August Features from Internet 4 Classrooms

August Blog | App of The Month | What's Happening |
New- Online Practice | New- Printables | New- Answer Keys |
Teacher Resources | Parent Resources | Technology Tips |
Other Areas of Interest | Common Core |
SAT and ACT Test Preparation

August brings National Back to School Month, National Immunization Awareness Month, National Aviation Day, Dream Day, and much more. Visit our monthly newsletter to see all the details.

August Blog: 9 Key Benefits of Early Childhood Education

9 Key Benefits of Early Childhood Education

This month's blog is 9 Key Benefits of Early Childhood Education.

There's an old saying that little children's minds are like blank pages. Everything they experience, both good and bad, shapes the way they behave later in life. Early childhood education, which can be defined as the practical education of 8-year kids and below, is, without doubt, a key aspect of a child's development process that's unfortunately often overlooked. This is mainly because most people are not aware of its benefits to holistic child growth. In case you weren't aware, here are nine major advantages of early childhood education.

Guest blogger Charles Ebert is a career mentor, motivational speaker and human resources consultant with over 10 years of experience in the HR sector.

App of the Month

Every month we are going to feature a different, and hopefully FREE, iPad/iPod/iPhone/Android educational application. Visit our ever-changing app page.

The App of the Month for August is Simple Physics By Jundroo, LLC ( iOS and Android ).

SimplePhysics lets you design complex structures for everything from tree houses to ferris wheels and then simulates your design with a sophisticated physics engine.

A wise person once said: "An engineer is someone who can do for a dime what any fool can do for a dollar." In SimplePhysics, your design must not only be strong enough, it must be cheap enough to win.

Create your design in seconds with the blueprints editor. If you make a mistake, simply tap the Undo button. Zoom in and out by pinching the screen and pan the view using a two finger drag.

While testing, you can see how the strain is distributed across your design. Areas that are under immense strain are colored bright red, while other areas are colored green. This allows you to find and fix problem areas in your design.

The finger test lets you use your finger to push and pull on your design. You can use this with pinpoint accuracy, or you can just smash your design to smithereens. The finger test has an explosive new twist. You can now create explosions by tapping the screen for ultimate annihilation.

The newly added Bomb Shack level includes a dummy with full support for ragdoll physics. Throw him around, blow him up, and smash him against your design.

The slow motion feature lets you slow things down so you can see how your design is failing, and it is also incredibly fun to watch explosions destroying your design in slow motion.

Features

• Realistic physics simulation
  
• Ragdoll physics
  
• Slow motion mode
  
• Stress display shows problem areas in your design
  
• Wide variety of levels
  
• Finger Test - smash your design to pieces, or blow it up with realistic explosions
  
• Save/Load designs
  
• E-mail your blueprints to your friends
  

SimplePhysics is available for Apple and Android devices.

Compatibility: Requires iOS 8.0 or later on Apple devices and Android version 2.2 and up on your Android device.

WHAT'S HAPPENING THIS MONTH?

Here are some of the August events that you can celebrate or make note of this month:

1. National Back to School Month
   
   The summer has flown by, and it's time to head back to school! Whether you're a teacher getting ready to meet your new students, or a parent preparing to send your child(ren) back to school we have resources to help transition back into the swing of the school year. Check out our Teacher resource page and our Parent resource page


2. Natural Immunization Awareness Month
   
   August is National Immunization Awareness Month! Find resources, vaccination schedules, and a parents' guide. Make sure to explain to your kids why shots are important!




3. Francis Scott Key's Birthday (8/1/1779)
   
   Today is the birthday of the writer of our national anthem! Read about Francis Scott Key and learn about the flag the national anthem was written about. Check out these great lesson plans about Francis Scott Key, Ft. McHenry, and the War of 1812.




4. Dollar Day (8/8)
   
   Did you know that the US dollar bill was created in 1786? Learn about the current $1 bill and the history of currency in the United States. Check out I4C's pages on how to introduce money counting skills to your students or child(ren).


5. International Left-Hander's Day (8/13)
   
   Did you know that Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Albert Einstein, and Bill Gates are all left handed? Roughly 10-15% of Americans are left handed. 1 in 4 Apollo astronauts were left handed. 5 out of the last 8 presidents have been left handed. You can find all sorts of fun, yet, conflicting, left-handed trivia online. But one thing is for sure, there are quite a few famous left-handers! Find out about other famous left handers and tips for teaching left handed children here!


6. The 19th Amendment was Ratified, Granting Women the Right to Vote (8-18-1920)
   
   The movement for women's rights was elevated to the national level when the 19th Amendment was proposed to Congress in 1878. It took roughly 70 years of suffrage before the Amendment was ratified. Explore lesson plans, and historic information, and classroom resources on Women's Suffrage.




7. National Aviation Day (8/19)
   
   Celebrate the Wright Brothers, Amelia Earhart, and other aviation pioneers today! Look at a great timeline about aviation and find crafts and activities here.




8. Dream Day (8/28)
   
   On this day in in 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King stood at the Lincoln Memorial and said his famous "I Have a Dream" speech. Learn about Dr. King, read his speech, and learn about the Civil Rights Movement.

New- ONLINE PRACTICE AT I4C

Internet4Classrooms now offers Online Practice and Interactives, covering Kindergarten to Eighth Grade Common Core Mathematics. Look for a rapidly growing variety of thousands of practice quizzes tied to the Common Core State Standards, School Subjects, Activities, and Holidays.

Check out our Online Practice Quizzes! More grades and subjects coming soon!

New Online Practice Quizzes Made Available in AUGUST!

We have released many new online quizzes during the last months supporting the Common Core Standards.

Try them out, and then use them with your students as:

• Bell Ringers,
• In Class Assignments,
• Homework or
• Extra Credit.

Here is a list of the newest quizzes by grade.

New- COMMON CORE MATHEMATICS PRINTABLES AT I4C

Internet4Classrooms offers Printables, covering Kindergarten to Sixth Grade Mathematics. Look for a rapidly growing variety of thousands of practice worksheets tied to the Common Core State Standards, School Subjects, Activities, and Holidays.

Check out our Common Core Printables! More grades and subjects coming soon!

New Printables Worksheets Made Available in AUGUST!

We have released thousands of new printables worksheets during the last months supporting the Common Core Standards.

Try them out, and then use them with your students as:

• Bell Ringers,
• In Class Assignments,
• Homework or
• Extra Credit.

Here is a list of the newest worksheet sets by grade.

New- Answer Keys




New Worksheet Answer Keys Made Available in AUGUST!

We have released thousands of new answer keys for our printables worksheets during the last months supporting the Common Core Standards.

Remember that you can sign up for answer key access here: https://i4c.xyz/n89msyv.

Here is a list of the newest answer key sets by grade.





TEACHER RESOURCES



1. Many historical events happened this month which you can cover in your classroom. Check outI4C's History page for lesson plans, videos, activities, and other resources to supplement your lessons!


2. Back to School we go! Check out all of our great resources - including Classroom Organization, Classroom Management, Lesson Planning, and Making the Most Out of Technology.


3. Our Teacher Resource page has everything from Exceptional Children needs, to Project Ideas, Character Education, Lesson Plans, Instructional Information, Reference Sites, and all of our Teacher Tools. Please take advantage of these FREE services!


4. Here are a few quick links to get you started:
   Lesson Plans page
   Elementary and Middle School Lessons
   High School Lessons
   Classroom and workstation set up by grade
   Planning Tools
   Bulletin Board Ideas
   Classroom Forms
   Discipline Techniques and Classroom Management
   Grade Level Help
   Resources by School Subject
   Guidance Resources


5. Check out our Pinterest and especially our Back to School board to find fun classroom tips for the new school year!


6. Be sure to check out our Common Core Math Printables and Common Core State Standards Resources when planning your lessons this year. These are great additional supplements to use in your classroom!


7. Frustrated with the lack of access to technology in your classroom? Take a look at these 8 creative classroom tech tips—from a teacher who had very little of it.
8. Are you a first time teacher this fall? Scholastic has a "survival guide" page for new teachers with tips and resources to help make your first year of teaching a success!


9. Looking for a great book to read to your classroom on the first day of school? Find a great back to school themed list here!


10. Be sure to check out I4C's collection of free educational iPhone and iPad apps!


11. Remember to visit our Teacher Tools section! This home page contains all the topics you need to use during the school year.


12. Go to our grade level help for lesson plans, activities, instructionals, and tools organized by grade and subject.



PARENT RESOURCES




1. It's that time - time to get our kids motivated to hit the books. Visit our Back to School Guide for Parents and Parent Zone. Learn how to get involved at your child's school. Find tips for getting your house back into a routine. Stay informed with our bullying and character education resources. Here are a few disciplining techniques to help along the way.


2. Homework is always a struggle, isn't it? Browse these links for homework help ideas.


3. August is National Immunization Month! Make sure your children are up to date on their shots before the school year starts. Find a Parent's Guide to Immunization here.


4. Nutrition is an important factor in academic performance! Find tips for healthy eating here. Here are some great ideas to make a healthy school lunch for your kids and be sure check out our Nutrition page.


5. Be sure to check out I4C's collection of free educational iPhone and iPad apps for you and your child!


6. You can always visit our Parent Resources page to get grade level practice sites, find online sources, and information pertaining to homework, special needs, reading help, and more.


7. Don't forget our Technology Tutorial section in case you need refresher courses in your computer skills.





TECHNOLOGY TIPS



1. Top 20 Tech Tips for Teachers:
   Kasey Bell and Shake Up Learning have developed a list of twenty tips for implementing technology in the classroom. Instead of being specific tech hints or a list of recommended tools, this unique list is made up of guiding thoughts on how to maximize the use of classroom technology to improve student learning.
   
   Learn more in the article found: HERE


2. Stop Motion Animation in the Classroom:
   Stop-Motion Animation – sounds scary, doesn't it? Sounds like something that kids {or their teachers} could never do. Molly Lynch brings good news: "It is SO easy and you totally need to start using it in your classroom."
   
   Learn more by visiting: HERE.


3. Using Google Drawings for Infographics:
   Everyone (students and teachers alike) love infographics. They are a fantastic way to display a set of related information to tell a story or prove a point. Infographics make complex information eye catching, shareable and easily digestible. So why not create your own for your next lesson? Or have students create an infographic as homework or an in class activity? It's easy once you watch this great YouTube tutorial on using Google Drawings to create infographics.
   
   You can find out more: HERE.






We also have other basic instruction in Microsoft Office, including Word 2007, Excel 2007, Powerpoint 2007.





OTHER AREAS OF INTEREST



1. Resources for Educators - In this section you can find classroom resources for Exceptional Children, Smartboards, Character Education, Web 2.0 Resources and other topics.
2. Resources for Parents - Parents can find resources
   on assisting their children with homework, time management, Internet Safety, subject area resources, grade level resources and more.




Common Core State Standards at I4C




Our Common Core State Standards are full of resources for every individual standard. Students can take control of their own learning by clicking on the page with the standard number, and choosing their own resource to practice that skill.




Check out our Common Core Math High School Algebra Standards, Common Core Math Standards, and Common Core ELA Standards.




SAT and ACT Test Preparation

Free Online Practice Resources for ACT Tests and SAT Tests! I4C now offers free SAT and ACT vocabulary and math quizzes. Join our SAT and ACT Test Preparation program and log in as much as you'd like. Students can take practice tests on 5000 vocabulary words or over 1000 math problems. Parents and Mentors can log in to monitor your scores - including seeing which vocabulary words that were missed. Interactive quizzes allow the test taker to retake and study as much as they want.




Sign Up Here for ACT Test & SAT Test Preparation!