Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers

LibreTexts is an open educational resource (OER) for finding and sharing textbooks, textmaps, and libretexts. The site currently covers twelve college disciplines, from chemistry to the humanities. Advanced features within the books include embedded multimedia, embedded code, and the ability to use Hypothesis, reviewed here, as a collaborative digital annotation tool within texts. Choose the Explore the Libraries option to find material by subject. Most subjects include links to texts, course shells (teaching modules from different institutions), and homework examples.

tag(s): business (52), careers (156), cells (82), communication (129), differentiation (84), ecology (103), electricity (61), elements (34), engineering (129), environment (252), evolution (89), financial literacy (93), genetics (80), geology (62), gifted (66), literature (222), logic (161), magnetism (36), mental health (48), nutrition (140), oceans (149), OER (43), organisms (15), periodic table (46), plants (146), professional development (385), psychology (65), religions (95), sociology (23), space (222), spanish (109), statistics (121), STEM (297)

Dictionary of Numbers is an extension for the Chrome web browser that helps make sense of numbers found on the web and puts them in human terms. For example, highlight the term 8 million on a web page and Dictionary of Numbers offers the comparison to the population of New York City. Use Dictionary of Numbers for your own search too. Just type in any number to receive a term comparing to something relatable. Click Download Now and follow the easy directions to get started. The introduction video is hosted on YouTube. If your district blocks YouTube, then it may not be viewable. Click the Download Now button to get this Chrome extension.

tag(s): dictionaries (47), number sense (69)

Graphing Stories is a math activity that teaches how to transition from one-variable representations to two-variable representations (number lines to coordinate planes). Use the attached Teacher Guide to plan instruction using the included videos and whiteboard for sketching. The helpful "Teacher Moves" provides tips for guiding instruction within each of the videos. Create a free Desmos account to make a class code to use the activity with students. Desmos recommends a different class code for each class period.

tag(s): charts and graphs (171), number lines (33)

CanFigureIt is an interactive tool and workspace for exploring and learning about geometric proofs. This tool, developed to help promote problem-solving skills and logical thinking, provides immediate feedback to student responses. Start as a guest user, or apply for the Proof Ninja Educator Program to receive student reports. Choose from over 450 different topics, then follow prompts to justify claims and make proofs. Take advantage of the included tutorial videos to understand how to use all of the features of the program. Although optimized for Chromebooks, this site works on PC's and Macs but is not optimized for use on mobile devices.

tag(s): angles (52), geometric shapes (135)

Open Middle is a terrific resource to find challenging math problems for all grade levels. The problems on this site offer multiple options for finding the solution. Many initially appear to be easy; however, they become more complex as they are solved. Use links at the top of the page to find problems by grade level and concept or use filters to browse by Common Core Standards. Each question includes a hint when necessary and answers.

tag(s): logic (161), problem solving (233), statistics (121)

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 (44), cells (82), charts and graphs (171), decimals (85), earth (184), electricity (61), equations (119), fractions (160), magnetism (36), molecules (44), number lines (33), number sense (69), planets (113), ratios (47), space (222), stars (71), STEM (297), sun (71), transformations (12), variables (14)

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 (295), 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 (35), weather (160)

Choose a path and justify it with these intriguing Would You Rather...? problems. Each post presents a math question with two answer choices. Students explore the possibilities, then make their decision with an explanation through mathematical reasoning. This blog frequently updates with new dilemmas. Find questions by specific categories by choosing from tags on the right-hand side of the home page.

tag(s): decimals (85), fractions (160), geometric shapes (135), logic (161), measurement (122), money (113), place value (34), probability (99), problem solving (233), statistics (121)

WooTube is a middle and high school level mathematics YouTube channel and more. This site includes video playlists sorted by topic, downloadable worksheets and resources, and the author's blog. The highly acclaimed videos provide instruction in complicated topics and easy to understand content explains the relevance to the real-world use of the content. If your district blocks YouTube, the videos may not be viewable.

tag(s): fractions (160), integers (21), measurement (122), money (113), percent (59), tutorials (52), video (266), volume (34)

Desmos Classroom offers a collection of engaging activities for use with the Desmos graphing calculator, reviewed here. The hundreds of activities offer learning experiences with math vocabulary, relationships of situations to graphs, and math investigations. The teacher dashboard allows teachers to view information on individual student work. Many activities offer opportunities for student collaboration during the learning experience. Each activity includes an approximate time for completing the task and a teacher guide for facilitating the experience. Free registration is required to create class codes, save assignments, and to follow student progress.

tag(s): calculators (36), charts and graphs (171), equations (119), problem solving (233), transformations (12)

This portion of the Illuminations site contains over thirty geometry interactives and games for students in grades 9-12. These resources provide activities through problem-solving and open-ended questions. All interactives include complete instructions, an exploration, and correlation to standards.

tag(s): area (53), flips (6), geometric shapes (135), logic (161), pi (29), probability (99), problem solving (233), pythagorean theorem (19), ratios (47), turns (3), volume (34)

CK-12 Common Core Math Standards provides an extensive collection of math content for grades six and higher. Use the browser to find lessons and activities for concepts and correlated standards. Most of the lessons have a short explanatory video. Create an account to save and assign to your classes, add to your library, or share to groups. CK-12 also offers the option of setting up a Flexbook Textbook with your personalized content. If your district blocks YouTube, the videos may not be viewable.

tag(s): commoncore (73), equations (119), geometric shapes (135), probability (99), professional development (385), ratios (47), statistics (121)

eMathHelp offers help and resources for high school and college students. Select Math Notes to find over 2000 notes with explanations and examples for Pre-Algebra through Calculus 2. eMathHelp also offers a large variety of calculators in various subject areas featuring step-by-step answers. Browse through the Homework Help section to find answers to previously solved problems or post your own. Be aware, this site will point you in the right direction to finding answers, they don't just give answers!!
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): calculators (36), homework (29), tutorials (52)

Geometry Math is Fun provides an extensive catalog of descriptions and explanations for geometry vocabulary. Each clickable link leads to an explanation of terms along with images (some animated) demonstrating and explaining the term. In addition to basic terms, this site includes information on geometric symbols, tools used in geometry, and advanced topics in plane geometry.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): angles (52), area (53), dictionaries (47), geometric shapes (135), pythagorean theorem (19), symmetry (27)

The STEM Careers Coalition will help you and your students take a real-life view of STEM concepts in action with the activities on this site detailing careers and projects. Click the Getting Started tab at the to and slide down to Educators to find Classroom Activities for interactive lessons correlated to math and science standards. Two examples of the activities are: analyzing irrigation systems (after trying to build a mini one of their own), and discussing renewable and non-renewable energy sources and creating a proposal for a power solution for a ranger station in rural Alaska. There are several others of the same quality. All of the activities include materials lists (when needed) and handouts for students. The Career section contains videos (2 to 5 minutes long), career profiles, and student activation PDFs.

tag(s): energy (133), geology (62), recycling (46), STEM (297), water (102)

HomeAdvisor presents a series of lessons, activities, projects, and videos for grades K-12 introducing young people to the world of construction. Choose a grade level band to begin browsing content. Topics include real-world activities such as viewing and building bird houses, scientific experiments to learn about erosion, and analyzing electric circuits.

tag(s): animal homes (57), animals (295), architecture (75), bridges (11), circuits (20), counting (60), electricity (61), engineering (129), erosion (15), geometric shapes (135), habitats (92), insects (69), makerspace (40), pyramids (21), simple machines (19), solar energy (34), STEM (297), water (102)

CyArk offers an online library of cultural heritage sites using 3D and digital technology. One of their main goals is to provide a resource for saving representations before losing them to the natural progression of time, disasters, or other unknown factors. View offerings by theme or project for 3D images, photographs, and in-depth information about the site. Within the theme link, use the timeline to view by period, or use the dropdown boxes to choose by culture or country. CyArk also includes many lesson plans based on principles used in creating the website.

tag(s): archeology (28), egypt (56), environment (252), erosion (15), graphic design (49), mayans (23), photography (130), romans (52), speech (69), virtual field trips (128)

Inquiry Maths provides a large variety of resources for teaching and encouraging inquiry math practices. Choose from different content options to find complete lesson activities with everything needed to guide students through the inquiry process such as a lesson outline, lesson and mathematical notes, examples, downloads for use on whiteboards, and even classroom posters. Other links provide background information to understand and research how to teach using inquiry math concepts. The first set of links found on the site is for upper elementary and secondary math. Use the last link on the list to find prompts and resources for primary students. The site was created in the UK, so some of the pronunciations and spellings may differ from those in American English.

tag(s): angles (52), area (53), equations (119), fractions (160), geometric shapes (135), mean (19), median (16), mode (13), number sense (69), perimeter (20)