TeachersFirst - What's Popular
This page shares the 25 resources most frequently marked as Favorites by TeachersFirst Members in the past 60 days. See what tops the list of TeachersFirst's database of well over 15,000+ educator-reviewed web resources. Find out what other teachers are excited about. Not a TeachersFirst member yet? See the time saving benefits of free TeachersFirst membership.
Google Forms - Google
Grades
K to 12
12 Favorites
0 Comments
Create forms for virtually any need using Google Forms, part of Google's online suite of document tools. Begin with included templates, or start with a blank form to create polls, ...more
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Create forms for virtually any need using Google Forms, part of Google's online suite of document tools. Begin with included templates, or start with a blank form to create polls, sign-ups, registrations, and much more. Choose from multiple response options including short answer, multiple choice, and check boxes. Options also allow you to incorporate images and YouTube videos directly into any form. You have the ability to make questions required or optional. Once shared, receive responses in real-time within the "Responses" tab or link to a Google Sheets spreadsheet.
tag(s): polls and surveys (45), spreadsheets (23)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the flexibility of Google Forms to create surveys for parents and students at the beginning of the year to learn about student interests, create parent volunteer lists, and much more. Create sign in and sign out sheets for classroom library materials including books and digital equipment. Use Google Forms to set up and collaborate on lesson plans, include check boxes to standards, materials needed, and covered content. Google Forms is perfect to use for assessment purposes - create online quizzes and exit tickets. Have students use Google Forms to prepare and submit reading logs, brainstorm and collaborate with fellow students, create choose your own adventure stories, or schedule reading and writing conference times. Use Google Forms to set up and share rubrics for any project, have students complete the rubric and turn in with any completed assignment. The uses for Google Forms are as unlimited as your imagination; this is a must-have tool for all classrooms!You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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PBS Newshour Extra - PBS NewsHour Productions LLC
Grades
7 to 12
2 Favorites
0 Comments
Find news and resources for grades 7-12 at PBS Newshour Extra. Search the site by Subject Area, Videos, Arts and Media, Science, and more. Explore news articles written for students...more
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Find news and resources for grades 7-12 at PBS Newshour Extra. Search the site by Subject Area, Videos, Arts and Media, Science, and more. Explore news articles written for students with the background and context needed to understand complex topics. The Daily Videos are ad-free and have related stories along the right side of the page. Read the current events news stories and follow the Extra Twitter feed. Don't miss the many free lesson plans including current events, American history, health, government, holidays, and more. Lesson plans are all aligned to the Common Core standards. Lesson plan topics vary from "Personal reflections on the poetry of Maya Angelou" to "Selma to Montgomery: An introduction to the 1965 marches" and countless others! Look for the Student Voices and Student Reporting Labs for those who would like to be published or to help a local PBS station produce the news.
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This site includes advertising.
tag(s): civil rights (144), elections (75), holocaust (37), memorial day (13), news (237), pearl harbor (8), poetry (178), veterans (19), video (244), women (97), world war 2 (130)
In the Classroom
Watch the news together on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Allow students to watch independently on laptops or at a learning station. Use any video or article as a current events writing prompt. Challenge students to create blog posts about them. If you are beginning the process of integrating technology, replace pen and paper and have students create blogs sharing their learning and understanding using Webnode, reviewed here. Don't forget the many free lesson plans (already aligned to Common Core standards). Click on the Lesson Plans link to explore the countless topics available (Poetry, Veterans, Elections, Ebola, Civil Rights, and more). For articles and videos about conflicts and tension, you might want to modify student learning by having your students engage in a debate using a tool such as Virtual Debate, reviewed here, which has online examples and resources for conducting virtual debates. Keep your class up-to-date on the news using this site. Provide this link on your class website for students (and families) to access both in and out of your classroom.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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OK2Ask: More Authentic Learning Activities with Jamboard - TeachersFirst
Grades
2 to 12
2 Favorites
0 Comments
This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session is from February 2021. You can register and immediately view the archive of the session.
Keep on jammin'...more
Keep on jammin'...more
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This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session is from February 2021. You can register and immediately view the archive of the session.
Keep on jammin' with Jamboard - Google's power-packed whiteboard app. We are back with more great classroom collaboration and integration ideas. Simple enough for even young learners, Jamboard gives students tools to share what they have learned and demonstrate content mastery. Use Jamboard to facilitate active learning strategies that include individual and group work. Come prepared to learn strategies that can be used in traditional and remote classrooms across multiple content areas and grade levels. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Learn the basics of using Google Jamboard for remote learning; 2. Explore strategies that foster 21st-century skills; and 3. Share ideas for using Jamboard in the classroom. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.
Keep on jammin' with Jamboard - Google's power-packed whiteboard app. We are back with more great classroom collaboration and integration ideas. Simple enough for even young learners, Jamboard gives students tools to share what they have learned and demonstrate content mastery. Use Jamboard to facilitate active learning strategies that include individual and group work. Come prepared to learn strategies that can be used in traditional and remote classrooms across multiple content areas and grade levels. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Learn the basics of using Google Jamboard for remote learning; 2. Explore strategies that foster 21st-century skills; and 3. Share ideas for using Jamboard in the classroom. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.
tag(s): Google (26), professional development (247), remote learning (33)
In the Classroom
The archive of this teacher-friendly, hands-on webinar will empower and inspire you to use learning technology in the classroom and for professional productivity. As appropriate, specific classroom examples and ideas have been shared. View the session with a few of your teaching colleagues to find and share new ideas. Find additional information and links to tools at the session resource page. Learn more about OK2Ask and upcoming sessions here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Seterra Online Free Map Quiz Games - Seterra Online
Grades
3 to 12
3 Favorites
0 Comments
Seterra Online is a challenging educational geography activity with more than 100 different exercises. Learn about countries, capitals, oceans, flags and cities in Africa, Europe, South...more
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Seterra Online is a challenging educational geography activity with more than 100 different exercises. Learn about countries, capitals, oceans, flags and cities in Africa, Europe, South America, North America, Asia and Australia using outline map exercises! Explore the 50 states of the USA and even the capitals. Choose from quizzes sorted by continent or the entire world. Once the map loads, follow the prompts to click on the correct area of the map. After a few incorrect tries, the right area will flash in red. Correct responses on the first try appear in white, yellow indicates a right answer on the second attempt, and the red areas indicate incorrect responses. When complete, view the percentage correct and time it took to finish the activity.
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This site includes advertising.
tag(s): cities (16), continents (30), countries (67), game based learning (155), maps (216), quizzes (82), states (124)
In the Classroom
Share this link on your class projector or interactive whiteboard. This is a perfect addition if your students are learning the 50 states, capitals, or even countries throughout the world. Be sure to include this site on your class web page for students to access both in and outside of class for further practice. Share this tool as an excellent study guide for learning locations around the world. Challenge students to increase time and accuracy in completing these map activities.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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TWiki - Peter Theony
Grades
K to 12
1 Favorites
0 Comments
TWiki is an open-source application for creating and using wikis. Easily add and share information without any coding or programming skills. Think of it as an easily editable page....more
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TWiki is an open-source application for creating and using wikis. Easily add and share information without any coding or programming skills. Think of it as an easily editable page. Download the application to create your wiki. Add text, links, and documents to your wiki pages. Additional features include the ability to view the history of any topic and receive email notifications of changes to any topic. Enhance your wiki with the site's available plugins including a calendar, chart visualizer, slide show module, and others.
tag(s): collaboration (78), wikis (16)
In the Classroom
In language arts or history classrooms use a wiki to create a favorite historical figures page, have students share their favorite person from history along with supporting evidence. Use a wiki to set up a debate between students. For example, create a wiki and ask students to debate the use of homework in schools, the effect of social media on society, or year-round school vs. traditional school calendars. As your class builds and adds to the wiki, extend student learning by having small groups of students select a topic to research further. A nice feature of TWiki is that it allows you to set up collaborative groups where students can share information and ideas about their research. Culminate the research by having students use a multimedia creation tool like Sway, reviewed here, transforming classroom technology by sharing information including text, images, videos, and more. As a last step have the small groups load their Sway creation to their collaborative page on TWiki. For more ideas and information on how to use wikis, visit the TeachersFirst Wiki Walk-Through for a detailed, step-by-step explanation and starter help, including dozens of ideas for ways to use a wiki in your classroom.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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CleverPDF - CleverPDF
Grades
K to 12
2 Favorites
0 Comments
CleverPDF is your one-stop site for managing PDF documents. Choose from 27 tools to convert to and from PDF documents, reorder pages, extract images, and much more. Select the tool...more
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CleverPDF is your one-stop site for managing PDF documents. Choose from 27 tools to convert to and from PDF documents, reorder pages, extract images, and much more. Select the tool you need, upload your file, and choose from additional options based on the function selected. Scroll down within each of the tasks to find easy to follow step-by-step directions for converting and saving your file. CleverPDF also includes a downloadable application for use on Windows and Mac computers for converting files without an Internet connection.
tag(s): conversions (33), images (254), worksheets (66)
In the Classroom
Be sure to bookmark this site on all classroom and personal computers for use throughout the year. If you have a large PDF file but only need a page or two, use CleverPDF to extract it for you. Convert PDF files to Word or Pages when working with a document that needs editing. Convert student work into PDF then convert into a book using Flipsnack, reviewed here. Flipsnack even includes a handy page-turning effect! This is a helpful utility for students entering contests or completing applications offered only in PDF form. Help students create a more organized and appealing portfolio by converting all items to one standard file type such as PDF. PorfolioVillage, reviewed here, is an easy to use tool for creating and sharing portfolios, include student-created PDF documents to share any work document.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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OK2Ask: 3 Cool Tools for Digital Portfolios - TeachersFirst
Grades
3 to 12
1 Favorites
0 Comments
This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session is from April 2021. You can register and immediately view the archive of the session.
There are many reasons...more
There are many reasons...more
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This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session is from April 2021. You can register and immediately view the archive of the session.
There are many reasons to use portfolios in the classroom - documenting student growth, reflecting on assignments, and developing communication skills are just a few. But once you've decided to implement them, how do you decide what tools will work best for your class? Join us and learn about free digital portfolio tools that can be used in multiple instructional settings. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Learn about three tools for creating student portfolios; 2. Share ideas on ways to use portfolios; and 3. Plan to use portfolios in your instructional setting. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.
There are many reasons to use portfolios in the classroom - documenting student growth, reflecting on assignments, and developing communication skills are just a few. But once you've decided to implement them, how do you decide what tools will work best for your class? Join us and learn about free digital portfolio tools that can be used in multiple instructional settings. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Learn about three tools for creating student portfolios; 2. Share ideas on ways to use portfolios; and 3. Plan to use portfolios in your instructional setting. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.
tag(s): portfolios (22), professional development (247)
In the Classroom
The archive of this teacher-friendly, hands-on webinar will empower and inspire you to use learning technology in the classroom and for professional productivity. As appropriate, specific classroom examples and ideas have been shared. View the session with a few of your teaching colleagues to find and share new ideas. Find additional information and links to tools at the session resource page. Learn more about OK2Ask and upcoming sessions here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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OK2Ask: Remote Learning with Microsoft Forms - TeachersFirst
Grades
2 to 12
1 Favorites
0 Comments
This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session is from April 2021. You can register and immediately view the archive of the session.
Microsoft Forms are...more
Microsoft Forms are...more
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This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session is from April 2021. You can register and immediately view the archive of the session.
Microsoft Forms are often overlooked when discussing free tools for remote instruction. Join us for this session and learn to use Forms to personalize instruction, accommodate learner differences, foster independent learning, and implement formative and summative assessments. Come prepared to explore and to add this tool to your teaching toolkit. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Learn the basic functions of Microsoft Forms; 2. Understand how to use Forms to support remote instruction; and 3. Create a form for instructional use or data collection. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.
Microsoft Forms are often overlooked when discussing free tools for remote instruction. Join us for this session and learn to use Forms to personalize instruction, accommodate learner differences, foster independent learning, and implement formative and summative assessments. Come prepared to explore and to add this tool to your teaching toolkit. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Learn the basic functions of Microsoft Forms; 2. Understand how to use Forms to support remote instruction; and 3. Create a form for instructional use or data collection. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.
tag(s): Formative Assessment (29), Microsoft (60), professional development (247), remote learning (33)
In the Classroom
The archive of this teacher-friendly, hands-on webinar will empower and inspire you to use learning technology in the classroom and for professional productivity. As appropriate, specific classroom examples and ideas have been shared. View the session with a few of your teaching colleagues to find and share new ideas. Find additional information and links to tools at the session resource page. Learn more about OK2Ask and upcoming sessions here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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OK2Ask: Tech Integration Made Easy with the Smithsonian Learning Lab - TeachersFirst
Grades
3 to 12
1 Favorites
0 Comments
This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session is from April 2021. You can register and immediately view the archive of the session.
Connect your students...more
Connect your students...more
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This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session is from April 2021. You can register and immediately view the archive of the session.
Connect your students to primary sources, capture their imagination, and develop their content knowledge in any subject area with the Smithsonian Learning Lab. Learn how to combine the Smithsonian's wealth of resources with your own to quickly create personalized lessons and activities that increase engagement and develop critical thinking skills in grades 3-12. You can even adapt one of the thousands of existing collections to better suit your instructional setting. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Explore Smithsonian Learning Lab collections; 2. Create a personalized digital collection; and 3. Plan for the use of the Smithsonian Learning Lab in your educational setting. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.
Connect your students to primary sources, capture their imagination, and develop their content knowledge in any subject area with the Smithsonian Learning Lab. Learn how to combine the Smithsonian's wealth of resources with your own to quickly create personalized lessons and activities that increase engagement and develop critical thinking skills in grades 3-12. You can even adapt one of the thousands of existing collections to better suit your instructional setting. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Explore Smithsonian Learning Lab collections; 2. Create a personalized digital collection; and 3. Plan for the use of the Smithsonian Learning Lab in your educational setting. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.
tag(s): primary sources (95), professional development (247)
In the Classroom
The archive of this teacher-friendly, hands-on webinar will empower and inspire you to use learning technology in the classroom and for professional productivity. As appropriate, specific classroom examples and ideas have been shared. View the session with a few of your teaching colleagues to find and share new ideas. Find additional information and links to tools at the session resource page. Learn more about OK2Ask and upcoming sessions here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Constitute - Comparative Constitutions Project - Univ of Texas at Austin
Grades
8 to 12
1 Favorites
0 Comments
Constitute is a database of all available online constitutions from around the world with several comparisons and research tools built-in. Quickly find passages by tags such as "right...more
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Constitute is a database of all available online constitutions from around the world with several comparisons and research tools built-in. Quickly find passages by tags such as "right to privacy" or "equality regardless of gender." Filter searches by period or geographic region. Compare constitutions side by side, then select comparisons to display highlighted similarities. "Pin" your results to export to Google Docs or as a PDF.
tag(s): civil rights (144), constitution (86), cross cultural understanding (140), cultures (98)
In the Classroom
Share Constitute on an interactive whiteboard or projector as part of any lessons studying nations around the world. Compare constitutions when discussing current events and cultural differences. Use an online tool such as the Interactive Two Circle Venn Diagram, reviewed here, to demonstrate differences and similarities. Flip learning by sharing a comparison you create, then have students study comparisons before class discussions of materials.
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You Can't Say That in School?! - NewseumED
Grades
8 to 12
2 Favorites
0 Comments
Use the lessons, discussion questions, and court cases provided by NewseumEd to help young adults learn about their five freedoms according to the First Amendment and what limitations...more
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Use the lessons, discussion questions, and court cases provided by NewseumEd to help young adults learn about their five freedoms according to the First Amendment and what limitations there might be. Students should be able to understand how these rights apply to their daily life once you have gone through these materials. Though the lessons seem to center around a visit to Newseum and their galleries, there is a lot to be learned just by examining and discussing the materials presented here. This unit is standards aligned and Common Core compatible. It is comprehensive and includes printable discussion guides, as well as extension activities.
tag(s): civil rights (144), constitution (86), freedom of speech (11)
In the Classroom
Download (left menu in PDF or Word doc) and carefully read through the Unit - You Can't Say That in School?! Select activities and discussion questions that you think will pique student interest. You may want to print the scenarios and explanations made in the ready-made lesson of the Unit and hand one or two out to small groups of students to discuss. Break students into small groups, by interest, to investigate the results of each of the Allowed or Not Allowed questions. Have students present their findings to the class with a simple infographic tool such as Venngage, reviewed here, or creating a newsletter using Revue, here.
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Mix - StumbleUpon
Grades
6 to 12
2 Favorites
0 Comments
Are you looking for some of the best content on the web? Use Mix to browse and search for information based on your interests and those of like-minded people. ...more
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Are you looking for some of the best content on the web? Use Mix to browse and search for information based on your interests and those of like-minded people. Mix imports content from news sources, popular blogs, and additional world-wide resources. The more you browse and save material, the more Mix will refine its understanding of what you like. Create collections by adding information found on the site or by keeping links to web content found as you browse the Internet. Use Mix's web browser extension to save URL's to collections with just one click. When ready to share your collection, use the share icon to copy the link, send via email, or share on social media.
tag(s): bookmarks (53), evaluating sources (15), social networking (83)
In the Classroom
Use Mix for your personal research and professional development. Visit Mix occasionally to find new ideas and new sites for teaching. Create and share collections of websites to share with students for use with research projects. For example, as you prepare to teach a science unit on plants, create a collection containing news articles, explainer sites, and online games for students to use as a virtual resource for supplementing classroom lessons. Include documents, slide presentations, and more from your Google Drive for student access from any device. Another use of Mix is to create collections when teaching students how to evaluate online resources. Create a collection from a variety of different resources based on the same topic and ask students to reflect upon the validity of the information and the source. Ask them to use a presentation tool like Sway, reviewed here, to share their findings by including links to the information along with supporting evidence. Another idea for using Mix is for students to create collections to share as part of multimedia projects as a virtual bibliography. In addition to websites shared, ask them to add their written work, images, or other creations. Mix is an excellent tool for creating an online portfolio for students to use when applying to college. Show students how to easily create new collections using their work, but personalized to individual college applications.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Freedom in the Balance - NewseumED
Grades
8 to 12
1 Favorites
0 Comments
Freedom in the Balance is a free resource from NewseumED that uses real-life scenarios and historical and contemporary case studies to examine individual rights vs. national security....more
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Freedom in the Balance is a free resource from NewseumED that uses real-life scenarios and historical and contemporary case studies to examine individual rights vs. national security. Click on More Details and use the drop-down menu for Explore the Questions. That is where you will find the essential questions, and the What Happened Then? and What's Happening Now? case studies. Click the button for the interactive Take Our Quiz to find out where you stand on freedom and whom you would "click with" in history. For the quiz, you will read ten scenarios, based on real-life examples, and select one of four responses about how you feel about the issue presented. Then get your profile results and see how you rank among all quiz takers. There is also an option to explore a case study based on the man who landed a gyrocopter on the Capitol lawn to bring attention to the need for campaign finance reform.
tag(s): civil rights (144), constitution (86), freedom of speech (11)
In the Classroom
Review the First Amendment and the rights it provides to the citizens of the United States. Consider showing '45 Words' Video Lesson, reviewed here, for this. Then have students take the interactive quiz to find out their freedom profile. Pair together or make small groups of students who received different results from taking the quiz. Have the small groups or pairs each take a different essential question and read about the What Happened Then and What's Happening Now? case studies. Have students create a simple infographic using Infogram, reviewed here, to present what they learned to their classmates. Next, have them analyze the scenarios from the quiz and the possible responses to see which responses issued their profile/results. Ask students to apply the knowledge gained from this investigation to create a scenario and responses for the Explore the Case Study about the man who landed a gyrocopter on the Capitol lawn to bring attention to the need for campaign finance reform.
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'The Press and the Civil Rights Movement' Video Lesson - NewseumED
Grades
8 to 12
1 Favorites
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'The Press and the Civil Rights Movement' video portrays the importance to democracy of having a free press. Using original clips from different television news shows, newspapers, and...more
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'The Press and the Civil Rights Movement' video portrays the importance to democracy of having a free press. Using original clips from different television news shows, newspapers, and photographs (all primary sources) of the 1950s and 1960s the video delves into the idea that the civil rights movement may not have gotten very far without a free press. Find a step by step lesson plan including before and after viewing discussion questions, a viewing guide with short answer questions, and a handout with the names of the major figures in the video and what they had to do with the civil rights movement. View the video before showing to students to deem whether the strong language, gestures, and violence may be inappropriate for your class.
tag(s): civil rights (144), constitution (86), freedom of speech (11), martin luther king (32)
In the Classroom
Using the Activity lesson plan/viewing guide, have the before viewing discussion with your class. Consider giving all students a chance to voice their opinions (even the shyest and quiet ones) by using a backchannel tool like 81 Dash, reviewed here. Then, show the video to the whole class, or "flip" the class and have them watch it at home. Either way, the viewing guide questions could be inserted into the video using a tool such as playposit (formerly known as eduCanon), reviewed here. After the video, use the discussion questions and 81 Dash again. Next, have students (or small groups) choose one of the extension activities to complete and share with classmates.The reviewers at TeachersFirst have some suggestions for tools to use for those final projects: For items 1-4 make a chart using a tool such as Canva, reviewed here, or Draw.io, reviewed here. For managing a project like item 5 use Google Keep, reviewed here, Workflowy, reviewed here, or Todoist, reviewed here. For items 6 & 7, biography type projects, use Fakebook, reviewed here, and for item 8, make a collage, use Fotojet, reviewed here.
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Unsplash for Education - Unsplash
Grades
K to 12
1 Favorites
0 Comments
Unsplash, the amazing site for finding free, high-quality images, has curated several collections of photos for use in educational settings. Topics include health, nature, politics...more
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Unsplash, the amazing site for finding free, high-quality images, has curated several collections of photos for use in educational settings. Topics include health, nature, politics and current events, and much more. Browse through any collection to find and download images. Although attribution isn't required, it is encouraged. Include the provided attribution text when using images for any project. Registration isn't required; however, it allows you to save images and create and share collections.
tag(s): creative commons (22), images (254), photography (129)
In the Classroom
Use images from Unsplash as creative writing prompts. Have students create a multimedia presentation using Beautiful.AI, reviewed here. This site allows you to narrate a picture. Challenge students to find a photo (legally permitted to be reproduced) and then narrate it as a news report. Allow students to browse through Unsplash when locating images for multimedia projects and curate collections for all to use.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Making a Change: The First Amendment and the Civil Rights Movement - NewseumED
Grades
8 to 12
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Explore how the First Amendment influenced the Civil Rights Movement through this collection of resources from Newseum. The collection includes three teaching units with topics of Historical...more
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Explore how the First Amendment influenced the Civil Rights Movement through this collection of resources from Newseum. The collection includes three teaching units with topics of Historical Connections, Media Literacy, and Civics & Citizenship. In addition, an interactive timeline beginning in 1791 demonstrates the Civil Rights journey. A Google Civil Rights map includes links to important American newspapers and their coverage of civil rights events and leaders. Be sure to sign up for your free NewseumED account for complete access to all materials.
tag(s): black history (79), civil rights (144), constitution (86), journalism (65), media literacy (82), newspapers (90)
In the Classroom
Use any or all of the units and interactives with any Civil Rights lessons; this site isn't just for Black History Month! Share with journalism students as they explore the role of the press in shaping and telling the story of a nation. Have small groups or pairs of students enhance their learning by making a multimedia presentation exploring the First Amendment and the role of the press using a tool such as Sway, reviewed here. With the web-based Sway, you can include text, images, and video. To illustrate different press coverage around the nation, have students modify their learning by creating maps using Zeemaps, reviewed here. This tool allows students to create audio recordings AND choose a location on a map where the news report takes place.
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Civil Rights Movement Interactive Map - NewseumEd
Grades
8 to 12
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This interactive map includes links to newspaper coverage of civil rights stories from around the nation beginning with 1954 through 1965. Choose any year to view several front pages...more
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This interactive map includes links to newspaper coverage of civil rights stories from around the nation beginning with 1954 through 1965. Choose any year to view several front pages with coverage of major events. Read each front page by clicking "view larger image." For additional information on similar topics, scroll to the bottom of the page to find links to more artifacts.
tag(s): black history (79), civil rights (144), newspapers (90)
In the Classroom
Share a link to this site on your class website and allow students to explore on their own. Discuss their findings and interpretations of media coverage of civil rights events in class. Replace pen and paper and use an online tool such as Interactive Two Circle Venn Diagram, reviewed here, to compare and contrast media coverage in two different cities. Enhance learning by asking students to investigate newspapers from additional locations, then create a presentation sharing their findings using Presentious, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Semantris - Google
Grades
4 to 12
3 Favorites
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Semantris is an engaging pair of word association games offered as a Google experiment in predicting the use of words by players. Arcade is a quick-thinking game; write a word ...more
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Semantris is an engaging pair of word association games offered as a Google experiment in predicting the use of words by players. Arcade is a quick-thinking game; write a word associated with the shared selection to drop words to the bottom of a list as quickly as possible. Block is a slower paced game; try to provide a short phrase to describe one of the words in the blocks to drop the blocks and prevent them from reaching the top of the page.
tag(s): game based learning (155), logic (175), puzzles (152), vocabulary (233), vocabulary development (89), word study (54)
In the Classroom
Share Semantris with students on classroom computers or devices for use as a quick word association and vocabulary building activity. Challenge students to become more proficient in "beating" Google by earning as many points as possible. For younger students, this site is an excellent way to build vocabulary skills. Have older students take this site a step further and research how machine learning works through this Google activity. Enhance learning by asking them to substitute a traditional report or presentation by making a video explanation tool like Biteable, reviewed here, to describe the concept of machine learning. After spending some time practicing this game, take it a step further and extend student learning by having students create their own vocabulary learning game using a tool such as Scratch, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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News and Media Literacy Resource Center - Common Sense Media
Grades
6 to 12
4 Favorites
1 Comments
This collection of vetted resources provides activities and lessons for current news and social discussion topics. In addition to materials found for specific lessons, scroll further...more
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This collection of vetted resources provides activities and lessons for current news and social discussion topics. In addition to materials found for specific lessons, scroll further down the page to find curated collections for news and literacy, media literacy, and social and cultural literacy. Each collection includes regularly updated resources specially chosen to reinforce and practice each literacy skill. Pay particular attention to activities with a green heart icon; these are the site's favorite resources.
tag(s): bias (16), journalism (65), media literacy (82), news (237), social media (44)
In the Classroom
Bookmark this site to take advantage of the many curated resources for teaching media and news literacy. Use a curation tool like Padlet, reviewed here, to save and share favorite resources found on this site with students. Use the shelf option in Padlet to create columns and organize information by topic, type of content, or for use by different groups of students. Enhance instruction by asking students to become creators of information as they share their learning. Have students use Canva Infographic Maker, reviewed here, to create infographics to demonstrate different forms of media bias or to share facts learned from news articles. Extend learning even further by asking students to create blogs using Edublogs, reviewed here, to demonstrate how to write and share the news using credible information and factual resources.
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Comments
This is such a valuable resource and it's so helpful to have one collection that I know has been vetted with accurate, useful information that teachers can use for themselves as well as with their students. I also love the "In the Classroom" section with suggestions for ways to use the information and resources.Peggy, AZ, Grades: 0 - 8
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OK2Ask: Playlists to Personalize Learning - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12
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This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session is from May 2021. You can register and immediately view the archive of the session.
Personalizing instruction...more
Personalizing instruction...more
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This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session is from May 2021. You can register and immediately view the archive of the session.
Personalizing instruction doesn't have to be complicated. Using an instructional playlist is a simple way to honor student voice and choice while structuring the work your students do independently. This session will help you create playlists that integrate multiple types of activities while using incremental checkpoints. Of all the tools that you can put in your blended learning toolkit, the playlist is one that you don't want to miss. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Understand the purpose of instructional playlists; 2. Learn how using playlists can support student voice and choice; and 3. Begin planning an instructional playlist. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.
Personalizing instruction doesn't have to be complicated. Using an instructional playlist is a simple way to honor student voice and choice while structuring the work your students do independently. This session will help you create playlists that integrate multiple types of activities while using incremental checkpoints. Of all the tools that you can put in your blended learning toolkit, the playlist is one that you don't want to miss. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Understand the purpose of instructional playlists; 2. Learn how using playlists can support student voice and choice; and 3. Begin planning an instructional playlist. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.
In the Classroom
The archive of this teacher-friendly, hands-on webinar will empower and inspire you to use learning technology in the classroom and for professional productivity. As appropriate, specific classroom examples and ideas have been shared. View the session with a few of your teaching colleagues to find and share new ideas. Find additional information and links to tools at the session resource page. Learn more about OK2Ask and upcoming sessions here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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edX - Anant Agarwal
Grades
8 to 12
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edX offers access to many of the best courses offered at top learning institutions - for FREE! Institutions include MIT, Harvard, and Berkley. Classes are available to complete for...more
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edX offers access to many of the best courses offered at top learning institutions - for FREE! Institutions include MIT, Harvard, and Berkley. Classes are available to complete for a Certificate of Achievement or as an audit. Choose from courses with topics in many areas including computers, literature, and humanities. Each course listing offers a short description of the course, details about the university offering the course, estimated time involved, course staff, and available options for taking the course. Start any course at any time. Take the edX Demo course to get a good idea of how courses work and find out about the online learning experience.
tag(s): aeronautics (10), architecture (65), china (57), circuits (16), civil rights (144), computers (99), electricity (60), engineering (108), environment (220), evolution (86), folktales (34), greeks (28), magnetism (33), medicine (53), nutrition (131), poetry (178), psychology (63), religions (57), shakespeare (90), solar energy (32), speech (71), statistics (111), terrorism (41)
In the Classroom
Share with students on your interactive whiteboard and take the demo course together. This is perfect for use with gifted and advanced students as an option for college level courses and enrichment. Allow gifted students to enroll in courses that interest them or that provide enrichment beyond classroom content. Share with others, in your building, as a resource for professional development. Explore the topics yourself for some new, engaging topics to round out your own expertise. Allow students to enroll in a course that would fit into their career goals as an exploratory opportunity in that field.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Eagle Eye Citizen - Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media
Grades
5 to 12
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Develop civic understanding and historical thinking skills through interactive challenges found on Eagle Eye Citizen. These activities, geared toward middle and high school students,...more
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Develop civic understanding and historical thinking skills through interactive challenges found on Eagle Eye Citizen. These activities, geared toward middle and high school students, teach about American History using primary sources from the Library of Congress. The Solve link provides challenge puzzles to learn about historical events, the big picture, and sorting information into categories. Use the Teach link to find ideas for lessons and units based on this site's components, assessment ideas, and quick activities for use at any time. This link also includes several rubrics for use with the Challenge activities.
tag(s): branches of government (54), civil rights (144), congress (37), elections (75), immigrants (25), inquiry (23), presidents (112), Research (52), womens suffrage (30)
In the Classroom
Share activities from this site to introduce civics and government lessons; be sure to point out links with additional resources included after problem-solving activities. Share a link to this site on your class website for students to use at home. Replace written notes and help students organize information using a mind mapping tool like Coggle, reviewed here. Use Coggle to create and share colorful diagrams with included text and images. As students continue through the unit, have them enhance their learning by including their diagram on a website sharing their knowledge of civics concepts or discussing the historical event studied. Webnode, reviewed here, is a free website creator offering premade templates and easy to use tools. Transform student learning at the next level and ask them to create a book for younger students to teach them about the event studied using Book Creator,reviewed here. For example, when learning about the three branches of government ask students to create a digital book explaining the functions of the three branches. Book Creator allows you to include videos, images, audio recordings, and more.
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Annenberg Classroom - NPR/NY Times
Grades
6 to 12
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1 Comments
This collaborative website focuses on controversial contemporary issues, including juvenile justice, eco-topics, gun control, women's rights, voting rights, civil liberties in war,...more
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This collaborative website focuses on controversial contemporary issues, including juvenile justice, eco-topics, gun control, women's rights, voting rights, civil liberties in war, and affirmative action (go to Browse Topics from the Home page to find these). Help students understand the role of the news media in a democracy. This website combines the radio broadcast resources of Justice Talking and written articles and features from the NY Times Learning Network. Lesson plans corresponding to each "hot topic" offer social studies, language arts, and science teachers opportunities to connect the real news with topics in their curricula. A glossary of words important to the democratic process and a link to the Constitution with a "what it says, what it means" feature allow students to understand authentic sources as well as historical references. "In Their Own Words" (accessible from the Site Guide) provides primary source documents and statements from each of the three branches of government, from the press, and from schools.
tag(s): character education (64), civil rights (144), ecology (102), radio (22), women (97)
In the Classroom
Use this site to help students explore the branches of government in action as they address a "hot topic." Have groups of students listen to real broadcasts and analyze the issues as examples of the constitutional concepts you are studying. Make this link available from your teacher web page while studying the Constitution, the branches of government, and many other social studies topics. Use your interactive whiteboard or projection screen to share a video or audio clip to spark discussion on an issue or activate your lesson. Then, divide your class into teams and have a class debate about the issue. Have students prepare a pro/con wiki using links to the primary sources to support their position or create their own podcast commentaries with support for their opinions.Comments
Too many resources to even summarize. I can't wait to share this resource. CONSTITUTION ON SEPT. 17.Patricia, NJ, Grades: 6 - 12
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Beyond The Bubble - Stanford History Education Group
Grades
6 to 12
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Beyond the Bubble offers a new generation of history assessments that work hand in hand with Common Core Standards to provide a window into student thinking and promote academic literacy....more
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Beyond the Bubble offers a new generation of history assessments that work hand in hand with Common Core Standards to provide a window into student thinking and promote academic literacy. Refered to as "HATS" (History Assessment of Thinking), assessments go beyond recall to applying facts in context. Choose the assessment link to explore topics such as "Civil Rights Movement in Context" or "Edison and a Kansas Housewife." Lessons also include an interactive rubric and sample student responses. Don't miss the going deeper activities, such as videos. Click links to download materials available in PDF format.
tag(s): 1920s (13), assessment (121), civil rights (144), civil war (122), cold war (22), colonial america (90), immigrants (25), immigration (56), racism (60), rubrics (31), slavery (52), thanksgiving (25), war of 1812 (13), womens suffrage (30)
In the Classroom
Bookmark and save this excellent site as a resource for Common Core social studies literacy assessments. Many of these activities (and videos) are ideal for your interactive whiteboard or projector. Share the interactive rubric BEFORE the lesson, so students are aware of exactly what is expected. Use activities and materials provided on the site to teach lessons in character education, bias, and racism. Create your own similiar activities. Explore this site during professional development sessions for ideas for rubrics and lesson planning. Click on tags for "same assessment type" to find additional assessments not in the main list.
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OK2Ask: Enhancing Student Voice with Flipgrid - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12
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This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session is from July 2020. You can register and immediately view the archive of the session.
Input and expertise...more
Input and expertise...more
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This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session is from July 2020. You can register and immediately view the archive of the session.
Input and expertise from peers can help students learn and grow. Learn to use Flipgrid, a video discussion platform, to increase student voice in your classroom. This tech tool can enhance social learning and ignite discussion through sharing short videos centered around a topic. Getting started is easy. After this session, you will be ready to use Flipgrid to encourage every student to share what they know. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Create your classroom Grid and learn to add Topics with student prompts; 2. Understand ways to use Flipgrid to increase student voice in the classroom; and 3. Plan for the use of Flipgrid in the classroom. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.
Input and expertise from peers can help students learn and grow. Learn to use Flipgrid, a video discussion platform, to increase student voice in your classroom. This tech tool can enhance social learning and ignite discussion through sharing short videos centered around a topic. Getting started is easy. After this session, you will be ready to use Flipgrid to encourage every student to share what they know. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Create your classroom Grid and learn to add Topics with student prompts; 2. Understand ways to use Flipgrid to increase student voice in the classroom; and 3. Plan for the use of Flipgrid in the classroom. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.
tag(s): Microsoft (60), professional development (247), remote learning (33), video (244)
In the Classroom
The archive of this teacher-friendly, hands-on webinar will empower and inspire you to use learning technology in the classroom and for professional productivity. As appropriate, specific classroom examples and ideas have been shared. View the session with a few of your teaching colleagues to find and share new ideas. Find additional information and links to tools at the session resource page. Learn more about OK2Ask and upcoming sessions here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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