Using the Internet in your Classroom

Getting Started

Safe Research Sites for Children 

• KidsClick , http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/KidsClick!/
  A searchable web directory created by "a bunch of librarians" at the Ramapo Catskill Library System.
• Yahooligans! http://www.yahooligans.com/
  An index to the Web for net surfers ages 8 - 14.
• EdView Smart Zone, http://school.edview.com/search/
  Searchable directory of resources divided into elementary, middle, and high school levels.
• Study Web, http://www.studyweb.com/
  Over 100,000 sites divided by category. This directory is searchable.
• Family Web Files, http://www.familywebfiles.com/
  This is a site for both parents and children, and is in both English and Spanish.
• 700+ Great Sites, http://www.ala.org/parentspage/greatsites/amazing.html
  Directory of web sites for students, parents, and teachers compiled by the Association for Library Service for Children
• Lycos Zone for Kids, http://lycoszone.lycos.com/
  Homework help, games, and other fun activities for kids. There is also a nice collection of sites for parents and teachers.
• Ask Jeeves for Kids, http://www.ajkids.com/
  Questions can be asked in sentence form, and the number of results is reasonable but not overwhelming for students.
• Britannica Internet Guide, http://www.britannica.com/
  Reviewed sites with the sponsorship of the Encyclopaedia Britannica.
• KidsSites.Com, http://www.kidsites.com/
  A rather limited number of sites, but the ones included are good ones.
• Linkopedia Kid Zone, http://www.linkopedia.com/kids.html
  The emphasis here is on online fun for the preschool and elementary child.

Safe Search Engines

• Searchopolis, http://www.searchopolis.com/
  This is a filtered search engine aimed at the K-12 user. Filtering by N2H2. Powered by Inktomi.
• OneKey.Com, http://www.onekey.com/
  This site claims to be a kid safe search engine, and to filter out the sites which do not meet Network TV standards for decency.
• Super Snooper, http://supersnooper.com/
  This site claims to rule out offensive sites.
• Family Friendly Search, http://www.familyfriendlysearch.com
  This is a metasearch site which submits search terms to Yahooligans, AOL Kids, Kids Click, and Saluki Search.

Projects

Electronic Collaboration
What, why, and how to participate, design, and evaluate electronic collaboration.

Great Examples

• Pumpkin Patch
• 4th Grade Indian Project
• Young Voices
• ThinkQuest

Projects to Join

• Global School House Project List
• KidLink
• NASA Quest
• Classroom Connect

Just for Teachers

Training

• webTeacher Tutorial a self-paced Internet Tutorial that puts both basic and in-depth information about the World Wide Web at your fingertips. E-mail, video conferencing, chat rooms, Web page design, Internet safety, curriculum searches - you choose the topic you want to explore, you choose your own pace, you choose the depth of knowledge you desire, and webTeacher guides you through the information. Then, because webTeacher is an interactive guide, you get to put your new knowledge to work immediately through the online exercises and activities.
• Community Learning Network is designed to help K-12 teachers integrate technology into their classrooms.

Resources

• Project and Lesson Ideas has numerous links for project planning, registries, and examples, as well as educational contests and online units.
• Quiz Lab offers online paperless quizzes that are premade or customizable.
• Virtual Blackboard offers a series of curriculum modules that provide introductions to K-12 Internet teaching methods and student learning objectives organized by curriculum area and learning activity.
• The Connected Teacher provides lesson plans, innovative activities, and great links to support them.
• The Global Schoolhouse offers excellent projects and resources.
• Kathy Schrock's Guide for Educators has lesson plans, links, adventures, and great thematic resources.
• TeacherVision.com provides lesson plans, free class websites, resources, and message boards for sharing success or asking for help.