On My Reading Mapped you will find KML files (AKA Google Maps & Earth files) for things like historical migration and trade routes, monarchies and republics, famous explorer and conqueror expeditions, and climate change patterns. (The Rise, Fall, and Migration of Civilization Due to Climate Change.)
"The Common Core Learning Standards describe the importance of teaching students how to comprehend informational text. They are asked to read closely, make inferences, cite evidence, analyze arguments and interpret words and phrases as they are used in a text. Primary source documents are artifacts created by individuals during a particular period in history. This could be a letter, speech, photograph or journal entry. If you're looking to integrate social studies into your literacy block, try out one of these resources for primary source documents. "
"The Internet History Sourcebooks Project is a collection of public domain and copy-permitted historical texts presented cleanly (without advertising or excessive layout) for educational use.
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"Reinforce your students' understanding of figurative language with VocabularySpellingCity's figurative language lessons, interactive games, printable worksheets, and powerpoint presentations. Learning figurative language gives students at the elementary school, middle school, and high school levels the ability to transform their pencils into paintbrushes, as they paint a picture with their words. VocabularySpellingCity can give your students this gift by providing figurative language lessons and exercises that will establish an understanding of the main types of figurative language."
Assessment | News
Varsity Tutors Debuts Free Test Question Site
By Dian Schaffhauser
11/07/13
Varsity Tutors, a providor of private tutoring to students online, has launched a new, free service with the intention of becoming the "Khan Academy" of practice tests. The company has introduced a Web-based assessment system intended to replace other forms of educational content such as SAT or ACT preparation books or online subscriptions to assessment materials.
Varsity Learning Tools, as it's called, makes hundreds of free practice tests available in 95 subjects. Currently in open beta testing, the site lists assessment tests by subject and allows the user to choose to answer a single test, flashcards, or a question of the day.
Each question can be shared through social network services. When the student answers it, a second page displays with an assessment and explanation and data on how much time was spent on the question, and how many others answered it correctly."
(Read more at http://thejournal.com/articles/2013/11/07/varsity-tutors-launches-free-test-question-site.aspx?=THEEL#8hQzr0oig6X2IZmS.99)
"The RSA Animate series is an innovative way of sharing world-changing ideas. All audio is taken from the RSA's free events programme, and all animations are created by Cognitive Media."
Interesting discussion starters
Unlimited Files, Unlimited Lessons & Units, Unlimited Classes, 1 Collaborator Per Class,
Search Standards: Common Core & State Standards,
Create Templates, Speed up your planning
Plan Units, Plan for the Entire Year
the site offers options to purchase different plans, there is a free version that gives students a selection of characters and backgrounds that they can use to create an animated video.
Some ideas for lesson plans include having students recreate a historical event with modern-day characters, creating a political debate or using the characters to create a public service announcement. To get an idea of how easy GoAnimate is to use, check out the video above, then try it for yourself and create a video message to your students. Guaranteed fun!
Read more at http://thejournal.com/articles/2014/03/25/3-tools-for-animation.aspx?=FETCLN#101yYkd6JqGizQzz.99
"integrating video projects into the classroom can be as simple or complex as you want. Just grab a phone, digital camera or tablet and your students are on their way.
Here are some video project ideas, divided into ideas for any classroom and ideas for specific subject areas:"
WeVideo is a cloud-based video creation platform. It's available for use by anyone with access to the Internet, through any browser on any device.
Anyone can access WeVideo, from any computer or device at home, work, or on the go to capture, edit, view and share with secure storage of their content in the cloud.
Personal - free, educational license - $$
