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From Prejudice to Pride: An African American Journey - Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum - Grades 5 to 10 - permalink

Celebrate great African-Americans from this complete link. Research those famous in medicine, politics, arts & entertainment, armed forces, and sports. This site is actually a downloadable PDF file of a Teacher's Guide with standards, objectives, printables, discussion questions, and specific activity ideas. The PDF file links to a site that provides a timeline of "prejudice to pride." Examples of activities include analyzing photos or poetry, research presentations, and writing exercises. This site requires Adobe Acrobat. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.
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In the Classroom:
Use this site for research projects about amazing African-Americans. Most of the activity suggestions are more traditional projects and writing assignments. If you want to add some technology touches, why not have students create a fictitious blog from one of the heroes highlighted at this site, or a cross-time dialog via email or text message between a slave from the 1800s and Barack Obama, or create a PowerPoint resume about the man (or woman) they researched.

Probability - BBC - Grades 3 to 7 - permalink

This site takes you to the "Amazing Ball Machine." Will the ball be red ball or will it be blue? Use probability to figure it out! Directions for the activity are provided, and a full screen option is available. You are able to play again and again, each time with new questions and answers. This site also has Revision Bite which provides a detailed review (or introduction) of all of the math skills needed at this site. The final feature of this site in an online quiz.

The entire interactive is embeddable by copying/pasting the “code” into your class web page or wiki. Flash is required, you can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.
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In the Classroom:
Share this site with your students on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Use the Revision Bite as an anticipatory set for a lesson about probability. Then use the activities and online quiz as enhancements to your lesson (or even AS the lesson). The site is ready to go, easy to follow, educational, and simple for both teachers and students to use. Why not have students work in groups and create their own interactive probability activities using PowerPoint, or even create their own videos demonstrating probability on TeacherTube (explained here).

Provide this link in your class newsletter or on your class website so students can practice probability at home.

Clevr - Clevr Ltd. - Grades 6 to 12 - permalink

Teacher's First Edge Review: for moderately adventurous technology users. Create a panoramic photo without a special camera! Use a normal camera to take the photos. The CleVR Stitcher is the easiest photo stitcher available. Just drag and drop your pictures, click the button, and the application “stitches” them together for you. By joining your pictures, create a stunning panoramic picture. Clevr enables you to embed the image into your website or blog, share the images on various social networking sites, and more.
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In the Classroom:
Skills needed: Users need to be able to log in to the website, upload and manage pictures from their computer, and use simple tools. You must register with an email and password to log in.

Safety/Security: Students must have individual accounts (email required). Check your school policies about accessing/sharing student email on school computers. You may want to create your own Gmail account with up to 20 subaccounts for each group of students (by code name or number) within your classes. Here is a blog post that tells how. As an alternative, you can create a "class account" that all students can access. Share your panorama on the web in the interactive viewer. Embed it into your blog or website using the embed code.

Possible uses: Create panoramic pictures for blog headers on a classroom blog. Students can plan and take pictures representing their town, area, school, or classroom. Use the pictures to create a panorama for the top of the page. Social Studies teachers may assign students to create panoramas of local history. Art teachers can also assign a design challenge for students to create fictitious panoramas from diverse images. Literature teachers can offer an option of creating a “setting panorama” or “thematic panorama” as a project for visual/spatial students. Of course you will want them to explain their design choices in terms of the literary work.

Windows Into Wonderland - National Park Service - Grades 5 to 8 - permalink

Take one of many virtual field trips to Yellowstone. Though the site suggests registration by a teacher, it is not required for the eTrips. View field trips such as "Getting Into Hot Water," "Yellowstone Exposed," "Where The Bison Roam," and "Geyser Quest." Many of the field trips have video and audio components and last approximately 50 minutes. Free registration provides more resources, including a link with lesson plans for teachers. This site requires Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.
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In the Classroom:
View aspects of Yellowstone to learn about the Biology and Geology of the park. Illustrate concepts such as biodiversity, adaptation, and many environmental issues as shown in the Yellowstone National Park. Assign student groups to collect “evidence” to use in a class debate on fictitious proposed environmental legislation to change the park.

Popcorn! - The Popcorn Board - Grades 1 to 6 - permalink

Popcorn! offers a bowlful of information on that universally-loved food. Not only does it list the history behind the food, but it provides games, trivia, arts and crafts, printables, reading and math lessons, science and health lessons and a booklist dedicated to the topic of...POPCORN! Who knew there were so many children's books based on this simple treat?

This site requires Flash. Some of the lessons and printables require Adobe Acrobat. You can get both from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.
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In the Classroom:
The site can also be incorporated into social studies and history for the many uses of popcorn by various cultures. For example, include the site in a Thanksgiving unit. Follow the seed to plant information for a life cycle unit in science. Add it to a health curriculum under healthy eating habits and food groups. Do not forget to check out the worksheets and lessons for math and reading.

Daryl Cagle's Professional Cartoonists Index - MSNBC - Grades 6 to 12 - permalink

We know that today's students are far more accustomed to learning through images than students of the past. This site is a collection of the work of dozens of political cartoonists and is constantly updated to provide fresh content tied to the news of the day. The site is surprisingly deep, however, and has cartoon galleries that go back at least five years.

Teachers should be aware of several cautions however: Preview the cartoons collections for age-appropriateness; understand that the site does contain advertisements; and recognize that the images are copyright protected. Teachers are advised to post links to specific cartoons rather than trying to "cut and paste" the cartoons into websites or other documents.
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In the Classroom:
Use the political cartoons on this site to introduce a class discussion on current events, civics, or government. Try using a cartoon as a writing prompt either for individual students or for collaborative work. Post a link to a particular cartoon or cartoon series on your classroom blog for discussion. Have students try to create a cartoon (either drawing or using computer generated images) depicting current events in the news.

Presidential 09 Inauguration - - Grades 2 to 12 - permalink

Here is an excellent site for students to explore to discover what life will be like in Washington, D.C. during Inauguration Day (and probably the entire week). Don't miss the link to the Fun Facts! There are also links to information about Obama, Biden, an events calendar, various maps (mostly by Google Maps), emergency information, photo gallery, and more!
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In the Classroom:
Share this site (and the impact on life in DC during inauguration day). Challenge students to write a mock ad to rent out their apartment for the inauguration or to plan a mock trip to the inauguration (including plans for what they will do while DC). Or have students describe the events of the day (after the fact) in a letter to their future grandchildren.

Crisis Managment Institute Downloads - Cheri Lovre- Crisis Management Institute - Grades 0 to 12 - permalink

This collection of downloadable, printable pdfs covers a wide range of topics for managing crisis and traumatic experiences among children and teens. The Crisis Management Institute provides fee-based training and support services for schools, but they offer these downloads for free, as long as users abide by copyright restrictions in printing them exactly as-is and NOT excerpting or adapting content. The downloads are written for different audiences: teachers, parents, administrators, and counselors, and cover many topics of school violence, terrorism, grief, trauma, suicide, school crisis management, Hurricane aftermath, helping displaced students, and more. There are several printables on 9/11 and handling the anniversaries of this traumatic day. The printable section is searchable, as well.
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In the Classroom:
When you need this information you usually need it quickly, so all teachers and administrators will want to mark this resource in your favorites and tell your colleagues about it. Familiarize yourself with what is available here, then be sure to share the information with colleagues and parents when/if an incident throws your school into crisis.

Lincoln's 200th birthday coincides with Obama inauguration - The Earth Times - Grades 6 to 12 - permalink

This website is essentially a news article highlighting the inauguration of Barack Obama (the first African-American president in U.S. history) and the celebration of the 200th birthday of Abraham Lincoln. This article compares the two American heroes. The theme of Obama's inauguration is Lincoln and how the two men are similar. Both took office during critical times in U.S. history, both faced huge challenges, both are from the state of Illinois, and both are known for their inspirational speeches.
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In the Classroom:
Share this article with your students. Have your class compare Lincoln and Obama. If they both had cellular phones, what do you think they might text to each other? Have students research the two men and then create a fictitious wiki that the men might have written back and forth to one another. Have students write their own articles comparing the two men.

Whole Lotta Lincoln - Newsweek - Grades 6 to 12 - permalink

There are many sites about Lincoln. However, this site takes a personal look at Mrs. Abraham Lincoln (plus a "whole lotta" Mr. Lincoln). There is a short video that delves into the life of Mary Todd Lincoln (a must-see in the secondary grades). There is also a lot of research information about Lincoln's presidency and personal life, slavery, the Civil War, and how his words and actions live on in people today. This site requires Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.
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In the Classroom:
Be aware that the video of Mary Todd discusses the death of some of her children, so decide whether this is appropriate for your students. Use an interactive whiteboard or projector to share this unique look into the life (and love) of the Lincolns. Have students write a blog entry from the perspective of Mary Todd, what must her life have been like? What advice could she give Laura Bush or Michelle Obama?

Use this site with your students who are more focused on the interpersonal and intrapersonal intelligences. These aspects of his (and her) life will provide connections for the students to better understand Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln and U.S. history.

Lincoln 200 Years - C-Span - Grades 6 to 12 - permalink

This site, created by C-Span, examines numerous areas of Abraham Lincoln's life and legacy. Main areas of this site include Schedule, Timeline, Videos, In His Own Words, & Gallery. The highlight of this site is the video link. Click and find video clips (some reenactments, others lectures) about the Lincoln-Douglas Debates, Gettysburg Address, Pre-Presidency, and his Assassination. This site also highlights the release of four new pennies in February 2009.

Be aware: the links in the left sidebar will take you to the parent site (C-Span), not the Lincoln information. The right sidebar provides a list of recommended websites about Lincoln. This site requires Real Player, you can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.
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In the Classroom:
If you are planning for the 200th birthday of Lincoln or any study of the Lincoln era, check out this site! This is a phenomenal site for any secondary class. Use this site for research projects. Share the videos on an interactive whiteboard or projector. Have students create their own videos of reenactments based on their research. Share the videos on TeacherTube (explained here).

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum - - Grades 3 to 12 - permalink

This simple site offers several "Classroom Connections" to use in conjunction with a field trip to the museum. However, many of these ideas could easily be adapted into research projects or writing assignments for students in social studies or history class without a museum visit. All topics relate to Abraham Lincoln, the Civil War, or 19th Century Kids.
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In the Classroom:
Use this site as a starting point for projects about our 16th president. Although most relate to exhibits found at the museum, similar research can be found online. Have students choose one of the several topics to research further.

Stixy (beta) - Jonas Höglund and Anders Ottoson - Grades 0 to 12 - permalink

TeachersFirst Edge entry: for slightly adventurous technology users. Create collaborative visual and verbal spaces where you can “post” and share ideas, images, snippits of text, sticky-notes, photos, documents, and more using Stixy. The product makes a bulletin board of items, reminders, comments—essentially everything you could throw onto the front of your refrigerator and more. You can share the stixyboard by URL. Here is an example of a Stixyboard created by the TeachersFirst Edge team. At the time of this review, Stixy was testing a calendar feature with a limited test group. Some features of Stixy appear a bit slow, but the tool still says it is in beta testing. Be patient as the pages load. (Watch the little status report in your lower left in Internet Explorer; it will tell you that things are loading.)
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In the Classroom:
Skills needed: Join (free) using an email address. Note that you do not need to access this email to be able to log in right away (handy when some email is blocked at school!). It will help if you forget a password, though. Use your extra, memberships email account (such as Gmail). If you plan to have students create individual accounts with their individual email accounts, check school policies. Another option is to use your teacher Gmail account and set up subaccounts for up to 20 students to register (by code name or number). Here is a blog post that tells how to set up GMail subaccounts to use for any online membership service. If you plan to have students collaborate using a Stixyboard, they will need to be able to log in individually, using either a Gmail subaccount or their own email accounts. To share a board, click Options. You can find the URL for the board there, as well.

Safety/security concerns: Sharing of Stixyboards is completely controlled by the users who create the boards. If students only “share” with those within their group, there is no “contact” with outsiders. Make sure they include you as a shared member on any collaborative project so you can monitor student work. Check school policies (and obtain parent permission, if necessary) before allowing students to post any work to the web. Stixy does not promote public sharing and commenting.

Possible uses: Teachers can use Stixyboards shared by URL to assign or create web-based tasks: directions and tasks to do on the web (with links), collections of writing prompts (images AND text), or calendars. Students –even young ones – will catch on to the tools of Stixy very quickly to create their own Stixyboards. Have students “collect” quotes and images to convey a message or profile a concept or time period: a Stixyboard about the 1960’s, a writer’s journal of ideas for future writings, a collection of images that use LINE as a major design element, a board full of questions on a new curriculum topic -— a visual KWL chart that can be added to, rearranged, and edited as the unit proceeds -- almost a cognitive “journal” as learning proceeds. For example: Thoughts about Macbeth or The Great Depression. As students read a piece of literature or a challenging speech such as the Gettysburg address, they can collect, question, and comment on snippets from the text, including their own “I wonder” or “what if” notes. Have students make a Stixyboard of the water cycle or other processes, including images and notes to explain each step, then “turn in” the URL for their work or share it with others for changes and additions. (Changes are logged as part of the “list” at the left of any board.) For art classes, assign students to collect and annotate images as they prepare to create artworks of their own, just as artists collect materials in design notebooks and sketchbooks.

Some thoughts on giving credit and copyright: Since it is simple to add notes, students can easily keep track of the SOURCES of anything they collect into a Stixyboard, such as images or quotes, simply by copy/pasting URLs into a "Credits" note. Make sure you require them to do this kind of citation, especially if they use any images. Note that a password-protected (see options) Stixyboard CAN use downloaded images from the web under Fair Use, provided you limit access to that board ONLY to members of that class.

We Love Valentine's Day - FunSchool - Grades 0 to 5 - permalink

FunSchool has created a wonderful Valentine's Day website for kids. At the website, you will find reproducible pages and crafts, interactive games, jokes, cards, and more. Some of the interactives require Flash. The printables require Adobe Acrobat. You can get both from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.
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In the Classroom:
Share this site with your students around Valentine's Day. Use your interactive whiteboard or projector to share the activities. Print off the pages for students to color and create homemade Valentine's for friends and family.

A Problem, A Penny, A President - Sandi King - Grades 0 to 5 - permalink

This interactive site offers a short slide show about Lincoln. It all starts when Michael can't figure out how to take his papers home (he has no pockets). Lincoln pops out of a penny and teaches Michael about the 16th president (himself), the Civil War, the Lincoln Memorial, the penny, and a trick to take your papers home: put them in your hat! This site offers basic background information on the president and his legacy, perfect for even the youngest of students. The site has the option of reading the online story with text only or including audio. This site includes Florida standards.
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In the Classroom:
Share the slide show on an interactive whiteboard or projector. Or have students work on individual laptops (or desktops) to listen to the story on their own. Since audio is available, even the youngest students can participate. What a fun way to celebrate Lincoln's 200th Birthday or Presidents’ Day! After viewing the slide show, have students write age-appropriate letters to Lincoln, asking him specific questions about topics highlighted in the slideshow. In younger grades, discuss the questions together and brainstorm a class list.

Mr. Lincoln's Attic - Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum - Grades 3 to 9 - permalink

This downloadable PDF file offers a very detailed lesson plan and classroom activities about Abraham Lincoln. Topics include "Who Do We Collect Artifacts," "Do Objects Talk," "What's In A Name," and "Oral History Interviews." Although this site was created as a "Teacher's Guide" for classes visiting the museum, the lessons can be used independently without a trip to Illinois! Each topic includes standards, discussion questions, printable pages, pictures, and more. This site requires Adobe Acrobat, get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.
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In the Classroom:
This "Teacher's Guide" is ready to go and easily adaptable to various grade levels. Project the discussion questions on your interactive whiteboard or projector, have students write responses to the questions or have a class debate. Print out the activities, and use this site as a mini unit. Have students interview a family member for the "Oral History Interview," and have students learn the meaning behind their own names with the lesson, "What's In a Name."

One Life: The Mask of Lincoln - Smithsonian - Grades 6 to 12 - permalink

Art, history, and government teachers will all delight in this informative website about Lincoln. There are pictures, detailed information, and even podcasts answering some famous questions (such as Why Did Lincoln Grow a Beard). You will also see the works of Mathew Brady. Take your students on the "Audio Tour" of the exhibit - be sure to turn up the volume! Specific topics cover "The Rise of Lincoln," "The Civil War," and "Lincoln's Contemporaries." This site requires Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.
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In the Classroom:
Use your interactive whiteboard or projector to take your students on the audio tour of the exhibit which features several podcasts. Art teachers, share the pictures with your students (especially the podcast about the cracked portrait). This site also provides some excellent research information. Have students work in cooperative learning groups to explore this site and then create a project: blog entry, wiki, video, PowerPoint, or something more "traditional."

Looking for Lincoln - History Hunt - Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalition - Grades 2 to 8 - permalink

This site, originally created for students to use during a family field trip around central Illinois, shares information all about Lincoln. Students click to choose a location (Lincoln's Law Office, Lincoln Courthouse, Lincoln's Tomb, and several others). Once "at" the location, students are given some basic facts about the locations, a "History Hunt Question" with several clues to help them solve the mystery, and a "Mystery History Object" with pictures of artifacts from the time period and a brief description of the picture. This site is excellent, but does not provide the answers to the "History Hunt Questions." However, most are easy to find at the site. What a fabulous way to celebrate the 200th birthday of one of the USA's greatest leaders.
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In the Classroom:
Take your students on this virtual hunt during the month of February. Why not visit a new place each day, share the information, ask the History Hunt Question, and share the picture and information about the artifact. Share the site on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Have students create their own "History Hunt Questions" about the town where you live and any connections to Lincoln: Underground Railroad Houses, a courthouse that defends the rights of all races, or even a mint where they make Lincoln pennies. Have students share their History Hunt Questions on a class wiki or online as a Place Spotting challenge (Read more about Place Spotting here ).

Younger students will need to do the “hunt” as a whole class activity because of the reading level and sophistication of some of the History Hunt pages. If you have the chance for lower elementary students to work together with older “buddies,” they could enjoy the hunt together without teacher guidance. Gifted students and better readers in lower grades could also work on their own.

Illinois Lincoln Bicentennial Commission - Illinois Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission - Grades 0 to 12 - permalink

This site, designed for older students and adults, offers a wealth of information about the 16th President of the USA. There are "Lincoln Links" for more information, celebration ideas (for the bicentennial), Lincoln organizations, and more. This site is best suited for research projects, although the Celebration Ideas offer 101 exciting ways for students of ALL grade levels to celebrate the 200th birthday of one of the United State's greatest leaders. Some of the links and information require Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.
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In the Classroom:
Use this site to take your middle and high school students on a walk in Lincoln's shoes. Share his home, legacy, photos, and more on your projector or interactive whiteboard. Try something new to excite your students about learning history: create a blog, wiki, video, website, or PowerPoint presentation.

If you teach ANY level, don't miss the Celebration Ideas. There are activities listed for grades K-12. They are ready to go and mostly easy to do. There are 101 to choose from!

Lincoln Bicentennial: 1809-2009 - Library of Congress - Grades 0 to 12 - permalink

If you are preparing for Lincoln's 200th birthday or a unit about the 16th President of the United States, check out this site. Designed for students in all grades, there is an interactive timeline, online quiz, podcasts, detailed lesson plans for all grades K-12 (with standards), printable pages, research information, suggested literature for all ages, information about the Civil War, Gettysburg, and more! Much of the site requires Flash; some of the printables require Adobe Acrobat. You can get both from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.
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In the Classroom:
Be sure to save this site in your favorites! Share the interactive timeline, online quiz, and podcasts using your projector or interactive whiteboard. Use this site for research about our 16th President. Have students create a blog from Lincoln's point of view (or from a slave's point of view AFTER the Emancipation Proclamation). Use the lesson plans designed for the grades that you teach. (Don't miss the history, language arts and writing, and art lessons).

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