Links

Here are some helpful website links and other Tampa Bay area resources. Please remember to use the web responsibly.  

Test Preparation

• FCAT Explorer: http://www.fcatexplorer.com/
  FCAT Explorer is a free, online educational program for Florida's students that reinforces reading and math skills outlined in the Sunshine State Standards. Link to Florida's on-line assessment tool with elementary and secondary test items similar to the questions on the FCAT test for reading and mathematics.

FCAT Explorer Programs The Galactic Library provides comprehensive practice with the reading benchmarks tested on the 3rd grade FCAT. The Galactic Library is adaptive, changing the amount of support students receive based upon their performance within the program. In addition, the Galactic Library includes vocabulary building activities and games, passage-based incorrect feedback, and animated pleasure readings.

Reading Odyssey provides comprehensive practice for the reading benchmarks tested on the 4th grade FCAT. Divided into three entertaining modules-Land, Ocean, and Space-Reading Odyssey gives students a wide range of interesting fiction and nonfiction passages. Reading Odyssey is adaptive, changing the amount of support students receive based upon their performance within the program. In addition, Reading Odyssey includes vocabulary building activities and games, passage-based incorrect answer feedback, and animated pleasure readings

The Reading Island provides comprehensive practice with the reading benchmarks tested on the 6th grade FCAT. With 27 passages and over 250 practice questions, the Reading Island covers topics in science, culture, and history. Using an appealing island adventure interface, the Reading Island includes sequenced passages (easiest to hardest) and a fun, vocabulary-building game.

With 26 reading passages and over 250 practice questions, Interactive Library offers comprehensive FCAT practice on the reading benchmarks for 8th grade. The Interactive Library includes passages on topics including science, history, culture, and literature and features an engaging library interface.

The Reading Timeline provides comprehensive practice with the reading benchmarks tested on the 10th grade FCAT. With 23 passages and over 200 practice questions, the Reading Timeline covers topics in science and culture, using a history-based navigation. In addition, the Reading Timeline offers eight in-depth lessons on important reading skills. Each lesson gives students clear, step-by-step instruction on one important skill.

The Math Station provides comprehensive practice with the math benchmarks tested on the 5th grade FCAT. With a colorful, appealing interface, the Math Station includes over 150 context-rich practice problems and five benchmark-based math games. In addition, the Math Station offers hints for incorrect answer choices and detailed correct answer explanations.

The Math Navigator provides comprehensive practice with the math benchmarks tested on the 8th grade FCAT. With hints for incorrect answer choices and detailed correct answer explanations, Math Navigator offers 139 context-rich math problems in a visually interesting format.

With over 140 practice problems, the Math Timeline provides comprehensive practice with the math benchmarks tested on the 10th grade FCAT. Using a timeline-based navigation, the Math Timeline includes problems that focus on history, science, culture, and career. In addition, the Math Timeline allows students to freely navigate through the program or work on problems related to a specific benchmark.

 

Reading Resources

• Reading is Fundamental: http://www.rif.org/readingplanet/content/Summer_Reading05.mspx

• Spaghetti Book Club: http://www.spaghettibookclub.org/index.shtml

• Brave Monsters: http://www.bravemonster.com/current_kidreview.htm

• Kids Zone: http://www.hcplonline.info/kids/reading.html

• Harry Potter: http://www.scholastic.com/harrypotter/index.asp

• KidLit  children review kids books: http://mgfx.com/kidlit/kids/artlit/reviews/index.htm

• Scholastic Kids:  http://www.scholastic.com/kids/index.asp

• Kidsread: http://www.kidsreads.com/index.asp

• Ask A Librarian
  Ask a Librarian is a free online information service provided by Florida libraries. Library staff from public, academic, school, and special libraries throughout Florida answer your questions in real time.

• Florida Electronic Library
  The Florida Electronic Library is a gateway to select Internet resources. Use this site for:
   

  • Current Events • Business • Health Issues

  • Homework help • Finding full-text articles • Florida History & Info

• Kids Search Tools

Other Website Resources for Summer Fun

• Funschool

• Jan Brett: http://www.janbrett.com/

• Dole: http://www.dole5aday.com/MusicAndPlay/M_Home.jsp

• Animal planet: http://animal.discovery.com/games/games.html

• Animaland sponsored by ASPCA: http://www.animaland.org/

• Kids Planet: http://www.kidsplanet.org/  

• Kratt’s Creatures: http://www.pbs.org/kratts/crazy/index.html  

• Kids Domain online summer games  (watch for the pop ups): http://www.kidsdomain.com/games/summer.html  

• Exploratorium, Sports: http://www.exploratorium.edu/sports/index.html  

• Sports Illustrated for Kids online: http://www.sikids.com/contestsplash.html  

• String figures  give this a try!: http://www.frontiernet.net/~steve_glimpse/  

• Kids Chess Academy: http://www.chesskids.com/  

• Nickelodeon games and sports: http://www.nick.com/all_nick/gas/?_requestid=915688  

• Zuzu for kids about kids: http://www.zuzu.org

• Sunlink

• Kennedy Space Center

Fun Activities and Places to Check Out
in the Tampa Bay Area

• Florida Aquarium Explore A Shore

• Lowry Park Zoo

• Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI)

• Build A Bear at International Mall

• Busch Gardens

• Adventure Island

• Tarpon Springs