C.H.E.E.R.

Learning Sight Words

2010-02-03T02:45:00.000-08:00

Here is a great free software you can download from Quiz Tree. It appears on your desktop. Three words appear and you hear one of the words spoken, so you then click that word. The game provides levels of sight words such as preprimer, primer, first grade, second grade and third grade.
A great way for early readers to practice their sight words.

Quiz Tree Sight Word Software

Have Fun with Online Comic Creators

2009-10-12T06:40:00.000-07:00

Online Comic Creators

View more presentations from S. Hendy.

Dinosaur Train

2009-10-09T16:50:00.000-07:00

Dinosaur Train is a great interactive site which both informative and fun. It is on PBS Kids and based on the TV show created by The Jim Henson Company. This is a great site for younger children who are interested in dinosaurs or if they are learning about them at school.

The site offers several activities such as games called Pteradon Fishing, Hungry, Hungry, Herbivore and How Big are you?

The Field Guide allows children to learn about different dinosaurs by selecting them and listening to facts about them, see their bones, see how larger they are in relation to a child and find out whether they are a herbivore, omnivore or carnivore.

There are also colour-in sheets to print out and videos to watch.

This is a great way for children to learn more about dinosaurs, learn different word meanings and improve their computer skills.

Graffiti Creator

2009-09-25T04:09:00.000-07:00

http://www.graffiticreator.net/

This is a fun site where you can convert text into graffiti style wrting and manipulate colours. It is great for writing your name or a heading or title for an assignment. It could be used to make a sign for the kid's bedroom.

Activity Village

2009-09-25T04:07:00.000-07:00

If you are looking for ideas to keep the children busy and entertained then this is the site for you. Activity Village provides a range of activities and printable resources. Content is regularly updated and of good quality. I particularly like the colouring pages because the graphics are great and they cover many themes.

Kerpoof

2009-09-25T03:19:00.000-07:00

http://www.kerpoof.com/

This is another great site which allows children to explore their creativity. It offers options to make a picture, a movie, a card, a story, make a drawing and doodle. It is easy and fun to use.

Story Maker

2009-09-25T03:09:00.000-07:00

Help kids develop their imagination and develop their story telling skills with Story Maker. The site offers characters you can choose from and provides settings and objects. As you add items to the scene, a story is written at the bottom. When you have finished your story it is converted into a virtual book which you can share on the site or print out.

Soup Toys

2009-09-25T03:04:00.000-07:00

Soup Toys is a free dowload which you can have hours of fun with. It provides you with playsets on your desktop. You can shoot some hoops, build a castle or build moving contraptions.

Trackmania Nations Forever

2009-09-25T02:59:00.000-07:00

Trackmania Nations Forever is a free download game. It is a car racing game where you can choose from different level tracks. The is also an editor component which allows you to design and build your own track, design your car and edit replays of your races. This is a great game which provides fun and allows kids to show their creative side. There is also a version which you can purchase called Trackmania United. This version offers more options.

Turn yourself into an Cartoon Character

2009-09-25T02:00:00.000-07:00

Here are some fun sites where you can create cartoon versions of yourself.

Anime Face Maker

Avatar Editor

Hero Factory

Make a Simpsons Version

Fun ways to learn keyboard skills

2009-09-25T01:29:00.000-07:00

It is good for children to become familiar with the keyboard and know where the letters are. Here are some fun games to help them learn.

Typing Letters

These are great for beginning typists where you only need to type a letter at a time. A good way to understand where the keys are on the keyboard.

Keyboard Climber

The monkey climbs to different levels as you type the letter indicated.

Key Memory

A memory card game where you type the letter to turn the card.

Super Hyper Spider

Type the letter on the back of the lizard to stop them from getting to the spider.

Key Man

A Pac Man style game where you decide where the character moves by typing the letter.

Keyboard Game

This game shows you where the key is on the keyboard. The letters on the keybaord are also in lower case.

Typing Words

These games are a little more advanced where you are asked to type words. It is also a good way to learn new words.

Assault Typing

The jet shoots missiles at the enemy when you type in the correct word shown on the plane.

Tide Pool

Type in the word at the top to win the race. Their are several different levels.

Typing Tutors

These activities are for older children who can understand the correct keyboard skills.

Dance Mat Typing

This is a great site with several different levels. It demonstrates typing techniques using interesting graphics.

Keyboard Typing Skills Course

This site offers a fun course where children can learn typing skills and be tested on their abilities.

Itza Bitza

2009-09-24T18:57:00.000-07:00

http://www.itzabitza.com/

This is a game that I came across just in time for school holidays. It is a game you download and which you can purchase, there is a free trial you can download first to try it out. Normally I like to stick to free software but this was too good to resist.

It is a game which incorporates literacy with creativity and problem solving. You have several worlds and levels to choose from. You choose a boy or girl character and are given challenges. The challenges appear as text and as you move the mouse over the text the word is spoken. It provides a great opportunity for kids to learn new words. You interact with the character and click on them to choose your next task.

The challenges involve drawing objects which come to life and become part of the game. As you play and complete the challenges more levels are unlocked.

This is a great game for early readers and would even be suitable for students up to grades 3 or 4, due to the creativity and problem solving components.

My Culture Quest

2009-07-21T03:03:00.000-07:00

My Culture Quest is a fun, interactive site which explores different cultures and countries. You choose a character and then start travelling the world visiting museums and galleries. Each place visited offers information about an artwork or cultural item. Students need to read the information and then answer a multiple choice question correctly in order to collect the item and create their own exhibition.

Once in the game, a world map is provided with highlighted points. Click on the point to travel to the destination. Your character will travel via air balloon.
You are given 12 days to collect as many items as you can. You probably won’t get all the items in this time allowing students to play the game several times without being bored as they explore new places.

One drawback however, there is no point to visit in Australia!

This site provides a great way for children to learn about art, history, countries, cultures, religion and maps. It also encourages the development of comprehension and reading skills. The site allows you to download flash cards with quiz questions to help children remember the information.

Build your Wild Self

2009-07-21T02:56:00.000-07:00

Build Your Wild Self is a fun and creative site where kids can create a character by choosing human parts and then combine them with animal parts. The site provides lovely hand drawn and watercoloured images. Simply click on the body part you want to create and choose the image you want. There are also options to change colours. There are limited options for clothes though.

Once finished creating you can print out the design or email it to a friend or yourself. It is sent as a .gif file allowing you to save it.

When this site was trialled in our household there was quite a bit of laughter so I am sure your children will love it.

The site is easy to work, however, younger children will need some help.

Kido'z

2009-07-10T06:50:00.000-07:00

If you have children who like to use the computer but find it difficult to navigate and find sites they like then this is for you.

The KIDO'Z Kid's Web Environment is the safe, easy and fun way for young kids to surf their favourite sites, watch videos and play games. Simply go to the site, download and install the program.

The browser only provides access to approved children sites and sites you have added yourself. The sites are divided into websites, games and videos and are shown as thumbnail pictures making it easy for children to identify and access the site. This is free.

http://kidoz.net/

Spelling City

2009-07-10T06:44:00.000-07:00

A site which I love at the moment is Spelling City. It provides activities to learn the spelling of words which are fun and engaging for children. This site allows you to add a list of words which are then generated into activities. These activities are divided into Teach me, Test me and Play me. Play Activities include matching games, alphabetising, word search and crossword puzzles and placing the words with the correct sentences and meanings. The activities are easy to follow allowing children to navigate themselves.

It is a great site for the weekly homework spelling lists. You can type in the words each time or register and save your lists. This site is free to use.

Shidonni

2009-06-29T03:30:00.000-07:00

http://www2.shidonni.com/

Shidonni is a creative ‘virtual’ world. It provides a safe environment where children can create imaginary worlds and animals, play games and interact with their friends.

Shidonni offers drawing editors which are simple and fun to use. Drawing tools are added as you play and complete challenges. The drawing come to life.

The site offers many features which are added as the participant completes challenges. One activity is writing a virtual book using their drawn characters and creating a storyline.

This site caters for all ages and is a great way for children to develop computer skills and enhance their creativity. It also introduces them to email. They can send and receive messages within the game but only from friends who are added. The drawn characters can also be sent. This is a great way for children to stay in touch with friends and relatives. Even if they can't type up a message yet, they can send one of their drawings.

If you are really adventurous it is handy to use a graphic drawing pad which allows you to draw with a pen rather than a mouse.

Click here for more ideas

Television Based Websites

2009-06-25T04:42:00.000-07:00

For P-3 years, sites based on television shows provide both education and entertainment. Children build their technology skills while developing their reading and hand eye coordination. Many sites contain games which explore a range of skills and also include videos and music. There are often free printables available which allow you to print out activities.

Here is a list of television sites suitable for children aged 4-9 years old.

ABC Kids – The Playground

The Wiggles

Playhouse Disney

Nick Jr Playtime

Nick Jr (Australia)

Nick Jr (UK)

CBeebies

Bo on the Go

Pinky Dinky Doo

Word World

PBS Kids

Tree House TV

Disney Australia

Disney UK

BunnyTown

Nickelodeon

Cartoon Network

ABC Reading Eggs

2009-06-25T04:26:00.000-07:00

Reading Eggs is a great site which is educational and engaging. Suitable for beginning readers through to 8 year olds.

The site provides lessons which are fun and interactive. Each lesson builds upon reading skills. Children are motivated by collecting points and buying games with their points. They also make their way through maps and levels. Children are enteratained with games, great animations, stories and music.

The site also provides the parents and teachers with a graph documenting the child’s reading success and strengths and weaknesses.

ABC Reading Eggs provides a 14 day free trial which you may be happy with or wish to subscribe after that.

Children start the program at level 1 which is good for revision. This site is also a great alternative when children are on holidays. It allows then to stay up to date with their reading.