TeachersFirst - Featured Sites: Week of Jun 22, 2025
Here are this week's features. Clicking the tags in the description area of each listing will present a list of other resources with this topic. | Click here to go to the Featured Sites Archive
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Smithsonian Institution - Smithsonian
Grades
K to 12
The Smithsonian Institution website is a valuable resource for educators, offering access to a vast collection of digital exhibitions, lesson plans, and interactive learning tools....more
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The Smithsonian Institution website is a valuable resource for educators, offering access to a vast collection of digital exhibitions, lesson plans, and interactive learning tools. Teachers can explore history, science, art, and culture topics through virtual tours, online activities, and curated educational materials from Smithsonian museums, research centers, and libraries. The site includes resources for all grade levels, including printable worksheets, videos, and inquiry-based lesson plans designed to engage students in critical thinking and discovery. It is an excellent tool for supplementing classroom instruction with high-quality, museum-based learning experiences. The videos are hosted on YouTube. If your district blocks YouTube, then they may not be viewable.
tag(s): aircraft (17), critical thinking (137), inquiry (30), museums (52), space (220), virtual field trips (131)
In the Classroom
Explore historical innovations on the National Air and Space Museum or Smithsonian Science Education Center websites and challenge students to design and build a model inspired by a historical invention (ex., a Wright brothers' airplane or a Mars rover). Three-dimensional models can be created online using Delightex (formerly CoSpaces) reviewed here or Tinkercad, reviewed here. Have students explore a Smithsonian virtual exhibit, such as the National Museum of Natural History, and provide a scavenger hunt list with key artifacts, asking students to find and describe their significance. Select a primary source or artifact from the Smithsonian Learning Lab or a digital collection and have students analyze the object. Students can present their findings in an infographic using Canva Infographic Creator, reviewed here or make a mini-documentary using Adobe Express Video Maker, reviewed here.Reid Park Zoo - Reid Park Zoo
Grades
K to 12The Reid Park Zoo offers web cameras on the African Wild Dog, Andean Bear, Elephant, Flamingo, Giraffe, Lemur/Duiker, Lion, and Sloth. Additionally, the site offers a chance to learn...more
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The Reid Park Zoo offers web cameras on the African Wild Dog, Andean Bear, Elephant, Flamingo, Giraffe, Lemur/Duiker, Lion, and Sloth. Additionally, the site offers a chance to learn more about the animal. Reid Park Zoo also lists other animals at the zoo and provides facts about them.
tag(s): virtual field trips (131), zoology (18)
In the Classroom
Have your students research an animal on the live camera by creating a poster, diorama, or a digital book using Book Creator, reviewed here. Students can watch other live cameras from different zoos to compare and contrast the animals from zoo to zoo. Finally, students can track the animals' day, including feeding, "playing," and sleep patterns.Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute - Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute
Grades
K to 12The Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute offers web cameras for the naked mole rat, elephant, lion and panda (coming soon). In addition, the website gives some...more
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The Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute offers web cameras for the naked mole rat, elephant, lion and panda (coming soon). In addition, the website gives some information about the animals and the latest news about them.
tag(s): animals (293), virtual field trips (131), zoology (18)
In the Classroom
Students can participate in the Animal Cam Bingo provided on the site. Students can compare and contrast the animals at the Smithsonian National Zoo to other zoos using a digital tool such as Canva's Venn Diagram Creator, reviewed here. Finally, students can research what we can do to help save animals by creating a public service announcement.New England Aquarium - New England Aquarium
Grades
K to 12The New England Aquarium contains free educational resources and activities. There are over fifteen activities, including Adaptation and Survival, Diving Deeper, Secret Animal, Shark...more
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The New England Aquarium contains free educational resources and activities. There are over fifteen activities, including Adaptation and Survival, Diving Deeper, Secret Animal, Shark Observation, and more. There are also three early readers' books on tide pools. In addition to the free resources, the site offers facts about the animals at the aquarium, two live web cameras, and conservation and research.
tag(s): coral (11), virtual field trips (131), webcams (19), zoology (18)
In the Classroom
In addition to using all the free educational resources and activities in the classroom, students can watch web cameras on the animals from different aquariums/zoos. Younger students can create a digital story using WriteReader, reviewed here. Older students can create digital stories using Elementari, reviewed here. Finally, students can write letters or create short videos sharing the importance of protecting our environment to save the animals. Create and share videos using Mootion, reviewed here. Mootion uses AI to create short videos based on your prompts - ideal for all ages.Houston Zoo - Houston Zoo
Grades
K to 12Houston Zoo offers a variety of live cameras. Live cameras include a giraffe, flamingos, gorilla, and rhino. Hours for the live cameras are 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. CDT. ...more
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Houston Zoo offers a variety of live cameras. Live cameras include a giraffe, flamingos, gorilla, and rhino. Hours for the live cameras are 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. CDT.
tag(s): animals (293), virtual field trips (131)
In the Classroom
Students can research the animal on the live camera by creating a poster or diorama. Use a digital tool such as Book Creator, reviewed here. Students can watch other live cameras from different zoos to compare and contrast the animals from zoo to zoo. Finally, students can track the animals' day, including feeding, "playing," and sleep patterns.Georgia Aquarium - Georgia Aquarium
Grades
K to 12Georgia Aquarium offers a variety of live cameras. Live cameras include the ocean voyager, beluga whales, sharks, jellyfish, southern sea otters, underwater puffins, and more. Under...more
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Georgia Aquarium offers a variety of live cameras. Live cameras include the ocean voyager, beluga whales, sharks, jellyfish, southern sea otters, underwater puffins, and more. Under each web camera page, there are resources for you to click on to learn more about the animal.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): animals (293), virtual field trips (131)
In the Classroom
Have students research the animals on the live camera by creating a poster or diorama, or enhance learning by asking students to use Book Creator, reviewed here. Students can watch other live cameras from different zoos to compare and contrast the animals from zoo to zoo. Finally, students can track the animals' day, including feeding, playing, and sleep patterns.The Aquarium of the Pacific - Aquarium of the Pacific
Grades
K to 12The Aquarium of the Pacific's website offers a wealth of resources for teachers, students, and the general public. Educators will find various tools under the Aquarium Webcam Resource...more
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The Aquarium of the Pacific's website offers a wealth of resources for teachers, students, and the general public. Educators will find various tools under the Aquarium Webcam Resource Kits to enrich classroom learning, including detailed lesson plans, field trip planning guides, and interactive activities centered around marine life and conservation. Many online learning opportunities feature virtual field trips, live streaming events, and pre-recorded educational videos, allowing students to experience the aquarium's exhibits and expert insights without leaving the classroom. These online experiences, paired with hands-on activities and NGSS-aligned lesson plans, provide a comprehensive approach to teaching marine science and environmental topics. Additionally, the site offers professional development workshops and free downloadable resources to help teachers integrate oceanography into their curriculum. The aquarium's commitment to accessibility and interactive education makes it a valuable tool for enhancing STEM learning across grade levels. If your district blocks YouTube, then the videos may not be viewable.
tag(s): adaptations (16), conservation (101), environment (251), marine biology (31), STEM (312)
In the Classroom
After watching an educational YouTube video on marine ecosystems, students can create dioramas of different ocean zones. Watch videos on animal adaptations, and challenge students to design their own "new" marine creature using knowledge about survival traits such as camouflage, feeding strategies, or defense mechanisms. Using the aquarium's website, create a scavenger hunt where students must explore specific exhibits or educational content online to answer questions about marine life, conservation efforts, and ecosystems. Use the lesson plans on conservation and sustainability to inspire students to create their own conservation campaigns.Gez.la Virtual Trips - gez.la
Grades
2 to 12Gez.la uses open-source resources to share over 150 virtual trips around the world. Take a virtual trip to visit museums, historical places, zoos, and more from your computer. Use the...more
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Gez.la uses open-source resources to share over 150 virtual trips around the world. Take a virtual trip to visit museums, historical places, zoos, and more from your computer. Use the placemarks on the map to select a location, or use the filters to choose by type of tour or location. Choose your tour from the list for a short description of the content, then select the link to go to the virtual tour.
tag(s): virtual field trips (131)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of this site to visit places where time, money, and mileage inhibit your dreams of bringing your students into wondrous worlds. Find ways to visit where your class has never gone before. Small groups or individual students can focus on one of the tours and use it as a starting point for additional research. ENL/ESL learners will appreciate the visual tours. Reach all types of learners through a class visit. Use these virtual reality tours as a class anticipatory guide, center activity, home connection, or extra credit. Challenge your gifted students to guide their own learning. Extend learning and challenge students to create their own virtual tours using Google My Maps, reviewed here. Google My Maps includes tools for you to add routes, images, videos, and more to create virtual field trips anywhere in the world.Smithsonian Open Access - Smithsonian
Grades
K to 12"Create, Imagine, Discover" with Smithsonian as they share a digital collection of over 3 million items available to download without use restrictions. Materials include images and...more
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"Create, Imagine, Discover" with Smithsonian as they share a digital collection of over 3 million items available to download without use restrictions. Materials include images and data from across Smithonian's varied resources, including museums, the National Zoo, research centers, and more. Find information with keywords in the search bar or explore featured platforms such as Smithsonian Learning Lab, 3D Voyager, or Developer Tools. After obtaining search results, use filters to narrow down the results to fit your needs. For a better understanding of how others use downloaded materials, explore the remixes found on the site.
tag(s): art history (108), creativity (87), images (263), primary sources (119), Research (88), sculpture (18)
In the Classroom
Think of Smithsonian access as your virtual museum of downloads to use without copyright restrictions. Search and find images to use for any need. Use the images in newsletters, teaching materials, student projects, digital books, and more. For example, include images on shared Google Slides, reviewed here, and ask students to annotate features using text or the drawing tool. Share the site with students to use when creating webpages using Site123, reviewed here, or to create posters in Canva Edu, reviewed here.Shedd Aquarium Educational Materials - Shedd Aquarium
Grades
4 to 12Chicago's Shedd Aquarium has built an impressive online collection of lesson plans and other instructional tools, including several nice interactive animations and virtual field trips....more
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Chicago's Shedd Aquarium has built an impressive online collection of lesson plans and other instructional tools, including several nice interactive animations and virtual field trips. While much of the content relates to the aquarium's exhibits, the range of subjects includes most grade levels and many of the topics that might appear in a curriculum on ocean habitats.
tag(s): marine biology (31), oceans (149)
In the Classroom
Find everything you will need for your classroom from Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation, Climate Change, and Dolphins, to Wild Reef Exhibit Guides by grade level.Monterey Bay Aquarium
Grades
2 to 12Explore ocean life at this fabulous site. Peruse the menu tabs at the top, expecially Animals and Education to find Curriculum, Video Courses, Crafts and Printables, Live Cams, and...more
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Explore ocean life at this fabulous site. Peruse the menu tabs at the top, expecially Animals and Education to find Curriculum, Video Courses, Crafts and Printables, Live Cams, and more.
tag(s): animals (293), biomes (110), oceans (149), virtual field trips (131), webcams (19)
In the Classroom
Try the TeachersFirst interactive Biomes of the World Unit in grades 4-8 to get your students involved and engaged with their own research. Have them work alone or with a partner on laptops or in a lab. Use a webcam with younger students, asking them to observe and record animal behavior as a center on your classroom computer or a whole-class activity on a projector.Monetery Bay WebCams - Monetery Bay Aquarium
Grades
4 to 12Monterey Bay Aquarium offers several live webcams showing ongoing activities in the facility. To find the webcams, go to the top menu, click Animals, and on the left, you will ...more
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Monterey Bay Aquarium offers several live webcams showing ongoing activities in the facility. To find the webcams, go to the top menu, click Animals, and on the left, you will see a link for Live Cams. Viewers can watch the penguins swim and the otters watch the people. There are many things to see here, and there are also lots of instructional activities that can go along with the tour. A high-speed connection is a must for this one, though.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): animals (293), oceans (149), virtual field trips (131), webcams (19)
In the Classroom
Science teachers can have the class or small groups take the entire online tour for an afternoon of learning and fun! The cams include otters, penguins, and other special collections! Use your whiteboard or projector to have the class view the cams as a brain break.Giant Panda - Smithsonian Institution
Grades
1 to 12Learn fun facts and viewing tips for visiting the giant panda at Smithsonian's National Zoo. Included on this site is a panda cam, physical description, and conservation information....more
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Learn fun facts and viewing tips for visiting the giant panda at Smithsonian's National Zoo. Included on this site is a panda cam, physical description, and conservation information. Be sure to also check out the panda news with all of the latest panda news from around the world. Click on Animals from the top menu to see Lions, Elephants, and the Naked Mole-Rat.
tag(s): animal homes (57), animals (293), habitats (93), video (267)