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40 End-of-Year Journaling Prompts to Inspire Reflection - Rosebud
Grades
3 to 12In the Classroom
Give students 1-2 short prompts (favorite moment, biggest challenge) and have them complete quick 5-minute writes. Post different prompts around the room. Have students rotate, responding to each with a sentence or sketch. Have students choose one big prompt, such as "How did you grow this year?" and write a structured response with a claim, evidence, and reasoning.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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10 Fun Alternatives to Think-Pair-Share - We Are Teachers
Grades
3 to 12tag(s): collaboration (131), perspective (33), thinking routines (50)
In the Classroom
Have groups create a final answer or slide show using Aha Slides, reviewed here that combines everyone's ideas. They must justify their thinking using evidence, pushing students toward deeper reasoning and synthesis. Assign roles such as explainer and questioner. Have one student explain their thinking while the other asks probing questions to deepen understanding, then they switch roles. After pairing, the two pairs join together to form a group of four and compare ideas. This collaborative discussion helps students refine their thinking by hearing multiple perspectives.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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50 Activities For Developing Critical Thinking Skills - Kapable
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): collaboration (131), critical thinking (187), thinking routines (50)
In the Classroom
Set up stations with different types of challenges (logic puzzles, real-world scenarios, ethical dilemmas). Have students rotate through stations, collaborate, and explain their thinking process at each station. Have students identify a real-world problem (at the school, community, or global level) and create a solution plan. They must research, evaluate options, and present their reasoning using CER (claim, evidence, reasoning). Give students a topic connected to your ELA or social studies unit. In small groups, students can take different perspectives and support their claims with evidence.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Comics English - Jonathan Pierrel
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): comics and cartoons (67), multilingual (84)
In the Classroom
Students can create a virtual bulletin board using Lino, reviewed here to display vocabulary. Students can use Google Slides, reviewed here to summarize the comic's meaning. Students can create their own comics using Witty Comics, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Thinking Interdependently - VHS Resource Toolkit
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): collaboration (131), perspective (33), social and emotional learning (202), thinking routines (50)
In the Classroom
Divide a lesson into sections and assign each student in a group a different part to become an expert on. Have students teach their section to their group members. Provide complex tasks (STEM challenges, reading discussions, or real-world problems) that require multiple perspectives. Assign roles (facilitator, recorder, reporter) so each student contributes and the group relies on everyone's input. Have students share writing, projects, or ideas with peers for feedback. Teach them how to offer constructive suggestions and ask clarifying questions, reinforcing that improvement often happens through collaboration.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Habits of Mind Animations: Thinking Interdependently - ASCD
Grades
2 to 8This site includes advertising.
tag(s): collaboration (131), listening (119), problem solving (279), social and emotional learning (202), teaching strategies (77), thinking routines (50), thinking skills (130)
In the Classroom
Give students brief situations that require teamwork (for example, building something together, solving a problem, or working on a group project). Have students discuss with a partner how thinking interdependently would help in that situation. Have students sit in a circle and give a compliment to the person next to them about something they do well when working with others. Students can create a poster that shows what interdependent thinking looks, sounds, and feels like in the classroom. Posters can include examples such as listening, taking turns, helping others, and sharing ideas.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Peer-to-Peer Education: What It Is, Benefits & How It Works - 21K School
Grades
K to 12tag(s): classroom management (143), collaboration (131), communication (126), feedback (16), listening (119), teaching strategies (77), thinking routines (50)
In the Classroom
After a mini-lesson, have students turn to a partner and explain the concept in their own words. Each partner listens and adds anything their partner missed. Set up stations where students work in pairs or small groups to practice skills such as reading, math problems, vocabulary, or science concepts. Have students take turns being the teacher and the learner. Give each group a task that requires teamwork, such as solving a complex question, completing a research activity, or creating a project. Students should discuss ideas and agree on a solution together, strengthening collaboration and critical thinking.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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16 Variations on Think-Pair-Share to Keep Students Engaged - Edutopia
Grades
K to 12tag(s): collaboration (131), communication (126), teaching strategies (77), thinking routines (50)
In the Classroom
Ask students a question about the lesson and have them first draw their idea rather than write it. Students can then explain their drawing to a partner before sharing with the class. Have students stand up, find a partner, and discuss a question or problem. After sharing, they find a new partner for the next question. Have students first talk with a partner, then join another pair to form a group of four, and finally share with the whole class.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Big and Small Strategies to Harness the Power of Peer-to-Peer Teaching - Edutopia
Grades
3 to 12tag(s): collaboration (131), professional development (322), teaching strategies (77), thinking routines (50)
In the Classroom
Ask a question about the current lesson, have students think quietly, discuss with a partner, and finally share with the class. After a short mini-lesson, have students turn to a partner and explain the concept in their own words. The partner listens and then adds anything missed. Divide a topic into sections and assign each group one part to learn. Students become experts on their section and then teach it to a new group.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Laugh Out Loud- Funny Books for Teens - Sno-Isle Libraries
Grades
7 to 12tag(s): graphic novels (5), humor (20), independent reading (84)
In the Classroom
Have students choose a book from the list (or another funny book they know) and write a short review explaining why other students should read it. Compile the reviews into a class slideshow using Genially, reviewed here to share with other classes or the school library. Have students read a selection from one of the books and look for techniques authors use to make readers laugh, such as exaggeration, wordplay, awkward situations, or unexpected events.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Choice Board Templates - Canva
Grades
K to 12tag(s): differentiation (102), multimedia (63), presentations (41), student-centered (10)
In the Classroom
Make sure to create a free teacher's account in Canva; this gives you access to many of the paid PRO account features. Use choice boards during independent work rotations or end-of-unit projects. Create multiple versions of choice boards using the templates to accommodate diverse learners and learning styles in your classroom while still providing instruction that meets learning objectives for all students. Include a variety of activities in choice boards that engage students in learning, such as games, simulations, videos, and opportunities to share their learning by creating multimedia presentations.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Back to School Icebreakers Activities - Nearpod
Grades
K to 12tag(s): classroom management (143), collaboration (131), firstday (27)
In the Classroom
Use Nearpod's Collaborate Board for students to post fun facts, summer memories, reading interests, or personal goals. Encourage classmates to respond to one another to help build connections from the first day of school. Launch a collaborative Nearpod lesson where students brainstorm classroom norms using polls, open-ended questions, and Draw It activities. Turn the class's ideas into a shared digital classroom agreement. Reinforce routines such as technology expectations, transitions, or classroom rules by creating a Time to Climb quiz. Find more ideas for classroom learning activities at Nearpod, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Using Humor in the Art Room - The Art of Education University
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): classroom management (143), humor (20), podcasts (169), teaching strategies (77)
In the Classroom
Start a lesson by intentionally making a funny mistake during a demonstration, such as using the wrong color, holding a tool incorrectly, or pretending to forget a step. Ask students to catch the mistake and explain how to do it correctly. Use lighthearted class discussions about appropriate humor, asking students when jokes are helpful and when they might hurt someone's feelings. Try a teacher-student improv activity where students quickly add a funny detail to a drawing, story, or idea the teacher starts.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Why Can't Teachers Be Funny in School? - Trainers Warehouse
Grades
3 to 8tag(s): blogs (82), classroom management (143), humor (20), teaching strategies (77)
In the Classroom
Use content-based humor activities like Mad Libs, limericks, or funny captions related to the topic you are teaching. For example, students can fill in missing words in a paragraph about the lesson or write a humorous rhyme using vocabulary terms. Begin a lesson with a funny introduction activity, such as having students introduce themselves using emojis, memes, or silly voices. Incorporate movement-based humor activities like funny walks, freeze poses, or short dance breaks.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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How to Easily Infuse More Humor into Your Classroom - Beginning Teacher Talk with Dr. Lori Friesen
Grades
K to 8This site includes advertising.
tag(s): classroom management (143), humor (20), teaching strategies (77)
In the Classroom
Start the day with a joke or a funny daily announcement to create a positive classroom mood. Use silly writing prompts or creative challenges connected to your lesson. For example, ask students to write a story funnily using vocabulary words, such as "What would happen if a dinosaur became the principal?" Create a class mascot, puppet, or character that gives directions, asks questions, or leaves notes for students. The mascot can review content, introduce lessons, or offer hints, making learning more memorable and increasing student engagement.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Create Credibility Detectives in Your Classroom - AVID
Grades
4 to 10tag(s): digital literacy (38), evaluating sources (52), Research (89)
In the Classroom
Give students a short research question. Before using any information, they can evaluate their source using Author, Bias, and Content, and write one or two sentences explaining why the source is trustworthy. Have students design a badge or poster using Adobe Creative Cloud Express, reviewed here showing the rules for being a credibility detective. Students can act as "credibility detectives" and examine a website or article using the ABCs strategy. They can identify the author, assess potential bias, and verify the content for factual accuracy before deciding the trustworthiness of a source.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Evaluating Credibility of Sources - Creator Unknown
Grades
4 to 8tag(s): digital literacy (38), evaluating sources (52), media literacy (130), Research (89)
In the Classroom
Give students two sources about the same topic, one strong and one weak. Students can use the lesson questions to compare the sources and decide which one is more credible. Have students design a poster using DesignCap Poster Creator, reviewed here showing rules for choosing good sources. Have students use the lesson's evaluation criteria to create or complete a checklist for evaluating sources. They can apply the checklist to a new article or website to determine if it is reliable and appropriate for research.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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TickTick - TickTick Team
Grades
7 to 12tag(s): calendars (36), DAT device agnostic tool (132), organizational skills (91)
In the Classroom
In addition to using TickTick for your personal and professional use, share this site with students to use to organize their busy schedules. Demonstrate how to manage long-term projects using the list and subtask features to break down a complex research paper into manageable steps, such as finding three sources or writing the introductory paragraph. Encourage students to use the Pomodoro timer during independent study blocks to stay focused and track how much time they dedicate to specific subjects. To extend learning, students can use Blogger, reviewed here to reflect on their productivity habits or share time-management tips with their peers. For visual learners, suggest that students take their project deadlines from the platform and create a visual representation of their progress using Timeline Infographic Templates, reviewed here. This combination helps students move from simply listing tasks to actively analyzing and visualizing their academic workflow.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Quillbot - Learneo
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): artificial intelligence (335), chat (41), DAT device agnostic tool (132), editing (95), grammar (140), images (271), summarizing (26), writing (309)
In the Classroom
Include this tool to engage students in a vocabulary-expansion workshop. Start by having students paste a simple or repetitive paragraph into the paraphraser to see how changing modes or sliding the synonym bar transforms the tone and complexity of their work. This activity provides immediate, visual feedback on how word choice impacts a reader's perspective. To extend the lesson, have students take their favorite AI-generated variations and organize them into a structured debate regarding which version is the most persuasive using Kialo Edu, reviewed here. Extend learning by having students use their refined text to create a high-quality audio recording of their revised arguments using Adobe Podcast, reviewed here, demonstrating their ability to adapt writing for different audiences and professional formats.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Iditarod Education Portal - Iditarod Trail Committee
Grades
3 to 12In the Classroom
Bring the excitement of the Iditarod to life by having students participate in a cross-curricular simulation where they adopt a musher and track their progress using the site's live GPS maps. Enhance the experience by having students use Google Sheets, reviewed here, to record daily statistics such as miles traveled, weather conditions at checkpoints, and average speeds to create comparison graphs. For a language arts connection, ask students to write daily journal entries from the perspective of their musher or a sled dog, then compile these narratives into a digital book using Book Creator, reviewed here. Students can even record audio reflections or trail reports to embed within their digital books, allowing them to share their understanding of the physical and mental challenges faced during the race.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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