Educational Internet Websites

By Peggy Steffens

Here are some outstanding educational tools available for teachers and students. 

Teach 21 – the West Virginia Department of Education has a created a site to support teachers in planning and delivering effective 21st century instruction. Teachers can access 21st Century content standards, learning skills and technology tools and resources that exemplify rigorous and relevant instructional design and delivery.  The site provides instructional guides, unit guides, professional development ideas and more. http://wvde.state.wv.us/teach21/  

Academic Vocabulary Games – Aimee Smythe, SEI teacher at Rio Vista, highly recommends this vocabulary site from the Tennessee Department of Education.  The site is based on the sixth step of Dr. Robert Marzano’s research to provide activities that review and strengthen vocabulary development. http://jc-schools.net/tutorials/vocab/ 

Gnooks – Karen Rutynowksi, Tech Specialist at Amphitheater Middle School, shares an exciting tool for literature. For example, let’s say you like an author like Judy Blume or J.K Rowling. Then go to Gnooks and type the author’s name in the Map of Literature and a web of authors will appear.  This can help you find a new author in a genre that you like.  You can also find new authors by clicking on Gnod’s selection. http://www.gnooks.com/  

Imagination Cubed – Richard Clingaman, 6^th grade social studies teacher at Coronado Middle School, contributed this drawing and collaboration tool from GE.  The site allows you to draw, write, collaborate, and replay what you have created.  He felt it would be great for showing math processes or for art teachers to show a drawing sequence.  You can save the file and replay it for students who need repetition or who missed the lesson. http://www.imaginationcubed.com/LaunchPage 

Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture - The Smithsonian Institution's new museum dedicated to black history and culture launched an interactive web site this fall.  The actual building will not open for visitors until 2015 on the National Mall.  The site provides a “virtual museum" of research for teachers and students. The site includes social-networking technology so everyone can contribute content for future exhibits at the museum. http://nmaahc.si.edu/ 

Old Magazine Articles –provides PDF versions of primary source magazine articles published from 1860-1922.  You can find articles about the American Civil War, Native Americans,  World War I, World War II, fashion and manners, music, immigration, the sinking of the Titanic and more. http://www.oldmagazinearticles.com/ 

Operation: Monster Storm - Jason Project Free - If you have students who study weather events, forecasting or storms, then you should look into participating in Operation: Monster Storms from the Jason Project.  This project is FREE.  This is a five - nine week core science unit for weather designed for students in grades 5-8 and can be adapted to higher or lower grades.  To learn more go to http://www.jason.org/public/home.aspx and click on Take a Tour and watch a 3 minute video about the program and resources.  This program provides numerous 21^st century learning opportunities.