Do you have five minutes to spare? Sometimes I feel as if I don't even have that much, but I thought it would be helpful if this week I created a virtual tour of free resources for you. Want to know more? Click on the video to see my 5 in 5 (5 resources in 5 minutes).
Included in the Free Resource Showcase
1. Jing: For creating and storing podcasts. Allows use of webcam and screen capturing, to go back and forth for recording.
2. TED Talks: High interest educational videos meant for spurring discussion and debate. Includes an interactive transcript as well as the option to save clips and edit them down. The speakers are highly engaging and dynamic.
3. Scholastic's Study Jams!: If you like BrainPOP, this excellent free resource is for you. Over 200 science and math videos, along with karaoke, tests, slide shows, and photos.
4. Spelling City: A free resource that allows students to work with individual sets of spelling words. If you utilize developmental lists from resources like Words Their Way or use lists of individual high frequency words, this is a great site.
5. NeoK12: Free collection of educational videos that can support your lessons in class. You can also use a free capture program to save and play YouTube videos at school.
6. Invisible Smelly Stickers: Secretly pull off the cover of some ChapStick and offer students a free, invisible smelly sticker. Ask them to close their eyes, then swipe some on their hand. Don't tell them that it is ChapStick, and casually deny it when they think they have it figured out.
Do you have any free resources to share? Please post them and tell us how you have used them in your room. I'll add any links shared below for quick access for others.
XtraNormal: Free movie making site that allows you to type in the script (written by students) and use a variety of actors to act it out (including Sarah Palin, ha!). If you have been interested in animated graphic programs like CrazyTalk, here is a free alternative presented by Stephanie from Florida.
Glogster EDU: A Glog is created using a very easy to understand, drag and drop interface that is relevant, enjoyable, and scalable for students of all ages and learning styles. A Glog is an interactive visual platform in which users create a “poster or web page” containing multimedia elements including: text, audio, video, images, graphics, drawings, and data. Not only is this free, but the possibilities are endless. A few of my students want to post something regarding a book they have finished reading online. This would be a great resource. Thanks to Ashley for this suggestion.