"GOOGLE CAN BRING YOU BACK 100,000 ANSWERS. A LIBRARIAN CAN BRING YOU BACK THE RIGHT ONE." ~NEIL GAIMAN
After taking courses all summer, I consider these to be the BEST of the BEST. As a classroom teacher of 14 years, I cannot begin to tell you how much I wish I knew about these resources. My goal throughout the year is to share resources like this-- without overwhelming you! If there is a topic that you would like me to find resources on, let me know, and I would LOVE to tackle it. I am SO excited to work with you this year!
~Kerry
Kerry's Menu
Here are some of my top picks for digital resources... I will update often, but make sure to let you know when I do! Please let me know if I missed anything/ you have another great resource!
Thank you!
~Kerry
October 24, 2016
CHARACTER EDUCATION/ Professional Resources
Common Sense Media has long been my go-to resource for instruction and reviews relating to ed tech and digital citizenship, as well as reviews and tech-rich lesson planning.
Kathy Schrock's Guide to Everything everything you could ever ask for... from a rock star in education!!
RESEARCH
Hundreds of free resources for fiction and non-fiction texts
Medfield High School's Digital Resources: Medfield High School
Symbaloo a visual bookmarking tool that makes it simple and fun to organize the best of the web. You have all your favorite websites at your fingertips.
Primary Sources:
The Library of Congress is an amazing free website that offers a plethora of digital resources for teachers and students. The teacher’s page provides tools and materials for using the Library’s unique collections of primary source documents in the classroom. These teacher-created materials include lesson plans, document analysis tools, online and offline activities, timelines, presentations and professional development resources.
Genius Hour/ Passion Projects/ Inquiry-Based Learning
Wonderopolis a site where natural curiosity and imagination lead to exploration and discovery in learners of all ages.
Thrively is a great resource to dig deeper with your students. Discover more about their personalities and use resources for Genius Hour.
GAME-BASED/ FUN Curriculum Supplements
GRADE 4 SOCIAL STUDIES
Mexico-
Webquest that I added to in order to push students to think deeper:
Canada-
http://pbskids.org/mayaandmiguel/english/games/passport/pacopassport.html that I think would be fun for 4th graders and offer valuable information about Mexico in a game-based, yet safe environment-- it is offered through PBS. There are the following options for playing: learning which English words originate from Spanish words (“loaner words”)- this is great because for students who study Spanish, there is: powerful people, food fiesta, pinata party, sensational celebrations, and fabulous flags… I tried each game and found great facts that were presented perfectly for our 4th grade students engagement and accessibility wise.
GRADE 4 SCIENCE
Rocks & Minerals-
Amazing resource for teachers and students with interactive features, teacher’s guide, lesson plans, and video clips to teach concepts. Can be student paced or whole class.
PBS Learning has a great resource:
http://mass.pbslearningmedia.
PBS Learning has a great resource:
http://mass.pbslearningmedia.
Learn about rocks, minerals & soils as you complete a variety of interesting experiments with this fun, interactive activity. Rocks, minerals and soils have different characteristics that set them apart from others. Find out about the properties of rocks such as slate, marble, chalk, granite and pumice. Which rocks split? Can you find a rock that floats? Answer these and other scientific questions with this cool science game.
This resource is the 21st century version of the pamphlets/ booklet guides that each 4th grade classroom has. You can use filters to find rocks and minerals based on the classification system. Students could really get hands on practice with this by comparing and contrasting results. So much potential!
Fossil Detective research based with inquiry, reflection, synthesis and critical thinking-- great project!!
Animal Adaptations/ Habitats
Research Scenario: Have you ever been to the Baltimore Zoo? Did you know that there are people who work and volunteer at the zoo to take care of the animals and to make sure the animals stay healthy?
The Baltimore Zoo wants to open four new exhibits. Each exhibit will feature a new animal: a cardinal, a camel, a red-eyed tree frog, and a polar bear.
To make sure each animal survives and is happy in their new home at the zoo, the zoo needs to create an exhibit that is just like each animals' habitat in the wild.
Can you and your classmates research habitats from around the world as well each animal to help The Baltimore Zoo create the perfect home for a cardinal, a camel, a red-eyed tree frog, and a polar bear?
Grade 5 SCIENCE
(video)Mind Blowing! ...Earth Compared To The Rest Of The Universe - Amazing Graphic Presentation
(video) Moon Phases Demonstration
Severe Weather (Tornadoes)-
After watching a video clip, answering questions, and reading a passage, students will learn:
Tornadoes are severe weather. It is important for use to understand how tornadoes work so we can be better prepared. How to record information about tornadoes.
Sustainability: Water… NBC Learn and the National Science Foundation explore the threats and challenges to our most vital natural resource.
NASA interactive site dedicated to matching new science standards.
Incredible NASA resource that allows you to filter for age, type, and most recent-- all about Precipitation Education… 5th grade teachers: water cycle and weather/ climate
Solar System
Positives:
-Real world task-- something that students can relate to... type of task that will inspire our students to help our earth
-Engaging & meaningful
-Process is straightforward and clear for students to tackle independently (or ask partners/ teams)
-Creative piece where the students must use the information gained to create something they will then share with the class
-Collaborative potential here that could be used for all different styles-- teams, groups, partners, independent
*Use as an extension activity for “high flyers” who have mastered this concept:
Energy
Research project to answer these questions:
• What are the different forms of energy?
• How and when is energy used?
• How does energy change from one form to another?
Grade 5 SOCIAL STUDIES
Maya
DK activities for all 3... http://www.dkfindout.com/uk/history/
Amazing LibGuide created for 5th graders: http://www.bcs448.libguides.com/mayans
European Explorers
Great resource to answer the question: How have the European explorers impacted North American history? Task: Choose an explorer and make a presentation to persuade the class that your explorer or conqueror is the one to choose for the time machine dial. Create a presentation (with ideas explained on the site-- or you could choose for your students). Great process for inquiry, reflection, and critical thinking and reasoning.
American Revolution
Paul Revere’s ride Research Scenario
One of the most well known episodes leading up to the American Revolution is the story of the "midnight ride" of Paul Revere. Many people have learned about this historical event by reading the narrative poem "Paul Revere's Ride," written by American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in 1860. A narrative poem is a poem that tells a story by including both narrative elements (characters, setting, plot events) and poetic elements (rhyme, rhythm, figurative language).
In this research model, you will be analyzing the poem "Paul Revere's Ride" and comparing it to primary and secondary source accounts of the actual events to answer the essential questions: Is Longfellow’s poem historically accurate? What really happened on the midnight ride?
ELA
EPIC- Thousands of popular, high-quality books for K - 5 Thousands of popular, high-quality books for K - 5
Writers Speak to Kids~ In this NBC Learn special collection, children‘s book authors share their writing experiences to help students learn more about the craft and techniques of creative writing. Great idea to inspire kids with real, live authors!
Poetry-
Check out this learner-centered digital research lesson designed to guide students through a structured/ guided inquiry process. Students who use these types of self-guided online research lessons are challenged to use thoughtful reading and use of digital media; analysis, evaluation, and synthesis of information; and collaboration, communication, and creativity using a variety of tools to build and present knowledge. The research models integrate learning across the content areas with the development of information literacy and other 21st century skills. Lessons are aligned to specific content learning and CCSS. Check out this great one that walks students through how Shel Silverstein uses elements of poetry to enhance the meaning of his works. http://www.bcps.org/offices/lis/models/shelsilverstein/index.html
Did you like this? Click here for other online research modules for elementary students in all subject/ content areas: http://www.bcps.org/offices/lis/models/orm/index.html
Poetry at Play research project: http://www.bcps.org/offices/lis/models/slamdunks/gr3poetry/3rdgradepoetryslamdunk.pptx Students explore poets and begin to think about what is enjoyable about the poems they are drawn to. This will guide them to create their own poetry based on skills they learn to recognize through this project. Great teacher resources, project is detailed for the students to work independently, clear directions, & all resources located here.
MATH EXTENSION IDEAS...
Geometry-
Awesome math Webquest!
-The task is clear and explicit
-Teamwork is involved, yet there is independent check ins to make sure each student is on track (worksheet and online quiz)
-There are manageable steps broken up in chunks (both on the rubric and in the task steps)
-The rubric is relevant to the tasks- yet is simple and easy to follow. It is differentiated for each task and helps the tasks be easily understood too.
-I love that creativity is embraced once the students prove their understanding of the subject matter. I think this would be very motivating for grade 4 and 5 students and help them to work through the beginning stages as the creation piece will allow for them to be able to express themselves.
Symmetry project to help students understand how to find symmetry in our everyday lives. Great teacher resources, project is detailed for the students to work independently, clear directions, & all resources located here.
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