TeachersFirst Special Topics Collections
Jump-start your work with TeachersFirst's Special Topics collections. Save time and take advantage of these ready-to-go collections that will help you find what you and your students need, just in time for an upcoming unit, a holiday, focused research, student-directed exploration, or projects on a curriculum topic or event. Each Special Topic page is a curated list of resources related to the stated topic. Each collection includes up to 30 resources, providing enough variety to find sites that define the topic.
You can be comfortable sharing the Special Topic links with students or parents, knowing that TeachersFirst has selected and reviewed each resource.
Find classroom and project suggestions within each review, use the collection to find what you need for your lessons. Some teachers assign these lists as the core resources for a broader student assignment. Editor’s Choice collections offer "the best of the best" for topics of particular interest. TeachersFirst also offers collections on professional special topics to help you meet particular teaching challenges.
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Audio Books with Text Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12
These educator-reviewed resources from TeachersFirst offer audio books with accompanying text so all students, including emerging readers and ENL/ELL learners, can experience literature...more
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These educator-reviewed resources from TeachersFirst offer audio books with accompanying text so all students, including emerging readers and ENL/ELL learners, can experience literature and other reading selections in audio form as they reinforce and inspire literacy skills and enjoyment. Be sure to explore each site, as many include multiple types of activities, including the audio books and texts.
tag(s): audio books (29), preK (289)
In the Classroom
Mark this one in your professional favorites AND share it on a class web page for access by students and parents. The helpful reviews suggest ideas for ways to use the books in the classroom or outside of school to reinforce literacy skills, improve English skills, or study literature in new ways.Author's Websites - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12Introduce your students to some of their favorite authors (and some new ones). Learn and explore information about a variety of authors. Engage your students in learning about the life...more
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Introduce your students to some of their favorite authors (and some new ones). Learn and explore information about a variety of authors. Engage your students in learning about the life and works of authors and participate in the activities available on the websites. Share these resources with your students, families, and colleagues. Remember, our "In the Classroom" suggestions give you ideas about using these resources in your classroom.
tag(s): authors (108)
In the Classroom
Share these resources with your students to use to learn about many authors. Share a link to this collection on your school web page and in your school newsletter (or email). Find resources to incorporate into your lessons.Autism Spectrum Disorders and Asperger's Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12This collection of reviewed resources will help you to better understand these students with special challenges and find strategies for working with them in your classroom. ...more
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This collection of reviewed resources will help you to better understand these students with special challenges and find strategies for working with them in your classroom.
tag(s): aspergers (7), autism (16), preK (289), Special Needs (53)
In the Classroom
Share this collection with parents and colleagues using the "email this" link.Baseball Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
3 to 12Looking for a way to include baseball in your teaching? Whether it is time for Spring Training or the World Series, browse these options for curriculum connections to engage the ...more
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Looking for a way to include baseball in your teaching? Whether it is time for Spring Training or the World Series, browse these options for curriculum connections to engage the sports fans in your classroom.
tag(s): baseball (31), statistics (121)
In the Classroom
As spring or the World Series approaches, look to this collection for connections between your curriculum and baseball. Invite students to create their own baseball-related activities using the concepts you are studying right now: math word problems, scientific analysis of baseball physics, baseball writing ideas, or primary source interviewing about baseball.Blended Learning Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12Mix up your classroom and get blended! If you are new to blended learning, this basically means that the learning is a combination of digital media with traditional classroom teaching....more
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Mix up your classroom and get blended! If you are new to blended learning, this basically means that the learning is a combination of digital media with traditional classroom teaching. Since some of the instruction is digital, students have more control over the pace of the instruction. Peruse this curated list of resources to start blending in your class!
In the Classroom
Explore this fabulous collection to use in your blended classroom. Learn more about blended learning in some of the informational readings.Brain Breaks for Students - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12Regular brain breaks are a simple but powerful way to boost student focus, engagement, and retention in the classroom. These short periods of physical activity or mental rest re-energize...more
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Regular brain breaks are a simple but powerful way to boost student focus, engagement, and retention in the classroom. These short periods of physical activity or mental rest re-energize young minds when they start feeling tired or restless. Brain breaks improve how students think by increasing blood flow and brain connections. They also provide a much-needed reset when students feel overwhelmed or have checked out of the lesson. This collection highlights brain-break ideas, exercises, and activities that easily fit into lessons. Discover ways to get students moving, laughing, reflecting, and re-centering their attention. Using these resources will create a more active and focused learning environment in your classroom.
In the Classroom
Find new tools to try in your classroom for brain breaks. Each review includes classroom use ideas. Read the details of each tool and find the ones that will work for you and your students.Bullying and Cyber-Bulling Prevention Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12This collection of reviewed resources from TeachersFirst is selected to help teachers, parents, and students manage the tough issues of bullying and cyberbullying. Whether you plan...more
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This collection of reviewed resources from TeachersFirst is selected to help teachers, parents, and students manage the tough issues of bullying and cyberbullying. Whether you plan a special unit or lesson on this topic for Bullying Prevention Week or select from these resources on an as-needed basis, you will find useful ideas and strategies for students and adults to work together to erase bullying from your class and school culture. Be sure to share these resources with parents and your parent organization via your class or school web page.
tag(s): bullying (48)
In the Classroom
Use the resources in this collection if ever in need of help concerning bullying online or in the classroom. Be sure to pass this one along to parents, counselors or peers if bullying is ever a concern or issue.Cells - Science Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12This collection of resources will help you research information about cells. There are resources for elementary, middle, and high school levels. Find tools for all grade levels. Read...more
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This collection of resources will help you research information about cells. There are resources for elementary, middle, and high school levels. Find tools for all grade levels. Read the recommended grade levels with each review. Materials include interactives, resource guides, and more. Check back often, as new resources are frequently added. Be sure to try several sources.
tag(s): cells (82)
In the Classroom
Share the interactive sites on your projector with the class. List these tools on your website for students to use for review and preparation for a test. A few of these are device agnostic and available as both an app and on the web.Change Makers - Pioneering Women - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12Women have blazed trails and opened doors for future generations through their pioneering achievements in science and medicine, politics, civil rights, media, sports, and countless...more
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Women have blazed trails and opened doors for future generations through their pioneering achievements in science and medicine, politics, civil rights, media, sports, and countless other areas. Marie Curie became the first woman to win a Nobel Prize for her pioneering work on radioactivity. Aviator Amelia Earhart was the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. Civil rights giants like Rosa Parks and Mary McLeod Bethune fought racial injustice and advanced equality at significant personal risk. From the frontlines of scientific exploration to the vanguard of human rights movements, these tenacious women defied societal conventions, overcame steep obstacles, and profoundly expanded opportunities for those who followed in their pioneering footsteps.
tag(s): women (154), womenchangemaker (39), womens suffrage (52)
In the Classroom
Skim this collection of reviewed resources to find appropriate pioneers to share with your students. Don't miss the "In The Classroom" section for lesson stems and ideas to integrate the resources with your lessons.Change Makers - Women for Freedom - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12The decades-long battle for women's suffrage and the Civil Rights movement were both pivotal chapters in the broader struggle to extend equal rights to all Americans. Trailblazers like...more
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The decades-long battle for women's suffrage and the Civil Rights movement were both pivotal chapters in the broader struggle to extend equal rights to all Americans. Trailblazers like Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Ida B. Wells traveled tirelessly, enduring harassment and jail to demand the ballot for women. Countless women played indispensable roles in fueling and sustaining the Civil Rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s. Through her unshakable advocacy of nonviolent resistance, Diane Nash helped desegregate lunch counters and public spaces across the South. Share these true change-makers with your students through this collection of reviewed resources.
tag(s): civil rights (219), women (154), womenchangemaker (39), womens suffrage (52)
In the Classroom
Find new resources to share with your students during lessons on the Civil Rights movement, voting rights, and more. Read the details of each tool and the technology integration ideas. Find the ones that will make your students understand these true change-makers better.Change Makers - Women in STEM - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12From laying the foundations of computer programming to making groundbreaking discoveries in physics and space exploration, women have left an indelible mark across STEM disciplines....more
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From laying the foundations of computer programming to making groundbreaking discoveries in physics and space exploration, women have left an indelible mark across STEM disciplines. Pioneers like Ada Lovelace wrote the first computer algorithm in the 1800s, while others like Marie Curie, the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, advanced our understanding of radiation. Their breakthroughs and tireless pursuit of knowledge have profoundly impacted humanity. Use this curated list of reviewed resources to help your students see the vital role women have had in the past, present, and future in the field of STEM.
tag(s): STEM (310), women (154), womenchangemaker (39)
In the Classroom
Share these resources with your students to learn about many women in STEM who changed the world. Share a link to this collection on your school web page and in your school newsletter (or email). Find resources to incorporate into your lessons to encourage girls to pursue learning paths in STEM and realize their potential.Change Makers - Young Women Who Have Changed the World - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12From activism to invention, young women have boldly challenged injustice and advanced human knowledge at remarkably early ages. At just 15, Swedish environmentalist Greta Thunberg sparked...more
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From activism to invention, young women have boldly challenged injustice and advanced human knowledge at remarkably early ages. At just 15, Swedish environmentalist Greta Thunberg sparked a global youth movement demanding urgent action on climate change through her "Fridays for Future" school strikes. S.E Hinton wrote the critically acclaimed novel The Outsiders at the age of 17. These young women's moral courage, powerful voices, and innovative spirits have created change, raised awareness, and driven solutions to some of the most critical issues facing the world today. Share this curated list of reviewed resources to encourage your students that they, too, can be the change.
tag(s): women (154), womenchangemaker (39)
In the Classroom
Share these resources with your students to learn about many young women who changed the world. Share a link to this collection on your school web page and in your school newsletter (or email). Find resources to incorporate into your lessons.Chemical Reactions - Science Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12This collection of science resources will help you research information about chemical reactions. Read the descriptions to find out whether a site sounds right for what you want to...more
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This collection of science resources will help you research information about chemical reactions. Read the descriptions to find out whether a site sounds right for what you want to know. Some sites may be more challenging reading, while others may offer solid basic information. Be sure to try several sources.
tag(s): chemicals (39)
In the Classroom
Use these tools and resources in a chemistry class or during a unit related to chemical reactions. Share the interactive sites on your projector with the class. List these tools on your website for students to use for review and preparation for a test. Read ideas for classroom integration in each resource's classroom use section.Christmas Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
3 to 12Our own collection of Christmas resources concentrates on Christmas customs in other countries and time periods. Lots of resources for an interesting exploration of how the Christmas...more
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Our own collection of Christmas resources concentrates on Christmas customs in other countries and time periods. Lots of resources for an interesting exploration of how the Christmas holiday developed.
In the Classroom
Try our Giving Tree lesson with your elementary students.Cinco de Mayo Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12Find resources and activities appropriate for Cinco de Mayo in this collection from TeachersFirst. ...more
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Find resources and activities appropriate for Cinco de Mayo in this collection from TeachersFirst.
In the Classroom
Use these resources to connect Cinco de Mayo to your curriculum in almost any subject or select one or two ideas to highlight along with your regular lessons.Citizen Science Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12Citizen science is a quickly growing way for regular people to participate in scientific research. Citizen scientists help move science forward by gathering and sharing data, making...more
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Citizen science is a quickly growing way for regular people to participate in scientific research. Citizen scientists help move science forward by gathering and sharing data, making observations, and teaming up with professional scientists. It also opens the scientific process to more people and helps everyone better understand and appreciate scientific discovery. Citizen science offers students many opportunities to participate in hands-on, real-world science projects. Students can observe wildlife, track weather patterns, and identify celestial bodies. Students learn that science is for everyone, not just scientists, as the students develop critical thinking and observation skills. Skim this collection of resources to learn how students can meaningfully contribute to community citizen science projects and activities.
tag(s): citizen science (27), environment (251)
In the Classroom
Share these resources with your students to learn about many citizen science opportunities. Share a link to this collection on your school web page and in your school newsletter (or email). Find resources to incorporate into your lessons to encourage students to get involved in citizen science activities.Classroom Management Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12Classroom management covers a wide range of tasks or routines: collecting assignments, designing seating charts, promoting positive behaviors, creating cooperative learning groups,...more
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Classroom management covers a wide range of tasks or routines: collecting assignments, designing seating charts, promoting positive behaviors, creating cooperative learning groups, and so much more. If you are looking for some new tools to ensure that your classroom lessons run smoothly and disruptive behaviors are kept to a minimum, check out this collection to maximize your management. Classroom management matters at all grade levels and we have tools for all ages and for all subjects.
tag(s): classroom management (118), Teacher Utilities (202)
In the Classroom
Find management tips and tools to make your class run smoother. Share this collection with your colleagues.Climate Change Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12This collection of resources about climate change is selected to help teachers and students learn more about the short and long term impact of climate change. As students read ...more
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This collection of resources about climate change is selected to help teachers and students learn more about the short and long term impact of climate change. As students read and see images of climate change then, now, and in the future, they will gain a better understanding. Younger students may have more questions as you explore together.
tag(s): climate change (100)
In the Classroom
Use these resources with your students to find ways you can all make a difference. Use this opportunity to teach about persuasive writing (letters to the editor or government officials), careers in science, current events, and more.Coding In the Classroom Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12This collection of reviewed resources from TeachersFirst is selected to help teachers and students learn about coding, and for use as a guide for finding the appropriate tools for use...more
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This collection of reviewed resources from TeachersFirst is selected to help teachers and students learn about coding, and for use as a guide for finding the appropriate tools for use with all grade and skill levels. Nurture problem solving, logic, and creativity. Find resources for just one hour of code or for use as ongoing technology lessons.
tag(s): coding (87), computational thinking (41), computers (109), critical thinking (137), design (79), makerspace (40), problem solving (234), STEM (310)
In the Classroom
Explore these resources for use with after-school computer clubs or as an excellent tool when recruiting skilled parent volunteers. Turn the intimidating content of computer programming into an exciting learning adventure for all with these helpful sites!Columbus Day Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12Find resources and activities appropriate for Columbus Day in this collection from TeachersFirst. ...more
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Find resources and activities appropriate for Columbus Day in this collection from TeachersFirst.
tag(s): holidays (194)