Web+site+reviews

[] This is an interactive movie and choice-critical thinking interactions on John Smith and the Jamestown Settlement. There are “mini-games” with each movie clip (animated). This meets standards of American History and Explorers in fifth grade. This site could also be used one grade above and below. The site offers teacher resources as well as interactive student resources. This could be used as part of a Web-Quest or stand alone for an early American history lesson or lesson on an explorer. It is interesting and interactive, leading to keeping the students’ attentions and making the learning fun. [] This is an interactive site that provides multiple platforms of educational entertainment and games. There are sections for reading about Colonial life, famous founding fathers, and more. Multiple choice and tour games are provided for students to make a choice on what they want to learn about and to discover if they learned anything at all. It is an interesting site for basic level introduction of the afore mentioned items, but does require an advanced level of reading. I would recommend it for fourth grade and above. [] This is an outstanding website from the Metropolitan Museum of Art for kids. The site not only offers photos of famous artwork and the stories of their artists, but some interactive, historical pieces as well. This particular page is about the Bronze Age. The student can watch a movie about artifacts brought to the surface and the historical meaning they have; play a game relating to the items; and look at the items that the museum has on display from the excavation. Here is the original URL to obtain choices: [] [] These sites are provided by our government in an effort to help students understand what energy is, the history of energy, how to save energy, and what makes the whole thing work (or not work). There are multiple informative pages about historical figures, timelines, and all the “who, what, when, where, and why’s” of energy (I didn’t know there was so much until looking through this site). It offers a teacher’s guide and a game/activity section. It also has some science experiments and classroom activities. Again, most of this site is text heavy and would be great for writing reports, finding a science fair project, or exploring what you can do with energy. I would recommend it for grades fifth and higher, as well as to science teachers of any grade level. Original URL: [] [] Need an idea for a science lesson, but you want to make sure it’s informative and factual? Here’s a great site for educator from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. My personal favorite was scientific observation and data analysis on the life of crickets. You obtain some crickets from your local pet shop and voila- a cheap, fun science lesson. The site gives you print out ideas, lesson planning thoughts, and the general idea of how this project worked for their test lab (they have done all of these plans with test students). There are other, more complicated lessons as well, but you can chose by subject, grade, or purpose. It is not interactive, but highly informative and offers thought provoking activities and lessons for teachers to pass on to their students. [] Want to get your younger students interested in mythology? Try the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series of books. Admittedly, even I am a bit hooked on his adventures and I found the series a great way to help me learn the Greek Gods and Goddesses, what the stand for, and generate more interest in the original myths and legends of their heroes. For teachers looking to get their students hooked into the classical tales this is an excellent way to introduce them. Check out the website for more info on the author, the series, games, notes, and printables. This is good for teacher resource use and to allow for the students to play a few games (that are really quizzes) about the mythology aspect of the books (and some story content). [] The San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park have created a website with a page geared towards childhood education. While some of the pages are informational, some are early elementary level games, there are some good science listings to be found for student science experiments (or classroom lessons). Students can choose from a variety of simple to complex projects that parents will watch with “amazement.” This is a good reference page to point fifth graders to for science trials, crafts, recipes, and more. [] Out-of-this-world games, learning, photos, quizzes, and projects to take your young astronomers higher and higher! This site, offered by NASA, has age appropriate games and interactive fun for your students on astronomy, math, physics, and more. There is also a teacher section for printables and ideas. There are a lot of fun things here in a well organized, colorful format. Nice, big buttons for clicking and easy access back/home buttons. [] Our National Park Service offers this interactive website with a HUGE amount of information. There are games, quizzes, learn-alongs (learn as you go), and a teacher section to help you make the most out of your online journey. Students can use this site for reference, games, quiz taking, and projects. Learn how to be a park ranger with the online activities and lessons. The site loads quickly, is easily maneuverable, and even offers an “I don’t know which one to pick” option that randomly takes you to something on the site. [] My secret for this lesson… the ALA GWS website. It lists hundreds of great, kid-friendly sites that have been compiled through the American Library Association’s Great Websites for Kids panel. If you need a site that is interactive, has games, educational materials, and it easy-to-use, then this is the place to find it. There is a site for just about everything you would need as a teacher. While this particular site leaves something to be desired in the “nice to look at” department, the information contained within the subject headings is invaluable to teachers, educators, and even parents.