Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers

The Math and Science Concept Map is an interactive, customizable concept map demonstrating the interrelationships between math and science concepts. Choose or search for an idea to open up the map. Expand the map further by clicking on an item. Learn more about individual terms by selecting a "details" box; those link to videos and reading materials providing further information. You may want to view the explanatory video before exploring the concept map to get an overall understanding of this map and how it works. In order to explore all the features for this concept map, it is best to use the FireFox browser. The explanatory video resides on YouTube. If your district blocks YouTube, the video may not be viewable.

tag(s): concept mapping (15), pi (29), STEM (297)

Your challenge at the Wind Energy Virtual Lab is to build a high efficiency, low-cost turbine supplying energy to 400 homes. Follow the steps to choose the appropriate location, design, and material for your turbine and view the results. When finished, the lab displays up to three design attempts for comparison of outputs. Be sure to download the Teacher's Guide including explanations of the different lab components and ideas for classroom use.

tag(s): conservation (102), energy (133), weather (160)

Compare and contrast two images with JuxtaposeJS photo slider, no registration required. Begin with links to your two images, JuxtaposeJS recommends using two pictures of the same size. Add labels and photo credits and choose from personalization options. Once uploaded, use the slider bar to adjust the viewing portions of the two images. Embed your finished image using the code provided after publication.

tag(s): history day (39), images (263), local history (14), photography (130)

Explore, play, and discover at the website for Exploratorium in San Francisco. This very comprehensive site is part of their learning laboratory exploring the world through science, art, and human perception. Choose from the many different offerings including blogs, videos, and websites or explore by topic. If you teach science, you will want to bookmark this site for use all year long!

tag(s): atmosphere (22), colors (63), earth (184), electricity (61), energy (133), geology (62), light (56), magnetism (36), matter (45), motion (47), oceans (149), optical illusions (10), optics (11), sound (72), space (222), STEM (297), temperature (34), time (91), water (102)

iExloreSTEM is a volunteer community dedicated to bringing STEM activities and festivals to local communities in and near Iowa; the ideas and resources can apply to any state. The site includes information and resources for planning STEM festivals and creating safe activities. Scroll down the page to find several sample activities listed by discipline including architecture, engineering, and more. Other useful resources include links to STEM career information and STEM links to specific states.

tag(s): animals (294), architecture (75), engineering (129), environment (252), plants (146), STEM (297)

Science in the Classroom offers free annotated research articles and teaching materials. Choose any item to read each article in full. Dig a little deeper by selecting a Learning Lens, found at the bottom of any article under Teaching Resources, to focus on specific information within the article such as conclusions or connections to standards highlighted by different colors. Also, this site offers Thought Questions for each article allowing readers to extend thinking beyond the information provided. Some selections include videos. If your district blocks YouTube, the videos may not be viewable.

tag(s): animals (294), cells (82), diseases (66), drugs and alcohol (28), genetics (80), human body (93), medicine (57), plants (146), STEM (297)

Sylvia's Super-Awesome Maker Show! is the website created by a California teen to share her enthusiasm for science through demonstrations and web shows. View videos as Sylvia demonstrates how to to make sidewalk chalk, builds a cardboard periscope, experiments with squishy circuits, and much more. In addition to the entertaining videos, the site also includes several printables with additional directions for creating projects. If your district blocks YouTube, the web shows may not be viewable.
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tag(s): engineering (129), experiments (55), makerspace (40), STEM (297), video (266)

Bozeman Science offers hundreds of science videos with topics ranging from Anatomy & Physiology through Statistics & Graphing. The site also includes videos aligned to AP curriculum and Next Generation Science Standards. Each video includes easy to understand definitions along with examples of concepts; most videos run 10 minutes or less. If your district blocks YouTube, then they may not be viewable.

tag(s): advanced placement (26), animals (294), atoms (43), body systems (40), chemicals (39), ecosystems (83), elements (33), energy (133), evolution (89), human body (93), OER (43), planets (113), plants (146), plate tectonics (22), pollution (52), population (51), rock cycle (12), solar energy (34), solar system (110), stars (71), weather (160)

Design Challenge Learning offers several lesson plans correlated to Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards based on STEM concepts. Begin your search by choosing For Educators from the top menu. From there, find a menu on the left that has links to Lessons and Activities, Field Trips, Virtual Student Programming, and more. From Lessons and Activities you can browse content by subject and topic. Each lesson includes questioning prompts, vocabulary, standards, and information on core concepts.

tag(s): agriculture (49), architecture (75), commoncore (73), density (17), energy (133), forces (37), friction (9), gravity (43), heart (27), human body (93), magnetism (36), matter (45), motion (47), plants (146), simple machines (19), sound (72)

StackEdit is a free MarkDown editor offering several options for creating, saving, and collaborating with documents. Choose the "Start Writing Now" link to create a document ready for publication to blogs. Go through the tutorial and then click on the folder symbol all the way to the right of the top menu bar. Select new document. Start typing your document adding images, hyperlinks, and more using the menu bar. The split screen allows users to preview content in HTML and see how the final view will look while creating it, making it easy to see the end product. Open, save, and collaborate using Google documents and DropBox content. Publish the finished product to WordPress, GitHub, and other blogging platforms, or save as a PDF. StackEdit is simple and intuitive, and first-timers will be very comfortable using it. At the time of this review, StackEdit ran very slowly on Chrome.

tag(s): blogs (65), coding (85), editing (93)

CodeChef for Schools offers computer programming training and competitions. After signing up, choose one of the Get Started projects to begin. Choose the practice area to hone skills from beginner level through challenge level. Compete in monthly competitions with other coders from around the globe. Middle and high school students will appreciate the contests, with an introduction to competitive coding targeted for their age group. These take place on various dates throughout the month with the length of time to complete the contest (click "Upcoming Coding Contests" at the bottom of the page). The demonstration videos reside on YouTube. If your district blocks YouTube, the videos may not be viewable.

tag(s): coding (85), competitions (10), computational thinking (40), computers (109), critical thinking (127), problem solving (233), STEM (297)

Create a Flappy Bird game using drag and drop code, then save it to your phone to play over and over! Follow the 10 step directions to add code to your workspace as you make your bird fly toward a target, give directions for the end of game results, and edit actions and speed of the game. When finished, share games via URL or social networking links. The intro video resides on YouTube. If your district blocks YouTube, the video may not be viewable.

tag(s): coding (85), computational thinking (40), computers (109), critical thinking (127), game based learning (205), gamification (83), logic (161)

Try Engineering offers a wide variety of resources focused on engineering, computers, and associated careers. Explore the site as a student, teacher, parent, or counselor to learn more about planning a career path in engineering. Student information includes career profiles, games, and student opportunities to learn about different engineering options. Choose the teacher link to find complete lesson plans, activities, and featured engineers. Some of the lesson plans use YouTube for videos. If your district blocks YouTube, the videos may not be viewable.

tag(s): careers (156), computers (109), engineering (129)

SparkFun tutorials teach the basics (and beyond) of electronics. Over 400 tutorials include topics such as computers, circuits, and wearable technology. Browse through the list of tutorials, or choose topics by tags to find specific content. Each tutorial includes complete instructions as well as suggested reading lists to help fully develop the understanding of concepts used. Most projects require several different materials, be sure to check each tutorial's supply list before starting any project. Many projects have an intro video that resides on YouTube. If your district blocks YouTube, the videos may not be viewable.
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tag(s): circuits (20), computers (109), electricity (61), engineering (129), weather (160)

Code your own art, music, and interactive fiction with Pencil Code Gym. The main language is Coffescript, but you can click the word Reference in the upper left corner to use HTML for writing tags in your code. Pencil Code also supports Javascript and CSS. Follow instructions to code using drag and drop blocks or text. Toggle back and forth between the two formats to view the different formats. Click the pencil in the upper left corner to see several resources including Materials for Teachers, Teachers Manual, Printable Activities, and several others. The wide range of activities make this site perfect for use with students of all levels of coding abilities. When complete, share finished projects on "GymStage", the sharing portion of Pencil Code Gym.

tag(s): coding (85), computational thinking (40), critical thinking (127), digital storytelling (154), drawing (61), geometric shapes (134), musical notation (34), problem solving (233)

W3 Schools offers online tutorials for learning different forms of computer coding, from beginner level through advanced concepts. Choose from available categories to begin, then follow the tutorials including online examples to edit. Take quizzes to test your skills. Experienced coders will appreciate the reference guides included on the site containing common tags and terms used.

tag(s): coding (85), computers (109), critical thinking (127), gamification (83), logic (161), STEM (297)

In this Kahn Academy interactive online course, participants learn the basics of the JavaScript language to draw images and animations and beyond. Select from the Contents menu on the left, or scroll down the page. Lessons are taught using short videos. Many videos have an interactive transcript and an error checker to assist you if you make a mistake. Use the provided links to videos hosted on YouTube. After viewing the explanation or a concept, try the practice sessions. Work through the seventeen modules with multiple lessons to earn badges. Many of the videos include real-time student questions and replies, Tips, Thanks, and Spin-Offs. The New Program space encourages the creation of original JavaScript programs. To save progress and keep track of projects, create an account by signing up using Gmail, Facebook or any email. Identify yourself if you are teacher or parent. Documentation, in both text and video format, includes information on JS basics. Help is available in a community forum format which students may access. If your district blocks YouTube, the videos may not be viewable.

tag(s): animation (64), coding (85), computers (109), critical thinking (127), problem solving (233)

FreeCodeCamp offers self-paced training in coding, followed by practice building projects for non-profit sources. The site includes 100's of challenges featuring many different types of coding programs. Participate in FreeCodeCamp's curriculum to earn up to four standardized certifications in software development recognized by technology employers. Chat rooms provide assistance and support to participants working through certifications. FreeCodeCamp provides assistance in obtaining employment to users who complete certifications on the site.

tag(s): careers (156), coding (85), computational thinking (40), computers (109), critical thinking (127), problem solving (233)

Girls Who Code is an organization founded to help close the gender gap in technology. They have several programs offering girls the opportunity to explore coding with peers. The Clubs Program is for girls in grades 3-12 and meets two hours each week in local schools and provides opportunities for computer training for beginners through advanced learner. Click Locations from the top menu to see if there is a school near you. The Summer Program offers a 2-week immersion program or a 6 week self-paced program for 9th-12th-grade students in coding and exposure to jobs in the technology field. No location near you? Click Programs from the top menu and slide down to Code At Home. While most of the content on this site is appropriate for middle school girls, please preview before you share.

tag(s): coding (85), communities (35), computers (109), critical thinking (127), logic (161), women (151)