Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers

Play this game to solve the world's water crisis through careful management of resources and responses to global events. Before playing, be sure to check out the tutorial to understand the available options. Your mission is to make water available to all regions through a series of decisions based on cost and research. Be sure to check out the text alternative short story to the game sharing a tale of the importance of water within a small community.

tag(s): conservation (102), DAT device agnostic tool (147), game based learning (205), recycling (45), water (102), weather (160)

The Center for News Literacy provides articles and courses to teach news literacy. Defined as learning critical thinking skills to judge the reliability and credibility of information received, this site serves to help students and educators learn to evaluate materials from any source. Select from the courses offered including Deconstructing a Viral Video and Who Decides What is Newsworthy? The Course Packs include PowerPoint presentations with lesson materials along with final quizzes.

tag(s): internet safety (114), journalism (74), news (228), newspapers (93)

This infographic provides background and facts defining bitcoin and cryptocurrencies. Scroll through to learn about the different types of cryptocurrencies, their uses, and obtaining and using bitcoin. In addition to the infographic, the article on this page shares additional information supporting the infographic details.

tag(s): financial literacy (93), money (113)

Choice of Games includes tools for creating and playing text-based games (think of it as similar to a choose your own adventure story). Try making games by following the directions to download the script source. Include simple commands using text options for players. This site includes tutorials to get started and add more complex commands. Explore the games archive to play games created by other users and to get inspiration for your creations. Note: you will need to download and install Node.js (free), then download and install the ChoiceScript source from GitHub (free).

tag(s): coding (85), creative writing (124), DAT device agnostic tool (147), gamification (83), interactive stories (22), STEM (297), writing (325)

Xplorerlabs provides free STEM learning activities for middle school educators through exploration modules and hands-on learning all correlated to Next Generation Science Standards. Begin each module with a short overview of the topic then follow each step to investigate and solve through evidence-based collaboration. Each module requires one to two class periods to complete. In addition to learning modules, Xplorerlabs also includes Xtensions including additional experiments and challenges. All of the experiments on the site include student and teacher guides for download.

tag(s): electricity (61), energy (133), fire (22), fire safety (16), heat (14), problem solving (233), STEM (297)

Those Amazing Engineers provides an introduction to engineering and careers in engineering through vibrant images, text, and video. Scroll through the home page (or click the menu in the upper right corner) to explore the many different types of engineers and follow links to learn more about each specific field. Additional links share information on workplaces, getting started in the field of engineering, and exploring options to find the type of engineering that appeals to individual interests. If your school blocks YouTube, the videos may not be viewable.

tag(s): careers (156), engineering (129), STEM (297)

Expii is a free resource for learning about math and science topics creatively through video and written explanations provided by different expert contributors. Math content begins with pre-algebra and moves up through advanced topics. Many units also offer options for practice. Expii also encourages students and teachers to add their content. Search for topics by keyword or choose from the different math and science topics to begin learning. Use Expii without registering; however, free registration allows you to save favorites for later use. If your district blocks YouTube, then the videos may not be viewable.

tag(s): atoms (43), cells (82), charts and graphs (171), decimals (85), earth (184), electricity (61), equations (119), fractions (160), magnetism (36), molecules (43), number lines (33), number sense (69), planets (113), ratios (47), space (222), stars (71), STEM (297), sun (71), transformations (12), variables (14)

Turtle Academy offers lessons in LOGO programming language for beginner programmers. Select the Lessons link from the top left to begin and follow lesson activities. For those with some programming experience, this site allows you to select any portion of lessons as a starting point. In addition to lessons, take advantage of Turtle Academy's playground to create, share, and save programs.
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tag(s): coding (85), computers (109), logic (161), STEM (297)

Find free online training for a variety of skills and products, delivered by experts in the field, at Microsoft Learn (formerly Virtual Academy). Choose from the many courses offered for developers, IT pros, and data pros by topic or product. Some options include beginner courses and learning paths for students interested in technology careers. Participate in courses by viewing a series of videos then completing a final course assessment.

tag(s): communication (129), computers (109), Microsoft (80), OER (43), STEM (297)

Scratchwork is a collaborative whiteboard tool developed by mathematicians. This site uses LaTex code formatting for use with science and math documents. Draw, write and upload PDF documents for use on the whiteboard. Another unique feature allows you to scan written equations then access individual portions for use within the whiteboard. Collaborate in real time using chat, audio, and video features. When complete, download and save your whiteboard activities. Sign up with email or Google is required, and it allows you to access boards and share them at a later time. Free options include four boards with up to 100 MB storage with basic math recognition.

tag(s): collaboration (93), drawing (61), equations (119), iwb (31), problem solving (233)

Learn computer science through hands-on learning projects for all ages at Microsoft MakeCode. Take advantage of project ideas to inspire computing projects for your classroom. Introductory courses for middle school students teach the basics of coding and beyond. Learn more through live sessions offered weekly by Microsoft team editors as they share tips for using different editing programs. If your district blocks YouTube, then the videos may not be viewable.

tag(s): coding (85), makerspace (40), Microsoft (80), STEM (297)

Capture the interest of your most reluctant students with these STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) projects presented through music videos and guided inquiry challenges. Rock videos provide the basis for the learning concepts followed by a series of question and answers along with student challenges. Examples found on the site include lessons on simple machines demonstrated through a chain reaction and creating sound through everyday objects. Other resources include educator guides and student journal worksheets. If your school blocks YouTube, the videos may not be viewable.

tag(s): gravity (43), mass (19), motion (47), sound (72), STEM (297)

The Library of Congress offers this collection to document and share information on emerging cultural traditions on the web. Information includes communication created through the use of technology including GIFs, memes, online communities, emojis, and slang. Browse the site to view current entries or use the filters to sort by date or title. Other links allow users to find information on specific topics or languages.

tag(s): cross cultural understanding (173), cultures (180), digital citizenship (85), STEM (297)

Do you struggle to find quality resources for teaching STEM lessons? Check out over 260 lessons and units provided on this comprehensive website. Use filters to choose grade level, content, and type of activity, or use the keyword search to locate specific content. All resources include correlation to science standards and most include several interactives and online response options.

tag(s): animals (294), cells (82), dna (43), earthquakes (46), engineering (129), equations (119), genetics (80), measurement (122), plants (146), pollution (52), problem solving (233), space (222), stars (71), STEM (297), temperature (34), weather (160)

The Hacking STEM Library provides a vast array of STEM projects for easy incorporation into any classroom. Clicking any feature will bring up a menu on the left that you can scroll through to view the Activity Library, Master Skill Guides, and Bite-Size Activities. Each activity provides a quick look at cost, grade level, and amount of time needed before linking to the full lesson plan. Lesson plans include complete instructions, objectives, and necessary documents.

tag(s): angles (52), critical thinking (127), electricity (61), energy (133), light (56), makerspace (40), Microsoft (80), problem solving (233), solar energy (34)

Create and participate in a virtual world community with Sinespace's next-generation virtual world platform. Choose the explore link for an overview of some of the most recent and popular regions created by members of the site. Sign up using your email to access creation tools and choose your avatar. Use tools to personalize your avatar and build your virtual region including vehicles and home backgrounds. The free basic plan includes one region with ten concurrent users. At the time of this review, Sinespace works on PC that has Windows/Mac/Linux. Though they are working on Android and iOS versions.

tag(s): animation (64), coding (85), computers (109), digital storytelling (154), STEM (297)

Take a virtual 3D tour of the Apollo 11 Command Module, Columbia, home of the astronauts of the first manned lunar mission in 1969. Select from 27 slides to view different portions of the module, then use your mouse to move around the image. Each slide also contains a short description of the content shown. In addition to the 3D tour, this site includes many downloads including models for 3D printers and models for use with VR headsets. If your district blocks YouTube, then they may not be viewable.

tag(s): explorers (64), moon (73), space (222), STEM (297), virtual field trips (128)

Discover the stories of women achieving aviation firsts through this interactive timeline. The timeline begins with the first women to receive a pilot's license, Hilda Hewlett, Harriet Quimby, and Raymonde De Laroche in 1910 and continues through present time. Each entry shares an image and short presentation on the individual woman's accomplishment in aviation.

tag(s): aviation (40), biographies (94), flight (34), pioneers (9), women (151)

Google provides a series of lessons correlated to career readiness and reading standards in three different levels to teach students how to search effectively. Select from topics including picking the correct search terms, understanding results, and evaluating the credibility of sources. Find additional lessons related to culture, geography, history, and science by clicking the link for "A Google a Day Challenges," reviewed here.

tag(s): Google (47), search engines (48), search strategies (22)

The Challenger Center provides lessons and resources dedicated to continuing the work of the Challenger mission and crew after the shuttle tragedy in 1986. Select the STEM Resources link to find lessons sorted by grade levels. These lessons include the lost lessons of Christa McAuliffe that were supposed to take place during her time in space. Other lessons take students on explorations of space travel through meal planning, finding coordinates, and locating and rescuing a lost teammate.

tag(s): careers (156), experiments (55), explorers (64), gravity (43), moon (73), solar system (110), space (222), stars (71), STEM (297)