3rd Grade Library Resources

Unit 1: Geography

Suggested Internet Resources for Geography

  • Enchanted Learning. 6 July 2004. http://www.enchantedlearning.com/geography/ This website has printable worksheets that includes the following skills:
    • Compass Rose
    • Landforms
    • Latitude Longitude of the World
    • Plotting Longitude and Latitude
  • Bennett, Anthony. Internet Geography. 6 July 2004.
  • http://www.geography.learnontheinternet.co.uk/
    • At the banner on the top of the website click on What’s New to access the teacher’s page. From there, go to teacher links for an Awesome Library. Click on lesson plan # 4 for lessons on the 5 Themes of Geography.
  • National Geographic. 7 July 2004. http://www.nationalgeographic.com/ This is an excellent website for downloading maps, and extra resources to enhance the geography lesson.
  • Mapping Our World. Oxfam Education. 22 June 2008.http://www.oxfam.org.uk/education/resources/mapping_our_world/
  • mapping_our_world/l/lesson1/index.htm Each of the "lessons" within this site comes with a teacher's guide and is great for reviewing and supplementing map understanding. For example, in one part of this site, students can see exactly how a globe is flattened into a flat map and how that impacts the size and shape of some of the landforms!

Suggested Media Materials

  • "Globes and Us." Discovery Education Streaming. (18:00) Use segments 1-5. “Learn about latitude and longitude, grids, degrees, minutes, seconds, time zones, scale, legends, keys, cardinal and intermediate directions, and hemispheres through live action and animation.” http://app.discoveryeducation.com/player/view/assetGuid/
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  • "Let’s Talk Geography: Bodies of Water.” Discovery Education Streaming. (22:26) 4 segments. “Explores the many terms geographers use to describe the bodies of water that cover 70 percent of our planet. The presentation defines oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, and wetlands and names areas of land surrounded by water.”http://app.discoveryeducation.com/player/view/
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  • "Let's Talk Geography: Landforms." Discovery Education Streaming. (7:54) 4 segments: Mountains, Plateau, Mesa and Butte, Valley, and a quiz.http://app.discoveryeducation.com/player/view/assetGuid/F2AD4320-D6B7-4F78-AA95-41BFB4AD56DD
  • “How Location Affects Life: Different Areas, Climate, Latitude and Longitude.”Discovery Education Streaming. (22:26) 4 segments. “Every place on Earth has its own unique combination of features that make it special. Geographical features such as climate, landforms, and natural resources dictate how humans behave in certain areas of the world. Human factors like government and population also affect the way people live their lives. This program explains how and why populations congregate in different parts of the world.” http://app.discoveryeducation.com/player/view/
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  • Tool Kit for Teaching Geography from National Geographic (www.nationalgeographic.org/education or 1-800-437-5521
  • Many Faces, Friendly Faces from Steck-Vaughn. (ISBN #0817275169. www.SteckVaughn.com or 1-800-531-5015.) This is a multimedia, software integrated approach to the 3rd Grade Communities Around the World. The Mahopac Central School District utilizes this program throughout its 3rd grade.

Unit 2: United States

Suggested Internet Resources

  • Betsy Norris, Dulcie Davis, Donna Brock. The PBS Democracy Project. 6 July 2004.
    • http://www.pbs.org/democracy/kids
    • A description of the branches of the United States government, local government, the voting process, U.S. History and “How Does Government Affect Me?” There is also “A Day in the Life of the President.” It is designed for grades 3-6 therefore, best suited for upper level third graders.
  • Ruth Apperson Rous. I Am The Flag. 6 July 2004.
    • http://www.usflag.org
    • A first person description of the flag; what the different elements symbolize; its history; its current purpose; other relevant facts. Some vocabulary advanced for grade 3.
  • Ben’s Guide to U.S. Government for Kids. 6 July 2004.
    • http://bensguide.gpo.gov/
    • The k-2 section is most appropriate for 3rd graders. Our Government, Symbols of U.S. Government, games and activities and other relevant websites are included.
  • 4-H Virtual Farm. 6 July 2004.
  • The Kids Page. 6 July 2004. http://www.agr.state.il.us/kidspage/
    • The site focuses on how we get food products from: Farm to Market to Table. The site links also identify what food/ingredients go into making pizza, etc.
  • Agriculture in the Classroom USDA. 6 July 2004.
    • http://www.agclassroom.org/kids/index.htm
    • Students can virtually visit a farm and investigate a farmer’s many jobs by watching short video clips. It is another good resource for information on how we get food products from: Farm to Market to Table
  • Factmonster. 3 June 2005.
  • The US 50. 3 June 2005.
    • http://theus50.com
    • Enjoy word puzzles and beautiful pictures on this site that is fun and factual.
  • Factfinder Kids’ Corner. 16 July 2014.
  • Truckin’ Across the USA. 3 June 2005.
    • http://www2.lhric.org/pocantico/usa02/usa02.htm
    • This site, developed by a fourth grade class in Westchester County, is an interactive “tour” of the 50 states. Students click on a state and are taken to a page designed and written by another student. There is factual and interesting information about each state in the US.

Unit 3: Brazil

Internet Resources

  • Graphic Maps. 6 July 2004. http://worldatlas.com/aatlas/world.htm Provides clear and concise maps that can be accessed quickly and used by teachers and students. This site also contains statistics and relevant information pertaining to specific countries.
  • MapZones . Panalink Internet Services. 6 July 2004.http://www.mapzones.com/world/south_america/brazil/mapindex.php Brazil map and information for teachers. Material is general and a good overview for instruction. This site contains many pop-ups.
  • Time for Kids. 6 July 2004. Time Inc. http://www.timeforkids.com/around-the-worldThis site has access to a variety of kid friendly information about world news and information. You can specify countries of interest and get cultural information as well as maps. Many of the links are interactive and provide an opportunity for a child to compare their life to that of a child in another country.
  • abcteach. 27 September 2010.. http://www.abcteach.com/ (Some materials require a log in to access) There are numerous rain forest resources available at abcteach.com. Go to the site and search "rain forest" and you will find worksheets, fact sheets, coloring pages, and lots more.
  • Journey to Amazonia. PBS. 6 July 2004. http://www.pbs.org/journeyintoamazonia This is a wonderful site that is kid friendly and provides teacher resources as well. You can search the site and find a variety of categories to explore. This site also has many links to other valuable information.
  • Passport to Knowledge. NASA and NSF. Passport to the Rainforest sponsored by NASA and NSF. 7 July 2004. http://passporttoknowledge.com/rainforest/main.htmlGood site for teachers to gather information about the Rainforest. Some of the material is a bit too advanced for students.
  • Enchanted Learning. Enchantedlearning.com. 7 July 2004. http://www.zoomschool.com/subjects/rainforest/ Nice map for reinforcement of Rainforest locations.
  • The World Fact Book. Central Intelligence Agency. 6 July 2004.http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/br.html Teacher resource guide providing statistical information annually in almanac form.
  • Mama Lisa’s World: Children Songs and Nursery Rhymes. 6 July 2004. 2004.http://www.mamalisa.com/world/brazil.html This site is in Portuguese with English translations of children songs and nursery rhymes which may be downloaded for audio. * Real time audio free download available at site.
  • Global Trek. Scholastic Inc. 6 July2004.http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/globaltrek/destinations/brazil.htm Provides opportunities for enrichment activities for students to pursue additional research and develop an online travel journal. The site allows access to a variety of countries throughout the world.
  • Thomson, Shelia. Crosscultural Maria-Brazil: Food and Eating Habits. 6 July2004.http://www.maria-brazil.org/brazilian_eating_habits.htm Foods and eating habits presented in an easy to read format with color pictures. Good resource for teacher-directed activities and information. Many recipes included.
  • Brazil’s Canela Indians of Northeastern Central Brazil. Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. 6 July2004. http://www.mnh.si.edu/anthro/canela/ Overview of life, culture and history of the Canela Indians. Teacher preview of photographs recommended as many may not be suitable for students.
  • Rain Forest at Night. National Geographic Society. 6 July2004.http://www.nationalgeographic.com/earthpulse/rainforest/index_flash.htmlInteractive exploration of the rain forest with animals and plant species.
  • Amazon Interactive. Educational Web Adventures. 6 July2004.http://www.eduweb.com/ amazon.html Interactive adventure in the Amazon Rainforest with simulation capabitity for planning and managing an ecotourism project.
  • Kids’ Corner, Brazilian Embassy in Washington, DC. 15 May 2014.http://www.kidscornerbrazil.org/ Kid's Corner is a child-friendly website all about Brazil. There are activities, games and links.
  • http://www.brasilemb.org/education/education-in-brazil-and-in-the-us/64 where students can get involved with Monica, a cartoon character who takes them on an interactive tour of the country.
  • Kids Corner Brazil. http://www.kidscornerbrazil.org Contains a Virtual tour of Brazil, key facts, States, Flag, Anthem, National Symbols, Maps, and Games. 3 June 2008.
  • Go Places Brazil: A Kid's-Eye View. Time for Kids.http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/kids/specials/articles/0,28285,190791,00.htmlInterviews with kids in Brazil about their homeland, differences between Brazil and America, and society's biggest challenges.

Sites for Maps:

Unit 4: China

Internet Resources

Unit 5: Kenya

Link:

Video Clips

Resources for Pen Pals

  • Kenya Connects Pen Pal program complements studies of African cultures through social studies and language arts curricula. It also provides an important tool for educators to promote and integrate writing skills across various disciplines. Program participants discover cultural education as it was meant to be -- a live and inspiring learning experience -- not a book exercise. In the first person, students convey information about their own culture and absorb knowledge of a distant one, while also gaining mastery over the art of communication and exchange. More information is found at http://kenyaconnect.org
  • Skype’s directory is filled with teachers who want to connect with other teachers using Skype. You can search by keyword, or you can filter teachers by language, ages taught and what you’re looking for (classroom exchange, inspiration, subjects). More information is found at education.skype.com You might want to watch a short clip made by Skye about the connection between one of our teachers and another country.http://youtu.be/a-S78iRD6gwm
  • Epals Global Community. This site connects teachers around the world to collaborate on projects or have students meet each other, individually. http://1.epals.com/
  • Red Rose School in Kenya. Article and videos about this school for Orphans in Nairobi. You can arrange to connect with the students there.http://www.voanews.com/english/news/a-13-2008-11-25-voa24-66795147.html andhttp://redrosechildren.blogspot.com/

Unit 6: Making a Difference

Suggested Internet Resources