Exercise, Creativity, and Interactive Play
Exercise boosts brainpower! In the article Six Tips for Brainbased Learning, getting bodies and brains in gear is listed as tip number 4. According to John Medina, " cardio activitiy increases oxygen-rich blood flow to the brain and increases students' ability to concentrate."
Dillon and Russ (2012) in their article "Changes in Children's Play Over Two Decades" in Creativity Research Journal note that children's use of imagination, comfort, and engagement in play has increased significantly over the past two decades. In addition, their capacity to express positive emotions through storytelling and organized thoughts has remained consistent. Students aren't "losing out" in today's society. The addition of technology has simply added another cognitive dimension. To learn more, check out the Think: Reseach Video.
Interactives
Make interactives come alive with connected, off-computer activities. Combine a hands-on activity with data collection tools.
Looking for more ideas that connect on- and -off computer activities? Try Thinkfinity activities, Illuminations activities and Science NetLinks activities.
- Search for an activity and think about ways to combine the on-computer elements with an active off-computer element.
Go to Make Your Verdict. This website explores famous outlaws from around the world. Use the interactive to learn about the court cases. Then, hold a live mock trial.
Go to NASA City. After using the interactive create your own project in the classroom.
Preparing for the Oath is a great interactive that helps people prepare for the U.S. Naturalization Test. Shouldn't everyone have this experience?
The Diary of a Civil War Nurse lets you explore places then and now.
General
- Learner.org Interactives
- BGFL
- Animal Homes
- Art
- Changing Matter
- Hams Hall Pond (basic) (advanced)
- Life Cycle of Plants
- Telling Time
- Timetables
- Cookie
- Curriculum Bits
- Funbrain
- Scholastic
- Smithsonian Games
- USA.Gov Kids
- WebRangers
- Windows into Wonderland
The Arts
Check out the Hand Symphony.
- General: PBS Learning Media
- Dance: PBS Great Performances: Free To Dance
- Music: PBS Interactives, Pandora, PBS: Strange Fruit/Protest Music, Pitch Perfect,
- Theater: Cinema
- Visual Arts: Art Interactives, George Washington Portrait, PBS Interactives, Masterpiece Me, Monet2010, MOMA's Bauhaus, Johnny Cash Project, Picasso, Popart, NGA Tools, Illustration Friday, Art Education 2.0
- Acrostic Poem, Alphabet Organizer, BioCube, CD/DVD Creator, Comic Creator, Comparison Map, Compare/Contrast, Crossword Puzzles, Diamante Poem, Doodle Splash, Drama Map, Essay Map, FlipBook, Graphic Map, Letter Generator, Persuasion Map, Profile Publisher, Timeline, 2 Circle Venn, 3 Circle Venn, Word Matrix
Science
Go to Smithsonian Ocean. Notice the features.
Interactives
- General: PBS Science Interactives, PBS LearningMedia, Nobelprize Physics/Chemistry Games, Scientific American Interactives, Edheads, National Geographic Interactives, Scholastic Interactives, Science Links, Science View
- Elementary: Arkive, Edheads, Engaging Science, KidsHealth Interactives,
- Earth and Space: Dynamic Earth, Climate Time Machine, Drinking Water, Sea Level Viewer, Geology Toolbit, Global Ice Viewer, Rock Cycle, We Choose the Moon, Volcanoes, Weather, Astronomy Interactives, Carbon Cycle Game, Dynamic Earth
- Life Science: eskeletons, American Museum of Natural History's Science Bulletins (Google Earth), Bang Biology Challenge, Digestive System, DNA, Ecology Lab, Garbage, Infectious Diseases, Kitchen Chaos, Putting DNA to Work, Unzip Your Genes, Virtual Ecosphere, Design a Panda Habitat, Diabetic Dog, EnviroMysteries, Learn Genetics, Virus or bacteria game
- Physical Science: Amusement Park Physics, Auditory Illusion, Periodic Table, Spark It, Bay Trippers, Crayon Physics, FreezeRay, Litmus Reactions
Tools
- Eco-Calculator widget
- Scales: Drought Severity, Beaufort Scale, Modified Mercalli Earthquake Intensity Scale, Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Intensity Scale, Fujita Scale
Math
- PBS LearningMedia
- PBS Math Interactives
- Math in Daily Life
- Statistics
- Learning objects from WISC-Online
- Illuminations Activities
- Interactivate
- Math in Daily Life
- MathsKit
- Math Snacks from New Mexico State
- National Library of Virtual Manipulatives
- NumberNut
- Wolfram Demonstrations Project
- Brainnook
- Feed the Pig for Tweens
- Geometry 3D Shapes
- Let Roly Go
- Lure of the Labyrinth
- Manga High Games
- Math by Design
- Math Tall Tales and Short Stories
- Mathwarehouse
- Metric Conversions
- Mr. Nussbaum
- Proportionland
- Rock N Roll Tour
- Scale City
- Seeing Math
- Middle School Mathematics and High School Mathematics
- Sense & Dollars
- Villainy
- Walker
Technology
- PBS Science Interactives (Check under topics for specific areas)
- Bang Robot Challenge, Big Transport Challenge, Computers are Everywhere, Electronic Dreams, NASA City,
- How Stuff Works
- HowToons
Tools
English
- General: PBS LearningMedia
- Literature: Dante's World,
- Reading and Viewing: What Makes a Good Short Story?
- Writing and Speaking: Writing with Writers
- Games: Lord of the Flies, Shakespeare Subject to Change
- Transmedia: Inanimate Alice
Look for games and interactives to connect with books and reading.
- HarperCollins Books and Games
- Hatchette Kids
- Penguin Games
- Random House Kids
- Scholastic Games
- Turtlepond Books
Tools
- ReadWriteThink Interactives
- Acrostic Poem, Alphabet Organizer, BioCube, CD/DVD Creator, Character Trading Cards, Circle Plot Diagram, Comic Creator, Comparison Map, Compare/Contrast, Crossword Puzzles, Diamante Poem, Doodle Splash, Drama Map, Essay Map, FlipBook, Fractured Fairy Tales, Graphic Map, Hero's Journey, Letter Generator, Letter Poem, Literary Elements Map, Mystery Cube, Persuasion Map, Plot Diagram, Profile Publisher, StoryMap, Timeline, 2 Circle Venn, 3 Circle Venn, Word Matrix,
Social Studies
- General: PBS LearningMedia, Conflict Map Game, Nuclear Weapons Game, Red Cross Game
- Civics and Government: PBS Interactives, Democracies in the World, Architect's Virtual Capitol, Top Secret America, To Lie or Not Lie
- Culture, Sociology & Psychology: PBS Interactives, Autism Quiz, Mind Lab, This Emotional Life, The Responsibility Project, Brainstretcher, Photofit Me, Photographic Memory Test,
- Economics: PBS Interactives, Trade Theory Game, Economics
- Geography: PBS Interactives, National Geographic, BBC: Dimensions
- U.S. History: Colonial people, PBS Interactives (check topics for more), John Smith Historical Map Interactive, Freedom Riders, History Games, Historical and Cultural Contexts
- World History: PBS Nova, PBS Interactives (check topics for more), 19th Century France, Out My Window, Tiziano Project, Collapse, Great Thinkers, Industrial Revolution in Britain, Middle Ages, Renaissance
Tools
- DocsTeach from National Archives
- Historypin
- Life Timeline
- National Archives: Create a Movie
- Propaganda Filmaker
PE and Health
Check out the Hand Symphony.
Interactives
- Medline Health Games
- Interactive Health Tutorials
- Nobel Prize: Medicine Games
- PBS LearningMedia
- PBS Health and Fitness Interactives
- Games: About High Blood Pressure, BetheBeat, BMI Teen Calculator, HandsOnlyCPR, Longevity Game, The Brain & Addiction, Making the Change, Sara's Quest, Water, Bone Up on Milk, Calcium Quiz, Heart360, Personal Health Tools, MyLifeCheck, Teen Beat: Are You Active Enough?
- Physical Education: Fitness Partner
Tools
- Health Check Tools
- InteliHealth Tools
- Your Disease Risk
- WebMD Tools and Quizzes
- Stopwatch tool and determine targe heart rate, find percent of a number, and round g numbers.
- Use fitness tools such as BMI for Teens (CDC) - Option 1, Calories Burned Running - Option 1, Running Calculator - Option 1,
Business
Interactives
- Access, Analyze, Act
- NerdWallet
- Your Life Your Money
- Test Your Money Smarts
- Virtual Stock Exchange Games
Tools
Financial Calculators and Conversions
- Currency Conversion - Option 1, Option 2
- Inflation Conversion - Best Option (formulas)
- Income Calculator - Option 1,
- Interest Calculator - Easy Option
- Money Counter - Option 1,
- Monthly Payments Calculator - Option 1
- Payroll - Best Option (formulas)
- Phone Bill Calculator - Option 1,
- Savings Estimator - Option 1
- Sales Tax Calculator - Option 1
- Tip Calculator - Option 1
Career Exploration
- Content: Occupational Outlook Handbook
- General Resources; CareerOneStop,
- Services: CareerBuilder, Monster
College Exploration
World Languages
Interactives
- General Games: OnlineLanguages, BabLa
- Language Songs: Languages Online
- Language Training: Vocabulary
- Chinese Language: BBC, Chinese Module, Zon
- English Language: English Module, Freerice
- French Language: BBC, Tex's French Grammar, French Module
- German Language: BBC, German Module
- Italian: BBC, Italian Module
- Japanese: BBC
- Spanish Language: BBC, Asisehace, Don Quijote, Mundo Ninos, Cuentos y Leyendas, Nueva Biblioteca, Spanish Language, ToxTown
Tools
- Comics: Language Cartoon Maker
- Translation: Lingro,
Library
Website Ads and Evaluation
- Ad Decoder
- Admongo
- CoCo's AdverSmarts
- Don't Buy It: Get Media Smart
- Hints about Print
- Teacher Tap: Evaluation
- You Are Here
Interactives
- Historical and Cultural Contexts
- Museum of the Dead (fact/fiction)
Family, Consumer Science, Health
Child Development: Childhood Milestones
Family Living: PBS Interactives: Families, Interactive Health Tutorials, Teen Girl Health,, Making Sense of Baby
Nutrition and Foods: AllRecipes,
Home Care and Design: RepairClinic,
Tools
- Clothing: Finding a Bra that Fits
- Children Development: Baby's Growth Timeline, Childhood Immunization, Children Development Timeline, Childproofing Your Home, Taking Care of an Infant, Pregnancy ID Card,
- Health: About High Blood Pressure, BetheBeat, BMI Teen Calculator, HandsOnlyCPR, Longevity Game, The Brain & Addiction, Making the Change, Sara's Quest, Water, Heart360, Personal Health Tools, MyLifeCheck, Teen Beat: Are Your Active Enough?
- Family Living: Depression Self-Assessment, Fuel Consumption - Option 1, Option 2, Option 3
- Nutrition: Virtual Herb Garden, Meal Planning Tools, Bone Up on Milk, Calcium Quiz, Nutritional Values.
Try It!
Select an interactive. Design an assignment that combines an online interactive with a physical activity. Spend some time designing a classroom assignment with physical, virtual, and relevant elements into a content-connected activity that involves critical and creative thinking.