Website # 20

ForgeFx is a website that offers 3D learning simulations.  One example is the Seismic Waves Training Simulation.  It shows in 3D the effects of the energy from a seismic wave caused from an earthquake.   There are also one for the lunar and solar eclipse, plant & animal cell structures, and an automobile engine.  This website is geared for the older student.  I enjoyed watching several of the simulations and I feel they could be a very useful tool in the classroom.


http://www.forgefx.com/casestudies/prenticehall/

Website #19

Ology is the American Museum of Natural History's Science website for kids.  Children can choose from topics concerning paleontology to biodiversity.  There are links to games, books, videos and many other educational links.  You can see what is on exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History and plan a visit according to the events you would like to see.  This is a very interesting site.



http://www.amnh.org/ology/zoology#

Website #18

Switcheroo Zoo is a really entertaining website.  The children can pick an animal and change the head, legs, and tail.  Underneath each body part fun facts appear about the animal chosen.  There is another section where the student must place the animals in their correct habitat.  This site has many learning animal games that are interesting and fun.  A child could play for hours on this website.  I would highly recommend Switcheroo Zoo.




http://switchzoo.com/default.htm

Website #17

Peep and the Big Wide World is geared for preschool through about 2nd grade.   It contains simple learning games, music & videos, and fun activities.  My favorite activity was in the games section where students can put the stages of a lifecycle of a given animal or plant in order.  I felt this is a very visual way for the children to learn.  If they get them right, they are praised, if they get it wrong they get a second chance.  This site was easy to navigate and I would recommend it to younger students.



http://www.peepandthebigwideworld.com/

Website #16

Whattablast is a really neat and informational website for children.   It has information and games on all subjects.  But it also gives access to different websites that are helpful. One example is a site that gives children tools for ordering out in a restaurant.  This guide tells the children what restaurants are healthier and what items on the menu are healthy. 

The one downfall I found with this website is that it is not user friendly.  Once the user has chosen a category, they are unable to return to the previous page without going back to the main page and starting over.  I found this to be frustrating.

http://www.whattablast.com/adults/teachers.cfm#

Website #15

Zula is a website based on a TV show called the Zula Patrol.  Zula are little aliens.  There is a section for teachers, parents and children.  In the children’s section is a game in which the children can make their own alien.  They then go around Zula World and play games or do good deeds to earn zula money. They can purchase clothes, pets and various other items.  The teacher section contains curriculum that can be used along with printable materials.  I do not feel I would use this website in my classroom because I found it difficult to navigate in comparison to the other sites and the background music was irritating.



http://zula.com/

Website #14

Kids Astronomy is a website that explains our solar system very effectively.  This site gives a broad overview of the solar system on the main page and allows the viewer to choose any planet he/she wishes to learn about. It has a virtual solar system that enables the child to visually see how the planets revolving around the sun.  This site also has games for science, math, spelling, memory, dinosaur and many other games.  

http://www.kidsastronomy.com/solar_system.htm

Website #13

Best Ed. Sites is a website that links you to many other websites.  I really enjoyed navigating this site.  In the Astronomy and Space sites section I was able to take a virtual tour of the sun, which was very cool.  I also enjoyed the Museums of the World site.  This site linked you to several major museums websites and from there you could explore their website.  It also contains links to math, literacy, language, science, news, social studies and teacher resource sites.  I think this website would be very beneficial in the classroom.  It could be used as a supplement to a lesson plan or the teacher could use it directly in the lesson plan.  Great website.

http://www.bestedsites.com/

Website #12

Learn 4 Good at first glance is not as inviting of a website as most of the others I have reviewed.  However once I started to navigate the website I feel it is one of the better sites.  The one feature I really thought was beneficial was IXL.  IXL provides the state standards for each state.  It also provides problems at each grade level and keeps track of your child’s progress.  It will show you how your child’s grades compare in relation to others in your state according to the state guidelines.  There are many other benefits to using this website such as information on top schools and online language lessons.



http://www.learn4good.com/kids/index.htm