Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers

This PBS LearningMedia resource introduces students to the Mayan writing system, one of the most advanced in the ancient world. Through an engaging video and supporting materials, students will explore how the Maya used glyphs to record history, communicate ideas, and document daily life. The lesson includes discussion questions and activities encouraging students to analyze and create their own glyphs. Perfect for upper elementary and middle school classrooms, this resource brings history and language to life through interactive learning!
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tag(s): mayans (32), mexico (46)

With this poem generation tool, you can generate poems in several styles from a prompt. Add your prompt, choose a style, and select the poem's length, and voila, your poem appears! Download your poem as a docx document, copy the text, or download it to your device. As you select a poem style, scroll down the page to learn about the style. For example, choose Haiku to read a description of Haiku poetry, information on how Haikus differ from English poems, and FAQs about the origin of Haiku poetry.
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tag(s): artificial intelligence (188), digital storytelling (156), poetry (195)

Padlet TA is a helpful assistant for creating many educational work documents without requiring registration for most tasks. Options include lesson planning, worksheet creation, text-leveling tools, and more. After choosing a tool, complete the form that asks for information like grade level, topic, and additional context. Add a file, content from Google Drive, a link, or a YouTube video. Adding content from Google Drive requires logging in to a Padlet account. After adding information, click the bright colored bubble next to the form to generate content. When finished, copy the text to a document, export it to Google Docs or PDF, or use the share link to share the URL of a view-only version of your prompt and output.

tag(s): artificial intelligence (188), assessment (146), images (263), qr codes (19), quizzes (90), rubrics (36), Teacher Utilities (201), worksheets (71)

Jigsaw Planet is an online platform allowing players to create, share, and solve jigsaw puzzles using personal images. While the platform is accessible to participants of all ages, it's important to note participants must be 13 years or older to use certain features according to their Terms of Service. For younger students in grades 4-8, educators can guide them in creating puzzles using age-appropriate images, ensuring compliance with the platform's guidelines. This activity fosters creativity, enhances problem-solving skills, and provides an engaging learning experience.

tag(s): fathers day (17), holidays (194), mothers day (23), puzzles (148)

OnlineLabels.com offers a variety of free printable Mother's Day label templates that educators can utilize to enhance classroom activities and create personalized gifts. These templates include gift tags, stickers, and more, featuring customizable designs with messages like "Happy Mother's Day" and "Best Mom Ever." Teachers can download and personalize these templates to add a special touch to classroom projects or to assist students in crafting meaningful gifts for their mothers or loved ones. This resource provides an accessible and creative way to celebrate Mother's Day within the educational setting.

tag(s): mothers day (23)

PosterMyWall is an online platform that provides a vast collection of customizable templates, including over 880 Mother's Day gift templates such as flyers, posters, social media graphics, and videos. These templates are fully editable, enabling personalized designs with their own messages, images, and branding elements. The platform's user-friendly interface simplifies the design process, making it accessible for individuals with varying levels of design experience. Additionally, PosterMyWall offers features like social media publishing and email campaigns, facilitating seamless sharing of personalized Mother's Day designs.

tag(s): infographics (57), mothers day (23)

Canva offers a variety of customizable Mother's Day gift certificate templates that educators can use to create personalized vouchers for classroom activities or gifts. These templates are fully editable (could be used for mom, dad, or anyone), allowing teachers to add specific details such as the recipient's name, the nature of the gift, and a personal message. The user-friendly drag-and-drop interface makes the design process simple and accessible. Additionally, Canva allows you to edit the templates in multiple languages, making it a versatile option for classrooms with diverse linguistic needs. Once customized, the gift certificates can be printed or shared digitally.

tag(s): crafts (76), mothers day (23)

ArtSteps is a web-based platform that enables members to create immersive 3D virtual exhibitions and spaces. Educators can utilize ArtSteps to design interactive virtual galleries, allowing students to showcase their artwork, historical artifacts, or project work in a dynamic online environment. The platform supports integrating images, videos, text, 3D models, music, and narration, offering a versatile tool for digital storytelling and creative expression. ArtSteps also facilitates guided tours within these virtual spaces, enhancing the educational experience.

tag(s): digital storytelling (156), fathers day (17), mothers day (23), portfolios (24), virtual field trips (132)

Jennifer Findley's blog post, "Digital Mother's Day Gift," offers educators a free, Google Slides-based project for students to create personalized digital gifts for Mother's Day. The resource includes four customizable themes--such as "Top Ten Things I Love About You" and "Top Ten Greatest Moments with You"--allowing students to craft heartfelt "Top Ten" lists for their mothers or other caregivers. Alternative versions are provided to accommodate diverse family structures, ensuring inclusivity. The project is designed for easy integration with Google Classroom, and upon completion, students can share their presentations via email or view them together with their mothers.

tag(s): mothers day (23)

This YouTube video Mother's Day Card and Gift Ideas showcases a variety of creative and beautiful craft projects that students can make to celebrate mom and other loved ones. It begins with an adorable multi-folded card that opens uniquely and surprisingly, followed by several one-of-a-kind card designs students can customize with personal messages. The video also includes a simple message that students can write inside their cards to express their love and appreciation. Additional projects include a 3D heart-shaped card, a swirly origami rose tutorial, and a hands-on guide to creating fabric roses from scratch--perfect for upper elementary students ready for a creative challenge. The video wraps up with a cute gift-wrapping decoration idea that can be added to any handmade gift (to any friend or loved one), making these projects meaningful and memorable. If your district blocks YouTube, then the video may not be viewable.
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tag(s): crafts (76), mothers day (23)

View these diverse creative projects and engaging activities suitable for various grade levels to celebrate Mother's Day. Highlights include a free printable Mother's Day questionnaire that captures students' heartfelt sentiments, a "WOW-MOM" card integrating symmetry concepts, and a recycled bouquet project promoting environmental awareness. Each activity fosters creativity and personal expression, providing detailed instructions and printable resources to facilitate easy classroom implementation.
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tag(s): crafts (76), mothers day (23)

Jennifer Findley's blog post, "Mother's Day Gift Ideas and Activities for Upper Elementary," offers educators a variety of creative and meaningful projects tailored for upper elementary students to recognize Mother's Day and the mother figures in their lives. The article features activities such as crafting acrostic poems using the letters in "MOTHER," compiling Top 10 lists highlighting reasons students appreciate their mothers, and assembling personalized coupon books offering helpful tasks or special experiences. Additionally, the post provides links to simple craft ideas, including "You Are My Sunshine" noodle cards and pom-pom flower magnets, complete with detailed instructions and printable templates. These activities foster students' creativity and writing skills, resulting in heartfelt gifts that caretakers will cherish.

tag(s): crafts (76), mothers day (23)

The Yellow Birdhouse offers a collection of 18 free printable Mother's Day crafts suitable for children, providing teachers with accessible and engaging project ideas. These crafts are designed to be simple and heartfelt, allowing students to create meaningful gifts for their mothers or other important adults. Examples include printable Mother's Day cards, decorative items, and personalized gifts students can easily assemble in a classroom setting. These resources enable educators to facilitate creative activities without requiring extensive materials or preparation.

tag(s): crafts (76), holidays (194), mothers day (23)

School Pages is a free site that offers various lessons already created in many subject areas. Lessons can be sorted by grade level (grades 1 through 10) and subject - English, environmental studies, Hindi, math, physical education, science, and social studies. You can access both AI Tools and AI chat if you create a free account. AI tools include a Quiz Generator, a Similar Question Generator, a National Curriculum Framework Assistant, a Lesson Plan Generator, an Opening Hook Generator, an Assignment Generator, and Bloom's Question Generator. The AI chat is similar to a chatbot in that it can assist with teaching strategies, topic explanations, or any other teaching-related questions.

tag(s): artificial intelligence (188), Teacher Utilities (201)

The Smithsonian Institution website is a valuable resource for educators, offering access to a vast collection of digital exhibitions, lesson plans, and interactive learning tools. Teachers can explore history, science, art, and culture topics through virtual tours, online activities, and curated educational materials from Smithsonian museums, research centers, and libraries. The site includes resources for all grade levels, including printable worksheets, videos, and inquiry-based lesson plans designed to engage students in critical thinking and discovery. It is an excellent tool for supplementing classroom instruction with high-quality, museum-based learning experiences. The videos are hosted on YouTube. If your district blocks YouTube, then they may not be viewable.

tag(s): aircraft (17), critical thinking (137), inquiry (30), museums (51), space (220), virtual field trips (132)

Step In, Step Out, Step Back is an instructional strategy that helps students analyze information from different cultural viewpoints and perspectives. Choose the link to the interactive version to create a prompt based on a person or character in a particular situation. Follow the steps to add a prompt and create a link to share the activity with students. Students then respond to the prompt using the three steps of the strategy, and teachers receive feedback with each student's response. Download the PDF available on the site for complete instructions on using this interactive tool with students.

tag(s): empathy (37), social and emotional learning (110), thinking skills (17)

Create learning games with the AI-based Learning Game Generator for any topic or grade level. Begin by adding vital information, including grade level, learning outcome or objective, and the game's length. The Game Generator provides a document with instructions for playing the game, any required materials, and setup instructions. Use the provided tools to request changes to create a game that works for your classroom. Copy or download the document using the Manage Content Dropbox options when satisfied.
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tag(s): artificial intelligence (188), assessment (146), Formative Assessment (73), game based learning (208), gamification (86), Teacher Utilities (201)

Planning lessons that provide engaging activities and meet curriculum standards can be challenging. The Plan My Lesson Tool uses AI to match both objectives in just a few seconds. After selecting start, complete the form by adding grade level or band, subject, and learning outcome and selecting to generate the result. After creating the document, use additional features to edit and adjust the activity to fit your needs. You can also choose sections of the document to request changes by chatting with Beans, this site's chatbot. Find options to download or export the finished document by visiting the Manage Content dropbox at the top of the page. You do need to create a free account to access this feature.

tag(s): artificial intelligence (188), professional development (393), Teacher Utilities (201)

WorldCat is a global library catalog that allows teachers to search for books, articles, and other educational resources available in libraries worldwide. By entering a title, author, or keyword, educators can locate materials in nearby libraries, access digital resources, and discover new teaching materials. WorldCat is beneficial for finding hard-to-access texts, historical documents, and academic research. Teachers can use it to expand their classroom library, recommend reading materials to students, or enhance lesson plans with diverse sources.

tag(s): authors (108), book lists (168), digital reading (18), Research (88), resources (83), Teacher Utilities (201)

Yourway offers a suite of AI-generated tools for educators. Choose from many generators to create lesson plans, assessments, and classroom activities. After selecting a generator, follow the prompt to access a form to add information such as grade level, topic or learning objective, and other directions. After the tool generates a response, you can request changes, edit the information manually, or save the document. Choose the Manage Document dropdown box to copy the document to your clipboard, save it as a PDF file, export it to Google Docs, or download your activity as a Microsoft .docx file. As you create activities, they are saved in the My Content area to revisit and reuse as needed.
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tag(s): artificial intelligence (188), assessment (146), cross cultural understanding (178), differentiation (86), rubrics (36), social and emotional learning (110), Teacher Utilities (201), vocabulary (241)