SCAVENGER
HUNTS
A Scavenger Hunt may be an
excellent tool to help you develop a learning activity WITH
the student. It's easy to develop, easy to assess, and lots
of fun to apply.
Process: Identify something
the student want to know more about. Create questions
together that will help answer and explore those questions.
Search for resources that will best help them uncover what
they need. Send them out and let them have some fun.
Scavenger Hunts can be done
totally off-line, as you've probably experienced growing up
(Yikes, who wants to be grown up?). Use online resources for
visual/kinesthetic students, who like to work in
groups/teams, and enjoy punching the keyboard. Or combine
local resources with online resources with lots of different
tasks.
Your Scavenger Hunt can be
reported online on a simple MS Word document (ore other
common processor), which students complete and email to you,
as long as they and you have Word. I'm glad to create a form
for you, if you would rather have the info submitted
directly to you online, like the enrollment form, for
example.
In using Scavenger Hunts with
ABE/GED/ESL students, be sensitive to the reading level of
the source material they'll use. Also, I highly encourage
that you include some relevant questions on math in the
process or in the final product.
http://www.spa3.k12.sc.us/ScavHunt.html - This site
provides instructions on one way to develop a scavenger hunt
online. It's written for K-12 teachers, but the format is
just fine for anyone.
Reeling in that Perfect Job
Scavenger Hunt
Scavenger/Treasure Hunts for High School Topics (Good
for GED perp)
Scavenger Hunt on Navigating the Internet (Covers topics
like tree ornaments - varied subjects)
You get the idea...
WEBQUESTS
WebQuests take a little
longer to create, but they can be used over and over again.
There are thousands of Quests now online that you can use if
you don't want to create one. If you want to use an online
Quest for your students, simple answer the "Activity"
questions around it and use at as the "meat" of your
activity.
The advantage of a good
WebQuest is that your student learns independently from you.
Quests can be completed in teams or alone. A good Quest is
written at the student's reading level, so be sure to know
what that is and check the material for simplicity.
Obviously, it will be more difficult to find Quests that
match lower reading levels and language ability, but they
are out there. Take the time to look. Hopefully, we'll share
some of those resources in the forum.
As you'll discover, all
Quests follow a predictable outline: Introduction, The Task
(objectives/outcomes), The Process (the activities/steps),
The Resources, The Rubric, and, possibly, a Teacher's
Section (for lower-level readers who need more help from the
instructor or peers.)
WebQuest Template
Instructions of Building a Quest
http://sesd.sk.ca/teacherresource/webquest/webquest.htm
- Definition and hundreds of Quests written for different
populations. Lots of the Quests are written for adults. Use
them if you like them and develop your activity around them.
A WebQuest Matrix
Super Duper Matrix
Specific Samples
Front
Page 2000 Intro Quest - I created this one, and it's on
this site. Feedback would be great.
World Cultures Quest
Immigration Issues - Written for K-12, but it doesn't
define that, so adults should be OK with it. Low reading
level and great activities. How could you include math?
Maybe add some exercises in latitude, map drawing, charts,
etc...
Bill Gates Game Proposal - Low reading level. Lots of
fun. Full of creativity Among other things, it teaches
classification skills.
http://sesd.sk.ca/teacherresource/webquest/webquest.htm
- Here is a good definition with hundreds of Quests for you
to browse. Visit their links to business Quests that help
define career interests and job info at
http://sesd.sk.ca/teacherresource/webquest/business.htm
You get the idea..
GAMES
Lots of educational
possibilities here. Use games as rewards, learning tools,
samples for students to replicate through their own
creativity, and more. Have fun playing games with your
students.
Great Games and several of them are free to download.
Games for the Visually Impaired
Educational Games
- Some for K-12, but many can be used for adults.
K-12 to Adult Educational Games - Look through the list
on the left-hand margin to get specific choices. So much
fun, so little time.
Second Language Fun
- Finally, a site filled with fun activities, including
games, for ESL-EFL students!
Game
Book for students who don't like math - K-12, but games
are games.
Game rules for PE - Leave it to Canada!
Group Activities - Not
really games, although there are some. This is an
interesting site dedicated to group stuff. Nice for family
literacy, I would say.
General
Resources with
Specific Help
http://earth.jsc.nasa.gov/
- Astronauts views of our Home
Planet.
http://www.howstuffworks.com/
- You've got to
visit this site if you are at all interested in how anything
works! After you find out, write a summary of what you
learned. Tell others in your class about how something works.
Have fun!
http://www.brainpop.com/
- allows 2 accesses. Great video with narration on many topics.
Not too childish, I think... Try the technology area - cars
http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/math.html
- Variety of lesson plans that can be printed or done online.
This is on math but there are many on other subjects. Good
source of short activities related to interests.
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Help
with
Homework and Questions
http://www.homeworkhelp.com/ - Lots of help, exercises
and activities on many subjects.
http://www.afterschool.to/ - This site was not developed for adults, but some of you
might enjoy it anyway. It has some fun stuff for people of any
age to do. Ask questions about any subject listed, and you'll
get an answer!
http://www.brainmania.com/
- Fun site. "Your search is
over! If you think finding help on the Internet for school
related subjects is impossible, think again. Why? Because
BrainMania
provides FREE personal help for all of your school subjects.
Most questions answered in less than 24 hours." In addition,
there are interactive forums and chat rooms!
http://www.schoolwork.org/
- Answers questions and
provides lots of information on different subjects. Just click
on your preference.
http://www.ipl.org/ -
If you don't have the time to get to a library, this is "The
Internet Public Library." Enjoy your search!
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WRITING
Letter
of advice to a student asking about essay writing
http://www.essaypunch.com/
- This site takes you step by step through the process,
with windows to insert information.
http://www.essaypunch.com/
- Ideas and examples of the writing process.
http://members.tripod.com/~lklivingston/essay/
- Instructions for essay writing with a clear sample.
http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Atrium/1437/
- Nice tutorial with guides for Narrative, Expository and
Persuasive essays, with sample prompts and writings.
http://www.careerlab.com/letters/ -
Sample letters and many resources for testing and career
development
Announce
Job Changes
Clarify Your Career Direction
Find a Part-time or Contract Job
When Caught Without a Resume
Friends and Business Acquaintances
Recruiters and Employment Agencies
Answer Want Ads Like a Pro
Guarantee Good References
Sales Letters That Open Doors
Cold Call Target Companies
Reply Form to Increase Response
Uncover Hidden Job Markets
Say "Thank You" with Class
Follow Up. Follow Up. Follow Up.
Get Help From Consultants--Or Become One
Build Good Business Relationships
Promote Yourself In the Media
Prevent Firing or Leave Gracefully
Help Others In the Job Market
Negotiate a Significant Pay Raise
Counter a Written Job Offer
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READING
http://www.rhlschool.com/reading.htm -
Site has other things, but several short reading passages
with comp and other activities, such as Cloze. Print and
give for short exercises.
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GRAMMAR
http://www.uottawa.ca/academic/arts/writcent/ - This
site has numerous resources to texts, literature and
structure development.
For example,
their http://www.uottawa.ca/academic/arts/writcent/hypergrammar/
grammar.html has some nice explanations and exercises on sentence structure,
and other grammar topics, as follow:
Copyright
and Terms of Use
Introduction to HyperGrammar
The Parts of Speech
The Parts of the Sentence
Punctuation
Using Pronouns
Using Verbs
Modifiers
Building Phrases
Building Clauses
Building Sentences
Writing Paragraphs
Diction
Spelling
Miscellaneous Topics
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Math
(Give us feedback on
some of these sites!)
http://ericir.syr.edu/Virtual/Lessons/Mathematics/ -
Lots of exercises. Look into Applied Math (7-12) and do the
budgeting plan.
http://www.funbrain.com/numbers.html -
Number Games
http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/chaos/home.html -
Ditto
http://www.steponline.com/everest/toolkit_week_four.asp#measuring_mountains -
Measuring mountains
http://www.mste.uiuc.edu/carvell/3dbox/ -
Three Dimensional Box Applet: Working With Volume. Very interactive
with simulation.
http://www.mathforum.org/teachers/adult.ed/ -
This is a must. Lots of resources for adults; arithmetic
and math resources through GED.
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http://www.mathgoodies.com/homeschool
- Mrs. Glosser's
Math Goodies
http://www.kent.wednet.edu/curriculum/math/edmath
-
Everyday Mathematics Resource Guide
http://www.users.black-hole.com/users/rsch/btest.html
-
The Math Forum
http://www.proteacher.com/100027.shtml
-
Pro Teacher
http://www.teachnet.com/index.html
- Teach net
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0001727.tml
- Information Center
http://www.arithmetic.com
- Arithmetic at Home
http://www.calculator.com
- Calculator!
http://www.ext.misstate.edu/pubs/publ690.htm
-Mississippi State University
http://www.encarta.msn.com/find/Concise.asp?ti=05853000
- Encarta Learning Zone
http://forum.swarthmore.edu/dr.math/
- Lots of math
information with a chance to ask on-line questions
http://www.webmath.com./ -
Everyday Math:Figuring
a tip, Sale price, Wind Chill, Lottery Odds
$$ Personal Finance Math $$: Simple Interest, Compound
Interest, Retirement, A loan,Stocks
Numbers:Add, Divide, Factor, GCF, LCM, Pronouncing
Units Conversion:Length, mass, area, volume,
speed, power, Temps.
Fractions: Reduce, Add, Subtract, Multiply, Divide,Converting
Decimals:Fraction to Decimal, Decimal to Fraction
Scientific Notation:Multiply with, Divide with, Converting
The Equation of a Line:Two points, point and slope,
slope and y-int
Graphing and Hearing:XY-Plot, Polar-Plot, Hear, Points,
Lines
Simplifying Expressions:Powers, Products, Like terms,
Anything else
Polynomials:Add/Sub., Multiply, Div., Expon., Compl.
the Square
Factoring Polynomials:Using GCF, Diff. of two Squares,
Trinomials
Quadratic Equations:Solve by factoring, The Quadratic
Formula
Radical Expressions:Square roots, Other roots
Word Problems:Percents, Numbers, $Money$, Ratios,
Rates, Age, Mixtures
Physics:Relativity, Weight on other planets
Number Crunching: Numbers only, with variables too
Solving Equations:One equation, Two equations, Numerically
Trigonometry: Trig. Expressions, Right Triangles
Plotting Conic Sections: Circles, Parabolas, Ellipses,
Hyperbolas
Data Analysis: Average, Standard Deviation, Histograms
Stuff about Geometrical Objects: Circles, Squares,
Rectangles, Spheres, Cylinders, R.,Triangles
Calculus: Derivatives Quotient Rule, Integration:
Symbolic, Numeric
Questions and Answers: General, Algebra,
Calculus, Word, Webmath, Comments
Math Software for your PC: Online, CD-ROM, Demonstration
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ESL
ESL
RESOURCES - Links for teachers and students on ESL
methodology, language tests, reading materials, on-line
tests, and many other goodies.
SCIENCE/HEALTH
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Credit
Cards and
Loans
abcs_interest/abcs_interest.html
- This
site will teach you step-by-step how to figure the interest
you will pay on any loan. It is offered by the Federal Reserve
Bank of Chicago.
http://www.creditinfocenter.com/cards/
- This site tells
you everything you need to know about getting, using, and
paying for stuff with credit cards. Don't miss it. The site
has links to the following information:
FREE Debt
Reduction Help!
Lists of credit cards
The fine print in credit card agreements
Misc Credit Cards Info
All About Credit Cards, Other Cards
Billing Errors and Overcharges
Buying things with Credit Cards
Credit Card Fraud - It happens all too frequently
How to prevent the credit bureaus from selling your name to
mailing lists
Good Cards, Bad Cards
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FUN
http://www.riddlenut.com/ - Riddles
TECH
http://pcsupport.about.com/?once=true& - PC Support. High
reading level.
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/ - This site shows how everything
works. Reading difficulty varies. Some topics may need to be
rewritten or read together with higher-level reader.
http://whatis.techtarget.com/ - Technical vocabulary and definitions.
http://www.howstuffworks.com/two-stroke.htm - Two-stroke engines.
How they work.
MUSIC
http://www.lyricsfreak.com/ - Huge # of song lyrics. They can
memorize or redo in their own words.
http://www.azlyrics.com/ - Ditto
http://guitar-primer.com/
http://www.musicease.com/download.html - music software
PICS
http://www.fuzzymonkey.org/newfuzzy/software/cgi-bin/photo/index.cgi - great photo gallery
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