AOL@School

http://www.aolatschool.com/ provides educator-reviewed classroom resources for K-12 students and teachers in math, science, language arts, social studies and more. Here you can quickly find activities, research materials, educational games, multimedia resources and lesson plans for primary, elementary, middle school and high school classes.

This site takes a little getting used to but it is loaded with helpfully lesson plans and resources. It can get you started with many web based activities. It contains printable worksheets for students participating in the activities and lesson plans for the teachers. It also has many relevant education related links.

March of the Penguins Educator Guide

Hallmark Channel will be airing The Academy Award Winning film March of the Penguins Saturday, Nov. 25 at 9 p.m. (EST/PST). The have also created an educator's guide for this event. Click for the lowest price on dmnobieblanktelevision');" onmouseout="hideAd();">

It can be downloaded at: http://www.hallmarkchannel.com/data/bin/MOTPEdGuide.pdf

Among topics covered by the guide -- which is currently available on the network's Web site (www.hallmarkchannel.com) are: the Antarctic and the Emperor penguins found there; how penguins physically and behaviorally adapt to their environment; how penguins develop and rely on interdependent community skills; how prospective penguin parents get together and communicate; the parenting skills and responsibilities of male vs. female penguins; and the early months of baby penguins.

So get our your DVRs, VCRs, Betas, DVD-Recorders, or whatever method you have to record and download the study guide for this event. The lesson plans in the study guide are very good.

Just remember under fair use guidelines you may only show recorded broadcast programs within ten days of the airing, and your copy must be erased or destroyed within 45 days, for more on Fair Use Guidelines visit: http://www.pbs.org/teachersource/copyright/copyright_fairuse.shtm

Brain Pop

Brain Pop

My Primary job is as a Special Education teacher. I really enjoy working with the students I have despite the learning disabilities. The challenge is in scheduling. It is difficult to help students an individual level, addressing the individual needs of each students. Enter Brain Pop. Brainpop.com Brain Pop offers a vast series of flash movies that cover topics across the curriculum. the movies I have used are fun and entertaining while covering key facts and information. The movie is followed by a quiz that students can print out results to turn in. The movies and quiz take from five to ten minutes. This has become a valuable tool that I use daily in my instruction.

The downside is definitely price. It is somewhat reasonable for a whole school ($850) implementation as compared to other resources, yet the $150 price tag for English only and over $200 for bi-lingual versions put it a little bit out of reach for a single resource. Even with the price tag it may be worth looking at.