e-Learning for kids November 27, 2009
Posted by anne marie in ELA, Math, Science, Websites.Tags: e-Learning, Interactive
add a comment
A friend of mine, Marie, sent me a link to e-Learning for Kids and I’m glad she did! It is filled with wonderful free resources…
“Established in late 2004, e-Learning for Kids is a global, nonprofit foundation dedicated to fun and free learning on the Internet for children ages 5 – 12. We offer free, best-in-class courseware in math, science, reading and keyboarding; and we’re building a community for parents and educators to share innovations and insights in childhood education.”
It is available in 4 languages and is very user and SMARTBoard friendly, not to mention the programs are motivating, interactive, fun, educational and some ven have voice input-YEAH!! There are so many great lessons, games, etc.- too many to mention, so head on over and do soem exploring, guaranteed you won’t be disappointed!
Kids Online Resources September 2, 2009
Posted by anne marie in General, SMART Board.Tags: Resources, SMARTBoard
3 comments
Kids Online Resources is a marvelous site filled with several resources from Kindergarten to high school. The Interactive Multimedia section has a plethora of activities that are amazing to use with the SMARTBoard. There are activities on fractions, identifying time, the number system, etc. The site also offers resources for each discipline. ENJOY!
Great Resource March 25, 2009
Posted by anne marie in Websites.Tags: Resources
add a comment
I came across this wonderful website, Mrs. Mitchell’s Virtual School, created and maintained by Kathi Mitchell, a teacher in Concord, New Hampshire. There are an amazing amount of resources in all subject areas- she even identifies sites by grade levels K-5 and Middle School (scroll down the page). One of the great aspects of this webiste is that once you click on the link you want to investiagte, say Women in History, you will discover Mrs. Mitchell has gathered and listed several sites for you to explore- it’s MARVELOUS and a huge timesaver. Thanks to Mrs. Mitchell for all of her hard work and most importantly for sharing– ENJOY!
Singing Horses– FUN! March 4, 2009
Posted by anne marie in Music, SMART Board, Websites.Tags: Interactive, singing horses
add a comment
I came across this very fun site that works great when addressing cause/effect objectives using the SMARTBoard. It incorporates two motivating factors– animals and music– which adds up to success!! Singing Horses, is just plain fun! When students touch any of the 4 horses they begin to sing and continue to sing until touched again. So if you want to smile, saddle up and trot on over!! ENJOY!
Fireflies light up some fun! August 3, 2008
Posted by anne marie in Fun, Games, SMART Board, Science, Websites.Tags: Fireflies game, Interactive, SMARTBoard
add a comment
Last night when I went to bed (looking out our brand new beautiful windows-YEAH!) I couldn’t help but notice the fireflies lighting up our back yard, like a night game at Fenway Park. Well it started me thinking about a free interactive game that I have used with the SMARTBoard, called Fireflies. You are introduced to three characters, Razlo, Raj and Clam. You have to get acquainted with their jumping abilities in order to catch the fireflies and put them in the jar! The instructions are very well explained at the start of the game, complete with demonstrations. Each character is moved using the mouse so it’s perfect for the SMARTBoard as a fun way to practice eye/hand coordination, cause/effect, counting skills, etc.
If you’re wondering what makes a firefly glow you might want to click on this link to Learn.Gentics to check out the interactive explanation (there is a full screen option). And don’t forget the wonderful, heart warming children’s book by Eric Carle, “The Very Lonely Firefly”,
about a lonely firefly who sets out one night to find some friends.
Here’s hoping your yard is filled with the glow of fireflies and fun!
Artificially Intelligent Avatar June 16, 2008
Posted by anne marie in ELA, Fun, Websites.Tags: Fun, Intelligent Avatar, Interactive
add a comment
I came across this really interesting, fun, a bit strange, but definitely COOL site that has elicited positive, increased language skills in my classroom. It’s called the Artificially Intelligent Avatar. The concept is quite simple and yet very “Star Trekish”– you type a question in the text box and the Avatar, Stetsasonic (we call him Sonic!), will answer you! We just kept saying– “How does he do that?” Ok so he doesn’t always respond (yes he actually speaks) with the most understandable answers, but the verbal interaction this tool has produced from my somewhat shy, “I don’t know” students, has been marvelous-YEAH! They are eager to ask Sonic all kinds of questions, even if he had a girlfriend and if he wanted a date with Ms. Anderson! This also offers the opportunity for students to practice typing skills. Using Sonic with the SMARTBoard makes it even more fun- it gives it the Star Trek effect– like we’re talking to someone from the Mother Ship and we might just even get beamed up!!! So with the end of the year in sight and everyone moving to a more relaxed level, this might be something fun to experiment with, and who knows, the language benefits might just surprise you. 
Oh yeah, one last thing Sonic has been known to change his appearance-HMMMMMMMMMM wonder if he is related to Mr. Spock?!?!?!
GOOOOOOOO CELTICS!!! June 15, 2008
Posted by anne marie in Games, General, SMART Board, Websites, sports.Tags: Bakestball games, Interactive
add a comment
Have all of my fingers and toes crossed for tonight’s game!!!
If you want to test your student’s knowledge about the game of basketball check out the Fun School Basketball quiz. There are only 8 questions, but the quiz works great on the SMARTBoard since you just touch your answer from the 3 choices given. I like the fact that it not only tells you the correct answer, but it also includes a brief explanation with the answer-YEAH! When you finish the quiz you may want to check out some of the other basketball games that are available on this site. If you like strange, weird games check out SyKlops Free Throw. 
Sy is a one-eyed alien who likes to practice his hoops in a most unique way!
Poetry Splatter June 12, 2008
Posted by anne marie in ELA, SMART Board, Websites.Tags: Interactive, Poetry, SMARTBoard
add a comment
I have been getting ready for our big Poetry Reading Event tomorrow (very exciting!!)and realized I neglected to post a fun poetry website called Poetry Splatter. Have some fun creating silly poems! Just choose a poem title from the list- categorized by age group (limited to 2 to 4 poems in each of the 4 sections). You fill in the blanks with words that are splattered onto the screen. It is interactive and works well with the SMARTBoard. The words are color coded to indicate verbs, nouns, adjectives and adverbs and correspond to the color coded blank spaces in the poem sentences. This is a great feature for non-readers since they can still independently participate by following directions using color identification.-YEAH! When the sentences are completed a poem has been created which you can then print! You need to have the Flash plug-in installed on your computer to view this site. So get out your color palette and brushes and have some colorful poetry fun!
Mysterious Manor June 10, 2008
Posted by anne marie in ELA, SMART Board, Websites.Tags: Interactive, Mysterious Manor
add a comment
Mysterious Manor is a fun, interactive game that is very similiar to Scholastic’s I Spy. You enter the mansion and then put on your Sherlock Holme’s hat to discover various objects within each room. Click on the doors and windows to enter different rooms. This program works fabulously on the SMARTBoard because students simply locate and touch the objects to participate. Great for eye/hand coordination, visual discrimmination, following directions, cause/affect objectives.
This is a good end of the year game- have FUN!
Go CELTICS! June 6, 2008
Posted by anne marie in SMART Board, Websites.Tags: Celtics, Dr. Seuss, ELA, Interactive, James Naismith, The Lorax
add a comment
In case you haven’t heard the Celtics won the first game in the NBA Playoffs last night-YEAH!!!!
So in honor of this I am highlighting an interactive site that I think Dr. James Naismith, the inventor of basketball, would approve of! Ok so it’s not a true basketball game, but you do have to move a basket to catch 10 seeds, it is originated from a Dr. Seuss book and in case you didn’t know it both of these great men were from Springfield Massachusetts! The site is The Lorax Saves the Trees Game. It works very well with the SMARTBoard- simply touch and drag the basket to catch the 10 seeds- it is very good for eye/hand coordination and to just have some FUN! Once the seeds are all in the basket you plant them by touching the next screen that appears and watch them grow! This is the perfect time to review counting 1-10.
So here’s to the Celtics and to catching some seeds for the Lorax!
