Today I would like to blog about a website called EdHeads. I've found an activity simply just called "Weather".
This interactive activity can be geared towards Grade 4 Science: Core Unit - Predicting Weather. It's a very fun site that I think students would love!
This site gives you two options: first, you can report the weather and second, you can predict the weather (exactly hitting on what students need to know in this grade)!
How I would use this site in my class is first to go through each option once with the whole class so they know how to do it. (This website I think would be useful near the beginning of the unit!) If we had a smartboard, it could be more interactive by getting volunteers to come help the teacher figure out how to report and predict accurately! We would just do Level 1 as a class and they could do Levels 2 & 3 on their own. After they are finished, they would print out their statistics to hand in. We would discuss as a class the things they learned, perhaps using the Rapidfire technique in Inspiration! There would be follow-up information by the teacher if need be.
This site can enhance student learning because it is very hands-on and individualistic in terms of learning. Students get to figure out on their own how to do certain things with weather. They get to experience what it would be like to perhaps be a meteorologist or weather reporter. Basically, I thought it was fun and easy to understand.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Monday, March 24, 2008
Scavenger Hunt!
The website I've found today is a Solar System Scavenger Hunt!
In this activity, students are introduced to items found scattered within our solar system. It's up to the students to figure out which planet, moon, etc. it is found on. This requires students to perhaps have some background knowledge or to search the internet for the answers. The site also provides a hint to the answer if they need it. However, they cannot move onto the next question until they get the right answer.
This site can be linked to the Grade 6 Unit on Exploring Space.
This site can enhance student's learning because it gets them introduced to new and interesting facts about various bodies in the solar system. The only thing I would do as a teacher is to provide students with another set of a few websites that would be helpful in searching the information.
In this activity, students are introduced to items found scattered within our solar system. It's up to the students to figure out which planet, moon, etc. it is found on. This requires students to perhaps have some background knowledge or to search the internet for the answers. The site also provides a hint to the answer if they need it. However, they cannot move onto the next question until they get the right answer.
This site can be linked to the Grade 6 Unit on Exploring Space.
This site can enhance student's learning because it gets them introduced to new and interesting facts about various bodies in the solar system. The only thing I would do as a teacher is to provide students with another set of a few websites that would be helpful in searching the information.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Another One!?
Okay, so I know I've already posted a link to a site for the Underground Railroad but I'm afraid I'm going to post about another so here goes.
This one is from the National Geographic website (let it be known that I absolutely love national geographic!) and once more it's about slavery that occurred in North America and the Underground Railroad that some of them were able to use to escape to freedom.
I could use this website in a different way than the last. I would attempt to connect this to Grade 6 Social Studies: Unit One - Location (particularly Location and Grid and Maps). As the students completed this online activity, I would get them to jot down all of the places that they went, following Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad. Then, I would have them mark down on a map ( that I'd give them) the coordinates of the places they passed through. This would get them to practice their mapping and grid skills. They would create a legend as well for the places. If I wanted to, I could get them to research one fact about the town or landscape they passed through.
I think this website would enhance student's learning because they would get an idea of the proportionality between the cities of the Underground Railroad, as well as the distance these people had to travel to get to freedom.
This one is from the National Geographic website (let it be known that I absolutely love national geographic!) and once more it's about slavery that occurred in North America and the Underground Railroad that some of them were able to use to escape to freedom.
I could use this website in a different way than the last. I would attempt to connect this to Grade 6 Social Studies: Unit One - Location (particularly Location and Grid and Maps). As the students completed this online activity, I would get them to jot down all of the places that they went, following Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad. Then, I would have them mark down on a map ( that I'd give them) the coordinates of the places they passed through. This would get them to practice their mapping and grid skills. They would create a legend as well for the places. If I wanted to, I could get them to research one fact about the town or landscape they passed through.
I think this website would enhance student's learning because they would get an idea of the proportionality between the cities of the Underground Railroad, as well as the distance these people had to travel to get to freedom.
Monday, March 10, 2008
What's It Like Where You Live?
The website What's it like where you live? is an interactive website that has tons of possibilities.
It can be connected to Grade 6 Science - Core Unit: Ecosystems.
This website introduces Biomes of the World, Freshwater Ecosystems and Marine Ecosystems. Although it includes indepth information that students at this level may find overwhelming, I believe I have found a way that its use could be modified into grade 6.
What I would have my students do is to choose one of the topics. It could be the tundra, rainforest, desert, or wetlands. They would put together a presentation for the rest of the class. They would include a poster with information such as where this ecosystem might be located, what the characteristics would be, and the possible impacts humans could have on this ecosystem.
I think that in this manner of researching, presenting and learning, students will develop an array of different spectrums ecosystems can take in the world. There are many opportunities here to learn about different areas of the world, and also to possibly bring in the discussion locally to focus on aspects of our own ecosystem and the effects we have on it.
It can be connected to Grade 6 Science - Core Unit: Ecosystems.
This website introduces Biomes of the World, Freshwater Ecosystems and Marine Ecosystems. Although it includes indepth information that students at this level may find overwhelming, I believe I have found a way that its use could be modified into grade 6.
What I would have my students do is to choose one of the topics. It could be the tundra, rainforest, desert, or wetlands. They would put together a presentation for the rest of the class. They would include a poster with information such as where this ecosystem might be located, what the characteristics would be, and the possible impacts humans could have on this ecosystem.
I think that in this manner of researching, presenting and learning, students will develop an array of different spectrums ecosystems can take in the world. There are many opportunities here to learn about different areas of the world, and also to possibly bring in the discussion locally to focus on aspects of our own ecosystem and the effects we have on it.
Volcano Explorer!
The website I have chosen to speak about today is called Volcano Explorer!
This interactive website can be connected to the Evergreen Curriculum in Grade 6 Science - Core Unit: Earthquakes & Volcanoes.
This site explores many concepts surrounding the formation, classification, causes, effects, plate tectonics, etc. about volcanoes.
Students get to explore and discover on their own this information pertaining to volcanoes as well as getting a virtual visual of what is being talked about, where it may be located and what it might look like. It's a great site for them to actually see what's going on. They also get a chance to "create their own volcano" and determining the type it will become.
So, in light of the last activity, my assignment for the students would be not only to look through all the information presented on the background of types, etc., but to hypothesize why their volcano turned out to be the type it was (strato, for example). Was it due to the amount of gas built up underneath the crust, or did it perhaps have something to do with where it was located on the ring of fire? It is up to them to produce a theory as to how and why these formations occur.
As well, students could also be asked to look up the particular volcano that is mentioned as an example after they've "created" on and find more information and pictures on it to produce a sort of mini-report.
I feel that this website is beneficial for students because it is very visual and allows students to play around with different information and features. It includes a lot of the concepts they have to know as well but makes it more fun for them to find out.
This interactive website can be connected to the Evergreen Curriculum in Grade 6 Science - Core Unit: Earthquakes & Volcanoes.
This site explores many concepts surrounding the formation, classification, causes, effects, plate tectonics, etc. about volcanoes.
Students get to explore and discover on their own this information pertaining to volcanoes as well as getting a virtual visual of what is being talked about, where it may be located and what it might look like. It's a great site for them to actually see what's going on. They also get a chance to "create their own volcano" and determining the type it will become.
So, in light of the last activity, my assignment for the students would be not only to look through all the information presented on the background of types, etc., but to hypothesize why their volcano turned out to be the type it was (strato, for example). Was it due to the amount of gas built up underneath the crust, or did it perhaps have something to do with where it was located on the ring of fire? It is up to them to produce a theory as to how and why these formations occur.
As well, students could also be asked to look up the particular volcano that is mentioned as an example after they've "created" on and find more information and pictures on it to produce a sort of mini-report.
I feel that this website is beneficial for students because it is very visual and allows students to play around with different information and features. It includes a lot of the concepts they have to know as well but makes it more fun for them to find out.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Travel Back In Time Through the Underground Railroad
The website I would like to blog about today is not a website per se, but is rather a WebQuest which I believe will be of use in any middle year's classroom.
It is called "Travel Back In Time Through The Underground Railroad". (Click on the name to go to it!)
This WebQuest can be connected to many different subject areas; however, I would like to specifically talk about it in terms of ELA in grade 6/7 (which happens to be the grades I interned in!)
If you are in the middle of a novel study on the book Roots or The Underground Railroad, for example, this WebQuest can help bring students to a better understanding of what actually occurred during that time period. They will begin to develop a relationship and interest in the novel and events when accompanying it with opportunities for them to engage in deeper understanding and thinking.
What this webquest is able to do is to bring students to experience the topic in a first-hand way. It can benefit their learning by allowing them to think deeper (according to Bloom's taxonomy let's say). They will be able to not only research and explore the event on their own, but develop compassion and empathy for what actually occurred. As well, of course, they will be completing ELA objectives.
I think WebQuests in general are an excellent teaching and learning tool to incorporate through every classrooms. They provide many opportunities and challenges for the students that they may not be used to.
It is called "Travel Back In Time Through The Underground Railroad". (Click on the name to go to it!)
This WebQuest can be connected to many different subject areas; however, I would like to specifically talk about it in terms of ELA in grade 6/7 (which happens to be the grades I interned in!)
If you are in the middle of a novel study on the book Roots or The Underground Railroad, for example, this WebQuest can help bring students to a better understanding of what actually occurred during that time period. They will begin to develop a relationship and interest in the novel and events when accompanying it with opportunities for them to engage in deeper understanding and thinking.
What this webquest is able to do is to bring students to experience the topic in a first-hand way. It can benefit their learning by allowing them to think deeper (according to Bloom's taxonomy let's say). They will be able to not only research and explore the event on their own, but develop compassion and empathy for what actually occurred. As well, of course, they will be completing ELA objectives.
I think WebQuests in general are an excellent teaching and learning tool to incorporate through every classrooms. They provide many opportunities and challenges for the students that they may not be used to.
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