Tech Tuesday
Websites that Wow
Wonderopolis
a free site about what students wonder about. It includes videos, articles, photos, diagrams, and other media to give students the big picture about interesting content. There is a different wonder everyday, and you can explore past wonders on your own. Student interest drives learning! Let learners choose what to read. Use it to build background knowledge for your lesson or as a story starter for a writing assignment. Teaching your students to wonder is priceless...
Here's a video you will want to watch...she is hilarious!
Click on the link below to check out today's Wonder...
What would Wonderopolis look like in my lesson plans?
How can Wonderopolis be used in the classroom?
1. Use the wonder question as a journal prompt before reading the answer, then go back and write in the journal what you learned about the topic
2. Include Wonderopolis as a choice to read during Daily 5
3. Explore nonfiction writing traits/styles by analyzing the author's writing
4. After researching a topic, create and publish your own wonder using Google Presentations, Popplet, Educreations, Tellegami, Pic Collage, or other tech tools students are already using
5. After students watch the video and explore text, create an open ended response question that requires students to use information from the video and text to support their ideas; model first by writing aloud as a group
6. Ask students to teach a partner about a wonder to practice summarizing and finding main idea; create a web on Popplet first and use it as a tool while presenting to partner
The informational text found on Wonderopolis can be used to meet many of the Common Core Standards in reading, history, geography, and science. The resources on this site can add extra dimensions to students' investigative learning activities.
Let Me Hear from You....
Email: jburnett@scs.k12.al.us
Website: https://sites.google.com/a/scs.k12.al.us/tech-talk/
Location: L E Willson Elementary School, East 31st Street, Sheffield, AL, United States
Phone: 256-386-5730
Twitter: @Jb4tech
Wonderopolis is a free website that provides high-interest nonfiction content and a "Did you know?" for each "Wonder". And...there is a new one everyday!!! This teacher resource is perfect for addressing Common Core Standards. The text can help build background knowledge and make connections to other learning.
"Wonders" are great hooks to get students engaged in learning. While the videos captivate student attention, the question of the day can serve as lesson starters and prompts for class discussions and research lessons. Students can pick a "Wonder" to explore and then research the topic more in depth.
Wonderopolis also allows you to search for topics and browse by categories. This would allow you to search the archive for a Wonder that supports the lesson you have planned. This would also be awesome for your gifted students to take learning just a little farther.
Check it out...I think you are going to love it!