Minchau School

Moon Zoo actually lets your students take part in science.  They are contributing to actual lunar research in real and meaningful ways while learning about the moon.  Moon Zoo would be a great activity to complete as a whole class in the elementary classroom.  Tell your students that they are going to be astronauts and complete a "launch" to the moon.  If you have time, students can create official astronaut badges to wear for the big launch.  Using a projector-connected computer or an interactive whiteboard, launch one of the shuttles here.  When you "land" on the moon, let students explore the surface together by hunting for craters in Moon Zoo.  Help students mark craters, look for boulders and map the lunar surface.  Each student should have a chance to make a discovery.  While students wait for their turn, they can track the crater/boulder count on a table to create a graph.  Categories can be small, medium, and large craters found and number of boulders.

An overview of Understanding by Design, its ideas and a 

"In a digital world where we can easily "find an app for that" to help solve many problems, rarely do teachers have a one stop shopping place for all their classroom digital needs. There are many individual tools that can aid a teacher in retrieving student's digital work, polling/quizzing students or assigning work, but each of these tools usually requires a separate account. However, there is one, free, Web 2.0 app that brings everything together that you need for your classroom, including a social learning environment. The app that does all of this is called Edmodo. Here are just a few features that make Edmodo so great for teachers and students: A place to assign and turn in work: The teacher can attach any file they may need for an assignment (rubric, worksheet, etc.) and students can upload any file to turn in their work. Links and embed codes can also be used to publish and share work easily.A calendar to help students keep up with important dates: Assignment due dates, dates you'll be out, holidays, classroom birthdays or anything you can think of to post. Studentscan also add their own personal notes to dates that only they can see. The notes the students add to the calendar are not published to the class.A digital library that will replace a student's flash drive: They can upload files into their "digital backpack" and download them when on any computer. The teacher can add necessary files to their library as well.A place to post messages--urgent or not: Only teachers and students can interact with one another, student to student messages are not allowed. This feature is the most powerful and it's what makes Edmodo a "social LEARNING network." This feature looks and works a lot like a "wall" on Facebook.A parent connection: every student is assigned a parent code so that parents can connect with the teacher on Edmodo, check grades and see posts to the class by the teacher and their child.Groups: Teachers can create groups for classes, parents, study groups

All of the Dolch Sight words available in lists or flash cards. 

No matter the subject or grade level, the website offers up excellent videos to supplement lessons and provide windows into different facts and concepts. Science teachers especially have plenty to love and appreciate with this valuable resource. 

Planet Pals: An environmental site for students: Nature themes, foodchain, habitat, seasons and more. 

Using VoiceThreadto Promote LearningEngagement and Successfor All Students: Article in Technology for Teaching and Learning

 Khan Academy Community is live on Edmodo, including access to the full collection of over 2,100 videos produced and narrated by Sal Khan.

Grade 2/3s create water cycle Common Craft-style videos to show their learning! Way cool!

"I have had the opportunity to explore the many extensions available for Google Chrome.  These free extensions not only optimize my Internet experience, but also provide a great deal of enhanced functionality to my work as an educator (especially as a blogger).  I have begun to compile a short list of extensions that I am currently using.  Some are popular, but others are relatively new."

23 things and online learning post: with ideas about developing teachers comfort and ability with on-line resources

Educational Freeware: Review of the best free learning games, software and websites

A great site to explore earthquakes!

A site to shorten urls. Very useful to have when you are citing internet sources!

Dropbox is a great way to share files that are too big or awkward on Google Docs.  Also one more way to be able to access your documents anywhere, anywhen...