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GIMP - Jens T. Lautenbacher and Adrian Likins
Grades
K to 12
GIMP is a free software download to use when working with images and photos. Features include paint tools, photo retouching, animation, and much more. GIMP provides an extensive tutorial...more
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GIMP is a free software download to use when working with images and photos. Features include paint tools, photo retouching, animation, and much more. GIMP provides an extensive tutorial library broken into categories for beginning through expert users.
tag(s): editing (93), images (263), photography (130)
In the Classroom
Use this tool anytime photos need to be edited for use on class blogs, wikis, or in presentation tools found here. In primary grades, this tool could be useful for teachers to use to edit pictures from a field trip, science experiments, and more. Share the editing process with your younger students using your interactive whiteboard or projector. Edit together! Encourage older students to use this site themselves on images for projects or presentations. Use this tool in photography or art classes. Use the editor to edit pictures to fit styles of pictures when doing historical reports or to set a mood. Use text options for the photos themselves to tell the stories. Have students annotate or label Creative Commons online images of cells, structures of an animal, and much more.SRecorder - SRecorder Company
Grades
K to 12Record a PC desktop with or without sound using free software from SRecorder. This software works only with Windows Operating Systems. After downloading and installing the software,...more
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Record a PC desktop with or without sound using free software from SRecorder. This software works only with Windows Operating Systems. After downloading and installing the software, use the desktop shortcut to begin the recording. Choose to view the entire desktop or select a specific area using the crop box provided. Click the red button to record, then use the icons on the screen to save to your computer or share to social networking sites.
tag(s): video (266)
In the Classroom
Use SRecorder to record instructions for using websites. Share how to perform problems, step by step directions for any project, and much more. Leave a video message for your substitute teacher or even your class! Create a video message to share with parents about current projects, clips from field trips, and more. Share on your class website for students to view at home.The Library of Congress Celebrates the Songs of America - Library of Congress
Grades
5 to 12Explore American history through music with this extensive collection of digitized recordings, sheet music, artist commentaries, and videos. Use the keyword search to find specific...more
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Explore American history through music with this extensive collection of digitized recordings, sheet music, artist commentaries, and videos. Use the keyword search to find specific information. Narrow the search by date, subject, language, and more. Be sure to visit the About this Collection tab to find links to interactive maps and timelines as well as educator resources including several lessons correlated to standards.
tag(s): 1800s (75), 1900s (72), 20th century (62), poetry (193), songs (46)
In the Classroom
This site is a goldmine for finding music to accompany any American history unit! Use resources from the site as an anticipatory set or "activator" to introduce a unit or lesson on a projector or interactive whiteboard. Play music from the period you are studying during reading or research time. Allow students to explore the site on their own, and then share their findings with classmates. Have students create timelines (it can include text, images and collaboration) using Sutori, reviewed here.
This resource requires PDF reader software like Adobe Acrobat.
401 Prompts for Argumentative/Persuasive writing - New York Times
Grades
7 to 12Find the updated link "401 prompts from the New York Times" (NYT) Learning Network's Student Opinion feature. Discover a multitude of topics of interest to teens and students will have...more
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Find the updated link "401 prompts from the New York Times" (NYT) Learning Network's Student Opinion feature. Discover a multitude of topics of interest to teens and students will have an opinion about at least a few of them! However, their opinion is not all they are supposed to give. To submit, teens will need to have evidence-based, concise editorials much like the ones the NYT publishes daily. Once submitted the NYT and the Center for News Literacy at Stony Brook University will use a rubric to select winners, and then publish those on The Learning Network. We suggest obtaining parental permission before submitting anything. If interested, you can also find a link for 650 prompts for narative and personal writing.
tag(s): news (228), persuasive writing (58), writing (324), writing prompts (61)
In the Classroom
English/writing, social studies, and current events teachers are sure to find something here for their students to write about. Introduce a few of the prompts and the winning student editorials using an interactive whiteboard or projector to get students interested. Have students define what concise means and what it should mean in their writing. Point out the good writing habits of the student winners. Students should read the NYT's article(s) that give information about the topic of the prompt(s). At this time, you could have students choose a topic, or you could select several from which students could choose. You could also use one prompt a day as an opener or closer quick write. Another idea would be to have students respond on a class blog to the prompts and then make comments on each other's opinions. Haven't started blogging yet? Check out TeachersFirst's Blog Basics.Kid World Citizen - Becky Morales
Grades
K to 6Kid World Citizen offers a large variety of resources to encourage kids to become global learners and thinkers. Explore categories such as books, food, and art to find international...more
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Kid World Citizen offers a large variety of resources to encourage kids to become global learners and thinkers. Explore categories such as books, food, and art to find international learning activities. Look for topics on specific countries using the map search. Be sure to check out the For Fun area with links to movies, music, games, and toys.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): back to school (55), chinese new year (5), christmas (38), cross cultural understanding (173), earth day (60), hanukkah (12), hispanic (36), holidays (187), italy (30), Juneteenth (22), mexico (37), native americans (108), ramadan (10), thanksgiving (24)
In the Classroom
Bookmark this site for use throughout the year when teaching about countries, holidays, and for cross-cultural literature resources. Choose a country to explore each month using resources found on the site. Learn about your students' backgrounds to find countries and regions to explore using activities on the site. Use an online tool such as Interactive Two Circle Venn Diagram, reviewed here, to compare and contrast your culture with that of a different country.America's Heritage: A History of Immigration - immigrationcouncil
Grades
6 to 12Explore America's History of Immigration through the thirty-two interactive events on this timeline beginning in 1492. Scroll the timeline bar to any area on the timeline to view events...more
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Explore America's History of Immigration through the thirty-two interactive events on this timeline beginning in 1492. Scroll the timeline bar to any area on the timeline to view events for that period. Click the arrows on each box to read more about that event.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): immigrants (34), immigration (68), timelines (56)
In the Classroom
Share this timeline on your interactive whiteboard as an introduction to your unit on immigration. You could show the history of immigration and discuss the U.S. as a nation of immigrants. Use a tool such as Thinkalong, reviewed here, for students to debate about this topic, or any hot topic. It is interesting to note that there are many more events for the most recent twenty-five years than there are for all the previous years. Use this as a starting point for students to research and find additional information to add. Have students transform their learning and create their own timelines (with music, photos, videos, and more) using Timeline JS, reviewed here.TPS Teachers Network - Metropolitan State University of Denver
Grades
K to 12TPS Teachers Network is a social networking site for social studies and history teachers. The Library of Congress funded this as part of their Teaching With Primary Sources Program....more
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TPS Teachers Network is a social networking site for social studies and history teachers. The Library of Congress funded this as part of their Teaching With Primary Sources Program. Create an account to begin using features on the site (email and password required). Once enrolled, options include participating in a chat, adding friends, and searching using keywords. Use the search from the top right menu after logging in on the main page to find specific information topics such as primary source sets or political cartoons. Create albums on the site, including primary and secondary sources, and videos to easily share with students or fellow teachers. Be sure to check out the Help section by clicking the question mark at on the top menu bar when you first get started for Quick Tips to all sections of the site.
tag(s): bookmarks (43), primary sources (117), professional development (385), social networking (61), Teacher Utilities (197)
In the Classroom
Bookmark and save TPS Teachers Network as an excellent professional development and social networking site. Share with your colleagues to create your own professional learning network on the site. Create albums with primary sources for use throughout the year in one easy to find location.Teaching World War I With The New York Times - New York Times/ Michael Gonchar
Grades
8 to 12Teaching World War I With The New York Times is a resource for teaching about World War I using historical articles and social media. The site offers topics paired with ...more
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Teaching World War I With The New York Times is a resource for teaching about World War I using historical articles and social media. The site offers topics paired with New York Times articles and slide shows for use in exploring the causes and effects of the war. Click on highlighted links to get access to all resources included on the site including Common Core Standards.
tag(s): europe (84), middle east (50), world war 1 (77)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the free lesson plan for use in your World War I unit. Use this site to differentiate activities for students. Be sure to "mine" the links within the site for additional resources to add to your current lesson plans. Have students create online posters individually or together as a class using a tool such as Web Poster Wizard, reviewed here, or PicLits, reviewed here. Have students use Fakebook, reviewed here, to create a "fake" page similar in style to Facebook about a president, soldier, or family member during the time of World War I.
This resource requires PDF reader software like Adobe Acrobat.
ZenPen - Tim Holman
Grades
2 to 12Block out all distractions and just start writing with ZenPen. Remove the instructions found on the page (just highlight and click delete). Begin writing without any visual elements...more
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Block out all distractions and just start writing with ZenPen. Remove the instructions found on the page (just highlight and click delete). Begin writing without any visual elements in the way. No registration is required! Highlight text and select options to add italics, bold text, or URLs. Use links on the left side of the page to change text and background colors to black and white, toggle to full screen, add a word count, or save work.
tag(s): editing (93), process writing (37), proofreading (21), writing (324)
In the Classroom
Use this simple tool with an interactive whiteboard or projector to demonstrate different writing techniques without any distractions. Create and save student writing projects such as short stories, poems, and reports. Create study guides before tests or directions for assignments. Have students write a progressive story where they each add a portion.Radio Rookies - WNYC Public Radio
Grades
8 to 12Radio Rookies offers programming created by teens for teens to help in coping with the challenges of teen life. Scroll down the home page to browse through recent episodes and ...more
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Radio Rookies offers programming created by teens for teens to help in coping with the challenges of teen life. Scroll down the home page to browse through recent episodes and articles featuring difficult topics such as abuse, dating, and dealing with peers. Become a part of Radio Rookies by downloading the DIY Radio Rookies Toolkit here, featuring ideas and information for sharing your own story. Be sure to check out the features of the toolkit for videos and tip sheets with ideas for using Radio Rookies as a teaching tool. Please note - many topics discussed on this site are sensitive, and not necessarily appropriate for your class. Be sure to preview any broadcast before sharing with the class.
tag(s): adolescence (12), behavior (45), difficult conversations (57), emotions (49), radio (20), social and emotional learning (102), social skills (22)
In the Classroom
Be sure to include this site on your class webpage for students to access both in and outside of class as a resource for hearing how peers handle difficult teenage issues. Share a link with parents as a resource for them to use with their teen. Remind parents to PREVIEW! Be sure to share with your school's counselor as an excellent tool for use when working with students. Listen to episodes together with your class, and then have cooperative learning groups create podcasts discussing specific issues found in your school or classroom. Use a tool such as podOmatic, reviewed here. Before beginning the podcast, have students create a storyboard using a tool like Notepad, reviewed here. They will also need to develop a script and practice. Try using Typewrite, reviewed here, for students to write the script collaboratively. This tool allows groups to write together. All the tools mentioned in this review will augment classroom technology use.
This resource requires PDF reader software like Adobe Acrobat.
Wizer.me - Wizerme L.S (2015) Ltd.
Grades
K to 12Finally, worksheets will be cool! Create interactive worksheets, or use one that is already developed and make it your own with wizer.me. After signing up with email get started with...more
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Finally, worksheets will be cool! Create interactive worksheets, or use one that is already developed and make it your own with wizer.me. After signing up with email get started with Add Task. Follow the prompts for creation; these include selecting text style and color, and choosing a background, adding student tasks (Text, Video, Link, Image), and more. Select question style: Open Question, Multiple Choice, Matching, and more. Then there are the more unusual type responses like Filling in a Table, Image Tagging, Embedding, and others, with promises of more to come. Share with students by posting the URL given, using a pin code on their worksheet board, or use your Google Classroom account. At the time of this review, wizer.me support was through email and real-time online chat. Wizer.me works on any device with a browser and Internet connection but works best on Chrome and Safari.
tag(s): gamification (83), multimedia (53), worksheets (69)
In the Classroom
Wizer.me would be an excellent tool to use to implement and/or integrate technology into lessons. Look through worksheets others have created to get an idea of what you can do. The possibilities for using this tool in the classroom are limited only by your imagination! Having students view videos or label images is sure to keep them engaged and interested in your subject. Any subject area teacher will find a use for this tool, and it's free! Use worksheets (lessons) you have created in learning centers, with small groups (the possibilities for differentiating abounds), or as homework. Since these "worksheets" can include video, using wizer.me would be a terrific tool to use to "flip" your classroom.Hip Hughes History - Keith Hughes
Grades
8 to 12This YouTube channel offers over 300 videos for U.S. and World History, current events, political science, and American Government. Click the Playlist link to easily find one of the...more
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This YouTube channel offers over 300 videos for U.S. and World History, current events, political science, and American Government. Click the Playlist link to easily find one of the categories. Other videos teach test-taking and essay writing skills. If your district blocks YouTube, then they may not be viewable.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): china (81), classroom management (120), constitution (96), elections (82), foreign policy (13), politics (118), presidents (135), russia (36)
In the Classroom
Show videos on an interactive whiteboard or projector to your class as an introduction to a new unit or class discussion. Flip your lesson and assign videos for students to view at home or in the computer lab and discuss questions at the next class meeting. Prep for this and engage students by asking questions during the video using Moocnote, reviewed here. Use the videos as a springboard for engaging writing prompts or to spark a discussion connected with a unit of study. Enhance learning by having students create a simple infographic with information learned from videos using Canva Infographic Maker, reviewed here. Be sure to check out some of the classroom management tips and advice for new teachers for some fresh ideas to use in your classroom!Mr. Beat's Social Studies Channel - Matt Beat
Grades
5 to 12Mr. Beat's YouTube Channel provides educational Social Studies videos in a storytelling format. There are a few other topics: Primary and Secondary Sources, Guide to Critical Thinking,...more
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Mr. Beat's YouTube Channel provides educational Social Studies videos in a storytelling format. There are a few other topics: Primary and Secondary Sources, Guide to Critical Thinking, and others. Be sure to check out the music video and song for each of the presidents. Other topics include using Google Earth, Presidential Elections, and Story Time with Mr. Beat. If your district blocks YouTube, then they may not be viewable.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): alaska (21), elections (82), explorers (64), gettysburg address (12), lincoln (66), presidents (135), primary sources (117), washington (28)
In the Classroom
Share these videos on an interactive whiteboard or projector. FLIP your classroom and have students view the videos at home to discuss and apply the next day in class (this is an excellent option if your school blocks YouTube). Use the videos to introduce any topic and assign others from the series for homework. Be sure to provide this link on your class website for students (and their families) to access at home.turnitin - Source Educational Evaluation Rubric (SEER) - turnitin
Grades
6 to 12Find an interactive rubric for evaluating the quality of Internet sources students use in academic writing and projects. Fill out a short registration form to have immediate free access...more
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Find an interactive rubric for evaluating the quality of Internet sources students use in academic writing and projects. Fill out a short registration form to have immediate free access to the rubric as a PDF. The criteria for the rubric includes Authoritative, Educational Value, Intent, Originality, and Quality. Below the rubric see an example of three popular sites evaluated with SEER and the scores given for each criterion. Download the rubric to your computer. Once filled in save it to your computer and print.
tag(s): evaluating sources (29), media literacy (109), rubrics (37)
In the Classroom
Share this rubric with middle and high school students with your projector or on an interactive whiteboard. Ask students to suggest a popular site for referencing in papers and projects. Use the rubric together and evaluate the site. Break students into small groups and have them evaluate several sites. Make these sites you have already evaluated, and then have the students evaluate them until you know most students agree on what makes a Highly Creditable site compared to a Creditable or Discreditable site. At the end of the activity give a quick assessment. This way students who do not feel sure about evaluating a site have the opportunity to let you know. Consider using Quizalize, reviewed here, for a more in-depth assessment.
This resource requires PDF reader software like Adobe Acrobat.
The Global Flow of People - Nikola Sander, Guy J. Abel, and Ramon Bauer
Grades
7 to 12Investigate migration patterns around the world from 1990 through 2010 with this interactive chart. Choose a five-year period for an overall view of global migration during that time....more
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Investigate migration patterns around the world from 1990 through 2010 with this interactive chart. Choose a five-year period for an overall view of global migration during that time. Click on individual regions to narrow down information on migration from country to country. Be sure to click on both individual lines and countries to take advantage of all the information this resource has to offer. Information for 2005-2010 is available for download as a two-sided poster using the link near the bottom of the website.
tag(s): continents (33), countries (73), cross cultural understanding (173), migration (45)
In the Classroom
Share The Global Flow of People with a projector or on an interactive whiteboard as part of any global studies unit. After finding the numbers of people migrating, have students brainstorm or collect ideas for the reasons of migration on a collaborative bulletin board like Scrumblr, reviewed here, quick start- no membership required. Challenge students to explore further and share their findings with a multimedia presentation using one of the many TeachersFirst Edge tools reviewed here.
This resource requires PDF reader software like Adobe Acrobat.
What has the United Nations ever done for you? - The Guardian
Grades
6 to 12This interactive offers the opportunity to view what the United Nations has done to help people of all ages from around the world. Choose a persona by entering gender, age, ...more
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This interactive offers the opportunity to view what the United Nations has done to help people of all ages from around the world. Choose a persona by entering gender, age, and country to view a list of ways the United Nations has had a positive influence on their situation. Categories include items such as Human Rights, Child Mortality, and Cultural Heritage. The site was created in the UK, so some of the pronunciations and spellings may differ from those in American English.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): cross cultural understanding (173), cultures (180), united nations (6)
In the Classroom
Introduce this site on an interactive whiteboard or projector. Allow students to explore on their own. Social studies teachers will want to bookmark this interactive for use throughout the year as students learn about different countries and cultures. Instead of paper notecards enhance student learning by having them use Simplenote, reviewed here, to take digital notes; tell students to be sure to save the URL to share their notes and questions with you and their peers. updates across all devices Then, modify technology use by challenging students create a simple infographic sharing their findings using Canva Infographic Maker, reviewed here, to explain what they learned from this site.Boomerang for Gmail - Bavdin
Grades
1 to 12Download 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.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): organizational skills (88)
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.FutureLearn for Schools - FutureLearn
Grades
7 to 12FutureLearn for Schools offers a large variety of free online courses presented by leading universities for students aged 13 and older in a variety of topics. Choose a category to ...more
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FutureLearn for Schools offers a large variety of free online courses presented by leading universities for students aged 13 and older in a variety of topics. Choose a category to begin browsing topics offered. Content includes history, creative arts and media, literature, and much more. Watch a short video to learn specifics about the course offerings and objectives. This site was created in the UK, so some of the pronunciations and spellings may differ from those in American English.
tag(s): advertising (26), business (52), computers (109), creative writing (124), cultures (180), dental health (14), environment (252), financial literacy (93), gifted (66), literature (221), photography (130), politics (118), professional development (385), psychology (65)
In the Classroom
Allow gifted students to enroll in courses that interest them or that provide enrichment beyond classroom content. Share with others in your building as a resource for professional development. Explore the topics yourself for some new, engaging material to round out your own expertise. Allow students to enroll in a course that would fit into their career goals as an exploratory opportunity in that field. With older students you may want to consider requiring them to take a course with the idea that it is a model.
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Learn Engineering - The Physics Behind Engineering - Lesics
Grades
8 to 12The goal of Learn Engineering is to present "tough engineering concepts" in a logical and simple way. Click Blogs from the top menu to choose from one of the main ...more
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The goal of Learn Engineering is to present "tough engineering concepts" in a logical and simple way. Click Blogs from the top menu to choose from one of the main fields of engineering on the top menu- automobile, mechanical, electrictronics, aerospace, and others to begin. Subcategories within each section answer questions using labeled images and detailed image explanations, and have videos. If your district blocks YouTube, the videos may not be viewable.
tag(s): careers (156), engineering (129), STEM (297)
In the Classroom
Share information on the site during career lessons and activities. Share this site with parents as a resource for learning more about careers in engineering. During a unit in careers, divide students into small groups (their interest) to cover all engineering fields, and challenge them to create a multimedia presentation using Presentious, reviewed here, and present their findings about that field to their classmates. Presentious is a mix of the best parts of slide and video recordings, in one new format and is easy to use.Television Archive News Search Service - TV News Archive
Grades
5 to 12The Television Archive News Search Service is a comprehensive resource for finding news video clips from the United States and Great Britain. Scroll through to view clips by most popular...more
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The Television Archive News Search Service is a comprehensive resource for finding news video clips from the United States and Great Britain. Scroll through to view clips by most popular or sort by title, date, archived, or creator. Use the search bar to search by keywords for specific information. Choose any clip, and then choose any minute from the filmstrip to view clips.
tag(s): d day (11), journalism (74), news (228), world war 2 (161)