Fantastic sites for kids

I have been using the website, "Tutpup" with my kids and it has been an overwhelming success. They can practise their quick response to basic number concepts, times tables and spelling. The reason why it is so successful, is that the kids compete with other kids from all over the world or with someone on the computer next to them. Children can create their own account at home or, as I have done, a class account can be created and you can track their progress. If you are trying to find a fun way for kids to practise their maths skills, then I thoroughly recommend this website.

Note: It is still in beta (prototype) stage.

Another website worth visiting is Tikatok, a place where children can create and share online storybooks. One interesting feature is, for a fee, they will publish the student's book and send it professionaly bound.

Free Rice

There is a website, Free Rice, in which students can have a go at a range of multiple choice questions on a variety of subjects. For every correct answer 10 grains of rice are donated through United Nations World Food Program. This website is well worth a look and it is great for kids because they can actually see the rice they earn piling up!

Fantastic Animation Website

Hi all, as you may have guessed - I have a real passion for animation and especially the learning in ICT that it promotes. Please take the time to check out this website, StopMotionAnimation, and make sure you click on the "links" option - a brilliant resource! Also, please checkout the "handbook" link, once again some fabulous resources there too!

Bamzooki

Have you used "Bamzooki" with your kids yet? This free downloadable program is produced by the BBC in the UK. Students can create online creatures that use a range of mathematical and problem solving techniques. Students can then test their creations in a range of activities. This program really promotes high-level thinking.

Robin Hood Primary School

I found a wesbite for the school, Robin Hood Primary School in Leeds, England. I really recommend having a look at what they are doing with ICT education. I really like the "Connecting Classrooms" link they have and hope to set up communication with my class here.

Please also check out this video about ICT excellence at this school.

If you know of any great school websites from around the world, please let me know.
hawkins.tim.r@edumail.vic.gov.au

Great Online Activities

I recently found this website, Read - Write - Think by the International Reading Association. There are great number of online activities to support literacy. I really recommend you take a moment to scroll through the range of activities.

Imbedding Slideshows

One of my grade 3 students presented a PowerPoint slideshow on Art Deco buildings in New York. I wanted a way to share this on our class blog and found this free application, Slideshare.

New York Art Deco Buildings Ppt97

View more presentations from tim8hawk.

Wordle - Word fun website

I found a website that allows students to enter keywords around a subject or topic. The "Wordle" website then lets the kids create fancy word clouds. Students can then tweak them with a range of nifty editing tools.
Here is one I made quickly:

Comic Strips

I found this website (stripgenerator.com) about a year ago. My kids used it last year and they loved it. You don't have to register to create comic strips. I recommend not letting younger school children access the posting area as some of the comics shared can be a little risque! Use this link to go straight to the editing window. Students can not save their work but are able to print them out at the end of a session. Of course, older students can register and set up their own blog to save their comic strips.

Video Games in Education - Update

A website in Scotland, ICT in Education, has a whole section dedicated to games-based learning.