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

 

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Teacher's Buddy - Teacher's Buddy

Grades
K to 12
5 Favorites 0  Comments
  
Teacher's Buddy offers AI tools just for teachers. The free plan includes ten tools that create lesson plans, generate stories and poems, and adapt coursework for neurodiverse students....more
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Teacher's Buddy offers AI tools just for teachers. The free plan includes ten tools that create lesson plans, generate stories and poems, and adapt coursework for neurodiverse students. After creating an account, begin using Teacher's Buddy by creating a new workspace for your activities. Select an age group and choose from the available tools. Follow the directions to provide the topic and context, and connect to your Google Drive to upload documents if desired. When finished, edit the content as you wish, then save the document to your Google Drive or share using the provided link. Learn more about the different features of Teacher's Buddy by watching the tutorial videos shared on the site. Always verify the accuracy of content generated by AI before using it.

tag(s): adhd (29), artificial intelligence (111), autism (15), Special Needs (54), Teacher Utilities (150)

In the Classroom

Take advantage of the free resources Teacher's Buddy shares to save time and increase productivity. Generate lesson plans based on your curriculum, teaching standards, and documents you use in your classroom, then edit the contents to adapt to your teaching style and students' learning preferences. Use the neurodiversity adaptation tool to generate ideas for adaptations for students on IEPs, with ADHD, or with autism.

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Ultimate Camp Resource - Ultimate Camp Resources

Grades
K to 12
4 Favorites 1  Comments
 
Enter the world of Ultimate Camp Resources and find a myriad of songs, games, and more to use at home, at camp, or in a classroom. Download and print all ...more
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Enter the world of Ultimate Camp Resources and find a myriad of songs, games, and more to use at home, at camp, or in a classroom. Download and print all skits, songs, games or just the one you're interested in. Some of the songs even have videos!

tag(s): back to school (63), crafts (54), family (52), makerspace (41), seasonal (18), songs (44), sports (78), summer (30)

In the Classroom

Bookmark this tool for the first week of school or any time that you want to experience some "team-building" in your class. Use this site to find games and activities for classroom icebreakers. Find ideas on this site to build relationships among students. There is even an Art Project section (scroll to the bottom menu to find it) that has lots of crafts for your makerspace! Share this site with parent helpers to find ideas for classroom parties.

Comments

This is a valuable resource, not just for summer! Patricia, NJ, Grades: 6 - 12

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Gibbly - Gibbly

Grades
K to 12
4 Favorites 0  Comments
  
Generate quizzes, lessons, and gamified assignments using Gibbly and the power of AI. After creating an account, visit Gibbly's library to browse and search for lessons and quizzes....more
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Generate quizzes, lessons, and gamified assignments using Gibbly and the power of AI. After creating an account, visit Gibbly's library to browse and search for lessons and quizzes. Open any item to view and edit questions, print a PDF, or share the link by social media or email. Assign activities for solo play or host a live, synchronous activity. Create quizzes and lessons using the create button; options include manual and AI quiz generators and AI-generated lessons. Build lessons by adding the topic and grade level for the lesson; Gibbly then generates a lesson plan and several options for slides, including background information, discussion questions, and Did You Know information. Free accounts include 20,000 tokens monthly, unlimited hosting of review games, the creation of unlimited quizzes and lessons, and Google exports.

tag(s): artificial intelligence (111), gamification (73), preK (258), quizzes (89), Teacher Utilities (150)

In the Classroom

Use Gibbly to generate lessons and formative assessments that engage students in learning. Assign solo quizzes for students to review classroom information and easily differentiate learning by adjusting the reading level and content of the questions. Host a live quiz before starting a new unit to guide lesson planning based on students' prior knowledge. Use the lesson generator to build lessons, then share the link with students to review after your presentation.

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Free Infographic Maker - Adobe Express

Grades
4 to 12
3 Favorites 0  Comments
Adobe Express brings you this free infographic Maker. Design a professional-looking infographic with the look you want in just minutes. Choose from one of their many templates and adapt...more
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Adobe Express brings you this free infographic Maker. Design a professional-looking infographic with the look you want in just minutes. Choose from one of their many templates and adapt it with images, icons, and more, or create an original. After you've made a free account, click Create Now. Next, you'll choose a template or create a unique design from the blank on the right. Add your title and choose from the items on the left menu to complete your infographic. To save, click share or download.

tag(s): infographics (57)

In the Classroom

Introduce students to the Adobe Infographic Creator by creating an infographic to start a new unit and add to it as you instruct and students learn. Next, have them select a template to use as a review for a concept just learned. Once they are familiar with creating an infographic, they can create one for a book report, organize a research paper or presentation, show what they know after a science or math lesson, as a literature circle presentation, and much more. Infographics are flexible and helpful for teachers and students.

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My Social Media Life - Common Sense Education

Grades
6 to 9
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This lesson provides resources for guiding middle-school students in learning about the role of social media in their lives, especially the effect of social media on relationships....more
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This lesson provides resources for guiding middle-school students in learning about the role of social media in their lives, especially the effect of social media on relationships. The lesson plan takes approximately forty-five minutes to complete; however, an alternative suggestion shares a fifteen-minute quick activity. Resources provided include a slide presentation, video, student handouts, and family take-home information. Also available is the correlation to Common Core ELA, CASEL, AASL, and ISTE Standards. You will need to sign in to access this free lesson and resources.

tag(s): digital citizenship (90), social and emotional learning (84), social media (54)

In the Classroom

Bookmark and save this lesson plan for use with lessons on media literacy, social media, or social-emotional learning. Engage students by creating visual mindmaps or flow charts using Coggle, reviewed here. For example, create a mind map with different social platforms and ask students to share the pros and cons of using each tool. Use a flow chart to share suggestions on how to address common issues that occur through the use of social media and relationships. As a final activity, ask students to create interesting video presentations using Typito, reviewed here. Typito's drag and drop interface includes free templates, drag and drop features, and the ability to personalize and share content easily.
 This resource requires PDF reader software like Adobe Acrobat.

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Excel Easy - E-Learning

Grades
K to 12
7 Favorites 0  Comments
Do you need some help with Excel basics and functions? Excel Easy uses fully illustrated tutorials to walk you through Excel sheets from start to finish. Use the links at ...more
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Do you need some help with Excel basics and functions? Excel Easy uses fully illustrated tutorials to walk you through Excel sheets from start to finish. Use the links at the top of the site to select from options starting with the basics, functions, and data analysis. Choose the 300 Excel Examples to find tutorials on any topic quickly. Each tutorial includes step-by-step directions, including images to guide users through each portion of the directions.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): computers (106), data (147), Microsoft (83), spreadsheets (23)

In the Classroom

Bookmark this site for your use and for student use on classroom computers. Make it easy to find sites with tutorials by creating a Padlet, reviewed here, to share with students. Use columns to sort tutorials and other helpful sites by topic within your Padlet. If you don't find a tutorial that you need, extend student learning by asking them to create their own using Free Screen Recorder Online, reviewed here, or by creating an explainer video using FlexClip, reviewed here.

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Williamina Fleming: Discoveries and Biographical Resources - Project PHaEDRA

Grades
6 to 12
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Learn about astronomer Williamina Fleming's work with this collection of resources found at the Smithsonian Learning Lab. The collection includes videos, biographies, images, articles,...more
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Learn about astronomer Williamina Fleming's work with this collection of resources found at the Smithsonian Learning Lab. The collection includes videos, biographies, images, articles, and research that tell the story of her astronomy accomplishments, including her discovery of the Horsehead Nebula in 1888. Scroll through the page to view thumbnails of each resource and click to open to view fully. Registration isn't required to use the Smithsonian Learning Lab resources; however, it does allow you to collect and save materials located on the site.

tag(s): 1800s (73), biographies (95), stars (68), STEM (265), women (138)

In the Classroom

Add a link on classroom computers to this collection for students to explore. Add this and other resources to a collection in Wakelet, reviewed here, and share with students. All materials found on the site are available to download, be sure to show students how to cite each resource using the quotation icon found on each item. Ask students to find biographies and collections of other astronomers, female pioneers, or interesting people from the 1800s for a research project. Create a digital class book of your biographies using Book Creator, reviewed here.
 This resource requires PDF reader software like Adobe Acrobat.

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Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin and the Components of Stars - Project PHaEDRA

Grades
6 to 12
1 Favorites 0  Comments
Learn about the woman whose thesis was declared to be "the most brilliant Ph.D. thesis ever written in astronomy" by exploring this interesting collection of articles and images. Browse...more
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Learn about the woman whose thesis was declared to be "the most brilliant Ph.D. thesis ever written in astronomy" by exploring this interesting collection of articles and images. Browse the site to view thumbnails of forty items and open to view the resources. Download items or share using the provided links. Open a free Smithsonian Learning Institute account to save favorites for further use or create your collections from materials available on the Smithsonian Learning Institute's site.

tag(s): biographies (95), elements (32), scientists (63), stars (68), STEM (265), women (138)

In the Classroom

Share this collection with students to explore when learning about famous Women in History, scientific advancements, or during an astronomy unit. Ask collaborative groups to work together and share information found in the collection. Use a collaborative note-taking tool such as Notejoy, reviewed here, to have students share ideas and information using checklists, adding images and links, and documenting individual contributions to the project. You may also want to show a few videos, or provide a list for students to watch using Youtube videos. Ask groups or individuals to share their learning using a simple video creation tool like CapCut, reviewed here with voice overs and templates. Ask students to include images and require they include proper citations along with their original work.
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Astronomical Observational Images: The Naked Eye through Current Observations - Project PHaEDRA

Grades
6 to 12
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Observation of the universe has changed over time with the development of new technologies. This collection hosted on the Smithsonian Learning Network shares imagery from telescopes...more
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Observation of the universe has changed over time with the development of new technologies. This collection hosted on the Smithsonian Learning Network shares imagery from telescopes and spacecraft that tell a story of how observers view the sky and its objects. The collection contains fifty-five items, including newspaper articles, photographs, and videos. Choose any thumbnail to view, share, and download each resource. It isn't necessary to create a Smithsonian Learning Institute account to access and share the materials; however, creating a free account allows you to save and favorite items and personalize collections.

tag(s): scientists (63), space (214), stars (68), STEM (265), telescopes (10)

In the Classroom

Share this collection with students, then allow them time to explore on their own. Be sure to point out and discuss the proper use of citations when using materials from the site. Each item includes an icon with quotation marks which includes proper citation that can be copied and pasted into your document. Ask students to compare and contrast features found within the images using Canva's 4-Circle Venn Diagram Creator, reviewed here. To extend learning, ask students to use Canva's Infographic Maker, reviewed here, to share information about the change in technology used to observe stars over time.
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Georgia Virtual Learning Shared Resources - Georgia Virtual Learning

Grades
5 to 12
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Georgia Virtual Learning is the online education headquarters for the Georgia Department of Education and offers over 100 virtual courses for middle and high school students. Choose...more
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Georgia Virtual Learning is the online education headquarters for the Georgia Department of Education and offers over 100 virtual courses for middle and high school students. Choose from studies in all core content areas and the fine arts and world languages. An additional option features courses in CTAE/Electives. These offerings include classes in finance, computer science, fitness, and more. After selecting a course to view, use the module to proceed through the contents. Each module includes an introduction featuring essential questions and interactive content and concludes with final assessments and a module test.

tag(s): art history (87), body systems (40), business (47), chinese (44), drawing (60), environment (238), financial literacy (92), french (74), geology (64), japanese (47), latin (22), music theory (45), narrative (14), novels (31), nutrition (135), oceans (149), OER (43), photography (118), plagiarism (34), poetry (190), psychology (67), robotics (22), romeo & juliet (7), short stories (18), sociology (22), space (214), spanish (105), STEM (265), writers workshop (31)

In the Classroom

Bookmark and save this site as a supplemental resource for your current lessons, as a resource for students to learn about subjects not covered in their current courses, and to differentiate learning for students. For example, provide remediation to high school students by sharing the 9th or 10th-grade literature and composition courses as a review activity or enhance your British Literature unit by assigning a module that focuses specifically on 17th, 18th, or 19th-century British literature. Consider assigning different activities to groups of students to present to their peers. Ask them to use an infographic creator such as the Canva Infographic Creator, reviewed here, as a tool for sharing important information. As a final learning extension, create a digital class book using Ourboox, reviewed here, to share understanding of the content learned. Include text, images, maps, and more in the student-created books.

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NASA Image and Video Library - NASA

Grades
K to 12
2 Favorites 0  Comments
 
Do you need "out of this world" images? NASA provides images, video, and audio for non-commercial use, free. Browse through the newest uploads or most popular items to get an ...more
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Do you need "out of this world" images? NASA provides images, video, and audio for non-commercial use, free. Browse through the newest uploads or most popular items to get an idea of included items. If looking for specific topics, use the search bar to locate material by keyword, then use the filters to narrow down by the type of content desired. All items include a link to download to your computer along with links to share by URL or with social media. Be sure to check out the Media Usage guidelines for complete details on the usage of the site's content.

tag(s): images (256), planets (112), space (214), stars (68), video (260)

In the Classroom

Include this site with your other bookmarks for images and space-related content. Use Symbaloo, reviewed here, to share all of your space bookmarks in one easy to find location. This NASA site is an excellent resource for finding images to use with creative writing prompts; display an interesting image from the site for student storytelling lessons. Exchange paper and pen writing journals, and share their writing using Edublog, reviewed here. As students learn about space topics, ask them to find an image on this site then use Image Annotator, reviewed here, to enhance their learning by annotating the image with text, video, and web links to additional information. Extend student learning by having students create a video presentation about space using a video creation tool like Typito, reviewed here. Typito includes templates and additional tools to create professional-looking videos or use your own images and video.

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Mars 2020 Perserverance Rover - NASA

Grades
3 to 12
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Stay up to date and learn about the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover mission as it explores the surface of Mars. Follow links to learn about the four science objectives of ...more
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Stay up to date and learn about the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover mission as it explores the surface of Mars. Follow links to learn about the four science objectives of the mission, view the timeline, and learn about the spacecraft. In addition, view raw images taken from Mars, observe a weather report, and listen to sounds from Mars' surface. Be sure to visit the site often throughout the mission as content is updated with the latest videos and observations.

tag(s): mars (26), space (214), STEM (265)

In the Classroom

Include a link to the Perseverance Rover site on classroom computers for students to visit and view the latest updates from Mars. Consider using Google Jamboard, reviewed here, to create an ongoing class journal sharing observations and findings. Ask students to add a sticky note with new findings and information after exploring the site. Enhance learning by asking students to design a spaceship or rover that would explore one of the other planets. Use Google Drawings, reviewed here, as a starting point for students to create their drawing. Ask them to add text boxes with descriptions of their spaceship/rover and the reasoning behind their design. Extend learning by asking students to brainstorm ideas on applying Perseverance's design features to improve everyday items used at home and school. Have students share their thoughts using an animated video explainer tool such as Renderforest, reviewed here.

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Upschool - Richard Mills and Gavin McCormack

Grades
K to 12
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Upschool provides many free learning opportunities aligned with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The core of Upschool's content includes a selection of 10-week and short courses...more
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Upschool provides many free learning opportunities aligned with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The core of Upschool's content includes a selection of 10-week and short courses with topics such as The Solar System and Beyond and The Importance of Mountains. Additional learning opportunities include Social Scenarios, Comprehension Corner, SDG Challenges, and Teacher Training. Upschool also has a library of over one hundred books submitted by authors with a special message to share. Read the books online or download them as a PDF for free. Many of the books also include teaching resources such as task cards.

tag(s): animals (284), antarctica (29), careers (139), climate (81), earth (184), explorers (66), food chains (17), gifted (65), glaciers (17), journalism (72), mountains (10), oceans (149), Online Learning (42), photography (118), planets (112), plants (147), rainforests (18), social and emotional learning (84), solar system (109), sustainability (44), weather (164), writing (317)

In the Classroom

Share Upschools 10-week and short courses with students to complete as individualized learning projects. Encourage gifted students to select courses that meet their interests and develop a personal learning plan based on the content. Each course includes accompanying materials for parents and teachers to support student learning. Use Whiteboard.chat, reviewed here as a collaboration tool for students while taking courses provided on the site. Create a board for each "cohort" to share ideas, ask questions, and add resources. After completing courses, ask students to share their learning through a method of their choosing. Examples might include podcasts shared using Spotify for Podcasters, reviewed here or videos created with Typito, reviewed here.
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Who Did It? - Building Lab Skills with Forensics - TeachersFirst

Grades
6 to 12
42 Favorites 0  Comments
  
"Who Did It?" uses an introduction to forensics as a tool to build analytical and laboratory skills in students who are still mastering scientific method. This is a large ...more
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"Who Did It?" uses an introduction to forensics as a tool to build analytical and laboratory skills in students who are still mastering scientific method. This is a large unit: there are eight different activities including a DNA web quest and lab session. Each activity is based on a different "crime" and type of forensic analysis. The culminating project is a lab practical. Complete rubrics and printable handouts round out this unit.

tag(s): forensics (13), scientific method (47)

In the Classroom

Mark this unit in your Favorites to inspire students with scientific inquiry. Add new dimensions to the unit with technology options, such as keeping a lab journal on your class wiki and documenting steps with digital pictures. Students could also upload and "narrate" their lab pictures on Thinglink, reviewed here.
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Exploring by the Seat of Your Pants - Joe Grabowski

Grades
6 to 12
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Bring science, exploration, and conservation into your classroom through virtual field trips with scientists and leading experts around the globe sponsored on this site. Choose from...more
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Bring science, exploration, and conservation into your classroom through virtual field trips with scientists and leading experts around the globe sponsored on this site. Choose from their many monthly options shared via satellite. Find events by scrolling through offerings on the home page, select from map locations, or use the calendar view to browse by specific dates. Most sessions are about 45 minutes long; however, additional options offer full day and week-long events. Watch events virtually or sign up for a camera spot to interact with the session presenters. Don't worry if you are unable to attend a session, view any previous activities on the site's YouTube channel.

tag(s): animal homes (56), animals (284), conservation (86), ecology (99), explorers (66), oceans (149), space (214), STEM (265), virtual field trips (80), water (101)

In the Classroom

Take advantage of these free sessions to bring real-word conservation and science lessons to your students. There are three ways for your class to enjoy the sessions. The first one is to "Tune in live! Any number of classrooms can watch the events live on YouTube and even send in some questions using the chat sidebar." The second one is "Grab a camera spot so your class can appear on the screen and interact with the speaker. We generally have 5-7 classrooms joining in this way each hangout." The third viewing choice is "Every hangout is recorded directly to YouTube, we have a growing library of past events that can be viewed by classrooms anytime on our channel." See more explanations to the viewing options by clicking the wavy red lines in the upper left corner and then click For Teachers. Begin by watching virtual field trips (viewing option 3), then expand your activities in additional sessions by signing up to participate and interact with the presenters. Prepare for student questioning by brainstorming ideas. Engage students by sharing ideas using an online bulletin board tool like Pinside, reviewed here. Save and share ideas on your class website. As students research information for your upcoming topic, enhance learning by using a collaborative bookmarking tool like Raindrop.io, reviewed here, for all students to share websites with their peers and add comments. Prepare your students further for interactions with researchers by watching videos from previous broadcasts using playposit, reviewed here, to add questions for students into the YouTube videos and encourage students to add comments discussing each issue. Most of the online tools suggested above will help students document their learning during remote or distance learning sessions.
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Nova Education - PBS

Grades
6 to 12
9 Favorites 0  Comments
   
Nova Education provides STEM activities and lessons based on the popular PBS series Nova. Information on the site includes articles, videos, and links to external websites. Scroll down...more
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Nova Education provides STEM activities and lessons based on the popular PBS series Nova. Information on the site includes articles, videos, and links to external websites. Scroll down to find filters to sort the content by media types, categories, and newer or older additions. The media types category allows users to find lesson plans, collections, teacher guides, and more. Each lesson plan includes detailed instructions, student handouts, and correlation to Next Generation Science Standards.

tag(s): archeology (25), engineering (120), environment (238), forensics (13), paleontology (28), space (214)

In the Classroom

Enjoy the interactives, videos, and text on an interactive whiteboard or projector. Use selected activities as a center (station). Share the included articles and videos with students to supplement your STEM curriculum. If articles are too difficult for students, use a text leveler tool like the one available at Brisk, reviewed here to match student reading abilities.
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SciGirls Connect! - Twin Cities Public Television

Grades
3 to 12
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SciGirls Connect! provides resources to connect and encourage girls to engage in STEM (Science, Math, Engineering, and Technology) activities including videos, interactives, and hands-on...more
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SciGirls Connect! provides resources to connect and encourage girls to engage in STEM (Science, Math, Engineering, and Technology) activities including videos, interactives, and hands-on activities. Browse the site to find resources divided into topics including technology, role-model profiles, and various science themes. Additional information provides resources for teachers including participation and lesson guides. SciGirls Connect! places a heavy emphasis on providing resources in Spanish, these include Latina role-models and Spanish versions of most content.

tag(s): animal homes (56), animals (284), careers (139), earth (184), engineering (120), environment (238), graphic design (48), heart (27), nutrition (135), space (214), spanish (105), STEM (265)

In the Classroom

Bookmark SciGirls Connect! as a resource for finding interesting classroom activities for both girls and boys. Consider creating an after-school club for girls to explore different STEM careers and activities; if possible, bring in female STEM leaders from your community to help host the club or provide ongoing activities and support. Encourage the use of technology by incorporating and embedding digital tools throughout your STEM lessons. For example, instead of asking students to take notes using pencil and paper, use Google Docs or Microsoft Word. As students continue through their learning activities, use editing tools in these office products to add comments, images, and additional information. Be sure to demonstrate how to view editing changes to your students so that they can look back and reflect on their work throughout the process. Encourage your students to reflect upon their work both during individual activities and throughout the year with the use of a digital portfolio tool like Seesaw, reviewed here. Use Seesaw to create individual accounts for students to take pictures, add video, and add written commentary as part of their reflection and assessment of activities. Really enhance student learning and technology use by letting them become the teacher. Extend learning and technology use by asking students to create podcasts using Anchor, reviewed here, to teach others about concepts in science and technology, or share information about STEM careers. In addition to podcasts, you can also extend technology use and learning by asking students to use a video explainer tool like Adobe Express Video Maker, reviewed here to demonstrate and share the procedures of experiments.
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NASA Science - NASA

Grades
7 to 12
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NASA Science is the home base for sharing science news, resources, and information from the first-most science authority, NASA. Choose from many different areas to explore this comprehensive...more
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NASA Science is the home base for sharing science news, resources, and information from the first-most science authority, NASA. Choose from many different areas to explore this comprehensive site. Browse the home page for an overview of recent additions that include the latest tweets, countdown clocks, and Science by the Numbers. Dig deeper by choosing specific portions of the site including Science Topics and Science News. If your school blocks YouTube the videos may not be viewable.

tag(s): earth (184), explorers (66), solar system (109), space (214), STEM (265), sun (70)

In the Classroom

Become acquainted with the information shared on this site to use within your current lessons on space and science. View videos together on your interactive whiteboard or have students view videos at home and share questions and their thoughts in class. Include information from this site with other web resources to share with students. Use a bookmarking site like Raindrop.io, reviewed here, to share online resources collaboratively. In addition to saving bookmarks, Raindrop.io allows you to add comments to saved resources. Work together as a class to create resources for researching science topics. Instead of just watching videos, increase and enhance student learning through the use of a site such as playposit, reviewed here. playposit offers tools for adding both student and teacher comments to online videos. Use this resource to point out important information, ask critical questions, and challenge student thinking. Instead of assessing student learning of your science topic through tests or research projects, offer students the opportunity to share learning by creating their own game based on their research using a game-creation tool like Scratch, reviewed here.

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Purdue University Kids STEM Degree - Purdue University

Grades
K to 8
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Purdue University offers STEM "degrees" for kindergarten through middle school students available for completion individually or as a class. Select a grade level band from the six options...more
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Purdue University offers STEM "degrees" for kindergarten through middle school students available for completion individually or as a class. Select a grade level band from the six options to access the ten videos required. After watching the short videos, complete the accompanying quiz to receive a code. Collect all ten codes and complete the form to request your certificate of completion. Videos cover various STEM topics, such as seasons, fossils, and the environment. The videos are hosted on YouTube. If your district blocks YouTube, then they may not be viewable.

tag(s): adaptations (14), colors (64), energy (130), environment (238), forces (37), fossils (39), habitats (86), mass (19), number sense (70), plants (147), seasons (36), soil (16), sound (73), space (214), STEM (265), summer (30), sun (70), tides (6), volcanoes (56), water cycle (22), weather (164)

In the Classroom

Use this site to offer your students STEM "degrees" in several ways. As a class, complete an activity weekly as an introduction and review of science content by including the video as part of a computer center activity. Work together to complete the quiz for each video, then request a certificate to recognize your class's accomplishment. Another option is for students to work toward achieving certifications on their own. Share this site on your class newsletter for students to complete over the summer as an exciting way to engage in science activities and earn a STEM degree. One benefit of having the option to choose from different grade levels is the ability to differentiate learning by offering various courses to students based on their interests and abilities. Some students may choose to earn several degrees in different grade levels. Support and encourage students to pursue STEM degrees by taking pictures of completed degrees and adding them to your class website. Extend learning by asking students to research one of the topics, then share a presentation with peers using Canva Edu, reviewed here. Canva Edu offers many options for creating and personalizing presentations including slides, infographics, and flyers.

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Tomorrow Classroom - Wix

Grades
8 to 12
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Tomorrow Classroom provides learning tools for students aged 13-18 including web creation, design, and coding. Students create portfolio websites, capstone projects, passion projects,...more
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Tomorrow Classroom provides learning tools for students aged 13-18 including web creation, design, and coding. Students create portfolio websites, capstone projects, passion projects, and more using these lessons. Begin by creating a teacher account or logging in to your current Wix account and completing the registration questions. Create a class by importing students from Google Classroom or Microsoft Teams, or invite students by email. Educators can access a Curriculum Guide, Design Journal, and downloadable class kits and lessons for each activity. Four courses are available - Intro to Wix and the Web, Web Creation, Web Design, and Web Development. Lessons provide alignment to ISTE Standards for Students.

tag(s): computers (106), editing (90), graphic design (48), images (256), Online Learning (42), STEM (265), tutorials (54)

In the Classroom

Use the courses provided on this site as part of your computer science program or as a learning activity for students interested in website design. You can also use the learning tools and courses as part of an after-school program. If time isn't available to offer all the courses, take advantage of the available materials to teach some of the individual components, such as Lesson 1--What is the Web? This activity teaches students to look at the components of websites to understand the message delivered and what makes them attractive to viewers. Find free website creation tools at TeachersFirst Edge Web Page Makers, found here.

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Citizen Science Resources - TeachersFirst

Grades
K to 12
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Citizen science is a quickly growing way for regular people to participate in scientific research. Citizen scientists help move science forward by gathering and sharing data, making...more
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Citizen science is a quickly growing way for regular people to participate in scientific research. Citizen scientists help move science forward by gathering and sharing data, making observations, and teaming up with professional scientists. It also opens the scientific process to more people and helps everyone better understand and appreciate scientific discovery. Citizen science offers students many opportunities to participate in hands-on, real-world science projects. Students can observe wildlife, track weather patterns, and identify celestial bodies. Students learn that science is for everyone, not just scientists, as the students develop critical thinking and observation skills. Skim this collection of resources to learn how students can meaningfully contribute to community citizen science projects and activities.

tag(s): citizen science (27), environment (238)

In the Classroom

Share these resources with your students to learn about many citizen science opportunities. Share a link to this collection on your school web page and in your school newsletter (or email). Find resources to incorporate into your lessons to encourage students to get involved in citizen science activities.

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3 Great Lesson Plans on Copyright - Common Sense and Bronwyn H.

Grades
K to 8
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Using the three lessons in this article, help your students learn about and respect the need to understand copyright and fair use. Let's Give Credit for second grade teaches students...more
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Using the three lessons in this article, help your students learn about and respect the need to understand copyright and fair use. Let's Give Credit for second grade teaches students why it is essential to give credit and how to give credit the right way through role-playing activities as detectives. A lesson plan for fourth graders guides students through the rights and responsibilities involved with using images. The Four Factors of Fair Use provides middle school students a framework for understanding fair use, copyright, and domain. Create a free account to access the lessons and materials shared. All lessons correlate with national standards, including ISTE, Common Core ELA, and CASEL.

tag(s): copyright (44), digital citizenship (90), STEM (265)

In the Classroom

Include the shared lessons and activities as part of your digital citizenship curriculum. Use the provided handouts to guide students toward extended learning and discussion of proper digital citizenship practices. For example, second-grade students complete a Digital Citizens Report handout, and as an extension, ask students to create a list of credits for some of their commonly used online sites such as PBS Kids Reading Games, reviewed here or Scratch, reviewed here.
 This resource requires PDF reader software like Adobe Acrobat.

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Really Great Reading - Really Great Reading

Grades
K to 12
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Really Great Reading shares many resources to support reading instruction using the Science of Reading framework. Visit the free resources link to find summer school training and lessons,...more
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Really Great Reading shares many resources to support reading instruction using the Science of Reading framework. Visit the free resources link to find summer school training and lessons, heart word magic to help students read and spell high-frequency words, and reading assessments to group and monitor student progress. This site also includes a free version of Letter Tile Freeplay Live, an interactive activity that allows players to explore and sound out letters and sounds.

tag(s): literacy (110), phonics (50), preK (258), reading comprehension (142), reading strategies (98), science of reading (33)

In the Classroom

Bookmark and save this site as a resource for learning about and finding activities for reading instruction. Share ideas and articles with parents to support reading activities at home. The Heart Word Magic section includes many short video tutorials to help students learn to read and spell high-frequency words; consider including a video tutorial in your weekly classroom newsletter and on classroom computers for students and parents to review at home and in school. As an alternative to adding information to your classroom newsletter, consider using Wakelet, reviewed here or Padlet, reviewed here to organize and share resources with parents and guardians.

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Citizen Science Projects - National Geographic Education

Grades
3 to 12
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Discover the many ways to become involved in citizen science projects through local and large-scale observations and activities by visiting the ideas shared on this page from National...more
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Discover the many ways to become involved in citizen science projects through local and large-scale observations and activities by visiting the ideas shared on this page from National Geographic Education. Ideas and links include opportunities to participate in a bird census, monitor local bodies of water, collect weather data, and more. Click on each project's shared link to learn more about its activities and how to participate.

tag(s): animals (284), birds (45), butterflies (14), citizen science (27), ecosystems (73), life cycles (22), oceans (149), photography (118), planets (112), plants (147), stars (68), STEM (265), weather (164)

In the Classroom

Add this page to your bookmarks for citizen science opportunities for you and your students to participate in. Find additional ideas by visiting TeachersFirst's Citizen Science Resources Special Topics Page, reviewed here. Include citizen science projects to extend learning by building them into your current science lessons. Create free scientific observation journals at Canva Storyboard Templates, reviewed here for students to record, organize, and share information. Ask older students to share data by creating graphs on Displayr, reviewed here or use Google's Data Gif Maker, reviewed here when working with younger students.

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Vocabulary Adventure Cards - Sesame Workshop

Grades
K to 2
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Make learning new words fun for students using Vocabulary Adventure Cards. These digital flashcards are intended for use every day to help kids build their vocabulary, stimulate their...more
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Make learning new words fun for students using Vocabulary Adventure Cards. These digital flashcards are intended for use every day to help kids build their vocabulary, stimulate their imagination, and enjoy storytelling. The cards encourage children to connect the words to their own lives, invite them to think of words to complete stories, and challenge them to name the word being defined when read aloud.

tag(s): flash cards (41), vocabulary (236), Whiteboard (12)

In the Classroom

Conduct an interactive vocabulary hunt. Use your whiteboard to show Vocabulary Adventure Cards, and then have students find related objects in class. Have your students make short videos on Flip, reviewed here explaining word pairs from the site, boosting their vocabulary and digital storytelling skills. Have students choose one of the stories and collaboratively add to the story using new words. Utilize a program like WriteReader, reviewed here.

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