Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers

PBS Learning Media's Banking and Finance collection features various resources, including videos, audio, documents, lesson plans, webpages, and collections for kindergarten through grade 12. There are thousands of resources available to search. Video topics include loan officers, federal reserve banks, financial literacy, and goods and services. Lesson plans on financial literacy, homesteading supplies, manufacturing, and more. Lesson plans include 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.

tag(s): banks (8), careers (178), financial literacy (95)

This lesson plan from PBS NewsHour Classroom introduces students to the art and knowledge of the ancient Mayan civilization. Through video transcripts, discussions, and hands-on activities, students will explore how Mayan art reflects their understanding of astronomy, mathematics, and daily life. The lesson includes critical thinking prompts and extension activities to help students make connections between ancient and modern cultures. With its engaging and interdisciplinary approach, this resource is perfect for bringing history, art, and science together in the classroom!

tag(s): mayans (32), mexico (46)

Discover the Maya Empire with PBS LearningMedia! This educational resource provides an engaging introduction to the Mayan Empire, perfect for upper elementary and middle school students. Through a short, informative video, students will explore the achievements of the Mayan civilization in architecture, astronomy, and writing. The resource includes discussion questions and activities to reinforce learning and encourage critical thinking. With its high-quality, standards-aligned content, this tool is a great way to bring history to life in the classroom!

tag(s): mayans (32), mexico (46)

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 (52), careers (178), ecology (103), food chains (19)

Stuff You Should Know: The Mayan Civilization is a fifty-three minute video podcast on YouTube. The video starts by highlighting the other podcasts they have done on the Ancient Mayan and sharing other Ancient Mayan podcasts they will be doing. Over the course of the fifty plus minute podcast, narrators Josh and Chuck share the highlights of the civilization, the cities, whether or not the civilization is really gone, the geography, the different periods/ages of the civilizations, and comparisons to other civilizations, regions, and/or societies. Note that there is a reference to genocide, mass graves, human sacrifices, and more. We always recommend previewing if you are unsure if the content is appropriate.

tag(s): mayans (32), south america (77)

The Teach Democracy section on the Share My Lesson website provides educators with a wide range of resources to teach civics, democracy, and government to students. View lesson plans, activities, and multimedia materials designed to help students understand democratic principles, the Constitution, and the importance of civic participation. These resources are ideal for grades K-12 and include engaging materials like simulations, debates, and primary source analyses. The website helps teachers foster critical thinking, civic engagement, and active citizenship, aligned with national and state standards. The videos are hosted on YouTube.

tag(s): bill of rights (34), civil rights (217), constitution (99), democracy (24)

The Getty Center's Who's Afraid of Contemporary Art? challenges students to discover how "traditional" works of art have inspired and informed contemporary artists. On the right side, "For the Classroom" links directly to lesson plans, image banks about contemporary art, and a glossary bank. The four lessons featured are titled A Bug's Journey, Chairs, Rooms, and Time Travel, Moving Pictures, Moving Stories, and Sculptural Space/s. Each lesson tells you the time allotted, an overview, the objectives, materials, steps, assessment, and extensions. The lessons are aligned with the California Visual Arts Standards and the Common Core Standards for English Language Arts.

tag(s): art history (106), artists (88)

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 (100), cross cultural understanding (176), energy (133), flash cards (43), nutrition (139), sustainability (51), timelines (57), women (152)

The Library of Congress guide on the 13th Amendment is an invaluable resource for teachers exploring the history of slavery, emancipation, and the evolution of civil rights in the United States. This comprehensive guide provides primary source documents, historical context, and legal insights into the amendment that abolished slavery. Designed for educators, it offers easy access to speeches, legislative records, and images that bring the historical significance of the 13th Amendment to life. Whether you're teaching a civics, history, or government class, this guide equips you with the tools to foster meaningful discussions about freedom, justice, and the enduring impact of this landmark amendment.

tag(s): civil rights (217), constitution (99), emancipation proclamation (14), slavery (79)

Follow two curious mice, August and Pearl, as they explore the artwork in over one hundred museums worldwide. Their easy-to-understand observations and conversations provide a unique and playful perspective. After launching the activity, choose to explore by art or museum view. Replay conversations and toggle on subtitles if desired. After listening to the conversation, return to choose a new selection or choose the link to explore other art available in the museum.

tag(s): artificial intelligence (187), artists (88), museums (53)

Geography.com is an engaging educational resource that helps teachers bring geography to life in the classroom. The site offers interactive maps, quizzes, articles, and videos covering physical geography, human geography, climate, and world cultures. It provides student-friendly explanations, real-world examples, and multimedia content to support lessons on global issues, ecosystems, and geographic concepts. With its interactive approach, Geography.com is a valuable tool for fostering curiosity, critical thinking, and spatial awareness in students of all grade levels.

tag(s): climate (85), critical thinking (136), cultures (211), ecosystems (83), maps (224), multimedia (55)

Discover these free resources for students to investigate photojournalistic images from the 1940s through the 1970s. The featured photographs were used to illustrate stories in newspapers and magazines, providing visual accounts of events shaping 20th-century history. On the right side, "For the Classroom" links directly to lesson plans, image banks, photojournalism overviews, and questions for teaching. The four lessons featured include: Extra, Extra, Write all about it!, Newsworthy Images, Debating the Bomb, and Vietnam and the Long-term Effect of War. Each lesson has a time allotted, overview, objectives, materials, steps, assessment, and extensions. The lessons are aligned with the California Visual Arts Standards and the Common Core Standards for English Language Arts.

tag(s): images (263), newspapers (93), writing (325)

African American Artists: Resources in the Library of Congress, serves as a comprehensive guide to the vast collections and resources on African American art and artists. It provides an introduction to significant artworks, movements, and figures, offering insights into their historical and cultural contributions. The guide is organized into sections that highlight primary sources, exhibitions, photographs, manuscripts, and reference materials available in the Library's collections. It is a valuable tool for educators, researchers, and students seeking to explore the rich legacy and impact of African American artists.

tag(s): african american (119), art history (106), black history (135), civil rights (217)

Explore this detailed guide to the history of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the only all-Black, all-female battalion to serve overseas during World War II. It highlights the battalion's critical role in clearing a massive backlog of mail to boost troop morale and their perseverance in the face of racism, sexism, and challenging conditions. The guide offers access to primary sources, such as photographs, official records, and news articles, along with historical analysis that situates their contributions within the broader context of the war and civil rights. This resource is a valuable tool for educators, featuring side tabs with timelines, related collections, and teaching resources, making it ideal for lessons on women's history, African American history, and military history.

tag(s): black history (135), civil rights (217), women (152), womenchangemaker (37), world war 2 (162)

The Nature Conservatory is a free website that offers lesson plans on the following three topics: Protect Ocean, Land, and Freshwater, Provide Food and Water, and Tackle Climate Change for ages 14 through 18. Each of these topics has 1-5 lessons, including Gray, Green, Blue: Water Security and YOU!, Sustainable Fishing, and Urban Runoff: Stormwater Management. Each lesson has a teacher's guide that includes essential questions, an overview, materials and resources, videos, vocabulary, handouts, and an evaluation. Lessons are aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards and the Common Core.

tag(s): climate (85), climate change (100), environment (252), oceans (149), sustainability (51)

Monah offers lessons on the First People, including the Black Kettle and the Washita River Massacre, The Sterilization of Native American Women in Oklahoma, The Tonkawa People: A Retracing of Steps from Texas to Oklahoma, Choctaw Code Talkers of World War I, Quapaw Nation Food Sovereignty, and Osage Massacres and Gender Roles. Lesson plans include an introduction, materials, learning objectives, slides, quizzes, websites, primary sources, and map activities.

tag(s): native americans (117)

Facing History & Ourselves Indigenous Rights and Controversy over Hawaii's Maunakea Telescope offers a free lesson on why the Native Hawaiians opposed its construction. The lesson gives a historical context for understanding the protests against constructing the Thirty Meter Telescope on Maunakea. The site includes two activities, a handout, articles, and videos. The lesson itself is adaptable and can be shared on Google Classroom.

tag(s): hawaii (9), native americans (117), telescopes (11)

The Google Indoor Maps platform is a valuable resource for educators and students exploring spatial awareness, geography, and technology integration. It offers detailed indoor maps for airports, museums, shopping malls, and universities, providing floor plans and navigation tools. Teachers can use it to help students understand mapping technology, analyze layouts of complex buildings, or plan field trips. This tool also emphasizes the real-world applications of geography and technology, fostering digital literacy and practical problem-solving skills.

tag(s): DAT device agnostic tool (146), digital literacy (9), map skills (64), maps (224), problem solving (234), virtual field trips (132)

The Google Fact Check Explorer is a powerful tool for educators to verify the credibility of online information. It provides a searchable database of fact-checks from reputable sources worldwide, helping to quickly identify whether a claim is true, false, or misleading. With filters for specific topics, regions, or sources, it fosters critical thinking and digital literacy, enabling students and teachers to navigate misinformation effectively and engage in informed discussions. This platform is particularly valuable for teaching media literacy and emphasizing the importance of verifying sources in today's digital age.

tag(s): critical thinking (136), digital literacy (9), media literacy (109)

Remini AI is a photo and video enhancement tool that uses advanced AI technology to restore old or blurry images, sharpen details, and improve resolution. The website offers a free version where you can enhance photos by watching ads, making it accessible for occasional use or small projects. This platform can be a useful resource for educational projects involving historical photos or creative presentations.
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tag(s): artificial intelligence (187), photography (131), Teacher Utilities (203)