Educators resources that are tested and proven

Selected PK-16 educators from Wisconsin work in teams to identify, evaluate, catalog, and align to the state education standards resources that are already on the internet such as lesson plans and reference materials. These resources are then made available from the ide@s search engine. Now, you don't have to look through dozens of online listings to find the resource you need. The ide@s search engine allows you to tell it specifically what you need to find then it searches the database for you. You can read teacher reviews of the resources and see exactly which state standards they address. ide@s saves you time while focusing instruction and technology on Wisconsin's Model Academic Standards. Plus, you know you're getting a quality resource that other Wisconsin educators have recommended.

"Holiday Fantasy in Lights"
This is the second of three photographs depicting scenes from the annual December holidays light show in Madison's Olin-Turville Park. -- imageide@s

"The Genius of Wisconsin"
Helen Farnsworth Mears (1872-1916), born and educated in Oshkosh, was commissioned in 1892 "to sculpt and design a woman and winged eagle" for the Wisconsin building at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. It can now be seen at the southeast entrance of the capitol. -- imageide@s

727 Locomotive
This is the 727 locomotive that ran across the state of Wisconsin. The first locomotives were powered by steam, that were fired either by wood, coke, or coal. This locomotive was powered by steam fired by coal. After World War II, the steam engine began to go away for faster, more efficient powered engines. -- imageide@s

American Buffalo
The American Buffalo, known as the Bison, can be seen on farms and ranches throughout Wisconsin. Bison are often raised as a dietary alternative to beef. -- imageide@s

American Symbols
In this lesson, students learn that a symbol is something that stands for, or represents, something else. They learn about the national symbols that are unique to our country. They complete artwork to depict the symbols and read non-fiction books to further their comprehension. Writing skills are reinforced through various writing activities. -- Lesson Plan

Amish
Amish families can be seen traveling the back-roads of Wisconsin by horse and buggy. In this photo, the buggy is just arriving on the outskirts of town. -- imageide@s

Analyzing Greenhouse Gases and Global Temperature Over Time
Hot planet? Students will plot the concentration of four greenhouse gasses over time and look for patterns among the various gasses. They will attempt to relate these patterns to global temperature changes. -- Lesson Plan

Antigua Roma
A partir de los epígrafes superiores podrás acceder a cada uno de los apartados de esta investigación guíada sobre la Antigua Roma. Pretendemos realizar un viaje apasionante a esta época tan importante de nuestra historia y esperamos contar con tu ayuda a lo largo de todo el trayecto. -- Student Site

Antique Farm Equipment
This is an image of a long vertical corn binder from McCormick-Deering. It was built around 1938. -- imageide@s

Antique Farm Equipment 2
This is an image of an Allis Chalmers tractor. -- imageide@s

Antique Farm Equipment 3
This is an image of antique farming equipment once used on farms in Wisconsin. This particular piece of machinery is a plow. -- imageide@s

April 15 Is Tax Day
April 15th Tax Day can be one of the most panic-inducing deadlines for adults. It can be the perfect way to teach kids about financial responsibility. Teachers can start off with an explanation of taxes and why we have them; then, assign games and activities to instill responsible financial habits. -- Teacher Resource/Reference

"You Messin' Wid Me?
These turkeys were grazing for seed and acorns in a flock of seven or so when one of them suddenly flapped her wings rapidly in a mock attack on another female. Two seconds after this photograph was taken all was quiet again. Presumably, this was an example of the famed "pecking order." -- imageide@s

Aula Virtual de la Celula
This site walks students through the main structures and functions of the cell. All information is presented in Spanish and would be a useful resource for supplementing instruction about the cell for ELLs. -- Student Site

Bald Eagle in Woods
Photographed in the woods along Highway 8 near Pembine, WI this bald eagle had been feasting on a road kill deer by the side of the road. If you look closely, you will see that its talons are red from the deer blood. -- imageide@s

Banyan Tree
Photographed in Florida. Banyan trees are characterized by their aerial prop roots which grow into thick woody trunks which, as they age can become indistinguishable from the main trunk. -- imageide@s

Becoming An Active Reader
Students will learn how to become active readers in this interactive learning object. Students learn to find the main idea of a passage. Given a general topic such as sports, students will select specific ideas that fit into the general topic. -- Interactive Learning Object

BioQuest: The Hunt for Life
In this unit, 1. Students will discover connections between plants and animals and to their environment. 2. Students will become aware of plants and animals living in their neighborhood. 3. Students will interpret the “story” behind a natural object for peers using words, pictures, and leading questions by designing an exploration card using desktop publishing software. 4. Students will test, review, edit, and revise their cards before publishing. -- Environmental Education Lesson Plan

'usbank' Building
The former First Wisconsin Building is located opposite the state capitol in downtown Madison, Wisconsin and features dramatic use of exterior glass. -- imageide@s

Boiling sap for maple syrup
Maple sap cooks into syrup in a new sap pan at Fallen Timbers Environmental Center's new Joel P. Cartier Environmental Classroom, a $75,000 maple syrup/education facility. -- imageide@s

Bread Bag Nightmares
Ever wonder exactly what mold is? And how did it get there? And why sometimes it’s green and other times black or white? Did you know this stuff is alive and growing?In this experiment, you’ll find out all about those colorful, fuzzy fungi by growing your own crop. -- Lesson Plan

Bridge of Sighs
The bridge of Sighs is located in the city of Venice, Italy. This bridge connects what use to be the government building to the prison. The bridge got its name from the prisoners who passed it would sigh as they were taken to be incarcerated. -- imageide@s

Building a Plankton Net
Students or teachers will use these directions to construct a plankton net for water sampling. -- Teacher Tool

Bumble Bee on New England Aster
A WI bumble bee (possibly species Borealis) gathering the nectar and pollen from the bloom of a New England aster in Green Bay -- imageide@s

Camassia
Camassia, a perennial bulbflower, was a food source for a number of native people in the U.S. It once grew profusely in meadows and prairies, but has diminished due to construction, although the plant is not a threatened species. Camassia is native to the Great Lakes region. -- imageide@s

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) 'Plena'
Bloodroot was prized by Native Americans for its root sap, which resembles blood. It was sometimes used as dye and herbal remedy. The plant is known to be an escharotic, a substance which can kill animal tissue. Double-flowered cultivars such as this one are popular with gardeners, as their flowers last longer than single, wild ones. Its flowers last only a day or two. They open in the daytime and close at night. The plant is an ephemeral, meaning that it goes dormant in mid to late summer. -- imageide@s

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage
Scholastic's Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Online Activity provides your students with an opportunity to discover the contributions and rich cultures of Hispanics in the United States. Hispanic Heritage Month — celebrated September 15 to October 15 each year — honors the diverse peoples of Spanish-speaking backgrounds who have come to the United States from more than 20 countries. Celebrate Hispanic Heritage is designed to coincide with this special month or be used throughout the year. -- Student Site

Centaurea Macrocephala-common name: Bigheaded Knapweed
The bright yellow (3-4" across) thistle-like flowers of Centaurea Macrocephala blooms for 2-3 weeks in mid-summer. It makes a good cut flower with very strong stems and also dries well. The seed heads are very interesting as well. USDA hardiness zones 3-8 -- imageide@s

Centaurea montana (Mountain Bluet)
An erect clump-forming perennial that features 2 inch blue, fringed flowers that bloom in late spring. It has lance shaped leaves. It is commonly called mountain bluet, perennial cornflower or perennial bachelor's button. -- imageide@s

Climate Summaries for Seven Wisconsin Cities
A great resource for studying Wisconsin climate data going back to 1890. This site is your source for climate information pertaining to 7 Wisconsin communities with stations located at airports and are operated by the National Weather Service and the FAA. -- Teacher Tool

Cobb Depot
Photo of the train depot located in Cobb, Wisconsin. As seen in this photo, a coal car is left behind to be used at the Canning Factory located next to the tracks. The Canning Factory canned peas and sweet corn during the summer months with the finished product shipped by either train or truck. The coal was used to fire the cookers and fire the plant. -- imageide@s

Coffee Ground "Fossils"
This fun activity allows younger students to make "fossils" with the help of a teacher or adult from common household materials. -- Teacher Tool

Composting for Kids
This site contains a slide set created to show students how to compost. It does a good job of explaining the process in a way that is "kid-friendly" and illustrates most of the steps with a photograph. -- Teacher Resource/Reference

Construct-a-Word
Construct-a-Word provides a simple, engaging way for students to generate dozens of different words by first choosing an ending (for example -an, -ed, -at, -op) and then adding a beginning letter or blend. When a correct word is created, the word is stored in a Word Bank where students can read and review their words. For each ending, Construct-a-Word prompts students to create between 6 and 14 different possible words, adding an element of fun and discovery. -- Student Site

Creating a Business Letter
The student will compose a business letter using word-processing skills, independent practice and color coding. -- Lesson Plan

Daylily var. "Little Audrey"
This variety of daylily (hemerocallis) is one of the many small hybrids created by hybridizers. -- imageide@s

Dead tree with woodpecker damage
A dead tree shows strong evidence of a woodpecker searching it for beetles, worms or other insects. It is often thought that woodpeckers kill trees, but this is incorrect, as the bugs they are searching for are not found in healthy trees. Woodpeckers most often drill holes in trees that are already dying or dead. -- imageide@s

Deep in the Bush, Where People Rarely Ever Go
This lesson uses African folktales as an introduction to the culture and history of Africa. Activities vary in depth depending on the level of students. -- Lesson Plan

Dictionary Skills: What's the Meaning of This?
The students will review the parts of dictionary definitions and compare the information found in one dictionary with the information found in a thesaurus. In cooperative groups of two to three, students will create, save, and print mini-dictionaries using dictionary-related terms provided by the teacher and word-processing software. -- Lesson Plan

Do You See What I See?
Students will describe a picture of an art poster or online image to students, and ask them to draw the picture based on your instructions. Describe the picture using directional words such as upper right, middle left, and so on. See how closely students can reproduce the picture from your instructions. -- Lesson Plan

Dodgeville Depot
A photo of the train depot that was in Dodgeville, Wisconsin. Train stations/depots like this dotted the landscape of Wisconsin. The station in Dodgeville allowed citizens of Dodgeville and Iowa County to travel to other communities along the rail lines. -- imageide@s

Dodgeville pool
This is the public swimming pool in Dodgeville. The pool opens around the end of the school year and stays open into the fall. These public pools provide a way for families to cool off during the hot summer days of southwestern Wisconsin. -- imageide@s

Early Childhood Exploration of the MIssissippi River Learning Centers
PreK and Kindergarten students will discover the Mississippi River through teacher and student directed activities. This multi-disciplinary unit includes lesson plans for large group activities, music and movement, suggestions for adapting centers to foster River exploration, and a field trip. A teacher can choose from the smorgasbord of ideas to create a 1 – 2 week unit plan that will fit his/her daily schedule. The following learning centers will develop connections to the River through self initiated discovery, art, play and literature. -- Environmental Education Lesson Plan

Early Childhood Exploration of the Mississippi Large Group Lessons
PreK and Kindergarten students will discover the Mississippi River through teacher and student directed activities. This multi-disciplinary unit includes lesson plans for large group activities, music and movement, suggestions for adapting centers to foster River exploration, and a field trip. A teacher can choose from the smorgasbord of ideas to create a 1 – 2 week unit plan that will fit his/her daily schedule. This is the large group component of the Early Childhood Exploration of the Mississippi River. -- Environmental Education Lesson Plan

Early Childhood Exploration of the Mississippi River Outdoor Exploration
PreK and Kindergarten students will discover the Mississippi River through teacher and student directed activities. This multi-disciplinary unit includes lesson plans for large group activities, music and movement, suggestions for adapting centers to foster River exploration, and a field trip. A teacher can choose from the smorgasbord of ideas to create a 1 – 2 week unit plan that will fit his/her daily schedule. This is the field trip component of the Early Childhood Exploration of the Mississippi River. -- Environmental Education Lesson Plan

Earth's Hydrological Cycle
Students construct a simple model of the earth's hydrological cycle to help them visualize and understand the movement of water and heat. -- Lesson Plan

Encouraging the Young Reader
Read*Write*Now can help children get the most out of summer reading or anytime at home reading. This site will give detailed instructions for parents to use with their children. The lessons are easy and require very few materials. -- Teacher Resource/Reference

Ezra Jack Keats minigrant
An opportunity for teachers to apply for a $500 mini-grant to fund literacy learning projects. -- Teacher Resource/Reference

Filipendula Rubra-common name: Queen of the Prairie
Filipendula rubra (commonly known as Queen of the Praire) is a perennial native wildflower in zones 3-8. It grows between 4' and 8' tall with pink plumes. The plant has deeply divided green leaves. Queen of the prairie bloom from early to mid summer and require full sun or mostly sun and slightly acidic well-drained, moist soil. Note: the leaves in the background are Aster, not Queen of the Prairie -- imageide@s

Flood Image 1 2008 In Fall River
This is an image of a small creek in Fall River, Wisconsin. Due to the spring thaw and rain it it flooded well over its banks into the near by fields and low lands. -- imageide@s

Fort DeSoto, FL 12 inch seacoast mortar
Fort De Soto has the only 12-inch seacoast rifled mortars (model 1890 mounted on 1896 carriages) in the continental United States. According to the unofficial website for Fort DeSoto, "The purpose of these mortars was to control the main shipping lane into Tampa bay. A ship entering Tampa bay had to pass in between Fort Dade, on Egmont Key, and Fort De Soto." http://www.fortdesoto.com Four of the original eight mortars are located at the park. None of them was ever actually fired. -- imageide@s

Found Object Heron
Come join the fun in the "Hunt for Herons" in La Crosse. Thirty-five fiberglass herons decorated by various artists or groups of artists are on display in various locations throughout the city. The "Herons of La Crosse" project, designed to promote the arts and tourism, is the first public art project in the city. Teri Asher, director of the Pumphouse Regional Art Center organized and directed the project. "Found Object Heron" was finished by the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Art Student Association. The students used a type of mosaic work called trencadis made famous by the Spanish architect Gaudi. -- imageide@s

French in Action
This series uses active participation to increase fluency in French, while introducing French culture. Pierre Capretz’s proven language-immersion method is presented within a humorous teleplay with native speakers of all ages and backgrounds. The storyline of an American student and a young Frenchwoman's adventures in Paris and the French countryside is reinforced by Dr. Capretz’s on-camera instruction. The series is also appropriate for teacher professional development. -- Digital Media - Video

Gift of the Glaciers
This Sea Grant sites looks at the formation of the Great Lakes. A time lapse graphic shows the movement of glaciers over the past 13000 years and the subsequent formation of the Great Lakes. Satellite imagery is also provided. -- Teacher Resource/Reference

Grandad Bluff
Grandad Bluff, the tallest bluff in the La Crosse area, has been a focal point of the La Crosse community. Limestone rock was quarried from the bluff for building materials for years. When the property was about to be sold for large scale quarrying, La Crosse citizens were concerned. A prominent family, Joseph & Irene Hixon, bought the property in 1909 holding it in trust until it was donated as park to the city of La Crosse in 1912.During this time, local citizens, lead by Mrs. G. C. Hixon, raised $15,000 to purchase the property and to help build public roads. Along with this purchase was some property below the bluff which became the Hixon Forest. -- imageide@s

Gravestone monument on Washington Island (back)
This is the back view of a beautiful stone carving of a young woman which sits atop the grave of one of Washington Island's residents who died in 1930. -- imageide@s

Gravestone monument on Washington Island (front)
This beautiful stone carving of a young woman sits atop the grave of one of Washington Island's residents who died in 1930. -- imageide@s

Great White Egret
The Great White Egret is found in most of the tropical parts of the world. It is a wading bird that feeds on fish, frogs or insects with its long, sharp, bill. -- imageide@s

"Wisconsin" Statue on the Capitol Dome in Madison
The statue atop the capitol dome in Madison is usually called 'Lady Forward' or 'Miss Forward' after the state motto but is correctly named 'Wisconsin.' Made of hollow bronze covered with gold leaf, she is over 15 feet tall and weighs three tons. She holds a globe with an eagle on it in her left hand and her right arm is outstretched symbolizing the state motto 'Forward.' On her head is a helmet with a badger on top. -- imageide@s

278 Locomotive
This is the 278 locomotive that ran across the state of Wisconsin. The first locomotives were powered by steam, that were fired either by wood, coke, or coal. This locomotive was powered by steam fired by coal. In this photo more of the train can be seen. Behind the locomotive is the coal car, followed by the mail car, and then the passenger car. The bridge the locomotive is crossing is called a tressel. -- imageide@s

Early Childhood Exploration of the Mississippi River Music and Movement - Group Lessons
PreK and Kindergarten students will discover the Mississippi River through teacher and student directed activities. This multi-disciplinary unit includes lesson plans for large group activities, music and movement, suggestions for adapting centers to foster River exploration, and a field trip. A teacher can choose from the smorgasbord of ideas to create a 1 – 2 week unit plan that will fit his/her daily schedule. This is the music and movement group component of the Early Childhood Exploration of the Mississippi River. -- Environmental Education Lesson Plan

HC Prange building demolition: Green Bay, WI
The demolition/deconstruction of the historic HC Prange department store building in downtown Green Bay began in July of 2007. As the work proceeded, more than 80% of the building material was reused or recycled rather than being sent to landfills. The building was occupied by the HC Prange Company from 1927 to to 1992 and was the anchor of Green Bay's downtown retail area. It was sold to Younkers which closed the store on July 24, 2004. -- imageide@s

Highland Cattle 2
Second of four photos of the Highland Cattle found near Tomah,Wisconsin. In this photo one can see just exactly how hairy these beasts are. It is this rugged nature that allows them to survive in areas of high winds and rainfall. -- imageide@s

Highland Cattle 3
Third photo of four of the Highland Cattle found near Tomah, Wisconsin. The Highland is one of Britain's oldest, most distinctive, and best known breeds. With its long, thick, flowing coat of rich hair and sweeping horns, the Highland has remained largely unchanged over the centuries. -- imageide@s

Highland Cattle 4
Fourth of four photos of the Highland Cattle found near Tomah, Wisconsin. Typically, a group of cattle are called/referred to as a "herd" but the Highland are called/referred to as a "fold". This breed will also graze, browse and eat plants other cattle avoid. -- imageide@s

Holiday Fantasy in Lights 3
This is the third photograph in a series of three depicting scenes from the annual holidays light show in Madison's Olin-Turville Park. Note the state capitol in the background across Lake Monona. -- imageide@s

Holstein calf
A Holstein calf in western Wisconsin -- imageide@s

Holstein calf in a hutch
A Holstein calf in a hutch on a dairy farm in western Wisconsin. -- imageide@s

Honey, Look At All the Bees!
This small hive of bees drew a crowd at the farmer's market on the Capitol Square in Madison. -- imageide@s

Illinois Central RailRoad
One of two photos of the Illinois Central Railroad #86. This train was fired by wood as seen in the car behind the engine. The train is in Dodgeville, Wisconsin were early miners were brought in and out of town. The train also moved mined material from Dodgeville to other cities. -- imageide@s

Interactive Story Map
This interactive site allows students to create 4 different story maps. There are conflict, resolution, setting and character maps to choose from. Each map has its own prompts for students to answer. The maps can be printed and handed in at the end. -- Interactive Learning Object

Hand Dyed Cotton Skeins
In early Wisconsin history, cotton and wool was hand-dyed using natural vegetation and plants. French Canadians, located in Wisconsin, were engaged in fur trade and would exchange furs for guns and other household goods like these skeins. -- imageide@s

Horton Hears a Who Storymaker
Students use the Horton Hears a Who Storymaker to write a simple story. The story has three parts. For each part the student can select a background, music, and characters. Students write what each character says in each part. The story is then put together automatically and plays like a multimedia project. -- Interactive Learning Object

Interactive Venn Diagram
This interactive site allows students to create their venn diagram on-line. There is a step-by-step guide explaining how to set up the diagram and how to enter information. At the end the students can print out the diagram and hand it in. -- Interactive Learning Object

Just "Who" are the Three Little Pigs?
The following lesson is one in which fourth grade students will utilize various techniques to scrutinize literature, and employ technology programs to develop curriculum concepts. The Three Little Pigs (1991) will be the anchor in which the students will reference while examining similar pieces of work. This lesson was designed for implementation in a library setting with the classes meeting once a week for thirty minutes. -- Lesson Plan

La Crosse, WI Bluffs
A view of some smaller bluffs that are part of the landscape along the Mississippi River near LaCrosse, WI. The valleys between the bluffs are called coulees. The highway seems to disappear in the distance, showing interesting perspective. -- imageide@s

Loading the Ferry to Washington Island, Door County, WI
Loading cars onto one of the car ferry boats belonging to the Washington Island Ferry Line. The ferry loads at the Northport ferry dock at the tip of Door County. The ferry ride takes about 30 minutes in good weather. It is the only regular link to the mainland for those who live and work on Washington Island. Most visitors to the Island also use it. -- imageide@s

Long Slide Falls (Lower) in Northern WI
This is a photo of the lower part of Long Slide Falls, located just a few miles north of Pembine, Wisconsin, just off US Highway 8. The falls has a 50 foot slide and is very accessible. It is considered to be one of the most impressive in the entire Lake Michigan Watershed. The picture was taken in very early spring (March 31,2007) when snow was just melting and the Peme Bon Won river was extremely high. -- imageide@s

Long Slide Falls (Upper) in Northern Wisconsin
This is a photo of the upper part of Long Slide Falls, located just a few miles north of Pembine, Wisconsin, just off US Highway 8. The falls has a 50 foot slide and is very accessible. It is considered to be one of the most impressive in the entire Lake Michigan Watershed. The picture was taken in very early spring (March 31,2007) when snow was just melting and the Peme Bon Won river was extremely high. -- imageide@s

Lookybook
Lookybook allows you to look at picture books in their entirety—from cover to cover, at your own pace. Teachers can preview and read a variety of picture books on-line, read reviews of the books and leave their own review . Registration is free. -- Teacher Resource/Reference

Highland Cattle 1
One of four photos of Highland Cattle that can be found near Tomah, Wisconsin. In this photo is a calf of what will become a larger and hairier version. These animals are related to the Scottish Highland cattle that are found primarily in Europe. This breed of cattle are affectionately know as "shaggy coos" or "hairy coos" . -- imageide@s

Illinois Central RailRoad 2
In this second photo of the Illinois Central Railroad #86, the train is stopped at the depot located in Dodgeville, Wisconsin. It is from this depot that people and items moved in and out of this community. Dodgeville grew larger and larger and the train was responsible for its growth. Many towns and cities either grew or became ghost towns/communities depending upon whether a train ran through them or not. -- imageide@s

Making 3_D models of Sea Surface Tography Images.
Student's build two 3-D models of the oceans topography using TOPEX satellite imagery. One model represents El Nino (warm ocean water) and the other represents La Nina (cool ocean water) -- Teacher Tool

Maple Syrup Evaporator with plastic covering to contain steam
"Once the sap arrives at the sugarhouse, it must be boiled as soon as possible. Warm sap begins to break down, which will make darker, stronger tasting syrup; if not boiled soon enough, the sap begins to spoil. The boiling takes place in an evaporator, which consists of rectangular metal pans that sit on a large base called an arch, where the heat source is located. The evaporator may be as small as 2 feet wide by 4 feet long, or as large as 6’ x 20’, depending on the number of trees that are tapped in the sugarbush. Traditionally, sugarmakers burned wood in the arch to create the heat for boiling; today, many maple producers use oil as a heat source because it is convenient, and its use means less work than preparing the firewood. In any case, a very hot fire is needed to evaporate water from the sap. In the evaporator, the sap follows a winding path through the pans as it boils and becomes denser and closer to finished syrup. The sap first enters into the back or “flue” pan, which has deep channels, or flues, to maximize contact between the sap and the heat. The boiling is very vigorous and great quantities of steam are produced. Special float valves allow more sap to continually enter the flue pan as water is evaporated from the sap, and this keeps the sap level just right for efficient boiling. The sap then enters the front, or “syrup” pan, which is divided by metal partitions into 3 or more compartments, open at each end. As the sap moves through the syrup pan, it continues to increase in density as more and more water is boiled off. When it reaches the end of the pathway, and is at just the right temperature (7.1 degrees above the boiling point of water) and density (66.9% sugar) the sap has turned to pure maple syrup The sugarmaker must now open a valve and draw off a batch of this liquid from his pan before it gets even more dense and burns." - Vermont Maple Sugar Makers' Association & Vermont Maple Foundation -- imageide@s

Medieval Times: A Novel Study Using Literature Circles
This cooperative novel study is done in conjunction with the 7th grade history emphasis on the Middle Ages. The teacher selects literature that is set during that particular time period. Students are divided into literature circles. Each member of the literature circle will have specific daily responsibilities. The assignments are designed to help each student interpret text and share interpretations with other group members. The responsibilities are also designed to address different learning styles. At the end of the novel study, each group will create and present a PowerPoint presentation about the book read. -- Lesson Plan

Moodle - Basic Layout and Basic Tools
Moodle is an open source online course management system that many school districts are using with staff and students. This four-minute detail explains the teacher window, how to navigate it, and how to use the basic tools. -- Digital Media - Video

Mystery Workers
In this lesson students review the concepts of goods, services, and producers using the Internet to locate examples of each in a teacher's classroom. They learn about the three kinds of resources necessary to produce goods and provide services locating examples from a picture tour of the Crayola Factory. Through interviews they learn about the work of the people in their families and draw conclusions from their findings. Finally, they examine a picture of a farmer working in a field to identify examples of natural, human, and capital resources. -- Lesson Plan

Number Palindromic Puzzles
In this activity, students are first asked to brainstorm a list of palindromic words and numbers to get them used to the concept of palindromes. After this warm-up they are reminded that 2002 is a palindromic year and challenged to find the previous five palindromic years and the next five palindromic years. When they have done this, they are asked to describe any patterns they notice in this sequence of palindromic years. -- Teacher Resource/Reference

Observing Dissolved Air in Water
Ever wonder why bubbles form in a pan while it is heated? This resource, with some teacher modification and planning, allows students to observe the dissolved air in water. For younger grades this would be a teacher demonstration or an at home activity with parent supervision because of the heating of water. -- Teacher Resource/Reference

Old Abe
"Old Abe" was the mascot of the Eighth Wisconsin Regiment during the Civil War and was well-known throughout the Union army. This replica can be seen at the Wisconsin Veterans Museum in Madison. -- imageide@s

PHP Webquest - Celulas
Uno de los temas de mayor interés para los seres humanos sin duda, es saber cómo funcionan las células. Como unidades de los seres vivos que son, su conocimiento resulta esencial para entender cómo trabajan los tejidos, los órganos y los sistemas. La agregación de células les confiere propiedades adicionales, que no modifican la mayoría de sus propiedades originales, pues sus funciones básicas siguen siendo las mismas. Un organismo multicelular, no importa lo complejo que sea, continúa basando su funcionamiento en el de cada una de sus células, agregando funciones a las ya existentes en ellas. -- Student Site

Pagina de Matematica
This web site is organized in lessons where students can review mathematical and algebraic concepts that can help them with homework problems. They can review mathematical procedures and/or show step-by-step how to solve various mathematical operations and equations. -- Student Site

Parrot Living in the Wild in Arizona
Home is a palm tree for this parrot and many other birds. This photo was taken in Phoenix Arizona in May by a swimming pool at an apartment complex. -- imageide@s

Looney Tunes Teach the Internet
This is a great resource to use when teaching students about the Internet. There are quizzes for the students to take to see how Internet savy they really are. In addition, there are minnie lessons that provide information on different tasks one can preform on the Internet. -- Student Site

Picture It- Robot Writing!
The students will use their listening skills to sketch draft pictures of robots described in paragraphs read by their teacher. They will transfer their robot sketches to word processing documents using software drawing tools. After their digital drawings are completed, the students will use word-processing software and write their own descriptive paragraphs about the robots, highlighting adjectives used in their descriptions. -- Lesson Plan

Pysanky Egg Collection
This is a collection of Pysanky eggs created by a Wisconsin artist. Pysanky is an art form or traditional craft from the Ukraine. -- imageide@s

Hampton II
Hampton Court Palace, home to Henry the 8th, is famous for it's beautiful gardens. -- imageide@s

Pemene Falls/Menominee River
Pemene Falls on the Menominee River in Northern Wisconsin. The falls viewing area can be reached by a rustic trail. The remains of an old concrete dam used during logging days can still be seen. During the spring, when this photo was taken, the water thunders through the dam and a granite outcropping in the river corridor. Unfortunately, vandals have spray painted the granite with graffiti. -- imageide@s

Peonies
Single peony, variety unknown. Single flowers bloom in late spring and sit atop sturdy stems with attractive, dissected leaves. A perennial plant. -- imageide@s

Plantilla de Webquest- Un viaje por el sistema solar
VIVIMOS EN UN PLANETA LLAMADO TIERRA, PERO EXISTEN OTROS PLANETAS QUE, COMO EL NUESTRO, GIRAN ALREDEDOR DEL SOL. ¿TE GUSTARÍA CONOCERLOS? ¡VAMOS A REALIZAR UN VIAJE POR EL ESPACIO! ¡ANÍMATE Y SÚBETE A MI NAVE! VIVIMOS EN UN PLANETA LLAMADO TIERRA, PERO EXISTEN OTROS PLANETAS QUE, COMO EL NUESTRO, GIRAN ALREDEDOR DEL SOL. ¿TE GUSTARÍA CONOCERLOS? ¡VAMOS A REALIZAR UN VIAJE POR EL ESPACIO! ¡ANÍMATE Y SÚBETE A MI NAVE! This webquest takes students on a tour of the solar system. As they travel through the solar system and back to Earth, they learn about the life of an astronaut and focus on their favorite planet. -- Student Site

Pompeii Crossing Stones
This is a photo of a street in the old city of Pompeii. It was once buried in volcanic ash from Mt. Vesuvius, located near by. The crossing stones in this picture were believed to allow pedestrians to cross without getting their feet wet or dirty. Also notice the wagon tracks that have worn away the stones over years of travel. The stones were placed specifically to allow wagons to pass through while allowing people to cross. -- imageide@s

Rubric Maker
Educators can use this form to assess students' proficiency. Also, teachers can evaluate whether students' skills are improving or where they may need additional support or instruction. The rubric maker allows you to enter up to ten skills. Them divide the number of skills you've entered to get the overall score. -- Teacher Tool

Rustic stone fence on Washington Island, WI
This rustic dolomite stone fence was built from rocks unearthed in the farmer's field on Washington Island, WI. It is dry-stacked (no mortar) and is typical of stone fences throughout Door County, WI. The dolomite is part of the Niagra Escarpment, the edge of a thick series of dolomite layers of Silurian age. -- imageide@s

Schoolhouse Beach rocks, Washington Island, WI
This is an example of the smooth limestone rocks you will find on Schoolhouse Beach on Washington Island, WI. The beach got its name from the log schoolhouse built there in 1850. The rocks on the beach are the result of chunks of limestone breaking off the bluffs (part of the Niagra Escarpment) and crashing into Lake Michigan, then tumbling through the water into perfectly polished stones. There is a stiff fine for removing the stones, as the Island is striving to preserve one of only a few limestone beaches in the world. -- imageide@s

Setting sun in northern Wisconsin
This photo is of the north woods taken in the early evening as the sun began to set. This is a deciduous forest consisting of hardwood trees such as maple and yellow birch. -- imageide@s

Soil Recipes
Students collect 5 soil samples and examine basic soil properties including color, texture, particle size, vegetation at the sample site and water percolation. -- Lesson Plan

St. Michael's Chapel, Washington Island
This building, located on Jackson Harbor Road on Washington Island was originally constructed in the 1800's as the Washington Harbor School. In the early 1900's it was moved to the present location and became Koyen's General Merchandise Store. In 1964 the Lehman family purchased it and transformed into St. Michael's Chapel. In 2004 it was renovated to serve the next generations of Island Friends. This is an historical church, open to the public for tours. No services are actually held there. -- imageide@s

Sugarbush-collecting sap from maple trees
Plastic buckets hang from spiles on maple trees in northern Wisconsin. The buckets, used by many smaller scale syrup makers, will collect dripping sap which will later be boiled down to make delicious maple syrup. -- imageide@s

Tall ship Barque "Picton Castle," Green Bay 2006
The Barque "Picton Castle" is based in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, Canada. It was one of 16 ships that sailed into Green Bay, WI in July of 2006. The event drew nearly 60,000 visitors to the port of Green Bay. This photo was taken at the end of the festival as the Picton Castle was leaving the port via the Fox River. -- imageide@s

Tapping maple trees by hand
Using a hand drill, this Wisconsite taps a maple tree in the north woods during early spring in preparation for collecting sap to make maple syrup. -- imageide@s

Tax History Museum
The Tax History Museum provides a synthetic overview of the history of American taxation. Incorporating both narrative text and multimedia source materials, the museum offers a concise summary of American revenue policy and politics. -- Online Project

Test Your Geography Knowledge
This is an interactive website that has quizzes to test students' geography. There are quizzes on continents, cities, oceans, and countries. The quizzes provide the students with the incorrect answers so students can try again. -- Interactive Learning Object

Thanksgiving Lessons Grades K-2
The focus of "The First Thanksgiving" for younger students is threefold: understanding the experiences and hardships encountered by the Pilgrims on their voyage to the New World and in establishing a new settlement, discovering how two very different groups of people in the New World lived, and exploring the different aspects of Plymouth colony's first harvest feast. -- Lesson Plan

The Circle
In this interactive learning object students learn the properties and components of a circle. In addition, the students learn how compute the circumference and area of a circle. This object will work well on an interactive whiteboard. -- Interactive Learning Object

The Cube
In this interactive learning object, students will learn the properties of a cube. They will also use geometric formulas to compute the volume and surface area of a cube. This interactive learning object will work well in a whiteboard lesson plan. -- Interactive Learning Object

The Berlese Extraction:Diversity of Soil Dwelling Invertebrates
Build a Berlese funnel to capture soil organisms. Discover what is living in the soil beneath your feet. This lab compares soil organisms from 2 different environments. -- Lesson Plan

The Eight-Digit Puzzle
The challenge in this puzzle is to place the number cards in the rectangles below so that no two consecutive numbers are next to each other horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. -- Teacher Resource/Reference

The Bing, The Bang and The Bongo: Writing the Five Paragraph Essay
In this lesson the teacher uses a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation to introduce students to the organization technique for the five-paragraph essay known as "The Bing, the Bang, and the Bongo." The presentation, designed for beginning writers, focuses on the introduction, organization, summary, and transitions used to create a well-developed essay. The students will practice this technique by completing an essay template and will conclude by composing an original essay on a chosen topic. -- Lesson Plan

The Grand Canal - Venice, Italy - North View
This photo is of the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy. It is taken from the famous Rialto Bridge. This view faces North off of the bridge. Many of the streets in Venice are canals allowing boats to travel through the town. The boats are used to transport goods and people. -- imageide@s

The Parallelogram
In this interactive learning object, students will learn the properties of a parallelogram. In addition, they will learn to compute the area and perimeter of a parallelogram. This interactive learning object works well in a Smartboard lesson plan. -- Interactive Learning Object

The Trapezoid
In this interactive learning objects, the students will learn the properties and components of a trapezoid. Students will also learn to calculate the perimeter and area of a trapezoid. Interactive practice exercises are included in the object. -- Interactive Learning Object

Tree roots growing in rock
This tree has many roots growing on top, underneath and through an outcropping of granite rock near Long Slide Falls in Northern Wisconsin. -- imageide@s

Trombone
This is a picture of a trombone. -- imageide@s

Turtlehead flower (chelone obliqua)
The perennial Chelone Obliqua is commonly called "Turtlehead" due to the unusual flower shape. It is a native Wisconsin plant that prefers moist, rich soils like those found along streams. It blooms in late summer into fall. -- imageide@s

UW Platteville II
Ullrich Hall on the campus of the University of Wisconsin, Platteville. -- imageide@s

Verb Tenses
The students will demonstrate an understanding of present, past, and future verb tenses through independent practice and by using these verbs in sentences to describe appropriate student-selected clip art. -- Lesson Plan

Vernon County Fair-4H Merit Awards
Best of show entries win merit awards at the annual Vernon County Fair held in Viroqua, WI. These were all entries by local 4H-ers. -- imageide@s

Washington Island Ferries
Two of the fleet of car ferries owned by the Washington Island Ferry Line are docked at Detroit Harbor, Washington Island. The ferries run daily between Northport, WI, at the tip of the Door County Peninsula and Detroit Harbor. They travel through "Death's Door" the water passage that connects Green Bay to Lake Michigan. Early native Americans called the passage the Door of Death, since dangerous currents, winds and rough waters caused the loss of canoes and lives. Later, wooden schooners bringing in goods to the area also had a difficult time navigating the passage with a number of shipwrecks occurring. Today, modern navigation tools have made it a much safer journey, but caution is still taken when crossing these waters. -- imageide@s

WebQuest: El Quijote
This resource invites the user to discover the classic novella Don Quixote de la Mancha. Its format walks you through to learn about Miguel de Cervantes, find about Don Quijote's influence in culture, read its chapters on-line, and finally write a commentary based on findings. -- Student Site

What Snow?
This photo is proof-positive that even in the most inclement Wisconsin weather, there are hardy individuals who scoff at personal safety and comfort to enjoy a bike ride in the woods. -- imageide@s

What Snow? 2
As the photographer was desperately trying not to get his car stuck in the ditch during near white-out conditions, he passed two people on bikes. (see "What Snow?" in this database for a photo of the other rider) Perhaps the winter-hardiness of Wisconsinites occasionally leans towards foolhardiness. At least the rider was obeying traffic laws as he waited patiently for the light to change. -- imageide@s

Winding Road: WI State Highway 42 leading into Northport
This winding, very picturesque section of WI State Highway 42 leads into Northport at the very tip of Door County. Jens Jensen, landscape architect, is credited with convincing Door County officials to build the series of curves which seems to allow the road to flow through the natural landscape. -- imageide@s

Winter Fun-Sledding 1
A sled + a hill + fresh snow = fun. -- imageide@s

Wisconsin State Capitol Holiday Tree
Although its very name is controversial, the "Holiday Tree" is a tradition at the state capitol. Typically it is a Wisconsin-grown 40 foot balsam decorated with 700 feet of garland, 2,400 multi-colored lights and 1,400 handmade ornaments donated by the citizens of Wisconsin. -- imageide@s

Wisconsin beekeeper
A Wisconsin beekeeper checks his beehives and finds natural beeswax. The bees "swarmed" and set up residence in some empty hives in Brown County. Since some of the hives were missing their man made frames, the bees created their own honeycomb. -- imageide@s

Wisconsin's First State Capital
This is an image of the First State Capital building and lodging house. -- imageide@s

Word World
Students go around the barnyard looking for words to put in their word bank. They can go to the different characters house and play word games and look for words. They can make a picture with their words. The words are in forms of pictures. -- Student Site

Word World Bears Skateboard Park
Student make the words that bear asks. He shows the word and students need to find the letters by skateboarding to over the correct letters. When they make the word it spells the word and makes a picture of the word. After five words the next set of words gets more letters. -- Interactive Learning Object

Word World Frog's Rhyming
Students pick the rhyming word from three choices that matches the one on frog's rhyme machine. If you scroll over each word frog will say them again. When they get the answer right the word makes the picture of the object. -- Interactive Learning Object

rocks
Stalactite formations in the Cave of the Mounds. These icicle like rock formations are caused when water drips over the years, depositing minerals, much the same as an icicle is formed. -- imageide@s