Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers

Math Fair Problems offers a large selection of problem solving activities for classroom and math fair use. Choose from topics such as Number Concepts, Patterns & Relationships, Statistics & Probability, or Shapes & Spaces. Use problems for both elementary or secondary students unless otherwise marked for a specific grade level. Links for each activity include complete instructions, how to play, variations, and math found in the activity. Use the provided link to download in PDF format. Be sure to click the link with the explanation on how to introduce and use these activities with students.

tag(s): charts and graphs (169), data (147), equations (119), functions (52), geometric shapes (136), measurement (126), number sense (70), numbers (119), order of operations (28), patterns (64), probability (96), problem solving (226), statistics (114), transformations (12)

Create boards of links to your popular tools and bookmarks curated into one beautiful and simple interface! Use Papaly to collect links from Twitter, Facebook, news sites, Pinterest, existing computer bookmarks, and new bookmarks. Follow the pop-up messages to learn the controls from the tutorial. Hover over Boards to click on the + sign, and then name the new board. Select from popular categories to instantly populate your board with common tools. Use Papaly with any browser, however, you can import computer bookmarks by installing the Chrome extension or creating an HTML file of them by following the tutorial. Click on Board Properties in the upper right corner to change your board to Secret (private), make your board Invisible for Google, alter your settings, and change the layout of the board. Share boards by email, Twitter, or Facebook. Note: If using the boards with students, be sure not to import information from personal sites such as email, Twitter, Facebook, etc. as the login information would be visible to students.

tag(s): bookmarks (47), collaboration (87), news (229), social media (53), social networking (68)

Do what Simon Says at this virtual game similar to the old favorite! Follow the pattern of lights and sounds and repeat back to Simon. Start with one sound/light. Simon plays that and adds another. Repeat back, and Simon adds one more every time. Earn a point for each time you repeat back the sequence correctly. Continue for as long as you can remember. This is the online version of the handheld game, Simon.

tag(s): game based learning (171), patterns (64), preK (254), puzzles (143)

Teampedia is a comprehensive and collaborative resource for finding icebreakers, team building, and leadership activities. Browse through almost 100 categories on this wiki. Find trust activities, getting to know you, and online/remote team building. Explore activities based on the group size involved. If you have a great activity and don't see it, add it to Teampedia by following the steps provided. Each game or activity includes a list of materials needed, number of players, time required, and directions for play. Some directions for strategy games also include strategy options.

tag(s): back to school (63), creativity (92), firstday (22), problem solving (226)

These high quality, high-resolution photos can be used for free. No worries, it is not a stock photo site. Find a small number of new photos added weekly. Use any photo for either personal or commercial projects. Find a variety of landscapes, animals, people, and situations in the black and white or colored photographs. Though these are free, the work should be attributed to the artist. At the time of this review our editors found nothing inappropriate in the photos. However, we always recommend to PREVIEW!

tag(s): images (269), photography (130)

PastBook is a wonderful site for creating online photo albums,wall calendars, poster,cards, or photo books. You can even use your Facebook and Instagram photos, etc. into a photobook! Choose "Create" to begin. Add a title, description, and pictures by uploading from your computer or social network accounts. Provide the text to describe images and a date if desired. When ready, choose "Create Your Book/Calendar, etc." to complete the process. View finished products online or download for free in PDF format. Invite others to collaborate on your product through social networking links. Privacy settings allow only those with the URL to view your work. This tool is available on the web and iPhone. Sign-in using your email or FaceBook account. You can invite people via email or SMS.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): calendars (40), digital storytelling (141), images (269), photography (130), portfolios (22), posters (47)

Ducksters is a safe, extensive, educational portal for kids. Find a wide choice of content such as interactives, sports, movies, and music. Begin by choosing a category to explore choices. The study category includes extensive information such as world history, many biographies, science explanations, and information on all continents and many countries. Interactive subjects include math times tables, checkers, and guess the country. There is a TON here to explore.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): addition (128), african american (109), american revolution (81), animal homes (56), animals (280), artists (77), biographies (93), china (62), civil rights (194), civil war (134), cold war (30), continents (32), countries (69), data (147), division (98), egypt (45), elements (32), energy (130), environment (240), explorers (64), fractions (159), friction (9), geometric shapes (136), greece (26), habitats (87), human body (93), inventors and inventions (71), keyboarding (28), mean (19), median (16), mode (13), multiplication (122), planets (111), presidents (121), puzzles (143), recycling (46), renaissance (32), rome (20), solar system (108), sound (74), sports (77), subtraction (109), sun (69), world war 1 (72), world war 2 (149)

View science careers galore! Although this site is rather "plain vanilla," it is filled with sprinkles of knowledge! If you need ideas for science careers in Earth and Physical Science, this is a great resource. Research careers, find out what employees actually do in these careers, learn the requirements to obtain a job. Along with the salary and degree requirements, view the future job outlook in the career. View video interviews of real scientists and profiles of those currently on the job.

tag(s): careers (139), scientists (62)