Useful Information In and Out of the Classroom 4/22/16

Here are some interesting sites that I’ve found this week, thanks to my PLN. As a teacher, I feel we have to keep up to date concerning research in our field and current issues in the education system. I hope some of these inspire you, inform you, and even have you asking questions. Thank you for coming by and visiting!

Note: Each resource is labeled with a level and subject area to make it easier to use.

Levels:  E: Elementary; M: Middle; H: High; G: General, all levels; SN: Special Needs; T: Teachers

Subject Areas: LA: Language Arts, English, Reading, Writing; M: Math; S: Science; Health; SS: Social Studies, Current Events; FA: Fine Arts; Music, Art, Drama; FL: Foreign Language; PE: Physical Ed; C: Career; A: All

US News Map – “USNewsMap.com allows users to search Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers and visualize the results across space and time. USNewsMap.com is a creation of Georgia Tech Research Institute and eHistory.org at the University of Georgia. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers is sponsored jointly by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Library of Congress.” (L:G; SA:A)

Word Writer Resources – “Great lesson plans for vocabulary development and quick writing activities” (L:E; SA:LA)

Why is Mt. Everest So Tall? – A TED-ed lesson; “At 8,850 meters above sea level, Qomolangma, also known as Mount Everest, has the highest altitude on the planet. But how did this towering formation get so tall? Michele Koppes peers deep into our planet’s crust, where continental plates collide, to find the answer.” (L:G; SA:S)

The Locker Riddle – A TED-ed lesson; “Your rich, eccentric uncle just passed away, and you and your 99 nasty relatives have been invited to the reading of his will. He wanted to leave all of his money to you, but he knew that if he did, your relatives would pester you forever. Can you solve the riddle he left for you and get the inheritance? Lisa Winer shows how.”  (L:H; SA:A)

Scribeasy – free iPad app; “Scribeasy is a simple and almost instant story creation tool with a writing workflow. Within 3 minutes a child's imagination is provoked through creating image combinations. Users select from art packs that bring the discovery of cultural places, historical and contemporary characters and wonderful objects, to the fingertips. It provides a holistic and educational way for a story to be born.” (L:E; SA:LA)

Original photo by Pat Hensley