All Subjects
ToonDoo
Students can create their own comic strips using this website. You can also
compile the strips into an online book to share with others.
http://www.toondoo.com
Pivot Stick Animator
Use this software to create famous events in history. Use it to reenact
science experiments, the phases of the moon, etc. The possibilities are endless.
To maximize your experience, first make a background in Paint or another
program.
http://pbone.it-mate.co.uk/pivot.htm
GoAnimate
Students can create their own talking 3-D animations on this
site. I have not used it with my students yet. Instead, one of my 8th graders
created a bunch of videos using it and showed them to me. This one is definitely
a cross-curriculuar site!
http://goanimate.com
Jeopardy!
Use PowerPoint to create a Jeopardy trivia game complete with a starting
board, question slides, and answer slides. Insert music, pictures, videos, etc.
Go to the Interactive Files page for some examples.
http://www.jeopardylabs.com/
Poll Everywhere
Use cell phones or computers to answer review questions and see the results
instantly. This makes a great test review for students.
www.polleverywhere.com
Podcasting
Have your students demonstrate their learning by producing their own
podcast. Podcasting is like creating your own radio show which listeners can
download and hear. Share topics from class, classroom announcements, book
reviews, etc.
To create a podcast, I strongly suggest the Audacity software.
Quizlet
This site has flashcards for almost any subject you can imagine. It also
allows you to make your own set of flashcards for yourself or your
students.
www.quizlet.com
Quia
This website has games for students to play in many subject areas. Games
include hangman, crossword puzzles, matching, jeopardy, and Rags to
Riches.
www.quia.com/web
Xtranormal
This site allows students to create a 3D cartoon movie about any topic.
There is a wide range of characters available, including famous historical
figures, actors and other celebrities animals, and more. In addition to
dialogue, students can add sound effects, facial expressions, background
music/sounds, and actions. They can even change the "camera" angle. There
is both a free and paid version of this site.
www.xtranormal.com
Blabberize
If the talking alpaca doesn't draw you in, the simplicity of this site will
for sure! Students can make any picture talk by recording their own voice.
Perfect for have students explain what they know about a topic.
www.blabberize.com
Mr. Nussbaum
This website bills itself as "1,000 websites in one," which is definitely
true. The online review games and simulators are fantastic for all
subjects!
www.mrnussbaum.com
BBC Math Games
This is one of my favorite sites, and I used it a lot when I taught 5th
grade. Each game is available at 3 different levels, so kids can be playing the
same game, but at a level that's appropriate for them.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/mathsfile/gameswheel.html
Science Online Activities
Tornado Maker
This site from the University of Wisconsin helps students create tornadoes
with varying size and core pressure and observe the damage. Be sure to watch out
for the cow!
http://whyfiles.org/2010/control-a-tornado/
National Geographic: Where to
Build
Wondering where the best place is to build your new house? Learn about
different sites and the natural forces that affect what can be erected there.
Build your own building, but beware! Mother nature maybe out to get you!
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/forcesofnature/interactive/index.html
The Learning Channel: Can You Build an Earthquake Proof
Building?
http://tlc.discovery.com/convergence/quakes/interactives/makeaquake.html
To the Moon!
What does it take to get to the moon? You may be surprised at how many
people it takes to plan and carry out a space mission.
http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/Esheet.php?DocID=185
Social Studies Online Activities
Meet the Civil War Generals
Do you need to know more about Robert E. Lee? How about some of the other
generals from both the Confederate and Union armies? This interactive site will
tell you all you need to know!
http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/neh/interactives/cmdrs/
Drive Through Time: Smithsonian History of Transportation
Game
Travel through 4 periods in American History to see what was the best way
to reach your destination in that time. See actual photos from that time and
learn more about our nation's history.
http://americanhistory.si.edu/onthemove/games/game2/game2.html
Transportation through History
http://americanhistory.si.edu/onthemove/games/game1/game1.html
Westward Trail Game
Are you prepared to make the journey from St. Louis to the Oregon
territory? Buy your supplies and let's hit the trail!
http://westward.globalgamenetwork.com/cgi-bin/westwardtrail.pl?command=startgame
Reading a Buffalo Hide Painting
What do the images on a buffalo hide tell you about the people who
made them? Can you decode the stories on this buffalo hide?
http://www.americanhistory.si.edu/kids/buffalo/hideactivity/index.html
Be the Archaeologist
Can you reassemble this prehistoric pot to its former glory? Learn what
it's like to be an archaeologist!
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/laventa/archaeologist.html
Polio
Learn what polio is and where it went. Then learn about ramps and
other accommodations for people with disabilities.
http://www.americanhistory.si.edu/polio/activities/index.htm
Give Me a Tall Ship
Learn about boat construction throughout history and compare different
styles of ships.
http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/Esheet.php?DocID=51
The Judicial System
Who makes up the Judicial system? What do you know about famous trials? Can
you understand legal jargon?
http://interactives.mped.org/view_interactive.aspx?id=402&title=
The Great Wall of China
Check out this interactive map of the Great Wall of China.
http://edsitement.neh.gov/student-resource/following-great-wall-china-interactive-map#node-20815
Jamestown Adventure
Will you make the same choices as the original Jamestown settlers? What
kind of food should you grow? How should you handle the Native American
tensions? What kind of settlement should you build? Can you survive in this
harsh, new land?
http://www.historyglobe.com/jamestown/
Handy Tools
Digital Microscope
Attach one of these to your computer to bring science exploration to new
levels. This is especially powerful if you have a projector so the whole class
can watch. Some of these microscopes also allow you to take pictures, capture
time-lapse pictures, and videos.
Directions to build your own digital microscope!
http://www.instructables.com/id/Build-a-USB-Digital-Microscope-in-60min-and-15/
Document Camera
The possibilities are endless with a projector and document camera. Show
students pictures that illustrate your lesson. Use a primary source
book/artifact and all the students can observe it without touching it. Curious
how something works? Disassemble it live on camera for students. Also, many
document cameras can capture video, pictures, and sound, so they can be used to
record/enhance student presentations.
Audience Recommendations
On this page you'll find sites people have shared with me,
but I'm not currently using in my class. There are some amazing sites
here!
www.artofstorytelling.org/kiosk
On this site, students can create their own backdrop, then write a story to
go with it. Furthermore, the students can record themselves reading their story.
The final project is emailed to share.
www.spreaker.com
On this site, you can create a live podcast or pre-record and share a
podcast with the world!
www.papercritters.com
Design your own paper character, then print and assemble!
www.kloudz.com
What do you see in the cloud? This is a great site for creating a drawing,
then using it as a writing prompt.
https://www.dunkindonuts.com/donut/
Create your own donut, then market it.
http://www.southflorida.com/events/sfl-edge-n-paperplanes,0,2199675.flash
Design your own paper airplane, print and assemble it. This site has great
information about affects flight and makes both paper and real planes fly
well.
www.incredibox.fr
Create your own human beat box, record it and share!
http://www.clayyourself.com
Create a claymation version of yourself as well as practice parts of
speech. This is like a cross between animation and mad-libs!
Bubbl.us
This website is an easy concept map creator. Students do
not need a log in to create, but will need one to save. Each student will
need an individual account for this, but the gmail+ trick works for this
site.
Glogster.com
This is a poster making website. The students can create
both static and interactive posters. Another nice feature is the simplicity of
embedding the poster into student blogs. For this site, I have one class
account that the students use.
Creately.com
This is another concept map making site. This site is a
little more complex than bubbl.us, but offers many more options. I have not used
this with my students.
Dabbleboard.com
This is an interactive white board site. You can invite
other people to participate on your white board, where you can either teach them
something or work collaboratively on projects. Lots of neat tools, including
drawing tools and importing pictures. You can use this site with or without an
account.
Wordle/Tagxedo
Use these sites to create word clouds with students.
Gliffy
Gliffy allows you to create all sorts of charts and
diagrams, including venn diagrams, flow charts, and organizational
charts.
Vozme
Type what you want to say, and in one simple click, create
an mp3 file!
Voki
Create a talking avatar to show what you know. This is a
great activity for all subject areas, especially foreign language classes. There
are many languages to choose from. You can record your voice or type what you
want to say! Quick and simple to use, these talking avatars can be embedded into
a website.
Blabberize
Turn a simple picture into a talking mini-movie. Students
will "cut" a mouth for their character, then record their own voice. Another
great activity for any subject area.
Recommended by attendees at MACUL 2012
http://www.exploratorium.edu/
http://fantasticcontraption.com/
http://edheads.org
http://museumbox.e2bn.org/
http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/
http://phet.colorado.edu/
ToonDoo
Students can create their own comic strips using this website. You can also
compile the strips into an online book to share with others.
http://www.toondoo.com
Pivot Stick Animator
Use this software to create famous events in history. Use it to reenact
science experiments, the phases of the moon, etc. The possibilities are endless.
To maximize your experience, first make a background in Paint or another
program.
http://pbone.it-mate.co.uk/pivot.htm
GoAnimate
Students can create their own talking 3-D animations on this
site. I have not used it with my students yet. Instead, one of my 8th graders
created a bunch of videos using it and showed them to me. This one is definitely
a cross-curriculuar site!
http://goanimate.com
Jeopardy!
Use PowerPoint to create a Jeopardy trivia game complete with a starting
board, question slides, and answer slides. Insert music, pictures, videos, etc.
Go to the Interactive Files page for some examples.
http://www.jeopardylabs.com/
Poll Everywhere
Use cell phones or computers to answer review questions and see the results
instantly. This makes a great test review for students.
www.polleverywhere.com
Podcasting
Have your students demonstrate their learning by producing their own
podcast. Podcasting is like creating your own radio show which listeners can
download and hear. Share topics from class, classroom announcements, book
reviews, etc.
To create a podcast, I strongly suggest the Audacity software.
Quizlet
This site has flashcards for almost any subject you can imagine. It also
allows you to make your own set of flashcards for yourself or your
students.
www.quizlet.com
Quia
This website has games for students to play in many subject areas. Games
include hangman, crossword puzzles, matching, jeopardy, and Rags to
Riches.
www.quia.com/web
Xtranormal
This site allows students to create a 3D cartoon movie about any topic.
There is a wide range of characters available, including famous historical
figures, actors and other celebrities animals, and more. In addition to
dialogue, students can add sound effects, facial expressions, background
music/sounds, and actions. They can even change the "camera" angle. There
is both a free and paid version of this site.
www.xtranormal.com
Blabberize
If the talking alpaca doesn't draw you in, the simplicity of this site will
for sure! Students can make any picture talk by recording their own voice.
Perfect for have students explain what they know about a topic.
www.blabberize.com
Mr. Nussbaum
This website bills itself as "1,000 websites in one," which is definitely
true. The online review games and simulators are fantastic for all
subjects!
www.mrnussbaum.com
BBC Math Games
This is one of my favorite sites, and I used it a lot when I taught 5th
grade. Each game is available at 3 different levels, so kids can be playing the
same game, but at a level that's appropriate for them.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/mathsfile/gameswheel.html
Science Online Activities
Tornado Maker
This site from the University of Wisconsin helps students create tornadoes
with varying size and core pressure and observe the damage. Be sure to watch out
for the cow!
http://whyfiles.org/2010/control-a-tornado/
National Geographic: Where to
Build
Wondering where the best place is to build your new house? Learn about
different sites and the natural forces that affect what can be erected there.
Build your own building, but beware! Mother nature maybe out to get you!
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/forcesofnature/interactive/index.html
The Learning Channel: Can You Build an Earthquake Proof
Building?
http://tlc.discovery.com/convergence/quakes/interactives/makeaquake.html
To the Moon!
What does it take to get to the moon? You may be surprised at how many
people it takes to plan and carry out a space mission.
http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/Esheet.php?DocID=185
Social Studies Online Activities
Meet the Civil War Generals
Do you need to know more about Robert E. Lee? How about some of the other
generals from both the Confederate and Union armies? This interactive site will
tell you all you need to know!
http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/neh/interactives/cmdrs/
Drive Through Time: Smithsonian History of Transportation
Game
Travel through 4 periods in American History to see what was the best way
to reach your destination in that time. See actual photos from that time and
learn more about our nation's history.
http://americanhistory.si.edu/onthemove/games/game2/game2.html
Transportation through History
http://americanhistory.si.edu/onthemove/games/game1/game1.html
Westward Trail Game
Are you prepared to make the journey from St. Louis to the Oregon
territory? Buy your supplies and let's hit the trail!
http://westward.globalgamenetwork.com/cgi-bin/westwardtrail.pl?command=startgame
Reading a Buffalo Hide Painting
What do the images on a buffalo hide tell you about the people who
made them? Can you decode the stories on this buffalo hide?
http://www.americanhistory.si.edu/kids/buffalo/hideactivity/index.html
Be the Archaeologist
Can you reassemble this prehistoric pot to its former glory? Learn what
it's like to be an archaeologist!
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/laventa/archaeologist.html
Polio
Learn what polio is and where it went. Then learn about ramps and
other accommodations for people with disabilities.
http://www.americanhistory.si.edu/polio/activities/index.htm
Give Me a Tall Ship
Learn about boat construction throughout history and compare different
styles of ships.
http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/Esheet.php?DocID=51
The Judicial System
Who makes up the Judicial system? What do you know about famous trials? Can
you understand legal jargon?
http://interactives.mped.org/view_interactive.aspx?id=402&title=
The Great Wall of China
Check out this interactive map of the Great Wall of China.
http://edsitement.neh.gov/student-resource/following-great-wall-china-interactive-map#node-20815
Jamestown Adventure
Will you make the same choices as the original Jamestown settlers? What
kind of food should you grow? How should you handle the Native American
tensions? What kind of settlement should you build? Can you survive in this
harsh, new land?
http://www.historyglobe.com/jamestown/
Handy Tools
Digital Microscope
Attach one of these to your computer to bring science exploration to new
levels. This is especially powerful if you have a projector so the whole class
can watch. Some of these microscopes also allow you to take pictures, capture
time-lapse pictures, and videos.
Directions to build your own digital microscope!
http://www.instructables.com/id/Build-a-USB-Digital-Microscope-in-60min-and-15/
Document Camera
The possibilities are endless with a projector and document camera. Show
students pictures that illustrate your lesson. Use a primary source
book/artifact and all the students can observe it without touching it. Curious
how something works? Disassemble it live on camera for students. Also, many
document cameras can capture video, pictures, and sound, so they can be used to
record/enhance student presentations.
Audience Recommendations
On this page you'll find sites people have shared with me,
but I'm not currently using in my class. There are some amazing sites
here!
www.artofstorytelling.org/kiosk
On this site, students can create their own backdrop, then write a story to
go with it. Furthermore, the students can record themselves reading their story.
The final project is emailed to share.
www.spreaker.com
On this site, you can create a live podcast or pre-record and share a
podcast with the world!
www.papercritters.com
Design your own paper character, then print and assemble!
www.kloudz.com
What do you see in the cloud? This is a great site for creating a drawing,
then using it as a writing prompt.
https://www.dunkindonuts.com/donut/
Create your own donut, then market it.
http://www.southflorida.com/events/sfl-edge-n-paperplanes,0,2199675.flash
Design your own paper airplane, print and assemble it. This site has great
information about affects flight and makes both paper and real planes fly
well.
www.incredibox.fr
Create your own human beat box, record it and share!
http://www.clayyourself.com
Create a claymation version of yourself as well as practice parts of
speech. This is like a cross between animation and mad-libs!
Bubbl.us
This website is an easy concept map creator. Students do
not need a log in to create, but will need one to save. Each student will
need an individual account for this, but the gmail+ trick works for this
site.
Glogster.com
This is a poster making website. The students can create
both static and interactive posters. Another nice feature is the simplicity of
embedding the poster into student blogs. For this site, I have one class
account that the students use.
Creately.com
This is another concept map making site. This site is a
little more complex than bubbl.us, but offers many more options. I have not used
this with my students.
Dabbleboard.com
This is an interactive white board site. You can invite
other people to participate on your white board, where you can either teach them
something or work collaboratively on projects. Lots of neat tools, including
drawing tools and importing pictures. You can use this site with or without an
account.
Wordle/Tagxedo
Use these sites to create word clouds with students.
Gliffy
Gliffy allows you to create all sorts of charts and
diagrams, including venn diagrams, flow charts, and organizational
charts.
Vozme
Type what you want to say, and in one simple click, create
an mp3 file!
Voki
Create a talking avatar to show what you know. This is a
great activity for all subject areas, especially foreign language classes. There
are many languages to choose from. You can record your voice or type what you
want to say! Quick and simple to use, these talking avatars can be embedded into
a website.
Blabberize
Turn a simple picture into a talking mini-movie. Students
will "cut" a mouth for their character, then record their own voice. Another
great activity for any subject area.
Recommended by attendees at MACUL 2012
http://www.exploratorium.edu/
http://fantasticcontraption.com/
http://edheads.org
http://museumbox.e2bn.org/
http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/
http://phet.colorado.edu/