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MiddleWeb's Hot Links

If you encounter a bad link, which you certainly will from time to time, we'll be glad to help you track down the website or webpage you're interested in. All we ask is that you copy our entry, paste it into an email, and include the words "bad link" in your subject line.


- Sponsored by Stenhouse Publishers -

Announcing the Second Edition of Strategies That Work! Stephanie Harvey & Anne Goudvis have guided hundreds of thousands of teachers in helping children develop strategies for reading comprehension. The completely revised and expanded edition of Strategies That Work features 20 new comprehension lessons, new chapters on content literacy, and enhanced sections on assessment. Click here to read selections online!


Research Paper Strategy –This detailed lesson describes how picture books can give middle school students frames for structuring research projects, "freeing them from the language of their encyclopedia sources."

C-SPAN Classroom – A must-resource for civics and current events. The video clips and other materials are free, and come in six flavors: Principles of Government, U.S. Constitution, Legislative Branch, Executive Branch, Judicial Branch, and Political Participation.

Science Animations – A collection of animated demonstrations, movies and tutorials across many science disciplines, including links to other general collections. Quite handy!

Biology Browser – We agree with the Internet Scout Project that this is a “fine site.” It includes nearly 200 resources searchable by subject, geography, or organism. How about starting an Ant Lion Farm? Or track the short-tailed albatross across the open ocean, via satellite?

The History Makers – Biographies of accomplished African Americans that share their stories “of success against the odds (and) of achievement in the face of adversity.” Education World review and link.

Google Docs – We use Google's online word processing tools for many projects. If you haven't discovered this free service, read about it in this review at the Education World website.

Betsy Ross – Explore the stars-and-stripes orgin myth at these sites suggested by Barbara Feldman of Surfing the Net with Kids. Or is it a myth? Learn how the story began, 100 years after the Revolutionary War.

Kawanzaa - Kwanzaa is a non-religious African American holiday which celebrates family, community, and culture. It is celebrated for seven days: December 26–January 1. This site at History.com has all the details.

Frogs: A Chorus of Colors - Based on a popular exhibit at New York City's American Museum of Natural History, this multimedia site presents information about the reproduction, adaptations, and ecosystems of a variety of frogs.

Science Fair Ideas - Goodness knows, we could all use some! Websurfing educator Barbara Feldman shares several of her favorite resources.

Discover Antarctica – No cold-weather gear needed for this field trip to Antarctica. Extensive information, great visuals, and well-designed site navigation, plus teacher notes and tips.

Aristotle – Barbara Feldman, editor of Surfing the Net with Kids, shares some favorite sites about Plato's greatest student.

Digitized Kiddie Lit – You'll find some jewels in this collection of rare first editions at the Library of Congress, including The Arabian Nights, The Secret Garden and the Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

Public School Parent's Network — A wealth of resources for parents and guardians on every conceivable topic!

Virtual Zoos — Not the real thing but still pretty cool, says this article in USA Today. Includes links to five zoo websites -- and ideas about engaging activities.

Alien Worlds — Students have fun learning about the formation of planets and stars and the search for alien life. They can even use the Drake Equation to estimate habitable planets.

Mathematics Miscellany — A clearinghouse of fun and engaging mathematics exercises, puzzles, and other activities that teachers can utilize in their classrooms. Lots of helpful Java applets. Don't miss the Droodles!

Mark Twain's MississippiLearn about Mark Twain and the history of the Mississippi Valley during the nineteenth century at this multimedia site. The materials are grouped into four themes: economic development, politics, race, religion and culture and include a biography of Twain and sound files of period songs.

Field Trip EarthField Trip Earth provides resources and information on field-based conservation research projects around the world as well as allowing classrooms and others the opportunity to interact with the researchers and other conservation experts.

Can I Have a Word? – Here's a 2006 Webby award winner that Education World says is a "great site for creative writing for middle and high school." Includes visual stimulation tools, writing activities, and short commissioned works by poets (audio/text).

International Children's Digital Library - The goal here is to include children's literature "from every culture and language." It's a work in progress, but they're making real progress! Actual texts of many picture books and other works.

Tissues of Life - Biology teachers will get excited about this site created by the Science Museum of Minnesota to help students explore the tissues that make up the human body. An excellent mix of the serious and the fun, including an interactive comic about stem cells and a "scar gallery." Education World A+ review.

The Midnight Ride of...Samuel Prescott? — As this article at the great Awesome Stories website explains, it was really Dr. Prescott, not Paul Revere, who made it to Concord. Longfellow exercised poetic license. Free membership for educators.

Civil War — Barbara Feldman has assembled a useful collection of Civil War-oriented websites, including one on camp life, a special site just for kids, and a remarkably comprehensive site maintained by Michael Frosch as an obvious labor of love.

Fossils — A fossil is a window into the history of our world, providing clues about plants and animals that lived thousands or millions of years ago. Check out these sites recommended by Surfing the Net with Kids.

The Better World Project — The We Can Create a Better World website offers resources that can be used to introduce students to social issues See what Education World said and then visit the site!

NetSerf — One stop shopping for resources about the medieval world. Simple interface. Awesome collection.

Fractions — Barbara Feldman recommends five no-sweat websites for students and parents who are crossed up about fractions.

Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation — Low, perhaps, on the student engagement scale, but a huge resource nonetheless!

ESL Gold — A "virtual gold mine of free resources and materials for teaching and learning English" says the A+ review by Education World.

More Links on Our Hot Links Archive Pages


 

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