By Technology

Find High-Quality, Trustworthy Websites

December 13, 2011

SweetSearch is a search engine that seeks out only sites that have been reviewed and approved by a team of librarians, teachers and research experts. In all, 35,000 websites have been reviewed and approved by SweetSearch. In addition to the general search engine, SweetSearch offers five niche search areas: SweetSearch Web Research Tutorial teaches web research skills to educators and students; SweetSearch4Me is a search engine for emerging learners; SweetSearch2Day is where students can learn something new every day; SweetSearch Biographies offers profiles and outstanding search results for thousands of famous—or infamous—people from many walks of life, professions and countries, spanning many centuries; and SweetSearch Social Studies is an indispensable resource…

Introduce the Civil War in a New Way

December 12, 2011

The online Civil War Era National Cemeteries travel itinerary website, developed by theNational Park Service and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, offers several ways to discover and experience the historic places that shaped and illustrate the history and development of the National Cemetery system. Descriptions of each featured National Cemetery on the List of Sites highlight its significance and include photographs and other illustrations. Essays provide background on important themes in the development of the National Cemeteries during and after the Civil War and offer context for understanding historic places featured in the itinerary. Maps help visitors plan what to see and do and get directions to historic places…

Discuss Cameras in the Courtroom

December 12, 2011

Why can’t we watch U.S. Supreme Court proceedings on C-Span? Cameras in the Court? is an introduction to the U.S. Supreme Court on a topic that students can immediately relate to in this age of instant and universal video. There is a smiling photo of each Justice (with dates of birth and appointment to the Court) along with brief quotes about his or her views on opening the Court to cameras, based on public statements. (Most are against the “proposition.”) The website is welcoming to struggling readers. For students who are ready for more challenging material about cases that the Court has…

Unite Conservation, Research and Education

December 12, 2011

Polar bears are a perfect focal point for teaching all kinds of things—from biology to geography, from mathematics to physics, from environmental science to cultural sociology.Polar Bears International (PBI) offers free teaching and learning materials created by teachers and zoo educators on a range of topics that support national literacy standards and learning outcomes for specific school districts. The Polar Bears and Ecotourism Research Unit is a comprehensive lesson series that incorporates science, social studies and mathematics standards by using current polar bear research as an integrating context for learning. In this investigation, students use the data collected from an actual research project to make a decision…

Track Seasonal Changes in Nature

December 12, 2011

Journey North is a free, Internet-based program that explores the interrelated aspects of seasonal change. Through interrelated investigations, students discover that sunlight drives all living systems, and they learn about the dynamic ecosystem that surrounds and connects them. Journey North for Kids is a simple, student-directed entry point to Journey North studies. Engaging stories, photos, videos and slideshows from the natural world build observation skills, inspire scientific thinking and create fertile ground for discussions and new questions. Click Here to Visit Journey North Website Click Here to Visit Journey North for Kids Website This information is provided as a courtesy for BISD teachers and inclusion here does not indicate an endorsement…

Master a New Language

December 12, 2011

SpeakingPal helps students master a new language through role-playing sessions andfeedback. This free app for iPhone, iPad and Android consists of multiple bit-sized video scenarios students can watch and repeat with the onscreen text. Students are given immediate feedback based on how clearly they repeat each phrase. For example, one video has someone asking for directions, another has a shopping scenario and a third involves booking a hotel room. After they watch the exchange between the actors, students then interact. In some cases, then can choose from one of two responses, such as “Please take me to my hotel” or “Can you help me with my bags?” When they speak the phrase aloud into their…

Tap, Snap, Speak … Study

December 12, 2011

With StudyBlue’s updated mobile app for iPhone and Android devices, students can now create flashcards on their smartphones. The free app offers the ability to snap and insert photos, as well as transcribe speech to text directly into their flashcards. View ademonstration video to see these features in action. Click Here to View Demo This information is provided as a courtesy for BISD teachers and inclusion here does not indicate an endorsement by the district. It is important to thoroughly evaluate a website before using it with students. For help with this please contact the Learning Technologies Coach for your campus.

See What’s Happening in The Field

December 12, 2011

Treasures lie hidden within The Field Museum’s vaults. Creatures lurk within its halls. Students can unlock the museum’s secrets via Specimania, a new, free downloadableiPhone and iPad app that contains collectible cards featuring artifacts, animals, fossils, plants and more from the institution’s vast collections. As they explore the deck, students will learn more about the headline-making history of each card character and test their newfound knowledge with the Trivia Question portion of the game. They can also compete with their friends to see who comes out on top. Young students can get in on the action, too, by matching card characters in a memory game. Click Here to Visit App Store …

Join the Fight for Freedom on the High Seas

December 12, 2011

The USS Constitution Museum has launched a K–12, interdisciplinary curriculum about the War of 1812. The curriculum brings interactive history lessons into classrooms and homes. The museum, located in the Charlestown Navy Yard, in Boston, across from “Old Ironsides,” built the curriculum to parallel the online game A Sailor’s Life for Me. This website invites students to join the fight for freedom on the high seas when they virtually enlist as sailors on board USS Constitution and travel back in time to engage in the War of 1812. The curriculum takes this history lesson one step further, offering 120 printable lesson plans and activities for the classroom that utilize history, science, math, social…

Broaden Students’ Understanding of the Middle East

December 12, 2011

Teaching the Middle East: A Resource for Educators was written by scholars in the field of Middle Eastern studies and created in partnership with the National Endowment for the Humanities and three University of Chicago units—the Oriental Institute, the Center for Middle Eastern Studies and the eCUIP Digital Library Project. The core Foundations lesson plans help students gain a broader understanding of the Middle East. Historical Perspectives lessons compare aspects of culture before and after the advent of Islam.Classroom Connections help teachers explore and share their newfound knowledge with students. Each learning module contains scholarly essays to help frame the issues and examine stereotypes. For each learning module, high school…