Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers

Use this AI tool for educators to incorporate inquiry writing strategies that help students organize, process, and retain information with two short responses on the provided form. Enter the students' grade level and learning target or lesson objective to receive an idea for an inquiry writing project matching the objective. Use the request change chat option to ask for changes or additional ideas, such as a complete lesson plan or assessment rubric.

tag(s): artificial intelligence (186), inquiry (30), Teacher Utilities (203), writing (326)

Ready to turn trash into treasure with a little help from Sesame Street? The Bert & Ernie Reuse & Reinvent! game from Sesame Workshop is a fun and interactive way for kids to dive into the world of upcycling. As they play, children are introduced to key concepts and vocabulary like "recycle" and "reuse," while also practicing important skills such as planning, using transition words (first, next, then, last), experimenting in test mode, and observing changes over time. To deepen the learning, the site offers a collection of related resources like "Blueprint for Upcycle," "Build a Robo-Plane," "Garden Senses," "Upcycling Crafts," and "Questions, Questions." It's a creative and educational adventure that helps kids see the endless possibilities in everyday items!

tag(s): earth day (61), preK (284), recycling (46)

Looking for a fun and engaging way to teach young children about money? The Sesame Workshop Financial Education site brings financial literacy to life with the help of beloved Sesame Street characters! Through songs, stories, and hands-on activities, young students can begin building smart money habits--like saving, spending wisely, and sharing--all while having a great time. One highlight is a two-minute video featuring Cookie Monster and his mom learning about choices, sharing, and saving. Additional resources include Elmo's Spend, Share, and Save Jar, a guide to making a spending plan together, lessons on wants and needs with Bert and Ernie, and tips for talking to kids during tough financial times. There's also a family-friendly game called "Lemonade Stand," printable play money, and a helpful webinar titled Bright Financial Futures, which includes a certificate of completion. Many materials are also available in Spanish, making this a comprehensive and inclusive toolkit for building strong financial foundations.

tag(s): financial literacy (95), money (114), preK (284), spanish (112)

This short video featuring Julia, Samuel, and Abby highlights the world of art with young students. In addition to the video, the site contains featured art resources, including Terry Crews is an Artist, a color wheel, art exploration, open-ended art, upcycling crafts, and more. Resources are also available in Spanish.

tag(s): artists (87), colors (63), preK (284), spanish (112)

At Arteater, you can create hand-drawn GIFs from your artwork by following three steps. First, print a template. Then, select templates from different ability levels, from beginner to advanced. Draw in each frame within the template, then take a photo and upload your work. After your image processes, download it as an animated GIF.

tag(s): animation (66), images (265)

Complete this short assessment to analyze the strengths of relationships and connections within your school community. Using a 0-5 scale, you can rank the strength of relationships and interactions between students and teachers and the inclusive celebration of student achievements. The results share suggestions for an action plan of implementation to strengthen and support Black male students in classrooms and schools.

tag(s): african american (119), artificial intelligence (186), cross cultural understanding (176), multilingual (78), student-centered (8), Teacher Utilities (203)

View this dynamic resource designed to help educators nurture holistic well-being in young learners. The platform offers a wealth of materials covering essential topics such as nutrition, physical activity, emotional well-being, and social-emotional skills. Through engaging videos, printable activities, and interactive games featuring beloved Sesame Street characters, young students are encouraged to develop healthy habits that can last a lifetime. The resources also guide topics like asthma management, autism support, and family bonding, ensuring inclusivity and relevance for diverse classroom needs. Available in both English and Spanish, these tools are tailored to support educators in creating a nurturing and health-conscious learning environment.

tag(s): autism (16), preK (284), social and emotional learning (107), spanish (112)

Sesame Workshop's A Hurricane Comes to Sesame Street is a short, impactful video that helps young children process the emotional aftermath of natural disasters through the familiar lens of Big Bird and his friends. As Big Bird copes with the destruction of his nest, students learn about feelings like sadness, fear, and hope--and how community support can help rebuild both homes and hearts. The site also offers guided discussion questions to encourage emotional expression and understanding, making it a valuable tool for teachers addressing tough topics in a gentle, age-appropriate way.

tag(s): communities (39), hurricanes (33), preK (284)

Looking for a gentle, age-appropriate way to introduce emergency preparedness in your classroom? Sesame Workshop's Emergencies video is a quick 45-second clip that helps young children understand what to do during an emergency. But the learning doesn't stop there--the website also includes a variety of supportive resources such as a Wildfires Family Guide, Emergency Family Kit video, "Let's Pack an Emergency Kit" activity, tips for Rebuilding After a Hurricane, and guidance for Talking About an Unexpected Emergency. There's even a lesson on the importance of knowing your first and last name. Many of these resources are available in Spanish, making them accessible for a wider range of families and classrooms.

tag(s): communities (39), natural disasters (19), preK (284)

Discover this collection of engaging video resources that introduce students to various STEM careers. Each video features real professionals discussing their jobs, skills, and career paths in fields like engineering, robotics, healthcare, and environmental science. The resources aim to inspire students by showcasing diverse career opportunities and the real-world applications of STEM concepts. Teachers can use these videos to spark career exploration discussions, connect lessons to real-world professions, and encourage students to consider future STEM pathways.

tag(s): engineering (137), environment (252), robotics (26), STEM (304)

Meet the Emergency Helpers with Sesame Workshop! Sesame Workshop's Emergency Helpers offers a short video that teaches young students who helps in an emergency. Firefighters, doctors, teachers, and police officers are sung about in the video. Each of the emergency helpers' jobs is explained in the song. The video is available in Spanish.

tag(s): communities (39), preK (284)

The PBS KIDS Play & Learn Science website is a fantastic resource for teachers looking to spark curiosity and hands-on learning in young scientists. Designed for preK - grade 2 students, this platform offers interactive games, activities, and videos that help build foundational science skills in fun and engaging ways. Topics include weather, forces, simple machines, and the properties of water--all presented through playful exploration with favorite PBS KIDS characters. It also provides tips for families and educators on extending learning into the real world, making it perfect for classroom use or at-home enrichment.

tag(s): density (18), simple machines (20), weather (161)

PBS KIDS offers a dedicated collection of full episodes featuring American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation, making beloved children's programming more accessible and inclusive than ever before. This initiative includes popular series such as Arthur, Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, Alma's Way, Donkey Hodie, Pinkalicious & Peterrific, and Work It Out Wombats!, each enriched with on-screen ASL interpreters to support Deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers.

tag(s): preK (284), sign language (11)

With this AI-based generation tool, you can remix your traditional lesson plan to include culturally responsive teaching strategies and activities. Complete the form by adding the requested information, including grade, subject, learning objectives, students' cultural and linguistic backgrounds, and student assets. Completed responses include suggestions for resources, cultural awareness activities, inclusivity, and differentiated instruction. Use the options to request changes to adjust the output as needed, then download the response to your device or copy and paste it into a new document.

tag(s): artificial intelligence (186), cross cultural understanding (176), racism (81), Teacher Utilities (203), teaching strategies (52)

Providing meaningful feedback to students is key to helping them understand where they are in the learning process and providing guidance for the future. This AI-generation tool analyzes student work using your input on grade level, subject, title, and assignment description to provide specific feedback on the content. Feedback includes information on the student's ability to address the topic, how their writing supports the objectives, and specific ideas for enhancing and improving the content.

tag(s): artificial intelligence (186), assessment (146), feedback (13), writing (326)

This AI-powered tool generates social-emotional learning (SEL) plans for any topic and grade level. Begin by adding the grade level, then select the SEL competency to address from the five options: self-awareness, self-management, and others. In the final box, add the topic, standard, or objective to address and include additional details to consider when generating your lesson. After the lesson is generated, use the available options to request changes and modify the lesson to fit your needs. Download or save your lesson plan document using the options available at the Manage Content dropdown box.

tag(s): artificial intelligence (186), social and emotional learning (107), Teacher Utilities (203)

The Video and Animation Production Jobs Collection features thousands of searchable resources, including videos, audio, documents, lesson plans, and collections for grades kindergarten through twelfth. Videos on the animation process, favorite animation projects, production roles, common audio mistakes, and many more are available. Lesson plans include pre-, during, and post-production, video editing, telling a story, using a storyboard, 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. Everything in the collection can be shared via Google Classroom, a link to students, and social sharing. Lessons can also be built upon once you log into the site.

tag(s): animation (66), video (267)

Distribution and Water Use highlights the water usage on Earth. The two resources included in the media gallery are a two-minute and thirty-second video and a graphic from NASA highlighting how freshwater is used across sectors in the United States of America. Everything in the collection can be shared via Google Classroom, a link to students, and social sharing. Lessons can also be built upon once you log into the site. Materials are available in Spanish and align with the NGSS.

tag(s): nasa (28), water (105)

Explore this comprehensive guide to teaching and exploring the works of one of America's most celebrated poets. The site features an overview of Whitman's life, literary contributions, and curated primary sources, such as photographs, manuscripts, and historical documents. Teachers can access suggested reading materials and classroom activities to enrich their lessons on Whitman's influence on American literature and culture. This resource is ideal for engaging students in discussions about transcendentalism, democratic ideals, and Whitman's innovative poetic style.

tag(s): poetry (196)

The Library of Congress guide on Felix Mendelssohn provides an extensive resource for teachers and students exploring the life and work of the renowned 19th-century composer. It features curated links to digital collections, including manuscripts, letters, sheet music, and articles and recordings of Mendelssohn's compositions. The guide also offers contextual insights into his role in the Romantic era, making it an excellent starting point for music history lessons or research projects. Its viewer-friendly design and authentic content make it a valuable educational tool.

tag(s): art history (106), composers (17), music theory (48)