Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers

Design Your Ideal Study Space allows students to use their creativity to design and create a scale model of the ideal study space. The lesson plan includes the learning objectives, supplies, videos, procedure, guiding questions, and culminating activity. Everything in the collection can be shared via Google Classroom, a link to students, and social sharing. This lesson addresses the NGSS, ISTE, and National Core Art Standards.

tag(s): architecture (84), careers (182)

Bottle Cap Art Activity is a lesson allowing students to create art using bottle caps, buttons, and paint. Students can create their structure using the bottle caps, dip them in paint to make their design, or add additional materials onto their structure. The lesson plan includes the learning objectives, supplies, videos, procedure, guiding questions, and culminating activity. Everything in the collection can be shared via Google Classroom, a link to students, and social sharing. Lessons can also be built upon once you log into the site. This lesson addresses the National Art Core Standards.

tag(s): careers (182), crafts (76)

PBS LearningMedia's Architecture collection offers a wide range of resources for grades K-12, including videos, audio clips, documents, lesson plans, webpages, and curated collections. Topics cover architectural styles, famous landmarks, geometric and organic shapes, careers in architecture, Black history, and more. Lesson plans feature clear summaries, time requirements, learning objectives, preparation steps, procedures, and alignment with standards. Educators can easily filter materials by grade level, subject, resource type, media length, language, accessibility options, and other features. Resources can be shared through Google Classroom, direct links, or social media, and registered users can customize and build upon existing lessons.

tag(s): architecture (84), careers (182)

The Getty Museum's Art & Language Arts curriculum offers free, high-quality resources that integrate visual art with reading, writing, listening, and speaking activities. Designed especially for elementary classrooms, the lessons encourage students to closely observe artworks, build descriptive language skills, and express themselves creatively. With ready-to-use plans, discussion prompts, and interdisciplinary project ideas, this site helps teachers make strong connections between literacy and the visual arts while fostering critical thinking and imagination. All materials are easy to access and align well with English Language Arts and Visual Arts standards.

tag(s): art history (108)

The Getty Museum's Art & Architecture curriculum offers a rich collection of free resources designed to help teachers introduce students to key concepts in art history, architecture, and design. Through hands-on lessons, students explore how artists and architects use elements like form, function, and materials to shape the world around us. The site provides detailed lesson plans, discussion prompts, and activities that connect visual arts with history, math, and science standards. These resources encourage critical thinking, creativity, and deeper appreciation of art and built environments.

tag(s): architecture (84), art history (108), critical thinking (137)

"I Can Be What?" gives a sneak peek into the world of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) careers. Careers highlighted include diesel mechanic, helicopter pilot, wildlife technician, chocolatier, athletic trainer, and more. Each career contains a video explaining it and additional information. Some of the additional information includes links to jobs, related careers, and discussion questions.

tag(s): careers (182), engineering (137)

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 (194), mothers day (23), puzzles (149)

OnlineLabels.com offers a variety of free printable Mother's Day label templates that educators can utilize to enhance classroom activities and create personalized gifts. These templates include gift tags, stickers, and more, featuring customizable designs with messages like "Happy Mother's Day" and "Best Mom Ever." Teachers can download and personalize these templates to add a special touch to classroom projects or to assist students in crafting meaningful gifts for their mothers or loved ones. This resource provides an accessible and creative way to celebrate Mother's Day within the educational setting.

tag(s): mothers day (23)

PosterMyWall is an online platform that provides a vast collection of customizable templates, including over 880 Mother's Day gift templates such as flyers, posters, social media graphics, and videos. These templates are fully editable, enabling personalized designs with their own messages, images, and branding elements. The platform's user-friendly interface simplifies the design process, making it accessible for individuals with varying levels of design experience. Additionally, PosterMyWall offers features like social media publishing and email campaigns, facilitating seamless sharing of personalized Mother's Day designs.

tag(s): infographics (57), mothers day (23)

Canva offers a variety of customizable Mother's Day gift certificate templates that educators can use to create personalized vouchers for classroom activities or gifts. These templates are fully editable (could be used for mom, dad, or anyone), allowing teachers to add specific details such as the recipient's name, the nature of the gift, and a personal message. The user-friendly drag-and-drop interface makes the design process simple and accessible. Additionally, Canva allows you to edit the templates in multiple languages, making it a versatile option for classrooms with diverse linguistic needs. Once customized, the gift certificates can be printed or shared digitally.

tag(s): crafts (76), mothers day (23)

ArtSteps is a web-based platform that enables members to create immersive 3D virtual exhibitions and spaces. Educators can utilize ArtSteps to design interactive virtual galleries, allowing students to showcase their artwork, historical artifacts, or project work in a dynamic online environment. The platform supports integrating images, videos, text, 3D models, music, and narration, offering a versatile tool for digital storytelling and creative expression. ArtSteps also facilitates guided tours within these virtual spaces, enhancing the educational experience.

tag(s): digital storytelling (155), fathers day (17), mothers day (23), portfolios (24), virtual field trips (131)

This YouTube video Mother's Day Card and Gift Ideas showcases a variety of creative and beautiful craft projects that students can make to celebrate mom and other loved ones. It begins with an adorable multi-folded card that opens uniquely and surprisingly, followed by several one-of-a-kind card designs students can customize with personal messages. The video also includes a simple message that students can write inside their cards to express their love and appreciation. Additional projects include a 3D heart-shaped card, a swirly origami rose tutorial, and a hands-on guide to creating fabric roses from scratch--perfect for upper elementary students ready for a creative challenge. The video wraps up with a cute gift-wrapping decoration idea that can be added to any handmade gift (to any friend or loved one), making these projects meaningful and memorable. If your district blocks YouTube, then the video may not be viewable.
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tag(s): crafts (76), mothers day (23)

View these diverse creative projects and engaging activities suitable for various grade levels to celebrate Mother's Day. Highlights include a free printable Mother's Day questionnaire that captures students' heartfelt sentiments, a "WOW-MOM" card integrating symmetry concepts, and a recycled bouquet project promoting environmental awareness. Each activity fosters creativity and personal expression, providing detailed instructions and printable resources to facilitate easy classroom implementation.
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tag(s): crafts (76), mothers day (23)

Jennifer Findley's blog post, "Mother's Day Gift Ideas and Activities for Upper Elementary," offers educators a variety of creative and meaningful projects tailored for upper elementary students to recognize Mother's Day and the mother figures in their lives. The article features activities such as crafting acrostic poems using the letters in "MOTHER," compiling Top 10 lists highlighting reasons students appreciate their mothers, and assembling personalized coupon books offering helpful tasks or special experiences. Additionally, the post provides links to simple craft ideas, including "You Are My Sunshine" noodle cards and pom-pom flower magnets, complete with detailed instructions and printable templates. These activities foster students' creativity and writing skills, resulting in heartfelt gifts that caretakers will cherish.

tag(s): crafts (76), mothers day (23)

ABCDee Learning offers a collection of 15 easy and adorable Mother's Day crafts specifically designed for young students. These crafts are tailored to be simple and engaging, making them ideal for young children to create heartfelt gifts for their mothers or grandmothers. Notable projects include the Handprint Flower, where children use their handprints to craft colorful blooms; the Shrinky Dink Keychains, allowing kids to design personalized keychains that shrink when baked; and the Picture Flower Craft, which combines a child's photo with a handmade flower for a personalized touch. Each craft includes detailed instructions and material lists, ensuring educators can easily implement these activities in the classroom. If your district blocks YouTube, then the videos may not be viewable.

tag(s): crafts (76), mothers day (23), preK (289)

The Yellow Birdhouse offers a collection of 18 free printable Mother's Day crafts suitable for children, providing teachers with accessible and engaging project ideas. These crafts are designed to be simple and heartfelt, allowing students to create meaningful gifts for their mothers or other important adults. Examples include printable Mother's Day cards, decorative items, and personalized gifts students can easily assemble in a classroom setting. These resources enable educators to facilitate creative activities without requiring extensive materials or preparation.

tag(s): crafts (76), holidays (194), mothers day (23)

Create learning games with the AI-based Learning Game Generator for any topic or grade level. Begin by adding vital information, including grade level, learning outcome or objective, and the game's length. The Game Generator provides a document with instructions for playing the game, any required materials, and setup instructions. Use the provided tools to request changes to create a game that works for your classroom. Copy or download the document using the Manage Content Dropbox options when satisfied.
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tag(s): artificial intelligence (187), assessment (146), Formative Assessment (73), game based learning (206), gamification (86), Teacher Utilities (202)

Planning lessons that provide engaging activities and meet curriculum standards can be challenging. The Plan My Lesson Tool uses AI to match both objectives in just a few seconds. After selecting start, complete the form by adding grade level or band, subject, and learning outcome and selecting to generate the result. After creating the document, use additional features to edit and adjust the activity to fit your needs. You can also choose sections of the document to request changes by chatting with Beans, this site's chatbot. Find options to download or export the finished document by visiting the Manage Content dropbox at the top of the page. You do need to create a free account to access this feature.

tag(s): artificial intelligence (187), professional development (393), Teacher Utilities (202)

Yourway offers a suite of AI-generated tools for educators. Choose from many generators to create lesson plans, assessments, and classroom activities. After selecting a generator, follow the prompt to access a form to add information such as grade level, topic or learning objective, and other directions. After the tool generates a response, you can request changes, edit the information manually, or save the document. Choose the Manage Document dropdown box to copy the document to your clipboard, save it as a PDF file, export it to Google Docs, or download your activity as a Microsoft .docx file. As you create activities, they are saved in the My Content area to revisit and reuse as needed.
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tag(s): artificial intelligence (187), assessment (146), cross cultural understanding (178), differentiation (85), rubrics (36), social and emotional learning (110), Teacher Utilities (202), vocabulary (242)

PBS Kids Design Squad features four activities: Design, Build, Watch, and Games. In the Design section, you can draw scenes of the outdoors, fashion, sports, food, animals, and more. In the Building section, you can create buildings, machines, toys, and vehicles. The Watch section features videos on learning with the Design Squad, do-it-yourself, and clips. The fidget games from the Games section include learning about electricity, farm life, natural disasters, and floods.

tag(s): crafts (76), design (79), engineering (137), game based learning (206), machines (17), musical instruments (54)