All thinks skool: Fun stuff on the internet to use for learning

Monday, October 11, 2004

***PBS Video Streams and Lessons Online

Health / Sociology Video Streams online
"Dying to be Thin"
Book a LAB, send your students to http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/thin/program.html#, a page of links to PBS video streams on body image and eating disorders. Find your teacher package here http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/teachers/activities/2715_thin.html . Don't forget to check the teacher idea link on the right too!

Science - "Cracking the Code"
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/genome/program.html
Also PBS video stream learning, with a great teacher package at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/teachers/activities/2809_genome.html Don't forget to check the teacher idea link on the right for more classroom ideas from other teachers.

A complete listing of lessons using PBS resources can be found at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/teachers/resources/subject.html

Friday, October 08, 2004

"Tell me exactly what to do."
I got feedback. The sites are fun and informative - but you'd like something immediately usable for a lesson. "Tell me what to do." So'll try to keep posts to a really limited application and include some lesson ideas.

Here are 3:

For narrative, Language Arts & English (story) or History, give students a short reading (15 minutes to read) and then ask them to open ComicCreator at www.readwritethink.org (go to Student Material) and create a 'summary' comic. The application won't save, so have kids print it out right there. You can even use it as an assessment of how well they get the gist of a short text. (read for main ideas in curric-speak) Keeps kids intently engaged for at least 30 minutes!
(Comic Creator also includes a long list of fabulous, more complex lessons using the application. No downloading required. Internet based. Book a lab and away you go.)

Teach High School French? This webquest is all set to go, including assignment instructions. Students of French are asked to make curatorial decision in the building of a collection of art by French speaking artists. Just book a lab and send your kids to http://www.geocities.com/Paris/LeftBank/9806/belleville.html (Requires Power Point though you could have them make a WORD or html presenation - they'll know what to do! And the lesson even includes the evaluation rubric!) 3 hours (3 classes); a week if you want them to produce a Power Point and present.

Getting Ready to study a Shakespeare Play? Set the Scene with "Shakespeare's England" at http://english.unitecnology.ac.nz/resources/units/shakespeare/worksheet_topics.html. Totally self explanatory. 2 hours (2 classes)