Here is the list of projects with the links to use for the web evaluation activity. Find your problem and click on the link to evaluate the websites. Each person in the group should use a different evaluation form and a different website.

1. Design a machine for removing oil from penguins.
http://www.kidzone.ws/animals/penguins/index.htm
http://www.seaworld.org/infobooks/Penguins/home.html
http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/Animals/CreatureFeature/Emperor-penguin
http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0214752/problems-2.html

2. Design a machine for watering potted plants in a space station.
http://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/issedukit/en/html/t0302r1.html
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/index.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Space_Station#Life_on_board

3. Design a machine for digging worms out of the sand.
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/FEATURE/backyard/wonworm.html
http://www.backyardnature.net/earthwrm.htm
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/invertebrates/earthworm.html


4. Design a machine for cooking marshmallows over a campfire (without cooking your fingers as well).
http://www.ehow.com/video_2367493_roasting-marshmallows-over-campfires.html
http://scoutmaster.typepad.com/my_weblog/2006/01/neverfail_campf.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marshmallow

5. Design a machine for combing the fur on a polar bear.
http://www.polarbearsinternational.org/faq/
http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/Animals/CreatureFeature/Polar-bear
http://www.seaworld.org/infobooks/PolarBears/home.html
http://www.panda.org/about_wwf/where_we_work/europe/what_we_do/arctic/polar_bear/about_the_bears/characteristics/index.cfm
http://www.gan.ca/animals/bears+of+canada.en.html

6. Design a machine for relaxing highly stressed people.

http://www.studygs.net/stress.htm
http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/mentalhealth/stress/167.html
http://www.mtstcil.org/skills/stress-deal-1.html
http://www.lesstress.net/stress-effects-on-the-body.htm

YouTube Video of the Week: Critical Thinking for Children, an Introduction

YouTube video of the week: Evaluating Websites

New Seven Wonders of the World

We are looking at the New Seven Wonders of the World and trying to answer the questions or identify the things we wonder about these structures. Use the following links to solve your problem.

http://www.new7wonders.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Seven_Wonders_of_the_World
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19652635/
http://www.panoramas.dk/7-wonders/ -- amazing site that allows you to virtually "walk" the site, looking in all directions.

YouTube video of the week: Be CyberSmart-Researching the Internet Wisely

YouTube video of the week: Evaluating Web Sources

YouTube video of the week: A Vision of K-12 Students

I would love to know what you think about this video! Simply click on the comment button below this post and add your thoughts. Please--no anonymous posting. Use first name and last initial (if you are a student) or full name if you are a parent.

Let's challenge and engage our kids!

Welcome to WMS iSkills

iSkills is a brand new class that has been developed for the 2008-2009 school year. The basis of this class involves critical thinking, problem solving and information literacy. I will combine classroom instruction with technology to assist students in becoming better problem solvers. We will work both individually and collaboratively to develop skills to ask the right questions and think at a higher level.

Notice that several words or phrases are highlighted in green in this post. That means that I have supplied a link to another site that will give you a definition or a resource about that word or phrase. This will help you if you are confused by any vocabulary or want to learn more about a subject.

You will need to check this blog frequently for assignments and updates. You can email me at ekosh@wsd.k12.pa.us if you have any questions or post comments to my posts. I look forward to hearing from parents that check the blog to monitor their child's progress.