Spotlight on Sources:
Welcome to Renzulli Learning’s Spotlight on Sources, some of our most engaging resources to excite and inspire your students!
Renzulli Learning provides your students with many outstanding “Type I” experiences - activities designed to expose students to a wide variety of disciplines, topics, occupations, hobbies, persons, places, and events that would not ordinarily be covered in the regular curriculum - as detailed in the Schoolwide Enrichment Model (SEM) by Dr. Joseph Renzulli and Dr. Sally Reis. One of our favorite kinds of Type I Activities are Virtual Field Trips!
Have students go to My Enrichment Activities and choose Virtual Field Trips. From there they can browse the Virtual Field Trips based on their Profiler Results or they can do an Advanced Search to find Virtual Field Trips on a specific topic or to a specific location. Once your students have located the Virtual Field Trip of their choice, have them add an entry in their Journal!
Journal Entry: Which of the Virtual Field Trips that you explored would you like to visit in person? Explain why with at least three reasons and details. Do you have any advice for us if we go on this trip?
Check out a few of our favorite activities below!
To locate these activities within Renzulli Learning you can SEARCH Enrichment Activities and type in the title of the activity you would like to locate. For more ideas to infuse enrichment activities with your curriculum, please visit the Unit Supplements on the Teacher Site, under “Teach.” We can also link these enrichment resources to your regular curriculum if you send us a theme or topic.
K-2
Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art
Reading
Eric Carle achieved fame through his artwork in more than 70 beautiful picture books, such as “The Very Hungry Caterpillar.” At this site, you can journey to the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art to see galleries of artwork by Eric Carle and other accomplished artists.
EarthCam: Sharks and Friends - Jellyfish Cam
Science
Dive into some fun with EarthCam's live aquarium webcams! Go below the surface and take a virtual swim in three unique tanks. See blacktip reef sharks, jellyfish and an incredible variety of brightly-colored saltwater reef fish. View real-time footage every day from 10:00am - 8:00pm ET, and enjoy archived footage outside of those hours.
Zoo Explorer
Science
Chicago's Brookfield Zoo presents Zoo Explorer! See pictures of dozens of animals. You can explore by habitat or by animal.
3-5
Science
Visit the tropical rainforest of Nicaragua. Meet Janette, Chepe, and other children who live there. You can also get to know some rainforest animals and plants, including the howler monkey, the toucan, and the trap-jaw ant! Learn about the importance of biodiversity and the problem of deforestation. Choose between an interactive exploration and a guided slideshow.
National Gallery of Art: East Building Virtual Tour
Fine Arts
The National Gallery of Art presents a virtual tour of the East Building. Zoom in and out, and navigate freely around the grounds and inside the architecture, which was erected in 1978.
EarthCam: Lion’s Den Cam
Science
Go ahead, let out a "roar" - this webcam at the University of North Alabama is something special! EarthCam teamed up with UNA to virtually transport visitors into the lion's den, also known as the George H. Carroll Lion Habitat. Take a tour of Leo III and Una's on-campus housing with our unique live view.
6-9
Fine Arts
Rebrandt van Rijn, known simply as Rembrandt, is one of the most famous and influential artists of all time. This online exhibition will explore Rembrandt’s artwork depicting the biblical scenes of Abraham and much more.
Fine Arts
The "Mona Lisa" is one of the great works of Western art. This series of video lectures examines the painting's colors, physical characteristics, and artistic techniques, and also compares it to other Renaissance portraits. View the lectures, and then explore on your own using a virtual magnifying glass and a timeline!
History & Social Studies
Mount Vernon was the beloved home of George and Martha Washington. They resided there from the time of their marriage in 1759 until General Washington's death in 1799. He worked tirelessly to expand his plantation from 2,000 acres to 8,000 acres and enlarge the mansion house from six rooms to twenty-one. Now, you can take a virtual tour of George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate & Gardens! Click any room in his virtual mansion to read its history.
10-12
History & Social Studies
In 1922, after seven years of searching, Howard Carter found the tomb of Tutankhamun. Over the course of several more seasons, through 1930, he excavated the site. Study the history of the search, and explore diaries and journals, drawings, maps, plans, and photographs that document the excavation.
Science
Come take a virtual tour of a cell! The Cellscape is one of the many fascinating scientific visualizations created by XVIVO Scientific Animation Studio. The project was supported by Google Making and Science Team. The creators did a wonderful job in introducing us to the major parts of the cell visible to a viewer in the cytoplasm in a virtual environment. This tour will be sure to boost your next test score in cell biology!
History & Social Studies
Would you like to visit Ellis Island? Take this virtual tour of Ellis Island and understand what your ancestors and all of the immigrants that passed through their doors felt. Click the link to start your visit!
Thanks for being a part of the Renzulli Learning family and we hope you find these resources helpful.
Your Renzulli Learning Team