer and ...more
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Find a problem of the week for elementary, middle and high school (algebra) as well as archived past problems on this simple site. You can submit your correct answer and get your name listed as a winner for that week. New problems appear on Mondays.
In the Classroom
Include this link on your teacher web page or start class with it each week on a projector, giving extra credit to those whose names appear on the web page by the weekend!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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What's Wrong With These Pictures? - NIEHS Kids
Grades
K to 1
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This interactive, online difference game uses shapes, colors, and animal images for a "one of these things is not like the others" game. ...more
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This interactive, online difference game uses shapes, colors, and animal images for a "one of these things is not like the others" game.
In the Classroom
Include this as a link for children to try at home or use it on an interactive whiteboard with your children. It would also make a good center activity.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Laura Ingalls Wilder Companion - Annette Whipple
Grades
K to 6
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Discover the pioneer world of Laura Ingalls Wilder with this blog. Under "Live Like Laura" from the top menu find Activities, Crafts, Recipes, and Pioneer Living. Find blog posts and...more
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Discover the pioneer world of Laura Ingalls Wilder with this blog. Under "Live Like Laura" from the top menu find Activities, Crafts, Recipes, and Pioneer Living. Find blog posts and a few videos about the Cat's Cradle game, Gardening Activities, information about the Grasshopper Plague, Word Searches, Trivia Searches, and too much more to list here. This informative site is a must see for anyone who loves Laura Ingalls Wilder or teaches the books with all puzzles, activities, and images of people in clothing of the time and places in Laura's life.
In the Classroom
Use an interactive whiteboard or projector to introduce your students to the lovely Laura Ingalls Wilder. After introducing the site, ask students to read parts of the blog in pairs or small groups. If you are beginning the process of integrating technology, have students replace pen and paper and create their own blogs sharing their learning and understanding using Weebly, reviewed here. If you are teaching younger students and looking for an easy way to integrate technology and check for understanding challenge your students to replace pencil and paper and create a blog using Seesaw, reviewed here. Take this a step further with older students and enhance student learning by asking them to use their blog entries to create an interactive timeline of Laura's life using Knightlab's multimedia timeline creator, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Analytical Problems And Puzzles - folj.com
Grades
3 to 12
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This very simple site, created by an anonymous puzzle-lover, is a treasury for logic problems and lateral thinking puzzles to use in your classroom or beyond. Click on the puzzle ...more
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This very simple site, created by an anonymous puzzle-lover, is a treasury for logic problems and lateral thinking puzzles to use in your classroom or beyond. Click on the puzzle type you want. Use them as brain warm-ups in a math or science class before venturing into problem-solving or inquiry process or simply to engage the brains before starting any activity. There are different levels of logic and different types of lateral thinking puzzles, each with a hint before revealing the complete answer. These puzzles would also be useful for gifted enrichment.
In the Classroom
If you don't have time to spend on these in class as often as you would like, print out a single lateral thinking or logic problem each week for your bulletin board and let the students argue about it all week. Or include this link on your teacher website for the students to access outside of class. This site is a life-saver for your study hall the day before a vacation!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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World Geography Quizzes - Sheppard Software
Grades
3 to 12
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With such poor results as a nation on geography testing, we all should try these geography games to build student knowledge of U.S. and world geography. Students can click on ...more
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With such poor results as a nation on geography testing, we all should try these geography games to build student knowledge of U.S. and world geography. Students can click on the region of the world and practice at different levels of difficulty. Even adults can find a challenge. Offered in a "dial up version" for those accessing the sites from a slower connection.
In the Classroom
Be sure to put a link for these online games and quizzes on your teacher web page for the summer and throughout the school year. Students can use them to practice for your geography quizzes or as extra challenges. The different levels of dificulty will allow you to differentiate your instruction easily.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Kids Soup - Ear Twiggles Productions
Grades
K to 3
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Find easy-to-make winter crafts and games - perfect for early elementary students. Includes printable patterns and step-by-step instructions. ...more
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Find easy-to-make winter crafts and games - perfect for early elementary students. Includes printable patterns and step-by-step instructions.
In the Classroom
You might want to pass this on to parents anxious for at-home "snow day" activities. SHare it with parent volunteers who will be helping plan class parties, as well.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Ultimate Puzzle Site
Grades
4 to 12
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This collection of puzzles, riddles, brainteasers, and interactive tests challenges students to think outside of the box and improve their analytical skills while having fun. Puzzles...more
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This collection of puzzles, riddles, brainteasers, and interactive tests challenges students to think outside of the box and improve their analytical skills while having fun. Puzzles are graded by level of difficulty and the amount of math needed to arrive at a solution.
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Activities: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - TeachersFirst
Grades
4 to 8
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TeachersFirst offers a chapter-by-chapter set of activities for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix . Designed to be used after each chapter, the activities include science...more
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TeachersFirst offers a chapter-by-chapter set of activities for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix . Designed to be used after each chapter, the activities include science searches, writing, and art projects suitable for individual or group use. The ideas and activities ask you to respond, extend, discuss, create, and more. There is simply no better way to try new "After Reading" strategies. Don't miss this great collection as a way to encourage anyone to get the most from reading and re-reading a new favorite. Find links to activities for two other Harry Potter books on the Intro page.
In the Classroom
Share the link on your teacher web page or in a parent newsletter, if you don't have time to do all the activities at school. Challenge students to design similar activities to accompany other Harry Potter (or other favorite) books.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Activities: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - TeachersFirst
Grades
4 to 8
2 Favorites
1 Comments
TeachersFirst offers a set of chapter-by-chapter response activities for Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. Use art, writing, and web research to answer questions or think...more
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TeachersFirst offers a set of chapter-by-chapter response activities for Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. Use art, writing, and web research to answer questions or think about the issues in a particular chapter. Ideal for individual use, and many of these could serve as the basis for a group discussion on topics like loyalty and leadership. The ideas and activities ask you to respond, extend, discuss, create, and more. There is simply no better way to try new "After Reading strategies. Don't miss this great collection as a way to encourage anyone to get the most from reading and re-reading a new favorite. Find links to two other sets of Harry Potter book activities on the Intro page.
In the Classroom
Share the link on your teacher web page or in a parent newsletter, if you don't have time to do all the activities at school. Ask students to design similar activities to accompany other Harry Potter (or other favorite) books.Comments
Very good way of planning.kel, GA, Grades: 3 - 5
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Jig Zone - jigzone.com
Grades
1 to 12
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Make this virtual jigsaw puzzle site available for those inevitable moments of "downtime" in the classroom. Choose a topic from the gallery (preferably one that relates to your curriculum),...more
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Make this virtual jigsaw puzzle site available for those inevitable moments of "downtime" in the classroom. Choose a topic from the gallery (preferably one that relates to your curriculum), select a level of difficulty (number of pieces), and start the challege. These puzzles are not only a lot of fun, but good exercises for developing spatial skills. The pop-ups are annoying but can be blocked by Windows XP. Allow time for the site to load. Check the Frequently Asked Questions link (at the bottom of the page)for troubleshooting if you are having difficulty making the puzzles work.
In the Classroom
Combine a brain-warming activity with a bit of review, and create your own jig-saws for students to solve! First, access the section entitled "Turn your photos into puzzles," and select an image pertinent to a specific unit and upload it to the site. Once the jigsaw puzzle has been created, have students open the puzzle on individual computers and compete to see who can get the best time putting the image back together! The best images to use would be diagrams, or model images of a particular object. This site works amazingly well for science classes were students need to be familiar with specific images. An example would be have anatomy students re-construct skeletal images, etc. A clever way to get their minds thinking!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Half - PBS Kids
Grades
2 to 4
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This interactive is more than just an interactive game about fractions - it's a true brainteaser. Students must apply logic and spatial reasoning to find the 13 ways to divide ...more
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This interactive is more than just an interactive game about fractions - it's a true brainteaser. Students must apply logic and spatial reasoning to find the 13 ways to divide an 8-piece square in half. This game also integrates lessons on rotation and flipping of shapes to challenge players to see all of the ways to create a half without repeating rotated or flipped squares.
In the Classroom
Include this activity as part of a math computer learning center. This interactive serves as an excellent opportunity to introduce fractions in a holistic way before delivering lessons or a complete unit on fractions. After completing the activity, ask students to draw different ways to create a half using Google Drawings, reviewed here. Save students drawings and add them to a collaborative class book using Book Creator, reviewed here. In addition to student digital drawings, include audio of student explanations of how to create a half, videos, and images taken by students to demonstrate how to create a half of different items.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Tangram Game - PBS
Grades
2 to 6
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This is a tradition tangram activity with a technological twist. Read the introductory instructions carefully then turn your students loose to recreate a displayed image using seven...more
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This is a tradition tangram activity with a technological twist. Read the introductory instructions carefully then turn your students loose to recreate a displayed image using seven geometric shapes. This is an excellent activity for improving visual-spatial skills.
In the Classroom
Tangrams are perfect for practicing shapes, problem-solving, and spatial reasoning skills. Share this activity on student computers for use as a math center, or share a link with parents for students to play at home. Include this tangram activity and others within a blended learning lesson created using Curipod, reviewed here. Include videos, interactives such as this game, quizzes, and other learning activities in one shareable link.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Computer Generated Mazes - Discovery
Grades
1 to 5
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Design custom-made mazes for your students with this easy-to-use resource. Choose the desired shape, grid size, and complexity, and then let the site create the maze for you. Mazes...more
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Design custom-made mazes for your students with this easy-to-use resource. Choose the desired shape, grid size, and complexity, and then let the site create the maze for you. Mazes can be printed out or even displayed on your class Web site, provided credit is given to Discovery School.
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Hangman
Grades
4 to 12
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Whether your students are learning how to spell the fifty states, reviewing chemistry terms, or trying out their foreign language skills, this collection of thematic hang-man games...more
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Whether your students are learning how to spell the fifty states, reviewing chemistry terms, or trying out their foreign language skills, this collection of thematic hang-man games can provide a fun way to practice! Select a topic (most are curriculum-related, a few are just for fun) and try the interactive games, or print out the blank hang-man worksheets and create your own.
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Nrich - Cambridge University
Grades
1 to 12
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This collection of games, and articles is designed to challenge students to use their problem solving skills. Activities are organized according to UK education system levels, but click...more
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This collection of games, and articles is designed to challenge students to use their problem solving skills. Activities are organized according to UK education system levels, but click on Help for an easy conversion guide. Each problem includes a question, related pictures or diagrams, a form for students to submit their solution, and helpful hints and notes for parents and teachers. A weekly challenge is also offered. Complete the free registration to participate in a discussion forum, pose questions online, or post messages.
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Cool Math for Kids
Grades
4 to 8
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Students can practice and review skills related to basic geometry, fractions, logic, and problem solving with these fun and interactive activities. Highlights include a virtual lemonade...more
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Students can practice and review skills related to basic geometry, fractions, logic, and problem solving with these fun and interactive activities. Highlights include a virtual lemonade stand game (manage your own business to make a profit!), a collection of thought-provoking "Brain Benders," and "ArithmATTACK" - a computer driven game that challenges kids to see how many arithmetic problems they can answer in one minute.
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