Common Sense Media improves the lives of kids and families by providing independent reviews, age ratings, & other information about all types of media.
Common Sense Media improves the lives of kids and families by providing independent reviews, age ratings, & other information about all types of media.
One of my goals this coming year is to expand the resources I know about for my math / science folks, since that isn't my natural interest or background. This Encyclopedia of Life source is amazing in its information and layout, but it also has a wealth of lesson plans for a variety of ages that tie directly to what our staff is teaching. The lessons are a blend of technology and other activities. A great resource to share with science teachers!
Smartie the Penguin is geared for students aged 4 to 7 to explore online safety. The three themes of popups/in app purchases; inappropriate websites, and cyberbullying are all covered in an age appropriate way with opportunities for students to discuss scenarios on what Smartie should do.
I chose this lesson/activity because the 3rd grade creates biography presentations and since we are now a K-8 school this would be a great idea to get different age groups to work together.
Although the entire site is rich in content and gallery, I find the civil war portion very applicable to being a digital resource at the elementary, middle, and even the high school levels. There is no need to "log in" or have a "user" account. The information is rich with primary resources as well as poignant imagery.
Although the entire site is rich in content and gallery, I find the civil war portion very applicable to being a digital resource at the elementary, middle, and even the high school levels. There is no need to "log in" or have a "user" account. The information is rich with primary resources as well as poignant imagery.
Graphite reviews apps, games, and websites that for their educational usefulness. A consistent review template makes the reviews easy to browse and compare. Each tech tool is reviewed by Graphite, and most also show scores from teacher reviews as well. The reviews are focused and have sufficient detail to be helpful. Potential issues for educational use (such as age limits) are noted.
Use the filters on the "Reviews and Ratings" tab to find apps right for your school, or use the "Top Picks" area to compare tools for similar purposes (making videos, or formative assessments, for example). There is a Common Core Explorer that will suggest tools that fit each standard, and there is also a Teacher Center that includes lesson plans made to take advantage of the tools.
Today's student generation is mobile, online and Internet-savvy. They are all computer gurus, and they often engage better with their electronics than they do with paper and pencil. As the saying goes, when you can't beat 'em, join 'em: charge into the information age as a 21 st century teacher.
At the White House Maker Faire recently, where President Obama invited "makers" of all ages to display their creations, the President investigated a robotic giraffe, a red weather balloon and shot a marshmallow cannon made by a student.
This is a resource that would be excellent for a health science, social studies, history, or sociology class. It could also be helpful for a debate club or something similar. It provides resources (handouts, videos, graphs) to be used by students and teachers to examine universal healthcare around the world. PBS also offers lots of other topics that could be used at all different age levels.
App for student ipads in 4k, kindergarten, and first grade. Geared for ages 2-6; independent learning activities for literacy, math, language and build social emotional skills. Free!