Web Sites

The web sites listed were all new to me with the exception of Guys Read which I had heard about but never visited, and Pandora which I had tried out years ago (I'm pretty sure that it was part of the first web challenge I took).  I will definitely be bookmarking Guys Read and I just might use Pandora in the future.  Kidopo was my favorite because it had a nice mix of games and other activities.  The celebrity readers on Speakaboos are an interesting assortment of personalities.  (Kevin Bacon reading Arthur Lost and Found is a hoot.)

I have recommended ALSC's Great Web Sites for Kids regularly over the years (see my post for April 19, 2007).  One nice thing is that ALSC has a committee that maintains this site and keeps it current.

Kids Love a Mystery

Mysteries, Codes & Mazes on the Web

Mysteries

A.Pintura - Art Detective

http://www.eduweb.com/pintura/

Help A. Pintura identify a famous painting.

The Children's Museum of Indianapolis - Geo Mysteries with Rex the Dino Detective

http://www.childrensmuseum.org/geomysteries/mysteries.html

Help Rex solve mysteries about rocks, minerals and fossils.

Federal Bureau of Investigation - Kids' Page

http://www.fbi.gov/fbikids.htm

Learn about the FBI. Create a disguise for Agent Bobby Bureau so he can go undercover. Older kids can follow a case through the FBI lab.

4 2 Explore - Thematic Pathfinders for All Ages - Mystery

http://42explore.com/mystery.htm

Explore various aspects of mysteries by visiting a wide variety of websites.

History Detectives - Kids

http://pbskids.org/historydetectives/

See if you can solve some history mysteries such as identifying objects, guessing the age of a house or identifying famous places in history.

MysteryNet's Kids Mysteries

http://kids.mysterynet.com/

Pay attention to the clues in the stories and solve some mysteries. Read mysteries written by the winners of the "Mysteries by Kids" contest. You can also read a scary story or learn a magic trick.

National Library of Medicine - Tox Mystery

http://toxmystery.nlm.nih.gov/

Help Toxie the cat find hazards throughout the house. Additional sites for kids are listed under Parent Resources.

PlanetOzKids - Ace Detectives

http://www.planetozkids.com/Ace_Detectives/index.html

Help four teens solve mysteries at this Australian website.

Codes

4 2 Explore - Thematic Pathfinders for All Ages - Codes, Ciphers and Secret Messages

http://www.42explore2.com/codes.htm

Numerous websites about codes and ciphers are listed here.

National Security Agency - CryptoKids

http://www.nsa.gov/kids/

Make your own secret codes. Play games that challenge you to crack some codes.

Mazes

Discovery School - Puzzlemaker - Computer Generated Mazes

http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/AdvMazeSetupForm.asp

Make your own maze.

Free Printable Mazes for Kids

http://www.printactivities.com/Mazes.html

Scroll down to finds lots of mazes to print and solve.

Puzzle Choice - Online Games: 2D Maze and 3D Maze

2D Maze

http://www.puzzlechoice.com/pc/2D_Interactivx.html

3D Maze

http://www.puzzlechoice.com/pc/3D_Interactivx.html

Play online.

Great Web Sites for Kids

While searching for information to post on this blog I rediscovered an old favorite. When the Internet was much younger and not yet a part of everyday life for many families, I often recommended ALSC's Great Web Sites for Kids. (ALSC is the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association.) This list was originally created in 1997 (which is very long ago in "Internet years"). Many of the sites provide information for school assignments and others simply provide some online fun. They are divided into the following sections: animals, the arts, history & biography, literature & language, mathematics & computers, "reference desk," sciences, and social sciences. Kids can explore areas of interest such as dinosaurs or space or they can visit the Web Site of the Month.

This list is maintained and updated by the ALSC Great Web Sites Committee so not only are the sites worth visiting but the list is kept current. The appropriate age group or groups for each Web site is noted. For example, Cartoonster is appropriate for elementary and middle school age children and Storyline is appropriate for prekindergarten and elementary school age children. The list can be searched by intended audience as well as by keyword or URL so a parent can find all the Web sites suitable for each age group. Under "Selection Criteria" there is useful information for students and parents about evaluating Web sites. There is also a listing of "Sites for Parents, Caregivers, Teachers & Others."

Happy surfing!