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Social Studies Tools & Techniques to encourage technology integration in the social studies classroom. Mini-PD

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Science + Technology Tools and techniques to encourage technology integration in the science classroom. March 18, 2025

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Tech-Tastic Tools for English Language Arts: Unleashing Creativity in the Classroom! January 28, 2025 Spring Mini-PD: Session 1

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Canva Design Playbook - English Language Arts

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Check out this Presentation designed by Katie Maddox.

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Check out this Presentation designed by Katie Maddox.

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Check out this Presentation designed by Katie Maddox.

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Check out this Presentation designed by Katie Maddox.

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Check out this Presentation designed by Katie Maddox.

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WELCOME to the Digital Literacy & Computer Science Standards Teacher Companion Site! If you notice something missing or should be added to the site, please fill out this form and let us know! https://forms.gle/zuVCwGK2HvAE3Usm6

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The Novel Effect app follows along with interactive music and sound effects, creating magical moments when you read aloud with a child.

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Book Creator - Love Learning - Book Creator app

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Teachers love it. Students love it. Book Creator is the simplest, most inclusive way to create content in the classroom.

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Storybird - Read, write, discover, and share the books you'll always remember.

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Become a better writer with Storybird's creativity tools. Online courses, challenges, and reader feedback will help you improve your writing.

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We’re currently checking your connection. This shouldn’t take long.If you keep getting this page, check if there’s a problem with Canva.

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Our Story

Dave Kapell, founder of Magnetic Poetry, was suffering from writer's block while trying to compose song lyrics. To overcome this problem, he wrote down interesting words on pieces of paper and rearranged them, looking for inspiration. What he hadn't figured into this experiment was his allergies. One good sneeze and any progress was sent flying across the room. Dave decided to glue the words to pieces of magnets and stick them to a pizza tin. Then he got hungry and the now magnetized words made their way to the refrigerator door. Before too long, Dave wasn't the only one rearranging his would-be song lyrics. When friends came over, Dave noticed they started to move the magnets around, amusing themselves by writing the first magnetic poems.

After seeing his friends having fun, Dave thought he might be able to sell his word kits at a local craft fair. He made up 100 kits and set up shop at Calhoun Square, a mall in the Uptown area of Minneapolis. All 100 kits were gone after 3 hours. That night, he recruited as many friends as pizza and beer could draw and made up more kits--all of which sold as rapidly the next day.

From these beginnings, Magnetic Poetry® has now sold over three million word kits, over one billion word tiles--growing from the Original Kit to a kid's line of kits, to foreign language kits, to over 100 Themed kits.

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Create poems with our classic Magnetic Poetry online game! Or create poems with our new Magnetic Poetry online game!

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Decide how you want your students to interact with the content. Options include quiz me, writing coach, character chats, and more. Customize these interactions to fit your lesson plans and class objectives.

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Decide how you want your students to interact with the content. Options include quiz me, writing coach, character chats, and more. Customize these interactions to fit your lesson plans and class objectives.

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Not your computer? Use Guest mode to sign in privately. Learn more about using Guest mode

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This last year has been packed full of technology advances and innovative educational tools to go along with them. It seems like every week there is something new.

As we wrap up 2023 I will be sharing 24 of my favorite "Cool Tools" from this year, with one new entry per day from December 1st through 24th (sort of like an EdTech advent calendar).

For this year I am going with the theme of artificial intelligence tools and resources, since that has been the hot topic.

See below for options on how to access each entry of " Cool Tools 2023".

❄️ How to Access "Cool Tools 2023"

You can check out each of the entries in several ways:

1) In this post - As I release each new entry, I will add a new link to a growing list below in this post, which can also be accessed with the convenient short link:

2) On the blog - Each post will appear as a normal entry on the blog.

3) Through the slideshow below - If you click on the slideshow below you will get links to each of the 24 entries as they get released, including a slide with a short blurb for each and a link to each full blog post.

For an easy way to get reminders about the new posts for "Cool Tools 2023" you can:

❄️ The "Cool Tools 2023" Blog Posts

As I release each new entry, I will add a new link to the list below:

December 1 - TBD

December 2 - TBD

December 3 - TBD

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December 24 - TBD

❄️ The "Cool Tools 2023" Slideshow

Click the image above to open the slideshow or use this link - Cool Tools 23 Slideshow - where you will get links to each of the 24 entries as they get released, including a slide with a short blurb for each and a link to each full blog post.

📋 Other Lists of Activities/Resources

⛄ Activity #1 - Build a Snowman with Google Slides

🎄 Activity #2 - Decorate a Holiday Tree with Google Slides

🧲 Activity #3 - Wintertime Magnetic Poetry with Google Drawings

📬 Activity #4 - Holiday Greeting Cards with Google Drawings

🎁 Activity #5 - "12 Days of Christmas" Guided Google Sheets Math Activity

🌟 Activity #6 - Pixel Art Ornaments with Google Sheets

❄️ Activity #7 - Wintertime Emoji Rebus Stories with Google Docs

💡 Activity #8 - Holiday Lights Writing with Google Docs

And as I hear of other EdTech friends who are doing a similar list of activities or resources for the winter/holiday season, I will link them in here for you to explore as well. If you have such a resource, please email me ( ericcurts@gmail.com) to let me know so I can add it to the list.

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This last year has been packed full of technology advances and innovative educational tools to go along with them. It seems like every wee...

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Access Google Slides with a personal Google account or Google Workspace account (for business use).

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Instructional Technology Resources - DLCS

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Unleash your creativity with the world's best virtual manipulatives!

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Discover the best resources for your next class. Find your best resources by visiting us now.

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If you teach math, make sure you know how to put graph paper on your ViewSonic board!

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GeoGebra - the world's favorite, free math tools used by over 100 million students and teachers

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Free digital tools for class activities, graphing, geometry, collaborative whiteboard and more

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*We can also install the app on iPads.

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Explore math with our beautiful, free online graphing calculator. Graph functions, plot points, visualize algebraic equations, add sliders, animate graphs, and more.

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Generate Story Word Problems with SchoolAI

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Generate Story Word Problems with SchoolAI

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AI-Powered Tutors and Learning Activities

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Home

CHALLENGING MATH PROBLEMS WORTH SOLVING

DOWNLOAD OUR FAVORITE PROBLEMS FROM EVERY GRADE LEVEL

WANT GOOGLE SLIDE VERSIONS OF ALL PROBLEMS?

HERE'S OUR GROWING COLLECTION

WANT TO SHARE OPEN MIDDLE WITH OTHERS?

CHECK OUT THESE FREE WEBINARS TO HELP TEACHERS RETHINK CLASSWORK

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CHALLENGING MATH PROBLEMS WORTH SOLVING DOWNLOAD OUR FAVORITE PROBLEMS FROM EVERY GRADE LEVEL Get Our Favorite Problems Take The Online Workshop WANT GOOGLE SLIDE VERSIONS OF ALL PROBLEMS? HERE’S OUR GROWING COLLECTION Get Google Slide Versions WANT TO SHARE OPEN MIDDLE WITH OTHERS? CHECK OUT THESE FREE WEBINARS TO HELP TEACHERS RETHINK CLASSWORK Elementary Version

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Curipod - Spark curiosity with interactive lessons

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Free ready to play interactive lessons that sparks your students curiosity in the classroom

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Demonstrate key math concepts in your classroom using our new virtual manipulatives!

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ClassVR is the world's first complete virtual and augmented reality set designed specifically for schools, with standalone headsets, intuitive gesture controls, a huge library of content and an easy-to-use teacher management portal.

Here we have collected just a few of our favourite ways for bringing virtual and augmented reality to the classroom, based on what teachers in our schools, colleges and universities have already achieved with their students.

1. Bring Physical Geography to Life
Let's face it - sometimes teaching about coastal erosion or the formation of glacial landscapes isn't the most captivating material, but 360 images are totally perfect - not only for engaging students, but for bringing their attention to crucial details in the landscape that they otherwise they might miss. Immersing your students in an image of a landscape, and then asking them to look for clues about how the landforms may have changed over time, is a brilliant way to unlock the world of physical geography.
2. Tap into Emotion and Empathy
You know the saying about walking a mile in somebody's shoes? 360 videos offer an incredible opportunity to do exactly that. This can be very powerful for older students, giving them much more of an insight into situations they could never experience for real. Try guiding your students through war-torn streets and listening to the passionate discussion that flows afterwards. You could even compare this to the quality of the discussion that comes from reading a textbook alone.
3. Look Inside the Body
Augmented reality makes it easy to bring anatomy into the classroom safely. ClassVR headsets include a front-facing camera and our own ARC app, so your students can get up close and personal with a beating heart, just by looking at one of our worksheets. 3D models offer the perfect opportunity to visualise the organs and systems that make our bodies work.
4. Experience Other Cultures
The everyday aspects of life can sometimes offer students a way to begin understanding cultures that are different from their own. What is it like inside schools around the world? How does shopping work in different places? What about other events like weddings and festivals? Virtual reality allows your students to experience what's unique about other cultures
5. Take a Closer Look
It can be difficult to give students the opportunity to examine things closely, whether that's an intricate machine, an historical artefact or an underwater environment teeming with life. By using VR and AR, students can take as much time as they need to find the key details that unlock new connections - like the moving parts of a steam engine, or the hieroglyphics on a sarcophagus.
6. Unlock Students' Creative Writing Potential
Particularly powerful for younger students, or those who have additional needs. Just 'being' in a story setting can have an amazing impact on written work. The descriptive language of students is a lot more natural when they are immersed in an image or a scene.
7. Immerse your Students in Artworks
Virtual and augmented reality can offer fantastic opportunities for teaching art in schools and colleges. Imagine holding The Thinker by Rodin in your hands, and being able to see every angle of the 3D model. VR is the ultimate visual medium, so what better way to experience art.
8. Get your Topic off to an Unforgettable Start
Every teacher knows that engagement is key. Virtual and augmented reality adds a fantastic opportunity to inspire and delight students of all ages. Kick-start a space theme with a trip to Mars or see the Earth springing up from the page. The possibilities are endless!
9. Empower Students to Add their Own Content
The ClassVR system has been designed to work with standard file formats, so your students can experience taking their own 360 video or photo and sending it straight to the headsets. Teachers and students alike are getting excited about the creative possibilities across the whole curriculum.
10. Take Inclusion to the Next Level
When it's easy to use and intuitive, virtual reality can be a brilliant tool for students with special educational needs. ClassVR is controlled by using basic gestures, such as tilting your head side to side, or making a 'thumbs up' sign, which most adults and children can master. The ability to upload new content easily also makes ClassVR perfect for those students who need a chance to get used to new environments.
VR & AR Lesson Ideas for Teachers
Mark your Calendar: Upcoming Awareness Days
VR & AR Lesson Ideas for Teachers
Storytelling with Virtual Reality

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ClassVR is the world's first complete virtual and augmented reality set designed specifically for schools, with standalone headsets, intuitive gesture controls, a huge library of content and an easy-to-use teacher

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Over 1.1 billion simulations delivered

160interactive simulations

97language translations

3001teacher-submitted lessons

Founded in 2002 by Nobel Laureate Carl Wieman, the PhET Interactive Simulations project at the University of Colorado Boulder creates free interactive math and science simulations. PhET sims are based on extensive education research and engage students through an intuitive, game-like environment where students learn through exploration and discovery.

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Founded in 2002 by Nobel Laureate Carl Wieman, the PhET Interactive Simulations project at the University of Colorado Boulder creates free interactive math and science simulations. PhET sims are based on extensive education research and engage students through an intuitive, game-like environment where students learn through exploration and discovery.

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Aw snap! Google Earth isn't supported on your browser. You may need to update your browser or use a different browser. Please see our system requirements for more information. Chrome is a great choice and you can download it here.

Or if you're feeling adventurous, you can try Earth anyway by choosing an option below.

Learn more about Google Earth.

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Aw snap! Google Earth isn't supported on your browser. You may need to update your browser or use a different browser. Please see our system requirements for more information. Chrome is a great choice and you can download it here. Or if you're feeling adventurous, you can try Earth anyway by choosing an option below.

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Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

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Integrating Technology With Social Studies | Learning A-Z

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See how technology can enhance social studies instruction by increasing student engagement, building background knowledge, and improving academic outcomes.

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Control Alt Achieve- Google Earth Activities

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Control Alt Achieve- Google Earth Activities

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inside of Google Earth itself. Although the standalone Timelapse site still works, you can now open Google Earth and access the same content through a built-in timelapse feature. This brings the added benefit of being able to move in 3D while viewing the changing landscape from the past 37 years, making Google Earth a truly 4D experience now!

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Make Educational Maps wtih AI in Google Maps

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Make Educational Maps wtih AI in Google Maps

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By now we are all pretty used to AI chatbots being able to generate a wide range of content from lesson plans to images to even educational…

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Social Studies Lessons with Tech Integration

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Social Studies Lessons with Tech Integration

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Create your free iCivics account and discover lessons designed to meet all of your instructional needs. Our nonpartisan classroom resources engage students with complex concepts in ways they can understand and relate to.