8th Grade

8

Ecosystem Explorer

— PBS LearningMedia

3-8 0 favorites 0 promising practices http://pbs.lm-prod.media.ingest.s3.amazonaws.com/Earth%20A%20New%20Wild/Final%20Interactive/tilt_passion_pbs_microsite_20141106-3/microsite/index.html Last updated: Fri, 08/27/2021 - 11:50 share

How It Works

Use this collection of videos, activities, and infographics to delve deep into the ecosystems of vultures, wolves, and sharks. Use the videos to introduce the ecosystems and discover the complicated relationship between animals and humans. Play through the interactives to discover more about the ecology and conservation of the worlds of these magnificent animals. The PBS series "EARTH A New Wild" inspired this resource. Click to Launch the interactive and choose one of the three worlds. Control the sound with the controls along the top. In each screen, view any of the materials including the interactives by clicking on the colored dots.

In the Classroom

Use this as an introductory activity into ecology. Students can work together on the same animals or have a group work together at exploring all three. Identify some similarities or differences between the needs and environments of all three animals. Use an online tool such as Interactive Three-Circle Venn Diagram, <a href="/single.cfm?id=15690">reviewed here</a>, to help with the comparison. Identify some common issues with conservation, interaction with humans, and other issues facing these animals today. Extend the discussion with a student project, researching other organisms found within any of these three environments.

Technology Heads-up!
  • Find interactive ABC's, colors, etc.
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  • Donec rutrum congue leo eget malesuada. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a. Curabitur aliquet quam id dui posuere blandit. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a.
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Tag(s): habitats, ecosystems, ecology, animal homes, animals,

TextProject YouTube Channel

— TextProject, Inc

-8 0 favorites 0 promising practices https://www.youtube.com/user/TextProject/featured Last updated: Fri, 08/27/2021 - 11:50 share

How It Works

TextProject’s YouTube Channel has many videos to provide support in reading instruction for beginning and struggling readers. Choose from playlists with subjects including Texts That Teach, Literacy Leaders Answer CCSS Questions, Vocabulary Matters, Teaching English Learners Vocabulary, and much more. Click Playlist on the menu to see them all. Be sure to subscribe to this YouTube Channel to receive notification of new additions. If your district blocks YouTube, then they may not be viewable.

In the Classroom

Share individual videos with parents to help them understand different reading strategies. Embed a video of the week on your class website or blog for parents. Share with colleagues as part of your ongoing professional development.

Technology Heads-up!
  • Find interactive ABC's, colors, etc.
  • Donec rutrum congue leo eget malesuada. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a. Curabitur aliquet quam id dui posuere blandit. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a.
  • Donec rutrum congue leo eget malesuada. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a. Curabitur aliquet quam id dui posuere blandit. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a.
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Tag(s): commoncore, professional development, video, literacy, reading comprehension, reading strategies,

TextProject

— TextProject, Inc

-8 0 favorites 0 promising practices http://www.textproject.org Last updated: Fri, 08/27/2021 - 11:50 share

How It Works

TextProject offers strategies, tools, and texts to bring beginning readers and struggling readers to high literacy levels. Download materials for teaching reading, such as vocabulary lessons, word pictures, literacy lists, and reading passages. Browse the TextProject Library to find book collections, professional articles, and videos available on their YouTube Channel. Be sure to find time to explore the Classroom Materials part of the site with many printables and Teacher’s Guides for use with all reading levels. If your district blocks YouTube, then the videos may not be viewable.

In the Classroom

If you teach reading or are an ENL/ESL or resource teacher for students with special needs, you will want to bookmark this site! Take advantage of all of the free downloads on the site, including forms, checklists, lessons, and reading passages. Share this site with parents to help them understand the process of learning to read and finding materials for their student. Share this site during professional development sessions when discussing reading instruction and alignment to Common Core Standards. Be sure to sign up for TextProject’s monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all new additions to the site.

Technology Heads-up!
  • Find interactive ABC's, colors, etc.
  • Donec rutrum congue leo eget malesuada. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a. Curabitur aliquet quam id dui posuere blandit. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a.
  • Donec rutrum congue leo eget malesuada. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a. Curabitur aliquet quam id dui posuere blandit. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a.
  • Donec rutrum congue leo eget malesuada. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a. Curabitur aliquet quam id dui posuere blandit. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a.
Tag(s): commoncore, vocabulary development, vocabulary, reading strategies, reading lists, reading comprehension, independent reading, literacy,

Our Giant Pandas

— Adelaide Zoo

2-8 0 favorites 0 promising practices https://www.adelaidezoo.com.au/animals/giant-panda/ Last updated: Fri, 08/27/2021 - 11:50 share

How It Works

Learn about pandas through a visit with Wang Wang and Funi, residents of the Adelaide Zoo (in Australia). Watch videos, explore the panda exhibit, and learn about Wang Wang and Funi’s family tree. Learn about their natural habitat, and the different types of conservation efforts. The videos on this site reside on YouTube. If your district blocks YouTube, then the videos may not be viewable.

In the Classroom

Add this site to your collection of resources when studying endangered animals, Australia, or conservation. Include this site on your class web page for students and parents to access as a reference. Have students create a simple infographic sharing their findings using Venngage, <a href="/single.cfm?id=13706">reviewed here</a>. Have students create maps using MapHub, <a href="/single.cfm?id=18037">reviewed here</a>, showing locations where pandas live.

Technology Heads-up!
  • Find interactive ABC's, colors, etc.
  • Donec rutrum congue leo eget malesuada. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a. Curabitur aliquet quam id dui posuere blandit. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a.
  • Donec rutrum congue leo eget malesuada. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a. Curabitur aliquet quam id dui posuere blandit. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a.
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Tag(s): australia, habitats, animals, animal homes,

Digital Compass

— Common Sense Media

4-8 0 favorites 0 promising practices https://www.digitalcompass.org Last updated: Fri, 08/27/2021 - 11:50 share

How It Works

Digital Compass is an animated interactive designed to teach middle school students about digital citizenship. Each of the eight characters demonstrates a different topic such as cyberbullying and Internet safety. Along the way players choose different options. Some choices have positive results, and others have negative consequences. This tool is also available in Spanish. Find an Educator Guide for suggestions about how to use this tool in the classroom and PDFs for a Quick Start Guide and the Teacher’s Guide. <b>As of October 31, 2019 Digital Compass apps (iOS and Android) were retired. Digital Compass will be available on the web, through your browser.</b>

In the Classroom

This site is perfect to incorporate into any digital citizenship lessons. Complete activities together on your interactive whiteboard while making appropriate and inappropriate choices along the way. Create a link on your class website or blog for use at home. Be sure to share Digital Compass with parents to use as part of their online safety discussions at home. Enhance students’ learning and create a simple infographic sharing their findings using Easel.ly, <a href="/single.cfm?id=13619">reviewed here</a>.

Technology Heads-up!
  • Find interactive ABC's, colors, etc.
  • Donec rutrum congue leo eget malesuada. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a. Curabitur aliquet quam id dui posuere blandit. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a.
  • Donec rutrum congue leo eget malesuada. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a. Curabitur aliquet quam id dui posuere blandit. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a.
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Tag(s): internet safety, digital citizenship,

Tom Richey’s YouTube Channel for AP History

— Tom Richey

8-11 0 favorites 0 promising practices https://www.youtube.com/user/tomforamerica Last updated: Fri, 08/27/2021 - 11:50 share

How It Works

This engaging YouTube channel offers an excellent variety of videos for AP U.S. and European History and AP Government. Additional offerings include review sessions about South Carolina history. Each video explains different topics in history through lecture. Videos range in length from one minute to over an hour. If your district blocks YouTube, the videos may not be viewable.

In the Classroom

Mark this one in your teacher favorites to find videos to use in AP History and Government classes. Be sure to share videos with students and parents, especially videos with study plans for AP tests. Create a link to this YouTube channel on your class website or blog for students to access at home.

Technology Heads-up!
  • Find interactive ABC's, colors, etc.
  • Donec rutrum congue leo eget malesuada. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a. Curabitur aliquet quam id dui posuere blandit. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a.
  • Donec rutrum congue leo eget malesuada. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a. Curabitur aliquet quam id dui posuere blandit. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a.
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Tag(s): 1700s, 1800s, colonial america, american revolution, washington, black history, world war 1, 1900s, spain, jefferson, russia, england, germany, industrial revolution, france, rome, romans, greece, greeks, video, advanced placement,

SciShow Kids YouTube Channel

— Hank Green

2-8 0 favorites 0 promising practices https://www.youtube.com/user/scishowkids Last updated: Fri, 08/27/2021 - 11:50 share

How It Works

SciShow Kids is one of YouTube’s premier educational channels featuring answers to many science related questions. SciShow Kids encourages and celebrates audience participation through answering questions in new videos and annotations. Choose from popular videos with diverse topics such as lunar eclipses and weird animal teeth. Be sure to subscribe to receive notifications as new videos are added. If your district blocks YouTube, then they may not be viewable.

In the Classroom

Flip your classroom and use a video as homework. Have students take notes on the material and write down questions they still have and topics that confuse them. That activity can uncover misconceptions. Show the video to the class, and then discuss the concept at length. For more advanced classes, provide time for students to choose a video to view and research the underlying concept. To share a single video from this site without all the YouTube clutter, use a tool such as View Pure, <a href="/single.cfm?id=11507">reviewed here</a>, and create a shortcut to the View Pure page directly on the desktop. Students can create a mini-lesson that can be shared with the class or on a blog, wiki, or your class website.

Technology Heads-up!
  • Find interactive ABC's, colors, etc.
  • Donec rutrum congue leo eget malesuada. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a. Curabitur aliquet quam id dui posuere blandit. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a.
  • Donec rutrum congue leo eget malesuada. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a. Curabitur aliquet quam id dui posuere blandit. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a.
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Tag(s): moon, sun, space, animals, video,

Crash Course Kids YouTube Channel

— Hank Green and John Green

2-8 0 favorites 0 promising practices https://www.youtube.com/user/crashcoursekids Last updated: Fri, 08/27/2021 - 11:50 share

How It Works

Crash Course Kids features countless videos all about science. Read the description for each video and the Next Generation Science Standards. Go to the preview video to view the standards addressed in the first 95 videos. If your district blocks YouTube, then the videos may not be viewable.

In the Classroom

Mark this one in your teacher favorites to find videos to use at the start of a science or health unit. Make science more appealing as a way to answer the questions we ponder every day. Share them on a projector or interactive whiteboard. Use a Crash Course Kids video as inspiration for students to create their own videos explaining a science concept or debunking a science myth. To share a single video from this site without all the YouTube clutter, use a tool such as View Pure, <a href="/single.cfm?id=11507">reviewed here</a>, and create a shortcut to the View Pure page directly on the desktop.

Technology Heads-up!
  • Find interactive ABC's, colors, etc.
  • Donec rutrum congue leo eget malesuada. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a. Curabitur aliquet quam id dui posuere blandit. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a.
  • Donec rutrum congue leo eget malesuada. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a. Curabitur aliquet quam id dui posuere blandit. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a.
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Tag(s): video, animals, plants, planets, sun, moon, seasons, matter, gravity,

PrepFactory

— Darin Singh

8-11 0 favorites 0 promising practices http://www.prepfactory.com Last updated: Fri, 08/27/2021 - 11:50 share

How It Works

PrepFactory is a free SAT and ACT preparation site. Sign up using email, Facebook, or your Google account to begin. Choose a test and then start watching videos or answering practice questions. Earn experience points along the way as you unlock different problem sets and view videos.

In the Classroom

Share PrepFactory with students and parents as they prepare for SAT and ACT tests. Share this as an alternative to paid programs. Create a class account and practice together. Problem sets and videos are timed and only include a few questions at a time making it perfect for use on your interactive whiteboard or projector for short study sessions.

Technology Heads-up!
  • Find interactive ABC's, colors, etc.
  • Donec rutrum congue leo eget malesuada. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a. Curabitur aliquet quam id dui posuere blandit. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a.
  • Donec rutrum congue leo eget malesuada. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a. Curabitur aliquet quam id dui posuere blandit. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a.
  • Donec rutrum congue leo eget malesuada. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a. Curabitur aliquet quam id dui posuere blandit. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a.
Tag(s): test prep,

Home Shrunken Home

— New York Times

8-11 0 favorites 0 promising practices http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/22/realestate/micro-apartments-tiny-homes-prefabricated-in-brooklyn.html Last updated: Fri, 08/27/2021 - 11:50 share

How It Works

Learn about the small world of micro-apartments in this New York Times article with a photo slideshow showing how micro-apartments are built. See the construction methods, and learn about the tiny home building trend in response to the high cost of urban living. Read about the people who opt for minimal living quarters, in this case prefabricated modular units. The article is an invitation to learn more about home trends, structures, and the cultural and economic decisions we make about where we live.

In the Classroom

Share this article in a class on environmental issues, a social studies class on economics and current events, or even a physics class learning about structures and forces. Note that this article is a great example of informational text! Have students make observations about the pros and cons of modular mini-apartments for the resident, the city, and the environment. Have student groups investigate related topics in building materials, environmentally-friendly design, and urban crowding. Hold a class debate: Mini-living: Positive trend or Foolish Fad? This article would be great for gifted students interested in contemporary issues or architecture. Have them design their own mini-apartments, complete with appliances and built in furniture, to meet the challenges of green living, high-cost housing, and urban crowding!

Technology Heads-up!
  • Find interactive ABC's, colors, etc.
  • Donec rutrum congue leo eget malesuada. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a. Curabitur aliquet quam id dui posuere blandit. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a.
  • Donec rutrum congue leo eget malesuada. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a. Curabitur aliquet quam id dui posuere blandit. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a.
  • Donec rutrum congue leo eget malesuada. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a. Curabitur aliquet quam id dui posuere blandit. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a.
Tag(s): homes, architecture, environment, structures, STEM,
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