Are you looking for an easy way to create a Jeopardy game to review concepts with your students? Check out JeopardyLabs, where you can easily use their online template. Because the game you create can be accessed online, you can access it from anywhere. Check out some of the sample templates to see how it works.
Google is hosting a contest where students have the chance to redesign the Google logo. The theme for this year’s contest is “What I Wish for in the World.” Registration closes on March 17, 2009 and entries must be received by March 31, 2009. Elementary students are judged in K-3 and 4-6 grade groups. Check out the following link for background information, sample doodle entries from previous years, judging and prize information.
Help your class explore the world with Google Earth. With Google Earth 5.0, you can view satellite imagery, topography, track global changes over time with historical imagery, and explore the ocean. Zoom out to fly over locations or zoom in to see cities, buildings, points of interest, and roads. With Google Eath 5.0 you can now view imagery and the terrain of Mars. Check out the new features of Google Earth 5.0. To download Google Eath 5.0 go to http://earth.google.com/
For information on how to use Google Earth, see the Google Earth User Guide at http://earth.google.com/userguide/v4/
If you would like help downloading or using Google Earth with your class, please contact your ITS.
Have you ever wondered how to download an educational YouTube video to your computer to show to your class? While there is more than one way to do this, using KickYouTube is one avenue for downloading.
1. Go to YouTube and access the video you want to download.
2. Add the word kick in front of the words youtube on your URL. (A KickYouTube menu bar will appear.)
3. Select the format you want to download the video in. (mp4 will play with QuickTime)
4. Click on the word “Go” on the right side of the menu bar. (The word “Go” will change to “Download.”)
5. While holding down the control key, click the word download.
6. Select “Save link as” or “Download linked file as” (Depending on which browser you are using, it may then download or you may be asked where you want it to download to.)
National Geographic has a new tool students can use to easily create films about animals. They select film clips to which they can add captions, music, and sound effects. All of these are added with a simple drag and drop process. Once the film is finished, just click the save button and you will be given a nine digit retrieval code which you will use to be able to view the film later online.
I can see these films as a great lead-in to student presentations about animals they have have researched. It could also be used to provide an overview of animals from a specific type of habitat. For example, several clips could be combined to make a film about “Animals of the Rainforest.”
Check out the National Geographic Wildlife Filmmaker at http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/filmmaker.html
PodCards are audio postcards that you can listen to on your computer or download to an iPod/mp3 player that provide audio information about locations around the world as well as people, inventions, events, or films that make them famous.
From the PodCard home page, click on the Archive to find the country index. From there, click on the flag of a country to view a listing of the PodCards available for that country.
Pre and post listening activities and crossword puzzles are also available to go along with the PodCards.
For those who utilize PowerPoints in the classroom, there are many ready-made PowerPoints available on the web. Check out the links below for some excellent PowerPoint resources:
http://literacysc.tripod.com/id11.html
http://www.vickiblackwell.com/ppttemplates.html
http://jc-schools.net/ppt.html
http://www.lexington1.net/technology/?page=instruct/powerpoint.htm
http://www.nebo.edu/misc/learning_resources/ppt/
http://www.pasadenaisd.org/teachertoolbox/PPts/ppt_elem.htm
http://www.hardin.k12.ky.us/res_techn/countyjeopardygames.htm
