If the Moon were only 1 Pixel

The "If the Moon were only 1 Pixel" website offers viewers a look at the scale of our solar system. Visitors are show the moon represented as one pixel on the screen. Then as you scroll across the site, the rest of the solar system comes into view, eventually, since this is supposed to be to scale.

Take a few minutes to look at this website. What a cool site to let students explore on that 77 inch SMARTBoard!


If you cannot wait for all of the scrolling, look for the planet jump button at the top of the screen.

http://joshworth.com/dev/pixelspace/pixelspace_solarsystem.html

Apps

The Texas Computer Educators Association, TCEA, does a really great job of keeping up with the latest apps for the class room. I have mentioned their iPad site before in a earlier blog post.

www.tcea.org/ipad

They also have an Android list. Not as many apps as the iPad list, but it is growing. Make sure you check it out.
  
www.tcea.org/android

SafeShareTV

http://safeshare.tv/ 

SafeShare.TV is an easy way to share YouTube videos without all of the extra clutter, like suggested videos and possible inappropriate comments. It isn't that the video itself is bad, but sometimes inappropriate material shows up in these places.

Look up your video on YouTube. Copy the URL. Go to http://safeshare.tv/  and paste the link in the field.
Then, click the Generate Safe Link button. SafeShare will create your link that you can now give to students or post on your website, blogs, or favorite social media.

Now you can watch the video without the distractions. http://safeshare.tv/w/IgZhQgxXDX
 There is even a Share/Save button to share directly to social media.


YouTube Example

SafeShare.TV example of the same video

The Universe

Just thought this latest image from the Hubble telescope is amazing. Reaching out to the edges of the universe.

For more amazing images from the Hubble telescope make sure to check out the esa site at http://www.spacetelescope.org/images/.

Extra SMART Software

 I hear teachers all the time talk about students needing to practice their spelling and their math facts. SMART has two products that teachers can download from the SMART exchange and use with their students. These programs would be great as whole group practice or as a SMART board center.

1. SMART Speller 

SMART Speller allows student to improve their spelling skills. Teachers and use the word lists built into the program or import their own list as a .txt file
Check out the video from TEQ about SMART Speller

Download SMART Speller from the SMART Exchange (you must login to your free account to access the exchange and download the software)


2. SMART Number Cruncher

Number Cruncher allows students to practice addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division problems. Teachers can also use fractions and decimals and set the appropriate skill level for the students.
Check out the video from TEQ about SMART Number Cruncher

Download SMART Number Cruncher from the SMART Exchange (you must login to your free account to access the exchange and download the software)


If you don't use the links above just go to the SMART Exchange, login and search for SMART Speller or SMART Number Cruncher. Don't forget about the SMART Exchange button in notebook software. It will take you directly to the Exchange.

How the SMART Board works

Many teachers have a SMART Board in their classroom, but many don't realize how the "magic" happens.
What exactly happens when a teacher or student touches the board?

TEQ has a great description of how different SMART Boards and our touch devices work. Check it out from the link below.

http://www.teq.com/blog/2014/03/magic-smart-boards-touch-technology-works/#.Uz7Fm1cvl8E



Great video from SMART showing the real magic happens with students interacting with the board.

Wonderopolis

 Every wondered why do you blink? Or how does a hot air balloon fly? Or do dogs really eat homework?

Well wonder no longer. Just head over to Wonderopolis. A excellent site from the National Center for Families Learning and Thinkfinity helps bring to life the answer to the questions we wonder about.

Students can view the Wonder of the day or explore previous wonders. There is also a place to submit what you are wondering about. Who knows, one day it may be the wonder of the day.

Teachers make sure to check out the educator sandbox for their blog and twitter feed as well as the ability to search for a wonder by state standard (common core, but Texas, I bet we can figure it out!)

http://wonderopolis.org/

Compare Apples vs Oranges

 For a long time in education we have used the term "comparing apples to oranges" usually in the terms of yearly state testing.

Now Google allows for nutritional comparisons for food showing the searcher calories, fat, sugars, and the rest of the nutritional values.

Go to your Google search box or the omnibox.
Type in Compare X vs Y, with X being your first food and Y being the second. I found it likes plural terms better (which is weird because usually Google searches like singular search terms).
It didn't produce any results for Big Macs vs Whoppers, but maybe they are working on that. It did show results for hamburgers vs hot dogs.

Could be a good tool in the classroom for decision making, nutrition (since schools are making the kids fat, NOT), estimation...

One more great resource from Google. Give it a try.