Web-Based Activities

1. Web-Based Activities For: Grades K – 2 and Grades 3 - 4

2. Puzzled States URL: http://www.scholastic.com/play/prestates.htm Description: Students will see a blank map of the United States. To the left there are cut out shapes like puzzle pieces of individual states. Students will need to locate the states based on its shape and place it in the proper place. Once they have placed the puzzle piece the name of the state and its state slogan will be displayed. Benefits: Students will become more familiar with the location of the states as well as the spelling of the state names and the slogans associated with each state. Curriculum Standard: 3.01 Understand how to use maps, globes, and other geographic representations, tools, and technologies to acquire, process and report information from a spatial perspective. Challenges: This activity will most likely be a stretch for the majority of second graders. However, this will enable them to become more familiar with the geography in the United States in preparation for future lessons. Additionally, it will enable them to utilize computer skills and develop spatial awareness. Guidance: Teacher should provide a map of the United States in the classroom as a reference for students. Push pins can also be provided for students to identify states on a larger map once they have become familiar with them within the context of the online activity. Geography Grades K – 2

3. Keyboard URL:http://www.literacycenter.net/letters_en/typing_en_uc.asp Description: Over three different screens children are presented with the alphabet presented in the first screen in upper case letters, in lower case letters in the second screen, and then the numbers zero through nine in the third screen. Students need to locate the numbers and letters on the keyboard. Once they locate the characters they need to press them and they will hear the name of the letter or number. Benefits: This activity helps students become familiar with the placement of letters and numbers on the keyboard which will enable them to become more proficient at using a keyboard as well as reinforcing the alphabet. Can also be very beneficial to students who are in the category of English as a second language in reinforcing the English language alphabet. Curriculum Standard: Develop and use decoding strategies. Recognize and name all upper and lowercase letters of the alphabet. Challenges: The main challenge will be getting familiar with the keyboard and limiting frustration levels. Ultimately, that will help make this exercise successful as children work through the steps and become more familiar with the keyboard. Guidance: Teachers can provide a printout of a standard keyboard for children to practice on prior to using the online activity to become more familiar with the layout. Language Arts Grades K – 2

4. Look Out Below URL:http://pbskids.org/lions/games/lookout2.html Description: Students will be given a “big word” and will be given choices of smaller words that can be created from the larger word. Students will choose the word that they determine is correct by clicking on it. Benefits: Helps children develop vocabulary skills as well as develop ability to recognize word structure. Curriculum Standard: 1.05 Develop and use decoding strategies. Use knowledge of letter-sound correspondence and structural analysis to decode words. Use decoding strategies, such as sounding out words, comparing similar words, breaking words into smaller words, and looking for word parts (e.g., compound words, word families, blends, and digraphs). Use known words to decode unknown words. Apply knowledge of basic syllabication rules. Challenges: Students may not be familiar with the “big word.” Guidance: Teacher should provide a dictionary for students to reference when they are unsure of the base word provided. They can keep track of unfamiliar words and add them to future vocabulary lists. Language Arts Grades K – 2

5. Counting On A Cloud URL: http://funschool.kaboose.com/formula-fusion/games/game_counting_on_a_cloud.html Description: Students are provided with objects on the left and numbers on the right side of a cloud. Depending on the skill level chosen the player chooses an object and then either picks a number to see it represented (level 1) or picks an object and has to count and choose the number of pictures represented (level 2). Benefits: Helps beginners reinforce counting and number representation through objects. Curriculum Standard: K.1.3 Solve problems, compute fluently, and make reasonable estimates. Use words, actions, pictures, or manipulatives to solve problems; use pictures or objects, such as a ten frame, to show one more or one less than any number to 20; explain the reasonableness of a solution Challenges: Students need to have appropriate computer skills to manage the online activity. Additionally, based on skill level they will be challenge to translate numbers into objects. Guidance: Teachers should be available to provide guidance and instruction to young learners. Having classroom charts representing numbers in numerical form as well as represented in picture form could reinforce concepts associated with this activity. Math Grades K – 2

6. Bunny Count URL:http://www.funbrain.com/count/index.html Description: Students are given the option of choosing to match pictures or numbers to build the skill of recognizing the same number of objects that look different from each other. There are different skill levels ranging from easy, medium, and hard based on ability level. Benefits: Helps students build the ability to recognize common characteristics in objects that are different in appearance. Curriculum Standard: 1.1 Understand numbers, ways of representing numbers, relationships among numbers, and number systems. Challenges: Students should have the ability to manipulate the mouse of the computer to navigate game. Additionally, the appropriate skill level should be chosen based on ability. Guidance: Teachers should provide a variety of examples of ways to show relationships groupings of different objects that are equal in number. Math Grades K – 2

7. Assemble the Square URL:http://www.apples4theteacher.com/square.html Description: Assemble the square is an interactive math game in which students have to figure out how to build a square from a variety of geometric shapes that they are provided. Benefits: This activity helps students develop spatial awareness and reasoning skills. Curriculum Standard: 3.1 Analyze characteristics and properties of geometric shapes.3.2 Specify locations and describe spatial relationships.3.3 Recognize and apply flips, slides, and turns. Challenges: Students need to be able to manipulate the mouse in order to click and drag the shapes into place. Additionally, they need to be able to use visualization skills in order to envision the way the shapes will complete the square. Students have to be able to be persistent in trying multiple solutions until they are successful. Guidance: This activity should be used in conjunction with lessons focused on introducing geometric shapes to students. Since the activity is limited to creating a single shape, this activity would be best suited when the lessons focus on squares. Once the students have mastered the skills in building the square they should move onto something new. Math Grades 3 - 4

8. Find The State URL:http://www.playkidsgames.com/games/statesFind/default.htm Description: Students have a map of the United States. They are asked to locate a state. When they locate the state correctly the game moves on to the next question. Benefits: Helps students develop a sound knowledge of the location of all the states in the U.S. Curriculum Standard: 5.3.03 Demonstrate how to identify and locate major physical and political features on globes and maps. Recognize population characteristics of Tennessee and the United States. Identify and locate the geographical regions of the United States. Challenges: Students need to be persistent and keep trying until they have located the states. Additionally, they should keep track of what states they have trouble with in order to be successful in future attempts. Guidance: Teacher can incorporate the use of a map quiz before and after students utilize this activity to mark improvement. A map of the United States should be available for students to review. Geography Grades 3 - 4

9. Hangman Puzzle (Know Your Countries) URL:http://www.apples4theteacher.com/countries-hangman.html Description: Through the use of hangman format students choose letters to fill in the blanks of the names of countries around the globe. Benefits: Helps students become familiar with the names of countries in different parts of the world. Curriculum Standard: 3.01 Understand how to use maps, globes, and other geographic representations, tools, and technologies to acquire, process and report information from a spatial perspective. 3.02 Recognize the interaction between human and physical systems around the world. 3.03 Demonstrate how to identify and locate major physical and political features on globes and maps. Challenges: Students will be presented with countries that are unfamiliar to them. They will need to be creative in guessing letters to countries that have foreign sounding names. The may be unsuccessful a number of times in trying to guess names that are obscure and have not been presented to them in class. Guidance: Teachers should provide a map or globe of the world in order for students to locate countries that are unfamiliar to them. Students can use pushpins to identify countries as they encounter them in the game on a companion map. Geography Grades 3 - 4

10. Spellaroo URL:http://www.funbrain.com/cgi-bin/gg.cgi?A1=m&A2=0&A3=0&AFUNCT=0&ALEVEL=0&INSTRUCTS=1 Description: In each game students are presented with two to three highlighted words within a short sentence. Students need to determine which words are spelled incorrectly and click on that word. They are given ten sentences in each round. Benefits: Helps students identify misspelled words used within different contexts. Sometimes they will encounter a word that is spelled correctly but used in the incorrect context, e.g., maid or made. Curriculum Standard: 3.01 Demonstrate knowledge of standard English usage. 3.02 Demonstrate knowledge of standard English mechanics. 3.03 Demonstrate knowledge of standard English spelling. 3.04 Demonstrate knowledge of correct sentence structure.  Challenges: Students may encounter words that are unfamiliar. They need to employ adequate computer skillsto manage the activity properly. Guidance: Teachers should guide students to keep track of unfamiliar words. Students should make note of words that they chose incorrectly. Unfamiliar words should be added to spelling lists and looked up in the dictionary. Language Arts Grades 3 - 4

11. On-Line Astronomy Puzzles URL:http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/astronomy/activities/radiobuttonquiz/ Description: Students have fifteen different puzzles associated with various topics in astronomy to choose from. Once they have made a selection of interest they need to answer a series of questions regarding the specific topic. When they have answered the questions correctly a puzzle is assembled depicting the specific topic that they have chosen to explore. Benefits: Students learn information regarding the solar system with the addition of a visual image. Curriculum Standard: 5.7.spi.2 distinguish among the planets according to specific characteristics. 5.7.spi.3 identify the force that pulls object toward the Earth. 5.7.spi.4 differentiate between the Earth’s rotation and its revolution. Challenges: Students will be faced with questions regarding material that is new to them. They will need to look carefully at the puzzles to determine if they are building the pictures carefully. Guidance: Teachers should provide diagrams of the universe located near the work station for students to refer to. They should encourage students to keep track of questions that they have encountered that were unfamiliar. Additionally, they should encourage students to make note of topics that they would like to explore in more detail. Science Grades 3 - 4