256 mind-stretchers results | sort by:

Documentary Storm - 2013 DocumentaryStorm
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): video (250)
In the Classroom
With documentaries challenge your students' understanding of food, history, politics, or people. Use to provide another point of view which might not be available in traditional text books. Use to explain primary and secondary sources, as well as an example of a way to extend thinking. Provide a documentary as an example for your students to do an in depth research project. Use documentaries to challenge knowledge, create new knowledge, and learn.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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CommonCore Sheets - Common Core Sheets
Grades
2 to 8This site includes advertising.
tag(s): charts and graphs (165), decimals (85), fractions (160), measurement (125), money (118), negative numbers (12), operations (74), order of operations (28), parts of speech (41), primary sources (105), probability (96), sentences (24), time (92), timelines (46), variables (14)
In the Classroom
Find worksheets for every subject to better prepare your students for Common Core standards and testing. Use the sheets to make a formative or even summative assessment for many different topics in math. Use as a review or even practice. Provide this link on your class website for students (and parents) to find extra practice. Printable answer keys come with the worksheets. Allow students to create their own quizzes. Easy to use, grade, and share. Use for gifted students needing some acceleration. Use for extra practice with students struggling with new concepts.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Quandary - Learning Games Network
Grades
3 to 9tag(s): creativity (90), critical thinking (106), ethics (23), game based learning (172), social and emotional learning (73)
In the Classroom
Try this activity on your interactive whiteboard (or projector). Create a quick poll (with no membership required) using Poll Everywhere, reviewed here, to view students' choices of actions to take throughout the game. Challenge cooperative learning groups to create videos using Adobe Creative Cloud Express Video Maker, reviewed here, explaining what they learned and sharing them on a site such as TeacherTube, reviewed here, to explain the decision-making process for different scenarios.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Whyville - Mundeon
Grades
4 to 10tag(s): aircraft (15), animals (271), dance (26), diseases (67), logic (162), money (118), motion (48), puzzles (143), recycling (49), social skills (22), vectors (16)
In the Classroom
In the classroom, join as a teacher and manage each students account. Reinforce safe online behavior as your students explore opportunities for learning.The chat feature is a perfect opportunity practice safe interactions. Demonstrate this site on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Use as a reward in your classroom or as a way to extend and enrich concepts learned in math and science. Offer Whyville as a safe enrichment tool for students to use at home. Encourage all students to join in the educational activities. Design a simplified version of this site for younger children with your class. Use one of the many animation tools available at the TeachersFirst Edge.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Vocabulary Web Games - Sheppard Software
Grades
2 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): capitalization (9), grammar (140), parts of speech (41), puzzles (143), test prep (68), verbs (27), vocabulary (232), vocabulary development (91)
In the Classroom
Create links to games and practice vocabulary on classroom computers for students to practice language arts skills. Have students preparing for the SAT/ACT or GRE take vocabulary quizzes to find unknown words. Complement this site by creating your own vocabulary flash cards using an online flashcard maker, like Flashcard Stash, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Energy Kids - US Energy Information Administration
Grades
K to 8tag(s): conservation (82), energy (130), natural resources (36)
In the Classroom
Share the resources found here on your projector or interactive whiteboard. Use this site as part of your wiki on energy, renewable resources, and conservation. Add to a center to improve reading skills as well as new literacies in technology. Find excellent information to include for your Prezi, Powerpoint, or Live Binders on energy. Enhance your ESL/ELL students understanding of your energy unit using the visuals and reinforcement of basic concepts.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Magical Maths - Magical Maths
Grades
6 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): assessment (135), blogs (67), logic (162)
In the Classroom
This is an excellent site to bookmark/save as a favorite and visit often for interesting ideas to use in math class to promote thinking skills. Challenge your students to demonstrate their own understanding of a math concept by creating a video using a tool such as SchoolTube reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Crash Course - John and Hank Green
Grades
6 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): animals (271), bacteria (20), bill of rights (23), body systems (41), chinese (43), constitution (85), declaration of independence (14), evolution (87), genetics (75), greeks (30), literature (217), meiosis (8), mitosis (8), nutrition (133), religions (71), rome (19), romeo and juliet (4), russia (34), shakespeare (90), water cycle (21)
In the Classroom
Use as a way to introduce new topics or subjects to establish background knowledge. Share these videos on your projector or interactive whiteboard to provide an introduction (or review) on various topics. Use as an alternate way to help motivate your tech savvy students. Use as an example for a group project with the students planning, writing, and producing an informational video in the subject you are studying. Challenge cooperative learning groups to create videos and share them on a site such as TeacherTube, reviewed here. Be sure to point out the steps followed in teaching and learning in the videos. Independent learners and gifted students will love the opportunity to learn on their own using these videos. Instead of "games" for times when student finish work early, why not share the link to this YouTube channel and encourage them to keep a blog about what they discover.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Figure This - KnowNet Construction, Inc.
Grades
5 to 10tag(s): critical thinking (106), geometric shapes (130), logic (162), percent (59), probability (96), problem solving (219), statistics (114)
In the Classroom
In the classroom, use Figure This to help differentiate instruction for all levels, especially the high-achievers and gifted students. Allow students to work independently, or work in pairs to solve challenges. Introduce the challenge on your interactive whiteboard projector. Then allow students to dive into the challenge! Use for gifted enrichment, or even a Math Challenge Day for a reward. Offer extra credit for the number of challenges solved. Use as a model to allow students to create their own challenges. Add to your website as a fun resource for students and families.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Math Monday - National Museum of Mathematics
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): colors (64), fractions (160), geometric shapes (130), origami (14), pi (25), puzzles (143)
In the Classroom
Share articles with students and replicate activities included in the article. Share the video demonstrations on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Transform learning and challenge cooperative learning groups to create videos sharing problem solving techniques used during these lessons. Use a video creation tool such as MoocNote, reviewed here to create interactive lessons (can embed quizzes and documents), or Edpuzzle, reviewed here. Use activities in the article as inspiration for Math night activities or Math Fair projects.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Cyberchase - PBS KIDS
Grades
3 to 7tag(s): data (143), engineering (117), fractions (160), money (118), problem solving (219), sports (77), weather (160)
In the Classroom
Introduce math concepts in a unique way, using Cyberchase adventures on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Use this site at your centers/stations to practice, use, and apply math and science skills. Put a link on your class website for students to use for review, reinforcement, and enrichment.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Wolfram Demonstrations Project - Wolfram Mathematica
Grades
4 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): addition (126), animals (271), architecture (63), computers (97), division (97), fractions (160), geometric shapes (130), gravity (42), logic (162), maps (206), money (118), multiples (16), multiplication (120), plants (141), psychology (66), statistics (114), subtraction (108), weather (160)
In the Classroom
Explain how to use the Demonstrations on your interactive whiteboard (or projector). Allow students to explore on their own classroom computers. (Remember to download the CDF player onto each computer or request it in advance from your tech department.) Challenge students to create a talking avatar using a photo or other image (legally permitted for reproduction). Use avatars to explain activities performed using a Demonstration. Use a site such as Blabberize, reviewed here. The beauty of the demonstrations is that it allows students to manipulate and "play" to view the impact of changes made, allowing many opportunities for classroom discussion. Ask students to predict the impact of changes using the manipulate command; then discuss the actual impact as it occurs.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Mathematics Assessment Project - Shell Center for Mathematical Education
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): angles (50), area (51), assessment (135), charts and graphs (165), decimals (85), equations (116), estimation (34), measurement (125), negative numbers (12), percent (59), pythagorean theorem (19)
In the Classroom
Bookmark and save this site as a resource for classroom activities and assessments relating to Common Core standards. Share this site with others in your department as a resource for developing and implementing activity based lessons. View videos as part of your (and your department's) professional development sessions. This is an excellent site for any Math department head or curriculum leader to use when leading fellow teachers.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Math 10 - Yordan Petrov Petrov(Dancho)
Grades
3 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): division (97), equations (116), exponents (35), fractions (160), logic (162), mixed numbers (8), multiplication (120), operations (74), polynomials (21), probability (96), problem solving (219), pythagorean theorem (19), sequences (12), square roots (15)
In the Classroom
Share portions of the site as needed on your interactive whiteboard. Use the Problem Solver applications to demonstrate and share any problems you want to work out as a class. Have students use the Problem Solver and then write a journal entry describing the steps used in solving the problem. Assign different portions of the Math History section of the site to students to use when learning math history or as a backdrop to put concepts into context. Share this site on your website or blog as a resource for students to use at home. Use discussion topics from the site's forum in your classroom. An example would be to discuss the topic if math is the most boring or difficult subject and why.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Playfic - Andy Baio and Cooper McHatton
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): creative writing (119), creativity (90), digital storytelling (141), gamification (75), mysteries (18), puzzles (143)
In the Classroom
"Gamification" of learning is a hot topic in 21st century learning. Use this simple tool to make it happen. Use for any digital storytelling: fact or fiction. In social studies, have students create an interactive game based on life during the Depression or any historic era. Have them create a "Where in the world is ..." for geography. World language students could make a simple game (in the language they are studying) about daily life. Gifted students will love creating games on their favorite topics, so make this a research-and-create-a-game approach for independent projects. Science students could make a game about what might happen in certain weather or life as a fossil. Have your language arts students create mystery or survival stories or even a different ending to a story you've read together. Warning: all stories are PUBLIC and your students will be able to view other's stories. You'll either want to have a class account or monitor this closely.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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3D Photo Cube - Hame
Grades
K to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): creativity (90), images (255), photography (128)
In the Classroom
This tool is obviously too complicated for your elementary students to use independently. However, it could be used as a whole group/teacher led activity with any grade level. Visualize photo cubes with pictures of special class events, field trips, or just the usual day! Change the cube daily, to feature different activities, subjects, or kids. Bring into subject area content and add public domain images to add visual information for the content you are studying. For vocabulary words, add images to explain. Use photo cubes to show the main idea of historical events, literature, or even math concepts. Make a photo cube with related or unrelated images and use as a writing prompt. Use photo cubes for sequencing practice. Have fun with extra curricular clubs and highlighting events. Begin your school news show featuring the cube from different places in your school during the day. Have older students create their own photo cubes to accompany poetry in an online literary magazine (using Creative Commons or their own images). Art students can create a cube with images of their own work as an opener to a portfolio web site. Share this tool as an option for a "visual aid" during speech units pr to present images as art of a research report. Embed cubes on your class wiki to support conepts such as environmental concerns or local history. Challenge gifted students to create visual "puzzles" where viewers must guess the word or concept that the images have in common. Teach creative flexibility!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Let's Play Math! - letsplaymath.net
Grades
K to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): mental math (18), preK (248), puzzles (143)
In the Classroom
Bookmark this blog to use as a resource for classroom lessons and activities. Subscribe to the blog or "like" the Facebook page to be notified when new posts appear. Share this link on your class website for students and parents to use at home.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Promethean Planet - Promethean, Inc
Grades
K to 12In the Classroom
Before you try any of these activities, think about how you can make the lesson more student-centered. Find ideas in TeachersFirst's Hands off, Vanna! Giving Students Control of Interactive Whiteboard Learning . Browse the site for interactive whiteboard resources to download for classroom use. Bookmark and save favorites for later use. Download any resource, then tweak it to your individual needs. Have questions about creating Promethean Flipcharts? Post your question on the technical board to receive helpful replies. If you have a SmartBoard, be sure to check out the SmartBoard lessons and resources page located here. You will need to download the ActivInspire software (free).Comments
This is the go-to site for Promethean flipchart downloads. Most files were created by teachers. The only downside is that the files are hit-or-miss. There are many gems, but you might have to browse some not-so-great files to find them.Tim, , Grades: 0 - 6
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Do Lectures - Talks That Inspire Action - The Chicken Shed
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): business (48), careers (135), creativity (90), debate (38), environment (232), nutrition (133), psychology (66), sociology (22), video (250)
In the Classroom
Do Lectures are a great place to find inspiration and new ideas for your classroom. Many of the videos connect today's real world with curriculum topics, even in entrepreneurship, health, or family and consumer science classes. Use Do Lecture videos as the perfect supplement or launching point for units of study in your classroom. Find a video that supports the topics happening in your classroom. Share on your website for student viewing. Use on your interactive whiteboard (or projector) for a whole class discussion. Stop the video at various points to discuss or debate ideas included. Challenge cooperative learning groups to create videos in response to videos viewed on Do Lectures or their own topic. Share the videos on a site such as TeacherTube reviewed here. Teachers of gifted could plan an entire unit of study around one video or have students select one to use as the launch point for an independent project.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Word Game Time - Copyright ''''''© 2011 Fila, LLC
Grades
K to 7This site includes advertising.
tag(s): capitals (14), countries (68), grammar (140), keyboarding (29), logic (162), reading comprehension (134), spelling (94), states (120)
In the Classroom
In your classroom, offer Word GameTime as a center. Have students keep a log of the games they successfully complete to earn classroom incentives. Find appropriate interactives by grade level or by subject area. Include this link on your class web page as a place for reinforcement or even enrichment.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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