Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers

Watch full length documentaries online for free. Find your favorites through daily suggestions, browsing the top 100, or searching categories: 9/11, activism, art, aviation, business, comedy, crime, disaster, drugs, economics, environmental, food/drink, health, media, medicine, music, nature, performing arts, philosophy, political, religion, science, social, sport, strange, technology, travel, and many more. Look at film festivals and films featured in each. If you do not find what you are looking for, submit your request. A link to Amazon brings you to DVD's. Some are free, and others are for sale.
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tag(s): video (266)

Dive into Documentary Storm to discover 100% free documentary films. The goal of the website is to share knowledge spread ideas, and have fun. Search the different channels to find exactly what you are seeking. Topics included are art, biography, conspiracy, culture, drugs, environment, health, indie films, lifestyle, mockumentaries, money, nature, politics, psychology, religion, science, society, sports, technology, war, and many more. Search in the top 100 documentaries, or click use"surprise me." Connect with Facebook, RSS, X (formerly Twitter), or email.

tag(s): video (266)

Discover a rich collection of videos (and lectures) offered by Britain's The Royal Institute. This Smart Place for Science has an amazing number of videos taped from their live lectures to connect people to the world of science. Some videos go back to the 1950's and are reminiscent of old classroom videos. However, most are more recent and feature leaders in their respective fields of science. Choose from collections to view the individual offerings such as Crystals or the Brain. There are also some videos focusing on math topics. As with any scientific site, some content is not appropriate for less mature students. Preview to be sure, depending on the topic you choose. Some of the lectures are quite high level and would challenge any advanced student. Some videos are hosted on YouTube and some within the site's own servers. If your district blocks YouTube, then they may not be viewable.

tag(s): air (101), brain (56), elements (33), engineering (129), genealogy (8), genetics (80), human body (93), plants (146), rocks (35), STEM (297), video (266)

This resource is an interactive story that explores energy, renewable and nonrenewable resources, and topics of energy creation and transfer. Read the supporting information, try the interactives, and more with this engaging website. There is a quiz to test your knowledge.

tag(s): energy (133), natural resources (37), solar energy (34)

Find answers to some of the most interesting questions ever asked about the natural world. Earth Unplugged, a YouTube Channel, presents our amazing world as never seen before. Subscribe to the video channel to receive notifications of updates. Various categories include: Incredible questions, Zoo visits, Deadliest Predators, Walking with Dinosaurs, and more. Note: These videos are You tube videos. Be sure to check if YouTube is blocked in your school before you plan to show the video.

tag(s): animals (294), dinosaurs (43), video (266), zoology (18)

At UCAR find games, activities, and lessons built around the theme of our atmosphere including weather, climate, and sun and space. Visit the Learning Zone to view video and images identifying changes in the atmosphere and greenhouse effect on the earth. Try interactives such as the solar eclipse memory game. Explore the climate sensitivity calculator. Be sure to check out the teachers' section of Spark to find several classroom activities divided into the topics of weather, climate change, and atmosphere and chemistry activities.

tag(s): atmosphere (22), climate (84), climate change (99), glaciers (17), hurricanes (32), snow (17), solar energy (34), sun (71), tornadoes (14), weather (160)

Are you looking to experience science and math through a different lens? STEMbite is a YouTube channel with engaging "bite-sized" lessons from a unique first-person perspective through Google Glass. This intro page explains the project and gives the link to the actual YouTube channel. Math and science surround us in our everyday life. STEMbite opens your eyes to infinite possibilities. The videos engage you through a short explanation and motivate you to learn more. Examples of videos include math at the pharmacy, washing machine physics, chemistry in your kitchen, probability challenge, the polarization of light, and more! Subscribe to the STEMbite YouTube channel to make your mind hungry to learn about the application of math and science in our everyday life. STEMbite will change your point of view on math and science. If your district blocks YouTube, then STEMbite may not be viewable for students at school.

tag(s): atmosphere (22), energy (133), probability (99), STEM (297), video (266), waves (14)

This article announces and explains a one stop archive of field research journals and other documents. Click the text link "View all Field Book Project records on Collection Search Center" to search from a wide variety of examples of scientific fieldbooks. Use the search functions to find specific journals related to many fields in Biology and Geology. Click to view each electronic resource in a pop up window.

tag(s): field trips (8), geology (62), journals (15), scientific method (48)

Learn about a variety of Invasive Pests. Identify them by their mug shots, learn how they spread, and view affected states. Click on the link to view the entire United States. Choose the state you want to explore. Find a list of the pests and information.

tag(s): ecosystems (83), environment (252), insects (68), species (16)

As school district budgets continue to be cut, field trips are more and more difficult. Enter the online panoramic virtual tour. The Smithsonian Institution's Museum of Natural History can now be "visited" using a computer or a handheld device like a smart phone or tablet. Choose to tour several featured areas such as Permanent Exhibits, Current Exhibits, Past Exhibits, Narrated Tours, and a couple of others. Click on a featured exhibit and view a map of the exhibit area. Hover over one of the hotspots to see what is included in that exhibit. Choose to view the Hope Diamond, for example, and access panoramic views of the artifact or the exhibit hall. Follow the arrows to travel through the museum. Maybe a virtual tour of a museum isn't quite as good as the real thing, but you won't have to deal with crowds, noise, and that really tall person who always seems to be standing between you and the exhibit you want to see. Click the Education tab at the top, to find Teaching Resources with 300 options, that includes activities, videos, and science literacy resources for Grades K to 12.

tag(s): museums (52), natural resources (37), virtual field trips (128)

3D Toad offers many images for viewing items in both 3D and 360 degree rotation. The site offers an assortment of categories such as Dissections, Human and Animal Skeletons, Fossils, and an extensive listing of Chemicals. There are also categories not typically associated with a "toad" such as: Yoga, Music, Dental Hygiene, History, Ballet Positions, Computer Networking, Emergency Preparedness, and more! The History link is interesting and includes American 1700-1800 and American Civil War: both packed with artifacts. Choose any image then drag your mouse to view or zoom in and out as desired.
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tag(s): 1700s (36), body systems (40), chemicals (39), civil war (139), coral (11), dance (31), dissection (6), elements (33), fossils (41), rocks (35)

Find or upload sound clips in wav or MP3 format -- with clear information about digital rights -- at Sound Bible. Thousands of files are available for easy download. Use the search bar to locate a specific sound or browse through sound effects or royalty free sounds available on the site. Click the arrow to hear the sound clip, then click on the name to go to the download section. Choose from wav, mp3, or zip file, and click to download. Share your own sounds using the link provided along with a short description of your sound file. The sound file information includes licensing information for the sound. If you search solely in Royalty Free sounds, you are safe to use them, but follow the attribution requirements as explained on the lower portion of the "Royalty Free sounds" page.
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tag(s): listening (93), sound (72), sounds (43)

At CommonCore Sheets, find downloadable worksheets correlated to the Common Core curriculum and customizable activities. Choose from worksheets in every subject, including foreign languages. Registration isn't required to select and use worksheets; however, creating an account provides access to the Teacher Panel. Use the Teacher Panel to save sheets, create classes and assignments, monitor grades, and add distance learning assignments.
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tag(s): charts and graphs (171), decimals (85), fractions (160), measurement (122), money (113), negative numbers (13), operations (72), order of operations (29), parts of speech (39), primary sources (117), probability (99), sentences (22), time (91), timelines (56), variables (14)

All Things Science is an aggregator of short, top quality science videos for educational use. Search for specific content topics using the search bar. Browse through featured, most viewed, or all videos. Interested in seeing how a germ travels with a sneeze and makes you sick with a virus? There is a detailed video on that topic and SO much more. Read short descriptions of videos before viewing. Share using social media links provided, with a direct url, or with the embed code directly onto your website. Free registration on All Things Science allows you to save videos to favorites, add comments, and upload video. Note that videos can be submitted by members, so it is advisable to preview before sharing with young people.
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tag(s): animals (294), cells (82), climate (84), climate change (99), genetics (80), human body (93), medicine (57), scientific method (48), scientists (67), solar energy (34), solar system (110), space (222), video (266), weather (160)

Journey back 65 million years to discover and learn all about dinosaurs and their time on earth. Choose a section to explore from links provided: Dinos A to Z, Giants of the Jurrasic, Dino Comic and others. Above these categories click Educators in the upper right corner where you'll find lessons for grades K-8 and In-depth Units of Study, not only about dinosaurs, but Pirates, the Circus, Greece, The Health House, Dinosphere (in different grade ranges), Native Americans and the Natural World, Anne Frank, and many others. Be sure to check out the Blog. There is a menu on the left with many topics including dinosaurs.

tag(s): dinosaurs (43), fossils (41)

Problem-Attic is a resource for finding and compiling the best questions from NY Regents, State Assessments, Academic Competitions, and more for classroom or individual use. Select, arrange, and format questions as desired. Select questions by browsing topics or exams. Add items as desired to your document with the link provided. Drag and drop selections into any order such as easy to hard, all multiple choice items together, etc. Choose a template for how questions should look. Choose other options such as allowing room for students to show work and printing an answer key. Preview your document until it is complete then print in PDF format. Create lesson plans, too.

tag(s): assessment (147), Teacher Utilities (198), test prep (69)

Find a great source for all your energy information at Energy Kids! Discover energy sources, forms of energy (renewable and non-renewable), electricity, hydrogen, and recent statistics on energy use. There are games and activities to help reinforce the concepts presented. Detailed lesson plans, science fair experiments, field trip information, and more help you provide a more comprehensive unit. Don't miss the history of energy timeline with all the famous people. There is even a link "For Teachers" where you can find lesson plans from K to secondary.

tag(s): conservation (102), energy (133), natural resources (37)

This website is for girls to learn about STEM careers and the various research and educational opportunities that exist for them. Famous women in STEM careers and other prominent women are a focus of this site. Learn about great STEM careers and how STEM impacts much of our world. Watch and learn from others, view video clips, take challenges, learn about careers, and more. Some of the videos are hosted on YouTube. If your district blocks YouTube, then they may not be viewable.

tag(s): engineering (129), STEM (297), women (151)

Join John and Hank Green on the you Tube channel, Crash Course. Crash Course consists of highly engaging video presentations that explain the basics on many topics: about 10-15 minutes in length, humorous, and engaging! The general topic areas include World History, Literature, and US History. At the time of this review, biology topics include: the carbon cycle, water cycle, molecules, nutrition, animal and plant cells, photosynthesis, heredity, DNA, mitosis, meiosis, natural selection, evolution, genetics, taxonomy, evolution, simple animals, complex animals, animal behavior, various systems of the body, bacteria, protists, and even more. In literature, five videos cover subjects from Romeo and Juliet to The Great Gatsby. There are over forty world history topics: Agricultural revolution, Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt, The Persians and Greeks, Buddha and Ashoka, Chinese History, Alexander the Great, The Roman Empire, Christianity from Judaism to Constantine, Fall of the Roman Empire, Islam the Quran, and the Five Pillars, Venice and Ottoman Empire, Russia, Columbus, The Spanish Empire, The French Revolution, Haitian Revolution, Industrial Revolution, Capitalism, Socialism, Imperialism, and many more. If your district blocks YouTube, they may not be viewable. Tip: to watch or share a video without the ads and clutter, use a tool such as ViewPure, reviewed here, to watch the video ad-free!
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tag(s): animals (294), bacteria (22), bill of rights (33), body systems (40), chinese (45), constitution (96), declaration of independence (16), evolution (89), genetics (80), greeks (46), literature (221), meiosis (8), mitosis (9), nutrition (140), religions (95), rome (37), romeo and juliet (3), russia (36), shakespeare (99), water cycle (22)

See how many meteorites actually strike the Earth. Choose the map or table view. The map view shows bubbles. Hover over a bubble to identify the type of meteorite, size, and whether it was found or seen. Click on the table tab to see the actual numbers used to plot the graph.

tag(s): earth (184), space (222)