Posts Tagged ‘social studies’

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Free Social Studies Video Dictionary!

February 21st, 2013

Hi!  It’s Thursday, February 21, 2013 and time for Social Sciences at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:

GaDOE: Video Dictionary

Age Range: 10 and up (approximately, with parental supervision)

The Georgia Department of Education offers this terrific free “Video Dictionary” to help students learn Social Studies. When you get to the site you’ll see a menu of over 30 topics that include:

  • African Savanna
  • Anti-Semitism
  • Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster
  • Cortes
  • Ganges River
  • Great Barrier Reef
  • Incas
  • Montezuma II
  • NAFTA – North American Free Trade Agreement
  • Ottoman Empire
  • Simon Bolivar
  • The Cultural Revolution
  • Toussaint L’Ouverture
  • Treaty of Versailles
  • And More!

Click on a topic of interest, and watch a professionally produced, well-narrated video that explains the term, its history, and its relevance – all accompanied by a montage of film clips, illustrations, and photographs.

These videos are a great way to introduce the people, cultures, countries, and events that have impacted our world.

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Free Offline Math Games & Much More!

January 21st, 2013

Hi!  It’s Monday, January 21, 2013 and time for Math at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:

EllenMcHenry.com: Math (and much more)

Age Range: 5-16 (approximately and varies by topic and activity; with parental supervision)

This website provides free downloadable games and curricula for a wide range of subjects to be used offline. I’ve focused on math for this review. The free math games and activities teach various math strands and concepts in a fun, hands-on way. The game instructions and materials can be printed out and assembled for play offline.

The games were designed by a homeschool mom and illustrator named Ellen McHenry.  When she couldn’t find resources that were really what she wanted and needed, she got out her old college texts (she majored in drawing and minored in math), did some review, and started inventing her own stuff, much of which she makes available on her site for free.

When you get to the site you’ll see a menu of the math games and activities that include:

*Storm the Castle! – Players (ages 5-8 or so) pretend to be medieval soldiers attacking a castle. They must cross a field and a bridge using math skills, find the difference between two numbers, find coordinates on a grid, and solve simple word problems. 

*Loot the Pirate Ship! – Players (ages 8-11 or so) use and practice multiples of numbers, prime numbers, and divisibility rules to capture ships and loot them.

*Sheep Herding Math Strategy Game – This is a two-player game that is fun for all ages. One person plays the sheep, the other is the border collie in this classic strategy game that is similar to “Hares and Hounds.” 

*Professor Pig’s Magic Math (a mini-curricula) – Professor Pig teaches his students (ages 5-8 or so) to see patterns with numbers that will allow them to easily do addition without any memorization. There is review and practice built into the activities eliminating boring drill worksheets! 

These games are not only great for elementary students, but are helpful to older students who struggle with math or need remedial work.

But that’s not all!  Ms. McHenry has also created free educational games and lessons for students of all ages, in the following subjects:

  • Plants
  • Animals
  • Human Body
  • Earth Sciences
  • Chemistry
  • Physical Science
  • History/Social Studies
  • Geography/Maps
  • Language Arts
  • Art
  • Drama
  • French and Latin

You will be astounded at the innovative ways she has developed, and ingenious materials she has created to help students of all ages learn. Words simply can’t do it justice. Bookmark this site, you’ll want to return often.

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Free Game & Curriculum on History of Detroit!

January 10th, 2013

It’s Thursday, January 10, 2013 and time for Social Sciences at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:

Building Detroit

Age Range: 8 and up (with parental supervision, non-readers will need assistance)

The Detroit Historical Society sponsors this website that provides free curriculum, an interactive timeline, and a fun interactive game focused on the geographic, economic, historic, and cultural events in Detroit from 1600 to 1901. The presentation highlights the history of Native Americans, military occupation, fur trading, economic and population growth, industrialization, and the Underground Railroad, as well as the influence of French, British, Spanish, and Dutch explorers and immigrants.

When you get to the site, you can select from three items on the menu that include:

*Building Detroit: The Game – Play a game that allows you to help build the city of Detroit over five generations. As you progress through the game, you’ll learn about people and events of historical importance.

*Detroit History – Explore an interactive timeline that covers events from 1600-1901.

*Curriculum – Get free lessons plans in social studies and English language arts. Designed with third grade classroom students in mind, it can be enjoyed by a wider age/grade range and tweaked for homeschool use. The lessons are divided into six sections as follows:

  1. Before 1701 – Learn about the Native Americans who inhabited the area and explore Anishinabeg culture and oral traditions.
  2. 1701-1760 French Detroit – Meet French explorers and learn about the French fur trade.
  3. 1761-1796 British Detroit – Find out about Pontiac’s Rebellion, life in British Detroit, and the American Revolution.
  4. 1796-1825 Early American Detroit – Meet people of historical importance to Detroit, and learn about the great fire of 1805.
  5. 1825-1865 Boomtown Detroit – Discover how Detroit became a city, and its role in the Underground Railroad.
  6. 1866-1901 Industrial Detroit – Learn how Detroits natural resources led to its industrialization.

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Free Listen-And-Read Books from Scholastic!

September 10th, 2012

Hi!  It’s Wednesday, September 5, 2012 and time for Language Arts at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:

Scholastic: Teachers – Listen and Read

Age Range: 4-10 (For emerging and beginning readers, with parental supervision.)

A Maryland ClickScholar suggested this resource from Scholastic, where you can enjoy over 50 non-fiction, read-along books (covering a variety of school subjects) that are accompanied by images and audio narration. There are even activities and/or quizzes at the end of each book to help the reader review what has been learned.

When you get to the site you’ll see a brief introduction and a menu of the online book titles. The first 8 books on the menu are about careers that kids are often curious about including a Veterinarian, Pediatrician, and Fire Fighter. Then the rest of the books are divided into subject areas that include:

  • Animals- Arctic Fox, Panda Bear, Bats, Frogs, Alligators, Nocturnal Animals, etc.
  • Science-  Explore Tide Pools, Weather and Meteorology
  • Environmental Studies- Includes the stories in the science section plus books on apples, trees, and Earth Day celebrations.
  • Social Studies/History/Government & Civics  – These 3 sections offer the same online books for kids to  learn about the U.S. Constitution, U.S. Presidents, Pilgrims, and Native Americans.

Click on any story and a new page opens where you can start reading the book, one page at a time. Each page is accompanied by an engaging photograph or illustration, and the option to click “Listen” to hear a narrator read the words on the page.  Just follow the arrows to read the entire book.

At the end of the book you’ll find a simple quiz or activity that reviews the vocabulary words or simple concepts and information learned in the stories. Once you do the activity, you can advance to the next book. You can skip the activity, if desired, and move on to the next book by simply returning to the main menu.

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Find the British Redcoat w/ Math!

July 2nd, 2012

Hi!  It’s Monday, June 2, 2012, and time for Math at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:
Education.com: Independence Day Activities

Age Range: Varies (see some age recommendations next to activities below)

This massive, ad-supported, website offers a variety of educational activities and games to celebrate the 4th of July!  I’ve focused on one game for this review, where kids (about ages 8-11) use social studies, geography, and math coordinate skills to “Find the Lost  British Redcoat.”

When you get to the site, you’ll see the complete instructions along with a free, printable map grid to use as you play the game.

When you’re through finding the lost Redcoat, check out all of the fun and educational 4th of July activities archived at this site including:

  • Make a Patriotic Pinwheel – Fun for All Ages!
  • Would You Sign the Declaration of Independence? – An Activity for Teens!
  • Make Soda Pop Fireworks!
  • Use Math Skills to Make a Patriotic Patchwork “Quilt” Placemat!
  • Play 4th of July Bingo!

Just click on an activity of interest to get the instructions and downloadable materials.

 

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Social Studies – Africa!

April 26th, 2012

Hi!  It’s Thursday, April 26, 2012 and time for Social Sciences at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:
Smithsonian Museum of Natural History: African Voices

Age Range: 9 and up (approximately, with parental supervision)

The Smithsonian Museum of Natural History sponsors this website as a companion to a permanent exhibit on the influence of Africa’s countries and people on global history and culture. In this multi-media virtual exhibit you can explore Africa’s history and culture though art objects and textiles and enjoy video and sound clips that include interviews, folk tales, songs, and oral epics that are part of Africa’s rich cultural heritage.

When you get to the  site you’ll see a scrolling menu on the right side of your screen that includes:

*History – Follow an interactive timeline that explores Africa’s history from ancient to modern times including the Nile Valley, Slave Trade, Colonialism, South Africa, and the continent’s tragedies and triumphs.

*Themes – Explore Africa’s diversity, its environment, and people through museum collections that tell evocative stories. Watch and hear African’s comment on their history and culture including literature, proverbs, and music. Themes include:

  • Wealth in Africa
  • Market Crossroads
  • Working In Africa
  • Living in Africa
  • Kongo Crossroads
  • Global Africa

You’ll also find a photo-exhibit that explores African religions and carvings of various deities. Don’t miss the “Learning Center” where you’ll find links to further learning materials about Africa on the Web. 

 

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