Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers

Here you will find a quick and interesting learning styles quiz for your students to take. You don't need to sign in. No email address or registration is required. Once you've found your dominate style there is a description, and, best of all, tips for the best way for you to learn. Some of the learning styles also include possible career choices.

tag(s): learning styles (18), multiple intelligences (7)

Our students are accustomed to having both audio and video content to the information they access. Consequently, just reading something like the Gettysburg Address can seem dry and sterile to them. This video provides both a rich reading of Lincoln's famous speech, but an accompanying video track to illustrate it. Though the prelude is interesting, the actual speech starts at minute 3:29.

tag(s): civil war (134), gettysburg (15), gettysburg address (11), lincoln (60), presidents (121)

Find a variety of science resources on this great site. Explore the Tricks, Conundrums, Demos, Lesson Plans, and Videos about Science. Many of the resources include an Adobe PDF file that can be downloaded.

tag(s): experiments (52)

This is one of the most requested programs for effectively conveying the reality of discrimination, what it feels like, and how it can change a person. Frontline, the PBS news-magazine show, produced this gripping piece that tackles the controversy, complexity, and consequences of discrimination that have shaped our society. This film and collection of activities are based on the 1970 documentary of the daring lesson that teacher Jane Elliott taught her third-grade class to give them a firsthand experience in the meaning of discrimination, immediately following the assassination of Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. The film shows what she taught the children and the impact that lesson had on their lives. It includes three major segments: the footage of the original documentary of Jane Elliott's third-graders, (approximately 20 minutes), the reunion of those third-graders 14 years later who talk about the effect her lesson has had on their lives, (approximately 7 minutes), and also Elliott teaching her lesson to adult employees of Iowa's prison system and how their reactions to her exercise were similar to those of the children, (approximately 20 minutes). A Teachers' Guide, found here as well as an abundance of supplementary materials that allow students to wrestle with realistic ideas, are available on this site.

tag(s): black history (124), bullying (49), character education (76), civil rights (194), difficult conversations (58), diversity (38), racism (76), segregation (18), tolerance (9)

The History Channel provides an interesting summary of the various legends of Valentine's Day from several cultures throughout the world. The information provided dates back to before the Middle Ages and touches upon the ideas of some pagan traditions as well as Roman and Christian theories. This site includes many related articles and videos. NOTE: There are also very factual videos about "the science of love," "kissing," etc. so middle level teachers may want to be sure their students are not too silly/immature to catch sight of these television specials. There are some minor advertisements at this site.

tag(s): valentines day (12)

This teacher's area of "Be The Beat" provides music, a short "upbeat" video, printable posters (PDF), several Social Media Resources, and links to Additional Resources and Related Programs. This resource's intended use is to enhance current curriculum not create a new one from the materials presented here.

tag(s): heart (27), medicine (55)