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4 Ways to Celebrate Pi Day in Nature - Project Learning Tree
Grades
K to 6
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Pi gives us a way to find the circumference of circles; this article shares four ways to introduce and explore Pi by looking at circles in nature. For younger students, ...more
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Pi gives us a way to find the circumference of circles; this article shares four ways to introduce and explore Pi by looking at circles in nature. For younger students, the first activity uses a scavenger hunt for students to find circles in nature. For older students ready to measure circumference, the scavenger hunts expand to finding the circumference of natural objects, such as tree trunks. Additional suggestions include "Pi-Ku" poetry and exploring ingredients found in students' favorite pies from nature. Each activity description includes a link to further information to help plan the activity.
In the Classroom
Add this site to your Pi Day resources for use when lesson planning. If students can access mobile devices, use Goosechase, reviewed here to gamify your scavenger hunt. Have students work in groups to participate in a mission to find and document circular objects in nature. Extend learning when older students measure the circumference of circular objects, ask them to share their calculations, and describe their observations using Padlet, reviewed here, specifically the Sandbox tool or the Journal "recipe." The Sandbox option allows students to draw, create, and collaborate with others in real-time, while the journal option includes areas for personal reflection and documentation of activities.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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TriviaMaker - Redwood Pro Media, LLC
Grades
K to 12
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Turn lessons into a game show with TriviaMaker. Create an account to create trivia games or select games from the included library. Visit the Teacher's Channel to search for and ...more
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Turn lessons into a game show with TriviaMaker. Create an account to create trivia games or select games from the included library. Visit the Teacher's Channel to search for and explore available games by subject, grade level, and game type. Game options include grids (similar to Jeopardy), lists (similar to Family Feud), and Trivia. Choose from several play options, including student devices, introductory screen presentation, and solo trivia. The basic free plan allows members to participate in two teams and up to 20 players per crowd.
tag(s): assessment (140), Formative Assessment (42), gamification (89), quiz (64), trivia (18)
In the Classroom
Create and play trivia games in a variety of ways. Introduce a new unit by playing a game as a schema activator and as an informal assessment tool to assess students' prior knowledge. Use the single-player activity as a tool for personalized learning. Begin using games from TriviaMaker's Teacher's Channel, then create games to fit the individual needs of your students. If devices are unavailable, use the print option to print the quiz questions, then use this option for students to play individually or compete in teams. Enhance learning by asking students to select a question they got wrong or one they would like to research further, then share additional facts and information by creating a short animated video using Animate from Audio, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Easy Going Surveys - Easygoingsurveys.com
Grades
K to 12
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Create and share surveys easily with this online tool. Simply create an account with your email and password, choose a template, customize with your information, then share the url...more
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Create and share surveys easily with this online tool. Simply create an account with your email and password, choose a template, customize with your information, then share the url for respondents to reply.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): polls and surveys (43), quiz (64), quizzes (89)
In the Classroom
Create a survey as an exit slip to identify student understanding or misunderstandings. Use a poll on a projector or interactive whiteboard to discuss and informally assess prior knowledge as you start your study by asking questions about the material. Discuss in groups why those in class would choose a particular answer to uncover misconceptions. Use for Daily quiz questions to gain knowledge of student understanding and a means of formative assessment. Create a question that matches the day's lesson to determine how well students are able to solve a similar problem. Use the survey to collect data from students for use in a Math class (such as calculating means and medians) or in a Social Sciences/Psychology class to determine trends and opinions. The surveys could even be used with young students on an interactive whiteboard (voting for field trip options, lunch count, "student choice" centers, and much more Include a question of the week on your class wiki or web site to keep parents and students coming back.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Classroom Blogging - Scott Chow
Grades
K to 12
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Do you want to start a classroom blog but don't know how to start? This series of articles provides all the information you need from getting started through promoting your ...more
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Do you want to start a classroom blog but don't know how to start? This series of articles provides all the information you need from getting started through promoting your blog. Information on this site begins with the most basic information including choosing the appearance of your blog and moves on to cover using and customizing your site. All information in these articles pertains to using WordPress as your platform; however, the tips and information apply to anyone wanting to create a classroom blog.
tag(s): blogs (82)
In the Classroom
Check out TeachersFirst Blog Basics for the Classroom for additional information on creating a blog for your classroom. Use this information as a starting point for creating blogs for students. Replace written reports or oral presentations by requiring students to create blog posts sharing information learned in class. Use a tool like Edublog, reviewed here. Edublog offers tools for creating class and individual blogs, but not for embedding videos or HTML links. UseTelegra.ph, reviewed here, for older students. With Telegra.ph you just click on an icon to upload images from your computer, or to add a YouTube or Vimeo links. This blog creator requires no registration.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Reading Treks: Bud, Not Buddy - TeachersFirst
Grades
3 to 7
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TeachersFirst Reading Treks create a virtual field trip of resources about a piece of literature or text using the My Maps feature of Google Maps. This Reading Trek provides inspiration...more
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TeachersFirst Reading Treks create a virtual field trip of resources about a piece of literature or text using the My Maps feature of Google Maps. This Reading Trek provides inspiration and suggestions for using Bud, Not Buddy with students in grades 3-7. Take advantage of the robust teaching guide. This historical fiction novel takes place in Grand Rapids, Michigan, during the time of the Great Depression. Content correlates to Common Core Standards, ISTE Student Standards, and National Curriculum Standards for Social Studies. Find the entire selection of Reading Treks here.
tag(s): civil rights (221), cultures (290), great depression (32), michigan (5), racism (81), Reading Treks (56)
In the Classroom
Encourage students to understand the Great Depression's impact upon everyday life in the 1930s and explore these periods of history using primary sources. As you discuss the book and incorporate the suggested activities, be sure to include discussions on racism's effect upon the book's characters. Use this curated list of primary source resources to engage students in learning about the past through comparisons to current day life. Use an online tool such a Holt Interactive Graphic Organizers, reviewed here, to create diagrams, mindmaps, and other visual graphic organizers to compare and contrast the different periods. Engage students as they explore events shared in the book through the use of bite-sized podcasts using Acast, reviewed here.
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OK2Ask: EduProtocols for Student Engagement & Choice - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12
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Register to view this on-demand OK2Ask professional learning workshop from September 2025. Educators seeking recertification credit must watch the recording, complete the feedback survey,...more
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Register to view this on-demand OK2Ask professional learning workshop from September 2025. Educators seeking recertification credit must watch the recording, complete the feedback survey, and pass the assessment. For details, read the Registration & Credit Options section on the registration page.
Turn your classroom routines into powerful learning experiences with EduProtocols! Similar to the routines you create for classroom management, EduProtocols are instructional routines you apply to lesson content, creating a predictable framework that allows both you and your students to focus on deep learning rather than figuring out "what to do." In this workshop, you'll discover how three versatile EduProtocols--Iron Chef, Sketch & Tell, and Thin Slides--can reshape engagement and provide meaningful student choice in your classroom. These free, flexible strategies work across all grade levels and subject areas, making them perfect for educators in any setting. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Understand and apply the strategic purpose of EduProtocols as instructional routines that enhance learning. 2. Plan to implement three specific EduProtocols with appropriate technology tools in their content area. 3. Design differentiated applications of EduProtocols that provide student choice and accommodate diverse learning needs. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.
Turn your classroom routines into powerful learning experiences with EduProtocols! Similar to the routines you create for classroom management, EduProtocols are instructional routines you apply to lesson content, creating a predictable framework that allows both you and your students to focus on deep learning rather than figuring out "what to do." In this workshop, you'll discover how three versatile EduProtocols--Iron Chef, Sketch & Tell, and Thin Slides--can reshape engagement and provide meaningful student choice in your classroom. These free, flexible strategies work across all grade levels and subject areas, making them perfect for educators in any setting. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Understand and apply the strategic purpose of EduProtocols as instructional routines that enhance learning. 2. Plan to implement three specific EduProtocols with appropriate technology tools in their content area. 3. Design differentiated applications of EduProtocols that provide student choice and accommodate diverse learning needs. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.
tag(s): OK2Askarchive (51), professional development (295), teaching strategies (77)
In the Classroom
The archive of this teacher-friendly, hands-on webinar will empower and inspire you to use learning technology in the classroom and for professional productivity. As appropriate, specific classroom examples and ideas have been shared. View the session with a few of your teaching colleagues to find and share new ideas. Once registered, find additional reference materials, tutorials, and how-to information to help you review or extend your knowledge from the session in the handout posted on the session landing page. Resources may include additional ideas and examples on integrating the tools and strategies shared in classroom instruction. Learn more about OK2Ask and upcoming sessions here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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OK2Ask: Microsoft Forms for Differentiation: Personalizing Learning with Purpose - TeachersFirst
Grades
1 to 12
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Register to view this on-demand OK2Ask professional learning workshop from July 2025. Educators seeking recertification credit must watch the recording, complete the feedback survey,...more
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Register to view this on-demand OK2Ask professional learning workshop from July 2025. Educators seeking recertification credit must watch the recording, complete the feedback survey, and pass the assessment. For details, read the Registration & Credit Options section on the registration page.
Explore how to use Microsoft Forms as a powerful tool for differentiated instruction. Educators will learn how to design forms that use branching logic to adapt to student needs, embed multimedia for accessibility and engagement, and analyze response data to inform instruction. Grounded in the ASCD Transformational Learning Principles and aligned with ISTE Standards, this session empowers educators to create inclusive, student-centered learning experiences. Whether you're supporting struggling learners, extending challenges to advanced students, or collecting formative data to guide instruction, this workshop will provide practical strategies and tools that will help you meet diverse classroom needs. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Design forms that incorporate branching logic to support differentiated learning paths. 2. Integrate multimedia elements to enhance accessibility and engagement for diverse learners. 3. Use response data to inform instructional decisions and personalize learning. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.
Explore how to use Microsoft Forms as a powerful tool for differentiated instruction. Educators will learn how to design forms that use branching logic to adapt to student needs, embed multimedia for accessibility and engagement, and analyze response data to inform instruction. Grounded in the ASCD Transformational Learning Principles and aligned with ISTE Standards, this session empowers educators to create inclusive, student-centered learning experiences. Whether you're supporting struggling learners, extending challenges to advanced students, or collecting formative data to guide instruction, this workshop will provide practical strategies and tools that will help you meet diverse classroom needs. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Design forms that incorporate branching logic to support differentiated learning paths. 2. Integrate multimedia elements to enhance accessibility and engagement for diverse learners. 3. Use response data to inform instructional decisions and personalize learning. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.
tag(s): differentiation (100), Microsoft (50), OK2Askarchive (51), professional development (295)
In the Classroom
The archive of this teacher-friendly, hands-on webinar will empower and inspire you to use learning technology in the classroom and for professional productivity. As appropriate, specific classroom examples and ideas have been shared. View the session with a few of your teaching colleagues to find and share new ideas. Once registered, find additional reference materials, tutorials, and how-to information to help you review or extend your knowledge from the session in the handout posted on the session landing page. Resources may include additional ideas and examples on integrating the tools and strategies shared in classroom instruction. Learn more about OK2Ask and upcoming sessions here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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From Cave Paintings to the Internet - Jeremy Norman and Co., Inc.
Grades
9 to 12
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This amazing online project documents the history of information and media. The project covers a huge scope of time, starting with entries from 2,500,000 BC up to the present time....more
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This amazing online project documents the history of information and media. The project covers a huge scope of time, starting with entries from 2,500,000 BC up to the present time. Use the Google Maps based interface (Map View) to explore the records geographically. Select from a large number of themes including archaeology, writing, or paleontology. You can also explore this tool by historical era or regions. Search the tool using the tabs Outline View, Expanded View, or Map View. Explore the Narrative and Analysis tab for valuable information.
tag(s): 1600s (20), 1700s (39), 1800s (87), 1900s (84), animals (278), art history (105), caves (7), genealogy (8), genetics (84), geologic time (12), geology (60), maps (221), sculpture (17)
In the Classroom
Use this tool to research the history of writing, communication, and technology through the ages. Connect each of these discoveries with other events including political, religious, or social changes also occurring at the time. Assign cooperative learning groups different areas of this website to explore. Challenge students to use a mapping tool such as MapHub, reviewed here, to create a map of their own (display markers featuring text, photos, and videos!).Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Martha Speaks - PBS Kids
Grades
K to 3
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Join Martha (the dog) from the book and animated children's series, Martha Speaks. This interactive website focuses on vocabulary and word usage. The site includes interactives, printables,...more
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Join Martha (the dog) from the book and animated children's series, Martha Speaks. This interactive website focuses on vocabulary and word usage. The site includes interactives, printables, videos, and "Martha's Stories" for students to explore. Make newspapers, dog tags, vocabulary word pictures, and more. Vocabulary introduced are not necessarily sight words, yet specialized content area words. Apply and learn new vocabulary in a wide variety of interactive ways. Some game features require Shockwave and/or a webcam. Don't worry. It does not keep your picture.
tag(s): literacy (123), preK (323), rhymes (24), sight words (22), vocabulary (251), vocabulary development (103)
In the Classroom
Intrigue your students to follow the dog, Martha, into new vocabulary learning. Share a book (or video of the show) with your students before introducing this site. Students from Kindergarten through second grade will benefit from the variety of learning activities. Add this site to your centers for an engaging way to learn vocabulary. Add this link to your class website for review or enrichment.
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Androidify - Google Creative Lab and Larva Labs
Grades
6 to 12
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Androidify any image using this web app or the app on your Android device. Turn the green android into the look you desire. Follow the directions to customize clothing, appearance,...more
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Androidify any image using this web app or the app on your Android device. Turn the green android into the look you desire. Follow the directions to customize clothing, appearance, and add a signature move. When complete, click the submit link to share on social media sites or download to your computer as a GIF.
tag(s): digital storytelling (172), images (269)
In the Classroom
Use Androidify to create GIFs for many occasions. Create an android and share on your interactive whiteboard to use as a creative writing prompt. Share your GIFs on your class website to add interest to information you share, change the mood of your android to reflect excitement or concern, or change the appearance of your android to demonstrate cultural norms in other areas of the world. Ask students to create an android reflecting the mood of characters in a story, to share their reaction to lessons, or to include with a blog post about any topic. Use Androidify with ENL/ELL learners to help learn colors, types of clothing, or mood.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Why All Secondary Teachers Need to Add Science of Reading to Their Lessons - TeachersFirst
Grades
6 to 12
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Think reading is just the English teacher's job? Think again! This blog post from TeachersFirst's Infusing Technology Blog urges all secondary educators to embrace the Science of Reading,...more
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Think reading is just the English teacher's job? Think again! This blog post from TeachersFirst's Infusing Technology Blog urges all secondary educators to embrace the Science of Reading, especially the often-overlooked skill of fluency. Many students in middle and high school silently struggle with comprehension because their reading fluency hasn't been nurtured. The post offers practical ways to integrate fluency checks into any subject, such as one-minute oral readings or short recorded assignments. These simple strategies can help teachers across disciplines support literacy and unlock deeper learning for all students.
tag(s): blogs (82), fluency (32), reading comprehension (145), science of reading (35)
In the Classroom
Read this post and then put the ideas into action! Have students take turns reading a short passage (related to your content area) aloud for one minute. Pair them with a peer to time, track errors, and provide supportive feedback. Rotate passages weekly to build confidence, fluency, and content knowledge. After fluency practice, have students reflect in journals about what they read--summarizing key points, identifying challenging words, and noting how fluency affected their understanding. Consider writing the journals digitally using a resource like Book Creator reviewed here or Google Slides reviewed here. Ask students to record themselves reading passages from your subject (e.g., a science explanation, a history speech, or a math word problem) using tools like Vocaroo reviewed here. Have them submit recordings monthly to show progress. Include self-assessment rubrics to promote ownership of growth.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Pear Practice - Pear Deck
Grades
K to 12
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Pear Practice is a gamified learning experience that promotes collaborative learning and independent practice using tools provided by Pear Deck, reviewed...more
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Pear Practice is a gamified learning experience that promotes collaborative learning and independent practice using tools provided by Pear Deck, reviewed here. Use Pear Practice to create learning experiences or choose from the large selection of activities in the practice sets. When creating a set, Pear Practice allows members to create multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blank, drawing, and drag-and-drop questions. Once a practice set is chosen, create an assignment for individual practice or start a live practice by choosing one of the game mode options. Options within live practice activities allow educators to set time limits for questions, allow guest students not in Pear Deck classrooms, and create random groups. Students join activities using the unique code or by sharing a link. When sharing as an assignment, specify a start and ending date and assign an accuracy goal for students to achieve. Students can retake the assignment as often as needed to meet the accuracy goal. Many activities in Pear Practice's public library correlate to Common Core Standards.
tag(s): assessment (140), differentiation (100), quiz (64), quizzes (89), Teacher Utilities (223)
In the Classroom
Include Pear Practice as part of your ongoing practice and formative assessment activities. Browse the site's public library to find many activities for all grade levels and subjects, then edit questions to fit your needs. Use this feature to differentiate practice materials and games to accommodate the different needs of your students. Create sets that meet your specific needs as you become comfortable using Pear Practice. For example, generate practice sets for multilingual learners to learn vocabulary before beginning a new unit or make a set for students needing additional math facts practice. Include a link to assigned Pear Practice activities on your class website or parent newsletter for at-home practice.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Ducksters Holidays - Kwanzaa - Technological Solutions, Inc. (TSI),
Grades
4 to 8
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Learn some fun facts about Kwanzaa in addition to learning about its history, principles, and symbols. Visit Ducksters to learn the details, ...more
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Learn some fun facts about Kwanzaa in addition to learning about its history, principles, and symbols. Visit Ducksters to learn the details,
tag(s): africa (162), cross cultural understanding (177), holidays (282), kwanzaa (23)
In the Classroom
Add this site to your activities to use for the December holidays and to help students from all backgrounds understand the different holidays celebrated in December. Have students look at the site in pairs, and create a poster of what they thought were the most interesting facts. We recommend a site such as DesignCap Poster Creator, reviewed here. Have students display their posters using social media with the provided link, download to your computor, or print the posters.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Overheard at National Geographic - National Geographic Partners, LLC
Grades
4 to 12
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Overheard at National Geographic shares weekly podcast episodes from 2019-2023 featuring a range of topics related to the world around us. Episodes feature conversations with National...more
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Overheard at National Geographic shares weekly podcast episodes from 2019-2023 featuring a range of topics related to the world around us. Episodes feature conversations with National Geographic photographers, explorers, and scientists, hosted by Peter Gwyn and Amy Briggs. Podcasts run from approximately thirty to forty-five minutes and are available on most podcast-hosting platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and iHeartRadio.
tag(s): africa (162), animals (278), anne frank (8), china (79), explorers (65), native americans (127), oceans (140), photography (136), podcasts (170)
In the Classroom
Incorporate relevant podcasts into classroom lessons to enhance learning and engage student interest. For example, have students listen to the podcast of how Anne Frank's Diary survived when reading the Diary of Anne Frank or learning about the holocaust or include A Skeptic's Guide to Loving Bats during your studies of animals. Visit the archive of OK2Ask: Podcasting 101: Using Podcasts in the Classroom, reviewed here to learn more about using podcasts to improve students' listening comprehension, build academic vocabulary, and strengthen literacy skills.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Gertrude 'Ma' Rainey - Ma Rainey's Black Bottom - Paramounr
Grades
8 to 12
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Ma Rainey's "Black Bottom" is the theme song for August Wilson's play from 1982 and the Netflix movie from 2020 of the same name. The song, first recorded in 1927, ...more
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Ma Rainey's "Black Bottom" is the theme song for August Wilson's play from 1982 and the Netflix movie from 2020 of the same name. The song, first recorded in 1927, is still relevant today; it is set in the 1920s in Chicago and deals with themes of Black art and culture, racial tension, and power. This song resides on YouTube and may not be available in your classroom.
tag(s): african american (129), black history (131), blues (19), plays (31)
In the Classroom
Are you studying Black history or the Blues? Then your students need to know about Ma Rainey. Have them read Ma Rainey's biography, reviewed here, and then listen to one of Ma Rainey's most famous songs. Ask pairs or small groups to listen carefully and pick out phrases that would still apply to Black Americans today. Use a tool such as Padlet, reviewed here, to list the example phrases and research current topics that are relevant. With Padlet, students can post various resources such as videos, primary sources, and books.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Cornell Garden-Based Learning - Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Grades
8 to 12
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Project S.O.W. (Seeds of Wonder) is designed for educators who work with youth aged 13-19 and centers around personal growth, community connection, and equity. The Food Gardening with...more
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Project S.O.W. (Seeds of Wonder) is designed for educators who work with youth aged 13-19 and centers around personal growth, community connection, and equity. The Food Gardening with Justice in Mind provides a comprehensive resource for individuals interested in food gardening emphasizing sustainability, social justice, and community engagement. It offers practical lessons, resources, and guidance for individuals at all skill levels, fostering a deeper understanding of the connections between food, gardening, and social change. Each unit contains five to seven ready-made lessons where students work together to explore growing food, relationships with the land and food system, and practice leadership in their communities. Activities in the fully downloadable curriculum connect to New York State Learning Standards and 4-H life skills.
tag(s): plants (142), social and emotional learning (202), sustainability (55)
In the Classroom
Add this project or one of the units to your arsenal of tools for teaching the Sustainable Development Goals explained in World's Largest Lesson , reviewed here. Show the introduction to S.O.W. on your interactive whiteboard to the class focusing on the links for Seeds for Supper (a beginning gardening experience). If you don't have a school garden, there is a link to Gardening in Containers in Seeds for Supper, which would be easier and more affordable for a classroom or individual students. As you and your class move through the unit, have students use Wakelet, reviewed here to keep a list of notes and links. Be sure to include images of your before and after garden. As a culminating project, use Flock, reviewed here to have students describe the most useful information they learned from this unit. Ask them to comment on their peer's responses.
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Boomerang for Gmail - Bavdin
Grades
1 to 12
2 Favorites
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Download Boomerang to organize your Gmail! Schedule when to send messages, remind yourself to follow up if you do not get a reply email, and mark emails that you need ...more
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Download Boomerang to organize your Gmail! Schedule when to send messages, remind yourself to follow up if you do not get a reply email, and mark emails that you need to read at a later time. The basic plan is free and includes most features.
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tag(s): organizational skills (91)
In the Classroom
Let Boomerrang simplify your email life. Start the beginning of school with welcoming emails to each student/family. Schedule emails with newsletters, timely events, or parent conference reminders in exactly the right time! Design unit newsletters to coincide with your lessons time periods. Schedule birthday wishes or even schedule emails to remind yourself of an important event. You will never forget to collect all responses or assignments with a reminder email. Manage daily or weekly parent reports with ease and timeliness. Share at Meet the Teacher Nights or Curriculum Chats to help parents improve organizational skills for their student.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Thou shalt not commit logical fallacies - Jesse Richardson, Andy Smith, Sam Meadon
Grades
6 to 12
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Find a clickable, online poster explaining the most common logical fallacies. Simply rolling your cursor over the icon for the fallacy will give a definition. Click on it to find ...more
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Find a clickable, online poster explaining the most common logical fallacies. Simply rolling your cursor over the icon for the fallacy will give a definition. Click on it to find a further explanation and an example. Reducing each fallacy to a single simple sentence makes these easier to understand, and the examples given are amusing. There is also a free downloadable PDF of all the fallacies and their explanations presented on this site. A free poster in PDF format is available in three sizes. The free poster can be found at the bottom of the first page of this site.
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tag(s): critical thinking (186), debate (37), logic (170), persuasive writing (49), reading comprehension (145), thinking skills (131)
In the Classroom
Most academic writing presents a premise to be proved (an argument). When you first start to have your students try to understand logical fallacies, show them the online poster for logical fallacies and get them started trying to find these fallacies in their everyday lives. You could assign a fallacy a week and have students write in a journal, or a little tablet when they come across one. Or collect them on a class wiki with a page for each fallacy type. You could even have them make up their own logical fallacies. Have students create online posters on paper or do it together as a class using a tool such as Web Poster Wizard (reviewed here) or PicLits (reviewed here. After introducing logical fallacies, have students peer edit papers to make sure the writer is not trying to support one of these fallacies. Of course, any speech and debate, or media strategies class would benefit from a review this site. During political seasons, be sure to share this site for evaluating politicians' positions.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Good as Gold - Figurative Language in the Elementary Classroom - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12
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Understanding and using figurative language enhances spoken and written words. This article from the TeachersFirst Help! I Lost My Library/Media Specialist series reviewed...more
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Understanding and using figurative language enhances spoken and written words. This article from the TeachersFirst Help! I Lost My Library/Media Specialist series reviewed here shares background knowledge, book suggestions, and classroom activities to teach figures of speech to elementary students. Each section in the activities portion includes "read" and "do" suggestions for teaching similes, metaphors, and other figures of speech. Also included are extension activities to reinforce these concepts. Information includes correlation to ISTE and AASL standards.
tag(s): descriptive writing (43), figurative language (19), idioms (29), writing (308)
In the Classroom
Add a link to this article to include with your other resources for teaching figures of speech. Wakelet, reviewed here and Padlet, reviewed here are excellent tools for curating and organizing resources. Use AI image-creation tools such as Microsoft Designer, reviewed here and Canva's Free Online Image Generator, reviewed here to create images based upon figures of speech to help students visualize each term. Canva's Image generator automatically exports images to their presentation software to create slide presentations for use when teaching figures of speech. Extend learning by asking students to create slide presentations sharing their understanding of the different figures of speech or create videos demonstrating their learning using free tools available at Adobe Creative Cloud Express, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Reading Treks: Refugee - TeachersFirst
Grades
6 to 9
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TeachersFirst Reading Treks create a virtual field trip of resources about a piece of literature or text using the My Maps feature of Google Maps. Refugee is about three children ...more
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TeachersFirst Reading Treks create a virtual field trip of resources about a piece of literature or text using the My Maps feature of Google Maps. Refugee is about three children all trying to escape violent homelands. Each is from a different region in the world, and each is living in a different decade. This Reading Trek provides inspiration and suggestions for using Refugee, written by Alan Gratz. Use the robust teaching guide with students in grades 6-9 as they learn about the struggles of Joseph and his family as they escape from Nazi Germany. Content correlates to Common Core Standards, ISTE Student Standards, and National Curriculum Standards for Social Studies. Find the entire selection of Reading Treks here.
tag(s): europe (82), germany (25), immigrants (50), immigration (85), Reading Treks (56), world war 2 (166)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the many ideas offered on this Reading Trek to enhance and extend student learning. Use virtual field trips offered online to take students to places around the world to learn more about world populations and immigration. This TeachersFirst Special Topics page provides a curated list of free virtual field trips from around the world. Offer students a variety of digital storytelling tools to share their knowledge of immigration. Some free options include Wakelet, reviewed here and Google My Maps, reviewed here.
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