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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Copyright and Fair Use Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
1 to 12
Understanding copyright is essential for students living in today's digital world. Copyright protects original creative works, allowing the creators to control how their material is...more
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Understanding copyright is essential for students living in today's digital world. Copyright protects original creative works, allowing the creators to control how their material is used and shared. In the classroom, respecting copyright shows students why intellectual property rights and using content ethically matter. By teaching copyright principles, educators prepare students with the necessary knowledge for future courses, careers, and participation in our copyright-respecting world. This collection provided valuable resources for teaching students and staff the basics of copyright. The resources allow for discussions around plagiarism, piracy, and Internet ethics. It includes guidelines on fair use, how to credit sources appropriately, and updated copyright laws and policies.
tag(s): copyright (44)
In the Classroom
Use these resources to model and teach ethical use of electronic media or to find copyright-safe raw materials for student projects. Be sure to share these resources with students for them to access any time they have a project to do.Critical Thinking Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12Nurture critical thinking skills in your classroom using the resources shared in this collection. Critical thinking is a process that includes the ability to interpret, analyze, and...more
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Nurture critical thinking skills in your classroom using the resources shared in this collection. Critical thinking is a process that includes the ability to interpret, analyze, and evaluate information. Thinking critically requires students to infer and solve problems with an open mind. Students use critical thinking skills to observe, experience, communicate and reflect while reading and learning content. As contentious public events spill over into the classroom, teachers need to help students learn how to process perspectives that differ from their own. Use this collection as you are planning your lessons and activities.
tag(s): critical thinking (135), media literacy (109), problem solving (233)
In the Classroom
Help your students to practice critical thinking skills using these engaging resources. Share these resources with your colleagues and school parents by emailing the page or sharing the link from your school web page and in your school newsletter.Curation Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12Discover resources in this collection for your students to use to curate resources. Curation means selecting, collecting, organizing, and presenting content. Curating is especially...more
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Discover resources in this collection for your students to use to curate resources. Curation means selecting, collecting, organizing, and presenting content. Curating is especially helpful when researching a topic but always useful to help students to keep information systematically arranged. We have included resources for all grades.
tag(s): curation (32), organizational skills (88), Research (88)
In the Classroom
Share these resources with your students to use when curating materials for projects and lessons. 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.D Day Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
6 to 12This collection of reviewed resources from TeachersFirst is selected to help teachers and students honor D Day and the important events of World War II through related projects and...more
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This collection of reviewed resources from TeachersFirst is selected to help teachers and students honor D Day and the important events of World War II through related projects and classroom activities. Whether you focus on D Day for one class or spend an entire unit on World War II, the ideas included within the "In the Classroom" portion of reviews will launch discussions and meaningful projects for student-centered learning. Take your classes through the longest day to understand World War II.
tag(s): d day (11)
In the Classroom
Share this collection as the basis of a research project on D Day or as one of several for World War II. Choose from various project options in the reviews.Data Analysis and Probability Resources - Grades 3-5 - TeachersFirst
Grades
3 to 5Explore this curated list of resources ideal for grades 3-5. Use these resources to meet the NCTM standards in the area of Probability and Data Analysis. Many of these tools ...more
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Explore this curated list of resources ideal for grades 3-5. Use these resources to meet the NCTM standards in the area of Probability and Data Analysis. Many of these tools would be useful on your interactive whiteboard or in your BYOD classroom. Topics include line plots, graphs, surveys, numerical data, and more.
tag(s): charts and graphs (172), data (151), probability (99)
In the Classroom
Share the resources with students for additional practice, remediation, enrichment, or advancement. Display resources on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Use these tools in your BYOD classroom to differentiate for math class.Data Analysis and Probability Resources - Grades 6-8 - TeachersFirst
Grades
6 to 8If you are a middle school math teacher, this is a must see collection. Use these resources to meet the NCTM Data Analysis and Probability Standards for grades 6-8. Many ...more
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If you are a middle school math teacher, this is a must see collection. Use these resources to meet the NCTM Data Analysis and Probability Standards for grades 6-8. Many of these tools are ideal for use on your interactive whiteboard or in your BYOD (or 1:1) classroom. Find topics that relate to the content being taught in your classroom. Use these resources to explain statistics, probability, graphs, polls, and data.
tag(s): charts and graphs (172), data (151), probability (99)
In the Classroom
Share with gifted students for additional enrichment and advancement opportunities. Share these resources with students on your class website. Use these tools for remediation and review with all students. Share these tools with families for at-home practice. Find specific classroom use ideas within each review.Data Analysis and Probability Resources - Grades 9-12 - TeachersFirst
Grades
9 to 12This is your one-stop resource if you are a high school statistics teacher! Peruse this collection of data and probability resources for grades 9-12. Use these resources to meet the...more
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This is your one-stop resource if you are a high school statistics teacher! Peruse this collection of data and probability resources for grades 9-12. Use these resources to meet the NCTM standards. Many of these tools are ideal for use on your interactive whiteboard or in your BYOD (or 1:1) classroom. Find topics that relate to the content being taught in your classroom. Read each reviewed resource to find a thorough description and classroom ideas.
tag(s): charts and graphs (172), data (151), probability (99)
In the Classroom
Share these resources with students on your class website. Use these tools for remediation and review with all students. Share these tools with families for at-home practice. Have students work independently or with a partner on laptops or other devices.Data Analysis and Probability Resources - Grades K-2 - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 2Peruse this collection of resources to help your youngest students to start to learn the basics of probability and data analysis. Navigate this collection of resources specifically...more
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Peruse this collection of resources to help your youngest students to start to learn the basics of probability and data analysis. Navigate this collection of resources specifically for grades K-2. Use these resources to meet the NCTM standards. Find topics that you are currently teaching in your math class.
tag(s): data (151), operations (72), probability (99)
In the Classroom
Share these resources on your interactive whiteboard or projector for group instruction. Put a link to these resources on your website for student and parent use at home. Create computer learning stations or allow students to work on individual laptops or devices using these resources. Share these tools with other teachers of K-2 students in your building and district.Data Literacy - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12This collection of reviewed resources from TeachersFirst is selected to help teachers and students learn about data literacy. Data literacy is the ability to read, create, and communicate...more
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This collection of reviewed resources from TeachersFirst is selected to help teachers and students learn about data literacy. Data literacy is the ability to read, create, and communicate data as information and has been formally described in varying ways. Data literacy includes collecting, analyzing, interpreting, and telling stories using complex sets of data. Data literacy includes collecting information, deciding how to share the data in a meaningful way, identifying correlation and/or causation, and how to identify whether data is meaningful or misleading.
In the Classroom
Learn more about data literacy for both you and your students. Some curricular topics include climate, measurement, data, graphs, and more. Share these resources with your students to help them deepen their data literacy.Dental Health Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12This collection of reviewed resources from TeachersFirst is selected to help teachers, parents, and students learn about dental health. Whether you plan a special unit or lesson on...more
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This collection of reviewed resources from TeachersFirst is selected to help teachers, parents, and students learn about dental health. Whether you plan a special unit or lesson on this topic for Dental Health Month or select from these resources for a related health unit, you will find useful ideas and strategies for students and adults to learn about healthy teeth and mouths.
tag(s): dental health (14)
In the Classroom
Be sure to share these resources with parents and your parent organization via your class or school web page during Dental Health Month (February) and back to school health checks. These resources will also be helpful when teaching lessons on teeth and bones as part of a Human Body unit.Design Thinking - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12Explore this curated list, all related to design thinking. Design thinking focuses more on understanding problems and developing creative solutions for people than on implementing generic...more
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Explore this curated list, all related to design thinking. Design thinking focuses more on understanding problems and developing creative solutions for people than on implementing generic solutions. Design thinking goes through phases of collecting feedback and data, using the data to identify the problems to be solved, developing prototypes, and testing solutions. Feedback from key stakeholders should be used often. The above phases are iterative and cyclical, using feedback and changing the design to solve the problem. In design thinking, failure isn't an end, it's an opportunity to refine and create something better. Design thinking focuses on divergent thinking -- generating and exploring as many ideas as possible before narrowing down to a solution.
tag(s): architecture (84), circuits (19), creativity (87), data (151), problem solving (233), STEM (304), thinking skills (17)
In the Classroom
Share these resources on your class website or your interactive whiteboard (where appropriate). Use these tools to deepen your students' understanding of this complex topic. There are tools here for all ages, although most are designed for secondary students.Digital Citizenship Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12This editor's choice curated list of reviewed resources focuses on digital citizenship. Explore topics such as: protecting your digital footprint, protecting your identity, "netiquette,"...more
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This editor's choice curated list of reviewed resources focuses on digital citizenship. Explore topics such as: protecting your digital footprint, protecting your identity, "netiquette," and much more. Find varying levels of information for different age groups and materials to help parents cooperate in educating their children about digital citizenship.
tag(s): digital citizenship (88), internet safety (114)
In the Classroom
Use this entire collection or simply select the best ones for YOUR students to continually model good digital citizenship. Share the links with parents and among your colleagues so you can promote positive action instead of fear about the Internet.Digital Storytelling Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12This editor's choice curated list of reviewed resources focuses on digital storytelling. Engage and excite students to get writing. Many of the tools shared are device agnostic and...more
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This editor's choice curated list of reviewed resources focuses on digital storytelling. Engage and excite students to get writing. Many of the tools shared are device agnostic and will work on all devices in both web browsers and apps. Find tools ideal for all grades. Use digital storytelling in all subject areas to assess, collaborate, share results, and more. Find options in the resources for student projects. View and learn from the professional resources shared.
tag(s): digital storytelling (155), writing (327)
In the Classroom
Find an abundance of digital writing tools to use in your classroom. Share sites on your interactive whiteboard. Challenge students to create their own projects using tools on this list. Rather than a unit test, have students create a book demonstrating their understanding of concepts. Bring out creativity with these engaging tools!Dinosaur Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12Kids "dig" dinosaurs, whether they learn about them in science class while studying paleontology and geology or simply explore dinosaurs as a personal favorite topic. Dinosaurs are...more
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Kids "dig" dinosaurs, whether they learn about them in science class while studying paleontology and geology or simply explore dinosaurs as a personal favorite topic. Dinosaurs are an elementary school perennial, but even high school students enjoy digging into fossils and geologic time. This collection of reviewed resources from TeachersFirst features a wide range of lesson ideas and research sources for students of all ages. So spend some "geologic time" as you try some of the project ideas or make this collection available to your dino-maniacs.
tag(s): dinosaurs (43), fossils (41), paleontology (28)
In the Classroom
Use the resources on this site to supplement a unit about paleontology, fossils, or dinosaurs. In addition, the resources listed can be used for WebQuests, learning centers, lesson plans & the like! This is an excellent resource for Earth Science teachers.Do Now Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12View this collection of tools to use for Do Now activities as students enter your classroom. Do Now activities (also called entrance tickets) are essential instructional strategies...more
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View this collection of tools to use for Do Now activities as students enter your classroom. Do Now activities (also called entrance tickets) are essential instructional strategies that help educators kickstart lessons, assess prior knowledge, and engage students from the moment they enter the classroom. These brief, focused tasks set the tone for learning and provide valuable formative assessment data. Resources for Do Now and entrance tickets span a wide range of formats, from simple question prompts to games to interactive digital tools. Many of these resources offer features like randomized question generation, multimedia integration, and real-time data visualization, enabling teachers to gauge class understanding and adjust instruction accordingly quickly. By leveraging these diverse resources, educators can create consistent routines that maximize instructional time, promote student accountability, and provide a smooth transition into the day's main learning objectives.
tag(s): assessment (146), Formative Assessment (73)
In the Classroom
Help your students to show what they know using these engaging resources for quick formative assessment. Share these resources with your colleagues and school parents by emailing the page or sharing the link from your school web page and in your school newsletter.Dr. Seuss Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12This collection of reviewed resources is terrific on Dr. Seuss' birthday in March or to find resources to share via your teacher web page. There is information for ALL grade ...more
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This collection of reviewed resources is terrific on Dr. Seuss' birthday in March or to find resources to share via your teacher web page. There is information for ALL grade levels, and the subjects include everything from reading to history to science to math! Many of the sites are interactive, some include lesson plans, and others are great for research!
tag(s): preK (280), read across america (9)
In the Classroom
Why not find some special projects and activities for March 2? Whatever subject and grade you teach, you are sure to find something useful here.Dramatic Arts and Dance Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12Discover resources in this collection to infuse drama and dance into your lessons. This curated list includes musicals, readers theater, dance instruction, and more. You may find it...more
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Discover resources in this collection to infuse drama and dance into your lessons. This curated list includes musicals, readers theater, dance instruction, and more. You may find it helpful to use ideas from this list to plan your physical education and language arts lessons. This list includes resources for all grades.
tag(s): acting (19), dance (33), fitness (39), plays (32), readers theater (12)
In the Classroom
Encourage your students' understanding of drama and dance using this curated collection. Share these resources with your colleagues and students by emailing the page or sharing the link from your school web page and in your school newsletter. Find resources to incorporate into your dance and drama lessons.Earth and Rock Cycle - Science Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12Teach your students about the earth and rock cycle with this collection of resources. There are sites here for all grades. Read the descriptions to find out whether a site ...more
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Teach your students about the earth and rock cycle with this collection of resources. There are sites here for all grades. 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. Don't miss the interactives!
tag(s): earth (183), rock cycle (12)
In the Classroom
This collection includes resources for all grades. Find appropriate activities for your class. Explore the lessons suggested. Find ideas in each review.Earth Day Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12Earth Day presents a special opportunity to connect the classroom curriculum with real-world experience, not only in science but also for lessons in math, language arts, social studies,...more
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Earth Day presents a special opportunity to connect the classroom curriculum with real-world experience, not only in science but also for lessons in math, language arts, social studies, art, and more. With so many outstanding resources available on the web related to environmental concerns, TeachersFirst's editorial team has hand-selected this curated list of resources for their potential to engage and involve your students in both the understanding of scientific concepts surrounding Earth Day and in environmental activism for any time of the year.
Whether you seek ideas for a community service project for Earth Day or ways to use innovative technologies to bring the environment into your classroom, TeachersFIrst has the reviewed resources to meet your needs. If you are looking for more Earth Day resources, browse our entire collection of resources related to Earth Day.
Whether you seek ideas for a community service project for Earth Day or ways to use innovative technologies to bring the environment into your classroom, TeachersFIrst has the reviewed resources to meet your needs. If you are looking for more Earth Day resources, browse our entire collection of resources related to Earth Day.
tag(s): earth (183), earth day (61), environment (252)
In the Classroom
Share this list as options for student projects or to make Earth Day more than a one-day event!Earth Science Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12Explore this editor's choice collection of resources related to earth science. This is a perfect list to share during Earth Science Week in October, or anytime throughout the year....more
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Explore this editor's choice collection of resources related to earth science. This is a perfect list to share during Earth Science Week in October, or anytime throughout the year. Read the descriptions to find out whether a site sounds right for what you want to know. Don't miss the "In the classroom" ideas for specific projects or ideas for before, during, and after reading. There is also an additional link to all of TeachersFirst's resources tagged Earth.
tag(s): earth (183), rock cycle (12), weather (161)