May



= = = = = It's May! =


 * Free Downloads from ABC Teach! **


 * [|May Is ...] - Writing Prompt**
 * [|Mother's Day] - Bar Graph Analysis**

==
 * [|Every Day is Mother's Day] - A reading comprehension about a special Mother's __Day gift__ with multiple choice questions**
 * [|Mother's Day Resources] - Worksheets from ABC Teach (some are free, some require a subscription)**


 * [|Mother's Day Similes] - Writing prompt**


 * May Writing Bugs - Writing Prompts/Printables from Education World for May or use the Anytime Writing Link for More Resources**
 * [|May Holiday and Special Days Resources] from Education World**

=**Mothers Are Special! Celebrate!**=
 * Brainstorm adjectives that describe your mom using Inspiration.**
 * Write an Acrostic Poem with these words in MS Word.**
 * She will appreciate your thoughts!**
 * MS Word (Example**) [[file:My Mother Example.doc]]
 * MS Word (Blank) [[file:My Mother Blank.doc]]**
 * Inspiration File** [[file:Mother is.ins]]


 * [|Motherhood Math: Mothers in the Workforce]** **- Study an online table and discover how the number of mothers in the workforce has changed since 1955 - Worksheet included.**
 * [|Memories of Mom] - Students write their special memories of Mom using daily writing prompts //-// //A Holiday Memory With Mom, A Funny Moment With Mom, The __Best Advice__ My Mother Gave Me, Mom Always Says ... , A Time I Told a Fib to Mom, and more.//**


 * [|Mother's Day]on Crayola.com - ecards, crafts, __lesson plans__ and coloring activities.**

=**Cinco de Mayo ("5th of May")**=
 * [|Cinco de Mayo WebQuest-] Discover Mexican history and culture! This webquest includes links to websites for learning more about the history of Cinco de Mayo, fiesta food, Mariachi music, and pinatas!**
 * [|Interactive Quiz] - Take the quiz to learn more about Cinco de Mayo.**
 * [|Cinco de Mayo] - Resources from Teach-nology - __lesson plans__, vocabulary builders, crafts, and more**
 * [|Discovery Education Streaming] - View //"Holiday Facts and Fun: Cinco de Mayo"// - Blackline Master __student__ learning sheet and online quiz included**
 * [|Cinco de Mayo resources]- e-cards, crafts, coloring pages, and lesson plans from Crayola.com**

= = =May - National Physical Fitness and Sports Month=
 * [|Resources, Lessons, and Activities for Physical Education] (from Education World)**
 * Help students be physically fit! Web links such as "Fun Fitness Times Five", "Fantastic Field Days", "Let's Get Physical", "Computers and Phys Ed //Do// Mix", and more!**
 * [|PE Central: Log It!] - An activity mileage log designed to motivate kids to become physically active. "In addition to recording their steps or miles, they can participate in a virtual hike across the USA with their class ..."**


 * [|Kidnetic]** **Try different sections of this site! //Move// - focuses on physical activity ("wet head games")//,//** **//Eat, Talk//, and //Learn//.**
 * You might want to try //Betchacant// - an email challenge to dare friends to beat you at an activity such as hopping on one foot.**


 * [|Brain Breaks]- physical activity idea book for elementary classroom teachers**
 * [|Kids Health] - why __exercise__ is cool**


 * GoNoodle - Get the wiggles out! Sign up for free movement and dance videos!**

== = = =** Web Cams - for those times you want to rest and relax, but also see what's happening! **=
 * Monterey Bay Aquarium Live Web Cams** **Take a look at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Sometimes you might catch them feeding the animals or giving visitors a tour!**
 * [|Columbia Riverbanks Zoo Web Cam] - Enjoy sights from our own zoo. Different exhibits are featured from time to time!**

=

= =**WONDERFUL WONDERFUL HUMMINGBIRDS!**=


 * __Journey North__**
 * http://www.learner.org/jnorth/humm/index.html **


 * (Teaching Materials & Lessons)**
 * []**
 * (Student Materials)**
 * []**


 * The Hummingbird Nest by Kristine O'Connell George []**
 * (Reading some of the hummer poems aloud...)[]**
 * (Teacher's Guide) []**
 * [|Time For Kids Special on Book]**
 * []**


 * Egg to Fledgling Countdown: [|http://www.learner.org/jnorth/spring2001/species/humm/Update041201.html#Egg]**


 * Operation Ruby Throat: []**


 * Photogallery of all kinds of hummers:**
 * []**

**[|www.cssplay.co.uk/ menu/menu_gallery]**

 * [|Memorial Day Resources**] - Internet Scavenger Hunt, small group and whole class activities and more.**
 * [|Monthly Themes] - Memorial Day Quizzes, puzzles, coloring pages, websites and more from Houghton Mifflin.**


 * [|Memorial Day] - History, information, web links.**
 * [|National World War II Museum]- timelines, [|lesson plans,] oral histories and more.**


 * [|USS Arizona] - history, sections for teachers and for kids**
 * [|Memorial Day from Crayola.com] - ecards, crafts, lesson plans**

=**Yippee! It's Vacation Time!**=


 * Start planning your summer vacation!**


 * Students can use the Internet to research weather in different cities of the United States. They record data about temperature and rainfall. This data is then used to create a spreadsheet and graph. After comparing the different cities' weather, the students decide where they would like to vacation.**
 * As an extension, students can then research attractions, restaurants, hotels, etc. to discover more about their chosen vacation area. A persuasive paragraph is then written convincing others to choose this location as the perfect vacation spot!**


 * [[file:vacationwksht.doc]] Vacation Worksheet [[file:vacationspsht.xls]] Vacation Spreadsheet Example**



**Do a survey of the locations your students will be traveling this summer.**

 * Use MS Excel to collect and graph their responses. Practice graph reading skills!**

Make a ** Vacation Graph! **

=**Write About Your** **Dream Vacation!**=
 * For interesting fun, students can pick one imaginary place they'd like to visit this summer, then write a short paragraph about it to share with the class.** **Include where they're going, why they want to go, and one special attraction they would like to see while visiting.**


 * Here are a few locations to give a start! Use Internet resources!**


 * [|Myrtle Beach] - South Carolina**
 * [|Charleston] - South Carolina**
 * [|Savannah] - Georgia**
 * [|Disney World] - Florida**
 * [|NatureScene Interactive] - US Parks**
 * [|The Caribbean] - Tropical islands**
 * [|Hawaii-] The ? state to join the United States of America.**

**[[image:bupink.jpg align="left"]]A****dditional Geography Resources:**

 * [|MapMachine] - Locate cities, countries, or other locations around the world - cool map here!**
 * [|MapQuiz] - Tons of quizzes to keep you busy for hours. Lots of other "stuff" here too!**
 * [|The World Fact Book]** **- Facts about countries of the world - Learn about others!**
 * [|The USA Quiz] - Excellent review of the 50 states with an interactive map.**
 * [|GeoBee Challenge] - Play everyday - You'll learn more about geography!**
 * [|Biomes of the World] - Rainforest, tundra, desert, grasslands, temperate, taiga**
 * [|Habitats] - Explore Cities & Suburbs, Deserts & Tundra, Forests, Fresh Water, Oceans & Coasts, and Prairies!**
 * [|Foreign Language for Travelers] - Learn common phrases; hear pronunciations; find currency exchange rates; a hotel database; and more! This is an excellent resource for Foreign Language teachers.**
 * [|Geography4Kids] - Physical geography and earth science basics - Earth Structure, Atmosphere, Hydrosphere, Biosphere, BGC Cycles, Climates (You will also enjoy [|Chem4Kids] and [|Biology4Kids])**

**Are We There Yet?**

 * [[image:Kite_1.jpg width="212" height="194" align="left"]][|Google Earth] - Amazing way to explore the world!**


 * [|MapQuest]** **- Check the distance from home to your ideal vacation destiny!**


 * [|RiverVenture!] (from Knowitall.org) Your students will love these river excursions - "The Three Rivers", Columbia, SC and "The Estuary", Charleston, SC - Move your mouse & see all that appears! See if you can find the Panoramas, gather clues, and file a River Wrap report. Click and learn as you journey!**


 * [|NatureScene Interactive] (SCETV) Explore parks and nature preserves across the United States! Destination options include: Take the Tour (includes videos), Lay of the Land, Who Lives Here?, Who Am I?, Site Description, and wonderful Learning Resources for teachers, students, and families!**


 * WayBack - Summer Vacation! (from PBS American Experience)**
 * Take an Internet Road Trip to some of America's favorite vacation spots! Start at a vineyard off the cape, continue to Saratoga Springs, the Catskill Mountains, Coney Island, Great Smoky Mountains, Opryland, and more. Short paragraphs with a picture are used to introduce the destinations. A US map reveals your progress throughout the journey! Special feature stories include Miami Beach, Car Camping, and Summer Camp.**


 * [|National Geographic Explorer] - Play this month's game! Enjoy the Activities, Articles, Word Challenge, and Quick Flicks all through the summer!**

=**Digital Information for South Carolina Users**=


 * Remember to take advantage of South Carolina's Virtual Library - an electronic library of essential information and learning resources for all South Carolina citizens. You will find a wealth of information - Biography Resource Center, Health & Wellness Resource Center, What Do I Read Next?, Britannica Online, SIRS Discoverer, SIRS Knowledge Source - do use this wonderful resource!**
 * [|DISCUS]** **can be accessed from school, home, or the public library!**

=** BUGS! BUGS! BUGS! They're Everywhere in Summer!**=


 * These creepy crawlies are from the Arthropod group of animals. Do you know the characteristics of all insects? Take time to explore!**
 * [|Let's Talk About Insects!] Gain an appreciation of insects. Learn how insects grow and develop (metamorphosis) and learn the importance of insects in our environment.**


 * [|Insects!]** **Click on the insect pictures for Internet resources. Sample lesson plans and activities are available.**


 * [|Discovery Education Streaming] - Explore videos such as //The Incredible World of Insects, Junior Zoologist: Insects//,//Those Amazing Arthropods!//, //World of Nature: Insect Disguises//, //Insects: Facts and Folklore//, and more!**
 * (Do a keyword search: insects)**


 * ==Swimming Anyone?==


 * [|**Wild Animal Watch: Dolphins**] - What are dolphins? What's the difference between a dolphin and a porpoise? What are flippers and flukes? How fast do dolphins swim? What is echolocation? Learn all about these exciting mammals of the sea!**
 * [|**What Is A Dolphin?**] (from SeaWorld)**


 * [|**About Marine Animals**] - Whales, Dolphins, Porpoises, Seals, Sea Lions, Walruses, Manatees, Dugongs, and more!**
 * [|**Discovery Education Streaming**] - Take advantage of the many opportunities to show your students "real-life" videos! Blackline Masters, Teacher Guides, and South Carolina Standards are available.**
 * (Do a keyword search: dolphins or whales or oceans)**


 * [|**Miami Sea Aquarium**]**
 * Swim with the dolphins!**
 * [|**Whale Web**] - Facts -whales, dolphins, & porpoises** || [[image:dolphin.jpg align="right" link="http://www.miamiseaquarium.com/"]] ||

**Stay Sharp During the Summer Months!**
=**Language Arts**=


 * [|Carol Hurst's Literature Site] - A wealth of information - reviews of books for students, ideas of ways to use them in the classroom, subject resources, curriculum areas, themes - a wonderful resource for cross-curriculum planning.**
 * [|Storyline Online] - An online streaming video program featuring Screen Actors Guild members reading children's books aloud**
 * [|FableVision Place] - Stories, games, and fun places!**
 * [|Story Hour from the Internet Public Library -] Perfect stories for group classroom viewing...Do take a few minutes and look at "Do Spiders Live on the World Wide Web?" Consider having your class write, illustrate, and publish their own story! Summer Reading - Encourage your students to read during the summer months.Here are several Internet sites you can suggest to them!**
 * [|Page By Page Books] - Expand your horizons! Read a book online!**
 * [|Kidsreads.com]- A reading activity site especially for kids!**
 * [|Eagerreaders.com]- Book lists, topics, suggested reading**
 * [|GigglePoetry.com] - The #1 Fun Poetry Site for Kids on the Web**
 * [|Children's Storybooks Online] - Read online with your students! They can read during the summer!**
 * [|Writing] - Help your students learn to write well. (Tips for parents and teachers are included, too!)**
 * [|Young Writers Workshop] - Story starters and activity pages to encourage writing**
 * [|Language Arts Internet Resources] - from internet4 classrooms**

== =**Math**=


 * [|NumberNut] - Shapes & Colors, Counting,Operations, Date & Time, Money, Decimals, and more**
 * [|Mega Mathematics] - If you're looking for unusual math activities that encourage thinking skills, this is the place! Take a look at "The Most Colorful Math of All, "Games On Graphs", or "Machines That Eat Your Words" for a start. Your students will remember your class forever if you dare to try any of these activities with them.**
 * [|Visual Fractions] - Interactive practice using lines and circles to identify fractions. Fun!**
 * [|All About Fractions] (from AAAMath) - Each page has an explanation, interactive practice, and challenge games about fractions.**
 * [|Fractions - Elementary School Lessons & Materials] - Explore many ways to help students understand fractions. The "Review and Enrichment" section has several fun games such as**
 * [|I've Got Your Number] - A super way to review any math skill.**
 * [|MathStories.com] - Word problems based on Dr. Seuss books - Ready to print! Also, you can find word problems based on The Three Little Pigs ([|higher grades] -[| lower grades])**
 * [|101 Math Links] (from www.101science.com, which has links for all subjects) This web site will give you links to math sites for a variety of grade levels and math skills.**
 * [|Math Baseball] - Play ball and practice math!**
 * [|Math Internet Resources]- from internet4classrooms.com!**


 * [[image:bupurple.jpg align="left"]][|Primary Resources]** **- Free lesson plans, activity ideas and resources for teachers in all subject areas - Web, PowerPoint, SMART Board, and more!**


 * [|Teachers Hub K-12 Interactive Learning Center]** **Online curriculum resources**
 * Review skills with interactive learning! This site has resources for elementary, middle, and high school students plus a quiz hub, spelling hub, words hub, and teachers hub!**