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.
Trace - Stickermule
Grades
K to 12In the Classroom
Bookmark this site for many classroom uses. Combine your downloaded image with others using a variety of tools, including Google Slides. Choose a background image of a city being studied, a different time, or in a far-away setting like the moon, then place your student image on top. Resize the image to fit the scene. Include this image as a starter for class projects. Use images on top of book covers for book talks, create images for story characters and heroes, or use for weather reports. The ideas for using this tool are only limited by your imagination and that of your students. Use your new images to modify or redefine classroom technology use by creating a ThingLink, reviewed here, presentation that includes text, videos, and more.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Pear Deck - Pear Deck
Grades
K to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): assessment (120), slides (53)
In the Classroom
Invite students to join. Students will not see your slides UNTIL you start the presentation. Use the presentation tools. Students' view of the presentation follows the changes you make. Be sure to become familiar with these tools before using the tools with students. As students join, their names appear in the dashboard view. Tools include Lock and Unlock Responses from students, Hide and Show Responses, Ask Again, and more. Answer the questions more than once if desired. Pear Deck maintains the results of both attempts.It may be a good idea to open both the Session Dashboard and the Projector View before using with the students. Keep each in separate tabs (or use a different device such as a tablet for one of these). Be sure to turn off student responses and lock responses UNTIL every student has responded (so students will not be swayed by other responses or change answers). With the draggable slide, insert an image that requires quick input such as where a basketball thrown at a hoop will land, where on a timeline image a specific event occurred, or where erosion would be deposited on a river bend picture. This resource is invaluable for presenting questions for quick formative assessment of the content that students are to learn in any subject area!
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Same or Different? - Brian Bushart
Grades
K to 5This site includes advertising.
tag(s): number sense (95)
In the Classroom
Include Same or Different? as part of your math routine to encourage mathematical thinking and discussion in your classroom. Record student responses on your whiteboard or using an online tool such as Google Jamboard, reviewed here. Share a link to your completed Jamboards with students to use as a reference for previous discussions. As students become more proficient in comparing and contrasting images, ask them to complete them on their own before sharing with the class. Insert images within your curated lessons created with a learning management system such as TES Teach Blendspace, reviewed here. Include student work by uploading to Seesaw, reviewed here, to include with their portfolio.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Scrooge for Mayor
Grades
8 to 12tag(s): christmas (46), dickens (9), england (56), holidays (138), victorian (19)
In the Classroom
This would actually be a great resource for a government class working right before the holidays! During a unit on campaigns, use this activity as a way for students to think outside of the box in applying their lessons. This could even be used alongside a language arts classroom studying "A Christmas Carol," to ensure all students are up to snuff on Scrooge's character. This is a fun way to look at political campaigns with an interdisciplinary focus.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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CC Search - Creative Commons
Grades
5 to 12tag(s): copyright (46), creative commons (22), images (270), photography (142), search engines (61)
In the Classroom
Use this image search in a variety of ways for classroom use. Ask students to find images of cells, animals, geographic formations, etc to use with class projects and presentations. Be sure to remind students to use the attribution link along with the photo, especially when publishing on the web. Keep this site as a reference link on your class web page for any time students are creating wikis, blogs, or electronic projects where they need images. They can find just the right picture with CC licensing, and you should require them to include the citation provided! Be sure that students understand the rules for sharing appropriate and inappropriate images and copyright concerns.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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OK2Ask: Engage & Inspire with Virtual Field Trips - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12tag(s): remote learning (17), virtual field trips (72)
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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Educational Videos for kids - NeoK12
Grades
K to 12NOTE: Although the videos are listed on this site, they actually "live" elsewhere on the Internet, so some videos may be blocked in your school (those on YouTube, for example). Always pretest to be sure the video you hope to use is accessible at school!
tag(s): ecosystems (87), insects (76), phonics (52), probability (130), solar system (123), speaking (22), statistics (129), writing (318)
In the Classroom
Share these videos on your interactive whiteboard or projector. This is a great site to use when planning for substitute teachers, as an introduction to a new unit, or even as additional information on a specific topic.Challenge cooperative learning groups to create their own videos about topics being studied in social studies, science, math, or nearly any other topic. Include this link on your class web page for students to access outside of schools for reinforcement and further exploration of concepts.
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TeacherTube - Teacher Tube, LLC
Grades
K to 12tag(s): video (259)
In the Classroom
If you are looking for a specific topic, save time and use the search option If you wish to add comments or upload your own Teachertube video, you must register as a user at the site. Create and save your edited videos where you can find them on your computer. (Windows Movie Maker or iMovie are great, free tools for video). Then upload to TeacherTube. You will also receive comments on your uploaded videos. If the teacher is the one uploading, the only potential concerns include posting videos with identifiable information or images about your students, school, or class. Check your school policies about posting pictures of your school. If you post student videos, obtain written parent permission to post student work, again within school policies. Any student visible in a video should also have parent permission in accordance with school policies. The most common classroom use would be viewing many videos that match curriculum content. Rap math, visit Anne Frank's historical locations, or view a grammar lesson--these are just a sampling of videos that you may want to use to enhance your curriculum lessons. Use your interactive whiteboard or projector to share the videos with the class. Use the site's videos as an anticipatory set to a new unit or lesson on a specific topic. Have your students create their own TeacherTube video together as a class on any lesson/topic that you are teaching. Have a contest for the best videos and upload the winners to the site (within school policies, of course). Once the class has videos hosted at TeacherTube, you can also embed them in your class bog or wiki for easy sharing with those in your extended online "community."Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Autism Spectrum Disorders and Asperger's Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12tag(s): aspergers (5), autism (16), preK (277), Special Needs (42)
In the Classroom
Share this collection with parents and colleagues using the "email this" link.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Autism Society of America - ASA
Grades
K to 12tag(s): aspergers (5), autism (16), behavior (45), Special Needs (42)
In the Classroom
Use this site to learn the basics about autism. No classroom teacher can be expected to be an expert on autism, but this site may help you understand some of what you see and some of the more recent information about autism, especially since few teachers receive much training about this in their teacher-ed programs. If you have students in your classes with autism, ask your principal if you can spend part of an inservice day reading and exploring this and other TeachersFirst resources listings on autism. This independent study may save your sanity and benefit students who really need our understanding. This is a great resource to provide to parents!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Promoting A Sense Of Self: Experiences And Activities - Virtual Lab School
Grades
K to 1tag(s): bias (15), bullying (56), character education (68), diversity (37), identity (21), professional development (228)
In the Classroom
Share this lesson with your peers to use as a learning opportunity or review the included ideas to support students' identity and awareness of others' diversity. Consider sharing a link to this article with parents to help them develop skills for discussing character issues and diversity at home. Use Padlet, reviewed here, to share this article with parents and curate other information from a variety of resources to support and provide education with dealing with character education issues at home.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Using iPads for Literacy and Research in Kindergarten - Dr. Kristi Meeuwse
Grades
K to 3tag(s): descriptive writing (39), preK (277), Research (44), writers workshop (30)
In the Classroom
Use this article as a starting point to develop a research unit on any topic for students in primary grades. Engage students in the learning process by offering a variety of learning materials that appeal to different learners. Use a bookmarking tool such as Symbaloo, reviewed here, to curate and share online resources with students. Symbaloo is especially helpful for younger students because the linked icons make it easy to organize information into groups and provide a visual clue to the linked information. Enhance learning further using resources found at ReadWriteThink, reviewed here. Search for the Animal Inquiry Interactive, for example, to use in creating a graphic organizer sharing animal facts, including habitat, interaction with others, and more. In addition to using Book Creator, reviewed here, to create students' final projects, consider using WriteReader, reviewed here, for younger students and emerging readers and writers. WriteReader offers unique features, including the option for students to tell a story in their writing, while the "adult" version is shown below with correct spellings.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Read Ahead - Full Tilt Ahead, LLC
Grades
3 to 12tag(s): literacy (92), reading comprehension (121), vocabulary (256), vocabulary development (99)
In the Classroom
Include Read Ahead with your other resources for teaching vocabulary. Read Ahead is perfect for introducing any reading passage to struggling readers, special education students, and ESL/ELL learners. Create presentations for articles found in science or social studies materials to prepare students for difficult vocabulary and phrases. Take advantage of this site to use reading material with your students that might otherwise be above their reading level. Instead of asking students to use vocabulary in sentences to demonstrate understanding, ask them to use the words to create digital stories using an online tool like Book Creator, reviewed here. Book Creator can be used for a variety of assignments in any classroom that is integrating technology as an enhancement, modification, or transformation.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Wordwall - wordwall.net
Grades
K to 12tag(s): assessment (120), game based learning (160), quiz (67), quizzes (81)
In the Classroom
Use the interactive games found at Wordwall to use at computer stations or home to practice skills or prepare for upcoming quizzes and tests. Use the embed code to add your games onto your class website for easy student access. Instead of asking students to memorize dates or events, help them by organizing the information into common features. For example, during a Civil War unit, group together events taking place in different cities to help provide context for students. Include a link to your quizzes on your class webpage or blog for students to practice at any time using the URL or embed code. Enhance technology use and learning by having students create their own Z-A quizzes to share with peers when studying for tests or use as an introduction with class presentations. This quiz generator is also a great resource to use during professional development sessions with your peers. Create a quiz to increase your viewers' interest in your topic as you begin your discussions or as a final activity to review information shared.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Teacherstack - Teacherstack
Grades
K to 6tag(s): classroom management (143), Teacher Utilities (99)
In the Classroom
Use Teacherstack to manage everyday classroom routines easily. Display on your whiteboard to help students understand group rotation schedules, use the time and transition sound to keep everyone on schedule. Start with longer transition times as you introduce station rotations, then reduce the time as students understand rotation procedures. Create a to-do list to display and share with reminders of upcoming events throughout the day. A to-do list is beneficial for use on days when there are disruptions to normal routines and schedules, such as early release days or special events.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Smithsonian Open Access - Smithsonian
Grades
K to 12tag(s): art history (79), images (270), primary sources (103), Research (44), sculpture (21)
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.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Open Up Resources - Open Up Resources
Grades
K to 8tag(s): data (151), decimals (125), exponents (45), factoring (31), fractions (230), guided reading (39), measurement (168), OER (33), transformations (17), writing (318)
In the Classroom
Include this site to supplement your current ELA and math curriculum. Use the resources to differentiate instruction for gifted students in lower grades or as remediation for struggling students in older grades. Be sure to take advantage of the family materials providing explanations of math content and strategies for problem-solving. Use the student materials for differentiating instruction or as homework. Have students share their math explanations, reading strategies and more with video explanations using a tool like FlipGrid, reviewed here. FlipGrid provides a tool for video responses to a question along with comments from peers. Extend learning by asking students to create and share their own math problems, along with suggestions for learning. Use a tool like Sway, reviewed here. Sway is a presentation tool that offers multimedia options, including text, video, and images.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Alison - Mike Feerick
Grades
10 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): careers (148), chinese (48), coding (78), engineering (128), french (82), german (59), literature (232), Online Learning (15), politics (105), psychology (66), sociology (24), spanish (109), STEM (215)
In the Classroom
Use Alison to find professional learning courses, learn the basics of a new language, or for personal development. Share Alison with students to learn skills not offered in school or share with ESL/ELL students to use when learning English. Use Alison with student cohorts interested in learning about a new topic or preparing for college-level courses.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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