Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers

This simulation lets participants become project managers of a complex project such as a new construction, hardware, or software project. Along the way, they learn how to manage budgets, schedules, and staff and time management skills while receiving detailed feedback on the project's progress. Begin your project by selecting the "play simulation" link in the box near the bottom of the page; then, students select to play as an individual or class. Choose the educator link to verify that you are an educator and receive a code to set up your class.

tag(s): careers (156), gifted (66), Project Based Learning (23), STEM (297)

This article shares suggestions and information on using Book Creator, reviewed here to create meaningful and purposeful interactive and multimedia projects. Topics include how to engage students in learning through book creation, storytelling with purpose, using story projects for uncheatable assessments, and creating authentic learning experiences. In addition to the suggestions provided, this article includes examples of books created using Book Creator.

tag(s): assessment (147), professional development (385), Project Based Learning (23)

Adobe Education and Khan Academy have partnered to share guided activities for all grade levels from kindergarten through higher learning. Activities begin with Khan Academy created materials to build knowledge through activities that encourage creation, self-expression, and immersion in the topics provided. Select any topic to view a description and correlation to ISTE learning standards. Topics include math, language and literature, science, and social studies. Sign in to download each lesson to your computer that provides for links to all activities and tutorials for using technology tools included in the activities.

tag(s): branches of government (65), cells (82), digital storytelling (154), environment (252), genetics (80), geometric shapes (134), grammar (137), landmarks (22), map skills (63), molecules (43), multiplication (122), Online Learning (36), parts of speech (39), Problem Based Learning (12), problem solving (233), Project Based Learning (23), Research (87), social and emotional learning (102), STEM (297), stories and storytelling (58)

The Big6 provides training and resources based on the Big6 model for problem-solving and decision making. This site also includes information for incorporating the Super3 model into the decision making process for younger students. Follow the Big6 blog as a means to stay current on the latest ideas and information related to using the Big6 model in and away from the classroom. The Big6 Resources link shares detailed information on the Big6 model along with an overview of incorporating the model as a structured month by month program. The included instructional materials include handouts, presentations, videos, and additional support materials for you to learn about and teach the Big6 model strategies.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): problem solving (233), teaching strategies (50)

OER (Open Educational Resources) Commons is a digital public library and collaboration platform for educators, including K-12 and universities. The collection includes complete courses, textbooks, mini-lessons, and simulations, as well as lesson plans, workbooks, collections for Project based and Problem Based Learning, and more. In addition to the content on the site, OER Commons also includes features for building interactive lessons and modules and media documents. Registration isn't required; however, free signup on the website provides you the option to save materials, create and collaborate with groups, and align resources to standards.

tag(s): business (52), OER (43), preK (270), Problem Based Learning (12), Project Based Learning (23), Teacher Utilities (198)

This collection from the Global Oneness Project includes a series of lessons based on stories of youth around the world, ranging from preschoolers to 12th grade. The films and images provide perspectives on the daily lives of the featured youth, along with their future hopes. Search this site to find photos, articles, and videos used to explore various issues spanning the world. Each lesson includes a correlation to National Teaching Standards and additional resources for exploration. Registration on the site isn't required to access the lessons; however, it allows you to add materials to an account as favorites to find easily. Sign up for the newsletter to receive more free lesson plans, stories, videos, and more to go along with spreading cultural awareness.

tag(s): africa (148), alaska (21), anthropology (10), cross cultural understanding (173), cultures (180), empathy (34), india (32), middle east (50), native americans (108), Project Based Learning (23), psychology (65), scotland (8), south africa (13), south america (47), sustainability (50)

Journey North is a citizen science program for collaborating and documenting the migration of animals and insects. Become involved by adding your images and sightings, or follow the site to view the observations of others through maps, images, and descriptions. Choose from a diverse selection of animals, including whales, earthworms, and many others to begin. Within each topic find information about the animal and their migration habits along with links to additional resources. Take your journey a step further and choose the live cam link to view webcams and animal videos from around the world. Make sure to check out the educator's section to find vocabulary, reading, and inquiry activities.

tag(s): animal homes (57), animals (294), citizen science (27), insects (68), migration (45), Project Based Learning (23), scientists (67)

Adobe Express for Education (was Adobe Spark for Education) offers this version of it's popular presentation tool, reviewed here, specifically for education. Use Adobe Creative Cloud Express for Education to create multimedia projects or presentations using the available templates and graphics tools. The Education version provides enhanced data privacy and the ability for students to log in with a code. This tool can be available through your school's Adobe Admin Counsel if your IT team already uses Adobe products. If not, follow directions on the site to set up and begin using this tool as an individual educator.

tag(s): communication (129), creative writing (124), multimedia (53), posters (43)

You may already be familiar with Google Maps, reviewed here, but Google My Maps takes working with maps a step further. Use Google My Maps to create custom maps with features you add. Add points or shapes to any location, use the embedded search to find places then save to your map, import information from spreadsheets, and customize your map with colored icons and your uploaded images and videos. Collaborate on your project just like you would with Google Documents, then embed maps into your website or blog.

tag(s): maps (220), virtual field trips (128)

Collect data about plants, learn about climate change, and participate by posting your findings for both with Project Budburst. Join Project Budburst and become part of a community of citizen scientists! Record the observations of first leafing, first flower, etc. (especially for native plant species), and have them reported to a national database. Under the Activities tab at the top find For Educators and from there scroll down the page to choose curricula by grade level (PreK-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12, and Higher Education). You may also want to check out Groups. For K-12 there are lists for National Science Education Standards (NSES) and Common Core Standards for English Language Arts and Mathematics. Under each level find helpful guides for using the site and supplemental activities. Registration is free and allows for reporting data and becoming a citizen scientist.

tag(s): citizen science (27), environment (252), plants (146), Project Based Learning (23), scientific method (48)

Create impressive, interactive presentations, images, infographics, charts, and anything else with Genially. Easily insert maps, surveys, video, audio, and more. AI features include a background remover and AI-powered text editing. Choose the type of project you want to create to see the templates available, then select from the free plan templates. Project options include game templates, options to create interactive images, infographics, and slides, eLearning templates, and much more. Genially is an all-in-one tool that will soon become your go-to tool for creating visual content. All your projects are stored in the cloud, making collaboration a cinch! Register for the free account with email or a Google or Facebook account, and then start creating! A Genially must be saved to share. Share creations from your dashboard on different social networks, copying and pasting a link, using an HTML code to embed it in a website/blog, or sending it directly by email. Click the arrow to the right of your account icon to find Help (FAQs), a blog, and tutorials (Tour). Free education accounts include a workspace for unlimited student accounts, live collaboration with your class, 1 GB of storage, and access to over 1,000 free templates. Note: Genially changed its domain name from .ly to .com. Your content will NOT be affected. However, you will want to change this in your bookmarks.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): artificial intelligence (177), charts and graphs (171), communication (129), digital storytelling (154), gamification (83), images (263), infographics (56), interactive stories (22), multimedia (53), posters (43), video (266)

Organize and run a scavenger hunt with GooseChase! Sign up for an account to begin creating games. Add your own missions to games or use missions available on the site. Determine point values for completion and optional links or images to provide additional information. Choose to allow participants to submit validation of completion through photos or videos that you can see in real-time. Once your game is set up (using any computer or device with Internet access), invite participants to begin play through a mobile device. Download the free apps for any mobile device through the Google Play Store or iTunes. GooseChase now has free basic plans for teachers where you can have unlimited games (Experiences) and have 5 teams per Experience, however, it allows only team Experiences.

tag(s): creativity (86), DAT device agnostic tool (147), game based learning (205), gamification (83)

Develop rubrics to assess what you expect students to learn with Quick Rubric. Registration is free and allows for saving the rubric. Click Create a Rubric and add a title, brief description, and the maximum and minimum scores. Describe your indicators, add descriptors, and even include standards. At any time during the formation of the rubric add columns and rows. Save and share via URL or printing. The ability to copy and modify a rubric from your account is a great time-saver.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): assessment (147), rubrics (37)

TeachThought stretches teachers to think beyond the norm, and try new exciting ideas such as learning in a digital world, flipped classrooms, project based learning, and simulations. A few examples of the articles include: 10 Team Building Games that Promote Critical Thinking, 25 Reading Strategies That Work In Every Content Area, 55 Free Apps For iPads, 249 Bloom's Taxonomy Verbs for Critical Thinking, 14 Brilliant Bloom's Taxonomy Posters For Teachers, and 20 Things You Can Do in 10 Minutes For A Smoother Running Classroom. Join in the conversation, add your opinion, or ask a question. Sign up for TeachThought's newsletter.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): blooms taxonomy (7), classroom management (120), critical thinking (127), flipped learning (9), professional development (385), reading strategies (96)

US Digital Literacy is a comprehensive informational site to help better deliver digital literacy information to students. Help to prepare your students to understand and use information in multiple formats from a broad range of sources. Students need to be able to read, and interpret media, reproduce data and images, evaluate, and apply new knowledge from digital environments. Learn how to use the tools, promote responsible digital citizenship, while providing a framework to access, analyze, and create new information. Under Digital Toolkits find information about digital citizens, web 2.0, augmented reality, social bookmarks, wikis, images and creative commons, keyboarding practice, and mobile learning communities. For your own use, find professional learning networks, adaptive learning systems, learning management systems, project based learning, and STEM and STEAM. The Twenty-first- Century Skills section gives background in the Common Core, core subjects, learning and innovative skills, information and media literacy, and life and career skills. Instructional Strategies provide information for classroom management, activating strategies, vocabulary strategies, cognitive growth strategies, organizing strategies, summarizing strategies, and assessment types. Information regarding thoughtful technology leadership includes videos to promote conversations and challenges for your school website. Each section includes interesting and informative videos. The videos are hosted on YouTube. If your district blocks YouTube, the videos may not be viewable.

tag(s): augmented reality (9), digital citizenship (85), literacy (122), professional development (385)

The Lowell Milken Center discovers, develops and communicates the stories of Unsung Heroes who have made a profound and positive impact on the course of history. Click Programs on the top menu and select Unsung Hero Projects to learn about everyday people who became heroes by standing up to adversity in their lives. Each project features information about the hero and the storyteller. Some projects include links to student-created web pages and videos. If your district blocks YouTube, the videos may not be viewable. Start your own Unsung Hero project using the ten steps provided to include inspiration from start to finish. This resource also includes Lesson Plans.

tag(s): character education (79), heroes (24), Project Based Learning (23)

Big History Project is a free, online social studies course designed for secondary students tracing from the Big Bang through the history of humanity. This course takes a VERY broad view of the "big picture" to provide greater perspective in how we see history. View course information in 2 sections with 10 units covering a time span of 13.7 billion years. Each unit contains between 20-30 modules including projects, discussion topics, and assessments. All are aligned to Common Core Standards. Other course offerings include Project Based Learning activities, videos, animations, infographics, and much more. A simpler, shorter version of the course for the general public is available under "Not an educator?. Click on "Check out our public course." You will need to sign up for a free account to view this resource.

tag(s): agriculture (49), geologic time (12), industrialization (12), Project Based Learning (23), Research (87), solar system (110)

Join the online community of educators that supports research based best practices in effective use of technology, project based approaches, and assessment techniques. Register for free webinars, or take an Intel Future of Education and Technology course. Explore the free resources for K-2 teachers. Share your own reflections and best practices with the community. Dig deeper into assessment, thinking tools, project based learning, or digital literacy.

tag(s): assessment (147), professional development (385), Project Based Learning (23)

Find citizen science projects that are available for students. View the video What is Citizen Science? Choose projects for PreK-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12, and for college students. Each project has a video, thorough directions, and links for additional resources. Science teachers register and can sign up for email newsletters describing the projects. Example projects include: Budburst, Project Squirrel, Globe At Night, Crowd the Tap, and Land Loss Lookout. Topics range from weather to birds to medicine to sound. Rather than focusing on teaching content, the activities focus on using scientific communities to connect and immerse students in the science.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): animals (294), archeology (28), birds (46), citizen science (27), ecology (103), environment (252), geology (62), insects (68), medicine (57), oceans (149), Project Based Learning (23), science fairs (20), scientific method (48), sound (72), space (222), transportation (30), weather (160)