Google: Not Just a Search Engine

Yesterday after school, staff at Spring Hill Elementary participated in a Professional Development session delivered via videoconferencing. ISTE's SIGIVC host and Google Certified Teacher Paul Hieronymus from NORT2H (Northern Ohio Research & Training Technology Hub), together with five interactive sites shared just a few of the FREE tools that Google offers to search and collaborate.

Google Earth

You can use Google Earth to simply search for a place or try one of the many advanced features, such as recording a tour or importing GPS data. Google Earth for Educators offers Classroom Resources; lesson plans and ideas on how Google Earth can help students learn.  Also available are Tutorials and Tips, Student Showcase, and more.  

Google Body

Looking for a complete, fully interactive, 3D human anatomy model?  Google has recently demoed an interesting WebGL application called Body Browser, which lets you explore the human body just like you can explore the world in Google Earth.  You can peel back anatomical layers, zoom in, and navigate to parts that interest you. Click to identify anatomy, or search for muscles, organs, bones and more.  

Please note:  You must install a WebGL-enabled browser.  These are available for download at the link above.

Google Custom Search

Ever wish you could create a personalized, customized search engine that searches only across sites that you specify and displays results that you know will be right for you or your students? Google Custom Search Engine (CSE) allows you do do just that. Want your students to access only child-safe sites? You can pre-select the sites, list them in the settings of your new search engine, and then let your students use it -- knowing that they're searching the web safely. And because you choose the sites to search, they'll get a limited number of highly relevant search results, making the time they spend online more efficient and rewarding.  All you need to do is choose the websites and pages you'd like to search, then follow a few simple steps to create a CSE. Think of it as putting the power of Google web search to work for you.

Find out about these programs and so many more at Google for Educators.  Here, you’ll find a teacher’s guide to Google Tools for Your Classroom. To spark your imagination, you'll also find examples of innovative ways that other educators are using these tools in the classroom.  If you would like to schedule me to work with you or your students on Google Apps, or would like to request a PD session, please contact me at sbarracl@access.k12.wv.us.

Revv Up Your Students' Writing!

As we prepare our students for the upcoming Writing Assessment, you may be on the hunt for writing prompts that will really revv up your students' excitement for writing! Robin Ramey, Literacy Coach with Cabell County Schools suggests these from 40 Writing Prompts:

J. K. Rowling is the author of the best-selling Harry Potter books, about a young boy who learns to be a magician at Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
In several paragraphs, describe your own special school, such as a school for kid spies, superheroes, or fairies.

While reading a newspaper, you stumble across the following classified ad:

Spine-chilling monster needs a loving new home. Already housebroken, somewhat.
Very cheeky, needs a lot of attention. Please contact me for more information!

You reply to this ad and now have a scary monster at home that (you think) will follow your every command. In several short paragraphs, describe your monster, how you found it, and what you do with it.

The television series Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide chronicled the crazy escapades of Ned Bigby and his friends, Moze and Cookie, at Polk Middle School. In the series, the kids attempt to navigate the challenges of being at middle school.
Write a survival guide of several paragraphs, explaining what a new student entering your class needs to know to immediately fit in.

In 1928, the Scottish scientist Alexander Fleming, by chance, discovered penicillin. Penicillin is an antibiotic that helps fight bacterial infections in your body. Its discovery changed modern medicine.
Think about an amazing invention or discovery that has changed the world and, in several paragraphs, write an expository essay explaining how it works.

A massive snowstorm with very low temperatures, strong winds, and heavy blowing snow is known as a blizzard. A blizzard in 1995 brought meter of snow and temperatures of below -30 degrees c to Minnesota. The blizzard caused almost $82million in damage, and 11 counties in southern Minnesota were declared federal disaster areas.
You are stuck in a terrible snowstorm. In several short paragraphs, tell the story of your rescue.

For more writing resources and ideas, check out these other resources from Scholastic:

Inspire Young Writers

Generate your own story starter with The Story Starter Machine

Writing With Writers

Write It: Publish Your Work

Black History Month

The month of February is packed full of special occasions and holidays to feature in the classroom. Keep in mind that on February 15, in conjunction with Student-Led Conferences your students' Black History Month projects will be displayed in the classroom.

The Underground Railroad: Escape From Slavery
Scholastic features a a unique online experience that encourages students to
follow a network of routes, hiding places and the people who helped enslaved
African Americans escape to freedom. Here, you can access a helpful Teacher Activity Guide , lesson plans and printable work pages, primary sources and more.

BrainPOP and BrainPOP Jr. also have dozens of videos and activities available to celebrate Black History Month with your students. After viewing a short video about George Washington Carver, make your own peanut, sweet potato, or soybean cookbook! To access the activities, click on the activity link under each video. To see how BrainPOP can be integrated into your classroom, contact me at sbarracl@access.k12.wv.us.

Teacher Vision also has countless resources for Black History Month. You can access many of these activities and resources without subscribing to Teacher Vision, such as the Dreams Poetry Unit.

Celebrate Black History Month with your students by sharing the hard work, struggles and successes of African Americans throughout history with resources from Thinkfinity. Check out ArtsEdge Blues Journey, a video series that explores the Blues.

Christmas Around the World

Christmas Around the World

View more presentations from sbarracl.

During the month of December, students across Cabell County's Title I schools participated in a collaborative videoconferencing project titled, Christmas Around the World. Fifth graders at Spring Hill Elementary had been studying the European countries of Italy, Greece, and France earlier in October. To enrich this study, teachers redesigned the techSteps lesson, Talk to a Topic. After researching the holiday customs of these unique cultures, students used the Keynote Application on the iPad to create presentation slides. During the videoconference, students shared their slides with the partner class and reported on their findings in a one-minute speech. Check out some of their work in the slideshow above!

12 Days of Christmas: A Video Scavenger Hunt

The 12 Days of Christmas from Sara Barraclough on Vimeo.

OoPs! We forgot to add this group's video!

Group SHE 9 from Sara Barraclough on Vimeo.

The staff of Spring Hill Elementary School made their way to The Resort at Glade Springs for a weekend of Retreat and Team Building exercises. This video demonstrates one of these activities; our 12 Days of Christmas video scaventure. Thanks to the staff and guests of Glade Springs for participating in our shenanigans!

The Naked Turkey

"I am NOT a Turkey!"

Just before Thanksgiving break, second and third grade students at Spring Hill Elementary participated in The Naked Turkey video conference project; partnering with classrooms across the US. After sharing The Plump and Perky Turkey by Teresa Bateman, students worked at home with their parents to camouflage their turkey so that it would not be on the table for Thanksgiving dinner. The students did a fantastic job creatively disguising the turkeys and writing convincing arguments to share with the partner classes.

The First Thanksgiving

During the month of November, students at Spring Hill Elementary will be studying Pilgrims, Native Americans, and The First Thanksgiving.  Scholastic.com has many resources designed for your classroom, and among these are The First Thanksgiving Student Activities.  Here, you can take your students on a virtual Voyage on the Mayflower and Tour the Ship, take a virtual field trip through the Plimouth Plantation, explore the menu from The Thanksgiving Feast, download printables, and much more!

Deadline:  November 17  Sign up to participate in the live video Webcast from Plimoth Plantation and to receive classroom letters from a Pilgrim girl on the Mayflower* and a Native American boy*. Give your class a glimpse of history.  For more information or for project support, contact sbarracl@access.k12.wv.us.

Other Native American/ First Thanksgiving Resources

BrainPop Spotlight:  American Indians
National Geographic Kids:  First Thanksgiving
The Earliest Americans:  Grade 4 (MS PowerPoint)
America's First Nations:  Long Houses (Grades 4-5 Video)
The History Channel:  Thanksgiving (Video Series)
Investigating the First Thanksgiving:  A WebQuest