iCivics.org

          Four years ago I happened upon a website called iCivics.org and I have been using it ever since.  Even though I'm not currently teaching Civics and Economics, I still find uses for the website.  When we are discussing the Enlightenment and Revolutions in World History and comparing the English Bill of Rights with the American Bill of Rights "Do I Have a Right?" makes for a great interactive review of the rights afforded to citizens of this country.  I was disappointed this year when I received my iPads because they do not work with flash and thus do not work with iCivics.org.  HOWEVER, recently I was perusing the iCivics site when I found they had developed an App for the iPad.  "Pocket Law Firm" is the iPad version of "Do I Have a Right?"

          "Do I Have a Right?" or "Pocket Law Firm" has students put in their name, they get to choose who they want to be their partner in the law firm (choice between two different people representing two different amendments), and then the clients start filing in.  Each new client comes with an issue - students have to decide whether the person's rights are being violated or not, and if they are being violated they need to match them with the correct lawyer for that issue or ask them to come back and try to acquire the right lawyer before the next round.  They also win money for winning court cases.  With the money they need to budget to get more lawyers, fix up the waiting room, spend it on things for the lawyers to make them smarter and faster, etc.  

I'd recommend this site and app for Social Studies Teachers everywhere 

for Middle School - High School Students! 

Check It Out By Clicking Here

This Day in History for the iPad

Well it's over I may be in love for Bell Ringers or closings... There is an App for the iPad that is "This Day in History"  I happened upon it because another teacher had posted that it was an app worth checking out and even though I might not have people reading this blog quite yet, if you are a Social Studies teacher it might be worth your while.  First, you can look ahead in days so if you wanted to create a Bell Ringer Question(s) and then let each group look at a different person and write a blurp on them and then share; at the moment I think that's a good idea.  If you disagree or have another, please share!  It is a free app as well which makes it ever better.


Other apps I'm currently deciding on:


- Smithsonian App - lets you watch videos (compare to United Streaming/Discovery)


- Mindomo - at the moment I'm liking the free aspect and it has seemed relatively easy to use (spent about ten minutes making a quick Web Diagram of leaders of the Civil Rights Movement) - I haven't figured out how to change colors, etc. yet.... give me time I will learn


- Yahoo Market Dash - I must admit I downloaded it because of another blog, but haven't opened it yet and might not open it at the moment - I'm thinking it will be good for Economics or for the Great Depression for U.S. History


- Ink flow - I like that you can grab, change the size, and move parts of your text to other areas, not in love with my writing in the program though; also in order to have multiple colors you have to pay for it, but for writing quick ideas down (brainstorming) for my students for a project I'm not opposed completely


K That's all for now... Thanks for reading