413 mind-stretchers results | sort by:
return to subject listing
Tetris N-Blox - Paul Neave
Grades
2 to 8
tag(s): logic (247), problem solving (294), puzzles (203)
In the Classroom
Help students develop computer skills and reasoning skills through playing this game. Tetris teaches visual thinking and two-dimensional awareness very helpful for geometric reasoning. Create a classroom chart and challenge students to post their highest scores and levels achieved. Have students write journals describing how they feel as they play the game, and strategies used to progress through levels. Display this site on an interactive whiteboard to use as a learning station.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Guess the Title - Big Huge Labs
Grades
7 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): main idea (9), puzzles (203), vocabulary (321)
In the Classroom
Guess the Title is a quick and "addicting" way to teach, practice, and reinforce the skill of main idea -- done visually. It also teaches creative flexibility as brains cycle through possibilities to find the correct approach to the picture. Bookmark it in your favorites to provide easy access for projecting it on your interactive whiteboard. Use it whenever you have a few minutes before or after a lesson and need a motivational time filler. Include it in the "useful links" section of your class page for students to access in school or at home. Remember, it always helps to have easily accessible, "do now" activities in your "bag of tricks" to keep students engaged while using technology, when others may still be working on an assignment.Check out the Big Huge Labs educator account. Easily pre-register students to avoid creating logins, view and download their creations, and view the site advertisement free. You will find information about the Educator Account here.
Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Thunks - Get Thunking - Ian Gilbert
Grades
4 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): logic (247), problem solving (294), questioning (36)
In the Classroom
Display a Thunk on your interactive whiteboard (or projector) as a discussion/debate starter. Have students choose a response and defend their answer. Allow students to discuss their answer throughout the week and survey responses again. Have students create their own Thunks to be discussed in class. Create a bulletin board and allow students to post comments and reactions to the question posed. Use a Thunk as a journal writing prompt. Make this page available for students who are "stuck" thinking of something to write about.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Wondermind - Tate Liverpool
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): body systems (56), brain (68), human body (132), logic (247), psychology (67)
In the Classroom
Create a link on classroom computers for students to try the challenges and then view videos on your interactive whiteboard together. Check out the learning resources link to view a video with additional ideas for visual perception games and activities. Use as part of your Alice in Wonderland or Lewis Carroll units. If you teach psychology, anatomy, or health, this exploration will offer a new angle into how the brain works. Use the game and video about memory during a unit on study skills and discovering how students learn best. Teachers of gifted may also want to explore this site as part of a unit on the gifted mind. Learning support teachers may also want to use portions to help students better understand why their minds operate differently -- not "badly." Bright Asperger's students might be fascinated by the portion on the prefrontal cortex and how we learn self-control.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Mugeda - mugeda.com
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): animation (63), comics and cartoons (65), DAT device agnostic tool (179)
In the Classroom
Bring along Mugeda in your bag of tricks to capture and intrigue all of your students. Use Mugeda to illustrate class content, support debate, persuade, and entertain. The possibilities are endless! Add the creations to your website to share with your community. Use on school news programs to add student content without cost, and make information available for all levels of student abilities. Create commercials for your content or to convey information. In history classes go back in time to envision popular opinion that made history happen. Use during campaigns to promote your side of the debate. Science fairs will never be the same. Highlight projects to create anticipation. Send messages to students using the embedded tool. This programming tool has applications in all subject areas. Gifted students, ELL/ESL students, and remedial students will be captivated by this high interest way of expressing themselves.Edge Features:
Parent permission advised before posting student work created using this tool
Includes Interaction w general public/ public galleries with unmoderated content
Includes social features, such as "friends," comments, ratings by others
Requires registration/log-in (WITH email)
Products can be embedded
Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Zoo Whiz - EdAlive
Grades
K to 8tag(s): audio books (28), grammar (211), logic (247), operations (123), preK (288), problem solving (294), punctuation (43), sight words (36), word choice (28)
In the Classroom
Create a classroom account and accounts for each student to monitor students' progress. This is an excellent tool for differentiating. If you don't want individual accounts, create one classroom account and have students can take turns earning money for the zoo and deciding how to spend it. Share this site with parents through your newsletter or classroom website as a resource for practice at home.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
A Game A Day - AgameAday.com
Grades
2 to 8tag(s): logic (247), operations (123), problem solving (294), puzzles (203), sight words (36), spelling (168)
In the Classroom
Use kids' love of games to inspire problem solvers and thinkers within each of your students. This ever-changing site allows for a wide variety of topics and interests. Use as a center tool, reward time, reinforcement, introduction, or review of a variety of skills and concepts. Many of the games are well suited for ELL students to simply practice reading directions and using vocabulary. Add as a link to your website to provide interesting new ideas and concepts. Inspire thinkers in your gifted or advanced classes. Use in computer classes to provide examples for game types. Use as examples of review tools at the end of any unit so students can create their own review games to challenge each other. Put the daily challenge up on your interactive whiteboard or projector as students are entering the room. Preservice teachers will find this site invaluable.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
New Math - Craig Damrauer
Grades
6 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): creativity (118), logic (247), puzzles (203), vocabulary (321)
In the Classroom
Display a new slide on your interactive whiteboard (or projector) weekly as a conversation-starter in a math class, social studies class, or gifted classroom. Ask students to explain what the equation might mean. Challenge students to create their own new math word equations and share them using a talking avatar using a photo (legally permitted to be reproduced). Use a site such as Blabberize (reviewed here). Much of the vocabulary used with the equations is very advanced. Use this in English class for vocabulary development. Then challenge students to create some of their own "equations" with other new vocabulary words.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Game Up: Brain Pop Games - Game Up Brainpop games
Grades
K to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): branches of government (49), cells (99), debate (46), diseases (72), fractions (228), game based learning (139), logic (247), matter (61), myplate (27), nutrition (159), oceans (165), planets (128), plants (174), puzzles (203), solar system (119), supreme court (24)
In the Classroom
Use Game Up to introduce, illustrate, review, or assess concepts. Share the activities on your interactive whiteboard or projector for students to operate as a class activity. Use one of the activities as a learning center. Be sure to put this as a link on your website to allow students a great way to reinforce learning both in and out of your class.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Brain Metrix - BrainMetrix.com
Grades
4 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): logic (247), multiple intelligences (9), puzzles (203)
In the Classroom
Enjoy your new workout routine! Share the activities on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Challenge your gifted students (or ANY student) to strive for tiptop "brain shape." Use as a way to prove to struggling students they can improve with practice to gain confidence. Provide this link on your class website as an enrichment site.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
World Science - World Science
Grades
4 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): animal homes (61), animals (322), diseases (72), genetics (88), news (262), planets (128)
In the Classroom
World Science empowers your students to recognize that they too can ask questions, and they too can understand the latest science questions and answers. Inspire thinkers to find questions and seek answers. Set as your home page and always captivate your students. Use as a reference site to add the latest science news. Subscribe and send to each of your students emails. Reinforce the scientific method in everyday research. Have your classes create their own science news on your website. This is an excellent site for inspiring critical thinking skills and creative thinking. Be sure to include this site as part of your current events and curriculum in gifted and advanced classes.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Creative Puzzles - Respective Authors
Grades
3 to 12tag(s): critical thinking (120), logic (247), problem solving (294), puzzles (203)
In the Classroom
Strengthen your student's problem solving and critical thinking skills. Offer class competitions to increase motivation and thinking. Gaming provides high interest in your hardest to motivate students. Many of these games easily intrigue gifted and advanced classes. Inspire computer classes to create their own games with a place to post with high usability. Use as center time activity, reward time, or extra challenges.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Syvum - Syvum
Grades
4 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): creativity (118), critical thinking (120), logic (247), problem solving (294)
In the Classroom
As a teacher, get a free membership with some capabilities to manage your class such as creating your own quizzes and monitoring class progress. This is the sure-fire way to increase problem solving and creative thinking skills through gaming. Use as a whole class activity, individual, or reward time options. Expand the way gifted and advanced classes think! Put a link to this site on your class webpage, wiki, or blog.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Sound Cloud - SoundCloud Ltd.
Grades
K to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): creative writing (165), descriptive writing (40), expository writing (42), sound (105), sounds (69)
In the Classroom
Add the dimension of sound into your language arts classes with SoundCloud! Turn written stories or poetry into works of spoken art. Use SoundCloud recordings of places such as; the city, the forest, the beach, or a cafeteria to bring settings to life. Make and share audio writing prompts. Challenge students to create their own story using sounds. Add sound into projects such as webquests, PowerPoints, podcasts, or blogging to hear the results! Emphasize important messages to your parent or student emails using sound. What a practical solution for ESL/ELL learners. Record and share poetry readings during Poetry Month. Save quarterly recordings of speech articulation students s they can hear their own progress (and you can share it with parents). Check school policies, of course, before uploading any student recordings to the web. Instrumental music teachers can share clips of musical pieces for students to emulate during at-home practice.Edge Features:
Includes an education-only area for teachers and students
Parent permission advised before posting student work created using this tool
Includes Interaction w general public/ public galleries with unmoderated content
Includes social features, such as "friends," comments, ratings by others
Requires registration/log-in (WITH email)
Premium version (not free) includes additional features or storage
Products can be embedded
Products can be shared by URL
Multiple users can collaborate on the same project
Requires download/installation of software
Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Wired Math - University of Waterloo
Grades
5 to 10This site includes advertising.
tag(s): area (73), decimals (125), enrichment (12), exponents (43), factors (39), fractions (228), integers (40), multiplication (211), percent (82), polynomials (28), prime numbers (31), ratios (63), square roots (22)
In the Classroom
Try integrating these activities into (or as an alternative for) traditional math practice. The beauty of this type of practice is that students receive immediate feedback, before they have already started to internalize the wrong procedure and in time to learn the correct methods. Share this site on your interactive whiteboard as one of several learning stations or practice options. If individual computers are available, allow students time to explore and log their progress against an individual math nemesis. Provide this link on your class webpage for students to access both in and out of class.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Smarthistory Art History Converstaion - Dr. Beth Harris and Dr. Steven Zucker with Khan Academy
Grades
3 to 12tag(s): art history (78), medieval (27), renaissance (31)
In the Classroom
A must for any art classroom, Smarthistory adds an extra dimension and deeper understanding to any history, social studies, or cultural studies classroom. Use in writing workshops to provide insights to art and culture and to into thoughts and feelings. Study written works alongside the art of past time periods. Tempt students into the amazing world of art history by watching the new videos. Bring unlimited, world-class resources to each class. All of the videos are easily adaptable to an interactive whiteboard or projector. Debate clubs can study techniques and develop their own styles of debate. Gifted classes will devour this website. Provide this link on your class website to offer students extra challenge and exploration.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Yummy Math - Brian Marks
Grades
5 to 9tag(s): number sense (96), problem solving (294), puzzles (203), sports (99)
In the Classroom
Make math relevant to any student. Assign weekly problems from the site for homework or daily classwork. Ask students to create new problems to be solved by classmates using the topic of the week or local topics of interest. Have students make a multimedia presentation using one of the many TeachersFirst Edge tools reviewed here. Use the archives to find problems available from previous months.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Virtual Field Trip - Utah Education Network
Grades
1 to 12tag(s): animals (322), baseball (36), biomes (138), business (58), charts and graphs (198), civil war (144), dinosaurs (55), egypt (67), field trips (13), immigrants (22), immigration (60), japan (60), maps (298), mayans (14), medieval (27), mexico (33), multiple intelligences (9), musical instruments (51), nutrition (159), olympics (51), painting (66), probability (141), religions (68), rocks (52), russia (35), sports (99), statistics (127), tessellations (6), test prep (98), virtual field trips (55), volcanoes (66), water cycle (32)
In the Classroom
Immerse your students into your studies with a close up in depth look through virtual field trips. Visit places where time, money, and mileage inhibit your dreams for bringing your students into wondrous worlds. Find ways to visit where your class has never gone before. Create a personalized field trip to meet your every need with the detailed tutorials given. Find ways to motivate your most reluctant learners. ESL/ELL learners will appreciate the visit. Reach all types of learners through a class visit. Use field trips as a whole class anticipatory guide, a center activity, a home connection, or even as extra credit. Challenge your gifted students to be guides to their own learning. Make your class go global!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Platonic Realms - Math Academy Online,
Grades
7 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): logic (247), mental math (30), problem solving (294)
In the Classroom
Keep Platonic Realms on hand for all of your math classes. Find simple explanations to advanced mathematical concepts. Keep handy as a link on your website and keep as a favorite on each student computer. Advanced through remedial students benefit from the extra information and reinforcement.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
NobelPrize.org - Nobel Media AB 2011
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): creativity (118), literature (272), medicine (70)
In the Classroom
Inspire your students to strive for excellence! Show students original, creative, thinking. Let students know they can understand the ideas awarded by trying the educational activities offered. Follow each year's announcements and award ceremonies. Use as an inspiration when beginning your own Nobel Prize winning awards competitions. Encourage students to use critical thinking skills to form opinions based on facts. Gifted programs can easily incorporate many of the ideas into the curriculum. Lead your students to Nobel Award winning thinking.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
Close comment form