Posts Tagged ‘other’

« Older Entries

The Physics of Baseball!

April 2nd, 2013

Hi!  It’s Tuesday, April 2, 2013 and time for Science at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:

LaserPablo.com: Physics of Baseball

Age Range: 11 and up (approximately, with parental supervision)

What are the chances?  Recently, my husband Cliff (a real estate broker) was touring open houses in our neighborhood. He struck up a conversation with the owner of one of the houses on tour, a man named Paul Robinson. Paul is a retired high school physics teacher with a passion for baseball. At his website, he offers many free activities, lessons, and video clips that teach the physics of baseball. After visiting the site, I knew I had to share it with you.

When you get to the site, you can watch three video presentations/interviews that were broadcast on networks (PBS, etc.) including:

  • The Physics of Baseball
  • The Science of Home Runs
  • Out of the Park – The Physics of Baseball (includes a link to a Teacher’s Guide)

Then, continue the learning with the free, downloadable links to activities/worksheets (pdf) that explore the physics of baseball including:

  • Anatomy of a Homer
  • Anatomy of a Pitch

You’ll also discover links to numerous free resources that further explore the physics of baseball.

When you’ve exhausted the resources on baseball, check out the rest of the website to find an archive of materials for learning about physics. Paul Robinson also sells DVDs that teach physics for $3.00/each on the website. But you don’t have to purchase a thing to access all of the freebies.

No comments »

Posted in other

Tags:

Free Spring Poems w/ Activities!

March 20th, 2013

Hi!  It’s Wednesday, March 20, 2013 and time for Language Arts at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:

DLTK:  Spring Poetry

Age Range: 4-11 (approximately, with parental supervision)

Spring has sprung! The return of longer and warmer days, and the rebirth of flora and fauna has inspired poets for ages. This website offers a selection of over 35 poems about spring by a variety of authors including Mother Goose, A.A. Milne, William Wordsworth, and Robert Frost. Each poem is accompanied by an audio recording so you can hear the poem being read aloud.  And every poem has a free printable activity page to go with it.

When you get to the site, you’ll see a menu of poem titles and a couple of featured poems including:

  • Daffodowndilly by A.A. Milne
  • Little Seeds by Else Holmelund Minarik
  • A Prayer in Spring by Robert Frost

Simply click on a title of interest and a new page opens with the poem printed out. Below the poem, you’ll see a box that says, “Play.” Click on it to hear the poem being recited.  You’ll also find a sample of the activity sheet to the right of the poem. You can print out the full sheet in color, or print it in black and white and use it as a coloring page.

BONUS!  The first day of spring is called the vernal equinox— when day and night are each approximately 12 hours long. Did you know that the word equinox is derived from the Latin words aequus (equal) and nox (night), meaning “equal night”?  To learn more, watch National Geographic’s scientific video explanation of the equinox here:  http://www.homefires.com/click?equinox

 

No comments »

Posted in language arts

Tags:

Einstein’s Birthday & Pi Day on March 14th!

March 12th, 2013

Hi! It’s Tuesday, March 12, 2013 and time for Science at ClickSchooling!

Albert Einstein, the Nobel Prize-winning physicist of The Theory of Relativity, was born on March 14, 1879. March 14th also happens to be world Pi Day. I thought you might like to explore some websites devoted to Einstein, his famous equation E=MC2, and Pi Day…

Recommended Websites:

See Below

Age Range: Varies (with parental supervision)

Brief Bio of Albert Einstein 

This website, designed for kids, offers a brief biography of Albert Einstein that will give some context to the other websites recommended below.

PBS: That’s My Theory! 

PBS uses a game show format (similar to “What’s My Line?”) to help you become familiar with notable scientists, including Einstein. Several questions are presented and answered by “guests.” Select which guest’s answers reveal the real Albert Einstein.

PBS NOVA: Think Like Einstein 

PBS presents Einstein’s special theory of relativity as an online, animated activity that will require you to think about the same things Einstein had to consider (such as velocity and the speed of light) to develop his theory. Then answer some questions by reasoning out the solutions.

PBS NOVA: Einstein’s Big Idea

Watch this almost 2-hour movie presentation that dramatizes the story behind Einstein’s revolutionary special theory of relativity represented by the equation E = MC2.

One Minute Physics: E=MC2 

Watch a one-minute video explanation of Einstein’s equation, E=MC2.

Coincidentally, Einstein’s birthday on March 14th, is also “World Pi Day!” The mathematical symbol Pi (the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter or 3.14159…) is celebrated on March 14 at 1:59 PM (3.14159…)! 

You’ll find a brief history of Pi and some free Pi activities at the Exploratorium’s website.

No comments »

Posted in history

Tags:

Free Virtual Trips to World Wonders!

March 7th, 2013

Hi! It’s Thursday, March 7, 2013 and time for Social Sciences at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:

World Wonders Project

Age Range: 6-18 (Grades 1-12, with parental supervision)

“Cloudschooling” and “Hackschooling” are revolutionizing the way we learn – and this website provides a perfect demonstration. Created by Google, it’s a portal to help students learn geography and history through virtual trips to see the many ancient and modern wonders of the world — including:

  • Stonehenge
  • The Palace at Versailles
  • The Grand Canyon
  • The Great Barrier Reef
  • The Ruins of Pompeii
  • The Ancient Temple of Kyoto
  • The Remains of Scott’s and Shackleton’s Expeditions in Antarctica
  • And Much More!

The site uses Street View, 3D modeling, and other technologies, photographs and videos, and provides in-depth information to help you explore the many world wonders, as if you were there.

When you get to the site you can start your adventure by clicking through the picture carousel on the homepage that features random sites from all over the world. You can also use the menu at the top of the page to:

*Find by Location – Includes sites located in Antarctica, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania (Australia), and South America.

*Browse by Theme – Including Archaeological Sites, Architecture, Cities and Towns, Historic Sites, Monuments & Memorials, Palaces & Castles, Parks & Gardens, Places of Worship, Regions & Landscapes, Wonders of Nature.

Be sure to click on “Education” on the menu to download free teaching guides for using these resources with classroom students in primary and secondary schools. (It can be tweaked for use by homeschoolers.)

Once you select a site to explore, click on the title and a new page opens with a screen that displays a panoramic and interactive picture of the location. Use the menu to the right of the screen to access helpful information, videos of the location, and amazing photographs.

This is a terrific resource that you can use again and again – so bookmark it to return often.

No comments »

Posted in nature

Tags:

Free Writing & Spelling Worksheets & More!

March 6th, 2013

Hi!  It’s Wednesday, March 6, 2013 and time for Language Arts at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:

Best Worksheets

Age Range: 4-10 (Grades PreK-5th, with parental supervision)

A Maryland ClickScholar told me about this ad-supported website (developed by the folks at TheHeadOfTheClass.com) that provides free worksheets for Language Arts and a variety of other subjects that you can download/print or do online/mobile. I have focused on Language Arts for this review.

When you get to the site, read the introduction. Then, select a grade level and a new page opens displaying some worksheets. Look on the menu bar to see what subjects the worksheets cover including Art, Geography, Math, Science, Spelling, Reading, Writing, Spanish, etc. Not all subjects are available at all grade levels. For example:

*Preschool – No “subjects” here, just kiddie worksheets that introduce sight words, numbers, shapes, money, etc.

*Kindergarten – Reading worksheets include sight words, story sequencing, letter writing, alphabet, etc.

*First Grade – Spelling worksheets have scrambled words, missing letters and vowels, matching words. Writing worksheets cover verbs, nouns, past tense, etc. Reading offers missing letters, words, sight words, story lines, etc.

*Second Grade – Spelling and Writing worksheets cover sight words, vowels, consonants, print writing, cursive reading and writing activities.

*Third Grade – Spelling word writing worksheets, cursive writing practice worksheets, etc.

*Fourth Grade – Print and cursive spelling practice worksheets.  Writing worksheets focus on grammar and punctuation.

*Fifth Grade – Spelling word practice in cursive and print. Sentence structure and parts of speech including nouns, verbs, pronouns, adverbs, etc.

When you find a worksheet you want to use, you have the option to download and print it out for use offline, or simply do the activity online.

Bookmark this site to return often.

No comments »

Posted in math

Tags:

Simpsons Math Activities!

March 4th, 2013

Hi!  It’s Monday, March 4, 2013 and time for Math at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:

Simpsons’ Math

Age Range: 10 and up (approximately; parents should preview and supervise)

In many episodes of the popular animated sitcom, The Simpsons, there are references to mathematics  including arithmetic, geometry, and calculus that uncover and  poke fun of mathematical illiteracy. As explained at the website, “Al Jean, Executive Producer and head writer, has a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Harvard University.”

Two math professors saw the potential  to use math references in The Simpsons as an “ideal source of fun ways to introduce important concepts to students, and to reduce math anxiety and motivate students…”

When you get to the site, you’ll see a brief introduction, followed by a menu that includes:

*Mathematics on the Simpsons – Read a few articles that reveal where and how math is used in various episodes.

*Engaging Students with Related Mathematics – Get free “Activity Sheets” based on math references in random episodes of The Simpsons. They are designed for classroom use (but can be tweaked for homeschooling) and cover concepts such as:

  • The Pythagorean Theorem  
  • Geometry and Multi-Dimensional Shapes
  • Arithmetic and Number Theory
  • Pre-Calculus and Calculus
  • Probability

You’ll also find links to media coverage in which the writers and other crew members talk about the math and science in The Simpsons’ episodes. And there are suggestions and cautions for teachers about using pop culture in the curriculum as well.

BONUS!  Mathematics on Futurama!  That’s right, the science fiction cartoon series has math and science references in almost every episode. One of the comedy writers on Futurama has a Ph.D. in applied mathematics from Harvard and you can read about his “inside jokes” in various episodes. The site is similar to The Simpsons math site, and contains free Futurama math worksheets.

Note: While these programs may be pop culture icons, some contain controversial subject matter. As always, parents must preview the material and supervise Internet access.

No comments »

Posted in math

Tags: