1. An Introduction to Thinkfinity
Gena Price
Technology Integration Coach
and
Thinkfinity Field Trainer
Copyright © 2008 Verizon Foundation. All Rights Reserved. This document may be reproduced and distributed solely for uses that are both (a) educational and (b) non-commercial. Any reproduction or distribution of this document for any other purpose, including commercial gain, is strictly prohibited. 1

2. What is Thinkfinity?
Thinkfinity.org is a website that contains thousands of free K-12 lesson plans and student materials for every core subject, designed by the leading educational organizations in the United States.
Access and use resources from school or home!
55,000+ FREE resources for K-12 education
A partnership between the Verizon Foundation and the nation’s leading educational and literacy organizations
FREE professional development

3. Verizon Foundation’s Core Initiatives:
Promoting 21st Century Skills
Demonstrating a Commitment to Corporate Responsibility
Why does the Verizon Foundation support education through the Thinkfinity program?
The Verizon Foundation is committed to promoting the Foundation’s goal is to help people achieve the skills they need to live, learn and work in the 21st Century.
The Verizon Foundation corporate responsibility reflects the commitment we have to improving the quality of life in our community.

4. Power Issues – Environment and Economics
Can you generate enough energy for your town without running out of money?
How does the use of an energy source impact the quality of life for the people in the community?
NOTE: Click on the interactive, then on the Start button. Position the mouse over one of the energy source cards and notice the power, cost and impact associated with the energy source. Explain that students will choose cards in an effort to remain under budget and with attention to impact on the environment.
Imagine a classroom where students are split into groups and asked to use this interactive to help answer the questions presented. By students making choices and seeing the results, they are able to acquire a deep level of understanding about energy resources It is a student-centered approach that requires students to solve problems and come to their own understanding about energy resources and their impact on the environment.
We recognize that teachers are doing great things in their classrooms already, without integrating Thinkfinity’s Web-based resources. We want to acknowledge that, and want to make sure that the message sent is that using Thinkfinity Web-based resources does not mean that you abandon all the great things that you are already doing, but that these resources can enrich and enhance what is already being done.
NOTE: Facilitate a short discussion with participants about the focus of the lesson on content, and the engagement level of students to this activity. Does the addition of this resource enhance or enrich a standard lesson on energy to improve student learning? In what way?
This particular resource promotes discovery learning, student-based learning, and student engagement. Other Thinkfinity resources can enrich or enhance lessons in other ways, including (but not limited to):
motivating students by providing learning activities and content in fun and interesting ways
making content relevant by providing primary sources (documents, images, objects)
providing additional content, not available through text books or other curricular materials
providing opportunities for independent practice of skills
providing opportunities for collaborative learning
providing opportunities for teachers and students to interact with technology for a content specific purpose, thus improving digital literacy
Click to view a great
Lesson Plan!
Then play the Interactive
Power Up
Game!
Lesson Plan

5. Thinkfinity’s Content Partners
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Arts
National Council on Economic Education
Economics
National Endowment for the Humanities
Humanities
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
Mathematics
International Reading Association &
National Council of Teachers of English
Reading/English Language Arts
American Association for the Advancement of Science
Science
National Geographic Society
Geography
National Museum of American History
American History
National Center for Family Literacy &
ProLiteracy Worldwide
Adult & Family Literacy
The Thinkfinity Content Partners are recognized as the leading educational organizations within their content area. As you can see by this chart, there is a comprehensive approach to providing materials that are both specific and interdisciplinary in nature, as you will see as we explore these sites. The addition of the National Center for Family Literacy and ProLiteracy Worldwide allows us to extend our resources to those individuals and organizations who are striving to increase literacy throughout the world.

6. What Does Thinkfinity Provide?
Free Educational Resources
Standards-based lesson plans
Student & Teacher Materials
Online
Interactive
Offline (printable)
Partner-reviewed Web links

7. Learning Objects Video Clips Interactives Web sites E-Sheets
Primary Source Documents
Graphic Organizers
Quizzes
Online Manipulatives
Rubrics
Printable Maps
A wide variety of available resources is available through Thinkfinity.org to enhance classroom instruction. The choice is dependant on available technology, time, and teacher objective.
Be sure to take some time emphasizing that each of these types of resources is considered a “Learning Object.”
Photographs
Podcasts
Virtual Museums
Worksheets
Audio Clips

8. x 1029 or e-mail gprice@brandon.k12.mi.us
To learn more about Thinkfinity or to schedule a training session for your building or department contact
Gena Price, Technology Integration Coach and Thinkfinity Field Trainer,
x 1029 or