Periodic Table Game

This game is simple:  as element names cascade down your screen, choose that element's correct symbol on the periodic table before the element disappears from your screen.  When you succeed, the element symbol is green.  You can use this activity to test students' knowledge of element symbols, or you can encourage them to use this at home for a study tool before a test or quiz over the elements.  The game also allows you to select your difficulty level.  Test your knowledge here.

image: microsoft

"StumbleUpon" Reading Resources

Check out these three StumpleUpon resources that may be useful for reading/literacy activities:

• Free Audio Books featuring classics like Huckleberry Finn, Treasure Island and Alice in Wonderland.  Just click the files and you can play these stories while students listen or read along in their own books.
• Tons of Books are available on this site, including short stories and poems.
• Short Stories can be found on this site, both contemporary and classic.

I found these resources on StumbleUpon, which you can use to find sites of interest.

Game: Proofreading Online

Students can put their proofreading skills to the test with Spelling Connections' Online game, which provides short paragraphs for students to edit.  Players can choose their grade level, read the passages and edit mistakes using proofreading marks.  Spelling errors have to be corrected.  Students are told how many mistakes are in each paragraph, and they have a limited number of tries for each round.  There are about 30 passages per grade level, so students can get plenty of practice.


This would be ideal for a computer station; it is a good way to have students practice editing and using proofreading marks.   Try it!

image: microsoft

Science Activity: Design a Cell Phone

Many students own and an have an interest in cell phones.  Channel their interest into this science activity for the middle grades.  This interactive science activity from Edheads.org applies engineering principles by challenging students to design their own cell phone.  


The site presents a problem:  senior citizens are dissatisfied by many popular cell phone designs, and students must come up with a design that addresses the particular needs of that demographic.  The site allows students to research, design, and test their model before it is put on the market for consumers.   The teacher's page for this activity also has tips and extensions, such as designing a cell phone for business people and middle school students.  Discussion questions, printables and assessment tips are included.

image:  edheads.org