In a previous blog post, Categorizing Interactive Content, I shared four categories I use to group online interactive content. This helps me to select specific online resources based on the way in which I would like to utilize the content in my lesson. Since that post has been the blog’s most viewed and commented on, I thought I would provide additional information about the topic as was requested by GarykPatton.

Below I have described the specific ways I utilize each type of interactive content when teaching the topic of 2-D shapes. One site is given below as an example, although I use multiple sites in each category when teaching a topic.

Interactive Animations:

• http://www.learnalberta.ca/content/me5l/html/math5.html?goLesson=17&launch=true
  When first introducing 2-D shapes to my class, instead of relaying the information about each shape via a lecture, I let interactive animations do the initial instruction for me. Instead of sitting and just watching the animation, my students take notes by creating their own flip books to be used for later study and review.

Virtual Manipulatives:

• http://www.crickweb.co.uk/assets/resources/flash.php?&file=vpinboard4#Scene_1
  I give each of my students a geo-board and some rubber bands. Then, I pull up the online pin board virtual manipulative. As a review from what was learned the day before, I ask my students to create specific shapes on their geo-boards. Then, I select students to come and share their work on the virtual manipulative. In addition to creating specific shapes, I have my student create irregular polygons, non-polygons, and quadrilaterals. Later, I return to this virtual manipulative and have students practice making shapes with specific characteristics such as parallel sides or four right angles.

Practice Activities:

• http://www.thatquiz.org/tq/practice.html?shapes
  I use this website on the third or fourth day of working with 2-D shapes as a quick review. I particularly like this quiz because you can choose which shapes you would like to include. My students respond using their individual dry erase marker boards, and this gives me a quick check of the class to determine which students need additional assistance and which shapes need to be reviewed more frequently. Classroom response systems would well with this site as an assessment tool.

Games:

• http://mathematics.hellam.net/maths2000/shapes.html
  This site can be utilized with individual students in the computer lab or as a learning station with the interactive white board. I have used it both as my individual student practice the first day I introduce shapes as well as an individual review activity during the entire time I am teaching 2-D shapes concepts. This site promotes quick recall of shape names by asking the students to maneuver around the screen selecting shapes and placing them in the correctly labeled containers. This all must be accomplished without being caught by one of the evil robots flying around the screen.

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