Igniting Curiosity: Stories and Resources for Celebrating Women and Girls in Science

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“If you know you are on the right track, if you have this inner knowledge, then nobody can turn you off… no matter what they say.”  Barbara McClintock, cytogeneticist and winner of the 1983 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine As we approach the International Day of Women and Girls in Science on February 11th, … read more »


Bring Excitement into your Classroom with Low-Cost Makerspace Activities!

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Makerspace activities excite and engage students and offer them a multitude of academic and mental health benefits! Cost should never be a barrier to implementation of makerspace activities in your classroom. Low-cost/no-cost makerspace activities are as engaging and exciting for students as higher priced activities. You can easily obtain low-cost or no-cost makerspace materials! You … read more »


Get Ready, Hour of Code is Coming!

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Computer Science Education Week takes place December 4-10. During this week, the Hour of Code is celebrated globally! The Hour of Code is meant to be a one-hour introduction to computer science designed to demonstrate to everyone that coding is accessible and to engage student participation in computer science. This year’s theme is Creativity with … read more »


Innovate with Low-Tech and No-Tech STEAM!

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Low-Tech, No-Tech STEAM……Isn’t that an oxymoron? Actually, no, it’s not! STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) education combines Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math to guide inquiry, discussion, collaboration, and critical thinking. It is still STEAM teaching, even if it is low or no tech. Technology is a broad topic; it does not have … read more »


NASA Citizen Science Projects

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July 20 marks Space Exploration Day, which celebrates the anniversary of the first crewed mission to the Moon in 1969. The study and exploration of space give us the unique opportunity to foster curiosity and instill a sense of wonder in our students. In addition to traditional learning opportunities, citizen science projects offer a collaborative approach … read more »


Empowering Students for Responsible Social Media Use: Strategies and Resources to Celebrate Social Media Day

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June 30 is Social Media Day and is an excellent time to consider options for providing students with the tools for responsible use of social media. With over 4.9 billion active users worldwide and teens spending an average of 3 hours daily on social media, it is vital to equip students with the necessary skills … read more »


National Inventors Month: Five Engaging Activities to Inspire the Inventor’s Spirit in All Students

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Invention is a process: you don’t get there overnight Louis Foreman May is National Inventors Month, an excellent time to introduce your students to inventions and inventors and to discuss their character traits found, including perseverance, curiosity, and problem solving. Celebrating the spirit of inventors and the invention process is an engaging way for students … read more »


Celebrate Citizen Science Month

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Every month, the TeachersFirst Classroom Planning Calendar highlights events and observances, some of which help raise awareness of meaningful causes. A few highlights for April are Earth Day, National Poetry Month, and Financial Literacy Month. We can’t forget the shenanigans and tricks on April 1, but there’s no foolin’ that April is also Citizen Science Month, a … read more »


Maker Education Nurtures Ideas

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March is International Ideas Month! Idea generation is an important skill for students. Maker education and design thinking (both aspects of making) nurture ideas in students! Students of any age can participate in making through short challenges, projects, or built-in maker opportunities—all of which allow students to generate ideas.  If you would like to introduce … read more »


Try This Instead of That for National Heart Month

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February is National Heart Month, a time to raise awareness about heart disease and ways to maintain a healthy heart lifestyle. Many of us celebrate Valentine’s Day during February, a holiday that also focuses on the heart. Valentine’s Day provides an excellent segway to teaching about the heart and circulatory system and an opportunity to … read more »