TeachersFirst - Featured Sites: Week of May 28, 2023

Here are this week's features. Clicking the tags in the description area of each listing will present a list of other resources with this topic. | Click here to return to the Featured Sites Archive

 

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Podbean - Podbean

Grades
6 to 12
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Podbean offers free podcasting creation and publishing tools, including a free podcast website. Use the streaming features to broadcast live or record and edit your podcast. After creating...more
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Podbean offers free podcasting creation and publishing tools, including a free podcast website. Use the streaming features to broadcast live or record and edit your podcast. After creating an account, create a new podcast or import one from another location. Then, follow the guide to add essential information and a podcast description. Next, upload your podcast, follow the links to publish your episode, and distribute it to major sharing sites. Free accounts include up to five hours of monthly storage space and 100GB of monthly bandwidth.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): podcasts (72), sound (74)

In the Classroom

Learn more about ways to incorporate podcasting in the classroom by viewing the archive of the OK2Ask: Podcasting 101: Using Podcasts in the Classroom, available here. Engage students in upcoming lessons by creating and sharing short podcasts as a preview for books to read or about historical characters featured in an upcoming unit. Use Podbean to create videos for flipped or blended learning lessons. Enhance learning by asking students to create podcasts to share their learning and understanding of topics in a new way. For example, instead of writing a report about George Washington, ask students to create a multi-episode podcast that features important events in his life. Share student and teacher-created podcasts on your class website. Find several free and easy web page makers on TeachersFirst Edge.

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Free Comic Strip Maker - Adobe Express

Grades
K to 12
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Easily design and share comic strips using one of the many templates available from Adobe Express. Select any shared templates on the home page to begin, or sign in to ...more
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Easily design and share comic strips using one of the many templates available from Adobe Express. Select any shared templates on the home page to begin, or sign in to your Adobe Express account and select comic strips from the template options. Searching through the templates is most accessible by viewing only free designs. After choosing a template, use the dashboard to add and modify the contents of the comic strip. Options include changing backgrounds, adding text and images, adding shapes, and much more. When finished, download your design as a JPG, PNG, or PDF document. Then, use the publish option to create a link, share to Google Classroom or Teams, or choose from other social media sharing options.

tag(s): comics and cartoons (54), graphic design (50)

In the Classroom

Engage students by using the templates to display the day's vocabulary word, the math puzzle of the week, or a concept your students are learning in social studies or science, for example. Have students create comic strips for dialog-writing lessons, summarizing, predicting, and retelling stories. Use comic strips for literature responses. For pre-reading students, create a comic of pictures and tell the story based on the pictures/scenes. It's a good idea to require students to create a rough draft of their comic using Printable Comic Strip Templates, reviewed here. Make a class book of the comics created throughout the year. That book is likely to become a class favorite! Use comics to show the sequencing of events. For example, when studying characterization, they create a dialog to show (not tell) about a character. World language and ENL/ESL teachers can assign students to create dialog strips as an alternative to a formal assessment. Have students share all of their comics on your interactive whiteboard or projector.

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Family Tree Creator - DNAweekly

Grades
4 to 12
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Quickly build your family tree, without registration, using the Family Tree Creator. Follow prompts to add family member names within the labeled boxes. This site is a no-frills way...more
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Quickly build your family tree, without registration, using the Family Tree Creator. Follow prompts to add family member names within the labeled boxes. This site is a no-frills way to see a detailed view of your family history. You can add names, dates of birth, and dates of death to each entry. Include an image, if available, with each item included on the family tree. Within each entry is an option to add parent's or sibling's information. When finished, download to your computer or share your link using the unique URL for your ancestry tree.

tag(s): family (53), immigration (64), migration (44)

In the Classroom

Use the Family Tree Creator as a research project for students to explore their family heritage. Use the creator as a guide to family characters within novels with complicated storylines or create a family tree to trace European kings' and queens' lineage. If students don't have images to upload, use an avatar creator such as the Free Anime Avatar Maker, reviewed here, or Bitmoji, reviewed here, to create a likeness to upload. Extend learning by asking students to interview living relatives using an audio file creator such as Vocaroo, reviewed here, to record conversations. Add additional information to a timeline created using Timeline, reviewed here, that offers a simple format for creating personalized timelines. Include students' completed family trees, interviews, timelines, and additional research information in a multimedia presentation like Sway, reviewed here.

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Adobe Express Video Maker - Adobe Spark

Grades
K to 12
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Create and share professional-looking videos with Adobe Express Video Maker (was Adobe Spark Video Maker). Follow the prompts to begin your creation using a story template or start...more
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Create and share professional-looking videos with Adobe Express Video Maker (was Adobe Spark Video Maker). Follow the prompts to begin your creation using a story template or start from scratch. Add videos, text, music, and more to your video. Easily rearrange, change themes, and add components until satisfied. When finished, publish your video to share or download it to your computer.

tag(s): communication (136), digital storytelling (142), multimedia (43), video (256)

In the Classroom

Consider using videos in your classroom in a variety of ways. Upload your slide presentations and add audio to create flipped and blended learning experiences for your students. Engage students and enhance their learning by asking students to create videos as an alternative to book reports or written presentations. Share videos on your class website for students to access when away from the classroom. As your students create videos, use a bookmarking site such as Padlet, reviewed here, to share and organize information for students to use when researching. Include Adobe Express Videos as part of a larger presentation using Book Creator, reviewed here. Embed your video along with images, text, drawings, and other media into your digital book creation.

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boomy - Boomy Corporation

Grades
K to 12
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boomy uses artificial intelligence to help you personalize and create original music, even if you never created songs before. The more songs you create, the more boomy personalizes...more
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boomy uses artificial intelligence to help you personalize and create original music, even if you never created songs before. The more songs you create, the more boomy personalizes offerings based on your preferences. Begin by selecting the option to create a song then choose a style. Style options include Beats By You, Relaxing Meditation, and Advanced. When ready, create your song. It may take a minute or more, so be patient as boomy works it magic. Once your song is ready, listen to the preview and make additional adjustments. Use the Try Again option to make a different mix or use the edit option to adjust the settings. When finished, save your song to your library. Next time you use boomy, the site uses your preferences and saved music to create new music. Download songs to your computer, choosing from a variety of audio file choices or share using the URL or links to social media sites.

tag(s): artificial intelligence (99), music theory (45), rhythm (20), sounds (43)

In the Classroom

Offer students the option to explore their creative side with boomy. Ask students to make soothing music to play during study and quiet times, have them create audio to accompany their class presentations, or challenge students to make music that sets the mood for dramatic moments in literature. This site is an excellent way to appeal to your musically inclined students. Enhance student learning by asking them to share ideas on how to create different types of music by recording their screen using Free Screen Recorder Online, reviewed here. Have students share tips and advice on how to create different moods by adjusting settings within music created with boomy.

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Free Anime Avatar Maker - Avachara

Grades
K to 12
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Design a personalized avatar using the accessible tools at this avatar maker site. Begin by choosing the gender then start customizing features, including facial features. Add wardrobe...more
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Design a personalized avatar using the accessible tools at this avatar maker site. Begin by choosing the gender then start customizing features, including facial features. Add wardrobe items and accessories as desired to complete the look. When finished, save your completed avatar to your computer as a JPG or PNG image file.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): creativity (92), emotions (46), faces (5)

In the Classroom

Create and use avatars similar to how you use Bitmoji, reviewed here characters. Create an avatar for use on your class website or blog. Update your avatar to reflect current lessons, holidays, or events. Use avatars to appeal to students and draw their attention to important information. Design an avatar with an unusual look to use as a creative writing prompt. Have older students (13+) take a picture of a portion of text and add an avatar to share a connection or response to the text (also known as BookSnaps).
 

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Brush Ninja - Ben Gillbanks

Grades
4 to 12
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Create animated gifs using Brush Ninja's paint tools and online editor. Use the paintbrushes to draw and color each frame. The toolbox contains a variety of features, including pencils,...more
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Create animated gifs using Brush Ninja's paint tools and online editor. Use the paintbrushes to draw and color each frame. The toolbox contains a variety of features, including pencils, text, shapes, and more. Use the control panel to adjust and play the animation. The timeline allows you to see the frames making up an animation, then drag and drop any frame to change the order. When finished, export your gif as an image for each frame, animated gif, or as an animated GIF adjusted for Twitter.

tag(s): animation (61), drawing (60)

In the Classroom

Use Brush Ninja in a variety of ways. Share this site with students and give them time to explore and experiment. When working with troubled students, use this site to let students share their thoughts and emotions through an animation. This is an excellent site to use with students who love art and enjoy sharing their learning through creative expressions. Take a look at the images created by other users in the gallery as inspiration for how to use animations. Ask students to create animations demonstrating science concepts like erosion, weathering, or chemical reactions. Use this site to have students create animations demonstrating events from stories, share their thought process in math, or animate an event from history. Have students include their animations when creating multimedia projects in an online tool like Sway, reviewed here.

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Adobe Express for Education - Adobe

Grades
K to 12
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Adobe Express for Education (was Adobe Spark for Education) offers this version of it's popular presentation tool, reviewed here, specifically for...more
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Adobe Express for Education (was Adobe Spark for Education) offers this version of it's popular presentation tool, reviewed here, specifically for education. Use Adobe Creative Cloud Express for Education to create multimedia projects or presentations using the available templates and graphics tools. The Education version provides enhanced data privacy and the ability for students to log in with a code. This tool can be available through your school's Adobe Admin Counsel if your IT team already uses Adobe products. If not, follow directions on the site to set up and begin using this tool as an individual educator.

tag(s): communication (136), creative writing (122), multimedia (43), posters (47)

In the Classroom

Use Adobe Express for Education to create posters, flyers, or instagrams stories for student presentations for any subject. Enhance student learning by asking students to create infographics explaining facts and information about states, countries, planets, and more. Have students create interactive posters, book report covers, invitations, and flyers to promote school events. Express for Education offers many possibilities for graphics, redefining student technoolgy use, and extending student learning by having students create multimedia presentations in all classrooms.

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ABCYA Paint - ABCya!

Grades
K to 4
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Engage in digital storytelling using the many features included at ABCYA Paint. Choose from the included tools to spray paint, draw, add stickers, and more. When finished, save as a...more
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Engage in digital storytelling using the many features included at ABCYA Paint. Choose from the included tools to spray paint, draw, add stickers, and more. When finished, save as a PNG file to your computer or print.

tag(s): digital storytelling (142), drawing (60), painting (55), preK (254)

In the Classroom

Share how to use this site on an interactive whiteboard or with a projector then allow students to explore on their own. Have students create drawings to demonstrate math problems, share science experiments, or draw scenes from a story. Include students' drawings in a digital portfolio like Seesaw, reviewed here. Seesaw offers tools for uploading images and creating an audio recording to share their reflections on their work.
 

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DesignCap Poster Creator - PearlMountain

Grades
K to 12
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Create free posters in three easy steps without registration using DesignCap. Begin by selecting a template from the many offerings on the site. Use the tools to edit your poster's...more
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Create free posters in three easy steps without registration using DesignCap. Begin by selecting a template from the many offerings on the site. Use the tools to edit your poster's features including text, images, and background. Upload your images to use or choose from clipart available in DesignCap. When finished, share to social media using the provided link, download to your computer, or print your project. Registration isn't required; however, it gives you the ability to save projects to your online account.

tag(s): images (270), posters (47)

In the Classroom

Take advantage of this free resource to create posters for any topic. Have students design poster book covers to summarize stories read. Include posters with student blogging projects as part of an online portfolio. Replace paper pen by asking students to write blogs sharing information learned using a site like edublogs, reviewed here. edublogs offers tools for creating class and individual blogs. Extend student learning and classroom technology use by asking older students to create posters of different cultures and countries, then include them in a virtual field trip using Google My Maps, reviewed here. With Google My Maps, students can embed images and videos onto their pointers and shapes for any given location. Challenge science and math students to create posters demonstrating an understanding of topics using their own words and images.

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Book Creator - Red Jumper Limited

Grades
K to 12
15 Favorites 0  Comments
  
Create beautiful multimedia digital books with Book Creator. Scroll down the landing page to the bottom menu, and click the "Help With Getting Started" title. Note: This points out...more
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Create beautiful multimedia digital books with Book Creator. Scroll down the landing page to the bottom menu, and click the "Help With Getting Started" title. Note: This points out how you need to change to the "teacher sign in" (the default is for students). This is a wonderful tool with many features. Reading the short Getting Started Overview first and watching the beginning videos would be best. Then, you can go to the Resources tab from the top menu, where each grade level has a video, and you'll find example books created by students. Under Resources, you can also search by subject to find suggested ideas and books designed for a specific subject. Next, click Resources from the top menu to find the "Teach your first lesson toolkit" with lesson plans, remixable student templates for different age ranges, and a teacher guide. You can also choose Remixable Books to get you and your class started. When finished, publish and share your book using the site's web-based reader for access on any device. Once you have mastered the basics, click on Features to see the magic of using the pen and discover all the features of the graphic organizers, comics, and more. By clicking the "more" you will can embed documents on your page(s). These documents can be narrated and interactive! The free plan offers one library with up to 40 books storage. Book Creator presents a variety of levels for technology use depending on teacher requirements for the project or even student ability; it allows for adding narration, videos, text, using your webcam, and adding links to help explain the artwork. When creating your book, click on the big + in the upper right corner to add text, audio, images, your camera, and the pen; you will also see The lowercase "i" (for inspector), which offers colors, comics, paper type, and more. There are other apps, but you must have a premium account. You can use Book Creator on iPads, Macs, Android devices, PCs, and on these browsers: Safari, Microsoft Edge, and Chrome. Teachers need to provide an email to create an account. However, students do not need emails to make their books. Once ready, follow the site's prompts to add video, text, images, audio, and more to your book.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): collaboration (85), DAT device agnostic tool (143), digital storytelling (142), ebooks (38), literacy (106), preK (254), reading comprehension (142), writing (315)

In the Classroom

Create books together, as a class, as you move through a unit or topic. Enhance student learning by adding images and ideas your students suggest. Use in a flipped classroom to deliver course information. Assign several student groups a different topic and redefine their learning by having each group create their own multimedia versions as they learn more about the topic. Students can combine their books later as a class book. Make a digital bookshelf of all the versions for all to use. Challenge gifted students to modify the "standard" class text with the additional material they discover, by going deeper and learning about related topics. In lower grades, create teacher-made e-books for your young readers, perhaps adding audio - your own voice reading the text. Find much more information and ideas for using Book Creator in any classroom by exploring the Book Creator Toolkit for Schools and Districts available here.

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Telegra.ph - telegra.ph

Grades
2 to 12
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Telegra.ph is a simple to use web publishing tool for even the most novice creators. Click and type to fill in the title, your name, and add content. After starting ...more
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Telegra.ph is a simple to use web publishing tool for even the most novice creators. Click and type to fill in the title, your name, and add content. After starting your writing, you can choose the camera icon to upload images from your computer or select the brackets to paste a YouTube, Vimeo, or Twitter link. When finished, click on the publish button. That is it! Your work is now online. Just copy the URL to share. Add or delete content at any time using the link to edit.

tag(s): blogs (66), communication (136), writing (315)

In the Classroom

Use this tool as an easy to use blogging tool in the classroom and in every subject area. Use in language arts classes to strengthen students' writing ability and 21st century skills. Teach about proper commenting etiquette on simple first blog posts. Use for student-written book reviews for the school library. Use as a tool for class or parent communication. Engage students in discussions on current events, independent reading, literature, and more. Ask students to play the role of a historical figure and write about their viewpoints or experiences. Use the site as a forum for any simulated or real task. Invite parents to join to give their points of view on upcoming elections or public policy issues by commenting on student posts. Share a blog in even the youngest of classes, for parents to use to learn about a specific unit of study, field trips, and more. Use this site in world language classes to have students write a blog entry in the new language. Include the principal or superintendent in class discussions of students' rights as you study the Constitution. Create incredible discussions of environmental, political, or economic issues. Create a standing assignment for elementary and middle schoolers on snow days. Have students write a post about the snow using Telegra.ph and share the URL on a class wiki. Post the various links on the class web page so students can comment on each other's posts after they come in from sledding.

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Sway - Microsoft

Grades
3 to 12
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Use Sway to create interactive presentations across all devices. Drag and drop content from your device, social networks, and the web directly onto your Sway canvas. Log in using your...more
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Use Sway to create interactive presentations across all devices. Drag and drop content from your device, social networks, and the web directly onto your Sway canvas. Log in using your Microsoft account to begin or create a new account using your email and a password. Add content to your storyline using links to add text, images, and media. Change the look of your Sway using the Design tool to change the color palette, layout, and fonts. When finished, click the Share button for options to share to Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, URL, or copy the embed code. Sway will work on any device with a modern Internet browser and an Internet connection. They also have an iOS app. The introduction video and tutorials are hosted on YouTube. If your district blocks YouTube, then they may not be viewable.

tag(s): communication (136), digital storytelling (142), Microsoft (84), multimedia (43), slides (45), visualizations (11)

In the Classroom

Use Sway as an alternative to Prezi or PowerPoint presentations. Sway is perfect for use in your BYOD or 1:1 classroom. Use during your presentations to increase student engagement and interaction. Check understanding of your ENL/ESL students by having them respond or pose questions throughout the presentation. Enhance student learning and understanding by sharing with students for them to use during their own presentations, inviting other students to comment and answer questions. During Open House night with parents, demonstrate how Sway provides interaction. Use Sway during professional development presentations to invite discussions from colleagues.

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