Polar Bears International Webcast

I sure wish I had thought to post this sooner.  Edmodo and Polar Bears International teamed up this week on a series of webcasts from the sub-arctic. Participating in a live webcast with real scientists is a great way to promote STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics).  If your classes study animals, habitats, ecosystems, climate, or human impact on the planet these webcasts are a great resource.  Although they have already taken place, the archives can be found on their website. Tundra Connections Archive  They also have a really great game that can be played to reinforce the challenges facing the Polar Bears in the Hudson Bay/Churchill area.  It is called Polar Bear Trek.

If you missed the live webcasts and want to participate live, mark your calendar for next fall right about this same time.  This is an annual event. 

Election Day

Since tomorrow is Election Day across the USA, I thought I would share some great resources you might want to use in your classroom.
Kids Voting - Your students can log in and vote online.
The Democracy Project - a bit outdated ('08) but great info.
Props for a Voting Event - make your own voting booth, buttons, etc.

Of course I found a few on TpT.  Some free, some not.  None of them are mine but don't let that stop you from checking them out!

Political Party Voting - election locker decoration
Election Voting Letter
Election Vocabulary Games
Election Category Game

You can search through 150+ other activities here...

Combining Tech Tools

I've posted in the past about using Prezi and Wordle.  I'm finally getting around to sharing an idea I have had about combining a variety of tech tools.  This "mash up" is going to get a test run this week in my science classroom.  We're beginning a new unit about Weather and Climate.  Understanding the water cycle is a key component of this unit as well as our landforms, biomes, and ecosystems units.  I decided to combine some things together in a Prezi and this is the initial result. Water Cycle Introduction.

Simple K12

I subscribed to Simple K12 some time ago.  Have you ever checked it out?  It really is a great resource!  I think my favorite part about it is the professional development via webinars I can access "from home in my PJs".  It'd be nice if we could be that comfie at school. 

October is filled with some great webinar topics that could enhance your use of technology.  I think I'll be checking out the 3 Keys to Having a Successful Blog. 

There are some fee based portions of this website but you can get a lot of mileage out of their free webinars.  It's definitely one of the places I frequent to find out about the latest, greatest, newest thing for tech in the classroom.

Teacher Town Hall

Last year was the first Education Nation Teacher Town Hall.  It is hosted by Brian Williams of NBC News.  This year I have been chosen to attend the event live in New York City's Rockefeller Plaza.  You can imagine my excitement!!  In watching the archives from last year, I started wondering what I might say to the nation if I am given the microphone.  I would love to hear from other educators here.  Leave your comments below and I might just get the chance to speak up for teachers.

You can also sign up to participate in the Teacher Town Hall online.  Check it out and register here.

After you leave a comment, head on over to my TpT store to check out this limited time freebie.  I'm developing a series called Scrap Paper Test Strategies.  This 1st one is a chart that assists students with recalling facts about polygons.  Get it quick because it won't be free for long.

Giddy 4 Google Docs

As a teacher, one of the best FREE resources I have found to encourage the use of technology and decrease the paper load is Google Docs.  I haven't found a lot of teachers who are really using them to their fullest potential.  If you've never tested them out you don't know what you're missing!  If you've used them but don't see the potential for making your job easier and engaging your students, you might need to take another look.  This guide from Free Technology For Teachers may be exactly what you need. 

I don't know what I like the most about them.  We've used the forms to create blog entries that I can edit before copying and pasting to our school website and to answer quiz questions that can be graded via Excel in Google Docs with a 1 time painless setup.  We've used the document feature to generate class vocabular lists and KWL charts quickly with everyone typing their responses all at once.

As we gear up for the beginning of another school year, you might want to give Google Docs another glance!

Free Webinar Opportunity

I am going to host a webinar tomorrow night. Please consider joining me to chat about teaching elementary science.

Plan a Prezi

I've been introduced to the world of the Prezi.  How about you?  About 15 years ago, I was all about the PowerPoint and my students were enthralled with them.  Sadly, they have become kin to a lecture style of teaching.  The Prezi on the otherhand seems to be the next big thing.  They definitely have a more professional video feel to the presentation.  Rather than using slides, you create a presentation path. It will take a little bit of practice but I think this Web 2.0 tool has a lot of potential.  Best of all, educators have access for free.  The only way to really start planning your Prezi is to sign up and start playing around with it.  If you're looking for a way to spice things up as you head back to class, this might just be the answer. 

Let me get you started in the right direction with some youtube videos.

Top 5 Reasons to Use Prezi

How to Use Prezi

PowerPoint Alternative - Prezi

Now head over and sign up to try it out for yourself.  Get Prezi for educators here.

Let the Cyber Search Begin!

Darn... you just missed Cyber Search Monday.  What a bummer.  Fortunately, the links to our blogs/websites are still linked up below.  If you want to take a look around and purchase the items you missed, please do.  Don't get left out again.  Subscribe to my blog and you will be sure to read about the next great event. Thanks for stopping by.

While it is only Sunday here in the Eastern US, it is definitely Monday halfway around the world so...  Cyber Monday has officially begun.  Don't worry, it won't end until the very last time zone rings in at midnight Aug. 8th.   Whether you're just getting started or I am the last stop on your treasure hunt, be sure to grab your copy of my 5 E's Unit Plan - Electricity - It's Elementary.

This file normally sells for $5.00 on my Teachers Pay Teachers Store,
but today it can be downloaded for FREE right here.


This unit is great for anyone who teaches about electricity.  It can be used to enhance an existing curriculum and/or science kit or used as a stand-alone.  Don't have a kit with supplies?  Don't worry.  This unit includes ideas for re-purposing common household items or using the typical kits you may already have.  Students love to learn using my simulations and I have found that simulations build student interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) careers.

Just click on the file menu in the google docs window below and choose download to get it  right now.

If you like this item, please consider visiting my store and sharing a link to my blog with others, but hurry ... This PDF is only active for 1 day!  You could also leave a comment below.

Once you've picked up my freebie, choose another website on the list and hop over there to check things out. Look for the blue CyberSearch buddy button to find more freebies. There are over $85 worth of materials you can snag.  Bookmark any pages you like so you can come back and check them out later!  You never know what great tips and information we'll share next.

Cyber Search Showcase Sellers and Websites

• Laura Candler Teaching Resources

• Lisa Frase Effective Teaching Solutions

• Rachel Lynette Minds in Bloom

• Ashleigh Swinford Education Journey

• Charity Preston The Organized Classroom Blog

• Jennifer Runde Runde's Room

• Wise Guys Teaching Activities, Lesson Plans, and Units

• Karla Banks Life in Special Education

• Heather Kaiser The Teched Out Teacher

• Rosshalde Pak Education Shortlist

•  Nyla Phillips-Martin  Nyla's Crafty Teaching  

• Margaret Whisnant – Taking Grades for Teachers 

•  PowerPoint Maniac PowerPoint Maniac's Teaching Resources   

• Tracey Graham Smart Chick Teacher

Thanks to Laura Candler for setting this up.  If you aren't already receiving her newsletter, be sure to sign up here, or follow her facebook page here.

Note:
*You are downloading copyrighted material for classroom use only.  Please do not distribute it in any form, including copying it for other teachers or posting it online.  Thank you for understanding.

Going Buggy for Friday Tech Freebies!

So I was reading through my Daily Diigo updates and came across some things that have me going absolutely BUGGY! 



Here you can sign up for a 1 hr. time slot to interactively control an $800,000 scanning electron microscope and use the build-in chat to send questions to scientists. Free.  I thought, no way but I was wrong.  It's for real and within minutes I was able to send my request for a time slot in October.  Just make sure you plan ahead because there is often a  6 week waiting period.

Are you looking for effective technology-based tools for the K-12 classroom? How about a way to access primary sources and generate engaging learning experiences? If so, I think you may be looking for Primary Access, a suite of free online tools that allows students and teachers to use primary source documents to complete meaningful and compelling learning activities with digital movies, storyboards, rebus stories and other online tools.

When was the last time your district purchased new textbooks?  Whether you are going paperless or your textbooks are just out of date you might be interested in an online warehouse with FREE textbooks.

Hope you are going Buggy for my Friday Tech Freebies too!

Welcome to the Cyber Search Showcase!

It's not "cyber Monday" yet, but you can take a peek now!

Let's get started looking for those freebies ....

Download over $85 worth of materials for free!

Monday, August 8th only!

This is how it works...

1. Visit each blog or website below and you'll find one featured item that's valued between $3.00 and $10.00. You'll see a link to the TeachersPayTeachers.com store where you COULD buy this item, but you won't have to because it will be absolutely free to download from their website on Monday, August 8th!
2. For now, look for the blue Cyber Search buddy button on each blog or website to help you find the he Cyber Search Showcase page. Then take a look around and check out the great teaching resources you'll find there. These bloggers have great teaching strategies, tips, and free items in addition to the items they sell on TeachersPayTeachers.
3. Then choose another website on the list and hop over there to check things out. Bookmark any pages you like so you can come back and check them out later!
4. On Monday, return to this page to start your Cyber Search for over $85 worth of teaching materials created just for Grade 3 - 5 teachers! Download and save each file before moving on to the next site. If you like the freebie, you may want to follow the seller on TpT or Facebook so you'll know when they create more great stuff!

The Teched Out Teacher's Featured Free Item

Visit These Websites To Continue Your Cyber Search!

(Note:  a few sites haven't set up their pages yet - so don't worry if you don't see the cybersearch button - it will be coming soon).

Cyber Search Showcase Sellers and Websites

• Laura Candler Teaching Resources

• Lisa Frase Effective Teaching Solutions

• Rachel Lynette Minds in Bloom

• Ashleigh Swinford Education Journey

• Charity Preston The Organized Classroom Blog

• Jennifer Runde Runde's Room

• Wise Guys Teaching Activities, Lesson Plans, and Units

• Karla Banks Life in Special Education

• Heather Kaiser The Teched Out Teacher

• Rosshalde Pak Education Shortlist

•  Nyla Phillips-Martin  Nyla's Crafty Teaching  

• Margaret Whisnant – Taking Grades for Teachers 

•  PowerPoint Maniac PowerPoint Maniac's Teaching Resources   

• Tracey Graham Smart Chick Teacher

Bonus Item hosted on Laura’s site:

Ruth S.  "Chocolate Fever Student Worksheets"

Thanks to Laura Candler for setting this up.  If you aren't already receiving her newsletter, be sure to sign up here, or follow her facebook page here. 

 

LifeLab - Growing Classroom Resources

If you've ever considered gardening with students, LifeLab.org is a great resource.  This week about 10 teachers in our district are spending time with one of the trainers from LifeLab and we've been learning lots already.  Attending a workshop or bringing a trainer in to do district training isn't always an option.  Fortunately, many of the resources from LifeLab can be found online.  They even have their own channel on Youtube.
If you like this, you should really check out the Banana Slug String Band for some great songs too.

If you use any of these resources, I'd love to hear about your experience.  Leave a comment below.
 

Back to School Sale on TpT Starts Tomorrow!

The 10% OFF promo code will be B1T1S and be good from the 1st-6th
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Special Thanks to Carolyn at WiseOwlFactory for creating these fantastic advertisement images!