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Juneteenth Resources for Students of All Ages - Graduation Alliance

Grades
K to 12
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Explore this teacher-friendly collection of books, videos, and learning resources designed to help students better understand the history and significance of Juneteenth. The site organizes...more
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Explore this teacher-friendly collection of books, videos, and learning resources designed to help students better understand the history and significance of Juneteenth. The site organizes recommendations by grade bands (K-5, 6-8, and 9-12), making it easy for educators to locate age-appropriate materials that explore emancipation, freedom, African American history, and the ongoing importance of Juneteenth celebrations. Resources include read-alouds, historical nonfiction, poetry, interactive stories, songs, and educational videos from sources such as Sesame Street and PBS. Teachers can use the collection to support social studies, reading comprehension, media literacy, cultural awareness, and classroom discussions connected to history, citizenship, and diversity.

tag(s): african american (130), holidays (283), Juneteenth (31), poetry (196)

In the Classroom

Watch one of the educational videos suggested on the page, such as a PBS or Sesame Street resource, and lead a class discussion about freedom, equality, and why Juneteenth is still celebrated today. Create a poetry and art activity in which students read poems connected to freedom or perseverance, then design an illustration, collage, or symbolic artwork that represents the meaning of Juneteenth. Extend learning through a community connection project by having students interview family or community members about traditions, celebrations, or important historical events they remember. Students can compile responses into a class book, a podcast with Buzzsprout, reviewed here, or a bulletin board display about remembrance and community history.

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Celebrating Juneteenth - Museum of the City of New York

Grades
3 to 12
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The Museum of the City of New York's "Celebrating Juneteenth" page provides historical background, poetry, music, and reflection activities that help students explore the meaning and...more
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The Museum of the City of New York's "Celebrating Juneteenth" page provides historical background, poetry, music, and reflection activities that help students explore the meaning and significance of Juneteenth. The resource explains the history of the holiday, including the events of June 19, 1865, and features multimedia components such as spoken-word performances, interviews, and guided poetry-writing exercises featuring poet Shanelle Gabriel. Teachers can use the site to support discussions about freedom, identity, Black history, civic understanding, and creative expression while integrating social studies, ELA, poetry, and culturally responsive learning into the classroom. If your district blocks YouTube, the videos may not be viewable.

tag(s): african american (130), holidays (283), Juneteenth (31), poetry (196)

In the Classroom

After learning about the history of Juneteenth, have students create a classroom timeline using MyLens, reviewed here that highlights important events from the Emancipation Proclamation through June 19, 1865, and modern Juneteenth celebrations. Students can add illustrations, quotes, and historical facts. Encourage students to complete a reflection journal activity in which they respond to prompts about equality, justice, and civic responsibility. Pair the writing activity with small-group discussions to build speaking and listening skills. Use the spoken-word poetry examples on the site as mentor texts, and have students write their own poems about freedom, identity, hope, or community. Students can perform their poems during a classroom poetry celebration.

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Memorial Day Activities That Take Ten Minutes or Less - Literacy in Focus

Grades
4 to 8
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View this collection of quick, low-prep Memorial Day activities designed specifically for upper elementary and middle school classrooms. The resource is especially helpful for teachers...more
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View this collection of quick, low-prep Memorial Day activities designed specifically for upper elementary and middle school classrooms. The resource is especially helpful for teachers during the busy end-of-year period, offering short activities that can be completed in about ten minutes while still teaching the meaning and history of Memorial Day. Ideas include watching a brief informational video with guiding questions, analyzing poetry such as "In Flanders Fields," completing close-reading tasks, exploring symbolism through art, comparing Memorial Day and Veterans Day, analyzing quotes, and responding to writing prompts. Overall, the site emphasizes meaningful, engaging ways to build students' understanding of remembrance, gratitude, and the holiday's significance without requiring extensive planning or class time.

tag(s): holidays (283), memorial day (26), poetry (196), veterans (37)

In the Classroom

Introduce students to the poem In Flanders Fields by John McCrae. Students can identify imagery, tone, and theme, then discuss how the poem connects to the purpose of Memorial Day. Have students create a Venn diagram using the Interactive 2 Circle Venn Diagram by ReadWriteThink, reviewed here comparing Memorial Day and Veterans Day. Provide students with a short informational passage about Memorial Day. Have them annotate for key ideas, unfamiliar vocabulary, and important details.
 This resource requires PDF reader software like Adobe Acrobat.

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Open Culture Free Audiobooks - Open Culture, LLC

Grades
4 to 12
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The "Free Audio Books" section of Open Culture offers teachers a rich, no-cost library of over 1,000 audiobooks covering classic and contemporary works in fiction, poetry, and nonfiction....more
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The "Free Audio Books" section of Open Culture offers teachers a rich, no-cost library of over 1,000 audiobooks covering classic and contemporary works in fiction, poetry, and nonfiction. Among the featured titles are Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, 1984 by George Orwell, Moby-Dick by Herman Melville, and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. All selections are available for streaming or download in multiple formats, making them ideal for classroom listening, literature circles, or at-home reading support. Please note that if your district blocks YouTube, some audiobook versions hosted there may not be accessible.
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tag(s): audio books (43), authors (113), cultures (290), novels (34)

In the Classroom

Assign different classic audiobooks to small groups (such as Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, The Secret Garden, or The Great Gatsby. Have students listen to selected chapters and discuss plot, tone, and character development. After listening to a story or poem, have students record their own dramatic reading, poem response, or character interview using classroom recording tools or free platforms like Adobe Podcast, reviewed here. Pair an audiobook like 1984 or Pride and Prejudice with a brief research activity about the novel's time period. Students can create posters or slides using Canva for Education, reviewed here templates showing how the story reflects its era.

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Swoop, Lift & Leap to the Lore - The Kennedy Center

Grades
6 to 8
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The Kennedy Center's "Swoop, Lift & Leap to the Lore" resource invites students to choreograph movements inspired by poetry written by Indigenous and Native Peoples of North America....more
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The Kennedy Center's "Swoop, Lift & Leap to the Lore" resource invites students to choreograph movements inspired by poetry written by Indigenous and Native Peoples of North America. It encourages cultural appreciation, creative expression, and kinesthetic learning. The site includes videos and detailed lesson plans to guide instruction; however, if your district blocks YouTube, the videos will not be viewable.

tag(s): cultures (290), dance (42), native americans (131), poetry (196)

In the Classroom

Read a short poem aloud and have students respond with spontaneous gestures that reflect keywords or emotions to introduce the concept of expressing language through movement. In small groups, have students select a poem by an Indigenous author and choreograph a short movement piece that conveys its imagery, rhythm, and meaning, following the lesson plan. Host a classroom performance day where students share their choreography and give constructive feedback based on interpretation, creativity, and cultural respect.

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Guantanamera: A Poem and a Song - The Kennedy Center

Grades
9 to 12
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Infuse your music or language arts classroom with cultural and poetic exploration through "Guantanamera: A Poem and a Song," a Kennedy Center lesson that invites students to research...more
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Infuse your music or language arts classroom with cultural and poetic exploration through "Guantanamera: A Poem and a Song," a Kennedy Center lesson that invites students to research and analyze the iconic Cuban folk song made famous in English by Pete Seeger. Students delve into the origins of the song's lyrics, rooted in Jose Marti's poetry, and investigate its musical structure, cultural significance, and global adaptations. They then compare different performances to understand how meaning shifts through interpretation. The unit concludes with students crafting their own lyrical or musical version of "Guantanamera," demonstrating their grasp of poetic themes, musical elements, and cultural resonance. This lesson package includes research guides, lyric analysis tools, listening prompts, performance comparisons, and creative assignment outlines to support both analytical and expressive learning. If your district blocks YouTube, then the videos may not be viewable.

tag(s): hispanic (54), poetry (196)

In the Classroom

Have students read and analyze selected stanzas from Jose Marti's poetry used in the lyrics of "Guantanamera," identifying key themes such as freedom, justice, and identity. Play different versions of "Guantanamera" (e.g., Pete Seeger, Celia Cruz, Cuban folk renditions) and have students compare how tempo, instrumentation, and vocal delivery affect the message and mood. Assign students to choose a poem and adapt it into lyrics for a folk song, reflecting how Marti's poetry became part of Cuban musical tradition.

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America, A Home for Every Culture - The Kennedy Center

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3 to 5
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The "America, A Home for Every Culture" lesson from the Kennedy Center helps students explore how immigration has shaped American language, music, and food through interactive, hands-on...more
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The "America, A Home for Every Culture" lesson from the Kennedy Center helps students explore how immigration has shaped American language, music, and food through interactive, hands-on learning. Students begin with a "Borrowed Word Game" using the Teacher Reference Sheet "A World of Words" to trace English words back to their language of origin and map them globally. In the music segment, students listen to diverse musical samples (Irish, Latin, Yiddish), explore instruments via the Smithsonian's Instrument Encyclopedia, and label instrument images on a map. For a culinary connection, students read "This Is the Way We Eat Our Lunch" and create a Multicultural Family Recipe Book using handouts such as "My Recipe" and "My Family Member." The lesson concludes with a Multicultural Festival, in which students research an immigrant group and present findings on its holidays, music, food, clothing, dance, and poetry. Resources linked to the page include assessment rubrics, the poem "Face to Face" by Anita E. Posey, and additional lesson ideas such as the Melting Pot Recipe Book and cross-curricular arts-based activities to extend learning.

tag(s): africa (154), cultures (290), immigrants (50), immigration (81), ireland (13), jews (63), latin (23)

In the Classroom

Have students identify and collect words in everyday use that come from different languages. They can create word cards and pin them to a large classroom map to show each word's origin. Ask students to interview family members about traditional recipes and fill out the "My Recipe" and "My Family Member" handouts. Compile them into a class recipe book to celebrate cultural diversity. After reading "Face to Face" by Anita E. Posey, students can write poems about identity, heritage, or their family's cultural background and share them during a classroom poetry circle. Organize a classroom or school-wide multicultural festival. Students can create displays, performances, or food samples representing a culture they studied and share their research on traditions, music, and customs.

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How to Incorporate Art into Different Subjects Curriculums - Art Sprouts

Grades
K to 8
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Looking to spark creativity while boosting comprehension across your curriculum? The Art Sprouts article "How to Incorporate Art into Different Subject Curriculums" offers a treasure...more
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Looking to spark creativity while boosting comprehension across your curriculum? The Art Sprouts article "How to Incorporate Art into Different Subject Curriculums" offers a treasure trove of ideas for seamlessly blending visual art into science, math, history, language arts, and even PE. For science, it suggests using scientific illustration, nature journaling, infographics, economics, language arts, and chemistry art projects to enhance observational understanding. In math, tessellation, geometric designs, fractal art, origami, and data visualization help students grasp key concepts visually. Integrating art into history and language arts includes portraiture, cultural artifact studies, political cartoons, book illustrations, comic creation, poetry posters, and storytelling murals. Even physical education can benefit from action painting and movement-based performance art. Overall, the post emphasizes that art can deepen cross-disciplinary understanding, strengthen academic skills, and help students make meaningful connections while enjoying learning.

tag(s): comics and cartoons (61), cross cultural understanding (177), data (212), geometric shapes (151), infographics (69), journals (22), origami (14), poetry (196), stories and storytelling (72), tessellations (6)

In the Classroom

Take students outside to observe plants or animals and have them record their findings through detailed sketches and annotations. They can complete the journals online using Book Creator, reviewed here. Combine movement and art by having students dip sponges or brushes in paint and use physical motions -- jumps, swings, spins -- to create large collaborative canvases, connecting creativity with kinesthetic learning. After studying a historical figure, have students create a timeline using MyLens, reviewed here.

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Passover Activities for Kids and Adults Guide - Reform Judaism.org

Grades
K to 12
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This Passover Activities booklet is a free, downloadable resource filled with creative ideas to help students and families explore the themes and traditions of Passover, the Jewish...more
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This Passover Activities booklet is a free, downloadable resource filled with creative ideas to help students and families explore the themes and traditions of Passover, the Jewish spring festival celebrating freedom through the retelling of the Israelites' Exodus from Egypt. The PDF includes a mix of engaging crafts, recipes (such as homemade matzah and macaroons), poetry and storytelling prompts, table place-card projects, and hands-on activities that make cultural and historical learning interactive across age groups. It's designed for classroom use or family celebrations, supporting meaningful discussions on heritage, symbolism, and community.

tag(s): crafts (109), cultures (290), holidays (283), jews (63)

In the Classroom

Families and students can participate in the activities featured in the guide. Students can create a Book Creator book, reviewed here with their Six Word Poems. Students can use Google Keep, reviewed here to list the steps that they used while creating their Matzahs. Have students learn more about Passover using Kidrex, reviewed here.
 This resource requires PDF reader software like Adobe Acrobat.

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Explore Hour of AI Activities - CSforALL

Grades
K to 12
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The Hour of AI website, created in partnership by CSforALL and Code.org, offers free, hands-on activities that introduce students to artificial intelligence in a meaningful and accessible...more
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The Hour of AI website, created in partnership by CSforALL and Code.org, offers free, hands-on activities that introduce students to artificial intelligence in a meaningful and accessible way. It provides ready-to-use tutorials, teacher guides, event registration tools, and multilingual resources to help K-12 educators lead engaging hour-long AI learning experiences without needing prior expertise. Teachers can choose from unplugged or tech-enabled activities that connect to any subject area, helping students explore AI concepts, creativity, and the responsible use of technology. Topics/activities include AI Quests, Minecraft Hour of AI: The First Night, AI HackStack: Poetry in Motion, Vibe Coding: Build Your First Game Using AI, Dance Party: AI Edition, and countless others! The site also includes downloadable posters, email templates, and resource toolkits that make it easy to plan, launch, and promote an event at school, giving teachers a friendly and practical entry point for building AI literacy and empowering students to become thoughtful creators of technology. If your district blocks YouTube, then the videos may not be viewable.

tag(s): artificial intelligence (274), coding (106)

In the Classroom

Have students explore how computers recognize objects by sorting pictures into groups, then compare their choices to an AI model's results. Discuss how AI "learns" from examples and what happens when data is biased or incomplete. Challenge students to imagine an AI system that could solve a real-world problem in their community, such as recycling or accessibility. They can create posters or short videos using Adobe Express Video Maker, reviewed here to pitch their ideas, emphasizing creativity and ethical use. Show one of the Hour of AI introduction videos, then have students brainstorm where AI appears in their daily lives, such as music recommendations, navigation apps, or digital assistants, and present their findings with examples.

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Winter Solstice Resources - TeachersFirst

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K to 12
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Bring the magic of the winter solstice into your classroom with activities that blend science, culture, and creativity! The shortest day of the year (December 21st in the Northern Hemisphere)...more
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Bring the magic of the winter solstice into your classroom with activities that blend science, culture, and creativity! The shortest day of the year (December 21st in the Northern Hemisphere) offers a perfect opportunity to explore Earth's tilt and orbit through hands-on demonstrations with globes and flashlights, helping students visualize why we experience different amounts of daylight throughout the year. You can also take a multicultural approach by learning about how different societies have celebrated this astronomical event for thousands of years--from Stonehenge's ancient alignment with the solstice sunrise to festivals like Yule, Dongzhi, and Inti Raymi that honor the return of longer days. Creative activities might include graphing sunrise and sunset times throughout the year, writing poetry about light and darkness, creating winter solstice lanterns, or researching how animals and plants respond to changing daylight. These resources not only teach important STEM concepts about astronomy and seasons, but also foster appreciation for diverse cultural traditions and our shared human experience of observing the natural world.

tag(s): holidays (283), snow (22)

In the Classroom

Help your students learn more about the winter solstice. Find resources on this list for students to use in cooperative learning groups. Read each resource's Classroom Use section to learn how to incorporate its information into your lessons.

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Project Zero Videos - Harvard Graduate School of Education

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K to 12
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The Project Zero YouTube channel at Harvard Graduate School of Education offers a rich library of short and long videos designed for educators and students. On this channel, you will...more
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The Project Zero YouTube channel at Harvard Graduate School of Education offers a rich library of short and long videos designed for educators and students. On this channel, you will find classroom demonstrations of thinking routines, researcher interviews, student reflections, and professional learning sessions that show how students across grade levels engage deeply with ideas. The videos provide concrete examples of bringing inquiry, visible thinking, and dialogue into your teaching practice, making it easy to find inspiration and adapt strategies for your own classroom. If your district blocks YouTube, the videos may not be viewable at school.
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tag(s): thinking routines (30), thinking skills (99)

In the Classroom

Begin a lesson with a short Project Zero classroom video. Students can write what they see, what they think is happening, and what they wonder. Make the KWL chart digital using Infographics Presentation Templates, reviewed here. After reading a story or completing a poetry unit, have students watch a video that highlights deeper thinking routines, then reflect on how their understanding of a character, theme, or literary device has changed throughout the unit. Assign students to write a short headline that captures a major idea from a chapter or poem, and explain how the headline connects to the story. They can compare their headlines to ideas shown in Project Zero videos to deepen comprehension.

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FlipHTML5 - FlipHTML5

Grades
K to 12
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Create flipbooks from your documents or artificial intelligence, or start from scratch with FlipHTML5. Free plans offer five daily uploads, six pre-designed layouts, and mobile-friendly...more
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Create flipbooks from your documents or artificial intelligence, or start from scratch with FlipHTML5. Free plans offer five daily uploads, six pre-designed layouts, and mobile-friendly options. Choose from several language options to include in the book's contents. Choose from several AI generators for creating storybooks, magazines, flashcards, and more. Utilizing the AI generator to create a book requires several minutes, so it's important to plan for this option ahead of time.

tag(s): artificial intelligence (274), digital storytelling (163)

In the Classroom

Upload PDF versions of students' writing to create a digital classbook. Use one of the many tools available from TinyWow reviewed here to convert images and documents into PDF files to use with FlipHTML5. Make a flipbook of a presentation as an engaging alternative to a web page or PowerPoint. Share classroom information such as rules and expectations in an easy-to-read format. Use this resource as a great way to bring digital storytelling upfront in your classroom. Make photosynthesis a story instead of bits of equations and information. Portray a historical period or create books of different political or societal opinions. Create a flipbook with the viewpoints and personalities of characters in a story. Practice a different language by creating a themed flipbook. Lower grades can combine writing into a class flipbook to be shared online or read aloud. Any written assignment can easily be re-visioned as a flipbook! Make your literary magazine a flipbook or build new poetry collections during poetry month. Share all your flipbooks on individual laptops, the interactive whiteboard, or the projector. Create simple flipbooks of Dolch words for beginning readers.

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Reading Trek: Pride - TeachersFirst

Grades
8 to 12
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Take a virtual field trip with this Reading Trek based on Ibi Zoboi's Pride, a contemporary retelling of Pride and Prejudice set in Bushwick, Brooklyn. This Reading Trek includes a...more
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Take a virtual field trip with this Reading Trek based on Ibi Zoboi's Pride, a contemporary retelling of Pride and Prejudice set in Bushwick, Brooklyn. This Reading Trek includes a Teacher Guide that uses Google My Maps, reviewed here, to trace key settings from Zuri Benitez's neighborhood to the wealthy world of the Darcy family. Students can use digital tools to compare Bushwick and Manhattan, create "Then and Now" galleries, build playlists that capture mood and identity, and explore how place shapes character and theme. Extension activities include community pride projects, digital art galleries, podcasts about belonging, and poetry inspired by Zuri's voice. Teaching suggestions connect to Common Core English Language Arts Standards, National Curriculum Standards for Social Studies, National Core Arts Standards for Visual Arts, and Social Justice Standards focusing on identity and diversity.

tag(s): cultures (290), poetry (196)

In the Classroom

Take advantage of the many lesson ideas in the Teachers' Guide to bring Pride to life and connect students to Zuri Benitez's world of culture, community, and change. Challenge students to compare Bushwick and Manhattan by creating a digital Venn diagram using Canva's Venn Diagram Maker, reviewed here, to explore how setting shapes identity and opportunity. Encourage creativity by having students design a "Then and Now" gallery with Photo Joiner, reviewed here, showcasing how Bushwick has evolved over time and how those changes mirror Zuri's experiences in the novel. Finally, have students create a Pandora playlist, reviewed here, inspired by the book's locations and moods, with each song reflecting a character's emotions or a moment of transformation.
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Poetry Everywhere - PBS LearningMedia

Grades
6 to 12
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The "Poetry Everywhere" collection on PBS LearningMedia offers educators a diverse array of poetry-related resources, including videos of contemporary poets reading their work and animations...more
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The "Poetry Everywhere" collection on PBS LearningMedia offers educators a diverse array of poetry-related resources, including videos of contemporary poets reading their work and animations of classic poems. These materials are designed to engage students with the art of poetry, enhance their appreciation for poetic expression, and support the integration of poetry into the classroom curriculum.

tag(s): poetry (196)

In the Classroom

Choose one animated poem from the collection. Students can analyze how the visuals enhance or shift the poem's meaning, then make their own using Powtoon reviewed here. Students can write and record their own poem inspired by one from the collection, then explain their inspiration in a short "mini-podcast" format using Castbox Creator Studio reviewed here or Adobe Podcast, reviewed here. Host a poetry slam where students perform their own work or a favorite poem from the collection. Include audience feedback and reflection. After watching 2-3 poet videos, students create a visual "Poet Portrait" -- a one-pager that includes a photo or sketch of the poet, a favorite quote from their poem, and a few lines of personal response or connection.

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Let's Talk About: Oral Language Development - TeachersFirst

Grades
K to 12
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This blog post highlights how the African American Read-In can be a powerful opportunity to strengthen students' oral language development, an essential component of the Science of...more
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This blog post highlights how the African American Read-In can be a powerful opportunity to strengthen students' oral language development, an essential component of the Science of Reading. While foundational skills like phonics and decoding are critical, students also need rich language experiences to become fluent, thoughtful readers. The blog shares creative, tech-friendly strategies across grade levels from elementary students retelling folktales using BookCreator, to middle schoolers podcasting about activism, to high schoolers debating literary themes or building historical timelines of African American poets. Each activity fosters confident speaking, narrative structure, and verbal reasoning, bringing student voice to the forefront as they celebrate African American literature.

tag(s): african american (130), blogs (73), digital literacy (31), digital storytelling (163), fluency (32), folktales (35), literacy (125), podcasts (155)

In the Classroom

Use author events (e.g., Jason Reynolds or Stephen Curry on Flip) to spark a conversation about personal strengths. Students can then record a short video using Adobe Express Video Maker reviewed here story about a time they used their "superpower". After reading memoirs like Brown Girl Dreaming or Turning 15 on the Road to Freedom, students can research a personal or social issue and record a podcast using Acast reviewed here. Host a classroom or school-wide poetry slam where students perform original or selected poems by African American authors. Focus on expression, pacing, and audience awareness to develop public speaking confidence and cultural appreciation.

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JANM Educational Resources - Japanese American National Museum

Grades
K to 12
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The Japanese American National Museum (JANM) Education Resources website offers a wealth of materials for teaching about Japanese American history, culture, and civil rights. Educators...more
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The Japanese American National Museum (JANM) Education Resources website offers a wealth of materials for teaching about Japanese American history, culture, and civil rights. Educators can access lesson plans, digital exhibits, primary sources, and interactive activities that explore topics such as immigration, incarceration during World War II, and contributions to American society. These resources help students engage with history through storytelling, critical thinking, and discussions on civil liberties, making them valuable for social studies, history, and civics classrooms. If your district blocks YouTube, then the videos may not be viewable.

tag(s): civil rights (220), critical thinking (171), fashion (13), immigrants (50), immigration (81), japan (62), japanese (53), origami (14), stories and storytelling (72), world war 2 (169)

In the Classroom

After learning about Japanese American incarceration during WWII, have students fold paper cranes to symbolize hope and resilience. Have students write reflections on civil rights and social justice, connecting history to present-day issues. Inspired by real stories from Japanese American incarceration, students can create a fictional diary entry from the perspective of a young Japanese American during WWII, incorporating historical details from JANM's resources. After exploring the site's exhibits on civil rights, students can design posters, digital art, or poetry that advocate for justice and remembrance of past injustices, drawing connections to modern social movements. Create any of these projects digitally, using Google Slides reviewed here or Canva Infographic Creator, reviewed here.

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The Jewish Americans - PBS

Grades
6 to 12
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The PBS Jewish Americans website provides educational resources exploring Jewish history, culture, and contributions in the United States. It includes lesson plans, discussion guides,...more
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The PBS Jewish Americans website provides educational resources exploring Jewish history, culture, and contributions in the United States. It includes lesson plans, discussion guides, and primary source materials that help teachers integrate Jewish American experiences into their curriculum. The site covers topics such as immigration, civil rights, and notable Jewish figures, making it a valuable tool for fostering historical understanding and cultural appreciation in the classroom.

tag(s): civil rights (220), cultures (290), immigration (81), jews (63)

In the Classroom

Utilize the links on the PBS resources page to visit virtual exhibits from institutions like the Museum of Jewish Heritage or the Lower East Side Tenement Museum. Assign students to explore specific exhibits and share their findings with the class. Guide students to use JewishGen, a genealogy resource linked on the PBS site, to research Jewish immigration patterns. Students can investigate family histories or community case studies and then present their insights on how these migrations influenced local cultures. After researching Jewish American music, art, or literature using the PBS resources, students can create artistic pieces inspired by their findings. This could include composing music, creating visual art, writing poetry, or performing scenes that reflect Jewish American cultural themes.

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AI Poem Generator - poem-generator.io

Grades
3 to 12
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With this poem generation tool, you can generate poems in several styles from a prompt. Add your prompt, choose a style, and select the poem's length, and voila, your poem ...more
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With this poem generation tool, you can generate poems in several styles from a prompt. Add your prompt, choose a style, and select the poem's length, and voila, your poem appears! Download your poem as a docx document, copy the text, or download it to your device. As you select a poem style, scroll down the page to learn about the style. For example, choose Haiku to read a description of Haiku poetry, information on how Haikus differ from English poems, and FAQs about the origin of Haiku poetry.
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tag(s): artificial intelligence (274), digital storytelling (163), poetry (196)

In the Classroom

Use the Poem Generator to introduce students to different forms of poems through exploration and use of the generator's features. Challenge students to identify the features that indicate various types of poems. Create a class Padlet, reviewed here, with columns for each type of poem, and ask students to share their creations in the appropriate column. After students have had time to experiment with the Poem Generator, challenge them to create poems without using this tool. Extend learning by adding a reading of their final project to Adobe Podcast, reviewed here. Ask students to create podcasts that include their reading of the poem and a short discussion about the features that identify the poem as belonging to a specific genre.
 

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Text FX - Google

Grades
5 to 12
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The TextFX by Google website is a powerful AI-driven tool designed to support creative writing and language exploration in the classroom. It includes features such as an alliteration...more
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The TextFX by Google website is a powerful AI-driven tool designed to support creative writing and language exploration in the classroom. It includes features such as an alliteration generator to craft phrases with repeated initial sounds, an acronym creator to develop memorable and creative abbreviations, and a simile maker to enhance writing with vivid comparisons using "like" or "as." Additionally, it offers a rhyme finder for poetry and songwriting, a synonym suggestion tool to expand vocabulary, and a text remixing function to inspire new ideas and interpretations. These features make TextFX a versatile resource for engaging students in writing activities, enriching their language skills, and inspiring creativity through fun, interactive tasks.

tag(s): artificial intelligence (274), creative writing (126), descriptive writing (43), figurative language (19)

In the Classroom

Have your students input sentences or paragraphs into the Synonym Suggestion or Text Remixing tools and compare how the word choices change tone or meaning. Students can use the Rhyme Finder to create lyrics for a song or a rap about a classroom theme or subject. Encourage them to experiment with rhythm, wordplay, and rhyming patterns. Students can use the Simile Maker to generate creative comparisons for assigned objects or emotions and incorporate them into descriptive stories or paragraphs. Give students a topic and have them use the Acronym Creator to design acronyms that align with their topic.

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