Synopsis
Have you ever wished you had an instructional coach at your side to help align your curriculum with the tech-related indicators found in the Common Core State Standards (CCSS)? You’re not alone. Nearly all U.S. states have adopted Common Core, and teachers across the country are redesigning their lessons to meet the standards, including the edtech component. In this book (the third in a four-book series), you’ll learn how to shift your instructional practice and integrate technology standards found within Common Core into middle school curriculum. This book: addresses issues that digital age students face and examines the importance of tailoring their learning experiences using technology; discusses technology needed to teach CCSS and shows how to address roadblocks to incorporating technology; explains how the CCSS are organized and offers a deep dive into the standards specific to grades 6-8; includes classroom-tested lesson ideas mapped to tech-related CCSS and ISTE Standards; and shares resources (apps, software and websites) that can be used in meeting CCSS.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Authors
Valerie Morrison has 14 years of experience as a technology director, integration specialist and technology coach. A regular conference presenter, Morrison also teaches education courses at the college level.
Stephanie Novak, a 27-year educator turned instructional coach, helps teachers in grades K-5 understand how to blend the Common Core State Standards into a rigorous curriculum.
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Chapter 8
Practical Ideas for
Sixth Grade
We realize that you will want to focus on your particular grade or subject when you are planning your lessons and implementing CCSS, so we have orga-
nized the Practical Ideas chapters by grade level, then subject. Each grade starts with an overview followed by ELA technology standards with accompanying apps, software, and websites that you can use to help your students succeed with that standard. We then continue with the math standard for the grade level, also with accompanying resources. Finally, we have included some sample lessons for each grade level in various subject areas. Although we have organized the book so you can fi nd your specifi c grade and subject easily, please do not disregard other sections of this chapter. It is often helpful to see what the standards require before and after the grade you teach. To see grades other than 6–8, look for our three additional titles in this collection, as they could provide information to help you differentiate for students at all levels of your class.
The CCSS has been set up to encourage cross-curricular work in English Language Arts for Grades 6–8. Many of the same standards are used throughout all three grade levels, making it imperative for all three levels of teachers to work closely together to make sure that a spiral effect takes place. Many schools have block planning so that teachers of the same grade level can plan together; however, you may have to get creative to fi nd time when teachers from all three levels can meet. You will need to discuss with your administrators how to schedule this. These meetings will help ensure that the technology standards embedded in language arts, reading, and writing are addressed without overlapping across classes. Some suggestions are to meet during school or district professional planning days, during the summer (we know many districts that pay for curriculum and unit writing during the summer), staff meetings, or better yet, building time into the schedule at the beginning of the year.
Math is also an area where the technological tools become more varied and complex as students advance. The math standards are meant to be embedded in and a natural part of the units your students will be studying. Choosing the correct mathematical tools will become an important part of your class’s learning. There are wonderful new math resources available to help students become proficient in the standards, especially in the area of technology. We list some of our favorites later in this chapter.
We have pulled out the sixth grade standards that include technology for you, and listed them in this chapter so that you have them at your fingertips. Sixth graders are expected to use technology to enhance their literacy skills, such as comparing and contrasting with “live” video, and using digital texts and multimedia to help with reading comprehension. Writing is also important, using the internet to find sources of information, and then using publishing sources to publish their work, in and out of the classroom. Sixth graders are expected to have excellent typing skills, so you will need to make sure that your students are up to speed. An emphasis on finding needed information quickly and efficiently, as well as taking notes and documenting their sources and presenting their findings in a multimedia presentation, will be expected. Using tools such as digital dictionaries and thesauruses, as well as read-along texts, is also emphasized. Technology should also be used to practice math skills, and students will need to use digital math tools, which are available through software programs, apps, or websites.
Reading Literature Resources
RL.6.7 READING LITERATURE
Compare and contrast the experience of reading a story, drama, or poem to listening to or viewing an audio, video, or live version of the text, including contrasting what they “see” and “hear” when reading the text to what they perceive when they listen or watch.
MANY MEDIA FORMATS READ TEXT aloud to kids. Audio books on
CD or some ebooks are great sources. Program sites, such as Follett Shelf (http:// tinyurl.com/oux56og), TeachingBooks (www.teachingbooks.com), and TumbleBooks (http://tumblebooks.com) [must be purchased]) allow you to have access to multiple ebooks that include fiction and nonfiction. You can also check out many ebooks at your local library or purchase them from booksellers, such as Amazon or Barnes & Noble (especially if you have e-readers). There are also some free ebooks out there. The sites Project Gutenberg (www.gutenberg.org/), FreeReadFeed (www.freereadfeed.com), or FreeBookSifter (www.freebooksifter.com) can help you find them. Be aware that there are adult titles on these sites, so choose carefully. Also, sites you pay for provide a much better selection.
Another good resource is ReadWriteThink (www.readwritethink.org). This free site allows students to make an online Venn diagram to compare and contrast what they see and hear when reading the text as opposed to what they perceive when they listen or watch.
Reading History Resources
RH.6-8.7 READING HISTORY
Integrate visual information (e.g., in charts, graphs, photographs, videos, or maps) with other information in print and digital texts.
A MULTIMEDIA STORY IS SOME combination of text, still photographs,
video clips, audio, graphics, and interactivity presented on a website in a nonlinear format in which the information in each medium is complementary, not redundant. A multimedia presentation integrates visual information with print and digital texts. Following are sites that feature this type of presentation.
MULTIMEDIA WEBSITES
WEBSITES TO CREATE WEBPAGES
WHST.6-8.2a WRITING HISTORY, SCIENCE, AND TECHNICAL SUBJECTS
Introduce a topic clearly, previewing what is to follow; organize ideas, concepts, and information into broader categories as appropriate to achieving purpose; include formatting (e.g., headings), graphics (e.g., charts, tables), and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension.
W.6.2a WRITING
Introduce a topic, organize ideas, concepts, and information, using strategies such as definition, classification, comparison/contrast, and cause/effect; include formatting (e.g., headings), graphics (e.g., charts, tables), and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension.
USING A MIND-MAPPING PROGRAM is an effective way for students to organize their ideas, concepts, and information. Educators have used several wonderful software programs for mind-mapping for many years; however, there are also free sites out there that do this. There are even templates, such as a Venn diagram that allows students to compare and contrast and show cause and effect. Following are some digital tools you can use to teach note taking and categorizing.
APPS, SOFTWARE, AND WEBSITES FOR MIND-MAPPING
In this standard, you are also asked to include charts, tables, and multimedia when aiding comprehension. Using Microsoft Excel (www.office.com), Apple Numbers for Mac (www.apple.com/mac/numbers/), or Google Sheets (www.google.com/sheets/ about/) is a good way to teach students about charts and graphs. Making their own charts and graphs helps students learn how to interpret and present information.
SOFTWARE AND WEBSITES TO CREATE CHARTS AND GRAPHS
RST.6-8.9 READING SCIENCE AND TECHNICAL SUBJECTS
Compare and contrast the information gained from experiments, simulations, video, or multimedia sources with that gained from reading a text on the same topic.
THERE ARE MANY PLACES TO SEE videos about educational topics. It’s
up to you to sift through them to find what you are looking for and locate reliable sources. The following are some that we would recommend.
EDUCATIONAL VIDEO SITES
Publishing Resources
W.6.6 WRITING
Use technology, including the internet, to produce and publish writing as well as to interact and collaborate with others; demonstrate sufficient command of keyboarding skills to type a minimum of three pages in a single sitting.
WHST.6-8.6 WRITING HISTORY, SCIENCE, AND TECHNICAL SUBJECTS
Use technology, including the internet, to produce and publish writing and present the relationships between information and ideas clearly and efficiently.
PRODUCING AND PUBLISHING WRITING digitally is another standard
sixth graders are expected to meet. There are many websites that allow you to publish student writing. Using blogging websites such as Edmodo (www.edmodo.com), TeacherBlogIt (www.teacherblogit.com), and Wikispaces (www.wikispaces.com) is another way to share students’ writing in a safe, protected environment. Blogging is also a good way for students to interact and collaborate with others. These sites allow teachers to set themselves up as administrators and add students to various groups. All student writing is secure in these groups.
You can give students assignments asking for short answers where everyone can respond, or you can ask them to write longer assignments on their own. They can then work on assignments and submit privately to you, or post them on the site to share.
There are also sites that ask students to submit their work to be considered for publication on their site. Following are a few options.
PUBLISHING WEBSITES
APPS AND WEBSITES USING ANIMATION
KEYBOARDING SOFTWARE
By sixth grade, students are expected to type three pages in one sitting. There are many keyboarding programs available for purchase. Following are just a few.
Paying for a good typing program is worth the expense. Quality programs keep track of student progress and levels of proficiency and teach necessary skills. If you can’t buy a program, there are many free sites that offer some instruction and games.
Information Gathering Resources
RI.6.7 READING INFORMATION
Integrate information presented in different media or formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively) as well as in words to develop a coherent understanding of a topic or issue.
W.6.8 WRITING
Gather relevant information from multiple print and digital sources; assess the credibility of each source; and quote or paraphrase the data and conclusions of others while avoiding plagiarism and providing basic bibliographic information for sources.
BY THE TIME STUDENTS ARE IN SIXTH grade, they should be able to
search the internet independently to gather the information on a given topic. Your class will need guidance, of course, so lessons on internet searching are critical, as well as lessons on media literacy. Media literacy is especially crucial because students now need to be able to critique a website before using it—anyone can put up a webpage. As stated by the W.6.8 standard, students will also need to be able to take notes from these sites, assess the credibility of each source, and quote or paraphrase the data and conclusions of others. They must do this while avoiding plagiarism, and they must provide a list of bibliographic sources. We discuss these techniques in the following paragraphs.
Although students are net-savvy these days, even sixth graders still need assistance with the basics of searching. Various search engines work differently, and each will give you different information. Therefore, your students need to know how to use multiple engines.
Smart searching will help students avoid wasting time. Teaching them to analyze search results will help them find better information and think more critically about information they find on the internet. Following are some basic guidelines for students.
Tried and true methods for taking notes, paraphrasing, and summarizing information from books can still be used to gather information and take notes on websites. Teaching students to use data sheets, note cards, and KWL (Know, What, Learn) techniques still works. However, there are now ways that technology can help and sometimes make it easier. The Kentucky Virtual Library (http://tinyurl.com/ptnwz4) is a great website to use as a resource for some of these techniques. Evernote allows students to take notes and to import a worksheet, document, or picture (including a snapshot of a webpage) and annotate it using tools that they would use with interactive whiteboard software. It lets them highlight words, cut and paste, and add sticky notes. The sticky notes are especially useful to summarize or paraphrase students’ notes. Evernote also allows students to use voice recognition and send their annotated sheet to someone else (including the teacher).
Another way to take notes is to use an “add-on” to your internet browser. The free add-on Diigo (www.diigo.com) is made for note taking on docs, PDFs, and screenshots. Students can also save sites and documents as resources to take notes on later with annotations and highlighting.
Modeling is essential when you are teaching your students how to glean information from a website. Your interactive whiteboard is a perfect tool for modeling your lesson. Don’t have an interactive whiteboard? Use RealtimeBoard (www.realtimeboard.com). It’s a free website that allows you to turn an ordinary whiteboard into an interactive one. All you need is a computer and a projector! Using the many tools an interactive whiteboard and its corresponding software have to offer will really help teach your students how to navigate through information posted on the internet. Using note taking tools when gathering information will help your students organize their research.
APPS FOR NOTE TAKING
Pages (www.apple.com/mac/pages), or Google Docs (www.google.com/docs/about). Some teachers also make digital templates to help students find specific information and to help students organize their notes, with spaces to summarize or paraphrase.
WEBSITES FOR BIBLIOGRAPHIC SOURCES
Sixth graders will also need to provide basic bibliographic information for sources. Making your own template and having the students fill it in using a word processing program works; however, there are websites that are designed to do this.
SL.6.2 SPEAKING AND LISTENING
Interpret information presented in diverse media and formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, and orally) and explain how it contributes to a topic, text, or issue under study.
W.6.5 SPEAKING AND LISTENING
Include multimedia components (e.g., graphics, images, music, sound) and visual displays in presentations to clarify information.
MICROSOFT POWERPOINT HAS BEEN THE presentation program of choice; however, there is now a free individual version called Microsoft Online (www.office.com) that includes PowerPoint. Although this is still a great program to use, similar presentation programs have emerged. Apple offers Keynote (www. apple.com/mac/keynote) free, but the iPad/iPod version does cost. Its features are very similar to PowerPoint. Another program that has emerged is Google Slides (www.google.com/slides/about/). There are other resources that help with presentations, such as Microsoft Draw (www.office.com) and Google Drawings (www. google.com/drive). Office is aimed toward business presentations; however, Google Drive products such as Slides and Drawings are free and web based. Google slides is also very easy to share, and multiple users can work on a document at once, even from home—which makes this an especially useful program for interacting and collaborating with others. Students can also add audio recordings to their slides, as well as visual displays such as pictures and short video clips. You could also have your students use the following digital tools to develop speaking and listening skills.
SOFTWARE, WEBSITES, AND APPS TO CREATE MOVIES AND SLIDESHOWS
L.6.4c LANGUAGE
Consult reference materials (e.g., dictionaries, glossaries, thesauruses), both print and digital, to find the pronunciation of a word or determine or clarify its precise meaning or its part of speech.
ALTHOUGH DIGITAL DICTIONARIES and thesauruses are not updated as often as digital encyclopedias, they are still very convenient to use and are kept current. These sites should be bookmarked or put on your website for easy access. The more students use them, the more comfortable they will become. You should do lessons and activities to learn and practice the necessary skills with an online dictionary.
DIGITAL DICTIONARY AND THESAURUS WEBSITES
Math Resources
THERE ARE TWO MAIN SETS OF STANDARDS, processes and practices,
for the Common Core Math standards. First, you have the math targets, written similarly to ELA (Ratios & Proportional Relationships, The Number System, Expressions & Equations, Geometry, and Statistics & Probability). While you work with sixth grade students on mathematical processes, such as Expressions & Equations or Geometry, you need to teach your students how to apply the Standards for Mathematical Practices (which include problem solving and precision) to those processes. One practice, the only one that includes technology, is mathematical practice 5, “Use appropriate tools strategically.”
Following is the explanation CCSS provides for MP5. As this is the standard explanation for Grades K–12, it does include references to higher grades.
Mathematically proficient students consider the available tools when solving a mathematical problem. These tools might include pencil and paper, concrete models, a ruler, a protractor, a calculator, a spreadsheet, a computer algebra system, a statistical package, or dynamic geometry software. Proficient students are sufficiently familiar with tools appropriate for their grade or course to make sound decisions about when each of these tools might be helpful, recognizing both the insight to be gained and their limitations. For example, mathematically proficient high school students analyze graphs of functions and solutions generated using a graphing calculator. They detect possible errors by strategically using estimation and other mathematical knowledge. When making mathematical models, they know that technology can enable them to visualize the results of varying assumptions, explore consequences, and compare predictions with data. Mathematically proficient students at various grade levels are able to identify relevant external mathematical resources, such as digital content located on a website, and use them to pose or solve problems. They are able to use technological tools to explore and deepen their understanding of concepts.
Because this description did not give examples for all grades, we have provided lists of appropriate apps, websites, software, and lessons that will help translate this standard for sixth grade.
Currently, this is the only sixth grade math standard that involves technology. Since using any kind of technology to have students practice math can grab their attention, help long-term learning, and make math fun, technology is a math tool students should use as much as possible. There are many math programs, websites, and apps out there, which allow students to explore and deepen their understanding of math concepts. The best of them have students learning in creative ways and are not just electronic worksheets. They automatically adapt to the students’ skill level, and they give you the data you need to know where students are in their learning and what they need to effectively continue. Following are many good math resources. Some are free. Some are not. Unfortunately, the free resources, many with ads, are usually less interesting to your students and are not as well organized. They don’t give you the feedback you need. It is up to you to decide what is best for your circumstances and budget.
Following are some websites you can use to help students meet the sixth grade math standards.
MATH WEBSITES
< >ScootPad (www.scootpad.com): This is a web-based math site that is customizable for individual students. It adapts to the student and keeps the teacher in the loop with multiple reports. It is completely aligned to the CCSS. The price for a class varies from $5 to $20/month.DreamBox Learning Math (www.dreambox.com): Individualized, adaptive game-based math that keeps kids coming back for more. Available online or through an app. Price is $12.95/month (home) or $25/month (school), less if packaged.Study Island (www.studyisland.com): This is a web-based program where students work on engaging, interactive lessons and activities at their own pace to learn aligned Common Core math standards. Teachers can also choose to guide students and assign specific areas to work through. This program mustIXL (www.ixl.com/math): This site features adaptive individualized math through gameplay. It gives students immediate feedback and covers many skills, despite its emphasis on drills. Levels range from pre-kindergarten to eighth grade. There is a limited free version. Class price is $199/year.XtraMath (XtraMath.org): This is a great site for practicing math facts. It keeps track of student progress, it’s easy to pick what you want your students to work on, and it’s easy for kids to use independently. It is free; however, you can purchase an extended version.Coolmath-Games (www.coolmath-games.com), SoftSchools (www.softschools. com), Sheppard Software (http://tinyurl.com/ccrxoa), AAA Math (www.aaamath.com), and PBS Kids Cyberchase (http://pbskids.org/cyberchase/) are several sites that have free math games that cover all math topics at each grade level. However, they have ads, are not able to track students’ success rates, and are not generally self-adaptive to students’ skill levels.Khan Academy (www.khanacademy.org): This free website has every math application you can think of and has short video tutorials on how to solve them! The site includes feedback and many resources.AdaptedMind (http://tinyurl.com/997geeg): This site provides good practice for all sorts of sixth grade mathematical problems.WebQuests (www.webquest.org): These are great tools to use for presentations. WebQuest is a website that allows students to follow an already-created, project-based lesson where information is found solely on the internet. You can also create your own WebQuest if you have a website-building program or a website like Kafafa (www.kafafa.com/kafafa). WebQuest.org is the original and most popular site, but if you search the internet, you will find more sites that you can use.Math Blaster HyperBlast (http://tinyurl.com/q3ff7vg): The classic game many teachers used when they were students, now updated. The price is $0.99 to 1.99.Geoboard (http://tinyurl.com/kzyxjv7): This app is the digital recreation of a geoboard. The app is simple to use, and the geometry activities are open-ended and endless. The app is free.Swipea Tangram Puzzles for Kids (http://tinyurl.com/nsnoazj): This is a digitalExplain Everything (www.explaineverything.com): This $2.99 app uses text, video, pictures, and voice to present whatever your students are asked to create.Readable textClear recordingsInteresting, clear imagesTiming of imagesConcise languageMusic that reflects the mood of the bookNarration that is louder than the background musicEnough details to be interesting but not enough to give away the endingEnds with a question or scene that makes the audience want to read the bookIntroduce the book: Include the title, the author’s name and the genre.Tell about the book: Introduce the main characters and action. Don’t try to tell every detail.Tell about your favorite part of the book or make a connection: Persuade the audience to read the book and leave the audience wanting to know more. For example, explain what the main character has to overcome, but don’t tell if he/ she is successful.Give a recommendation: Provide closure for the book trailer. This also helps match the perfect reader with the book.Short and sweet is best.Name of the countryMap of the countryFlag of the countryOne or more major landformsOne or more famous landmarksType of governmentType of economic systemOne or more major exportOfficial language(s) of countryReligions of countryMajor holidays celebratedSpecial foods from the countryFamous person from that countryCommunicable diseases:influenzameasleshepatitismononucleosismeningitisEbolatuberculosisNoncommunicable diseases:diabetesheart diseasecancersickle cell anemiahypertensionosteoporosisAlzheimer’sWhat causes this disease?What are the symptoms for this disease? (How do people know if they have the disease?)How is the disease spread among humans (if it is)?How can the disease be prevented? If it can’t be prevented, explain why not.After a person has the disease, what is the treatment? If there is no treatment available, explain the current research and what is being done to find a treatment or cure.List three important facts about the disease not already mentioned.Cite your sources.together to publish their presentation, where they used multiple digital sources. Students also need to cite their sources in their presentation, which satisfies W.6.8.
A Final Note
As students progress through the grades, they are establishing their baseline of proficiency in technology. This will definitely enhance students’ experiences with technology in high school, as well as satisfy the CCSS performance standards at the 6–8 level. We hope that you found the resources and lesson ideas presented in this chapter useful and that they are easy to adapt to your class.
You will find more resources online at our website (http://tinyurl.com/oexfhcv), which may be helpful to you as you look to differentiate your instruction. Visit our site for updated information about this book. To learn more about meeting technology standards found within the CCSS for other grades, look for our three additional titles in this collection.
Practical Ideas for
Sixth Grade
We realize that you will want to focus on your particular grade or subject when you are planning your lessons and implementing CCSS, so we have orga-
nized the Practical Ideas chapters by grade level, then subject. Each grade starts with an overview followed by ELA technology standards with accompanying apps, software, and websites that you can use to help your students succeed with that standard. We then continue with the math standard for the grade level, also with accompanying resources. Finally, we have included some sample lessons for each grade level in various subject areas. Although we have organized the book so you can fi nd your specifi c grade and subject easily, please do not disregard other sections of this chapter. It is often helpful to see what the standards require before and after the grade you teach. To see grades other than 6–8, look for our three additional titles in this collection, as they could provide information to help you differentiate for students at all levels of your class.
The CCSS has been set up to encourage cross-curricular work in English Language Arts for Grades 6–8. Many of the same standards are used throughout all three grade levels, making it imperative for all three levels of teachers to work closely together to make sure that a spiral effect takes place. Many schools have block planning so that teachers of the same grade level can plan together; however, you may have to get creative to fi nd time when teachers from all three levels can meet. You will need to discuss with your administrators how to schedule this. These meetings will help ensure that the technology standards embedded in language arts, reading, and writing are addressed without overlapping across classes. Some suggestions are to meet during school or district professional planning days, during the summer (we know many districts that pay for curriculum and unit writing during the summer), staff meetings, or better yet, building time into the schedule at the beginning of the year.
Math is also an area where the technological tools become more varied and complex as students advance. The math standards are meant to be embedded in and a natural part of the units your students will be studying. Choosing the correct mathematical tools will become an important part of your class’s learning. There are wonderful new math resources available to help students become proficient in the standards, especially in the area of technology. We list some of our favorites later in this chapter.
We have pulled out the sixth grade standards that include technology for you, and listed them in this chapter so that you have them at your fingertips. Sixth graders are expected to use technology to enhance their literacy skills, such as comparing and contrasting with “live” video, and using digital texts and multimedia to help with reading comprehension. Writing is also important, using the internet to find sources of information, and then using publishing sources to publish their work, in and out of the classroom. Sixth graders are expected to have excellent typing skills, so you will need to make sure that your students are up to speed. An emphasis on finding needed information quickly and efficiently, as well as taking notes and documenting their sources and presenting their findings in a multimedia presentation, will be expected. Using tools such as digital dictionaries and thesauruses, as well as read-along texts, is also emphasized. Technology should also be used to practice math skills, and students will need to use digital math tools, which are available through software programs, apps, or websites.
Reading Literature Resources
RL.6.7 READING LITERATURE
Compare and contrast the experience of reading a story, drama, or poem to listening to or viewing an audio, video, or live version of the text, including contrasting what they “see” and “hear” when reading the text to what they perceive when they listen or watch.
MANY MEDIA FORMATS READ TEXT aloud to kids. Audio books on
CD or some ebooks are great sources. Program sites, such as Follett Shelf (http:// tinyurl.com/oux56og), TeachingBooks (www.teachingbooks.com), and TumbleBooks (http://tumblebooks.com) [must be purchased]) allow you to have access to multiple ebooks that include fiction and nonfiction. You can also check out many ebooks at your local library or purchase them from booksellers, such as Amazon or Barnes & Noble (especially if you have e-readers). There are also some free ebooks out there. The sites Project Gutenberg (www.gutenberg.org/), FreeReadFeed (www.freereadfeed.com), or FreeBookSifter (www.freebooksifter.com) can help you find them. Be aware that there are adult titles on these sites, so choose carefully. Also, sites you pay for provide a much better selection.
Another good resource is ReadWriteThink (www.readwritethink.org). This free site allows students to make an online Venn diagram to compare and contrast what they see and hear when reading the text as opposed to what they perceive when they listen or watch.
Reading History Resources
RH.6-8.7 READING HISTORY
Integrate visual information (e.g., in charts, graphs, photographs, videos, or maps) with other information in print and digital texts.
A MULTIMEDIA STORY IS SOME combination of text, still photographs,
video clips, audio, graphics, and interactivity presented on a website in a nonlinear format in which the information in each medium is complementary, not redundant. A multimedia presentation integrates visual information with print and digital texts. Following are sites that feature this type of presentation.
MULTIMEDIA WEBSITES
- CNN (www.cnn.com): The Cable News Network site is free but includes ads. It has trending news events and access to text, pictures, and video of current events.
- The Washington Post (www.washingtonpost.com): This is the official site of the leading newspaper in our capital. There is access to current events in the nation and world. The site is free but does have ads.
- NPR (www.npr.org): This site from National Public Radio is government
- MSNBC (www.msnbc.com): Another cable news site from NBC Universal, this free site does contain ads. You can find all the day’s national and world news including video, text, and print.
WEBSITES TO CREATE WEBPAGES
- Weebly (www.weebly.com): This is an online website creator that is drag-anddrop easy and includes templates. The basics, which include five pages, are free. There is even an app available.
- Wix (www.wix.com): This online website creator is also drag-and-drop easy and includes templates. The basics are free. An app version is available.
- Webs (www.webs.com): This online website creator allows you to choose a template and then drag and drop elements on to webpages. Basic functionality is free. There is even an app available.
- Kafafa (www.kafafa.com): This online website creator also allows you to choose a template and then drag and drop elements on to webpages. A website is $9.99/month for a class.
- Shutterfly Share Sites (http://tinyurl.com/5wjpu7): Manage parent communication, post important reminders, receive auto reminders for events and volunteer duties, share class photos and videos from daily activities and field trips—all free. It’s private and secure. A free app is also available.
WHST.6-8.2a WRITING HISTORY, SCIENCE, AND TECHNICAL SUBJECTS
Introduce a topic clearly, previewing what is to follow; organize ideas, concepts, and information into broader categories as appropriate to achieving purpose; include formatting (e.g., headings), graphics (e.g., charts, tables), and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension.
W.6.2a WRITING
Introduce a topic, organize ideas, concepts, and information, using strategies such as definition, classification, comparison/contrast, and cause/effect; include formatting (e.g., headings), graphics (e.g., charts, tables), and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension.
USING A MIND-MAPPING PROGRAM is an effective way for students to organize their ideas, concepts, and information. Educators have used several wonderful software programs for mind-mapping for many years; however, there are also free sites out there that do this. There are even templates, such as a Venn diagram that allows students to compare and contrast and show cause and effect. Following are some digital tools you can use to teach note taking and categorizing.
APPS, SOFTWARE, AND WEBSITES FOR MIND-MAPPING
- Inspiration (http://tinyurl.com/ygharef): This mind-mapping software program helps students organize their writing. It can be especially helpful for students who are learning to create paragraphs and organize big ideas into their smaller parts. Cost is $40 to $640. Webspiration (http://tinyurl.com/bmop3nh) is the web-based version. Cost is $6/month.
- Popplet (www.popplet.com): This is a wonderful online organizational tool for student writing. A free app called Popplet Lite is also available. It is easy to use, and students can import pictures and text to create web maps.
- Bubbl.us (www.bubbl.us): This is a free (with limited use) mind-mapping website for Grades K–12. It can be shared by multiple students at a time and comes with an accompanying app. For more options, purchase a package for $6/ month or $59/year. Both come with a 30-day free trial. Site licensing is available. Contact the company for specifics.
- Mindmeister (www.mindmeister.com/education): This is a free, basic mind-mapping website for Grades 2–12. Upgrades are available ($18/month for a single user; $30 per user for 6 months). Educational pricing is available for schools and universities ($6 per user for 6 months). All of the upgrades have a free trial period.
- FreeMind (http://tinyurl.com/5qrd5): This is a free mind-mapping tool for Grades 2–12. However, FreeMind is written in Java and will run on almost any system with a Java runtime environment. Options for a basic or maximum install are available.
In this standard, you are also asked to include charts, tables, and multimedia when aiding comprehension. Using Microsoft Excel (www.office.com), Apple Numbers for Mac (www.apple.com/mac/numbers/), or Google Sheets (www.google.com/sheets/ about/) is a good way to teach students about charts and graphs. Making their own charts and graphs helps students learn how to interpret and present information.
SOFTWARE AND WEBSITES TO CREATE CHARTS AND GRAPHS
- The Graph Club 2.0 (http://tinyurl.com/2rx2k8): This program can really help students visualize how charts and graphs compare, and it’s extremely easy to use. The program includes ready-made activities in all subject areas and includes rubrics and sample graphs. District purchasing and volume CDs are available. Contact a representative on the site for specific prices.
- Gliffy (www.gliffy.com): Create professional-quality flowcharts, wireframes, diagrams, and more with this tool. It is free for limited use, and upgrades are available for a fee.
- Create-a-Graph (http://tinyurl.com/c6wz4): Create bar, line, area, pie, and XY graphs with this free website. It is easy to use, and you can print, save, or email your completed graphs.
- ClassTools (www.classtools.net): Create graphs and charts and use many other helpful classroom tools, such as a QR code generator or timeline, with this free website.
RST.6-8.9 READING SCIENCE AND TECHNICAL SUBJECTS
Compare and contrast the information gained from experiments, simulations, video, or multimedia sources with that gained from reading a text on the same topic.
THERE ARE MANY PLACES TO SEE videos about educational topics. It’s
up to you to sift through them to find what you are looking for and locate reliable sources. The following are some that we would recommend.
EDUCATIONAL VIDEO SITES
- WatchKnowLearn (www.watchknowlearn.org): The site has many free educational videos that allow you access to everything from frog dissection simulations to earthquake destruction. It organizes content by age ranges and provides reviews.
- NeoK12 (www.neok12.com): There are many science experiments, simulations, and videos on all sorts of topics on this website. It also guarantees that all videos are kid safe, and as an added bonus, it is free.
- EarthCam (www.earthcam.com): This interesting site allows you to go to many different sites around the world and view video from a live camera (for example, Times Square or Wrigley Field).
- iTunesU (http://tinyurl.com/lbjbarh): As stated on their website, “Choose from more than 750,000 free lectures, videos, books, and other resources on thousands of subjects from Algebra to Zoology.” Access it free through iTunes. A free iTunesU app is also available.
- BrainPOP (www.brainpop.com): This website has been around for a long time and is still an oldie but goodie, as it gives educational videos on multiple educational topics, in a fun, cartoon format. Price varies based on the subscription you choose.
Publishing Resources
W.6.6 WRITING
Use technology, including the internet, to produce and publish writing as well as to interact and collaborate with others; demonstrate sufficient command of keyboarding skills to type a minimum of three pages in a single sitting.
WHST.6-8.6 WRITING HISTORY, SCIENCE, AND TECHNICAL SUBJECTS
Use technology, including the internet, to produce and publish writing and present the relationships between information and ideas clearly and efficiently.
PRODUCING AND PUBLISHING WRITING digitally is another standard
sixth graders are expected to meet. There are many websites that allow you to publish student writing. Using blogging websites such as Edmodo (www.edmodo.com), TeacherBlogIt (www.teacherblogit.com), and Wikispaces (www.wikispaces.com) is another way to share students’ writing in a safe, protected environment. Blogging is also a good way for students to interact and collaborate with others. These sites allow teachers to set themselves up as administrators and add students to various groups. All student writing is secure in these groups.
You can give students assignments asking for short answers where everyone can respond, or you can ask them to write longer assignments on their own. They can then work on assignments and submit privately to you, or post them on the site to share.
There are also sites that ask students to submit their work to be considered for publication on their site. Following are a few options.
PUBLISHING WEBSITES
- Scholastic Publishing (http://tinyurl.com/plwnn6f): This free website allows teachers to submit student writing for publication.
- PBS Kids Writing (www.pbskids.org/writerscontest): This free site asks for student writing and serves as a nice incentive to get students to do their best writing.
- Lulu (www.lulu.com) and Lulu Jr (www.lulujr.com): These sites allow you to create real books and publish them online. Parents can purchase the books as a keepsake. The site is free to use, but a fee is required to publish.
- TikaTok (www.tikatok.com): This is another site that allows students to write, create, and publish stories as ebooks or hardcover books. TikaTok Story Spark is an app that you can purchase for $3. Classroom price for TikaTok starts at $19 a year.
- Cast UDL Book Builder (http://bookbuilder.cast.org/): This is a free site that lets you publish your ebook and see what others have published.
- Poetry Idea Engine from Scholastic (http://tinyurl.com/nm2gtba): The site allows students to use templates to make different forms of poetry—another great way technology gets kids writing. Better still, it is free!
APPS AND WEBSITES USING ANIMATION
- iFunFace (www.ifunface.com): Students can create a read-aloud to show how the main idea and details flow by using a photo and audio recording to create an animation. This helps students visualize how to support details that branch off from the main ideas and how they all flow together. The app is free but can be upgraded for $1.99.
- Blabberize (www.blabberize.com): Students can speak the text and use photos to illustrate in an animated format. Free.
- Voki (www.voki.com): Students can use their voices to speak the text, and photos can be used to illustrate in an animated format. It is free, but there are ads.
- Fotobabble (www.fotobabble.com): Students’ voices can speak the text, and photos can be used to illustrate. Free.
KEYBOARDING SOFTWARE
By sixth grade, students are expected to type three pages in one sitting. There are many keyboarding programs available for purchase. Following are just a few.
- Mavis Beacon Keyboarding Kidz (http://tinyurl.com/254v9on): Set words-perminute goals and discover what keys you need to practice and what keys you know well. Play games to practice what you’ve learned and to improve your speed and accuracy to become a typing pro. ($19.99)
- Type to Learn (www.ttl4.sunburst.com): This typing program for Grades K–12 emphasizes both accuracy and words-per-minute speed. It also provides each student with individualized remediation and goals for success. Consult the website for various pricing options and to request a quote.
- Typing Training (www.typingtraining.com): This web-based program with apps for Grades 3–12 allows access from any computer or handheld device. Animated coaches are available with a customizable curriculum. Students can play games or choose from more than 2,500 unique exercises while tracking progress with detailed reports and graphs. Consult the website for various options and to request a quote.
Paying for a good typing program is worth the expense. Quality programs keep track of student progress and levels of proficiency and teach necessary skills. If you can’t buy a program, there are many free sites that offer some instruction and games.
- Dance Mat Typing (www.bbc.co.uk/guides/z3c6tfr): This free website by BBC Schools teaches typing for younger children.
- TypingWeb (www.typing.com): This site has ads, but it does keep track of student progress, and it provides reports for free.
- TypeRacer (www.play.typeracer.com): This is a free website that allows you to race opponents by typing words in paragraph form. This is great for experienced typists to bone up on accuracy and typing speed. There are ads.
Information Gathering Resources
RI.6.7 READING INFORMATION
Integrate information presented in different media or formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively) as well as in words to develop a coherent understanding of a topic or issue.
W.6.8 WRITING
Gather relevant information from multiple print and digital sources; assess the credibility of each source; and quote or paraphrase the data and conclusions of others while avoiding plagiarism and providing basic bibliographic information for sources.
BY THE TIME STUDENTS ARE IN SIXTH grade, they should be able to
search the internet independently to gather the information on a given topic. Your class will need guidance, of course, so lessons on internet searching are critical, as well as lessons on media literacy. Media literacy is especially crucial because students now need to be able to critique a website before using it—anyone can put up a webpage. As stated by the W.6.8 standard, students will also need to be able to take notes from these sites, assess the credibility of each source, and quote or paraphrase the data and conclusions of others. They must do this while avoiding plagiarism, and they must provide a list of bibliographic sources. We discuss these techniques in the following paragraphs.
Although students are net-savvy these days, even sixth graders still need assistance with the basics of searching. Various search engines work differently, and each will give you different information. Therefore, your students need to know how to use multiple engines.
Smart searching will help students avoid wasting time. Teaching them to analyze search results will help them find better information and think more critically about information they find on the internet. Following are some basic guidelines for students.
- Choose your search terms carefully. Be precise about what you are looking for, though you should use phrases and not full sentences.
- Adding more words can narrow a search. Use Boolean searches to narrow your topic with quotation marks. There’s a big difference between the term “gopher” and “habitats of gophers in North America.”
- Use synonyms! If students can’t find what they’re looking for, have them try keywords that mean the same thing or are related.
- Type “site.” Typing “site:” (with the colon) after your keyword and before a URL will tell many search engines to search within a specific website.
- Add a minus sign. Adding a minus sign (a hyphen) immediately before any word, with no space in between, indicates that you don’t want that word to appear in your search results. For example, “Saturn-cars” will give you information about the planet, not the automobile.
Tried and true methods for taking notes, paraphrasing, and summarizing information from books can still be used to gather information and take notes on websites. Teaching students to use data sheets, note cards, and KWL (Know, What, Learn) techniques still works. However, there are now ways that technology can help and sometimes make it easier. The Kentucky Virtual Library (http://tinyurl.com/ptnwz4) is a great website to use as a resource for some of these techniques. Evernote allows students to take notes and to import a worksheet, document, or picture (including a snapshot of a webpage) and annotate it using tools that they would use with interactive whiteboard software. It lets them highlight words, cut and paste, and add sticky notes. The sticky notes are especially useful to summarize or paraphrase students’ notes. Evernote also allows students to use voice recognition and send their annotated sheet to someone else (including the teacher).
Another way to take notes is to use an “add-on” to your internet browser. The free add-on Diigo (www.diigo.com) is made for note taking on docs, PDFs, and screenshots. Students can also save sites and documents as resources to take notes on later with annotations and highlighting.
Modeling is essential when you are teaching your students how to glean information from a website. Your interactive whiteboard is a perfect tool for modeling your lesson. Don’t have an interactive whiteboard? Use RealtimeBoard (www.realtimeboard.com). It’s a free website that allows you to turn an ordinary whiteboard into an interactive one. All you need is a computer and a projector! Using the many tools an interactive whiteboard and its corresponding software have to offer will really help teach your students how to navigate through information posted on the internet. Using note taking tools when gathering information will help your students organize their research.
APPS FOR NOTE TAKING
- Inspiration (http://tinyurl.com/ygharef): This mind-mapping program helps students organize their writing. It can be especially helpful for students who are learning to create paragraphs and organize big ideas into smaller parts. Cost is
- Popplet (www.popplet.com): This is a wonderful online organizational tool for student writing. A free app called Popplet Lite is also available. It is easy to use, and students can import pictures and text to create web maps.
- Bubble.us (www.bubble.us): This is a free (with limited use) mind-mapping website for Grades K–12. It can be shared by multiple students at a time and comes with an accompanying app. For more options, purchase a package for $6/month or $59/year. Both come with a 30-day free trial. Site licensing is available. Contact the company for specifics.
- Mindmeister (www.mindmeister.com/education): This is a free, basic, mindmapping website for Grades 2–12. Upgrades are available ($18/month for a single user; $30 per user for 6 months). Educational pricing is available for schools and universities ($6 per user for 6 months). All of the upgrades have a free trial period.
- FreeMind (http://tinyurl.com/5qrd5): This is a free mind-mapping tool for Grades 2–12. FreeMind is written in Java and will run on almost any system with a Java runtime environment. Options for a basic or maximum install are available.
- Evernote (www.evernote.com): This is a free app that allows you to import a worksheet, document, or picture (including a snapshot of a webpage) and then annotate it using tools that you would use with interactive whiteboard software. It lets you highlight words, cut and paste, and add sticky notes. It also allows you to use voice recognition. You can then send your annotated sheet to someone else.
Pages (www.apple.com/mac/pages), or Google Docs (www.google.com/docs/about). Some teachers also make digital templates to help students find specific information and to help students organize their notes, with spaces to summarize or paraphrase.
WEBSITES FOR BIBLIOGRAPHIC SOURCES
Sixth graders will also need to provide basic bibliographic information for sources. Making your own template and having the students fill it in using a word processing program works; however, there are websites that are designed to do this.
- EasyBib (www.easybib.com): This is a free website and app for ages 5–12 that students can use to generate citations in MLA, APA, and Chicago formats. Just copy and paste or scan a book’s barcode.
- Citation Machine (www.citationmachine.net): This is another free website you can use to generate citations in MLA, APA, Turabian, and Chicago formats easily. Just copy and paste, and the website does the rest.
- StyleWizard (www.stylewizard.com): This free website generates citations in MLA or APA formats easily. It also has a validity checker and offers career guidance.
SL.6.2 SPEAKING AND LISTENING
Interpret information presented in diverse media and formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, and orally) and explain how it contributes to a topic, text, or issue under study.
W.6.5 SPEAKING AND LISTENING
Include multimedia components (e.g., graphics, images, music, sound) and visual displays in presentations to clarify information.
MICROSOFT POWERPOINT HAS BEEN THE presentation program of choice; however, there is now a free individual version called Microsoft Online (www.office.com) that includes PowerPoint. Although this is still a great program to use, similar presentation programs have emerged. Apple offers Keynote (www. apple.com/mac/keynote) free, but the iPad/iPod version does cost. Its features are very similar to PowerPoint. Another program that has emerged is Google Slides (www.google.com/slides/about/). There are other resources that help with presentations, such as Microsoft Draw (www.office.com) and Google Drawings (www. google.com/drive). Office is aimed toward business presentations; however, Google Drive products such as Slides and Drawings are free and web based. Google slides is also very easy to share, and multiple users can work on a document at once, even from home—which makes this an especially useful program for interacting and collaborating with others. Students can also add audio recordings to their slides, as well as visual displays such as pictures and short video clips. You could also have your students use the following digital tools to develop speaking and listening skills.
SOFTWARE, WEBSITES, AND APPS TO CREATE MOVIES AND SLIDESHOWS
- iMovie (www.apple.com/ios/imovie/): This app ($4.99), which also comes as a program, has many uses in the classroom. Students can use it to create full edited videos or short 1-minute trailers. The trailers can be very useful for recounting and presenting ideas to others.
- Animoto (www.animoto.com): This website allows you to turn your photos and music into stunning video slideshows. Educational use is free for unlimited videos of 20 minutes.
- MovieMaker (www.moviemaker.com): The program is Microsoft’s version of a movie-editing program. It comes standard with any Windows computer.
- Prezi (www.prezi.com): You can sign up for a free educational account, and your students can create and share presentations online. Prezi has mind-mapping, zoom, and motion, and it can import files. Presentations can be downloaded. A Prezi viewer app is available.
- Wideo (www.wideo.co [.co not .com]): Wideo allows you to easily make animation videos. Education pricing is $0.75/month.
- Explain Everything (www.explaineverything.com): This $2.99 app uses text, video, pictures, and voice to present whatever your students are asked to create. They can illustrate a story or poem or recount information they hear.
- Stupeflix (https://studio.stupeflix.com/en/): Make free movies using your photos and videos for up to 20 minutes. It’s easy, and a lot of fun!
- SchoolTube (www.schooltube.com): This is the best free source for educators for a video-sharing community where students can watch or post videos.
- YouTube (www.youtube.com): There are many short, free videos that your students can listen to, including folktales, science, and people reading popular books that are in your classroom. Your students can listen and then ask and answer questions. There is also a free app.
L.6.4c LANGUAGE
Consult reference materials (e.g., dictionaries, glossaries, thesauruses), both print and digital, to find the pronunciation of a word or determine or clarify its precise meaning or its part of speech.
ALTHOUGH DIGITAL DICTIONARIES and thesauruses are not updated as often as digital encyclopedias, they are still very convenient to use and are kept current. These sites should be bookmarked or put on your website for easy access. The more students use them, the more comfortable they will become. You should do lessons and activities to learn and practice the necessary skills with an online dictionary.
DIGITAL DICTIONARY AND THESAURUS WEBSITES
- Merriam-Webster (www.merriam-webster.com): This is a free digital dictionary for all ages. It is the most commonly used digital dictionary, and it includes a thesaurus.
- WordSmyth (www.wordsmyth.net): This site shows three levels of a student dictionary. When looking up a word, you also see links to a thesaurus and rhyming dictionary for that word. You can sign up for an ad-free version that will not cost your school.
- Word Central Kids (www.wordcentral.com): This student online dictionary includes an audio pronunciation of the word as well as the definition. There are many teacher resources.
- Thesaurus.com (www.thesaurus.com): This is a fine thesaurus site with many extra features. It does have some ads, but it is available online and as an app.
- Wordle (www.wordle.net): This is a free site for generating “word clouds” from text that you provide. The clouds give greater prominence to words that appear more frequently in the source text. You can tweak your clouds with different fonts, layouts, and color schemes.
- Tagxedo (www.tagxedo.com): This is a free site that turns the words of famous speeches, news articles, slogans and themes into visually stunning word clouds.
Math Resources
MP5
MATH
Use appropriate
tools
strategically.
THERE ARE TWO MAIN SETS OF STANDARDS, processes and practices,
for the Common Core Math standards. First, you have the math targets, written similarly to ELA (Ratios & Proportional Relationships, The Number System, Expressions & Equations, Geometry, and Statistics & Probability). While you work with sixth grade students on mathematical processes, such as Expressions & Equations or Geometry, you need to teach your students how to apply the Standards for Mathematical Practices (which include problem solving and precision) to those processes. One practice, the only one that includes technology, is mathematical practice 5, “Use appropriate tools strategically.”
Following is the explanation CCSS provides for MP5. As this is the standard explanation for Grades K–12, it does include references to higher grades.
Mathematically proficient students consider the available tools when solving a mathematical problem. These tools might include pencil and paper, concrete models, a ruler, a protractor, a calculator, a spreadsheet, a computer algebra system, a statistical package, or dynamic geometry software. Proficient students are sufficiently familiar with tools appropriate for their grade or course to make sound decisions about when each of these tools might be helpful, recognizing both the insight to be gained and their limitations. For example, mathematically proficient high school students analyze graphs of functions and solutions generated using a graphing calculator. They detect possible errors by strategically using estimation and other mathematical knowledge. When making mathematical models, they know that technology can enable them to visualize the results of varying assumptions, explore consequences, and compare predictions with data. Mathematically proficient students at various grade levels are able to identify relevant external mathematical resources, such as digital content located on a website, and use them to pose or solve problems. They are able to use technological tools to explore and deepen their understanding of concepts.
Because this description did not give examples for all grades, we have provided lists of appropriate apps, websites, software, and lessons that will help translate this standard for sixth grade.
Currently, this is the only sixth grade math standard that involves technology. Since using any kind of technology to have students practice math can grab their attention, help long-term learning, and make math fun, technology is a math tool students should use as much as possible. There are many math programs, websites, and apps out there, which allow students to explore and deepen their understanding of math concepts. The best of them have students learning in creative ways and are not just electronic worksheets. They automatically adapt to the students’ skill level, and they give you the data you need to know where students are in their learning and what they need to effectively continue. Following are many good math resources. Some are free. Some are not. Unfortunately, the free resources, many with ads, are usually less interesting to your students and are not as well organized. They don’t give you the feedback you need. It is up to you to decide what is best for your circumstances and budget.
Following are some websites you can use to help students meet the sixth grade math standards.
MATH WEBSITES
< >ScootPad (www.scootpad.com): This is a web-based math site that is customizable for individual students. It adapts to the student and keeps the teacher in the loop with multiple reports. It is completely aligned to the CCSS. The price for a class varies from $5 to $20/month.DreamBox Learning Math (www.dreambox.com): Individualized, adaptive game-based math that keeps kids coming back for more. Available online or through an app. Price is $12.95/month (home) or $25/month (school), less if packaged.Study Island (www.studyisland.com): This is a web-based program where students work on engaging, interactive lessons and activities at their own pace to learn aligned Common Core math standards. Teachers can also choose to guide students and assign specific areas to work through. This program mustIXL (www.ixl.com/math): This site features adaptive individualized math through gameplay. It gives students immediate feedback and covers many skills, despite its emphasis on drills. Levels range from pre-kindergarten to eighth grade. There is a limited free version. Class price is $199/year.XtraMath (XtraMath.org): This is a great site for practicing math facts. It keeps track of student progress, it’s easy to pick what you want your students to work on, and it’s easy for kids to use independently. It is free; however, you can purchase an extended version.Coolmath-Games (www.coolmath-games.com), SoftSchools (www.softschools. com), Sheppard Software (http://tinyurl.com/ccrxoa), AAA Math (www.aaamath.com), and PBS Kids Cyberchase (http://pbskids.org/cyberchase/) are several sites that have free math games that cover all math topics at each grade level. However, they have ads, are not able to track students’ success rates, and are not generally self-adaptive to students’ skill levels.Khan Academy (www.khanacademy.org): This free website has every math application you can think of and has short video tutorials on how to solve them! The site includes feedback and many resources.AdaptedMind (http://tinyurl.com/997geeg): This site provides good practice for all sorts of sixth grade mathematical problems.WebQuests (www.webquest.org): These are great tools to use for presentations. WebQuest is a website that allows students to follow an already-created, project-based lesson where information is found solely on the internet. You can also create your own WebQuest if you have a website-building program or a website like Kafafa (www.kafafa.com/kafafa). WebQuest.org is the original and most popular site, but if you search the internet, you will find more sites that you can use.Math Blaster HyperBlast (http://tinyurl.com/q3ff7vg): The classic game many teachers used when they were students, now updated. The price is $0.99 to 1.99.Geoboard (http://tinyurl.com/kzyxjv7): This app is the digital recreation of a geoboard. The app is simple to use, and the geometry activities are open-ended and endless. The app is free.Swipea Tangram Puzzles for Kids (http://tinyurl.com/nsnoazj): This is a digitalExplain Everything (www.explaineverything.com): This $2.99 app uses text, video, pictures, and voice to present whatever your students are asked to create.Readable textClear recordingsInteresting, clear imagesTiming of imagesConcise languageMusic that reflects the mood of the bookNarration that is louder than the background musicEnough details to be interesting but not enough to give away the endingEnds with a question or scene that makes the audience want to read the bookIntroduce the book: Include the title, the author’s name and the genre.Tell about the book: Introduce the main characters and action. Don’t try to tell every detail.Tell about your favorite part of the book or make a connection: Persuade the audience to read the book and leave the audience wanting to know more. For example, explain what the main character has to overcome, but don’t tell if he/ she is successful.Give a recommendation: Provide closure for the book trailer. This also helps match the perfect reader with the book.Short and sweet is best.Name of the countryMap of the countryFlag of the countryOne or more major landformsOne or more famous landmarksType of governmentType of economic systemOne or more major exportOfficial language(s) of countryReligions of countryMajor holidays celebratedSpecial foods from the countryFamous person from that countryCommunicable diseases:influenzameasleshepatitismononucleosismeningitisEbolatuberculosisNoncommunicable diseases:diabetesheart diseasecancersickle cell anemiahypertensionosteoporosisAlzheimer’sWhat causes this disease?What are the symptoms for this disease? (How do people know if they have the disease?)How is the disease spread among humans (if it is)?How can the disease be prevented? If it can’t be prevented, explain why not.After a person has the disease, what is the treatment? If there is no treatment available, explain the current research and what is being done to find a treatment or cure.List three important facts about the disease not already mentioned.Cite your sources.together to publish their presentation, where they used multiple digital sources. Students also need to cite their sources in their presentation, which satisfies W.6.8.
A Final Note
As students progress through the grades, they are establishing their baseline of proficiency in technology. This will definitely enhance students’ experiences with technology in high school, as well as satisfy the CCSS performance standards at the 6–8 level. We hope that you found the resources and lesson ideas presented in this chapter useful and that they are easy to adapt to your class.
You will find more resources online at our website (http://tinyurl.com/oexfhcv), which may be helpful to you as you look to differentiate your instruction. Visit our site for updated information about this book. To learn more about meeting technology standards found within the CCSS for other grades, look for our three additional titles in this collection.
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