TeachersFirst Special Topics Collections
Jump-start your work with TeachersFirst's Special Topics collections. Save time and take advantage of these ready-to-go collections that will help you find what you and your students need, just in time for an upcoming unit, a holiday, focused research, student-directed exploration, or projects on a curriculum topic or event. Each Special Topic page is a curated list of resources related to the stated topic. Each collection includes up to 30 resources, providing enough variety to find sites that define the topic.
You can be comfortable sharing the Special Topic links with students or parents, knowing that TeachersFirst has selected and reviewed each resource.
Find classroom and project suggestions within each review, use the collection to find what you need for your lessons. Some teachers assign these lists as the core resources for a broader student assignment. Editor’s Choice collections offer "the best of the best" for topics of particular interest. TeachersFirst also offers collections on professional special topics to help you meet particular teaching challenges.
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Earthquake Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12
tag(s): earthquakes (45), plate tectonics (20)
In the Classroom
Share this collection as a Favorite on your TeachersFirst public page so students can use the resources as part of a project during your unit on plate tectonics or natural disasters. Use the collection as a starting point, noting the resources that are more challenging for your more able students.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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50+ Ideas (and more) for the 100th - TeachersFirst
Grades
1 to 8tag(s): 100thday (9)
In the Classroom
Email this to your colleagues or share it with parents for them to join in at home.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Internet Safety Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12tag(s): internet safety (113), safety (71)
In the Classroom
Use these resources in toto or select the best ones for YOUR students to continually model rational, safe behavior online. Share the links with parents and among your colleagues so you can promote positive action instead of fear about the Internet. Find specific projects and lesson plans to fit student/curriculum needs from this extensive collection.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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First Day of School Icebreakers - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12In the Classroom
Mark this list in your favorites to try new ideas on the first day of school or even at the start of a new marking period.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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School Violence Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12tag(s): school violence (10)
In the Classroom
Keep this bookmarked for handy reference when incidents in the news raise concerns in your school.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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American Presidents Related Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12tag(s): holidays (163), presidents (121)
In the Classroom
Use these resources to connect Presidents' Day to your curriculum in almost any subject or select one or two ideas to highlight along with your regular lessons. This collection would also be useful during a unit on the three branches of government, specifically investigating the Executive branch.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Special Occasion Ideas for the Classroom: TeachersFirst Editors' Choices - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12tag(s): fathers day (7), mothers day (13), parents (60)
In the Classroom
Stretch your students' creative thinking, writing skills, and problem solving skills as they create projects to honor special people on special occasions or just as a surprise "thank you." Create memories for special people as your learners show what they know and how much they care. Share this collection as a link from your class web page for students and parents to use from home or during vacations and holidays.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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TeachersFirst's Resources to Avoid the Summer Slide - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12tag(s): enrichment (9), summer (29)
In the Classroom
Share the link to this special collection via your class web page, newsletter, or email to all your students as they depart for vacation. You will help parents and students alike. Avoid the "summer slide."Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Economics and Money: TeachersFirst Editors' Choices - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12tag(s): financial literacy (92), money (119), recession (3)
In the Classroom
Browse these editors' choice resources to find the best for your classroom needs. Don't forget that you can use economics information to teach math concepts. Make your lessons relevant in today's world by connecting the economic concepts as you teach writing, reading, and more. As your students master the concept, have them create a "Kids Guide to the Economy" on a class wiki or make videos on single concepts to be shared via tools such as SchoolTube, reviewed here, or TeacherTube, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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U.S. Presidential Inaugurations Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
1 to 12In the Classroom
Since news sources often generate specialized but temporary web resources just in time for Inauguration Day (January 20), you will want to use these resources in combination with a Google News search for the most timely information, such as news articles and images. Assign older students to compare historical background and current practice in a chosen aspect of the inauguration and create a multimedia presentation, wiki page, or mock "news" video about the day's events. Share selected images and explanation with younger students using your projector or interactive whiteboard.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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African-American History Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12tag(s): black history (125)
In the Classroom
Browse this collection as you approach Black History month or simply to add multi-cultural dimension to many history lessons.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Martin Luther King, Jr. Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12tag(s): civil rights (195), martin luther king (43)
In the Classroom
Use this collection to inspire lessons for January 15 (or the Monday holiday nearby) or during any unit on civil rights.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Election Resources - Teachersfirst
Grades
K to 12If you wish to choose from a more extensive list election-related resources or to narrow your list for a specific topic and grade level, try entering your topic and elections as search terms in the TeachersFirst keyword search (under Search menu), setting the grade level you seek, as well.
tag(s): elections (80)
In the Classroom
Use this handy "spcial topics" collection to find just the right student activity or reference information when you are studying elections. You can also share it on your teacher web page as an "approved" list of election resources for home and school study.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Grant Sources and Contests - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12tag(s): grants (16)
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Baseball Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
3 to 12tag(s): baseball (33), statistics (115)
In the Classroom
As spring or the World Series approaches, look to this collection for connections between your curriculum and baseball. Invite students to create their own baseball-related activities using the concepts you are studying right now: math word problems, scientific analysis of baseball physics, baseball writing ideas, or primary source interviewing about baseball.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Audio Books with Text Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12tag(s): audio books (23), preK (257)
In the Classroom
Mark this one in your professional favorites AND share it on a class web page for access by students and parents. The helpful reviews suggest ideas for ways to use the books in the classroom or outside of school to reinforce literacy skills, improve English skills, or study literature in new ways.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Interactive Audio Books Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12tag(s): audio books (23)
In the Classroom
Mark this one in your professional favorites AND share it on a class web page for access by students and parents. The helpful reviews suggest ideas for ways to use the audio books in the classroom or outside of school to reinforce literacy skills, improve English skills, or study literature in new ways.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Audio Books Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12tag(s): audio books (23), listening (69), preK (257)
In the Classroom
Mark this one in your professional favorites AND share it on a class web page for access by students and parents. The helpful reviews suggest ideas for ways to use the audio books in the classroom or outside of school to reinforce literacy skills, improve English skills, or study literature in new ways.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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X (formerly Twitter) for Teachers - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12tag(s): social networking (66), twitter (19)
In the Classroom
There is a wealth of information about X (formerly Twitter) on this site, so you will want to bookmark it in your favorites to return to often. Make this page a must-learn for teaching in the 21st century. Refer this tutorial to other teachers and administrators in your building. Once you finish with module 1 you will have a X (formerly Twitter) account of your own. Follow @teachersfirst, @OK2Ask, and our lead Thinking Teacher @morerukus2, and we will surely welcome you!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Webquest Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12In the Classroom
Mark this in your professional favorites for planning and finding webquests. The webquest format has been around for years and can be adapted many ways. Start from this collection and consider designing a webquest "Task" that uses a collaborative, web 2.0 tool such as those reviewed in the TeachersFirst Edge listings. Today's students will love the authentic, creative tasks and collaboration made possible by today's tools. TeachersFirst Edge reviews include ways to use the tools safely and within school policies, for a learning "win-win." You might even want to have student groups design their own webquests for classmates to try as a new twist on "jigsaw" learning.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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