TeachersFirst Collection: Creating, imagining, innovating (Habit of the Mind) Resources
The Habit of the Mind - Creating, Imagining, and Innovating is the mindset that keeps learning dynamic and personal, encouraging students to see beyond the "right answer" and explore the many possible paths to understanding. When we foster this habit, we're giving students permission to take risks, to wonder "what if," and to trust their own creative instincts. It's not about being artistic (though it can be); it's about approaching problems with curiosity and confidence, knowing that original thinking is built through practice, not born from talent alone.
This collection includes:
- Open-ended makerspace challenges that give students hands-on freedom to design and build their own solutions, reinforcing that innovation grows out of tinkering, testing, and revising rather than following a single set of instructions.
- Digital storyboards to help students plan and visualize original ideas before creating them, teaching that imagination benefits from structure and sequencing just as much as spontaneity.
- Random idea generators to push students past their first, most obvious answer by introducing unexpected constraints or combinations, training them to find creative connections they might not have considered on their own.
- Remix and mashup platforms that let students build on existing ideas in new ways, showing that innovation often comes from combining familiar pieces rather than inventing something entirely from scratch.
- Mind-mapping tools to give students a visual way to branch out from a single concept in many directions, mirroring the nonlinear way genuine creative thinking unfolds.
- Collaborative whiteboards to allow students to build on each other's ideas in real time, reinforcing that innovation is often strengthened—not diluted—when other imaginations are added to the mix.
Let's help our students discover that innovation isn't reserved for inventors and entrepreneurs—it's a mindset available to anyone willing to try a different way. Let's help them turn "thinking outside the box" into their new daily routine!
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Soar - Teaching Ideas
Grades
K to 5
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tag(s): animation (71), creativity (93), descriptive writing (46), design (77), graphic design (57), images (275), inferencing (8), problem solving (287), STEM (381)
In the Classroom
Students can use Storyboard That, reviewed here to create their own storyboard of the animation. Use Kidrex, reviewed here to learn more about aviation. Students can use Adobe Express Video Maker, reviewed hereto create a movie trailer about an invention or inventor.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Maker Ed - The Maker Education Initiative
Grades
K to 12tag(s): makerspace (43), poetry (196), rubrics (40), STEM (381), stories and storytelling (82)
In the Classroom
Students can use Stormboard, reviewed here to post affirmations after engaging in the Math Affirmations: I Am a Mathematician activity. When creating stories from Learning in the Making: Storytelling, students can record their stories using ScreenPal, reviewed here. Students can use Google Drawings, reviewed here to create magnetic poetry after learning about poetry in the lesson titled Learning in the Making: Visual Poetry.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Science Fridays - Science Fridays
Grades
K to 12tag(s): animals (285), artificial intelligence (353), brain (59), climate (99), energy (139), ethics (22), insects (64), makerspace (43), space (252), STEM (381), volcanoes (61)
In the Classroom
When learning about ants in How Do Ants Crown A Queen? students can use Turbo Timeline Generator, reviewed here to share the steps that ants take to crown a queen. In Train Your Brain To Manage Stress, students can create an infographic using Infographics Presentation Templates, reviewed here to share ways to manage stress. When learning about using a chatboat in AI For Kids: A Chatbox Exploration, students can use Timeline Infographic Templates by Venngage, reviewed here to compare and contrast chatbot output from the different chatpots used.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Rube Resources - The Rube Goldberg Institute for Innovation and Creativity
Grades
K to 8tag(s): creativity (93), makerspace (43), simple machines (23), STEM (381)
In the Classroom
Students can use Free Online Screen Recorder, reviewed here as they are seeing which toy car won during Win a Race with an Inclined Plane lesson. Students can post their predictions or outcomes on a virtual bulletin board such as Stickies.io, reviewed here. Students can use StoryMap JS, reviewed here to outline their story with two simple machines that are outlined in the Activity Cards.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Magma - Radek Eichler, Damian Kaczmarek, and Wojtek Jodel
Grades
9 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): collaboration (140), creativity (93), images (275)
In the Classroom
Students can collaborate in real time using Magma on art projects. Students can share feedback on art as others are working on images. Students can use Magma to showcase their artwork in a portfolio.Edge Features:
Includes an education-only area for teachers and students
Parent permission advised before posting student work created using this tool
Includes Interaction w general public/ public galleries with unmoderated content
Includes social features, such as "friends," comments, ratings by others
Requires registration/log-in (WITH email)
Premium version (not free) includes additional features or storage
Products can be shared by URL
Multiple users can collaborate on the same project
Includes teacher tools for registering and/or monitoring students
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Piskel - Julian Descottes
Grades
5 to 12tag(s): animation (71), creating media (17), creativity (93), images (275)
In the Classroom
Students can use Piskel to create sprites and animated GIFs for characters from a book. Additionally, students can use Piskel to create sprites that can be imported to Scratch, reviewed here. Students can use ScreenPal, reviewed here to share with others how to create a sprite.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Fueling Creativity in Education Podcast - Cyndi Burnett and Matthew Worwood
Grades
K to 12tag(s): back to school (57), creativity (93), gifted (64), podcasts (181), professional development (303), sports (90), thinking skills (137)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the ideas shared in the podcast episodes to encourage creativity in your classroom. Ask other teachers to join you for a podcast study (rather than a book study) and discuss new episodes on a regular schedule. Pull the framing question from an episode (e.g., "How often do we shut down an idea before it has a chance to develop?") and use it as a 5-minute written reflection or turn-and-talk at the start of a staff meeting, before diving into the actual agenda. Share episodes with your district administration to inform their planning for AI policies and upcoming professional development offerings for staff.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Tinkering Projects - Exploratorium
Grades
3 to 12tag(s): animation (71), creativity (93), images (275), inquiry (38), makerspace (43), STEM (381)
In the Classroom
When participating in the Bring a Book to Life lesson, students can use Scratch, reviewed here to code their animations. Students can use Stop Motion with Google Slides, reviewed here during the Making Faces lesson. Students can post their pictures from the Light Painting lesson on a virtual bulletin board such as Lino, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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STEM Activities for Families - NASA
Grades
K to 9tag(s): makerspace (43), nasa (37), solar system (126), space (252), STEM (381)
In the Classroom
In the Explore Mars with Scratch, students will use Scratch, reviewed here to create a drivable rover. Students can use Seesaw, reviewed here as a journal to take the different phases of the moon in the lesson Look at the Moon! Students can use the Interactive 2 Circle Venn Diagram by ReadWriteThink, reviewed here to compare and contrast precipitation in different areas after completing the lesson Precipitation Towers: Modeling Weather Data.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Innovator's Mindset Podcast - George Couros
Grades
9 to 12tag(s): podcasts (181), professional development (303)
In the Classroom
As you are listening to the podcast, you can use Google Keep, reviewed here to take notes. Students can use Stickies.io, reviewed here to share something that interested them during the podcast. Students can make their own podcasts using Podomatic, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Habits of Mind Explorer - Habits of Mind Insitute
Grades
K to 12tag(s): critical thinking (193), preK (335), problem solving (287), social and emotional learning (207), thinking routines (62), thinking skills (137)
In the Classroom
Include this resource as part of a project-based learning unit by having students choose one habit to focus on as they work through a complex challenge. For a social studies project exploring historical figures, students can analyze which habits, like Taking Responsible Risks or Striving for Accuracy, were most critical to their subject's success. After conducting research, students can organize their insights and provide examples of these habits in action by creating a collaborative digital board with Lino, reviewed here. To take the reflection deeper, ask students to map out their own growth in that specific habit by creating a visual journey or mind map using MindMup, reviewed here shifting focus from just learning facts to understanding the mental behaviors that drive achievement, helping students become more self-aware and intentional learners.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Code - Code.org
Grades
K to 12tag(s): artificial intelligence (353), coding (111), critical thinking (193), logic (177), problem solving (287), STEM (381)
In the Classroom
Bookmark and save this site to use during annual Hour of AI or Code activities and throughout the year as part of computer science instruction. Integrate coding activities into cross-curricular lessons, for example, by incorporating coding exercises that enable students to explore geometry and patterns within their math lessons. Integrate with science lessons to explore the scientific method or use coding activities to create interactive stories that bring student writing projects to life. Extend student learning by including activities and lessons from Hour of AI, reviewed here as part of your computer science curriculum. Share student projects on your class website or on a site such as Milanote, reviewed here to curate and share information.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Meshy AI - Meshy Ai
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): artificial intelligence (353), design (77)
In the Classroom
Have students choose a vocabulary word and use Meshy to create a 3D model that represents it. For example, for the word "volcano," they can generate a 3D model of a volcano from a text prompt. Then, they can present their model and explain how it connects to the word's meaning. After reading a story, have students describe a character in detail and use Meshy to turn that description into a 3D model. In social studies or ELA, students can research an artifact from a historical period (ex., a medieval crown or ancient vase) and then generate a 3D model from a text or image prompt. Students can brainstorm and design an invention, describing it in detail via text. They then can use Meshy to model their invention and present it in a "Shark Tank"-style pitch, explaining how it works and its usefulness.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Design Squad Nation - PBS Kids
Grades
2 to 8tag(s): crafts (105), design (77), engineering (141), game based learning (326), machines (17), musical instruments (63)
In the Classroom
Students can participate in the site's activities and enter challenges. Students can upload their work to Padlet, reviewed here to share with others. Students can learn more about electricity, farm life, natural disasters, and floods as they play the games on the site.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Online Escape Room Templates - Genially
Grades
3 to 12tag(s): context clues (11), digital escapes (29), game based learning (326), gamification (88), puzzles (176)
In the Classroom
Create an escape room where students solve riddles and match definitions to unlock clues. Use synonyms, antonyms, or context clues to reinforce vocabulary skills in a fun, interactive way. Design an escape room where students "travel" through different historical events, solving primary source analysis puzzles, decoding ciphers, and answering questions to unlock the next time period. Students must solve multi-step word problems or algebraic equations to advance through a mystery-themed escape room. Each correct answer reveals a key to "unlock" the final solution. Simulate a science experiment gone wrong! Students analyze data, interpret graphs, and solve scientific riddles to find the missing formula or save the lab before time runs out. After reading a novel or short story, students could navigate an escape room based on key events, themes, and character motivations. They solve puzzles related to symbolism, figurative language, or plot twists to escape.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Leonardo.ai - Leonardo Labs
Grades
5 to 12tag(s): artificial intelligence (353), graphic design (57), Teacher Utilities (224)
In the Classroom
Students can use Leonardo AI to generate images of characters in narrative stories they have written. Use Leonardo AI to produce an image of a character from a text read in class to enhance a lesson in characterization. Encourage students to collaborate on designing a unique class logo or mascot using Leonardo AI's design tools. In science, students can use Leonardo AI to illustrate complex concepts, like parts of a cell, ecosystems, or weather patterns. Students can generate images related to new vocabulary words or complex concepts as a helpful way to remember difficult words.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Robert H. Hines Young Inventors Program - University of New Hampshire
Grades
K to 8tag(s): inventors and inventions (89), STEM (381)
In the Classroom
Provide students with materials to prototype and test their inventions. After designing their invention, students can build and test it, iterating based on test results. A free resource such as Prototype Zone reviewed here can be used to plan their invention. Students can research famous inventors and their inventions and then present the story behind the invention. Organize an in-class Invention Fair where students present their original inventions. This activity fosters public speaking, presentation skills, and creativity.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Gemini Notebook (formerly NotebookLM) - Google
Grades
K to 12tag(s): artificial intelligence (353), note taking (36), study aid (177), Teacher Utilities (224), timelines (60)
In the Classroom
Use NotebookLM to support and engage students in many different ways. Upload lessons and documents to create and share study guides with students. Create and share an audio podcast at the start of a new unit to engage students in the upcoming lessons. Share the video with students to include when reviewing materials for upcoming assessments. Use NotebookLM to create a study guide, copy it, and paste it into a quiz tool that uses AI, such as Quizlet reviewed here to create flashcards and study materials for your students or Gibbly, reviewed here to create a quiz. Create a short tutorial using Free Online Screen Recorder, reviewed here on the features and how to use NotebookLM to share with parents for use at home to create study guides for classroom lessons.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Mootion - HK Mootion Ltd
Grades
K to 12tag(s): artificial intelligence (353), communication (125), digital storytelling (181), multimedia (70)
In the Classroom
Mootion offers many choices for classroom use! Paste students' stories into Mootion to create videos and watch them come to life, autogenerate stories about historical events and characters to engage students in your upcoming lessons, or create a story using vocabulary words when introducing new science units. If you do not share the video during class, download the MP4 file to your device and upload it to YouTube to make it accessible to all students anytime.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Napkin AI - Napkin AI
Grades
K to 12tag(s): artificial intelligence (353), data (212), infographics (73), problem solving (287), timelines (60), visualizations (15)
In the Classroom
Add this handy resource to your teacher toolbox for many classroom uses for you and your students. Paste instructions for lab activities into Napkin AI and add a timeline to accompany step-by-step instructions, create visuals to accompany problem-solving tasks, or add infographics to social studies reports. Share the link to the project built with Napkin AI or save the images to include with slide presentations or other multimedia presentations.Edge Features:
Requires registration/log-in (WITH email)
Products can be shared by URL
Multiple users can collaborate on the same project
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