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Sample Resources

Sample Audio

NOTE: All audio files and lesson plans are hosted at and downloaded from the Recorded Books website. RIght click and Save As to download files.
• The Secret Story of Sonia Rodriguez excerpt by Alan Lawrence Sitomer - from the Dark Secrets Jam
• Monster excerpt by Walter Dean Myers - from the Friends, Foes, and Crisis Jam
• The Hoopster excerpt by Alan Lawrence Sitomer - from the Friends, Foes, and Crisis Jam

Sample Lessons

NOTE: All audio files and lesson plans are hosted at and downloaded from the Recorded Books website. RIght click and Save As to download files.
• Characterization Activity - Used with The Secret Story of Sonia Rodriguez
• Setting Activity - Used with Monster
• Symbolism Activity - Used with The Hoopster
• Alan Sitomer's 6 Steps - Imagery in The Secret Story of Sonia Rodriguez

Additional Resources

Links and Internet Resources for BookJam Projects

Create Images
• ArtPad Online Painter
• A List of More Online Painting Programs
• www.icovia.com: Create a custom room for a book character.
• La-Z-Boy Design Center: Create a custom room for a book character.
• Jordan's Room Planner: Create a custom room for a book character.
• ScrapBlog: Create scrapbook-like collages online.
• ToonDoo: Make your own comic strips.
• Picnik: Edit and retouch photos or create collages online.
• Graffiti Creator Create your own online graffiti art.
• Motivator: Create your own motivational poster.
• Movie Poster Creator
• Badge Creator: Make and print your own personal press pass.
• Billboard Creator: Make your own billboard.
• Mosaic Maker: Generate a mosaic from a custom set of images.

Create Movies and Music
• DoInk: Make short animations.
• Animoto: Make killer video from your images automatically.
• CreatingMusic: Compose simple music tracks online.
• JamStudio: Compose and save more complex music tracks online.
• JamGlue: Remix, share, and save tracks from provided samples or popular artists.
• Playlist.com: Create and share a music playlist.
• YouTube: Record videos online straight from your webcam, or upload videos to share.
• TeacherTube: Share videos online with a community of educators.

Creative Writing Tools
• Wordle: Create a word cloud from a blog, RSS, or any other selection of words.
• Wordpress.com: Create your own classroom blog or have students create blogs.
• Blogger.com: Create your own classroom blog or have students create blogs.
• Shadow Poetry: Write magnetic poetry Online.
• MadGlibs: Make your own MadLibs online.

Public Domain and Creative Commons Resources

Note: Images at these sites have various attribution requirements. Though most of them are copyleft, not all are public domain. Check each image to make sure you're following the correct guidelines.
• GNU Free Documentation License Info
• Creative Commons License Info
• WikiMedia Commons: A database of freely usable media files to which anyone can contribute.
• DeviantART: where ART meets application! (Be sure to check licenses for each work here!)
• FreeFoto: The largest collection of free photographs on the Internet (link back and attribution required).
• Pics4Learning: a copyright-friendly image library for teachers and students
• MorgueFile: Where photo reference lives. Public image archive for creatives by creatives.
• Public Domain Pictures: Royalty free stock photos
• Library of Congress on Flickr
• Library of Congress: Prints and Photographs Online Catalog
• American Memory: Photos from the Library of Congress documenting the American experience
• Life Magazine Photos: Hosted by Google (Many of these are public domain.)
• Maps: Copyright-free maps
• Open Clip Art Library: An archive of user contributed clip art that can be freely used
• Representative Poetry Online: Searchable poetry database (Be sure to check copyright info for each poem.)
• Project Gutenberg: Classic books and cultural works in digital format
• Public Domain Music: Searchable list from PDInfo
• PDMusic: Public domain sheet music (Note: MIDI files are NOT public domain, but lyrics are.)
• Public Domain 4U: The best MP3s in the public domain
• Free Music Archive: It's not just free music; it's good music
• The FreeSound Project: A collaborative database of Creative Commons licensed sounds. Freesound focuses only on sound, not songs.
• ccMixter: A community music site featuring remixes licensed under Creative Commons

Additional Classroom Resources

• The BookJam Community: Join other educators at the BookJam Ning!
• www.alanlawrencesitomer.com
• Lexile Levels: Look up a print book's lexile level.
• www.lyrics.com: Look up the lyrics to your favorite song.
• www.azlyrics.com: Look up the lyrics to your favorite song.
• www.elyrics.net: Look up the lyrics to your favorite song.
• Anti-Defamation League
• MADD: Mothers Against Drunk Driving
• SADD: Students can view SADD PSAs or take a stand by signing the Contract for Life.
• Poetry at Student.com: Submit your poetry to the gallery.
• Simile of the Day Generator
• Dictionary.com Translator
• Free SAT Essay Prep from Alan Sitomer

Book Hooks
Student-created Book Hooks for titles in The BookJam

Book Hooks for Homeboyz

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