Here is a collection of links to some new ideas and resources that I’ve discovered from my fantastic Twitter network recently:

• Math Live – Lots of engaging animations and interactive tools to support the teaching of different Maths concepts (shared by @kvnmcl)

• Purple Mash – 2Simple have announced their new ‘mash-up of creative tools and curriculum focused applications’. The children at my school love 2Simple’s Online Tools, so I’m really excited about seeing this new tool released.
• Learn Your Tables – Free resources to support the learning of multiplication tables, suggested by @tombarrett.
• What happens when a balloon explodes? –  A super slow motion video to show your class, shared by @cthomas18.
• Zuitube – A collection of online videos for children. Suggested by @AngelaMaiers.
• Paper Models of Polyhedra – Printable nets for every 3D shape you could even need. Suggested by @willie42.
• Shapes – An Interactive tool giving information about 2D and 3D shapes. This also has printable nets to download. Shared by @willie42.

• Terry Freedman has published his ‘Amazing Web 2.0 Projects Book‘. This free guide contains a considerable number of projects, contributed by teachers, that you can try in your own classroom.

Don’t miss the previous posts in this series:

• Part One
• Part Two
• Part Three

Image – Twitter Logo Map 09

Following part 1 and part 2 of my ‘Favourite blogs for teachers’ posts, here is another collection of useful blogs to follow. Don’t forget to subscribe to their RSS feeds to get the latest updates.

• Technostories – This blog is a fantastic source of inspiration for using ICT in your classroom. Created by Bev Evans who also runs the wonderful Communication4All site.
• Inspiring Creative Technology – Simon Haughton shares his teaching experiences, including many brilliant ICT ideas.

• Digital-Teacher – Simon Widdowson posts regularly about lots of school-related issues. Some of these include his explorations of various online tools as his school attempts to set up their own virtual learning environment.
• Steps in Teaching and Learning – This blog, created by Kevin McLaughlin, is another valuable source of information for teachers, particularly those with an interest in ICT.
• Bits & Bobs – Nicola Stables is a regular blogger who shares her teaching ideas and experiences with this wonderful blog.

• I Learn Technology - Kelly Tenkely is a technology teacher who shares useful ideas and teaching links on this fantastic blog.
• Adventures in Learning – EBD35 only started blogging recently and has written some interesting posts already about the use of the Nintendo Wii to support learning in the classroom.

Many thanks to Steph Westwood (who has started her own blog recently) for suggesting some of these via Twitter.

Image – keyboard ~ blur

explore is a multimedia organization that documents leaders around the world who have devoted their lives to extraordinary causes. Their library consists of more than 250 original films and 30,000 photographs from around the world.

explore features a wide range of topics—from animal rights, health and human services, and poverty to the environment, education, and spirituality. Delivered in short, digestible bites, explore films appeal to viewers of all ages, from children learning about other cultures for the first time to adults looking for a fresh perspective on the world around them.

www.explore.org

The resources are well suited to supplement many types of lesson plans, from presentations on multiculturalism to interactive classes on environmental and wildlife preservation. Films range in length from minute-long segments to longer documentary pieces on a particular region (e.g., China, India, the Arctic).

The site’s FAQ explains that ‘the explore team is currently developing a set of academic curricula that incorporates some of our content’ so look out for some useful teaching resources linked to their work.