Games

=**Games**= Funschool []

This website provides a wide array of games for teachers and librarians to use in the school setting. It provides word games, counting games, environmental games, science games, and many more. Not only does it provide all these games for learning, but it also provides activities for the students to do either in their classroom or at home. There is also a section for pre-school students, as well as a section for teacher's and parents. I really like how they are very big on recycling and teaching students how to recycle, which is something that can definitely be emphasized in a school library setting. In an educational setting, you can use the various games to teach about science while getting the students involved, or you can simply put up the site on the smartboard and use it to display a specific project or activity that you can complete in class with the students.

Brittany Barrett-

Quia [|www.quia.com/web]

This web site allows instructors to create their own games, using 16 different styles from a simple game of Hangman to more elaborate Cloze activities. Teachers can use Quia provided contert or their own curriculum, audio, and graphics when writing thegames. The games can be shared with other teachers online. Quia has over 1,000,000 games created by instructors that you can access for immediate interactive play, or edit to make them your own based on curriculam you have taught. While the graphics are simple, this would be an excellent site for elementary level librarians to use to teach, practice, or review library skills as found in the website [] created by Barb Cutler, the librarian at St. Josephs Catholic School in Seattle, Washington. There is also a special math practice section found at []. and Quia provides a workbook and quiz component at [%20that|www.quia.com/books.] This area has ready made worksheets and activities which the program grades and can provide the student immediate feedback. This component is designed to help teachers with record keeping as it retains grades for teacher use. This website appeals to me because it is easy to use with my content, based on my curriculum, and will engage students with fun games.

Lyndsey Theobald

Poptropica Poptropica is an amazing, interactive game site for kids. The graphics/images are very appealing visually and there are minimal pop-up ads. This particular sites has many games available. Students are able to create their own avatar and begin their adventure on the island of their choice. It can be used in the library setting because several of the islands are created based on best selling children books. Wimpy Wonderland (http://www.poptropica.com/wimpywonderland_island.html) allows students to become part of Greg's adventure in an interactive game that follows along with Greg Kinney's popular series. It can create interest for those students who have yet to experience this hilarious novels, as well. Other popular series that have games connected to them are Big Nate and Magic Tree House (http://www.poptropica.com/reddragon_island.html). This can be incorporated into an academic setting to supplement the reading of any of these novels. However, I have used it to really add some fun and extra excitement to my Greek Mythology unit. Students are allowed to play Mythology Island when we are studying this unit. They have the opportunity to interact with gods and goddesses and it reinforces what we have been studying in a fun and exciting way. If you haven't tried this gaming website, you really need to. It appeals to me so much because of the simple and sweet graphics that aren't tainted by violence or dark undertones. There is even a game based on "The Great Pumpkin: Charlie Brown" for those of us still young at heart. Brandy Gonzales
 * (http://www.poptropica.com/)**

//Scratch// []

Gaming is very popular in libraries, and Scratch takes the gaming experience to another level for students from about age 8 and up. With Scratch, users are able to create and share their own gaming, video, animation, and other digital design projects. Holding Scratch workshops in the library would be a great idea for students to try their hands at computer programming. Students would learn new skills, share and adapt ideas, and apply critical thinking skills using Scratch as they learn how to make things "do" what they want them to with their projects and share them with others. It would also be a great opportunity for students to learn about copyright issues as they find photos, sound, videos, and even others' projects, etc. they might want to use for their own.

Kinsey Riley

Games: Clockwords []

Gaming is an extremely useful tool for learning as we all know. Gaming engages students and encourages learning oftentimes without their even knowing! With Clockwords, students can learn vocabulary in a fun way and stay connected with the lesson. This can be a fast-paced game; in fact, the description reads: "You are an inventor who discovers plans for a mysterious word machine. Suddenly, your lab is infiltrated by bugs that want to steal your secrets! Make words that include provided letters to fend off the invaders." As a librarian, I would suggest this tool for any teacher who has reached a dry spot in the road when it comes to teaching vocabulary. And although it seems more geared to middle school aged students, as a high school teacher, I believe my students would enjoy it as well.

Kelly Hart

**Games for Kids in the Stacks** []

Fantastic website! It offers a variety of options for the library, including games (both arcade games and puzzle games) based on different series/books as well as quizzes about the books. Favorites include Goosebumps, Captain Underpants, Inkheart, and I SPY. Students can create their own games based on these books, too. There's even a section for writing games! Students can write editorials about different books, participate in a chain story, or create comics. This is a great website for either elementary or middle school libraries!

Samantha Johnson