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The Scale of Life

What it is:  The Scale of Life is a neat website that I learned about from a parent in @michellek107‘s class today.  The Scale of Life is flash based, and shows the size of objects relative to other objects.  Along the bottom of the site is a slider that lets students zoom in or out in size to see things relative to each other. Students can get as small as 0.0000000001 yoctometers to as large as size of the known universe. How to integrate The Scale of Life into the classroom:  The Scale of Life is a neat way for students to explore size, science and math.  Students can examine the scale of objects compared to other objects and make observations about size and purpose of the object in the universe.  This would be a fun site to explore as a class using a projector-connected computer or interactive whiteboard.  As a class, students could adjust the scale and discuss size and purpose of the objects.  Split students into teams to choose a different scale to learn about. Students can learn more about the items that are in the size range to share back with the class. The Scale of Life could be a fantastic site for students learning about exponents and scientific notation.  Visual students will appreciate that they can see what these big (and small) numbers are representing. Tips: @michellek107 is digging the music on the site…she has it going in the background of her classroom right now .  If you aren’t loving it, there is a music note in the upper right corner where you can turn it off. Please leave a comment and share how you are using The Scale of Life in  your classroom!

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Children’s Books Forever

Posted by admin | Posted in Character Education, Download, Foreign Language, Interactive book, iPod, Language Arts, Primary Elementary, Teacher Resources, Understand (describe, explain), Websites | Posted on 31-08-2011

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What it is:   Children’s Books Forever is a simple site that packs a powerful punch for instilling a love of reading at an early age.  These are free children’s books that have become classics and children’s favorite books from around the world.  The books can be used on an interactive whiteboard, power point, overhead projector, on iPads (or other iDevices), or classroom computers.  Did I mention they are free?  These fun picture books are downloadable in pdf format and are wonderful for expanding your classroom library.  New books are being added regularly to Children’s Books Forever so be sure to check back often!

How to integrate Children’s Books Forever into the classroom:  I love sites that spread a love for reading while simultaneously beefing up the classroom library (and student’s home libraries).  The site is simple to use, just choose a book, download as a PDF and read.  Couldn’t be any simpler!  The books can be read in multiple languages making it a wonderful place for students who are learning a second language or speaking English as a second language.  Be sure to click on the links in the left side bar, they will lead you to additional books.  Find books for toddlers, Waldo humor books, inspirational books and more information on author Hans Wihelm in addition to the books featured on the home page.

The stories featured on Children’s Books Forever are beautifully written and illustrated.  Do your students have a pen pal or buddy in another country who speaks a different language?  Why not find a book that is featured in both languages to read and discuss together?  This is a great connecting point for students!

Bookmark Children’s Books Forever on classroom computers so that students can easily access the books during reading time.  The books can also be printed and added to the class library.  Be sure to remind your students they can access these stories from any Internet connected computer, they can keep reading at home too.

Many of the stories on Children’s Books Forever can be used for character education discussions in the primary classroom.  Project these stories on an interactive whiteboard or projector-connected computer for a class read along.

Tips: Be sure to sign up to be notified when new books are added to Children’s Books Forever via email!

Please leave a comment and share how you are using Children’s Books Forever in  your classroom!

 

Comments (11)

Children’s Books Forever | EDchat | Scoop.it said on 01-09-2011

[...] Children’s Books Forever     What it is:   Children’s Books Forever is a simple site that packs a powerful punch for instilling a love of reading at an early age.  These are free children’s books that have become classics and children’s favorite books from around the… Source: ilearntechnology.com [...]
Dan McGuire said on 01-09-2011

This is a great resource, Kelly; thanks for sharing.

You forgot to mention that books are available in a dozen different languages: English, Afrikaans, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Indonesian, Japanese, Norwegian, Spanish, and Swedish.

And, the pdf books can easily be included in Moodle assignments and discussions.
Chris Victor said on 01-09-2011

Hi. The reveiw states you can use these books on an iPad, but the site uses Acrobat, which I’m told an iPad cannot support. Can someone share a work around that I can use to share this resource with my students who use iPads? Thanks in advance.
Chris
admin said on 01-09-2011

The Adobe mention is just a recommendation for a PDF reader. If you go to Children’s Books Forever from the iPad it works no problem :)

admin said on 01-09-2011

Thanks Dan! It is good to note that not ALL of the books are available in all languages but there are great overlaps between languages that would enable conversations and collaboration between pen pals of different languages.
N. Palmer said on 03-09-2011

Might be good to note that all the titles appear to be by the same author, the prolific Hans Wilhelm.
Jennifer Jones said on 05-09-2011

Thanks for the tips on Children’s Books Forever, and in addition to Tumblebooks, Speakaboos and can you also let us know of other free e-books available online? Thanks.
admin said on 07-09-2011

Story Cove is another good one!
admin said on 07-09-2011

True.
Donna said on 08-09-2011

There was a suggestion for another ebook site that has since disappeared. Can it be put back? Thx.
admin said on 12-09-2011

Not sure of the one you are referring to Donna!

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