Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers

Lights, camera, action! You don't need a Hollywood budget to help your students produce cinematic masterpieces. This collection brings together completely free video creation and editing tools that work on various devices and skill levels, making it easy for students to demonstrate learning, tell stories, explain concepts, or showcase their creativity through film. Whether they're documenting a science experiment, creating a book trailer, producing a how-to tutorial, or crafting a digital narrative, these resources put Hollywood-level capabilities right at their fingertips--no budget required. From editors that work right in a web browser to massive libraries of high-quality stock footage and music, these tools empower students to document their learning, share their voices, and master the art of digital communication. Whether they are piecing together a science documentary, a historical reenactment, or a creative personal project, these resources provide everything they need to go from a rough idea to a polished final cut! These no-charge tools will help you turn your students from passive video consumers into confident, creative video producers who can communicate their ideas in one of the most powerful mediums of our time.

tag(s): editing (88), presentations (31)

If you've ever watched a classroom completely transform after a well-timed joke or a shared moment of laughter, you already know that humor isn't just entertainment--it's a learning tool. The Habit of the Mind - Finding Humor goes beyond cracking jokes; it's about cultivating the ability to notice what's delightfully absurd, not taking ourselves too seriously, and using laughter to build connections and resilience. When students can laugh at their own mistakes or find the quirky side of a challenging concept, they're actually developing emotional flexibility and creative thinking. In the classroom, humor is so much more than just a well-timed joke; it's a powerful tool for reducing tension during a tough exam, finding the delightful "absurdity" in a complex math problem, or using a clever pun to make a vocabulary word stick. In this collection, discover tools to cultivate finding humor from educational comedy videos to joke collections to comic strip creators, comedic picture book lists, improv games for the classroom, fun historical facts or quirky science trivia, playful brain breaks, meme generators, satirical news and current events, AI tools to create puns, and more. Let's encourage our learners to look for the lighthearted side of life, proving that a quick smile can be the best way to clear the path for a big breakthrough!

tag(s): humor (14), thinking skills (101)

Remember that feeling of pure fascination when you first saw a shooting star or finally understood how a complex puzzle fit together? That's exactly what the Habit of the Mind - Responding with Wonderment and Awe is all about! This often-overlooked habit is one of the most powerful that educators can nurture. In our rush to cover content and meet standards, it's easy to forget that curiosity and joy are actually cognitive tools, not just nice bonuses. When students approach learning with a sense of wonder, they're more engaged, more persistent, and more likely to remember what they've discovered. The resources in this collection are designed to help you cultivate that sense of "wow" in your classroom--whether you're teaching math, literature, history, or science. Some examples included in this collection: high-definition science pictures of the day, live feed cams of animals and places, interactive math or art tools, collaboration whiteboards to use for "I wonder" questions, citizen science projects, "how things work" videos, interactive museum video tours and exhibits, brainteasers, optical illusions, and more. Use these resources to turn your classrooms into places where "I don't know" is just the exciting start of a brand-new adventure!

tag(s): thinking skills (101), visual thinking (12)

Let's explore the Habit of the Mind - Gathering Data Through All Senses. For our students, this habit is the difference between just reading about a concept and actually experiencing it. Too often, education happens primarily through reading and listening, but our brains are wired to take in information through multiple channels simultaneously. When we encourage students to touch, observe, listen closely, and yes, sometimes even taste and smell their way through learning, we're not just making lessons more interesting--we're making them more memorable and meaningful. This habit goes far beyond the classroom. Whether it's noticing the specific texture of a leaf, reading concern in someone's eyes, hearing approaching footsteps before seeing who's coming, or sensing that rain is on the way because the humidity has changed, our senses constantly provide us with valuable data about the world around us. Using our sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell allows us to collect a much richer, more complete version of information than any single sense could provide alone. The resources in this collection will help you create rich, multi-sensory learning experiences that honor the fact that students are whole people, not just eyes and ears. Examples of resources in this collection include virtual field trips, audio collections, videos, lesson plans, digital nature journals, recipe collections, mindfulness awareness exercises, and more. By encouraging kids to stop and truly observe their environment, we're helping them build a deeper, more intuitive brand of intelligence that stays with them long after the lesson ends.

tag(s): senses (22), thinking skills (101)

This collection of resources relates to the Habit of the Mind described as Thinking and Communicating with Clarity and Precision. This habit is fundamental to effective learning and meaningful interaction. It challenges us to move beyond vague impressions and ambiguous language toward specificity and accuracy in our expression. When we cultivate precision in our thinking, we develop sharper analytical skills, reduce misunderstandings, and build stronger arguments. For educators, modeling this habit means demonstrating careful word choice, supporting claims with evidence, and showing students how precise language leads to precise thinking. In this collection, you will find videos, lesson plans, and web resources, including interactive vocabulary, digital graphic organizers, rubrics, reflection journals, virtual simulations, debate platforms, and more. The resources in this collection offer practical strategies and engaging activities to help students recognize the power of clarity, refine their communication skills, and understand that precision isn't about perfection--it's about thoughtful, intentional expression that honors both the message and the audience.

tag(s): communication (120), thinking skills (101)

This collection of resources is designed to help you and your students cultivate the Habit of Mind of Perseverance -- the ability to stick with a task through to completion, stay focused when challenges arise, and find creative ways to reach your goals without giving up. Whether your students are working through a challenging math problem, revising an essay to enhance its quality, or practicing a new skill until they master it, perseverance is the key to transforming effort into achievement. This collection includes engaging videos that showcase real-world examples of persistence, inspiring articles (and blogs), interactive activities and games that build resilience through practice, printable goal-setting templates and progress trackers, classroom-ready lesson plans for teaching students how to handle challenging problems, and reflection tools to help students recognize and celebrate their growth. You'll also find visual reminders, such as posters and digital resources, to reinforce this habit throughout your classroom. By deliberately incorporating these resources into your daily routines and helping students notice opportunities to persevere, you'll be equipping them with one of the most powerful tools for lifelong success.

tag(s): thinking skills (101)

How can I learn about AI and use this technology to enhance instruction? This article from the TeachersFirst Help! I Lost My Library/Media Specialist series, reviewed here, shares background knowledge and practical resources to help educators integrate AI into everyday activities to increase productivity and introduce AI to students using interactive learning activities. Choose from a variety of activities, including books, videos, and learning games, suitable for both educators and students.

tag(s): artificial intelligence (273), professional development (303), STEM (354)

Welcome to our collection of resources on the Habit of Mind of Managing Impulsivity--the practice of taking your time, thinking before acting, and remaining calm and deliberative even in the heat of the moment. In a world that often demands quick reactions, we've gathered a variety of tools to help you foster calm, thoughtful, and deliberate decision-making in your classroom. In this collection, you'll find mindfulness videos and breathing exercises that help students develop self-awareness, interactive scenarios and decision-making simulations that practice the "pause and think" approach, printable stop-and-think cards and visual cue posters for classroom use, lesson plans for teaching students to pause and reflect, interactive scenarios where students can practice weighing consequences, and resources for helping them become more aware of their own thoughts and feelings, and self-monitoring checklists that encourage students to track their progress. You'll also discover timer tools and web resources that build in intentional waiting periods, as well as discussion guides to help students recognize their thoughts and feelings before reacting. These resources will provide concrete strategies and examples to help your students learn to consider multiple options, fully understand directions before starting a task, and respond to situations with intention rather than impulse.

tag(s): thinking skills (101)