Exploring


Tools for Exploring

 

On this page, users can find different resources that allow students to explore the world from inside their classroom. These resources provide teachers with alternative ways to incorporate learning through a multiliteracies perspective. Supporting students' learning via web-exploration is sure to engage students, immersing them into a deeper understanding of the topic at hand.  

 

 

Google Earth“showing” not telling about places, and for sharing close up photos, and images of hard-to-reach corners of the world.


Google Maps: An interactive map allows users to search for any place around the world. They also have a feature to receive directions to their set destination. There is a map, satellite, and for some places a street view. This is a great tool to help students familiarize them self with distance, whether it is directions from around town to across the country. It helps students get a realization of time versus distance. It also gives students a chance to see what other countries look like and what their popular buildings/stores are.


Kidoz: A platform that ensures safe browsing experiences for children by blocking automatically inappropriate content. This is a great tool for teachers to introduce students to the appropriate use of technology and to teach the necessary skills for beginning research and exploration.


EarthCam: A live feed of various places around the world. Not only does EarthCam live stream popular cities around the country, but also areas prone to have severe weather and national zoos. This site is a wonderful tool to allow students to see other places around the world in real time. There are cameras specific to areas known to experience severe weather that may be utilized by teachers to help teach a science unit on weather. There is a caution to using this site because it is a live feed and there is no way to determine what may appear on camera.


Storia: A program designed specifically for kids which introduces children to e-reading, or interactive, online reading. It asks comprehension questions, contains activities, and has a pop-up dictionary. It comes with five free books, but you would have to pay for extras.


Quest Garden: A search engine specific to finding WebQuests for teachers to complement in the classroom. A link is also provided to allow teachers to create their own WebQuest. WebQuests are a fun and engaging way for students to explore a designated topic online. This particular site allows teachers to search for ore-made and published WebQuests for specific grade levels or curriculum content area.


Discovery Education: This site provides high quality content that allows students to explore a multitude of topics. Discovery Education allows teachers to create lessons that are geared to curriculum, but gives students the freedom to explore on their own. The site allows you and your students to take part in interactive digital textbooks, engaging standards-aligned content, comprehensive professional development, assessment services, virtual experiences, and learning communities.