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Personal Software and Website Favorites
Throughout the school year I use many CDs and Websites to enhance the learning experience. I have given a brief description of some of the CDs I use, and the web address to those Cds that I could find web sites about.
- Troggle Trouble Math by MECC(please be aware that MECC no longer exists, they have become The Learning Company. From the information I found there is no mention of this CD on the Website) - This is a math program that requires the students to solve math story problems as they navigate a dog through different levels of a maze. The program requires the student to form an equation to solve the problem, as well as, calculating the correct answer to the problem they created. This program is especially useful to my students because it enables the teacher to set the level of Math at different grade levels. This is useful in classrooms were the students are functioning at different math levels.
- Nile: Passage to Egypt by Discovery- This is a CD that contains a wide variety of information on the Egyptian pyramids. There are many photographs that show the Sphinx as well as the Great Pyramid of Giza. This CD also contains a game that requires the students to navigate through the great pyramid of Giza while learning how the pyramid might have been constructed and the different chambers it contained. The students find the game very interesting and they enjoy working together to discover new chambers as they play. This CD is useful during our second quarter study of the pyramids "Exploration of Other Lands".
- The Way Things Work 2.0 by David Macauley - This CD has detailed descriptions and animations of the working of hundreds of machines. The students can get clear, but detailed information about the scientific principles behind the working of the machines. This CD also contains biographical information about hundreds of inventors. I use this CD during our third quarter unit entitled "Inventors and Inventions". The students really enjoy the way this CD uses animation and humor to explain the way the simplest of machines work. There is also a wonderful book that accompanies the CD which contains the written form of some of the information you can access on the CD.
- For more information about the CD The Way Things Work visit the Web Site. The Website contains information on the hardware needed to run the CD, as well as, prices and the access to the Mammoth.Net. Mammoth Net is a site that features ideas for science projects and competitions, and a chance to talk with other teachers about Science related issues. This is a must see before purchasing the CD.
This site is funded and updated by The Evergreen Project, Inc. This sight contains several clickable areas which allow students to view different aspects of the ocean. One clickable site I found particularly useful was "Frequently Asked Question about the Oceans". This clickable area answers such questions as why is the ocean blue and where do waves come from? There is also a very useful place for teachers to access other Internet sites that pertain to the study of different areas of the ocean. These are also linked and easy to access. Another reason I particularly liked this site was because of the graphics and interest level to the students. They find the site very user friendly and at a reading level that seems to be relatively manageable. I plan to use this site in my unit on "Oceans Far and Wide"
This site allows the students access to The Smithsonian Institute traveling exhibit entitled the Ocean Planet. This exhibit allows the students to look at several issues that are currently affecting the ocean environment. This site provides pictures of the exhibit and allows students to experience the exhibits through the use of pictures and also spoken explanations. The spoken explanation part of the site was very beneficial to my students who were at a lower reading level.
This site is a link to the Web page for Seaworld in Florida. It caught my interest because of the teacher friendliness. The site contains various units on different aspects of water, there are units that explore properties of water, as well as, units that address pollution and the affect it has on water. Each of these units contains clear goals and objectives to give the teacher a clear overview of what each unit will involve. Each unit also has clear step by teacher directions for each activity the students will experience throughout their study. I felt this might be an excellent resource for designing activities in the classroom. I also had the thought that students might use this site as a reference for science fair projects later in the school year.
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