Mashpedia is an interesting service that matches reference articles from Wikipedia to materials from other sources like YouTube, Flickr, Twitter, Digg, and the web in general. Mashpedia could be a great resource for a current events class. By offering video and image results, Mashpedia provides materials that can be accessed by almost all students regardless of reading level.
Here are a few free sites for creating multimedia timelines.
http://xtimeline.com/ Great for older students, XTimeline can include text, images, and video. XTimeline will accept dates in A.D./B.C. format.
http://www.timetoast.com/ An easy to use timeline that is a suitable choice for students in elementary school or middle school.
http://www.timerime.com/ TimeRime allows users to create timelines that include text, images, audio, and video.
http://www.dipity.com/ Dipity is a great timeline creation tool that allows users to incorporate text, images, and videos into each entry on their timeline. Dipity also incorporates a mapping feature which allows users to place a Google Maps bookmark related to the topics the timeline covers.
FlixTime (similar to Animot0)is a video creation site. It allows you to create 60 second videos for free, and you can add a voiceover to your video. To add a voiceover all you have to do is select the "add voice" option after uploading and arranging the images in your video. FlixTime will then ask for permission to access your computer's microphone. Once you've granted FlixTime permission to access your microphone you can begin recording. The sound controls allow you to strip the sound from videos you upload to the FlixTime editor. Image highlighting allows you to place a "spotlight" on images in your videos. Image captioning gives you the option to place captions on an image or on separate slides. The new speed control option allows you to control the speed of transitions between images.
Spelling Match is a spelling game developed by Houghton Mifflin. Students complete matching activities based on the sounds and or meanings of words. Spelling Match offers different levels of difficulty for students in grades 1 through 8, and can even be played as timed activities.
ZooBurst is a new website that allows users to create 3D pop-up books using nothing more than public domain clip art and ZooBurst's web-based editing tools. Anyone can view the books already created, but to create your own you must submit a short request form to have your account created.
In the very near future ZooBurst will be releasing a "class management" feature that will allow teachers to set up classes, create assignments and set up usernames & passwords for your students. In the interim you can always log into ZooBurst on behalf of your students. ZooBurst will allow you to access your account from multiple computers at the same time, so if you are in a computer lab simply log into the site for each student and have them create their own books.
http://www.ask500people.com/ Ask500People to is a great site to take a poll on current event questions by gathering input and opinion data in minutes from around the world. After you create a free account, you simply type in your poll question and possible answers and await the results. You can also take part in any of the numerous poll questions already submitted from other teachers and students.
Panaromio, a geolocation-oriented photo sharing website, is one the of the easiest sites I've used to locate pictures from just about any location in the world. Just to test it out, I searched for images from several small towns (some so small they aren't even considered to be a town) and found pictures for all but one. Your search results include the site's location on a Google Earth map. I would consider this site a must-use for any social studies class.
Uploading and sharing your own pictures is also very easy. If you already have a google account, you only be asked to create a Panoramio user name before you upload your pictures. I then uploaded a picture I had taken on my iPhone and mapped it exactly where it was taken several weeks ealier. If it is not the correct location, you can use the Google Earth map to designate the proper spot.
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