Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers

The cost of college continues to rise, and student debt has a significant impact on the US economy. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau offers several important resources for those thinking about how to pay for college. An overview of student loans and how they work provides important consumer information. Also, some brief money management and banking can help those just starting out. The best part of Paying for College, however, is the financial aid offer comparison tool, which allows you to evaluate up to three financial aid offers from colleges using real "apples to apples" data. Finally, there is excellent advice about repaying student debt.

tag(s): banks (8), college (44), financial aid (13), financial literacy (95), money (113)

Planet Nutshell offers short, comic videos hosted on Vimeo explaining diverse topics such as Internet safety, financial aid, and climate change. Click More, then For Teachers, and choose your topic, Many videos include a suitable grade range with the title and run three minutes or less in length. Share videos using the share link provided with the direct URL to the Vimeo site or embed code. Save videos for later viewing on your Vimeo account.

tag(s): climate change (100), financial aid (13), internet safety (116)

Top Documentary Films contains a large collection of documentaries from around the world. Choose "Browse" to explore the films available, or use the Categories menu on the right to view by topics such as Politics, Science, etc. Choose List from the top menu to view a complete listing of all available films. Each listing includes a short description along with a link to view the video. Videos are hosted on YouTube. If your district blocks YouTube, they may not be viewable. Be sure to PREVIEW videos before showing to a class as they are unmoderated. Comments are also unmoderated. There is a wonderful disclaimer at the lower left of the home page about bias and documentaries. It is well worth noting as you watch ANY "documentary."
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tag(s): advanced placement (26), animals (293), artists (87), biographies (94), drugs and alcohol (28), environment (251), evolution (88), hiv/aids (15), humor (15), media literacy (113), mental health (50), money (113), politics (118), psychology (65), religions (113), sports (85), vietnam (38)

Think you know about food and the food system responsible for growing, processing, and getting it to your table? Begin with the quiz to see what you really know. Along with the right answers, you will receive background information and some shocking statistics. View the Get The Facts tab to access an assortment of Infographics about what is in the grocery aisles.
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tag(s): nutrition (140)

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.
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tag(s): cooking (33), holidays (194), nutrition (140)

Media Smarts is a comprehensive Canadian site devoted to media literacy and critical thinking skills for children and youth. Browse through several topics such as digital and media literacy to explore articles related to television, Internet, and gender issues. An extensive teacher resource section offers many lessons and resources searchable by grade, topic, and media type. Download lessons in PDF format using links in the lesson description.

tag(s): media literacy (113)

Budget and plan for prom with 10 easy questions using this "prom planning" site. It's never too early to start saving! Begin with information on how long there is until prom, money you will have, and more. Include projected expenses for a dress, transportation, tickets, food, and more. When complete, the planner will let you know if you are on track to have enough money for your dream prom!

tag(s): financial literacy (95)

Grow For It offers lessons and resources for exploring agriculture, natural resources, and insects! Download several different lessons correlated to Common Core and/or North Carolina Standards. Find teaching materials about gardening, insects, and soil erosion. Some lessons offer additional materials not included as part of teacher training, provided by 4H services. However, free materials include detailed lessons and activities worth exploring. Be sure to explore other links for grant opportunities, weekend projects, and a "Plant Geek Pledge."

tag(s): agriculture (52), ecosystems (85), erosion (14), insects (68), natural resources (37), nutrition (140), plants (148), soil (16)

Honest Slogans takes company slogans, adds a little twist, and creates new advertising images. These new slogans poke fun using a company's own logo and brands. Scroll through the many pages to view images similar to the company's advertising but with a slightly different punch line that tells what people really think about the product. For example, see the Hallmark Cards logo stating "When you care enough to give a card mass-produced by a corporation." Each slogan includes a link for viewing notes shared by others. Please take caution in sharing these with students as they are unmoderated. Not all topics are appropriate for students (for example, alcohol).
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tag(s): advertising (26), media literacy (113)

The Flickr Bad Maths Group shares photographic examples of crazy offers, signs, and specials where the math just doesn't "add up." Some are obviously bad; others may take some calculations to spot the error. Scroll through to find actual images from stores offering specials such as $10/month or $199 for 18 months. Click on any image to view or share using social networking links. The site was created in the UK, so some of the pronunciations and spellings (and some of the currency) may differ from those in America. However, American dollars are also shown at this site.

tag(s): financial literacy (95)

View visual representations of 200 calorie portion sizes of many foods at Calorie Gallery. Click on any image to view nutrition facts about each item along with other interesting information. Learn calorie density, carb-protein-fat ratio, and various ways to burn off the calories. Add items to the "My Pantry" portion of the site to make side-by-side comparisons of different items. Use the permalink button to share your pantry via email. Note: There is no log-in required. The pantry page explains, "And don't worry, your pantry will be saved for you when you come back!" The pantry collections you make on this site appear to be saved by placing "cookies" (the technical kind, NOT the edible kind!) on the local computer where you make them. This means that the person who opens the site next on that computer will have all your selections showing. Try clearing your web browser's "cache" if you do not want this to happen.

tag(s): calories (6), nutrition (140), obesity (8)

Use this tool to find the calories and nutrient content in a large variety of foods. Search among popular brands or chains or search from categories of foods. This site features a search bar for easily finding the nutrient information. Nutrition facts include carbohydrates including fiber, fats (saturated and trans,) and proteins. Choose to compare foods to find the differences in nutrients. Beside the nutrient information, learn how many minutes of various exercises are needed to burn off those calories. Use the box on the site to determine the calorie requirements for your height, weight, and age.
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tag(s): calories (6), nutrition (140)

GE Focus Forward offers a series of 30 three-minute videos featuring stories about innovators. Directed by award-winning documentary film makers, the films range in topics from a "Journey Under the Sea" to a look at the "Secrets of Trees." Hover over any film icon to view a short description of the topic. Click to begin. Share films using social networking buttons within the film. Copy the code (click the video you want, then, click the third symbol in the upper right corner to copy the code) to embed on any website or blog. Videos are hosted on Vimeo, which is accessible in most schools.

tag(s): environment (251), inventors and inventions (81), medicine (57), mental health (50), nutrition (140), oceans (149), robotics (26), solar energy (35), STEM (310), trees (19), video (267)

Visit this incredible site to bring students of all ages into a positive relationship with food by connecting it with nature and culture. Click Resources from the top menu bar and the Resource Library to discover a sustainable food curriculum that includes Farm to School ideas and much more. This project shares a food curriculum for schools around the world to put into practice. Search and explore inspiring ideas, programs that work, and the voices of the movement. Add your own story or classroom to the project to share with others around the world.

tag(s): nutrition (140), plants (148), sustainability (51)

Use this tool to find the calories and nutrient content of a large variety of foods found in the popular chains. Search a variety of restaurant names or search categories of foods from the chains. This site features a search bar for finding the nutrient information of the food easily. Nutrition facts include carbohydrates, fiber, fats (saturated, cholesterol, and trans fat), proteins, and sodium.

tag(s): calories (6), myplate (18), nutrition (140), obesity (8)

Create and explore different budgeting options using this online tool. View proposed options in several categories such as housing, food, and personal expenses. Adjust your budget as desired to view various proposals and outcomes. Choose the link to print your finished budget.
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tag(s): careers (182), financial literacy (95), percent (59)

Other online calculators don't add up to the diverse collection of calculators Calkoo has to offer. Browse categories including measurement, wage, taxes, stock analysis, mathematics, loans, health, saving, investing, real estate, and more! Calkoo can handle many tasks, including some rather complex calculations. Complete the various fields based on the type of calculation. Some utilize radio buttons and drop down boxes, while others ask for numbers only. Create almost any kind of calculation you need with this easy accessible calculating tool. Language options include English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and Russian.
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tag(s): addition (127), area (53), calculators (36), division (96), fractions (159), measurement (123), multiplication (120), percent (59), quadratics (27), subtraction (108), volume (33)

Find lesson plans at the Pulitzer Center for grades 3-12 that identify global issues and ways to address them. Topics include subjects such as International Adoptions: Ethics and Effects and America's Responsibility for the Welfare and Safety of Chinese Workers and many other intriguing topics. Each lesson plan includes big ideas, essential questions, Common Core standards, vocabulary, assessments, and additional resources. Bring lessons to life through journalist visits (in larger cities) or Skype visits.

tag(s): africa (170), careers (182), china (83), debate (42), earthquakes (47), ethics (21), food chains (19), hiv/aids (15), india (33), journalism (74), media literacy (113), water (105), women (154)

Learn to manage money while having fun living on a 20 "bean" salary using this printable game. Use the directions and discussion questions to play two rounds of the game. Although it is possible to play with individual players, the site recommends groups of between 2 and 5 players for optimal results. Even though this game is "low tech," it is a great teaching tool!

tag(s): financial literacy (95), game based learning (206)

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 (267)