Address: www.hoodamath.com
Content: Math
Example Activities:
Custom Car Shop
Ice Cream Truck
Trade West
Purpose: This is a website that has a large variety of activities and games for math. Some of them are more relevant than others. There are activities for basic math skills, geometry, understanding money, supply and demand, and logic puzzles.
My Experience: I have used this with 7th and 8th grade gifted students as a center. They love playing these activities. They enjoy trying to figure out how to get better at buying inventory, setting prices, and selling their product. It is always the first thing that they want to do. I have them play it on the interactive whiteboard in groups of three and they have been very successful using these activities. I have only used the Custom Car Shop and the Ice Cream Truck activities and I am excited to try out more of them with students.
Friday, May 18, 2012
Monday, September 5, 2011
Answer Garden
http://www.answergarden.ch/
Basics: Students repsond to a question of some sort with an answer that is less than 20 characters. All of their answers are recorded in the answer garden. The whole class can see what everyone else thinks about the topic. You can turn the brainstorming session into a wordle.
Example:
What is your favorite app to use in the classroom?... at AnswerGarden.ch.
Test Kitchen: Students love this app. I was having them brainstorm for an essay and they were putting in their answers to the prompt. They could not get enough of it. They loved that they got to see each other's answers. I turned their answers into a wordle and they were so excited to find their word in the wordle. This is a great way to brainstorm or share ideas and it gets students engaged in what they are doing.
Basics: Students repsond to a question of some sort with an answer that is less than 20 characters. All of their answers are recorded in the answer garden. The whole class can see what everyone else thinks about the topic. You can turn the brainstorming session into a wordle.
Example:
What is your favorite app to use in the classroom?... at AnswerGarden.ch.
Test Kitchen: Students love this app. I was having them brainstorm for an essay and they were putting in their answers to the prompt. They could not get enough of it. They loved that they got to see each other's answers. I turned their answers into a wordle and they were so excited to find their word in the wordle. This is a great way to brainstorm or share ideas and it gets students engaged in what they are doing.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Voki
The Site:
http://www.voki.com/
Basics: This site is to create talking avatars that will say whatever you want them to say.
Example:
Classroom Applications:
-Tell the objective for the day to the class.
-Explanation of a concept.
-Define vocabulary words.
-Students can make them to show their understanding.
-Present questions to students.
Basically, they are just a fun, easy, and engaging way to present information.
http://www.voki.com/
Basics: This site is to create talking avatars that will say whatever you want them to say.
Example:
Classroom Applications:
-Tell the objective for the day to the class.
-Explanation of a concept.
-Define vocabulary words.
-Students can make them to show their understanding.
-Present questions to students.
Basically, they are just a fun, easy, and engaging way to present information.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
authorSTREAM
Site:
http://www.authorstream.com/
Basics: This is a site where you can upload a PowerPoint presentation and then embed the presentation into a website or a blog. It will keep all of its features and animations. You can also have people access the presentation with a link. Also, you can have a meeting online where you present to people in remote locations. It's very easy to use and it has a free version with a lot of features.
Example:
Embedded Version
Linked Version
http://www.authorstream.com/Presentation/techlearninglab-1089331-rafts-presentation/
Test Kitchen: I have used this site many times in my class. It is great because you can use it to present a PowerPoint or you can have students watch the PowerPoint on their own. This is especially convenient when someone is absent, students are working on different things at the same time, as a review, or when some students are ready to move ahead.
http://www.authorstream.com/
Basics: This is a site where you can upload a PowerPoint presentation and then embed the presentation into a website or a blog. It will keep all of its features and animations. You can also have people access the presentation with a link. Also, you can have a meeting online where you present to people in remote locations. It's very easy to use and it has a free version with a lot of features.
Example:
Embedded Version
Linked Version
http://www.authorstream.com/Presentation/techlearninglab-1089331-rafts-presentation/
Test Kitchen: I have used this site many times in my class. It is great because you can use it to present a PowerPoint or you can have students watch the PowerPoint on their own. This is especially convenient when someone is absent, students are working on different things at the same time, as a review, or when some students are ready to move ahead.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Review Game Zone
The Site: http://www.reviewgamezone.com/
Basics: This is a site where you can create quizzes or tests and the students can choose one of 10 games that they want to play as part of the test. They will answer a question correctly and then they get to play a quick game.
Examples(There are some adds on the intial page):
Remember to scroll down the page because some of the adds say "play now for free" but, they will take you to another site.
Genres
http://www.reviewgamezone.com/game.php?id=6775
Your Brain
http://www.reviewgamezone.com/game.php?id=6791
The Moon
http://reviewgamezone.com/game.php?id=45
Nth Term
http://reviewgamezone.com/game.php?id=3046
Test Kitchen: I used this site with my kids during summer school and they loved it. It amazing how easy it is for kids to take a quiz when they are allowed to play a game at the same time. Some of the games where more interesting than others and the favorite game was Outer Space Attackers. It can take a long time to finish if you are good at it.
Helpful Hints: You can create a teacher account for free. You don't have to have students create accounts. They can use your class access code and put in their first name or a code name (to protect their privacy) and you will be able to see what they have done in the program. I have not used this feature but, it nice to have and not all sites have something like this.
Similar Site(s): http://www.what2learn.com/
Basics: This is a site where you can create quizzes or tests and the students can choose one of 10 games that they want to play as part of the test. They will answer a question correctly and then they get to play a quick game.
Examples(There are some adds on the intial page):
Remember to scroll down the page because some of the adds say "play now for free" but, they will take you to another site.
Genres
http://www.reviewgamezone.com/game.php?id=6775
Your Brain
http://www.reviewgamezone.com/game.php?id=6791
The Moon
http://reviewgamezone.com/game.php?id=45
Nth Term
http://reviewgamezone.com/game.php?id=3046
Test Kitchen: I used this site with my kids during summer school and they loved it. It amazing how easy it is for kids to take a quiz when they are allowed to play a game at the same time. Some of the games where more interesting than others and the favorite game was Outer Space Attackers. It can take a long time to finish if you are good at it.
Helpful Hints: You can create a teacher account for free. You don't have to have students create accounts. They can use your class access code and put in their first name or a code name (to protect their privacy) and you will be able to see what they have done in the program. I have not used this feature but, it nice to have and not all sites have something like this.
Similar Site(s): http://www.what2learn.com/
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Website of the Week #17-Jaycut-Your Free Video Editor Online
Link:
http://www.jaycut.com/
Basics: This is a free online video editor. You can add video, audio, text, and special effects. It is very easy to use, it's online and can be access from anywhere, and it's free. Once you make a video you can embed it or upload it to youtube.
Examples:
Book Trailer
Instructional Video
Building Background
Classroom Ideas:
How to Use It:
http://www.jaycut.com/
Basics: This is a free online video editor. You can add video, audio, text, and special effects. It is very easy to use, it's online and can be access from anywhere, and it's free. Once you make a video you can embed it or upload it to youtube.
Examples:
Book Trailer
Instructional Video
Building Background
Classroom Ideas:
How to Use It:
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Website of the Week #16- My Fake Facebook Wall
www.myfakewall.com
Basics-This is a site where you can create a fake facebook wall for fictional characters, historical figures, or just about anything. This is not connected to facebook in any way. Each page is a separate thing. Students create a username, log in, create the fake wall, and then they get a link to see what they have created.
Examples (There are more examples at www.myfakewall.com):
Click Here to See Full Page
Click Here to See Full Page
Test Kitchen:
We have been using this in my class to create facebook walls for characters in the books and authors that students are researching. They enjoy doing this a lot more than writing a paper and they have to really think about who their friends would be and what they would say to each other. They have to know the characters really well. They also have find basic information about the person or character. We are in the middle of this project but, I thought I would share in case anyone wanted to use it before the end of the year. It really seems to make it relevant for students and I haven't heard any complaining about do this project.
Basics-This is a site where you can create a fake facebook wall for fictional characters, historical figures, or just about anything. This is not connected to facebook in any way. Each page is a separate thing. Students create a username, log in, create the fake wall, and then they get a link to see what they have created.
Examples (There are more examples at www.myfakewall.com):
Click Here to See Full Page
Click Here to See Full Page
Test Kitchen:
We have been using this in my class to create facebook walls for characters in the books and authors that students are researching. They enjoy doing this a lot more than writing a paper and they have to really think about who their friends would be and what they would say to each other. They have to know the characters really well. They also have find basic information about the person or character. We are in the middle of this project but, I thought I would share in case anyone wanted to use it before the end of the year. It really seems to make it relevant for students and I haven't heard any complaining about do this project.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Website of the Week #15-Wordle
http://www.wordle.com/
Basics: This is a site where you make a word cloud. You enter the words you want to be in your cloud and the site will create a cloud of your words.
Examples: (Click on Picture to see Full Size)
Cactus Canyon Website Wordle
Wordle of this Blog
Declaration of Independence
You may be familiar with wordle and I have known about it for a while but, today I came across a presentation that has 51 ways to use wordle in the classroom and I thought others might want to use it. I found this on http://www.freetech4teachers.com/ and it came from a man named Tom Barrett. There are ideas for all levels and all subjects. Check it out below.
Other Word Cloud Sites:
http://www.tagxedo.com/ (can turn the cloud into a picture)
http://www.tagul.com/
http://wordlin.gs/
http://worditout.com/
Check out more about these at Free Tech 4 Teachers
Basics: This is a site where you make a word cloud. You enter the words you want to be in your cloud and the site will create a cloud of your words.
Examples: (Click on Picture to see Full Size)
Cactus Canyon Website Wordle
Wordle of this Blog
Declaration of Independence
You may be familiar with wordle and I have known about it for a while but, today I came across a presentation that has 51 ways to use wordle in the classroom and I thought others might want to use it. I found this on http://www.freetech4teachers.com/ and it came from a man named Tom Barrett. There are ideas for all levels and all subjects. Check it out below.
Other Word Cloud Sites:
http://www.tagxedo.com/ (can turn the cloud into a picture)
http://www.tagul.com/
http://wordlin.gs/
http://worditout.com/
Check out more about these at Free Tech 4 Teachers
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Website of the Week #14-Minute Board (embeddable forum)
http://www.minuteboard.com/
Basics: This is an web application that creates a unique forum that can be embedded into your website. Students have to create user names and passwords and then they can participate in the forum.
Example:
(Feel free to interact with this forum example. You can click on the posts to see what they say without an account or you can create an account and respond to the posts.)
Test Kitchen: I have used this with students a couple of times. It is a very easy way to create a forum and it is a very basic forum. Basically, you can create posts and people can reply to your posts. There does not seem to be an option to reply to a reply so the threads are short. It is a great venue to teach students about appropriate posting and you have complete control over what content is added to the forum. I used it as a way for students to respond to some different topics but, I don't think that I have gotten the most out of it yet.
Classroom Applications: Forums or message boards can be used in any class and any content area. It is a great place for people to share opinions and to answer questions that have unique answers.
Ideas for...
Music and Art Class-respond to different works of art
Social Studies-choose a side and support your view
Science and Math-explain a process in your own words
Language Arts-respond to a piece of literature
Basics: This is an web application that creates a unique forum that can be embedded into your website. Students have to create user names and passwords and then they can participate in the forum.
Example:
(Feel free to interact with this forum example. You can click on the posts to see what they say without an account or you can create an account and respond to the posts.)
Powered by
MinuteBoard.com
MinuteBoard.com
Test Kitchen: I have used this with students a couple of times. It is a very easy way to create a forum and it is a very basic forum. Basically, you can create posts and people can reply to your posts. There does not seem to be an option to reply to a reply so the threads are short. It is a great venue to teach students about appropriate posting and you have complete control over what content is added to the forum. I used it as a way for students to respond to some different topics but, I don't think that I have gotten the most out of it yet.
Classroom Applications: Forums or message boards can be used in any class and any content area. It is a great place for people to share opinions and to answer questions that have unique answers.
Ideas for...
Music and Art Class-respond to different works of art
Social Studies-choose a side and support your view
Science and Math-explain a process in your own words
Language Arts-respond to a piece of literature
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Website of the Week # 13-Jeopardy Labs
http://www.jeopardylabs.com/
Basics: This is a simple way to create a jeopardy game. No login required. All you do is add the questions and answers, then they give you a link to your game. It's that simple.
Examples:
Math
Social Studies
Science
Language Arts
Test Kitchen: We used this as a way to review this past week. Jeopardy is of course a popular way to review. The best part of this site is that it is simple, free, and there is no downloading. I played with the whole class which I think is a little hard and not all of the students can participate fully. I think that when I use it again I will have them play in small groups instead of teams with the whole class. They could have all been doing this on their computers. This is also something they can do independently and it is so simple the students could even create their own board.
Additional Online Free and Simple Review Games:
http://www.superteachertools.com/
Example:
Jeopardy
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire
Board Game
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