eThemes for Content Rich, Kid-Safe Online Resources

Here is another site, from the University of Missouri, that filters search results to make sure that the content is safe for schools. While Google is helpful, its return on a search allows for too many results from which to choose and the possibility of inappropriate content. eThemes filters the content in such a way that only educational links remain.

Here is the link:
http://ethemes.missouri.edu/

Here are three examples based on searches:
http://ethemes.missouri.edu/themes/1177?locale=en
http://ethemes.missouri.edu/themes/9?locale=en
http://ethemes.missouri.edu/themes/1107?locale=en

Great Independent Spelling Games and Activites

Sometimes, in a pinch, you need a way to occupy your students for a short time but you’d like it to be with something at least mildly educational. Spelling, although important, has taken a back seat in most schools’ curriculum and teachers need to take any opportunity they can to enhance their students’ spelling practice. Here are some quick and easy to learn games and activities that teachers can use to provide quality computer time for their students. The first one, Spelling City, is the most comprehensive, its a whole site, while the other links are directly to games within other sites. Enjoy!

http://www.spellingcity.com/

http://www.funbrain.com/spell/index.html

http://www.funbrain.com/whichword/index.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/hardspell/starspell_game.shtml

http://www.mrnussbaum.com/everglades.htm

http://www.netrover.com/~kingskid/Safari/safari.htm

http://primarygames.com/langarts/hangaroo/start.htm

http://www.funbrain.com/plurals/index.html

 

More Physics

As if you need more online access to great physics content, I am presenting you with something that appeals to everyone with a short attention span. New Scientist TV offers informative and interesting One-Minute Physics videos. From the literally expanding universe to why there is no pink light, the subject matter varies and goes beyond physics throughout the site. Recommended when you need an extra angle in which to approach a tricky concept.

http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/nstv/one-minute-physics/

Yet Another Way for Students to Express Themselves

As we know, the days of pencil and paper in school have transformed into the days of digital media and with that comes a responsibility to consider the various ways in which students can present an idea or thought.

Although newspapers are fairly uncommon in a student’s daily reading schedule, comic strips are still a viable way to entertain, inform, and express interesting viewpoints.

makebeiliefscomix is an easy way for students to use comic panels to share a thought or idea in a somewhat condensed form with the potential added value of humor and entertainment.

Here is an example I made in two minutes using the templates on the site:

3 Excellent Web Page Reading Tips

Today I have 3 tips to make your web page reading go smoothly.

Sometimes web pages are hard to read because the text is too small. That is either the fault of the browser or just bad web design. Regardless, you can easily increase the text size with one of these simple moves.

1) While viewing the web page, press CTRL and the + key to increase the text size and CTRL and the – key to decrease text size or…
2) Hold CTRL while you use the roller wheel on your mouse.  Forward for bigger text and backward for smaller text.

Another easy tip is as easy as turning a page in a book. When you read a web page you may find yourself slowly scrolling down as you peruse the text.  This can cause excess fatigue while reading and limit your research time. Instead of using your mouse and scrolling, try the following tip:

3) Press the SPACE BAR to scroll down one full screen, like turning a page in a book. Hold CTRL and space to go back up one full screen.

to review:
Bigger text = CTRL and + (or CTRL and wheel forward)
Smaller text = CTRL and – (or CTRL and wheel backward)
Scroll down one screen = SPACE BAR

Happy reading!

Better Reading Tool

The reading software series, Reader Rabbit, has been around for over a decade helping students learn reading skills in a fun and active environment.  With the upgrade of our computers as well as the change in operating systems, software such as Reader Rabbit has become somewhat outdated with regard to its ability to work seamlessly.  I would like to recommend a replacement to Reader Rabbit that is as engaging and as helpful in developing reading skills in young students.

Starfall is a web based, interactive reading program designed for preschool, kindergarten, first grade, second grade, special education, and English language development (ELD, ELL, ESL).  It teaches letters, words, and phonics in a variety of applications that allow the students to progress at a comfortable pace with entertaining graphics and sounds.  The best part about Starfall is that it is completely free.

Click the link to visit Starfall.
http://www.starfall.com/

Science! – Creating useful XY Charts in Excel

For those who like to measure things and use the data, here is a quick way to make a useful chart that will allow you to analyze that data like a real thinker. What good are a bunch of numbers on a page if we aren’t thinking about them, right? Below are the instructions, but I’d recommend you download the PDF. It has accompanying graphics that help clarify the steps.

Step 1: Enter your data into two columns. Include the text headers at the top of each.
Step 2: Select the two colums by clicking the upper left cell and dragging down to the last cell on the right.
Step 3: Click Insert and choose your chart type.
Step 4: Your chart will appear next to your data. Select the chart by clicking on the edge and notice the Chart Tools Tab at the top of the screen. Click on your title to change it.
Step 5: Click on a data point and then right click on it to bring up the contextual menu. Select Add Trendline. Select your trendline options and close the dialog box.
Step 6: With your chart selected (see step 4) click Layout under Chart Tools. Then click the arrow on the tab for Axis Titles. You can choose your options for your x-axis title and your y-axis title. Click the example text to replace with your own titles.
Step 7: To change the look of your data points, right click on one and select Format Data Series.

XYGraphing_in_Excel

You Tube Solution

Today I’d like to share with you a great way to watch your favorite YouTube videos anytime you need them, without worrying about network slowness or becoming hampered by the strange result of web filtering.

Here at St. Clair, in order to view a YouTube video, we must log past the Barracuda web filter.  Sometimes, after logging in, your page looks like this:

which is still not useful.  But you can change this by simply changing your URL in the browser to this (I added an “s” right after the “http”):

Then your page loads as you expect, but with the added bonus of no advertisements, like this:

But here comes the best part, the part that will eliminate any worry about network stability when showing a video.  You can download your favorite YouTube videos and play them from your computer whenever you’d like using KeepVid.

To do this, find your YouTube video (this also works at home in case you like to prepare in advance).  Open another tab on your browser and type “keepvid.com” and hit enter. This will take you to the KeepVid website. Go back to your YouTube video tab and copy the URL from the browser using whatever method you prefer to copy and paste.

Click on the KeepVid tab and paste the URL into the space provided. Click “Search” to the right of the space (your browser may ask to install something, just a Java applet, click “yes”).  KeepVid will quickly search for your video and provide a list of downloadable files. Choose the one marked .mp4 for best playback.

Click “Save file” and your file will immediately be downloaded to your computer (note where you are downloading the file so you can quickly find it. When it completes, the video is now yours to do with as you please.  I like to make a folder for relevant videos and keep it somewhere handy, like on my desktop.

Here is a downloadable PDF with these same instructions:
Downloading_Videos

Tech Tip – Hide Everything!

Say you just downloaded something to your desktop and you’d like to open it but you have several windows open, for instance your browser with tabs, a Word document, the calculator, and maybe iTunes.  You can quickly minimize them all at once to see what is on your desktop very quickly with one handy move. (Also good for when you are looking at your fantasy sports team site while in a meeting and the boss calls on you.)

The Windows key and D will minimize them so that you can see your desktop (D for Desktop). What is the Windows key you ask? It looks like this:

So: to review:

+ D = Quick Hide Windows

Web Links – 2 Physics and 1 Library Related

I’m not sure what my own personal attraction to physics model websites is, but here are two more for your enjoyment, plus a top tier book preview.

1) This one is like the popular old game “Incredible Machine” but I found it to be a little bit more of a challenge. But its a much better use of kids’ free time than Addicting Games.
http://fantasticcontraption.com/

2) The other physics site promises much more fun than it delivers. The first part, creating a rollercoaster that doesn’t crash is fun and informative. The rest seems to be a lot of reading (not a bad thing but less fun on a flash based web site where rollercoasters crash).
Amusement Park Physics

3) This last one is an extremely entertaining way to get book previews. It is like an online library with built-in video trailers for every book listed.
http://www.60secondrecap.com/