Most students and teachers have a smartphone which as the ability to download certain apps. These apps can be downloaded through the Android Market and Apple Store. There are many different apps that can be used in the social studies classrooms for educational purposes. I am going to list four important apps that can be used in a social studies classroom.
APP #1 - World Book: This Day in History - This specific app can be utilized via the IPAD. This app is an interactive multimedia calendar that displays historical events for the current day or any selected day. This app provides related media for that specific day such as photos, illustrations, music and speeches. Students can hear presidential speeches on the day of their inauguration and play sound clips from different artists on their birthdays.
APP#2 -MyCongress - This app is currently available for free on the IPAD. MyCongress gives you access to detailed information about your elected U.S. Congressional officials. You can track their news, video and Twitter feeds. You can also look up their official Congressional profile or contact them directly. MyCongress helps you get in touch with your government.
APP#3 - FactBook - This is a free app that is currently available on the Android Market for their tablets and smartphones. This app is a mobile version of the CIA World Fact Book, offering users quick and easy access to CIA World Fact Book and United Nations data and statistics that covers a wide range of statistics. Students researching a foreign country will have simple and fast access to an
incredible amount of important information.
APP#4 - History Channel - This is a free app that is fantastic, and I use it a lot as a reference in my history classes. You can watch full episodes of History Channel series. You can also explore the "topics section" for a selection of short video clips about some of the most fascinating categories of history. Examples of some of the categories are American Civil Ware, American History, American Revolution, Ancient History, Berlin Wall, Bet You Didn't Know, Black History Month, British History, Cold War, Coroners Report, First Ladies, Great and Telling Tales, Hidden History, Deconstructing History, Invention, Korean War and much much more. This a very beneficial app, especially the "bet you didn't know category"
Please feel free to enjoy these apps if you are a social studies teacher or if you just love learning new things.
The history channel has some good lesson plans for teachers as well. The great part about being a Language Arts or Social Studies teacher is the flexibility to touch on all subjects. If it happened, then history covers it. If you can read it, then Language Arts covers the topic.
ReplyDeleteThese apps do seem interesting. I think some of the apps would be great to get information for daily trivia inside the classroom.
ReplyDeleteMy students are in the fourth grade and they love the History Channel App. They are very interested in learning about history by using the iPad instead of learning by way of book.
ReplyDelete