These days it can be difficult to determine the veracity of a story. The term “fake news” has grown in popularity for that very reason, and social media is rife with examples. It is important to remember that not all information is created equal.
Educators & students, I’ve got a resource for you! Are you familiar with the site Factitious? Did you say no? Well, let me tell you a little bit about it. Factitious is a news game where players determine if the article shared is real news based on reporting from a reliable source, or fake news (e.g. satire, ad, opinions, etc.). Game levels are decided by a player’s level of schooling--middle school, high school, and college. Titles, sources, and snippets of articles are shared to help players judge. This quick game can be used in a lesson introduction, during a “do now” period, or as a group activity after a mini-lesson.
If you’re already familiar with Google Arts and Culture, then continue to the next resource you lucky duck. Otherwise, I invite you to peruse the site. This is a great tool for art and history teachers but can also come in handy for anyone interested in taking a virtual or augmented reality trip. If the thought of viewing the Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy in London, recreating a masterpiece, or exploring amazing architecture around the world sounds exciting, be sure to click on the link below.
Are you or your students feeling a need to spice things up a bit? Even in this new world of virtual learning and increased technology usage, we can fall into a boring rut if not careful. Why not let Adobe Spark add a bit of pizzazz to your publications? With Adobe Spark, students can quickly make animated videos, beautiful web pages, and sophisticated graphics — no design experience required. Exclusively for educational institutions, Adobe has made a premium version of Spark available to students and teachers for free. Spark works Google Drive, Google Classroom, Canvas, Flipgrid, and many others. Check it out & spice up your presentation life.
Last, but certainly not least, is something Epic! Elementary school teachers are often on the lookout for new books for their students, oft times at their own expense. With the Epic Unlimited Books for Kids app, teachers in the U.S. and Canada get free access to over 40,000 kid-friendly books ranging from National Geographic Kids to the Goosebumps series. The educator’s version of the app also includes lesson ideas and videos to make life easier for teachers. Recent updates include features that help kids pick the next book in their favorite series and Epic! Originals, which offers stories from the kids’ favorite authors. Parents you can also give it a go for thirty days at no cost.
I know that I am not the only educator who LOVES free resources that are practical and fun. If there’s something you are using that you’d love to share, please be sure to drop a line or two below.
Since I am feeling a bit generous, here are a few of my favorite teacher/student discount offers:
1. J.Crew- The next time you’re shopping at J. Crew, whip out that school ID to save 15% on your purchase. This discount is also available at the Factory Stores.
2. West Elm- Show your valid school ID and take 10% off your in-store purchase from West Elm. Enjoy modern, sophisticated furniture and home decor for less.
3. Costco (Educators)- While Costco doesn't offer free or discounted memberships, we do provide an exclusive offer for teachers to join Costco as a new member and receive a $30 Costco Shop Card! To qualify for this new membership offer, you can validate your teacher status with SheerID here.
4. Costco (College Students)-While Costco doesn't offer free or discounted memberships, we do provide an exclusive college student offer to join Costco as a new member and receive a Costco Shop Card! To qualify for this new membership offer, visit here, scroll down, and click the link for "Student Membership Promotion" near the bottom of the page.
Homeschooling parents, did you know that you can get 20% off at Barnes and Noble (25% during Educator Appreciation days) and 15% off at Michael’s? Check the respective websites or call your local store for more information.
Educators and parents, you’ve got just a few weeks remaining until summer break. Press toward mark & just keep swimming😎.
Au revoir,
Kimberly R. Douglas
