October, 2008
A Quick Guide
for Legal Use
of Copyrighted Material
These are the general rules for the fair
use of copyrighted material in educational projects and for classroom use.
General Rules
Tech Sites of the Month
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Internet Resources for Educators
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Language Arts
labeling
games. Topics
include Layers
of the Earth, Structure of a Flower,
Anatomy of a Fish, Respiratory System, and Atmosphere Layers.
Lookybook
http://www.lookybook.com
Fantastic Contraption
Grade Level: Lower Elementary
The Lookybook site has full-length picture books that can be read online. Although the site requires registration, all
the books may be read without a fee.
Vocabulary University
http://www.vocabulary.com/index.php?
dir=level&file=session_info
Grade Level: Secondary
Vocabulary University has lessons on
root words, offered
on three levels. Activities include interactive puzzles, fill-inthe-blank, word finds,
word stories, crosswords, and true/false questions.
Science
Maggie’s Earth Adventures
http://www.scholastic.com/kids/
homework/maggie_science.htm
Grade Level: Elementary
This site contains interactive science
http://www.fantasticcontraption.com
Grade Level: Upper Elementary, Secondary
This is a physics-based game. Using
different tools,
students create
a machine to
move an object
across various
landscapes toward a target. There are tutorials at
the beginning of the game to teach
users how to play.
Math
The Futures Channel
http://www.thefutureschannel.com
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Limit of 2 years on using copyrighted
materials in a multimedia teaching
project
Limit of 10% or 3 minutes of motion
media, whichever is less
Limit of 10% or 1000 words text,
whichever is less
Use no more than 3 poems by 1
poet or 5 poets from 1 anthology, up
to 250 words from a poem
Limit of 10% or 30 seconds music
from single musical work, cannot
substantially change music
Whole image but no more than 5 by
1 artist or photographer
Limit of 10% or 15 images from a
single published work, whichever is
less
Limit of 10% or 2500 fields or cells
from a database or data table,
whichever is less
No more than 2 copies of a project
plus one backup not in use
Each creator can have one copy of a
multimedia project if there were
multiple creators
If you would like to request
websites on specific topics
for your curriculum, go to
the Overview page of the
Instructional Technology
Section and scroll to the
link at the bottom. The link
will take you to a form
where you may submit your
request.
Grade Level:
Secondary
The Futures
Channel offers movies
and activities for hands-on, real world
math and science lessons.
“Tech Sites of the Month” is produced
by Patty Webb, Joshua ISD Instructional
Technologist. Please address all comments, questions, and suggestions to
[email protected].
Social Studies
Kids in the House
http://clerkkids.house.gov
Grade Level: Elementary
Kids in the House is an interactive center designed to give elementary students an overview of the House of
Representatives and its role in lawmaking.
Time Capsule
http://www.dmarie.com/timecap/
Grade Level: All
Users of this site can type in any date from 1800 through 2002 and produce a report that contains all kinds of events from that day. An Advanced feature allows you to customize the content of the report or to add your own events. Completed reports may also be printed.
Art
SmartKids
http://smartmuseum.uchicago.edu/smartkids/home.html
Grade Level: Elementary/Middle
SmartKids was developed by the Smart Museum of Art at the University
of Chicago to provide an open-ended exploration of art for students age 7
-12.
All Subjects
Parade of Games in PowerPoint
http://facstaff.uww.edu/jonesd/games/index.html
Grade Level: All
This site contains templates for 16 different PowerPoint games, along with a sample of each
type.