Helpful Web Sites

In my recent readings I found the following web sites/apps that you may find helpful for your subject area. Or, in my case, it could bring out your inner math nerd.  Enjoy!

http://www.timemaps.com/history.  I haven’t taken a ton of time to look at this one, but it appears that you can read up on the history of a region of the world (or continent) via maps of the regions.  Good for ancient history up to recent times.  It looks weak on South Korea though, which must be remedied.

http://storybird.com/  They provide you with pictures.  You use the pictures as your illustrations for writing a story or poetry.  Good way to publish student writing and/or find some good reading for yourself.  Or, maybe a chance to do some critiquing with your kids. 

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/minds-of-modern-mathematics/id432359402?mt=8 iPad app.  This one is fun.  They took a math history timeline and made it interactive.  Click on an item and you get a bit more information. There are also animations of some math concepts on the video section.  I’m not sure how to use this in a way that will motivate my 6^th graders to learn, but I’m enjoying looking through things through the centuries.  Reminds me of the time I read Is God a Mathematician(http://www.amazon.com/Is-God-Mathematician-Mario-Livio/dp/074329405X/ref=sr_1_200?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1334603230&sr=1-200).  Good stuff!