Gapminder - Great for Social Studies/Math teachers (Software Review)

http://tools.google.com/gapminder/

Definitely usable and visually appealing. Along the same lines as Harper's Index, this online tool allows you to compare stats (life
expectancy, environmental, military expenses) for every nation in the world. It sets up a graph and plots out whatever stat you want. Choose from about 100 different country statistics.

Okay, so they only have almanac type info right now, so that isn't quite the obscurities Harper's finds, but still who knows what this site will offer in the future.

The best part about this, is teachers and students can create online flowing bubble graphs starting just this past April 2008!

http://www.gapminder.org/

"Last month they announced their first interactive bubble-chart in form of a Gadget in Google Spreadsheet. Motion chart lets you create your own chart from data you have published on a Google Spreadsheet....and it gives any user for the first time the possibility to make their own "Gapminder-like" graphs from thier own data. "

Google Spreadsheets will replace Excel spreadsheets soon, simply because of the ease at which multiple parties can use the same sheet, manipulate it, send it to and fro online - great for planning a guest list for a wedding. Thnx Jeevs for discovering that one.

Back to Gapminder:

You can also join a community of Gapminder graph creators at:

http://www.gapminder.org/world/devblog/

Here is where you might find those more obscure Harper's Index type stats.

The only drawback to this software site is that it didn't appear to be downloadable, which means classrooms would have to have the online connection to run the thing. Google has been pretty kid-tested parent-approved cereal so far. You would think they would turn this over to the people completely.

Woops! I spoke too soon. "Gears" allows you to download all Google Docs software:

http://gears.google.com/

Also there is no printable button attached to the software, in the likely event you want a hard copy of a graph. There is a way around that:

For Mac Users you can use the "GRAB" tool (located in the Applications/Utilities folder). This works like "Snag it" and you can snap a picture of anything on your screen and then print out that image. For PC's I am not sure how to do this...perhaps "print screen"???