Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers

NASA's official website is a rich educational resource for teachers, offering a vast collection of space-related content, lesson plans, videos, and interactive activities. Educators can access STEM-focused classroom materials, student challenges, and real-time NASA mission updates to engage students in space exploration and scientific discovery. The site includes sections on astronomy, engineering, Earth science, and robotics, with resources tailored for different grade levels. Teachers can also find virtual field trips, citizen science projects, and career insights to inspire students interested in space and technology. The videos are hosted on YouTube. If your district blocks YouTube, then they may not be viewable.

tag(s): moon (73), planets (113), solar system (110), space (222), stars (71), STEM (297)

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) website is a valuable resource for teachers seeking reliable, science-based information on geography, geology, natural hazards, ecosystems, water resources, and climate change. It provides interactive maps, real-time data, lesson plans, videos, and research articles that help students explore earthquakes, volcanoes, and landforms. The site also offers educational resources aligned with STEM learning, making it an excellent tool for engaging students in earth and environmental sciences through real-world data and scientific inquiry.

tag(s): climate change (99), earthquakes (46), ecosystems (83), geology (62), landforms (39), map skills (63), maps (220), natural disasters (18), STEM (297), volcanoes (55)

Creating effective and engaging blended learning lessons requires time and professional knowledge. The Blended Learning Planner uses AI to increase productivity by providing ideas and learning activities based on your input. Start by following the steps to create a class, then add the lesson topic, length of class time, and the blended learning components to include. Use the request changes and Beans, the chatbox, to request modifications and additions to the completed plan.
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tag(s): artificial intelligence (177), blended learning (37), flipped learning (9), Teacher Utilities (198)

Create learning games with the AI-based Learning Game Generator for any topic or grade level. Begin by adding vital information, including grade level, learning outcome or objective, and the game's length. The Game Generator provides a document with instructions for playing the game, any required materials, and setup instructions. Use the provided tools to request changes to create a game that works for your classroom. Copy or download the document using the Manage Content Dropbox options when satisfied.
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tag(s): artificial intelligence (177), assessment (147), Formative Assessment (74), game based learning (205), gamification (83), Teacher Utilities (198)

Planning lessons that provide engaging activities and meet curriculum standards can be challenging. The Plan My Lesson Tool uses AI to match both objectives in just a few seconds. After selecting start, complete the form by adding grade level or band, subject, and learning outcome and selecting to generate the result. After creating the document, use additional features to edit and adjust the activity to fit your needs. You can also choose sections of the document to request changes by chatting with Beans, this site's chatbot. Find options to download or export the finished document by visiting the Manage Content dropbox at the top of the page. You do need to create a free account to access this feature.

tag(s): artificial intelligence (177), professional development (385), Teacher Utilities (198)

WorldCat is a global library catalog that allows teachers to search for books, articles, and other educational resources available in libraries worldwide. By entering a title, author, or keyword, educators can locate materials in nearby libraries, access digital resources, and discover new teaching materials. WorldCat is beneficial for finding hard-to-access texts, historical documents, and academic research. Teachers can use it to expand their classroom library, recommend reading materials to students, or enhance lesson plans with diverse sources.

tag(s): authors (107), book lists (167), digital reading (17), Research (87), resources (84), Teacher Utilities (198)

Yourway offers a suite of AI-generated tools for educators. Choose from many generators to create lesson plans, assessments, and classroom activities. After selecting a generator, follow the prompt to access a form to add information such as grade level, topic or learning objective, and other directions. After the tool generates a response, you can request changes, edit the information manually, or save the document. Choose the Manage Document dropdown box to copy the document to your clipboard, save it as a PDF file, export it to Google Docs, or download your activity as a Microsoft .docx file. As you create activities, they are saved in the My Content area to revisit and reuse as needed.
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tag(s): artificial intelligence (177), assessment (147), cross cultural understanding (173), differentiation (84), rubrics (37), social and emotional learning (102), Teacher Utilities (198), vocabulary (238)

The Great Job! video series on PBS LearningMedia, provided by WQED, gives middle and high school students a behind-the-scenes look at exciting careers through the experiences of real Ohio professionals. At the time of this review, the newest videos in the series highlight five of Ohio's fastest-growing careers: Biomedical Engineer, Radiologist, Machinist, Prosthetic Specialist, and Sonographer. Through engaging interviews and real-world job insights, this collection helps students explore career pathways, understand required skills and education, and connect classroom learning to future opportunities.

tag(s): careers (156), machines (17), simple machines (19)

Explore careers in health science at this site by PBS LearningMedia. Introduce students to various careers in the healthcare field. Through engaging videos and real-world job profiles, this resource highlights professions such as nurses, biomedical engineers, and medical researchers. It helps students connect classroom science to high-demand careers, understand the education and skills required, and explore pathways in the growing healthcare industry. Ideal for grades 6-12, this collection is perfect for career exploration, STEM education, and health science lessons.

tag(s): careers (156), scientists (67)

The Images of the Past: The Respiratory System-Iron Lung resource on PBS LearningMedia, provided by WQED, offers a historical look at the iron lung and its role in treating polio patients. Through images and discussion prompts, this resource helps students understand how medical technology has evolved to support respiratory health. Ideal for middle and high school science or history classes, it connects past medical advancements to modern treatments, sparking conversations about healthcare innovation.

tag(s): medicine (57), respiration (11), scientists (67)

"Skilled Trade Fields - Future Jobs" media gallery on PBS LearningMedia, provided by WQED, introduces students to in-demand careers in the skilled trades. Through engaging videos and real-world insights, this resource highlights professions like electricians, welders, HVAC technicians, and machinists - careers that combine hands-on skills with technology. Perfect for middle and high school classrooms, this collection helps students explore alternative career pathways, understand job opportunities, and appreciate the value of trade skills in today's workforce.

tag(s): careers (156)

Bring STEM Careers to Life with HVAC Science! The Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Jobs collection on PBS LearningMedia, provided by WQED, introduces students to the science and technology behind climate control systems. Through engaging videos and real-world career spotlights, this resource explores how HVAC professionals use physics, engineering, and problem-solving to create comfortable and efficient living spaces. Ideal for middle and high school classrooms, these materials help students connect STEM concepts to hands-on, high-demand careers in the skilled trades.

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

The "Hot Shots and Hot Jobs: Science Matters" collection on PBS LearningMedia, provided by WQED, offers students engaging STEM career exploration resources. Through videos, interviews, and activities, the collection highlights real-world science applications in various careers, from healthcare to engineering. It aims to inspire students by showcasing professionals who use science in exciting and meaningful ways, making STEM fields more accessible and relatable.

tag(s): careers (156), scientists (67), STEM (297)

PBS Learning Media's Agriculture collection features various resources, including videos, audio, documents, lesson plans, and collections for grades kindergarten through 12. There are over nine hundred resources available to search. Videos are available on going green, genetically modified food, the food chain, regenerative agriculture, and many more. Lesson plans include organic v, non-organic farming, the food chain, global oneness project, and more. Lesson plans contain a summary, time allotted, learning objectives, preparation, procedure, and standards. Filters are available to sort by grade level, subject, resource type, length of video/audio, language, accessibility, and additional features. You can share everything in the collection via Google Classroom, a link to students, and social sharing. Members can build on the lessons once they log into the site.

tag(s): agriculture (49), careers (156), ecology (103), food chains (19)

The Getty Museum's Arts and Science: A Curriculum for K-12 teachers focuses on the science of art production and conservation and the scientific skills of investigation and experimentation; it supports student proficiency in science and visual art. On the right side, "For the Classroom" links directly to lesson plans, image banks, timeline, glossary, print and web resources, and standard charts. The featured lesson topics are titled: Insect Anatomy and the Scientist as Illustrator, Capturing Light: The Science of Photography, and Fighting Corrosion to Save an Ancient Greek Bronze. Each lesson has a time allotted, overview, objectives, materials, steps, assessment, and extensions. Each lesson is divided into beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels. The lessons are aligned with the Common Core Standards for English Language Arts.

tag(s): insects (69), photography (130)

Visit the items shared in this group by BookWidget users to find and use several different SDG-related activities. After registering for a BookWidgets account, you can use all the items for free. Resources include an invention timeline, quizzes, flashcards, and more. Click on any link to view the resource. Share activities using one of the options to share items with students, including links to send activities to Google Classroom and Microsoft Teams.

tag(s): climate change (99), cross cultural understanding (173), energy (133), flash cards (44), nutrition (140), sustainability (50), timelines (56), women (150)

Farm Food 360 showcases virtual tours of various aspects of farm life and food. The tours include eggs, sheep, mushrooms, veal, chickens, beef, turkeys, pigs, milk, and many more. The different Farms connect to videos, quick facts, lesson plans, and related resources. You must create an account to access the lesson plans and related resources.

tag(s): agriculture (49), animals (295), nutrition (140), virtual field trips (128)

NASA At Home: Virtual Tours and Apps explores the solar system and beyond by uncovering worlds, stars, and cosmic mysteries near and far with their robust fleet of space and ground-based missions. There are three sections of videos: The International Space Station, the Solar System, and NASA. Videos on the International Space Station include training the astronauts, exploring NASA's deep space network, payload Operations Integration Center, and Hubble Space Telescope. Solar System videos are on Perseverance and the Moon. NASA virtual tour videos showcase Goddard Space Flight Center and Wallops Flight Facility.

tag(s): planets (113), solar system (110), space (222), virtual field trips (128)

Johnson Virtual Tours are free 3-D tours inside the Johnson Space Center. Tours include the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility, Christopher C. Kraft Mission Control Center, Flight Control Room-1 (FCR-1), Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL), Ellington Field, and Lunar Sample Curation Laboratory. Questions and answers (Q&A) are also available to answer questions on Mission Control and Living in Space. When you are on the tour, you can watch videos, learn information, and see photographs.

tag(s): space (222), virtual field trips (128)

NASA's Glenn Virtual Tours are free 3-D tours inside the Glenn Research Facility. Tours include the Supersonic Wind Tunnel, Low Speed Wind Tunnel, Electric Propulsion and Power Laboratory, In-Space Propulsion Facility, Icing Research Tunnel, Ballistic Impact Lab, Flight Research Building, Propulsion Systems Laboratory, Simulated Lunar Operations Lab, Space Environments Complex, and Zero-Gravity Facility. When you are on the tour, you can watch videos, learn information, and see photographs.

tag(s): aeronautics (11), virtual field trips (128)