May Library Links

Welcome to May and the sounds of spring!  As the school year slows down with the sounds of birds, nature and sunshine calling, it is often harder to get our students' brains on task.   I have shared some sites that I discovered at my recent ed tech conference,  along with some new Bible sites, and fun activities to do outdoors.  May is the time to do field trips, take nature walks, visit museums, plan a co-op, or do an experiment outdoors.  PLUS Don't forget to celebrate Mothers Day on the second Sunday in May. 

BIBLE

Desiring God Blog by well known author, John Piper has a goal "to spread the passion for the supremacy of God in all things for the joy of all peoples through Jesus Christ."

BIBLE GAMES

Wonderzone Games, activities, and adventures galore in this younger students' bible site.

CBH Ministries formerly Children's Bible Hour, is a media ministry targeting kids ages six to twelve with Bible-based materials. They produce radio programs, print materials, and web-based media to teach kids the message of Jesus Christ.

Vegetales Videos, games and activities at the Vegetales official site.

MEDIA LITERACY

Teaching Kids the News is a Canadian media site for kids grades 2- 8 that teaches timely, news articles from the student's perspective.  Teaching Kids the News (TKN) was created by educators Jonathan Ophek and Kathleen Tilly and freelance journalist Joyce Grant.  Read up on how to use this site.  Thanks John for sending this on:)

MUSIC

Super Simple Songs is for your preschooler and Kindergarten student who loves singing and learning at the same time.  Watch this Twinkle Twinkle Little Star video to get an idea of the wonderful quality.

KIDS VIDEO

KidMango is an exciting new source for the best in cartoons and kids videos, providing everything from an online syndication platform, to a web site, to a TV programming block that airs six days out of the week. May have secular content.

WatchKnow has indexed over 20,000 educational videos, placing them into a directory of over 3,000 categories. The videos are available without any registration or fees to teachers in the classroom and to students at home 24/7. Users can dive into their directory or search for videos by subject and age level. Video titles, descriptions, age level information, and ratings are all edited for usefulness.

SOCIAL MEDIA AWARENESS

CommonSense Media is a national organization led by concerned parents and individuals with experience in child advocacy, public policy, education, media and entertainment. Find reviews of social networking sites, movies, websites and how to stay on top of education in regards. 

SCIENCE

Free science videos at brightstorm

The Mad Scientist Network. has some great science labs, fun ideas for projects, a library and Ask a scientist a question.

Five Tips for Introducing Outdoor Education to your Students.

Ducks Unlimited Canada. I have shared this site before and it is a goodie!  Check out the Resources page.

Seeds.  Provides Kindergarten to Grade 12 curriculum programs that include online Energy Literacy Series and Habitat in the Balance, plus resources for climate change study, water conservation, bird counts, environmental Literacy, cloud and climate observation, and a GREEN Schools program.

GetBodySmart.  An Online textbook about human anatomy and physiology.

Wiredscience Science news, videos and more on this blog for older students.

PERSONAL PLANNING

bcfieldtrips  is the  most comprehensive and up-to-date listing of curriculum-linked field trips available to teachers! The website contains a searchable listing of more than 250 individual programs offered by over 80 organizations in the Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley and across British Columbia.

TECHNOLOGY

Freeappalert is the current awareness site for Iphone users.

Giveaway of the Day nominates one software title that will be a Giveaway title of that day. The software is available for download for 24 hours (or more, if agreed by software publisher) and that software is absolutely free. That means – not a trial, not a limited version – but a registered and legal version of the software is completely free for their visitors*.

Makeuseof. is a list of guides, reviews, how to use, forums for techie people to find answers for software or hardware before they buy it.  Reviews of websites are also contained therein. 

Internet Buttons.  Watch the video on the homepage to get an idea how to use this neat site for people who don't like using the Internet.  With Internet Buttons you can create your own personalised list of favourite URL's to help out an aged friend or youngster, who does not use the Internet and needs a hand organizing their links.  As their confidence grows you can add new buttons or they can start adding.

Technorati .  Search for blogs using this search engine, which displays top blogs, and postings around the world. 

 I pray that the start of your spring is filled with God's joy and passion, to discover learning in your own back yard.  


Blessings to you


Pippa