Why text is only one path directed. Please share the video in the blog, because it show how textbook do not carry students' interests in mind. Also may hopefully change the mind of some teachers to get out of the text and to look another places.
Looking for a different tool look at this map. I like the tool to show students cycles of things. The one that is linked in of web 2.0 apps setup by types. This link is one that I created using the program, http://www.mindmeister.com/18887812. You also can share it, export as PDF, and Embed in to your site.
This site is a from a teacher in California. He has CYOA, or "Choose Your Own Assignment" days, and has posted his collection of assignments he lets students choose from. There is some great stuff here!
Create a legitimate gmail account at http://mail.google.com/. (e.g. username@gmail.com). Then, you can use that base account to "trick" web applications that require e-mail address to create user accounts. The way it works is that you add a + and a student name/alias after the gmail user name (e.g. username+sara@gmail.com, username+tom@gmail.com, username+chris@gmail.com, etc.)
This site has several templates and lesson plans elementary teachers can use to have students make books. Books are made using programs such as PowerPoint, Word, and Publisher. A good way to integrate technology into whatever you are teaching.
Use this survey on your SmartBoard or just with a projector. There are 4 predefined questions- students answer by clicking on their choice. When survey is complete, a bar graph or pie chart can be automatically generated. Great for the beginning of the year or as an introduction to graphing.