Talking SMARTBoards & Much More!

Here are a few sites that I have used to discuss Veterans Day. ENJOY!

The first is a website that offers various Powerpoints on Veteran’s Day.

VA Kids has a nice word jumble game. This works well on the SMARTBoard since you click and drag the letters to complete the game.

Education World has a basic webquest of Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. It asks students to explore the Unknown Soldier website and then answer 5 questions.

The History Channel offers a video on the History of Veteran’s Day (3:32 minutes).Plays well in full screen mode on the SMARTBoard. There are several other videos in the playlist that discuss various aspects of Veterans. The Story of Veterans Day (21:05 minutes) is particularly good. There also is an interesting “Did You Know” page that offers interesting facts regarding Veterans.

EL Civics has a very nice short explanation of the histry and origin of Veterans Day, complete with pictures.

Larry Ferlazzo also has an excellent resource page, listing several sources to find information on Veterans Day.

In honor of our snow day I thought I’d share some fun sites that have a snow globe theme.  As the song says….”Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow”! ENJOY!

1. The Weepies - click and drag the globe to shake up the folks inside–complete with music!

2. Penguin Playground - shake up the penguins as they slide down the ice hill.

3. Snow Globe card- pretty to watch and delightful to listen to!

4. GushyGram- a funny snow globe Christmas e card to personalize with your own photos.

5. Sony Ericsson snow globe - a nice  Christmas e card that gives you a gallery of predesigned snow globes or the option to design your own snow globe complete with your own photo

5. Boy in a Globe- ever wonder what it’s like to live in a snow globe? Then watch this 2007 CBS video.

6. Elf Yourself- ok so this one doesn’t have a snow globe theme but it is such a fun, jolly, elfing card from Office Max that I had to include it on the list! 

 Hanukkah begins this year at sundown on December 21st. So I thought I would list some activities that I have used in the past with my students to introduce them to this holiday.

Hanukkah Jisgsaw Puzzles from Apples4theteacher.com- offers 4 jigsaw puzzles in three different difficulty level that work great on the SMARTBoard. It does not give you a preview of the finished pictures.

Dreidel Spin from the Jewish Outreach Center- this was the best dreidel activity I found- very realistic. It also offers very good directions and an explanation of the game.  It works wonderful on the SMARTBoard.

Hanukkah match game- basically a concentration game, matching symbols.

Hanukkah Lights- allows you to drop and drag objects to create a menorah.

The Hanukka House- a wonderful activity to expose/teach/reinforce the Hebrew language. Students read the Hebrew words on the left and when they drag them to the frame the object appears which allows them to create a Hanukkah House. Great to use on the SMARTBoard.

Hanukkah Jumble Word Game- unscramble the word (can not move the letters using mouse so students would have to have paper and pencil available) and then click on the word to reveal the answer.

Chabad.org- this site has several Hanukkah activities for the classroom. In the multimedia section there are some very good short videos (can be viewed in full screen) regarding Hanukkah traditions. Defintely worth checking out.

Sue Ellen’s scrapbook from PBS- offers a very nice book about the history and tradition of Hanukkah. It would present well on the SMARTBoard.

Lookybook.com- they have some books with a Hanukkah theme. I particulary like to use “Hanukkak Haiku” written by Harriet Zeifert since the illustrations are beautiful.  “The Only One Club” by  Jane Naliboff is a good story to discuss student differences and acceptance. Both books present well on the SMARTBoard.

I hope this list helps all who are looking for Hanakkah resources- ENJOY!