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Fun Renaissance Interactive!

January 19th, 2012

Hi!  It’s Thursday, January 19, 2012 and time for History at ClickSchooling! 

Recommended Website:
Learner.org: Renaissance

Age Range: 14-18 (grades 9-12, with parental supervision)

This website is part of the extensive Learner.org resource for teachers. It offers an interactive exploration of the Renaissance (14th-16th centuries), a time of scientific, artistic, economic, political and social rebirth as Europe (and Italy in particular) emerged from the Middle Ages. 

When you get to the site, you’ll see a brief introduction. Navigate this interactive by using the menu on the left that includes:

*Out of the Middle Ages – Learn how the bubonic plague (aka “Black Death”) resulted in a new middle class population, the resurgence of city living, and a new economy. Click on links to primary source documents, museum exhibits, and more.

*Exploration and Trade – Find out how scientific improvements in navigation tools and cartography led to advancements in exploration and trade. Don’t miss the interactive, “Become a Spice Trader” and find out if your trading skills will lead to riches or ruin.

*Printing And Thinking – Discover how Gutenberg’s printing press forever changed the lives of people worldwide as they transitioned from papyrus to paper. It launched a rebirth of classical studies in Latin and Greek, and led to the emergence of “The Humanist Philosophy” and also the Protestant Reformation.

*Symmetry, Shape, & Size – Explore Renaissance architecture and music. See how the merging of art and science affected mathematical perspective and consequently Galileo’s work in astronomy, Fibonacci’s numbers, and more.

*Focus on Florence – Find out why this Italian City was a focal point of the Renaissance period. Meet the Medici family. Learn about the spiritual and religious beliefs that were prevalent. Discover the art of Boticelli and Michelangelo.

In every section you’ll find links to additional resources to explore. A few lead to error messages, but most of them work. That said, if you click on the links you’ll visit other websites that I have not reviewed. So parents, as always, should preview and determine suitability of content.     

 

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Best Classical Music Website for Kids!

January 14th, 2012

Hi!  It’s Saturday, January 14, 2012 and time for Music at ClickSchooling! 

Recommended Website:
ClassicsForKids.com

Age Range: 5-14 (with parental supervision; all ages can enjoy aspects of the site)

ClickScholar Gayle reminded me of this website that we featured in 2007 and is worth revisiting. She wrote, “ClassicsForKids.com has live radio recordings as well as worksheets and interactive games highlighting various composers, styles of music and music elements. It is practically the only site we have used for music.”

The site, which is continuously updated, is a supplement to the “Classics for Kids” radio program. You will find information on stations that air the show at the website, and you can listen to the archived programs that bring great composers to life through music and stories. You can also download activities and lessons (pdfs) that focus on National Standards for the Arts and Music.

When you get to the site you will see the current month’s featured composer, and a horizontal menu tab below it that includes:

*On The Radio – Includes the current week’s radio show, an archive of past shows, and activity sheets that include wordsearch puzzles, games, and trivia.

*Composers – Read biographies of about 90 different composers (across a timespan from 1685 to 2010) including Bach, Bernstein, Brahms, Britten, Chopin, Debussy, Gershwin, Handel, Joplin, Liszt, Mozart, Prokofiev, Rachmaninoff, Schubert, Sousa, Strauss, Stravinsky, Tchaikovsky, Verdi and more!

*Games – Play fun, interactive, online games that teach rhythm and notation.

*More About Music – Hear music, learn the instruments of the symphony orchestra, explore a musical dictionary, and learn about musical careers.

*For Grownups – Access free lesson plans, activity sheets, and get tips and advice for music education.

Bookmark this one, you’ll want to return often!

 

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Learn To Read Music The Fun Way!

November 5th, 2011

Hi! It’s Saturday, November 5, 2011, and time for Music at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:
Teoría – Music Theory Web

Age Range: 9- 18 and beyond (younger children may enjoy; with adult supervision)

José Rodríguez Alvira, a music instructor at the Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico, offers this fantastic, multimedia, interactive website for learning all about music theory completely free of charge.

Available to view in English or Spanish this ad-supported site is well designed and extensive in scope.

When you get to the site you’ll see a simple menu. Look on the left side of the page for “Today in Music History,” a brief list of this date’s landmark events in music. Then, explore the menu that includes:

*Tutorials – Learn to read, write, and analyze music; see and hear examples and test yourself along the way.

*Exercises – For those going through the tutorials, these exercises reinforce the lessons, or they can be used as stand-alone practice of needed skills; ear training is also included here.

*Reference – Click on any musical concept to see a sample musical score and a brief explanation of the related theory; click on the speaker icon to HEAR it played. There is a lot more here than you would expect.

*Articles About Music – Older students can read analyses of various musical pieces (and listen to the segments being analyzed), or read articles about various instruments and music history.

Click on any topic and a new page opens with a menu of further choices. You’ll need to browse, click, and read to get to the interactives – but once you find an activity that interests you, it’s quite user-friendly.

Note: You’ll notice a menu item called “Members.” You can purchase an annual membership that includes ad-free browsing and free download of most of the site contents for use offline.

Be sure to bookmark this site and return often, as there is a depth of music theory instruction with examples and exercises, and new material is still being added and translated.

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Free Video Drum Lessons!

October 15th, 2011

Hi!  It’s Saturday, October 15, 2011 and time for Music at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:
FreeDrumLessons.com

Age Range: 9 and up (with parental supervision)

This ad-supported website offers a terrific and comprehensive archive of free drum lessons presented by expert drummers through informative and entertaining videos.  When you get to the site you’ll see a menu that includes:

*Beginner Drum Lessons – Learn the basics on how to play the drums, hold the drumsticks, tune a drum, and more.

*Drum Theory & Notation – Learn to read drum notation, count notes from 1/4 notes to 32nd notes, and more.

*Dynamic Drumming – Find out how to accent with rim shots, do snare drum cross-sticking or cymbal choking, play off-beat hi-hats, etc.

*Drum Set Rudiments – Practice various drum rolls, flams, paradiddles, dragadiddles, and ratamacue.

*Rock Drum Lessons – Learn the basic beats including funk, blues shuffle, and odd-time beats and fills.

*Jazz Drum Lessons – Discover patterns, beats, snare and bass drum comping and more.

*Latin Drum Lessons – Play Rumba, Bossa Nova, Songo, and Cascara drum beats.

*Double Bass Drums – Do your warm-ups and then play double bass drum beats and fills.  Get some speed tips.

*Drum Play-Alongs – Enjoy playing along to rock, contemporary, funk, folk rock, heavy metal, jazz, country, Latin, blues, hard rock, classic rock and techno music.

*Drum Solos – Watch, learn, and listen to drum solos by the masters.

You can also listen to covers of popular songs that feature great drumming, watch videos of live drum lessons, and read many articles on drumming techniques and tips.

Just click on an area of interest and a new page opens where the video lesson is launched. 

NOTE:  You do have to watch a randomly generated commercial before you see each video lesson.  That’s one reason why parents should (as always) supervise use of the site.

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French, Art, & Music Interactives for Kids

October 8th, 2011

Hi!  It’s Saturday, October 8, 2011 and time for Electives at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:
Poisson Rouge

Age Range: PreK-10 and beyond (with parental guidance)

This is an ingenious website that helps children (and their families) explore online games and activities that teach about art, music, and languages including French, English, and a little Spanish as well!

This educational website for young children is unlike anything I’ve seen on the Internet. There are no instructions or explanations because the designers believe that it gets in the way of the experience. As explained on the site:

“Most people, even adults, do not read instructions, children who cannot read will ignore written text anyhow…the navigation through the various sections of the site is purposefully simple and intuitive…there is no right or wrong way of using anything on this site.

It’s up to the children to find what they want and to grow their naturally exploring mind. We found that what they don’t discover straight away, they’ll find later, what they don’t know how to do at first, they’ll learn when they are ready and, as many of you know and/or have found out, that is extremely powerful and confidence building.”

That said, the website designers discovered that adults were quite confused by the absence of text so a quick “User Guide” to all the games, activities and animations on the site are provided “for adults only!”

When you get to the site, you’ll see a colorful, animated illustration of a child’s room. Just click on the objects to reveal activities and games that teach about concepts such as:

  • French, English, and Spanish Alphabet
  • Numbers
  • Shapes
  • Art
  • Music
  • School of French
  • School of English
  • Optical Illusions

You’ll also find Mix-and-match and drag-and-drop puzzles, coloring pages, concentration games, jigsaw puzzles, and dot-to-dots.

You really have to experience it to understand how much learning content is available – so allow plenty of time to explore the site when you visit.

Another great feature?  This site is commercial free – so you don’t have to worry about random advertising. They do have a store where you can purchase CD-ROMs, notebooks, t-shirts, and more – but you don’t have to purchase a thing to access over 200 entertaining and educational activities. 

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Every Kid’s Mozart!

September 24th, 2011

Hi!  It’s Saturday, September 24, 2011 and time for Music with ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:
KidsMozart.com

Age: 4-10 (designed for young children with parental assistance, and fun for all ages)

Gather the kids around the computer for a visual and audio treat about the music of Mozart and the instruments that bring it to life.

Sponsored by a company that sells classical music CDs and CD-ROM products for kids, this website also offers a terrific selection of free, multi-media resources that enable you to learn about the life and music of Mozart and the musical instruments of the orchestra.

When you get to the site, you’ll see information about the products for sale. LOOK over on the right side of the screen where it says “For a taste of what’s inside EVERY KID’S MOZART try these FREE samples.” There is a menu below it that includes:

1) Learn About Musical Instruments – Click on this item and a new screen opens that introduces the instruments of the orchestra including wind, string, and percussion.  You’ll hear each instrument play Mozart’s music while the narrator reads a clever poem. Further info about the instrument is displayed for you to read.

2) Play Our Famous Orchestra – Enjoy an interactive game that allows you to identify the different orchestral instruments.

3) Read An Account of Mozart’s Life – As you listen to Mozart’s music, read the pages of a simple biography of Mozart’s life.

4) Listening Lounge – Enjoy a variety of Mozart’s music.

These free activities serve as a wonderful introduction to the music and life of Mozart, as well as the instruments of the symphony orchestra.

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