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.
Makebadges - Digitalme
Grades
K to 12
7 Favorites
0 Comments
Design digital badges using Makebadges' intuitive tools. Choose from templates and designs found on the site or upload your images to include with badges. When finished, download to...more
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Design digital badges using Makebadges' intuitive tools. Choose from templates and designs found on the site or upload your images to include with badges. When finished, download to your computer as a PNG file. In addition to badge creation, Makebadges also contains options for designing avatars, logos, and site logos.
tag(s): classroom management (159), design (87), game based learning (139), organizational skills (128)
In the Classroom
Bookmark this site for use when creating digital badges and avatars. Create badges for students to earn as they progress through different reading levels, math goals, or academic benchmarks. Have students share their badges in online portfolios such as those found at Seesaw, reviewed here. Ask students to create their own badges or avatars to include with online book reports and presentations. Consider publishing student projects to Edublog, reviewed here, which is a free blogging service for students and teachers.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Timeline Maker - Soft Schools
Grades
K to 12
4 Favorites
0 Comments
Generate a personalized timeline using Timeline Maker. Complete the table to include a title, number of events, and fill in the desired dates and corresponding activities. When complete,...more
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Generate a personalized timeline using Timeline Maker. Complete the table to include a title, number of events, and fill in the desired dates and corresponding activities. When complete, generate your timeline and print. To save your timeline, create a free account using your email and a password.
tag(s): timelines (58)
In the Classroom
Use the Timeline Maker to quickly create timelines to order events in stories, visualize and compare historic events or outline steps in a science experiment. Ask students to create a timeline then include it with written reports and presentations. Take a picture of timelines created to include in multimedia presentations using a tool like Adobe Spark, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Visual Dictionary - Bernard Dery
Grades
3 to 12
4 Favorites
0 Comments
This well-illustrated visual dictionary has five categories of illustrations: biology vegetal, biology animal, human body, music, transport, and clothing. For some reason, the clothing...more
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This well-illustrated visual dictionary has five categories of illustrations: biology vegetal, biology animal, human body, music, transport, and clothing. For some reason, the clothing category is located toward the bottom of the page, near the Contact Us box. Click on one area find many thumbnail graphics. Click on the thumbnail graphic for the full-size, labeled image. For example, the human body category has 69 thumbnails. Click on the eye for an enlarged eye labeled with the scientifically correct terms. Definitions for the terms are at the bottom of the page. You can also search by the actual word. Click the Lexicon button to search all the detailed labels from all the illustrations, like "iris", a label on the "eye" page. The site is also available in French and Spanish, so it would be useful for French and Spanish language classes, ESL, or the general population.
tag(s): animals (322), clothing (8), french (91), human body (133), spanish (111), transportation (45)
In the Classroom
Caution: Since this site was developed in France, the attitude toward nudity is different from that in the U.S. Illustrations under the human body section include nudity and labeling of ALL body parts. However, this is a very comprehensive visual dictionary and not directed just toward younger children.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Visme - Hindsight Ineractive
Grades
7 to 12
4 Favorites
0 Comments
This free tool replaces PowerPoint and Flash to create powerful presentations, banners, Infographics, and more! The projects are viewable on any mobile or computer browser, including...more
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This free tool replaces PowerPoint and Flash to create powerful presentations, banners, Infographics, and more! The projects are viewable on any mobile or computer browser, including iOS. This tool is very simple to use and not as complicated as many other tools currently available. Choose your type of creation and then a specific template theme. The Navigation area is along the left side. Customize the various tools by clicking on an item in the Navigation such as Canvas, Slides, etc. The Stage area is found to the right of the Navigation, and various tools, grids, and texts appear above the Stage. Drag and drop items into the Stage and even include vector images. Presenter also includes a free image library and also allows searching Flickr Creative Commons from within the tool. Once placed in the stage, style images the way you want, including animation! Products created by this tool play on any browser or device or can be embedded in a web page or blog. Free accounts allow only three projects.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): images (279), infographics (51), multimedia (63)
In the Classroom
Use to create educational slideshows and Infographics to introduce and interest students in a topic of study. Use to generate questions prior to the discussion of topics. Create a multi-image slideshow where students brainstorm how the images are all connected. Have students create projects for class using this easy to use tool. Be sure to include this tool on your blog, wiki, or public page for easy student access. You may want to consider allowing your older students to create their own accounts, depending on school policies. Read tips for safely managing email registrations here. Create a project site for students to upload images and videos found when studying any subject. Find images with various shapes when discussing geometry or shapes in nature. Find pictures of plants or animals for a science unit, etc. World language students can create digital photo stories to narrate using new vocabulary. Present teacher professional development or an end of year display for the school media center.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Newsela - Matthew Gross
Grades
2 to 12
18 Favorites
1 Comments
Newsela is a data base of current events stories tailor-made for classroom use. Indexed by broad theme (e.g. War and Peace, Arts, Science, Health, Law, Money), stories are both student-friendly...more
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Newsela is a data base of current events stories tailor-made for classroom use. Indexed by broad theme (e.g. War and Peace, Arts, Science, Health, Law, Money), stories are both student-friendly and can be accessed in different formats by reading level. Use Newsela to differentiate nonfiction reading. Newspaper writers rewrite a story four times for a total of five Lexile levels per story. All articles have embedded, Common Core aligned quizzes that conform to the reading levels for checking comprehension. An account is required to use Newsela, both for teachers and for students, but students sign up using a teacher or parent provided code rather than an email address. Teachers can create classes and assign reading-level specific articles to individual students, or download printable PDF copies of the article in any of its reading-level versions. There is an upgraded fee-based Pro Version which allows teachers or administrators to track reading progress and sutdents to take constructed response writing assessments, but many of the features are free and there is no outside advertising.
tag(s): DAT device agnostic tool (180), differentiation (53), guided reading (47), independent reading (129), news (260), reading comprehension (127)
In the Classroom
Achieve two goals here: help students improve their reading comprehension and keep them current with what is happening in our nation and the world. When assigning articles, choose to have the class read at one reading level, or choose individuals and set the reading level for them. There are five categories from which to choose. You may want to set up different articles at different learning stations on the computers in your room. Have the students rotate daily through the stations, completing one or two a day until they have completed all five articles. Since Newsela is cloud based, even absent students can complete the missed work easily. Teachers of gifted students can use this site to accelerate or enrich reading for students. Find each student's individual levels for reading nonfiction. Teachers of Learning Support and ELL students will love this alternate way for their students to meet current events requirements.Comments
This is an excellent site and allows differentiation while everyone is reading the same text.Renee, NC, Grades: 0 - 5
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Me Make Monster! Custom - Me Make Monster
Grades
K to 5
4 Favorites
0 Comments
Calling all Frankenstein scientists (and artists) to create a monster! Create your own creatures by choosing from faces, eyes, mouth, nose, hair, eyebrows, legs, arms, skin, clothes,...more
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Calling all Frankenstein scientists (and artists) to create a monster! Create your own creatures by choosing from faces, eyes, mouth, nose, hair, eyebrows, legs, arms, skin, clothes, and more! Give your monster a name, and you are done. Share using various social networks or email. You can also easily save your monster to your own computer.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): creative writing (165), descriptive writing (39), firstday (24), halloween (39)
In the Classroom
Share how to use this engaging site on your projector or interactive whiteboard. Have students create and share their monster creature as an icebreaker activity. In language arts classes, use monsters as an avatar in introducing lesson concepts, reviewing, and questioning sessions. Create stories featuring the students' monsters! Monsters can give summary reviews of correct or incorrect information. Create multimedia stories describing the monsters and have students present information using their creatures using UTellStory, reviewed here. This tool allows narrating and adding text to a picture. Create Halloween fun monsters galore! As a class incentive, earn monsters as a reward system for academic achievement or behavior. In science create monsters suited to different habitats, predators, jobs, or adaptations. Create monsters during the first week of school for students to introduce themselves, and post them on your class wiki along with their explanations.Edge Features:
Premium version (not free) includes additional features or storage
Products can be embedded
Products can be shared by URL
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Venn Diagram Maker - Soft Schools
Grades
K to 12
2 Favorites
0 Comments
Create and practice using Venn Diagrams with the tools offered by Soft Schools. Choose the Venn Diagram maker to create diagrams or select the problems and games activities to interact...more
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Create and practice using Venn Diagrams with the tools offered by Soft Schools. Choose the Venn Diagram maker to create diagrams or select the problems and games activities to interact and practice using Venn Diagrams. Use the additional links to design and print two and three-part Venn Diagrams.
tag(s): charts and graphs (198), venn diagrams (18)
In the Classroom
Share a link to this site on classroom computers and your class website to use anytime when working with Venn Diagrams. Ask students to practice using Venn Diagrams using the interactive activities. Have students create their own prompts for classmates to complete a diagram. Have students use a video explainer tool like My Simpleshow, reviewed here, to demonstrate how to create and use Venn Diagrams.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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iBioSeminars - iBioSeminars
Grades
10 to 12
2 Favorites
0 Comments
iBioSeminars features lectures and videos about biology, ecology, health (and more) that begin with broad introductions and progress to specific research. Search by top picks or category....more
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iBioSeminars features lectures and videos about biology, ecology, health (and more) that begin with broad introductions and progress to specific research. Search by top picks or category. You can also try entering a biology term in the search box. Click on Teaching Tools to find related materials for use with the lectures. Many lectures are as long as an hour. Don't miss the "short clips" menu for videos more applicable in high school settings. Subtitles in English, Spanish, and French are also available. You can subscribe to the lectures using iTunesU. Thethe videos reside on YouTube. If your district blocks YouTube, the videos may not be viewable. You could always view them at home and bring them to class "on a stick" to share. Use a tool such as ClipGrab, reviewed here, to download the videos from YouTube.
tag(s): cells (99), ecology (137), energy (209), evolution (101), medicine (70)
In the Classroom
Use iBioSeminars to bring the human side of biological research to the classroom. Use the lectures as an introduction to a biology concept or when connecting the topic to students' everyday lives. Share the video clips on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Save this in your favorites as a possible tool for substitutes to share with the class (if the topic is applicable). Use this site along with other related sites for students to pick from when assigning current events in your science class. Challenge students to familiarize themselves with a topic by watching a video and then have cooperative learning groups create a multimedia presentation to share with the class using one of the many TeachersFirst Edge tools reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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TeachersFirst Brain Twister - TeachersFirst
Grades
3 to 9
45 Favorites
0 Comments
These ten question quizzes, written by Thinking Teachers, change each Friday and are ready to go with one edition for middle school students and one for elementary students. The quiz...more
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These ten question quizzes, written by Thinking Teachers, change each Friday and are ready to go with one edition for middle school students and one for elementary students. The quiz presents ten questions, one at a time. You have only ONE try to pick the correct answer, so think carefully. You get points for each correct answer, totaling up to a possible 100. When you finish, you see your score and how long you spent. Questions are intended to stretch your thinking. Printable versions are available along with answers to the previous week's Twister. A new version of the Twister is mobile-friendly and adjusts to any screen size. Take the Twister with you wherever you go!
In the Classroom
Since elementary and middle school curriculum content varies from location to location, it is unlikely that every question will fall within the scope of your school's curriculum. High point questions may fall outside standard classroom fare. Five-point questions tend to be at the knowledge/comprehension/application level of Bloom's taxonomy and closer to "normal" content. Ten pointers are more likely cross-curricular application/analysis, and twenty pointers require analytical thinking and a wider experience level, such as knowledge of current events or information beyond normal curricula. Twenty pointers may require more than one student's input.Do the questions as a whole-class activity with a projector or interactive whiteboard with students contributing the portions of knowledge they do know toward solving the question. Using teamwork and thinking aloud can often help the group reach a conclusion that no single member could do on his/her own. They can each test different math answers to see which one is correct. This process will not only foster thinking aloud and group communication, but also model test-taking skills for multiple choice.
Alternatively, do the Twister in small groups, with one student an answer entry but others as researchers on neighboring computers to find out what the group does not know. It may be helpful to assign roles: moderator (assigns what to find out and helps the group reach consensus), keyboarder (enters responses, may conduct research in a new window), or researchers (find information as assigned). Use the Twisters to model and teach information literacy skills in a high-motivation activity. Or offer the Twisters as an enrichment challenge or extra credit option for students to do at home. Ask parents to be on the honor system to sign a note indicating the score their child achieved. Since parents may be overly interested in helping, you may want to simply give extra credit for anyone completing the quiz, no matter the score. Be sure to mark this ready to go exclusive in your favorites and share it on your teacher class web page.
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The Guide to Pinterest for Educators - USC Rossier/Leah Anne Levy
Grades
K to 12
5 Favorites
0 Comments
The Guide to Pinterest for Educators is an excellent resource for teachers and administrators with tips and information for managing Pinterest as a powerful learning tool. Divided into...more
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The Guide to Pinterest for Educators is an excellent resource for teachers and administrators with tips and information for managing Pinterest as a powerful learning tool. Divided into eight sections this handbook discusses the basics of pinning, organization, collaboration, and more. Each section is short and simple to read, making this an outstanding guide for using Pinterest as part of your professional planning and teaching tools.
tag(s): bookmarks (67), professional development (167), social media (26)
In the Classroom
Use this resource to understand how to use Pinterest for your personal and professional use and also for student collaboration. Share ideas with other staff members to collaborate on shared interests. Discuss one section a month with your professional learning network (PLN) and reflect together how to make the most of Pinterest in your educational setting.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Embracing Research - TeachersFirst
Grades
1 to 8
2 Favorites
0 Comments
This installment in the Help I lost my library/media specialist series offers a step by step approach to a research unit, written by an experienced elementary library/media specialist....more
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This installment in the Help I lost my library/media specialist series offers a step by step approach to a research unit, written by an experienced elementary library/media specialist. Although nothing can replace the specialized knowledge of a teacher-librarian, this plan includes everything from pre-planning to sharing an assessing products. There are different resources and ideas for primary, upper elementary, and middle school grades. It is almost like having your helpful library/media specialist working along with you!
In the Classroom
Mark this one in your Favorites for use when planning your next major research project. The resources and ideas will help every student be successful. Adapt for weaker readers by using resources or ideas from lower grades.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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DesignCap Poster Creator - PearlMountain
Grades
K to 12
1 Favorites
0 Comments
Create free posters in three easy steps without registration using DesignCap. Begin by selecting a template from the many offerings on the site. Use the tools to edit your posters ...more
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Create free posters in three easy steps without registration using DesignCap. Begin by selecting a template from the many offerings on the site. Use the tools to edit your posters features including text, images, and background. Upload your images to use or choose from clipart available in DesignCap. When finished, share to social media using the provided link, download to your computer, or print your project. Registration isn't required; however, it gives you the ability to save projects to your online account.
In the Classroom
Take advantage of this free resource to create posters for any topic. Have students design poster book covers to summarize stories read. Include posters with student blogging projects as part of an online portfolio. Easyblog, reviewed here, provides free, easy to use blogging tools for younger students. Ask older students to create posters of different cultures and countries, then include them in a virtual field trip using Google My Maps, reviewed here. Challenge science and math students to create posters demonstrating an understanding of topics using their own words and images.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Infographics - Grammer Check - GrammarCheck
Grades
6 to 12
1 Favorites
0 Comments
Explore a large selection of infographics related to grammar and writing. Sample titles include 5 Basic Rules of English Writing That Everyone Should Know and 222 Words to Use Instead...more
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Explore a large selection of infographics related to grammar and writing. Sample titles include 5 Basic Rules of English Writing That Everyone Should Know and 222 Words to Use Instead of "Said." Click on any preview to open the full infographic. Share items using social media links or use the embed code to include any post on your website or blog.
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This site includes advertising.
tag(s): grammar (210), grammar review (41), infographics (51), writing (367)
In the Classroom
Bookmark this site to use as a resource for quickly sharing grammar tips with students. Include a tip of the week on your class website or blog, or display a tip on an interactive whiteboard or with a projector each week to share with students. Along with using the infographics in your teaching, ask students to use the Grammar Check editor, reviewed here, for their own writing, and then find the infographic that has the rules for their grammar mistakes. Have students compare and contrast different types of infographics and share their opinion on features that make effective presentations. Ask students to create their own infographics using a tool like Genial.ly, reviewed here. Genial.ly offers free templates and designs for customizing and creating infographics.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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WE Library of Resources - WE Charity
Grades
K to 12
1 Favorites
0 Comments
The WE Library of Resources is a lesson plan library containing almost 300 lesson plans in a variety of topics designed to support and encourage student empowerment as part of ...more
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The WE Library of Resources is a lesson plan library containing almost 300 lesson plans in a variety of topics designed to support and encourage student empowerment as part of our global community. Use the search filters to find lessons by grade level, topic, country (US or Canada), and language (English or French). Click on any lesson to download the PDF. Most lessons include correlation to Common Core Standards and ideas for differentiation.
tag(s): conservation (127), cross cultural understanding (124), emotions (36), financial literacy (90), french (91), mental health (26)
In the Classroom
Discover the many ready-to-go free lesson plans for use in your classroom for all different subjects. Collaborate with another classroom in a different country to complete lessons and compare understanding of different cultures. During lessons have students or groups collect ideas and findings using Padlet, reviewed here. The Padlet application creates free online bulletin boards.
This resource requires PDF reader software like Adobe Acrobat.
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Cardboard2Code - CBIS Education
Grades
4 to 12
1 Favorites
0 Comments
Cardboard2Code offers three free modules to learn computer programming tasks. Module topics include creating a cardboard robot arm, a virtual robot arm using Scratch, reviewed...more
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Cardboard2Code offers three free modules to learn computer programming tasks. Module topics include creating a cardboard robot arm, a virtual robot arm using Scratch, reviewed here, and using Python to control a robot arm. Enter your name and email to access each module. This site was created in the UK, so some of the pronunciations and spellings may differ from those in American English. There is a short introductory video that resides on YouTube. If your district blocks YouTube, the video may not be viewable. You could always view the video at home and bring it to class "on a stick" to share. Use a tool such as Freemake Video Converter, reviewed here, to download the video from YouTube.
tag(s): coding (66), computers (100), critical thinking (120), engineering (132), problem solving (295), STEM (184)
In the Classroom
Cardboard2Code would be perfect for use as an independent or group learning station. Share these modules with students interested in learning to code. Include a link on your class website to the modules for students to complete at home. Locate a volunteer with coding skills to work with your class to complete modules.
This resource requires PDF reader software like Adobe Acrobat.
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Wordie - ABCD English
Grades
2 to 12
2 Favorites
0 Comments
Wordie is a free vocabulary tool for EFL (English as a Foreign Language) teachers; however, it is also a handy tool for all teachers. Begin by typing or pasting in ...more
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Wordie is a free vocabulary tool for EFL (English as a Foreign Language) teachers; however, it is also a handy tool for all teachers. Begin by typing or pasting in text in the provided box. Use up to 1500 characters without registering. Register for free using your email to use unlimited characters. Choose the reading level you want to assign to the text, then click submit. Wordie analyzes the text and provides two boxes with word banks. The first includes vocabulary applicable to the reading level you input, the second displays words above that level. Uncheck any boxes next to words you prefer not to include as vocabulary. Use the Print Preview to create a printable, including the entire text with vocabulary to learn in a featured word box.
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tag(s): vocabulary (320), vocabulary development (124)
In the Classroom
Use this site as a useful tool for teaching vocabulary from any text. Copy portions of literature into Wordie to identify and create vocabulary lists for students. Differentiate for student abilities based on reading levels. Use Wordie to develop student writing skills. Ask them to copy their writing into Wordie and run the analysis at a reading level you prefer. If there isn't enough new vocabulary words, challenge students to rewrite in a way that reaches a higher reading level. Use Wordie with ESL/ELL learners to point out difficult vocabulary in reading passages before reading.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Parent Toolkit en Espanol - NBC News Education Nation and Pearson
Grades
1 to 12
1 Favorites
0 Comments
This is NBC Learn's Spanish-language version of the Parent Toolkit,
reviewed here (English version). The Parent Toolkit provides an informative guide...more
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This is NBC Learn's Spanish-language version of the Parent Toolkit,
reviewed here (English version). The Parent Toolkit provides an informative guide to child development from pre-K through High School. Videos offer information and advice for parents and teachers.
tag(s): back to school (61), child development (26), learning styles (21), nutrition (158), parents (57), social skills (22)
In the Classroom
Share the Parent Toolkit with parents as an excellent resource for information on education and parenting. Create a link to the appropriate grade level information on your class webpage to help parents understand developmental guidelines for their student.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Pixorize - Pixorize Inc.
Grades
K to 12
1 Favorites
0 Comments
Annotate and share images using Pixorize. Register and create your account to begin using this site. Choose to create or start annotating to upload an image. Use the tools found ...more
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Annotate and share images using Pixorize. Register and create your account to begin using this site. Choose to create or start annotating to upload an image. Use the tools found on the dashboard to size your image and add markers. Choose from different shapes of markers and place anywhere on the image, once added type your annotation in the provided box. When complete, be sure to go to file and save your image. Viewers see annotations when hovering their mouse over areas chosen in your design. Use the share link to share the URL or share using social media links. Be sure to watch the video tutorial for complete directions for using Pixorize.
tag(s): creative writing (165), digital storytelling (157), images (279), sentences (50)
In the Classroom
Create annotated images for introducing new content in your classroom, share images on your interactive whiteboard to review together. Use Pixorize to create images together with students, add information in real-time to any image on your whiteboard using student descriptions and prompts. Have students create their own images to describe story characters, scientific processes, or as a mini report on facts about a state. The ideas are endless!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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New York Times Spanish Edition - New York Times
Grades
6 to 12
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Read New York Times articles and original content in Spanish with this site. The information ranges from politics, global news, business, technology - even pop culture. Reading this...more
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Read New York Times articles and original content in Spanish with this site. The information ranges from politics, global news, business, technology - even pop culture. Reading this version of the NY Times will be useful in any Spanish language classroom as well as for ESL/ELL students.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): journalism (54), news (260), newspapers (98), spanish (111)
In the Classroom
Use this site as a resource for advanced Spanish language learners for current events projects or for ESL/ELL students to stay up to date on current events- assign students different weeks throughout the semester in which they are to be the class news reporter, keeping their peers up to date and informed. Have students research what's going on via this news site, and present a short presentation at the beginning of class every day during their week. Challenge cooperative learning groups to create their own news videos using a tool like Stupeflix, reviewed here, and share them on a site such as TeacherTube, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Media Literacy - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12
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Peruse this curated list to find resources related to media literacy. Media literacy is a set of skills that help people to analyze, evaluate, and create messages in a wide ...more
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Peruse this curated list to find resources related to media literacy. Media literacy is a set of skills that help people to analyze, evaluate, and create messages in a wide variety of media modes, genres, and formats. To become media literate, students must learn to raise the right questions about what they are listening to, watching, or reading. Media literacy education is about helping students become competent, critical, and literate in all media forms so that they can appropriately interpret what they see or hear rather than blindly accepting what they are told. This collection of resources includes lesson ideas, activities, and resources for teaching media literacy skills. Be sure also to check out the media literacy professional learning resources.
tag(s): critical thinking (120), cyberbullying (48), digital citizenship (68), evaluating sources (16), internet safety (118), media literacy (65), news (260), primary sources (93), professional development (167), social media (26)
In the Classroom
Today's messages come in many forms and literacy can no longer refer simply to the ability to read and write. Prepare your students to be literate citizens with this collection. Many are ideal for whole-group instruction, while others would work best on individual devices. Read the reviews to find classroom use ideas with each review. Although the list of tools is mainly geared towards grades 4-8, there are a few resources for the primary grades.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Media Smarts - Canada's Centre for Digital and Media Literacy
Grades
6 to 12
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Media Smarts is a comprehensive Canadian site devoted to media literacy and critical thinking skills for children and youth. Browse through several topics such as digital and media...more
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Media Smarts is a comprehensive Canadian site devoted to media literacy and critical thinking skills for children and youth. Browse through several topics such as digital and media literacy to explore articles related to television, Internet, and gender issues. An extensive teacher resource section offers many lessons and resources searchable by grade, subject, and media type. Download lessons in PDF format using links in the lesson description.
tag(s): media literacy (65)
In the Classroom
Bookmark this site to explore and use with lessons related to digital and media literacy. Share articles on gender and body image with students. Have students find examples on tv and use an online poster creator, such as PicLits, reviewed here to demonstrate examples. Have students create a word cloud of the important terms they learn from this site using a tool such as WordItOut, reviewed here. Have students create a simple infographic sharing their findings using Venngage, reviewed here.
This resource requires PDF reader software like Adobe Acrobat.
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MediaLit Moments - Consortium for Media Literacy
Grades
7 to 12
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MediaLit Moments are short, focused lessons for middle school and high school students teaching important AHA! concepts leading to an understanding of the use of social media. Each...more
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MediaLit Moments are short, focused lessons for middle school and high school students teaching important AHA! concepts leading to an understanding of the use of social media. Each experience consists of key questions related to core concepts using video and online materials and activities for students to explore the topic taught. If your district blocks YouTube, then they may not be viewable. You could always view the videos at home and bring them to class "on a stick" to share. Use a tool such as ClipGrab, reviewed here, to download the videos from YouTube.
tag(s): cyberbullying (48), internet safety (118), media literacy (65), social media (26)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the many lessons on this site to teach important media literacy lessons to your students. Share videos and articles on your interactive whiteboard to watch together. Stop as needed to add questions, comments, or highlight important information. You may want to use a video tool such as Vizia, reviewed here, to embed questions, comments, and polls into the videos. Then you can show the videos to the whole class or flip your classroom and have them watch the videos at home. This will leave time in class to discuss comments and questions students may have. Ask students to create blogs sharing their thoughts and research using an easy blogging tool like Telegra.ph, reviewed here. When finished with a lesson, ask students to create a book teaching the concept to other students. Book Creator, reviewed here, offers an online book creation tool that includes the use of media like video, audio recording, and more.
This resource requires PDF reader software like Adobe Acrobat.
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World Press Freedom Map - NewseumEd
Grades
7 to 12
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Discover what a free press really is and how many of the world's nations enjoy a free press using the NewseumEd activity World Press Freedom Map. You don't have to ...more
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Discover what a free press really is and how many of the world's nations enjoy a free press using the NewseumEd activity World Press Freedom Map. You don't have to make a trip to Washington D.C. to learn from this activity, instead, use the accompanying link for the Freedom House interactive map. Download the worksheet/chart in PDF or as a Word document for distribution. You must be a registered NewseumEd member to access this resource; however, membership is free.
tag(s): freedom of speech (11), journalism (54), media literacy (65), news (260), newspapers (98)
In the Classroom
Begin by showing students the Freedom House interactive map and read the information in the right column about what a genuinely free press is. Compare that info to a partly free press (explained just under it). Then have students work in small groups or with a partner to fill out the worksheet/chart. Complete a class discussion of the chart, and then have the small groups or pairs choose one of the countries with partial freedom of the press and research what other freedoms the U.S. enjoys that are restricted or repressed for the citizens of that country. Add these to the chart. Challenge students to convert their paper worksheet/chart to an online digital infographic to present their findings using Visme, reviewed here, or to set up their own graphic organizer to show the comparisons using an online tool such as TUZZit, reviewed here. TUZZit allows you to create diagrams, mindmaps, and other visual graphic organizers.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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e-learning for kids - Health - Dr. Nick van Dam
Grades
3 to 12
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The scope of this health site is incredible. There are 38 health lessons ranging from body systems, dental health, nutrition, and exercise. You will also find information about diseases...more
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The scope of this health site is incredible. There are 38 health lessons ranging from body systems, dental health, nutrition, and exercise. You will also find information about diseases like diabetes and cancer, and much more. The lessons are interactive with colorful diagrams and explanations. The drag and drop interaction makes the exercises easy for even the youngest of students. There is no registration, just click on the category and begin learning! This site was created in the United Kingdom. American English speakers may notice some slight spelling differences.
tag(s): body systems (57), brain (68), dental health (22), diseases (72), drugs and alcohol (25), eyes (6), heart (42), human body (133), nutrition (158), respiration (17), senses (31), vision (79)
In the Classroom
Initially, share this site on your interactive whiteboard or projector during your unit on body systems. Next set up rotating stations where students could learn about several concepts in a week. Create small groups of students to investigate the different categories of the body system and generate a learning station for other students to use. Have them use Adobe Spark, reviewed here, an online, interactive poster creator. Have them create a simple infographic sharing their findings using Easel.ly, reviewed here. They could then create a quiz for station visitors to complete using QuizBean, reviewed here. The text portions might be challenging for ESL/ELL and younger students. Use Talk Typer, reviewed here, a text to speech program, that will allow these students to copy and paste the text to follow the text as the article or passage is read to them.
This resource requires Adobe Flash.
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Online Math Learning - OnlineMathLearning.com
Grades
1 to 12
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Supplement math instruction in the classroom using OnLineMathLearning. Find videos explaining concepts, worksheets for practice, games, and activities. The site material correlates...more
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Supplement math instruction in the classroom using OnLineMathLearning. Find videos explaining concepts, worksheets for practice, games, and activities. The site material correlates to Singapore Math but is assessable to all learners. Explore math by grade level, or by topic. Find math worksheets by grade level or even by topic. There is also Test Prep for SAT, ACT, GMAT, GRE, ESL, IELTS, or TOEFL. Furthermore, this site has instruction on Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Animal facts, Programming, or English help. Find many science project ideas, listed by subject area.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): parents (57), video (280), worksheets (64)
In the Classroom
OnLineMathLearning is a nice supplement to your classroom. Use the videos on your interactive whiteboard to begin instruction. Differentiate your math instruction by student need and assign individually. Use the worksheets, games, and activities for extra practice and reinforcement. Allow students to see the ideas listed before they start their science fair projects. Recommend this website to parents so they can understand the "new way" of doing math. Be sure to list as a resource for extra practice on your class website. Keep the videos on this site in mind for using as models when assigning students to make their own videos. Be sure to include in your math parent night. Use as enrichment for your advanced students.
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