Around the Web in a Dozen Links – February 2008

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Have fun surfing! And for future posts, if you have any fascinating, useful or educational links, please feel free to email me and share them.

• Castles on the Web is packed full of information, links and activities related to castles, knights and medieval times. There is an extensive book list with links, virtual tours of castles from around the world, a forum where you can post questions and enter discussions on all things from castle events to model making to travel, and much more. By far the link that was the most fun to explore was Ghosts in the Castle an interactive tour by National Geographic in which you are led by a mouse and talk to ghosts to discover information about the castle.
• The Archaeology page of the American Museum of Natural History has activities that lets children explore the ruins of an ancient city, be a part of an investigation, and learn about the tools archaeologists use in their job. The main page has some other subjects to explore, such as water, marine biology, Einstein, and earth, but the site as a whole is from an evolutionary standpoint, so pick and choose which you’d like to explore with your children.

• Web Elements is an award-winning interactive periodic table of elements that contains detailed information, pictures, and even a chemistry shop (know anyone who’d like a periodic table of elements mug?). My children are nowhere near chemistry age yet, but I hope this site is still around when they are!
• The total lunar eclipse is coming next week! I found this site that gives a wonderful overview of lunar eclpises for beginners. It includes pictures, the why and how, links to follow to find out more, and a list of eclipses through 2015. This will be a must in our school day on Monday and Tuesday!
• Sprittibee drew my attention to The Bug Guide, and what mom doesn’t want to know what bug their kid has brought home to show her? I shudder just looking at this site, but the kids would think it was cool. Must…not…show…fear…
• Edheads, also a link provided by Sprittibee, is a great interactive site with games all led by cute little characters that explain each step. There are activities on weather, simple machines, and car crashes, among other things. This is a site for mid-elementary and up, though advanced younger children could benefit from the activities with some help.

• Beginning March 1st, the Alaskan Iditarod will take place. The Official Site of the race has pictures, videos, information, biographies of the “mushers”, and more to explore. There is even a section for teachers with curriculum on the Iditarod written by other teachers and a book list to explore with your children.
• Geography 4 Kids is a website on physical geography- “all about the earth and what happens on the earth”- with subjects such as climates, energy, and atmosphere. It is laid out in a clear and easy to navigate way and has information, pictures and links galore.
• State-tris is a great web game of the USA. It is a form of Tetris only using the United States as its subject. It’s not as easy as it sounds!

• Game Goo is a place to find adorable and educational games about everything from rhyming to math facts. There are 3 levels and can be played by kids in elementary grades. My favorite is Squanky the Tooth Taker.
• Visit Just One More Book and read reviews on hundreds of books, interviews with children’s book authors and illustrators, and find links to discover more about reading with children. Not only is this a website but a podcast a few times a week to download or hear on the website. “Through this podcast and its website, we are building a lively, interactive community linking children’s book authors, illustrators, readers (children, parents, educators and librarians) and publishers.”
• I type with only a few fingers. I’ve done it so long that I am pretty quick, but I’d love my kids to learn the right way to type. Check out this typing website. The accents of the characters alone are reason to visit, but the practical skill learned is a must in this computer age!