Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers

Plants Map is an online resource for plant enthusiasts that allows you to create communities, personal plant libraries, and map personal gardens. Explore the site using a keyword search or by browsing through the home page to view different plants and information such as locations and type of growth. Be sure to click on the word "Help" on the very bottom menu to find "Getting Started Articles" and to view video tutorials with full details about using the site to create collections and your private maps. If your district blocks YouTube, the videos may not be viewable.

tag(s): communities (35), maps (220), plants (146)

Project H has evolved into Girls Garage and offers programs to teach design, creativity, and hands-on building to pre-teen and teen girls. Choose the Programs link to learn about Camp H and Studio H, offered for elementary and secondary students. Each link provides a quick insight into the projects created by students. The ToolBox link provides lectures, videos, lesson plans, and more for implementing building projects in the classroom. Topics include many diverse activities such as a Home Depot Scavenger Hunt and a long span bridge competition.

tag(s): architecture (75), creativity (86), design (79), gifted (66), STEM (297)

Take a look at chemical compounds encountered daily through interesting infographics and blog posts that use real-world examples of products such as plant-based meats and pet food. To see all infographics, choose the infographics index and select by topic. Graphics are shareable under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives license.
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tag(s): chemicals (41), climate change (99), diseases (67), halloween (32), medicine (57), molecules (44), periodic table (46)

The Classroom Freebies Resource Library contains thousands of free materials for grades K-8. Many different kinds of resources are included such as task cards, classroom management charts, coloring sheets, worksheets, and posters. Use the search bar to find specific content or browse using links to grade level content and topics such as the End of the Year and Common Core Freebies. Follow links for directions about downloading materials.

tag(s): back to school (55), book reports (28), classroom management (120), commoncore (73), posters (43), preK (271), substitutes (25), worksheets (69)

Create beautiful visual designs with Adobe Creative Cloud Express (was Adobe Spark). First, follow prompts for creating an account, then select a creation you will work on; those include flyers, banners, posters, business cards, social graphics, advertisements, YouTube thumbnails, and a few others. The canvas where you will create has a right and left menu. Choose a template, text, photos, shapes, backgrounds, and design assets from the left menu. Next, you can select colors, animation, background, resize, or design from the right menu. When complete, share using email or with the social media links provided, or you can download.

tag(s): blogs (65), communication (129), creative writing (124), design (79), digital storytelling (154), microblogging (14), posters (43)

Learn something new each day with Highbrow's unique course delivery system. Sign up for a course, then receive an email each day with a five to ten-minute lesson. Each course is completed in ten days making learning quick and easy! Choose from many different course options in subjects such as art, literature, languages, history, tech and coding, photography, and several others. Highbrow only allows one course per user at a time to encourage complete focus on each topic. If you don't see what you like, choose the Create Course option and create your own learning experience using your expertise!

tag(s): 20th century (62), architecture (75), authors (107), business (52), differentiation (84), endangered species (27), equations (119), financial literacy (93), greeks (46), human body (93), inventors and inventions (80), logic (161), medicine (57), mental math (19), numbers (120), photography (130), poetry (193), psychology (65), short stories (18), surrealism (2), weather (160), women (151)

The Blended Learning Implementation Guide is an interactive resource for planning, implementing, and evaluating blended learning in the classroom. The guide takes you through the basics of blended learning with infographics, links to videos, and specific instructions for blended learning instructors. Other topics include suggestions on purchasing devices for use, questions to consider when lecturing, and resources for funding. If your district blocks YouTube, the videos may not be viewable. Though some of the videos have a 404 message and some links don't work, the PDF itself still has a lot of information.

tag(s): professional development (385)

Quickly create and share quizzes using Go To Quiz. Begin by choosing from three types of quizzes to offer, each includes an explanation and examples of best use. Follow the steps to name your quiz, add questions and responses, and share your quiz. Go To Quiz will work on any device with a modern browser and an Internet connection.
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tag(s): assessment (147), quiz (67), quizzes (90)

Getting Hands-On with Soft Circuits is a PDF facilitator's guide containing several activities for teaching soft circuits to middle and high school students. Designed to build on previously learned concepts the first lesson introduces simple circuits and others continue to parallel circuits and microcontrollers. Lessons include full-color images with explanations and all procedures and tips for successful completion of activities. Be sure to go all the way to the end of the guide to find a list of materials used and suggestions for where to purchase items needed.

tag(s): circuits (20), creativity (86), electricity (61), engineering (129), STEM (297)

Maker Camp is a free online community for kids interested in crafting, DIY, tinkering, and building. Links in the Project Library include project tutorials from Summer Camps beginning in 2012. Click on any Summer Camp link to view videos or download PDF's with the tutorials. Sign up to join the Maker Camp online community of over 33,000 members in discussions about individual projects. Find or host a local "campsite" using the links provided to meet up with like-minded students. If your district blocks YouTube, the videos may not be viewable.

tag(s): crafts (64), energy (133), magnetism (36), origami (15), solar energy (34)

Flock is a free chat and collaboration service. Start by signing up for a free account and begin chatting. Communicate one on one or create a group using text or video conference. Add attachments, polls, a code snippet, or an emoticon. Create a to-do list for the group or project. With the free account, chat records are kept for 30 days. Be mindful of the laws and regulations. Use the web version or download the software.

tag(s): chat (41), communication (129), microblogging (14), polls and surveys (49), video (266)

Voxer is a combination of instant voice and text messages. You can also text images and your location. Voxer will work with your headset and Bluetooth so you can be hands-free. It is available on the web and all mobile devices. Hear messages live, or listen later. Broadcast messages to an individual or group, or listen and respond to chats in Walkie-Talkie mode and not even be in the app. Voxer allows talk and text across countries, wireless carriers, or data networks at no additional charge. Registration with email is required.
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tag(s): chat (41), communication (129), DAT device agnostic tool (147), listening (93), microblogging (14), multilingual (77), social media (48), speaking (26), speech (69)

Learn more about the Inuits of the Arctic Circle and their hardy, sled dogs with this video from PBS Learning Media. The video focuses on the adaptations of the dogs to the harsh climate and their ability to work together pulling heavy sleds across the snow and ice. Be sure to check out the teaching tips and correlations to National and Common Core Standards included on the site.

tag(s): alaska (21), animals (295), iditarod (4), video (266)

Iditarod Teacher on the Trail includes posts for the current Teacher on the Trail detailing their journey from selection through participation in the Iditarod. Posts include classroom lessons correlated to Common Core Standards about the Iditarod in all subject areas. Choose links to particular parts of the curriculum to view videos, classroom images, download printables, and complete lessons. This site focuses on each new teacher of the year; be sure to see archives and information from previous years' teachers.

tag(s): alaska (21), iditarod (4)

Pixar and Khan Academy team up to offer an interesting series of learning tutorials demonstrating math, science, and engineering concepts faced by animators as part of the animated film-making process. Examples include the use of digital pixel painting using algebra and creating blades of grass in Brave with parabolic arcs. View a short video explanation of the program, then choose from the learner's or educator's guides for specific details on each activity. If your district blocks YouTube, then the videos may not be viewable.

tag(s): animation (65), creativity (86), movies (54), STEM (297)

Create a simple crossword and save it online. Give your crossword a title, see an example of how to set it up, and get started. Once finished create a passcode (write it down to remember it) and click Generate. The next screen will allow you to edit, regenerate, or save. Once saved you can create a Word or PDF document or share using one of many social networks. Be sure to copy the URL and save it with your passcode. There is no registration involved.

tag(s): crosswords (19), vocabulary (238)

NISE is the online home of a community of scientists and other partners with an interest in nanoscale science, engineering, and technology. The site includes programs and activities for ages four through adult. Use filters on the activities section to choose age level, topics, and product category. Be sure to check out the over 120 lesson plans available through NISE and the free Professional Development for teachers and scientists.

tag(s): carbon (17), cells (82), diseases (67), electricity (61), energy (133), environment (252), measurement (122), medicine (57), plays (32), preK (271), STEM (297)

Organize your brain and your life with Workflowy. This tool allows you to take notes, make lists and outlines, and use hashtags to create groups of items. Import lists from other documents directly into Workflowy. Share lists with others using the share button, use options to allow them to edit if desired. Quickly create an account using email and a password to begin. Once you create an account, be sure to take advantage of the many tutorial videos demonstrating Workflowy's features. If your district blocks YouTube, the videos may not be viewable; be sure to look at alternatives for sharing the videos on classroom computers.

tag(s): calendars (37), organizational skills (88)

Use this clever and simple tool to create conversations (or presentations) that look like text messages. Use the icons on the bottom to get started. Email is not required. Clicking either speech bubble will begin the text message, and click the other one to reply. Save the presentation with a password. Share via embed or QR code or URL.

tag(s): book reports (28), creative writing (124), digital storytelling (154), writing (325)

KQED Education offers a broad selection of resources for educators and students. Scroll through to find news articles, podcasts, and videos that are frequently published, relating to events around the world. Use the drop-down boxes at the top of the site to view specific topics such as science or news and civics. The drop-down for teachers includes links to resources for professional development and integrating articles into the classroom. If your district blocks YouTube, the videos may not be viewable.

tag(s): independent reading (81), news (229), newspapers (93)