TeachersFirst Special Occasion Ideas: TeachersFirst Editors' Choices

Special occasions give students a chance to recognize special people: moms, dads, aunts, uncles, grandparents, teachers, secretaries, school custodians, librarians, and more. Stretch your students' creative thinking, writing skills, and problem solving skills as they create projects to honor special people on special occasions or just as a surprise “thank you.” Check out this collection for classroom ideas and custom-made gifts (both "hard copy" and electronic). Create memories for special people as your learners show what they know and how much they care.

These resources are also great for families to try at home for events such as TV Turn-off Week or holidays.

Teachers Guide | TeachersFirst Special Topics Collections

 

0-20 of 32    Next

32 Results | sort by:

Less
More

Jigsaw Planet - Jigsaw Planet

Grades
4 to 12
0 Favorites 0  Comments
 
Jigsaw Planet is an online platform allowing players to create, share, and solve jigsaw puzzles using personal images. While the platform is accessible to participants of all ages,...more
Here is the direct link to share this resource review. Feel free to copy and paste this URL into an email or place it on your web page or blog so others can read this TeachersFirst review:

 Close Link

Jigsaw Planet is an online platform allowing players to create, share, and solve jigsaw puzzles using personal images. While the platform is accessible to participants of all ages, it's important to note participants must be 13 years or older to use certain features according to their Terms of Service. For younger students in grades 4-8, educators can guide them in creating puzzles using age-appropriate images, ensuring compliance with the platform's guidelines. This activity fosters creativity, enhances problem-solving skills, and provides an engaging learning experience.

tag(s): fathers day (17), holidays (246), mothers day (22), puzzles (158)

In the Classroom

Students upload their images or class photos to Jigsaw Planet and create custom jigsaw puzzles. They can choose meaningful images like family photos or classroom memories. Encourage students to create puzzles as personalized gifts for holidays like Mother's Day or Father's Day. They can print and present the puzzle pieces as thoughtful, interactive gifts. Teachers can create jigsaw puzzles using educational content, such as historical events, scientific concepts, or vocabulary words. Students can then solve the puzzle while learning about the topic. Create a trivia-based jigsaw puzzle where each piece corresponds to a question or fact about a specific topic (ex., animals, historical figures, or math concepts). Students solve the puzzle and answer questions as they go.

Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member

Rating (click star to set rating):

Close comment form

You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).

Close

Less
More

Mobius Strip Hearts - What We Do All Day

Grades
K to 12
0 Favorites 0  Comments
 
This site shares step-by-step directions for making Mobius strip hearts. A Mobius strip is a one-sided surface with no boundaries, shaped like an infinite loop, and is also known as...more
Here is the direct link to share this resource review. Feel free to copy and paste this URL into an email or place it on your web page or blog so others can read this TeachersFirst review:

 Close Link

This site shares step-by-step directions for making Mobius strip hearts. A Mobius strip is a one-sided surface with no boundaries, shaped like an infinite loop, and is also known as a twisted cylinder. A video tutorial on making Mobius strip hearts using paper, tape, and scissors is included. The tutorial also includes instructions on cutting the paper into strips and linking the Mobius strips together.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): crafts (90), problem solving (266), STEM (343), valentines day (11)

In the Classroom

Include a Mobius strip heart activity during your Valentine's Day celebrations, or share the instructions and materials as part of maker-space activities. Extend learning by providing a finished Mobius strip heart, then ask students to problem-solve how to make the heart without any directions. Encourage students to share ideas for everyday uses of Mobius strips, such as conveyor belts and exercise bands. Ask students to record tutorials for creating the Mobius strip heart activity and other Mobius strip creations, then share their tutorials and pictures in a multimedia book presentation created with Book Creator, reviewed here.

Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member

Rating (click star to set rating):

Close comment form

You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).

Close

Less
More

Designer - Microsoft Designer

Grades
K to 12
0 Favorites 0  Comments
 
Designer uses artificial intelligence (AI) to produce images, posters, banners, greeting cards, and much more from your text. If you don't have a Microsoft account, you will be prompted...more
Here is the direct link to share this resource review. Feel free to copy and paste this URL into an email or place it on your web page or blog so others can read this TeachersFirst review:

 Close Link

Designer uses artificial intelligence (AI) to produce images, posters, banners, greeting cards, and much more from your text. If you don't have a Microsoft account, you will be prompted to create one. Add your text to the chat box using as much descriptive language as possible. After selecting enter, Designer produces four images that match your request. Select any image, edit your prompt, or regenerate based on the original text to view more options. After selecting an image, download it to your device, save it to Bing, or use the option to customize the image with the edit button.

tag(s): artificial intelligence (257), images (263), Microsoft (54)

In the Classroom

AI-generated images are an excellent tool for use with many classroom purposes. The image creator supports over 100 languages, so it is accessible for use by almost all students. Teach students how to write descriptive sentences by creating AI-generated images; students quickly learn how to add specific details to create a desired output. Use Designer to engage students in creative writing projects by generating images based on anything their imaginations share. Include AI-generated images in your classroom newsletter, website, or worksheets as an easy resource for adding pictures without spending much time searching for the right photograph. Share this site with students to include images in multimedia projects, such as those created using Sway, reviewed here or Google Sites, reviewed here. When using any AI resource, be sure to provide guidance on using AI tools ethically, creatively, and responsibly

Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member

Rating (click star to set rating):

Close comment form

You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).

Close

Less
More

Adobe Express Video Maker - Adobe Spark

Grades
K to 12
3 Favorites 0  Comments
  
Create and share professional-looking videos with Adobe Express Video Maker. Scroll down the page to read the easy step-by-step directions. Then click the Create button. Follow the...more
Here is the direct link to share this resource review. Feel free to copy and paste this URL into an email or place it on your web page or blog so others can read this TeachersFirst review:

 Close Link

Create and share professional-looking videos with Adobe Express Video Maker. Scroll down the page to read the easy step-by-step directions. Then click the Create button. Follow the prompts to begin your creation using a story template or start from scratch. Add videos, text, music, and more to your video. Easily rearrange, change themes, and add components until satisfied. When finished, publish your video to share or download it to your computer.

tag(s): blended learning (28), communication (118), digital storytelling (158), multimedia (56)

In the Classroom

Consider using videos in your classroom in various ways. Upload your slide presentations and add audio to create flipped and blended learning experiences for your students. Engage students and enhance their learning by asking students to create videos as an alternative to book reports or written presentations. Share videos on your class website for students to access when away from the classroom. As your students create videos, use a bookmarking site such as Padlet, reviewed here, to share and organize information for students to use when researching. Include Adobe Express Videos as part of a larger presentation using Book Creator, reviewed here. Embed your video along with images, text, drawings, and other media into your digital book creation.

Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member

Rating (click star to set rating):

Close comment form

You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).

Close

Less
More

Photo Collage - Zygomatic

Grades
K to 12
0 Favorites 0  Comments
 
Easily create and share photo collages with this tool, no registration required. Add or drag images from your computer onto the workspace. Move and size pictures as you wish or ...more
Here is the direct link to share this resource review. Feel free to copy and paste this URL into an email or place it on your web page or blog so others can read this TeachersFirst review:

 Close Link

Easily create and share photo collages with this tool, no registration required. Add or drag images from your computer onto the workspace. Move and size pictures as you wish or use the Auto Collage feature to place images, or select from templates to arrange automatically. Other features include a collage drop-down box to set your background using colors, gradients, your pictures, or images from PhotoCollage's library or Unsplash, reviewed here. When finished, choose from several different formats to save your collage or share directly to social media sites using links provided.

tag(s): collages (17), editing (88), images (263), noregistration (81), photography (133)

In the Classroom

Use this tool to create pages of class memories for the end of the year and create yearbook type effects easily. Since you can create and customize the shapes, this would be a great tool to represent a theme for any story, novel, or unit of study. Extend technology use in your classroom and use your collages by including them on class pages created using a site like Carrd, reviewed here, or transform classroom technology use with a multimedia presentation created using Adobe Creative Cloud Express for Education, reviewed here. When learning about the features of states or countries, create a collage then use Odyssey, reviewed here, to create a virtual field trip with your pictures.
 

Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member

Rating (click star to set rating):

Close comment form

You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).

Close

Less
More

Meme Buddy - Mike Bodge

Grades
4 to 12
1 Favorites 0  Comments
  
Create memes using your computer or mobile device with Meme Buddy. Meme Buddy works with Google Assistant to build a meme using your instructions for adding an image and text. ...more
Here is the direct link to share this resource review. Feel free to copy and paste this URL into an email or place it on your web page or blog so others can read this TeachersFirst review:

 Close Link

Create memes using your computer or mobile device with Meme Buddy. Meme Buddy works with Google Assistant to build a meme using your instructions for adding an image and text. Change options as you like until your meme looks the way you want. Save to your device to share as desired. Be sure to watch the video for an overview of how Meme Buddy works.

tag(s): creativity (82), DAT device agnostic tool (125), digital storytelling (158), images (263)

In the Classroom

Use Meme Buddy to quickly create memes on the fly. Share a meme on your interactive whiteboard as a discussion starter for the beginning of your lesson. Ask students to create a meme as a one sentence summary of the day's activity and use as an exit ticket. Meme Buddy translates information into other languages, create a meme in a different language as an anticipatory set for learning about a foreign language. Foreign language teachers will love creating memes to teach phrases to students!

Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member

Rating (click star to set rating):

Close comment form

You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).

Close

Less
More

Room Escape Maker - doctorfou.com

Grades
8 to 12
3 Favorites 0  Comments
 
Room Escape Maker takes the popular room escape adventures online. The only way to escape is to solve a series of puzzles using hints and strategies as you find your ...more
Here is the direct link to share this resource review. Feel free to copy and paste this URL into an email or place it on your web page or blog so others can read this TeachersFirst review:

 Close Link

Room Escape Maker takes the popular room escape adventures online. The only way to escape is to solve a series of puzzles using hints and strategies as you find your way out of the locked room. Browse through the selection of games created by others to find ideas on how to use this site. When ready, choose "Create Game" to start. Begin with your chosen canvas or background, then follow the prompts to add items and clues to your escape room.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): game based learning (290), gamification (95), makerspace (39)

In the Classroom

Increase student engagement in any subject through this form of gameplay! Create games to introduce the main concepts within the escape room. Ask students to create a game using what they have learned to share with their peers. Before creating a game, have students map out information and strategies they will include in a blog format using a tool like edublogs, reviewed here. Ask fellow students to share comments describing their problem-solving process as they try to escape the room.

Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member

Rating (click star to set rating):

Close comment form

You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).

Close

Less
More

Wakelet - Jamil Khalil

Grades
K to 12
2 Favorites 0  Comments
 
Create, curate, and share web content with Wakelet. Save online links, including articles, videos, tweets, and more, then organize them into collections called wakes. Share collections...more
Here is the direct link to share this resource review. Feel free to copy and paste this URL into an email or place it on your web page or blog so others can read this TeachersFirst review:

 Close Link

Create, curate, and share web content with Wakelet. Save online links, including articles, videos, tweets, and more, then organize them into collections called wakes. Share collections with a personalized link, or use the embed code to place them anywhere online. Use the keyword search to explore and view wakes created by other Wakelet members. Save information from other wakes to your account for use in your own wakes. To make your wakes more distinctive, add a cover image and background, and choose your preferred layout. Wakelet works smoothly with many apps, such as Microsoft Teams and Google Classroom. Note: New users of the free version of Wakelet can create up to 3 collections, with a maximum of 50 items per collection.

tag(s): bookmarks (33), collaboration (105), communication (118), curation (24), DAT device agnostic tool (125), multimedia (56), news (222), personalized learning (11), playlists (8), social media (60), social networking (54)

In the Classroom

The possibilities for using Wakelet in the classroom are endless! Create collections with tips for writing in different genres, current events, information about specific countries or cities, math games, and much more. Have students set up their own collections as part of a research project. Put together a scavenger hunt to introduce a new unit or as a review at the end of a unit. Share your collections on your class web page for student use at home to review and practice class content. Having a cover image and background for your collections makes them much more interesting and easier to identify, especially for younger or visual learners!

Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member

Rating (click star to set rating):

Close comment form

You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).

Close

Less
More

Delightex (was CoSpaces) - Delightex GmbH

Grades
4 to 12
4 Favorites 0  Comments
   
Build your own 3D spaces using Delightex (was CoSpaces), then view them in virtual reality. Choose from the large library of items to include in your creation, including characters...more
Here is the direct link to share this resource review. Feel free to copy and paste this URL into an email or place it on your web page or blog so others can read this TeachersFirst review:

 Close Link

Build your own 3D spaces using Delightex (was CoSpaces), then view them in virtual reality. Choose from the large library of items to include in your creation, including characters and objects. To get a sense of how this works, visit the gallery to view creations built by Delightex members. Register to create your account to start building your own 3D space. Be sure to visit the section for educators, which offers many lesson plans and ideas for using Delightex in the classroom. Tutorials for Delightex reside on YouTube. If your district blocks YouTube, the videos may not be viewable.

tag(s): augmented reality (8), coding (96), creativity (82), DAT device agnostic tool (125), digital storytelling (158)

In the Classroom

Recreate scenes from books or use Delightex (CoSpaces) to retell any story with 3D images. Encourage creativity and ask students to develop virtual exhibitions of artwork, animal habitats, or landforms. Have older students create infographics featuring data collections, for example, comparing Internet availability across different American towns.

Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member

Rating (click star to set rating):

Close comment form

You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).

Close

Less
More

Left Brain Craft Brain - Anne Carey

Grades
K to 6
0 Favorites 0  Comments
Left Brain Craft Brain is a blog created by a former chemical engineer, combining her interests in engineering with her love of crafts. Browsing through the blog, you'll find many ...more
Here is the direct link to share this resource review. Feel free to copy and paste this URL into an email or place it on your web page or blog so others can read this TeachersFirst review:

 Close Link

Left Brain Craft Brain is a blog created by a former chemical engineer, combining her interests in engineering with her love of crafts. Browsing through the blog, you'll find many crafty STEM (and STEAM) activities. The categories include Projects, 5 Minute Crafts, and What? Why? How? all with extensive offerings of inexpensive and free activities to teach science and technology to young students. Find the most popular posts and pages by scrolling down the page as you browse through the site. Be sure to subscribe to the weekly newsletter with updates on new crafts featured on the blog.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): architecture (81), blogs (71), coding (96), cooking (32), crafts (90), earth day (60), engineering (136), human body (97), magnetism (36), oceans (139), rockets (14), senses (21), stars (79), STEM (343)

In the Classroom

Bookmark and save this site for use when implementing STEAM activities. Use the site's search bar to find activities for specific content. Have students create an online or printed comic demonstrating their activities using one of these tools: Make Beliefs Comix, reviewed here, or Canva Comic Strip Templates, reviewed here. Challenge cooperative learning groups to create videos of activities using their photos uploaded to Clipchamp, reviewed here, and share them on a site such as TeacherTube reviewed here. Left Brain Craft Brain offers excellent activities to use alongside your Earth Day and Thanksgiving lessons.

Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member

Rating (click star to set rating):

Close comment form

You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).

Close

Less
More

Fotojet - PearlMountain Technology Co., Ltd

Grades
K to 12
4 Favorites 0  Comments
 
FotoJet is an easy-to-use, web-based design tool that allows students and teachers to quickly create photo collages, cards, posters, and other visual projects. Users can choose from...more
Here is the direct link to share this resource review. Feel free to copy and paste this URL into an email or place it on your web page or blog so others can read this TeachersFirst review:

 Close Link

FotoJet is an easy-to-use, web-based design tool that allows students and teachers to quickly create photo collages, cards, posters, and other visual projects. Users can choose from hundreds of ready-made templates and upload images directly from their computer or social media. Built-in editing tools make it simple to resize photos, adjust brightness and exposure, rotate or flip images, and add and edit text. Finished projects can be downloaded as JPEG or PNG files or shared through a link, making FotoJet a convenient option for classroom visuals, presentations, and creative student work.

tag(s): artificial intelligence (257), collages (17), graphic design (48), images (263), posters (43)

In the Classroom

Create cards, posters, or photo collages for any classroom presentation. Share what you created on your website or blog for students to review or for students who were absent. In the younger grades, teachers would create the project. Have students create presentations to "introduce" themselves to the class during the first week of school. Link or embed the introduction presentations on your class wiki and have others guess who they are about. Use this tool in your 1:1 art class to help students practice design principles and techniques. Share student projects with parents and others via URL. Be sure to demonstrate HOW to use this tool on your interactive whiteboard or projector.

Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member

Rating (click star to set rating):

Close comment form

You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).

Close

Less
More

Canva for Education - Canva.com

Grades
K to 12
10 Favorites 0  Comments
 
Canva presents a simple way to design almost anything with drag-and-drop technology. Create custom timelines, posters, business cards, infographics, presentations, badges, flyers, charts...more
Here is the direct link to share this resource review. Feel free to copy and paste this URL into an email or place it on your web page or blog so others can read this TeachersFirst review:

 Close Link

Canva presents a simple way to design almost anything with drag-and-drop technology. Create custom timelines, posters, business cards, infographics, presentations, badges, flyers, charts and graphs, and more using a custom layout or a blank page. Begin by choosing the type of design you want to create. Choose pre-made templates or design your own. Upload images from your computer or your Facebook account. Change your background, add text, and personalize as desired. When complete, choose the link and publish to save and download your creation as an image or PDF file, or copy the link to share via URL. For creating charts and graphs, go to the Features tab. There are iOS & Android apps (free) available for this tool. Canva has recently made its desktop application available for both Windows and Mac OS. Note: You must register (with email and password) before you can access this site.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): DAT device agnostic tool (125), graphic design (48), images (263), posters (43), slides (38)

In the Classroom

This site is ideal for enhancing, modifying, or transforming classroom technology, depending on the requirements of the assignments. Create a slideshow, invitations, or photo collages for any classroom presentation. Share what you created on your website or blog for students to review or for absent students. Deliver blended or flipped lessons using Canva Edu by adding links to videos, assessment information, and other learning activities. In the younger grades, teachers would be the ones creating the project. However, older students could easily create their own Canva presentations. Have students use this online tool as they would any presentation tool or image-enhancing site. Use this site for research projects about famous people from the past and present. Have cooperative learning groups create presentations about science or math topics. Have students create presentations to "introduce" themselves to the class during the first week of school. Link or embed the introduction presentations on your class wiki or website and have others guess who they are. Use this tool with your 1:1 art class for students to practice design principles and techniques. Create 2 to 5 circle Venn Diagrams. Share student projects with parents and others via URL. Be sure to demonstrate HOW to use this tool on your interactive whiteboard or projector.

Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member

Rating (click star to set rating):

Close comment form

You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).

Close

Less
More

Activities for Kids - Activities for Kids

Grades
K to 5
2 Favorites 0  Comments
Find crafts and activities for both home and in the classroom. First, figure out which are ads and which is actual site content! Discover activities for families or after school. ...more
Here is the direct link to share this resource review. Feel free to copy and paste this URL into an email or place it on your web page or blog so others can read this TeachersFirst review:

 Close Link

Find crafts and activities for both home and in the classroom. First, figure out which are ads and which is actual site content! Discover activities for families or after school. Find your area by searching within your state or area code. Discover party ideas, theme ideas, crafts, classroom helpers, puzzles, and games. Free personalized printouts include blank checks, thank-you cards, coupon books, and bookmarks. Find fun worksheets for holidays.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): crafts (90), directions (10), holidays (246), mothers day (22), parents (53)

In the Classroom

Bring great ideas to your next PTO meeting with Activities for Kids! Feature this site during parent nights, open houses, and curriculum nights. Include this link on your class website so kids can access it during snow days or vacations. Encourage teachers and students to use it in after-school craft clubs or after-school care. In math, work with fractions using kid-friendly recipes. Use the blank checks for a unit on personal finance or as a checkbook reward system. In language arts, practice personal letter writing with thank-you notes, or use the how-to activity directions as examples for following directions. During thematic units, check for ideas in the party section.
 This resource requires PDF reader software like Adobe Acrobat.

Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member

Rating (click star to set rating):

Close comment form

You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).

Close

Less
More

Foodista - Foodista

Grades
3 to 12
3 Favorites 0  Comments
 
Foodista is a community of food lovers who share and exchange all things food! Find recipes and cooking ideas, food news, holiday ideas, health and nutrition, video directions, questions...more
Here is the direct link to share this resource review. Feel free to copy and paste this URL into an email or place it on your web page or blog so others can read this TeachersFirst review:

 Close Link

Foodista is a community of food lovers who share and exchange all things food! Find recipes and cooking ideas, food news, holiday ideas, health and nutrition, video directions, questions and answers, blogs, and an RSS feed. Add a recipe or share on social media. The videos are hosted on YouTube. If your district blocks YouTube, then they may not be viewable.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): cooking (32), holidays (246), nutrition (136)

In the Classroom

Capture every student's heart (or stomach) with Foodista! Introduce on your interactive whiteboard or projector for learning how to write, read, and follow directions. This site is sure to make some stomachs grumble and some mouths water! In math class, explore or multiply fractions used in recipes. In science, Family and Consumer Science (FACS), or health class, explore the nutrition side of Foodista. Help students gain a better understanding of diabetes or food allergies. Use to create food for special celebrations of literature or in social studies as you study cultures around the world. Allow students to choose food for special class celebrations. In your FACS class, use the blog area as a weekly update for new recipes, home care, and nutrition ideas.

Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member

Rating (click star to set rating):

Close comment form

You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).

Close

Less
More

Eventbrite Organizer - Kevin and Julia Hartz

Grades
K to 12
2 Favorites 0  Comments
Eventbrite Organizer is an all-in-one event planning solution. Create your event page, including logos, images, and other pertinent information, using the templates provided. Take advantage...more
Here is the direct link to share this resource review. Feel free to copy and paste this URL into an email or place it on your web page or blog so others can read this TeachersFirst review:

 Close Link

Eventbrite Organizer is an all-in-one event planning solution. Create your event page, including logos, images, and other pertinent information, using the templates provided. Take advantage of the option to create bar-coded tickets to send to participants (choose free tickets for the free account; paid tickets incur a small charge to cover credit card processing costs). Once your event page is ready, get the word out using Eventbrite tools, such as sending personalized email invitations or leveraging social media. Use the mobile features to check attendees in at your event and scan bar-coded invitations.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): calendars (35), Teacher Utilities (199)

In the Classroom

Use Eventbrite to increase excitement for any classroom event. Be creative and have students attend an "event" to review for exams (using bar-coded tickets they can earn by participating in a student-made review activity). Offer tickets to in-class enrichment "events" for those who test out of a unit. Have student groups design "events" instead of giving class presentations. The "event" could be a quiz show or game session that teaches a curriculum topic, such as "World War Wonders." Have your class work together to plan a culminating "event" such as a tea for famous Americans, and issue invitations and tickets to students who play the parts of the people they researched. Invite parents to Open Houses and Conferences. (Perhaps provide a small door prize for those using the Eventbrite app as their admission ticket!) Use Eventbrite to manage events with limited seating or a limited number of participants. If you provide professional development sessions, this is an excellent way to spread the word and manage participation. If you are an advisor for a school club, this tool would make it easier to organize club-sponsored events.

Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member

Rating (click star to set rating):

Close comment form

You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).

Close

Less
More

Diamante Poems - ReadWriteThink

Grades
2 to 8
4 Favorites 0  Comments
Diamonds are forever, and so are diamante poems created on this free site. Find a great tool to shape up your poets through the structure of a seven-line diamante poem. ...more
Here is the direct link to share this resource review. Feel free to copy and paste this URL into an email or place it on your web page or blog so others can read this TeachersFirst review:

 Close Link

Diamonds are forever, and so are diamante poems created on this free site. Find a great tool to shape up your poets through the structure of a seven-line diamante poem. Learn about the diamond-shaped poems that use specific types of words for each line. Rhyming isn't needed, but needn't be impeded. Describe a central topic or two opposing topics like night and day. View the examples before creating your poem. Each screen provides an organizer for any poet to complete. Click on the parts of speech for definitions while composing poems. Edit your poem, if needed, before printing, downloading it as a PDF, or sharing it through email. Save your draft to continue later. This site is a must during poetry month in April.

tag(s): antonyms (12), firstday (22), parts of speech (39), poetry (192), rhymes (23), synonyms (15)

In the Classroom

Diamante poems are a fun format for writing about a single topic or comparing/contrasting two topics. Review parts of speech and then apply these concepts to writing diamante poems. Work the idea of cause and effect into the diamante poem format for a challenging activity with your poets. Provide students with diamante poems with a few words missing and have them fill in the blanks to complete the poem. Compare or contrast text passages for any subject area or use the diamante format to summarize a selection. Provide your students with images and have them write diamante poems about them. Make homemade greeting cards with your students to give, using this poetic format, or write "about me" poems using this tool at the start of school.
 This resource requires PDF reader software like Adobe Acrobat.

Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member

Rating (click star to set rating):

Close comment form

You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).

Close

Less
More

Art Projects for Kids - Kathy Barbro

Grades
K to 6
1 Favorites 0  Comments
Find classroom-tested art projects for K-5 and beyond at Art Projects for Kids. There are new posts (and activity ideas) nearly every day. Choose from tags listed on the site...more
Here is the direct link to share this resource review. Feel free to copy and paste this URL into an email or place it on your web page or blog so others can read this TeachersFirst review:

 Close Link

Find classroom-tested art projects for K-5 and beyond at Art Projects for Kids. There are new posts (and activity ideas) nearly every day. Choose from tags listed on the site to find projects by type, such as weaving or watercolor. Find projects by season and topic. Each post includes a description of how to complete a project, the materials needed, and links to printables, if required. View the included tags with each item to find suitable grades for each project and similar posts. The projects vary from "crafty" to very open-ended and expressive.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): artists (93), crafts (90), drawing (56), holidays (246), seasons (56), symmetry (32)

In the Classroom

Bookmark and save this site to find art projects and inspiration to use throughout the year. Share with your school's art teacher as a resource for projects that coordinate with classroom content. Don't have an art teacher at your school? Be sure to save this site for lots of easy-to-incorporate ideas. Create art projects in the style of your favorite authors using the links provided. Take pictures of completed projects and create an ebook using Ourboox, reviewed here. Ourboox creates beautiful page-flipping digital books in minutes, and you can embed video, music, animation, games, maps, and more.

Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member

Rating (click star to set rating):

Close comment form

You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).

Close

Less
More

Annotely - annotely.com

Grades
K to 12
7 Favorites 0  Comments
 
Annotely is an online tool for annotating images stored on your computer or screenshots from your computer. Use this site directly in your browser or download the Adobe AIR version...more
Here is the direct link to share this resource review. Feel free to copy and paste this URL into an email or place it on your web page or blog so others can read this TeachersFirst review:

 Close Link

Annotely is an online tool for annotating images stored on your computer or screenshots from your computer. Use this site directly in your browser or download the Adobe AIR version that runs on your desktop. Launch, then choose an option to annotate, such as load a local image, capture a camera image, take a screenshot, or load an image URL. After your image loads, choose from editing options such as scaling, drawing tools like lines, arrows, and circles, and adding text. When finished, save to your computer, publish and share on Twitter or Facebook, or copy the provided URL.

tag(s): digital storytelling (158), images (263)

In the Classroom

Capture screenshots of websites or software and annotate them with directions for student use. Have students label and identify objects in an image. Label parts of a plant, continents, landforms, etc. Practice new words in a different language by asking students to label and identify objects in that language. Create a storyboard using several annotated images as a story starter. Art students can annotate images to point out design elements or annotate images of their own work to talk about the creative decisions they made. Share annotated Annotely images on your class website or blog to tell about a field trip or class event.

Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member

Rating (click star to set rating):

Close comment form

You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).

Close

Less
More

Gickr - Gickr.com

Grades
K to 12
2 Favorites 0  Comments
 
Create GIF animations easily from uploaded images using this site. Images can be uploaded from computer files, pulled from Flickr, or pulled from YouTube videos. Choose up to four images,...more
Here is the direct link to share this resource review. Feel free to copy and paste this URL into an email or place it on your web page or blog so others can read this TeachersFirst review:

 Close Link

Create GIF animations easily from uploaded images using this site. Images can be uploaded from computer files, pulled from Flickr, or pulled from YouTube videos. Choose up to four images, select size and speed, then select the continue button in the right-hand corner of the screen. Images can take up to a few minutes to process before seeing the resulting GIF. When the animated GIF is created, share it using links on the page to many popular social sharing sites or download it to your computer.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): animation (62), images (263)

In the Classroom

Create an animated gif for any subject as an introduction to a new unit. Include images to spark student conversation as a way of determining background knowledge before teaching. Share this site with students to use when creating multimedia projects. Create a fun image to use on your interactive whiteboard (or projector) when introducing the student of the week. Share student-created images on your classroom website or blog to enhance or inspire student writing or poetry projects. Make a class mascot image to include on your wiki or blog and have young students write stories about it.

Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member

Rating (click star to set rating):

Close comment form

You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).

Close

Less
More

Smore - Shlomi Atar and Gilad Avidan

Grades
2 to 12
5 Favorites 0  Comments
 
Make beautiful online "multimedia" newsletters (flyers) to display on your smartphone, tablet, or computer using Smore. You can arrange your content easily with Smores' drag-and-drop...more
Here is the direct link to share this resource review. Feel free to copy and paste this URL into an email or place it on your web page or blog so others can read this TeachersFirst review:

 Close Link

Make beautiful online "multimedia" newsletters (flyers) to display on your smartphone, tablet, or computer using Smore. You can arrange your content easily with Smores' drag-and-drop editing. Add ready-made graphics, images from files on your computer, or images from the web. Quickly embed text, videos, and tweets, too. Choose from several attractive themes. Share your creations via email, URL, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), or print them to hand out or hang on a bulletin board. Check to see who has read your newsletter and who hasn't. The free account plan offers three total newsletter credits, 500 contact credits, and 200 email credits.

tag(s): design (77), infographics (67), multimedia (56), posters (43)

In the Classroom

Show students how to embed media into a Smore newsletter to create their own "infographics," transforming and displaying what they have learned from a unit of study. Use your interactive whiteboard and projector to let student groups present a flyer about a book they've read, a news article, or similar. Have them create campaign posters for fictitious candidates as you study the election process. Smore lets you preview as you work, or return later to complete and publish your flyers. Add ready-made graphics, images from files on your computer, or on the web. Offer Smore as one of the project options for your gifted students doing projects beyond the regular curriculum, especially those who are visual/artistic. Since this tool requires membership, you may want to use a teacher account for younger gifted students, and be sure to get written permission from parents!

Allow students to create flyers for upcoming events such as Earth Day, Grandparents Day, Father's Day, Mother's Day, birthdays, and anniversaries. Make holiday greetings to share.

Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member

Rating (click star to set rating):

Close comment form

You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).

Close

0-20 of 32    Next