Visit the Teacher Resource Center for lots of ideas and materials you can use in the classroom. This section is searchable by grade and standard, which actually makes it much easier to navigate than the kid's side of the site. Here you'll find printables, lesson plans, among other resources, all centered around improving kids' literacy skills. Also, for kids with learning difficulties, there's Sparktop, a social network focused on helping them work through challenges.
Continue readingCreated as a partnership between the nonprofit Professor Garfield Foundation and Ball State University, the site features Jim Davis' famous cat character, who's acts as resident "edu-cat-or" on a jazzy spaceship. Robots help kids decide which activities to try first (and there are quite a few of them). You might drop by the "Art-Bot" to watch videos on how to draw Garfield and other animals. Garfield's creator, Jim Davis, inspires budding cartoonists with upbeat tutorials that also teach story structure at the same time.
Overall, the site contains a plethora of learning-related materials. A PDF called Humor 101 shows kids how to use adjectives and colorful language to punch up their comics. "G-Cubed" is an addictive multiplayer trivia game. Smaller kids might like a visit to "Orson's Farm" to have some fun with rhyming words and an introduction to phonics. A favorite feature is "Word Wrestling" in the "Reading Ring." Kids can drag and drop comic strip panels into the correct order and then answer questions about what's going on; they can learn about sequence and practice reading comprehension. The list goes on and on.
There's a lot going on in Professor Garfield's world, and it all looks pretty cool. Garfield creator Jim Davis has given his own input to the project, and partnerships with Encyclopedia of Life, Pixton, the National Institute of Health, among others, ensure that the educational content is solid. Every section has subsections, as well as many, many options within; there are so many choices that the site can feel a bit overwhelming.
It's great to have all these resources, but it's hard to tell exactly where to go for just the right content. For instance, in the Sleep Center, a project offers kids five activities to choose from, all of which teach them about healthy sleeping habits. There are two comic creation options, X-Treme Comics, and the Comics Lab -- both of which are worthwhile in their own ways -- but it's a bit confusing why they're both there. While there is a helpful site map, even it is tricky to find. There's a lot for kids to learn from Professor Garfield; he just needs to simplify his classroom structure.
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