TeachersFirst - What's Popular
This page shares the 25 resources most frequently marked as Favorites by TeachersFirst Members in the past 60 days. See what tops the list of TeachersFirst's database of well over 15,000+ educator-reviewed web resources. Find out what other teachers are excited about. Not a TeachersFirst member yet? See the time saving benefits of free TeachersFirst membership.
Google Forms - Google
Grades
K to 12
4 Favorites
0 Comments
Create forms for virtually any need using Google Forms, part of Google's online suite of document tools. Begin with included templates, or start with a blank form to create polls, ...more
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Create forms for virtually any need using Google Forms, part of Google's online suite of document tools. Begin with included templates, or start with a blank form to create polls, sign-ups, registrations, and much more. Choose from multiple response options including short answer, multiple choice, and check boxes. Options also allow users to incorporate images and YouTube videos directly into any form. You have the ability to make questions required or optional. Once shared, receive responses in real-time within the "Responses" tab or link to a Google Sheets spreadsheet.
tag(s): polls and surveys (49), spreadsheets (24)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the flexibility of Google Forms to create surveys for parents and students at the beginning of the year to learn about student interests, create parent volunteer lists, and much more. Create sign in and sign out sheets for classroom library materials including books and digital equipment. Use Google Forms to set up and collaborate on lesson plans, include check boxes to standards, materials needed, and covered content. Google Forms is perfect to use for assessment purposes - create online quizzes and exit tickets. Have students use Google Forms to prepare and submit reading logs, brainstorm and collaborate with fellow students, create choose your own adventure stories, or schedule reading and writing conference times. Use Google Forms to set up and share rubrics for any project, have students complete the rubric and turn in with any completed assignment. The uses for Google Forms are as unlimited as your imagination; this is a must-have tool for all classrooms!You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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OK2Ask: Low-Tech and No-Tech STEM - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12
3 Favorites
0 Comments
This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session from November 2019, opens in Adobe Connect. STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) is a necessary component...more
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This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session from November 2019, opens in Adobe Connect. STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) is a necessary component in all classrooms today. As educators, we need to find ways to reach all students and help them to understand the topics within STEM better. In this session, we will share a few no-tech and low-tech STEM activities, for those educators with limited tech options or simply looking for a no-tech or low-tech STEM lesson. Management is key in any classroom, but when working in cooperative groups, it is imperative. During the session, we will reflect on the activity suggestions and discuss possible management concerns. Participants will: 1. Explore no-tech and low-tech STEM activities; 2. Understand the engineering design process; and 3. Plan for the integration of no and low-tech STEM activities in the classroom. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.
tag(s): professional development (196), STEM (211)
In the Classroom
The archive of this teacher-friendly, hands-on webinar will empower and inspire you to use learning technology in the classroom and for professional productivity. As appropriate, specific classroom examples and ideas have been shared. View the session with a few of your teaching colleagues to find and share new ideas. Find additional information and links to tools at the session resource page. Learn more about OK2Ask and upcoming sessions here.
This resource requires Adobe Flash.
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OK2Ask: Tech Integration Made Easy with Padlet - TeachersFirst
Grades
2 to 12
5 Favorites
0 Comments
This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session from July 2018, opens in Adobe Connect. Transform your classroom activities by learning how to use Padlet. Need to spice...more
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This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session from July 2018, opens in Adobe Connect. Transform your classroom activities by learning how to use Padlet. Need to spice up your formative assessment? Looking for a tool to showcase student work that demonstrates comprehension? Want to provide your class with an important discussion and collaboration space? Look no further. You can use Padlet for all of this and more. Learn to easily add a layer of participation in your class that increases student engagement. Join us for this session, and your students will thank you! Participants will: 1. Learn basic use of Padlet; 2. Explore three different ways to use Padlet in the classroom; and 3. Plan for the use of Padlet in the classroom. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.
tag(s): assessment (124), bulletin boards (18), collaboration (57)
In the Classroom
The archive of this teacher-friendly, hands-on webinar will empower and inspire you to use learning technology in the classroom and for professional productivity. As appropriate, specific classroom examples and ideas have been shared. View the session with a few of your teaching colleagues to find and share new ideas. Find additional information and links to tools at the session resource page. Learn more about OK2Ask and upcoming sessions here.
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YoTeach! - PALMS
Grades
7 to 12
4 Favorites
0 Comments
YoTeach! is a free backchanneling app created for teachers and students. Create a room and set a password then provide the URL to your students. Once in the platform, the ...more
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YoTeach! is a free backchanneling app created for teachers and students. Create a room and set a password then provide the URL to your students. Once in the platform, the site's features allow you to share chat discussions, use the online whiteboard, and upload images. Additional options include a simple polling tool, a "like" button, and student participation statistics. When finished, download the conversation to your computer as a PDF. When creating your room, use settings to control privacy and moderate participants.
tag(s): chat (45), social networking (93)
In the Classroom
Use this site to connect to other classes to open up a discussion between your students in one convenient place. Safety is not a concern with this site since only those with an email invitation/link or the QR code can participate in a chat. (Your students need not have email. You can simply email the link to yourself and share it with students to enter into their browsers.) Teach good digital citizenship of chat etiquette while using this activity to learn. Connect with other classes to learn about other locations, learn various perspectives, find animals that are similar yet different, learn about the different books others are reading, or survey students on various economic, political, or environmental topics. Be sure to plan content ahead of time, so students have the opportunity to think through the material and formulate a response. Discuss appropriate ways to communicate with others before connecting with another classroom.Use backchannel chat on laptops during a video or student presentation. Pose questions for all to answer/discuss in the backchannel, or ask students to pose their own "I wonder if..." questions as they watch and listen. Keep every student engaged and THINKING as an active listener. The first time you use backchannel, you will want to establish some etiquette and accountability rules. The advantage of backchannel chat is that every student has a voice, no matter how shy. Use this in world language classes, ESL/ELL classes, or autistic support classes for backchannel chat. Challenge students to use their new language skills to describe a scene from a video or the feelings of the actors. When studying literature, collaborate with another class to have students role-play a chat between two characters. In a history class, create fictional conversations between soldiers on two sides of the Civil War or different sides of the Scopes Monkey trial.
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Book Creator - Red Jumper Limited
Grades
K to 12
14 Favorites
0 Comments
Create beautiful, multimedia digital books with Book Creator. Follow the site's prompts to add video, text, images, and audio to your book. When finished, publish and share your book...more
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Create beautiful, multimedia digital books with Book Creator. Follow the site's prompts to add video, text, images, and audio to your book. When finished, publish and share your book using the site's web-based reader for access on any device. Be sure to follow the short tutorial after signing up to learn about the many features for creating, storing, and sharing your books. The free plan offers one activity library with storage of up to 40 books. BookCreator presents a variety of levels for technology use depending on teacher requirements for the project, or even student ability; it allows for adding narration, videos, text and links to help explain the art work. At the time of this review, Book Creator only works with Google Chrome or the iPad app.
tag(s): collaboration (57), digital storytelling (147), ebooks (33), preK (281), reading comprehension (131), writing (360)
In the Classroom
Create books together, as a class, as you move through a unit or topic. Enhance student learning by adding images and ideas your students suggest. Use in a flipped classroom to deliver course information. Assign several student groups a different topic and redefine their learning by having each group create their own multimedia versions as they learn more about the topic. Students can combine their books later as a class book. Make a digital bookshelf of all the versions for all to use. Challenge gifted students to modify the "standard" class text with the additional material they discover, by going deeper and learning about related topics. In lower grades, create teacher-made e-books for your young readers, perhaps adding audio - your own voice reading the text.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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A Teacher's Ultimate Destination for Virtual Field Trips - Education Database Online
Grades
4 to 12
3 Favorites
1 Comments
Take a virtual trip around the country or around the world with this expansive list of virtual field trips. Browse the list then choose a link to visit diverse places ...more
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Take a virtual trip around the country or around the world with this expansive list of virtual field trips. Browse the list then choose a link to visit diverse places like the Statue of Liberty, the Louvre, or a tour about cows and the milk you drink. Because each link leads to a different site, it is important to view it in advance to make sure your computer meets any specific requirements for that activity. *Please be aware that some of the field trips are no longer available, however, there are still approximately 50 working field trips to explore. Please check the link before you share the location with your class.
tag(s): virtual field trips (59)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of this list of virtual field trips to include with your current teaching units. Visit sites together with your students on your interactive whiteboard or share a link with students to explore on their own. When finished, have students use Thinglink, reviewed here, to modify learning and create an interactive image sharing information learned on their field trip. Include images, videos, and more on their base image. To wrap up your unit, instead of a research report, have students use a multimedia tool like Story Maps, reviewed here, to redefine their learning and create and share a digital story using maps of the location studied.Comments
Sadly the robotics link results in a 404 error. Note from the editor: Thank you for the comments. Our review has been updated.Beth, NY, Grades: 9 - 12
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Google Earth VR - Google Earth
Grades
4 to 12
4 Favorites
0 Comments
Take a virtual tour of several of the world's most famous places with Google Earth VR's preview gallery. Begin by selecting from landmarks such as the Rome Colosseum or Hoover ...more
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Take a virtual tour of several of the world's most famous places with Google Earth VR's preview gallery. Begin by selecting from landmarks such as the Rome Colosseum or Hoover Dam. Move around with your cursor to see the 360-degree view, or watch as the preview takes you on tour. Be sure to click on the square icon near the bottom of each show to open up each virtual reality to a full-screen view.
tag(s): china (65), cultures (117), italian (34), mountains (17), renaissance (33), rome (25), virtual field trips (59)
In the Classroom
Immerse your students in 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. Find the means to motivate your most reluctant learners. Small groups or individual students can focus on one of the tours and use as a starting point for additional research. ESL/ELL learners will appreciate the visual tours. Reach all types of learners through a class visit. Use these virtual reality tours 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! For other virtual tours, try Listly Virtual Field Trips, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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OK2Ask: Believe the hype! Using HyperDocs for Innovative Instruction - TeachersFirst
Grades
2 to 12
2 Favorites
0 Comments
This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session from July 2019, opens in Adobe Connect. HyperDocs aren't just the "new Webquest." They are a mechanism for flexible...more
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This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session from July 2019, opens in Adobe Connect. HyperDocs aren't just the "new Webquest." They are a mechanism for flexible lesson delivery designed for differentiated activities that engage students. Maximize student time on task and encourage student voice with these technology-integrated lessons. In this session, you will learn to plan and design HyperDoc lessons using ready-made templates and frameworks. Participants will: 1. Learn about creating and using HyperDocs; 2. Explore sample HyperDocs and templates; and 3. Plan for the use of HyperDocs in the classroom. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.
tag(s): Google (46), professional development (196), teaching strategies (33)
In the Classroom
The archive of this teacher-friendly, hands-on webinar will empower and inspire you to use learning technology in the classroom and for professional productivity. As appropriate, specific classroom examples and ideas have been shared. View the session with a few of your teaching colleagues to find and share new ideas. Find additional information and links to tools at the session resource page. Learn more about OK2Ask and upcoming sessions here.
This resource requires Adobe Flash.
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Twitter Chat: The A in STEAM: A Closer Look - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12
2 Favorites
0 Comments
This archived Twitter chat is from March 2019 and will open in Wakelet. The title of this chat is: The A in STEAM: A Closer Look. During this chat, participants ...more
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This archived Twitter chat is from March 2019 and will open in Wakelet. The title of this chat is: The A in STEAM: A Closer Look. During this chat, participants will: 1. Define STEAM and discuss the role of the arts in STEM, 2. Share resources that assist in integrating arts into traditional STEM lessons and 3. Share technology tools to help teachers introduce arts into STEM education.
tag(s): creativity (114), design (89), STEM (211), twitterchatarchive (58)
In the Classroom
Find resources and explore ways to integrate the arts into STEM education. Share this chat with your colleagues looking for sites and information related to STEAM.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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50 Mini-Lessons for Teaching Student Research Skills - Kathleen Morris
Grades
5 to 12
1 Favorites
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This PDF provides quick and useful tips for teaching research skills to students from the middle primary grades through high school. The author offers a variety of topics, including...more
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This PDF provides quick and useful tips for teaching research skills to students from the middle primary grades through high school. The author offers a variety of topics, including searching, clarifying, and citing sources, and then gives ideas for activities to teach the skill. The information on the site is concise and to the point, making it perfect for use as a resource in all classrooms.
tag(s): citations (34), Research (20), search strategies (25)
In the Classroom
Bookmark this page to use as a reference when teaching research skills. Consider using this site as a beginning outline of research skills to teach throughout the year then divide each topic into a unit for planning purposes. Use digital tools to reinforce and enhance the lessons. For example, when using the ideas for teaching how to clarify questions, begin with choosing a topic idea. It states to write as many questions as you can for an idea such as koalas. Gather student ideas on your whiteboard, then create a word cloud using Wordsift, reviewed here, to highlight recurring ideas and thoughts. Use this information as a starting point for research, and ask students to share online information into Padlet, reviewed here. Ask older students to use Fiskkit, reviewed here, as a collaborative tool for sharing and discussing online articles. Fiskkit includes tools for sharing online articles and adding highlights and notes with others. Upon completion of research projects, ask students to share their learning using a multimedia presentation tool like Adobe Spark, reviewed here. Have students include original work, images, videos, and more to share their research projects.
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The Wright Experience - The Wright Experience
Grades
5 to 12
3 Favorites
0 Comments
The Wright Experience lets you rediscover the innovation and designs of the Wright brothers. Follow the steps in analyzing photographs, making designs, and running tests to make an...more
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The Wright Experience lets you rediscover the innovation and designs of the Wright brothers. Follow the steps in analyzing photographs, making designs, and running tests to make an actual life-sized reproduction of the Wright kites, airplanes, and gliders. In every model, find the design, assembly, control, and flight tests. Follow wind tunnel testing to analyze flight performance and see the reinvention of the Wright Brother's works. Explore the different parts of Orville and Wilbur's planes. The education area features videos showing testing or flights. Find links to many other useful sites. Find the latest news about any flight re-creations. If your district blocks YouTube, they may not be viewable; be sure to look at alternatives for sharing the videos on classroom computers.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): design (89), flight (30), inventors and inventions (84), wright brothers (19)
In the Classroom
Bring the spirit of invention alive in your classroom. Follow the process, from the earlier designs through each later design, each building upon its predecessor. Discover the many types of testing done to determine limits for each problem. The videos of flight will bring your class on board with Wilbur or Orville! Share the videos on your projector (or interactive whiteboard). Discover the steps to the scientific method or design process to apply in other projects. Include this project in a study of leadership or as a lesson in the perseverance of innovation! Use it as an introduction to your Discovery Fair or Science Night.
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Wright Brothers - Vocabulary University
Grades
3 to 12
1 Favorites
0 Comments
Learn about the Wright Brothers while you also learn some pivotal aviation vocabulary words. Explore the various vocabulary puzzles offered at this site. At the time of this review,...more
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Learn about the Wright Brothers while you also learn some pivotal aviation vocabulary words. Explore the various vocabulary puzzles offered at this site. At the time of this review, you could complete interactive puzzles, fill in the blank activities, and a definition match. Learn over 205 new vocabulary terms all related to airplanes and aviation.
tag(s): aviation (37), flight (30), wright brothers (19)
In the Classroom
This is a perfect addition to a lesson about the Wright brothers or a science unit about aviation (physics and more). Share the puzzles on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Provide the link on your class website for students to explore at home.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Re-Living the Wright Way - Tom Benson - NASA
Grades
3 to 12
1 Favorites
0 Comments
This site provides information and resources about the Wright Brothers, their flights, and the science behind their work. The site was created to celebrate the centennial anniversary...more
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This site provides information and resources about the Wright Brothers, their flights, and the science behind their work. The site was created to celebrate the centennial anniversary of the Wright Brothers historic flight. Although the site may appear simple in design, it has many nooks and crannies to explore.
tag(s): aviation (37), flight (30), gravity (52), inventors and inventions (84), motion (70), scientists (71), wright brothers (19)
In the Classroom
This site provides teachers with resources on the topics of Newton's Laws of Motion, The Four Forces of Flight, Lift, Drag, Thrust, Weight, Center of Gravity, Roll, and Pitch. View the videos using an interactive whiteboard or projector. Download the simulations to your classroom computers and have students work in groups to solve them. Have students work cooperatively to complete one of the many activities found on the site like building a model airplane. Students can then conduct an investigation to see whose plane can fly the farthest.
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Read Ahead - Full Tilt Ahead, LLC
Grades
3 to 12
2 Favorites
0 Comments
Transform any text into a guided reading activity presentation using vocabulary, keywords, and phrases with Read Ahead. Create a presentation highlighting critical components of a text...more
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Transform any text into a guided reading activity presentation using vocabulary, keywords, and phrases with Read Ahead. Create a presentation highlighting critical components of a text passage by choosing keywords or phrases, add your vocabulary list, or use the Smart Skimmer to select items automatically. When complete, your presentation shares featured words and terms with readers before beginning to read the text. Share with students using the created link or through social media links.
tag(s): literacy (107), reading comprehension (131), vocabulary (301), vocabulary development (115)
In the Classroom
Include Read Ahead with your other resources for teaching vocabulary. Read Ahead is perfect for introducing any reading passage to struggling readers, special education students, and ESL/ELL learners. Create presentations for articles found in science or social studies materials to prepare students for difficult vocabulary and phrases. Take advantage of this site to use reading material with your students that might otherwise be above their reading level. Instead of asking students to use vocabulary in sentences to demonstrate understanding, ask them to use the words to create digital stories using an online tool like Book Creator, reviewed here. Book Creator can be used for a variety of assignments in any classroom that is integrating technology as an enhancement, modification, or transformation.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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What is a Solstice? - National Geographic and Michael Greshko
Grades
4 to 12
1 Favorites
0 Comments
This article takes readers through a lesson on the science of summer solstice with video and written explanations. Also, the author provides information on historical structures and...more
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This article takes readers through a lesson on the science of summer solstice with video and written explanations. Also, the author provides information on historical structures and celebrations related to the solstice. Another highlight of this site takes a look at misconceptions about the longest day of the year.
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This site includes advertising.
tag(s): seasons (37), solar system (125), sun (75)
In the Classroom
Include this site with your other resources when teaching about the sun, earth, and seasons. Create a complete unit using ActivelyLearn, reviewed here, and include this article with the other texts and videos available on the site. If you happen to be in school during the summer solstice, use Skype, reviewed here, to find a classroom in a different country to compare and contrast how the solstice affects different parts of the world. Ask students to demonstrate learning by creating a game using Minecraft Education Edition, reviewed here, to create an immersive environment demonstrating the features of summer solstice.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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ArtsNow - ArtsNow.org
Grades
K to 12
1 Favorites
0 Comments
ArtsNow provides a large variety of resources for teaching and integrating art across the curriculum. Choose from Curriculum Guides, Modules, or Integrated Units to begin. Browse the...more
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ArtsNow provides a large variety of resources for teaching and integrating art across the curriculum. Choose from Curriculum Guides, Modules, or Integrated Units to begin. Browse the Curriculum Guides by grade level or content. Download any guide in PDF format for a complete lesson overview including, correlation to National and Georgia state standards. This site also includes several integrated units for grades K-7. Download any unit for all unit resources including, activities, rubrics, and suggestions for differentiation. Choose modules for grades K-5 that integrate STEAM activities. Modules include a strong focus on integrating the arts with science concepts such as magnets and ecosystems.
tag(s): animals (323), art history (78), civil war (149), geometric shapes (171), maps (297), matter (65), seasons (37), STEM (211), stories and storytelling (34), temperature (35), weather (210)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of these free lesson plans and classroom activities to integrate art into your everyday classroom activities. Consider coordinating lessons with your school's art and music teachers. Expand upon the ideas found on this site to bring other art forms into the lessons. For example, take advantage of poetry resources and interactives found at ReadWriteThink, reviewed here, and have students create diamante, acrostic, and haiku poems relating to your lessons. Enhance student learning further by asking students or groups of students to create webpages sharing their learning activities using a resource like Carrd, reviewed here. This very simple tool allows users to add images and text to create a beautiful website using the provided templates. Be sure to ask students to include a reflective writing piece describing their learning throughout your unit. Take learning to the highest level and ask students to design and create a series of podcasts using Anchor, reviewed here. Ask students to discuss their learning activities, and also hypothesize on different outcomes of experiments when changing elements or activities. For example, if creating a podcast discussing changes in matter, have students share their thoughts on how the room and outdoor temperature affects outcomes. What if they used juice instead of water? Would the change from ice to liquid take the same amount of time?
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Brush Ninja - Ben Gillbanks
Grades
4 to 12
1 Favorites
0 Comments
Create animated gifs using Brush Ninja's paint tools and online editor. Use the paintbrushes to draw and color each frame. The toolbox contains a variety of features, including pencils,...more
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Create animated gifs using Brush Ninja's paint tools and online editor. Use the paintbrushes to draw and color each frame. The toolbox contains a variety of features, including pencils, text, shapes, and more. Use the control panel to adjust and play the animation. The timeline allows you to see the frames making up an animation, then drag and drop any frame to change the order. When finished, export your gif as an image for each frame, animated gif, or as an animated gif adjusted for Twitter.
In the Classroom
Use Brush Ninja in a variety of ways. Share this site with students and give them time to explore and experiment. When working with troubled students, use this site to let students share their thoughts and emotions through an animation. This is an excellent site to use with students who love art and enjoy sharing their learning through creative expressions. Take a look at the images created by other users in the gallery as inspiration for how to use animations. Ask students to create animations demonstrating science concepts like erosion, weathering, or chemical reactions. Use this site to have students create animations demonstrating events from stories, share their thought process in math, or animate an event from history. Have students include their animations when creating multimedia projects in an online tool like Sway, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Journey North - Journey North
Grades
3 to 12
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Journey North is a citizen-science program for collaborating and documenting the migration of animals and insects. Become involved by adding your images and sightings, or follow the...more
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Journey North is a citizen-science program for collaborating and documenting the migration of animals and insects. Become involved by adding your images and sightings, or follow the site to view the observations of others through maps, images, and descriptions. Choose from a diverse selection of animals, including whales, earthworms, and many others to begin. Within each topic find information about the animal and their migration habits along with links to additional resources. Take your journey a step further and choose the live cam link to view webcams and animal videos from around the world. Make sure to check out the educator's section to find vocabulary, reading, and inquiry activities.
tag(s): animal homes (67), animals (323), insects (73), migration (60), scientists (71)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of this site to teach students about animal migration and the activities of scientists. Include a link to the site on classroom computers to follow updates and record sightings. Even if you don't participate by sharing information on the site, consider using the site as a model for observations in your area. Use Microsoft Office or Google Docs to create a spreadsheet to record sightings including dates, images, and the person doing the sighting. As students view different animals, encourage them to research and learn more about them and share their learning by creating infographics using Canva Infographic Maker, reviewed here. Extend classroom technology use by having students include their infographics on webpages created using Carrd, reviewed here. Carrd is a simple yet attractive-looking tool for creating websites for even less tech-savvy users. Redefine classroom technology use and learning and ask students to use Story Maps, reviewed here to design an interactive map including images, text, and other multimedia to tell the story of migration.
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Solar System Exploration - NASA
Grades
3 to 12
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Take a journey deep into the solar system with this engaging site from the Planetary Science Communications team at NASA. Choose a destination within the solar system to explore facts,...more
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Take a journey deep into the solar system with this engaging site from the Planetary Science Communications team at NASA. Choose a destination within the solar system to explore facts, information, and images or scroll down the home page to read about the latest news about the solar system. Dig deeper into the site to learn about careers in space, space missions, and much more. Some portions of the site also feature a downloadable app for 3D exploration of planets, moons, asteroids, and more. Stay up to date with the picture of the week and monthly skywatching tips.
tag(s): explorers (69), moon (81), planets (138), solar system (125), sun (75)
In the Classroom
Use this site to offer students the opportunity to explore our solar system through interactives, facts, and informative articles. Introduce the site on your interactive whiteboard then allow students to explore on their own. Because the site is dense with content, you might want to provide students specific areas and content for exploration. As students learn about different pieces of the solar system, ask them to share information using PostIt, reviewed here, a labeling tool; have students use an image and create notes about information learned. For example, find a free image to use of the sun and add notes with interesting facts, including distance from the earth, the temperature on the sun, and more. Use PostIt to create an image for each planet either together as a class, or have students create their own. Use the information learned to create a lively learning game using Baamboozle, reviewed here. Baamboozle is a quick and easy two-team quiz creation game that keeps track of the score as you play. Have older students create their own quiz game for classmates to play based on the material they learned from this site and others. Take student learning a step further and modify classroom technology use by asking them to create books about the solar system using Book Creator (Chrome and app), reviewed here. Book Creator includes features for students to easily create digital books using their own text, videos, and images. Use BookCreator for a variety of assignments in any classroom that is integrating technology as an enhancement, modification, or transformation. Be sure to include your students' books on your class website as part of your digital library for students and parents!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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PictureStem Project - Tamara Moore, Kristina Tank, and Elizabeth Gajdzik
Grades
K to 3
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The PictureStem Project offers STEM teaching units for grades K-2 incorporating the engineering process and correlated to science standards. These three units - one each for grades...more
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The PictureStem Project offers STEM teaching units for grades K-2 incorporating the engineering process and correlated to science standards. These three units - one each for grades K, 1, and 2 include modular features that contain content within different lessons throughout the school day. Each lesson within a unit provides science concepts based upon literary connections using picture books. Select any unit to view and download the entire unit including printables.
tag(s): animal homes (67), animals (323), engineering (131), geometric shapes (171), main idea (8), measurement (177), numbers (191), patterns (89), phonics (68), preK (281), reading comprehension (131), STEM (211)
In the Classroom
Enjoy these free, high-quality STEM units to use in your elementary classroom. As you teach lessons found on this site, enhance learning using a portfolio-creation tool like Seesaw, reviewed here, to share student work and reflections. Upload images of student projects then use Seesaw to add video reflections, students' written responses, and more. Share Seesaw portfolios with parents during parent/teacher conferences to demonstrate student learning. If you are unable to use the complete units in your classroom, be sure to look through the many lessons to "mine" for shorter activities that work in your teaching situation.
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National Geographic 101 - National Geographic
Grades
6 to 12
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Learn about and discover some of the world's most fascinating and timely topics with National Geographic's 101 video series. Each short video is under 5 minutes and features an overview...more
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Learn about and discover some of the world's most fascinating and timely topics with National Geographic's 101 video series. Each short video is under 5 minutes and features an overview of the issue. The diverse range of video subjects includes pollution, human origins, and the flu virus. Click the "more" button next to each video for a transcript and tags for related videos.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): animals (323), chemicals (51), climate (97), climate change (73), dinosaurs (51), diseases (73), drugs and alcohol (26), energy (212), evolution (106), genetics (91), hiv/aids (20), moon (81), planets (138), plants (175), pollution (67), religions (73), romans (37), solar energy (38), solar system (125), space (232), STEM (211), sun (75), weather (210)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the share feature included with each video to share a link or embed videos on your class website or student computers. These videos provide a wonderful opportunity for students to explore a variety of science topics that aren't always included in the science curriculum. As students find a topic of interest on the site, ask them to research additional information, and then use Canva, reviewed here, to modify their learning and create posters or infographics sharing their findings with their peers. Include student-created posters or infographics as part of an overall presentation using a portfolio-building site like About.me, reviewed here. Use About.me for students to create a portfolio as their future self as a scientist sharing their research that includes posters, written work, cited research, and more.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Classroom Management Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12
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Classroom management covers a wide range of tasks or routines: collecting assignments, designing seating charts, promoting positive behaviors, creating cooperative learning groups,...more
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Classroom management covers a wide range of tasks or routines: collecting assignments, designing seating charts, promoting positive behaviors, creating cooperative learning groups, and so much more. If you are looking for some new tools to ensure that your classroom lessons run smoothly and disruptive behaviors are kept to a minimum, check out this collection to maximize your management. Classroom management matters at all grade levels and we have tools for all ages and for all subjects.
tag(s): classroom management (145), Teacher Utilities (89)
In the Classroom
Find management tips and tools to make your class run smoother. Share this collection with your colleagues.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Your Plan, Your Planet - Google/California Academy of Sciences
Grades
2 to 12
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Your Plan, Your Planet is an interactive that demonstrates how simple changes at home have a positive impact on our environment. The interactive focuses on three components: water,...more
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Your Plan, Your Planet is an interactive that demonstrates how simple changes at home have a positive impact on our environment. The interactive focuses on three components: water, food, and energy. Select any of the three items to begin your exploration of ways to change individual habits at home for the greater good of the planet.
tag(s): energy (212), environment (319), recycling (58), water (137)
In the Classroom
Share this site with your class on a projector or an interactive whiteboard to learn about ways to save water, food, and energy in your school then have students explore on their own. As you and your students learn about ways to positively impact the environment, ask them to create infographics sharing statistics and vital information using a tool like Canva, reviewed here, as an alternative to a written research paper. Have older students create video explainers using My Simpleshow, reviewed here to share with younger students and teach them about environmental awareness. Instead of oral reports sharing student research, consider enhancing student understanding by having them create an ongoing podcast to share with your school community. Include tips for reducing food and energy waste at school, and share success stories from different classes. Buzzsprout, reviewed here is a free tool for uploading and sharing podcasts.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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MSN Kids - MSN Worldwide
Grades
K to 8
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MSN Kids features content and search features geared toward elementary and middle-school aged kids. In addition to news stories around the world of interest to kids, the site also includes...more
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MSN Kids features content and search features geared toward elementary and middle-school aged kids. In addition to news stories around the world of interest to kids, the site also includes crafts and videos that appeal to students. Use the links to different categories including animals, science and tech, and more to narrow down features. One very nice feature for classrooms is that this site does not include any advertising or sponsored content.
tag(s): bookmarks (54), cross cultural understanding (143), search engines (59)
In the Classroom
Set the home page on classroom computers to MSN Kids for students to explore and learn about current events around the world. Have students choose an article and use it as a basis for a research project. Challenge students to create an infographic using Canva, reviewed here, to share information learned from the site. After researching information using MSN Kids, ask students to create an explainer video using Biteable, reviewed here, to provide facts, background information, and discuss any topic.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Space School Musical - Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology
Grades
3 to 12
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Introduce students to planets, the moon, and more through this "hip-hopera" correlated to science standards. The materials are designed to be used as a whole production, or as individual...more
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Introduce students to planets, the moon, and more through this "hip-hopera" correlated to science standards. The materials are designed to be used as a whole production, or as individual stand-alone parts. Each section includes a video download and transcript. Total runtime of the videos is 30 minutes. If your school blocks YouTube, the videos may not be viewable.
tag(s): moon (81), planets (138), readers theater (14), space (232), STEM (211)
In the Classroom
Appeal to your students' love of music and drama to teach key space concepts with this site. Instead of just watching the videos, enhance learning using EdPuzzle, reviewed here. Use EdPuzzle to upload the video then add questions to help student comprehension or as a starter for further exploration. Have students interested in music and theater create their own production of Space School Musical (or their original space production). Allow students who aren't interested in being featured in the production to create scenery, be authors and add additional information, or help videotape and share the finished project. Redefine learning by having other students create video explainers using a video creation tool like My Simpleshow, reviewed here. Use these explainers as part of your ongoing assessment of student learning in place of a written report.
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