First of all, I'd like to thank all of the amazing teachers, substitute teachers educational assistants, principals, vice principals and division office members who attended one of the 19 SMART Board workshops I've led over the past 2 weeks! This includes, but is not limited to, folks from Southern Alberta, the Calgary area (northern and southern perimeter including Airdrie, Okotoks and Cochrane), Calgary, Red Deer, Camrose, Edmonton, Lloydminster, Wainwright, Victoria, Vancouver, Abbotsford, Duncan, Cowichan, Langley, Surrey, Mission, Chilliwack and the million other places that I'm sure I'm forgetting.

I'd especially like to thank those who have taken the time to mosey on over to this little blog of mine :)

Oh, and I would also like to extend a huge thank you to all the people who have shared their resources with me, provided me with amazing links to great interactive websites and given feedback on my sessions.  I. Love. Teachers. (after all, I was one in a previous life!)

Today's Fresh Look Fridays post is about a website one that I've seen before, I've used in workshops before and I've promoted verbally before.  But every now and then one of my favourite interactive sites gets pushed to the back of my mind when I see a new and engaging website...(Look! Shiny object!)

But luckily one of my workshop attendees yesterday reminded me of this FANTASTIC site for Science simulations!  PhET is a website spilling over with a million interactive simulations for Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Math, Earth Science, etc., etc.  

I can't even begin to list all the reasons why this site is awesome.  Mainly, it is exactly the type of interactive website that works especially well on a SMART Board or other iwb in the classroom -- it encourages exploration and experimentation, it's perfect for a center type activity with 3 or 4 kids at the SMART Board, it provides visual references to abstract ideas and it's a nice extension or introductory activity.

Some of my favourites are found in the Physics section. What? You're surprised that deep inside this history geek there's a math-brained geek who's fascinated with the inner workings of this natural science? Just because I watch CPac and C-Scan doesn't mean that I'm not interested in the properties of a pendulum swing! :)

One example: Balloons and Static Electricity.  So simple, yet so easy to understand!

Just thought it was time to share a little info for Science colleagues of mine! Happy Friday and Happy Labour/Labor Day to the Canadian and American educators reading this!

Vanessa :)