Web sites to bookmark for school

Many sites, such as Time for Kids, offer a mix of games, education and news geared for children.

By JEANNE ROGERS
© St. Petersburg Times
published August 5, 2002

The beginning of a new school year is a wonderful time to be in the classroom. So many tools are at the disposal of kids these days, tools that can aid students in their search for knowledge.

Here are some Web sites that may help them along this school year:

Elementary/middle school

Kids Love 2 Learn

www.2learn.ca/kids2learn/2Learnkidsmenu.html

It's difficult to know where to begin describing this site designed for kindergarten through sixth-grade students and developed by the Because We Care Education Society of Alberta. First Steps on the Net offers assistance in getting started. Links include a Web tutorial, points on searching and safety tips. The best, though, is the backpack icon. If you click on the backpack, a popup window appears with several useful tools, such as an electronic planner to help develop time management skills and Web Tracks, a cool tool that helps students keep a record of where they have been on the Net as they search for educational material. Homework Helper includes links for everything from libraries to spelling tests to tutorials for creating Web pages and using PowerPoint. There also is a link to 2Learnforteens, which is designed for seventh- through ninth-graders.

Time for Kids

www.timeforkids.com/

Here's a source of daily news specifically designed for the younger reader, perhaps third through about fifth grade. This is a sure way to stay informed on what is happening around the world, and it even has a news ticker popup window with the latest headlines.

Kids Konnect

www.kidskonnect.com

This educator-designed site has been recognized by the National Education Association, is on Berit's Best Sites for Children list and has won the Golden Web Award for 2000-2001. Site administrators are determined to provide a safe portal to the Internet for all children through middle school. You can find information through subject or alphabetical lists.

K-8 Kid's Place

www.eduplace.com/kids/

Here's one by Houghton Mifflin Co. with connections to the various educational resources, including reading, that this company produces. Kid's Place offers activities and games to teach and entertain through a variety of school subjects. Click on reading and you can choose the grade level and select a theme. This leads you to look at three books and encourages you to take a Web trip to meet the author and illustrator.

The Why Files

whyfiles.org

Here's science information for students in grades through middle school written in a clear, concise manner. It provides a useful resource, especially for reports and science fair projects.

Crayola Creative Central

www.crayola.com/kids/

This Web destination is just what you need when faced with a project that requires creativity, art and ideas. Click on the button for Crayola Kids and add some color to those assignments.

Billy Bear

www.billybear4kids.com

It's perfect for the young at heart, primarily prekindergarten through second grade. You will find clip art that will be helpful for book reports, creative writing and projects. But read carefully, because some of the items are for sale. Look for the "free" sign and you will find many useful things.

Study Works

www.studyworksonline.com/

Here's help for mathematics and science for students through middle-school grades. Look at the tool bar at the top of the home page and choose from Explorations, Just for Fun, News and Links, Study Works Products, Homework Hints and Test Yourself.

Family Education Network

fen.com/

Welcome to the home for Funbrain, Fact Monster and FE Kids, aimed at students and their parents. All offer the opportunity to learn in a fun virtual environment. There is a goof-off area with numerous arcade-style games. I suggest using this as reward time for a job well done.

Middle/high school

Research Paper

www.researchpaper.com/

Here's a powerhouse of info for those senior projects. No need to put it off any longer. Start here for ideas, advice about online searches and a discussion link.

All grades

Awesome Library

www.awesomelibrary.com

Here's another jam-packed site that will be useful for students, parents, school staff and the community. It's organized by subject and includes a search tool that helps reduce the time spent browsing. I put in the word "writing" and had 340 hits, everything from the writing process to learning styles. However, when I put in the word "essays," I had 57 hits, which included rubrics for essay writing, samples of essays for college entrance and grammar links. A spot at the top of the site lets you go through a door as a teacher, kid, teen, parent, librarian or college student. By doing this, you gain entrance to more links with topics ranging from making friends in school to learning games.

Virtual Library

www.vlib.org/

Visit this library any time. Subject links are provided in a straightforward manner.

Discovery School

school.discovery.com/students/

You'll find a wealth of information for teachers, students and parents. One link (school.discovery.com/homeworkhelp/bjpinchbeck)provides more than 700 links to sites that will help students with their homework.

Guide to Grammar and Writing

ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/

Categories at this site include word, sentence, paragraph, essays and research papers, quizzes and searches and lots more. Maintained by a professor of English, Charles Darling, this site provides information that will assist all ages.

Big Chalk

www.bigchalk.com

It offers resources for teachers, media specialists, students (in grades K-5, 6-8 and 9-12) and parents. There is a link to Homework Central, which is a free directory of Web sites devoted to providing useful resources to aid kids. There are math tutorials, for example, and suggested links are numerous and varied.

Kidnews

www.kidnews.com

Students up to the high school level can submit their writing and read stories and poems posted by others. A wide range of topics, including pen pals, warrants parental supervision.

Library of Congress

www.loc.gov/

Click on the button for America's Library for fun for kids and families. You will find America's Story with buttons for famous Americans or a trip to the past. Check out information on America's favorite hobbies and sports. Although this site is designed for kids, there is something of interest for all, including numerous links.

Math2.org

www.math2.org

Designed for students in second through 12th grades, Math2.org is a source for reference materials on mathematical topics. If you need a multiplication table, formulas, functions for trig, equations for algebra or information on the Pythagorean theorem, this is your site. Numerous links are available to practice skills.

Homework Help

www.startribune.com/homework_help/

Students at all levels, even college, can get answers to submitted questions, usually within 24 hours. No more excuses for not doing assignments! Enter this site and receive help from volunteers. Answers are posted on the site, and no e-mail is sent to the student. There's a good search database. I entered the word "division" and among the 55 possible matches were helpful tips for dividing fractions, estimation and long division.

Webster's Dictionary and a thesaurus

www.m-w.com/

www.thesaurus.com/

These two reference sites helps with word meanings, antonyms, synonyms and so on. If you don't have a current dictionary with byte and ROM, visit here and you will find the information you need.

- Jeanne Rogers is the technology specialist at Deer Park Elementary School in New Port Richey.

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