Tool # 3

One of the major assets of Discovery Education is that you can use a whole video or just a minute of a video. I have used the videos from this site with my fifth graders and second graders with great success. Great videos for science are very easy to find, and the kids love them!

Here is a link to a segment of a video on American Symbols. This segment is about the Liberty Bell. The second link is to a segment on Characteristics of Birds.

http://player.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm?guidAssetId=BE0F507A-EF4F-4532-864F-E4DAB942D684

http://player.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm?guidAssetId=424E470E-CBA7-4706-8DA1-58A31D099496&blnFromSearch=1&productcode=US

As far as copyright and fair use, you have quite a bit of freedom to use things in class for educational purposes. Secure locations give you more freedom, and don't copy the whole thing. Pieces and parts would be better. Our librarian does a great job reminding our kids of this, too.

Picasa Web Album would be a great way to show off your pictures that you take all year long. I found some great pictures of birds there too.

Tool # 5

I like the idea of digital posters for my second graders.  Okay, maybe I really like that it doesn't require glue, scissors,  poster board, markers.... etc.... I can see it tied to research, reading responses, Number of the Day etc....I just played around with it for  a flyer about our fabulous Bugz play!




Trading cards from Big Huge Labs was a big hit with my students. They made trading cards on symbols of America and birds. You could also use them for reading responses, and information about themselves at the beginning of the year.

Tool # 2

     I have looked at many blogs now, and I have commented on at least 5 of them.  There is so much information out there for us teachers.  I do love that teachers are so willing to share their thoughts, ideas, and pictures.  A visual always helps.  I already registered for Glogster because I saw it on someone's blog, and it has so many applications in the classroom for research and presentation. 
     I am still a little new at posting on other blogs, but I know it will get easier the more I do it. Of course, I felt more comfortable posting on blogs of people that I knew.   
     Blogs will be a new place to check for ideas and suggestions throughout the year.  It is  easy to get caught up in going from one blog to another for different ideas.  I love that I was getting ideas from teachers from all over the world.

Tool # 1 Still

Ouch!  That took way too long!  However, I do have an avatar and just one background.  Yes, at one point I had two mixed together, and it wasn't pretty.  I think the kids would listen better if my avatar gave them directions or a morning message instead of me.

Tool # 1

Creating the blog was painless, but I can see how you could spend hours choosing colors and designs.  At the moment, the cute factor is not important.  It just has to be pink.  I am still trying to get my Voki on it as a gadget, so that is proving to be a little frustrating.  I must remember this frustration with my students who have difficulty too. :)