TeachersFirst's First Day of School Icebreakers
Other TeachersFirst Special Topics Collections
No matter what level you teach, establishing rapport with a new group of students is key to knowing how to help them learn. Here is a list of reviewed resources that offer a chance for you and your students to get to know one another.
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Quick Picture Tools - QuickPictureTools.com
Grades
K to 12
0 Favorites
0 Comments
Quick Picture Tools offers 12 tools for editing and enhancing pictures. Choose from embossed text, frames, combining images, add text, blur, and more. Click on the editing tool you...more
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Quick Picture Tools offers 12 tools for editing and enhancing pictures. Choose from embossed text, frames, combining images, add text, blur, and more. Click on the editing tool you desire, then choose from options offered to edit pictures. When finished, click "generate image" to save to your computer. No registration needed!
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): images (161)
In the Classroom
Bookmark and save this site for easy image editing for you and your students for any classroom projects. No registration is required, and images are saved directly to your computer for immediate use. Make simple reminder posters or classroom signs using the text emboss tool. Invite students to create image/text combinations for bulletin boards, such as types of leaves or insects. Make introductions of students as a first day of school activity using digital pictures and the text tool.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Tackk - Creatively Share Your Message - Erick Bockmuller and Dan Klammer
Grades
3 to 12
9 Favorites
0 Comments
Tackk is a new way for sharing and creating web content. It is almost like designing a one page web site. Start with an image or idea, NO membership required ...more
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Tackk is a new way for sharing and creating web content. It is almost like designing a one page web site. Start with an image or idea, NO membership required (for short term pages). Personalize the look of your content using the editor to change colors, fonts, and background. You can also add tags. Choose from themes on the left to begin customization or just click on different portions of the page to upload a picture, edit your title, and write a description. Add additional information using links provided. Paste a link to your Youtube, Vimeo, Hulu, Instagram, or Soundcloud to embed songs, photos, and more. Sign up isn't required. However, your Tackk will only be available for a week if not registered on the site. Free registration allows multiple Tackks, available indefinitely. Share completed Tackks using social media links at the bottom of the page or via the unique url created and available at the top of the page.
tag(s): creative writing (98), journals (12), multimedia (28), posters (21)
In the Classroom
Share any short term announcement visually without joining or set up a class account (or individual ones). Have students create a Tackk instead of a book report. Have students copy a story into Tackk and expand using multimedia and photos. Have students make Tackks as online posters advertising healthy eating or reminding others about grammar rules. Create a Tackk to introduce any unit. Use it to compile review materials; then share the link on your classroom website. Have students create a Tackk for upcoming book fairs, math or science night, or any school activity then print the finished items for display around the classroom or school. As a back to school introduction, make a cooperative Tackk of class rules or allow students to make a Tackk introducing themselves without a photo. Have others try to match the Tackks to their classmates.Edge Features:
Parent permission advised before posting student work created using this tool
Includes Interaction w general public/ public galleries with unmoderated content
Includes social features, such as "friends," comments, ratings by others
Products can be shared by URL
Multiple users can collaborate on the same project
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Fakebook - Class Tools
Grades
6 to 12
3 Favorites
0 Comments
Engage and create interest in classroom learning with Fakebook. No membership required! Based on the popular and familiar Facebook model, you can create Fakebook pages for anyone or...more
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Engage and create interest in classroom learning with Fakebook. No membership required! Based on the popular and familiar Facebook model, you can create Fakebook pages for anyone or anything. Give your page a title and add an image from your computer. (They insert an image for you if you do not select one!) You can also use autoselect from a websearch, edit the profile, and your page is almost ready. You must add at least one post and one friend to save work. Once that is complete, choose "save" from the options on the far right side of the page, enter a password, and your unique url for your Fakebook page appears. Be sure to copy and save this link as it is the only time it is given in the setup process. Here is an example created in less than a minute. Page creation is quick and easy with a small learning curve. Flash is needed only to watch the introduction video, not use the site/tool.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): book reports (24), creative writing (98), social networking (76)
In the Classroom
This site is wonderful for creating interest in many subjects. It is perfect for the Social Studies classroom, instead of a typical biographical report have students create a Fakebook page for their assignment. Write about presidents, founding fathers, famous scientists or artist, a civil war soldier and much more. Have students create a timeline of any historical event. Use Fakebook to outline the plot of a book, play, or film, then share with students while studying the material. Use Fakebook to study literature, create a page for the central character, book's author, or the setting of the book or play. For a unique twist is science class, create a Fakebook page for a periodic element or another science topic. Use the page to describe "the life" of that atom or element. The possibilities within the classroom are endless (as is the creativity and motivation)! In World language classes, have students do this activity (about themselves) in the second language they are learning. Create a Fakebook page for the first day of school to introduce yourself to students or at Open House for parents. Challenge students to create and share a page about themselves during the first week of school. Share a Fakebook page with students to demonstrate proper netiquette and social sharing.Be sure to share a rubric with students for all expectations of what should be included on their page.Edge Features:
Parent permission advised before posting student work created using this tool
Requires registration/log in (NO email)
Premium version (not free) includes additional features or storage
Products can be shared by URL
Requires download/installation of software
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Teach Preschool - Promoting Excellence in Early Childhood Education - Deborah J. Stewart
Grades
K to 2
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0 Comments
Teach Preschool is a delightful blog filled with activities for teaching preschoolers (and primary grades). Updated often, the blog articles include activities, classroom images, and...more
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Teach Preschool is a delightful blog filled with activities for teaching preschoolers (and primary grades). Updated often, the blog articles include activities, classroom images, and practical suggestions. Choose from topics for exploration including: Powered by Play, Exploring Books, or Exploring Art. Use the search bar to look for specific content, explore recent posts, or browse monthly archives. Another way to explore is using the icons on the left side of the page. Although geared toward preschool, this site is worth a visit for anyone interested in educating young children.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): alphabet (76), counting (99), density (17), dental health (17), numbers (159), phonics (62), plants (86), preK (163)
In the Classroom
Search the site for ideas. Save them to your Pinterest account (reviewed here) to find for later use. Bookmark the site as a resource for teaching ideas. Subscribe to this blog via Facebook, Twitter, or email to receive the latest blog updates.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Teaching Channel - Videos, Lesson Plans, and Other Resources for Teachers - Teaching Channel
Grades
K to 12
3 Favorites
0 Comments
Explore this a video showcase of innovative and effective teaching practices from America's schools. The video library offers a wide range of subjects for grades K-12. Videos also include...more
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Explore this a video showcase of innovative and effective teaching practices from America's schools. The video library offers a wide range of subjects for grades K-12. Videos also include information on alignment with Common Core State Standards and ancillary material for teachers to use in their own classrooms. Browse by grade level band, subject, or popular topics. Use the search box to find ideas for a specific topic, such as "earth" or "electricity." There are too many topics to list. Pretty much anything you are looking for academically, behaviorally, or professionally can be found here! See video length for each choice along with the title, subject and grade band. After choosing a video, view objectives, questions to consider, and information about the teacher in the video. Download or receive codes to embed videos using the links available with each video. Register on the site (free) to access the site's lesson planner features. Save, schedule, and receive reminders about great ideas after registering or follow teachers to receive notification of new uploads.
tag(s): assessment (39), behavior (33), classroom management (32), commoncore (41), differentiation (13), inquiry (30), newbies (17), professional development (36), rhythm (14), substitutes (18), video (112)
In the Classroom
Mark this one in your favorites for those times when you need inspiration. View videos as a way of finding fresh lesson ideas with practical suggestions for implementation. Share this site with other teachers, viewing videos together during professional development sessions. This site is a great site for mentoring new teachers to develop professional skills. There are even videos to share with your class on your interactive whiteboard or projector.
This resource requires Adobe Flash.
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Back to School Read-alouds - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 6
4 Favorites
0 Comments
This readaloud collection is part of the Help I lost my library/media specialist series. Although nothing can replace the specialized knowledge of a teacher-librarian, this collection...more
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This readaloud collection is part of the Help I lost my library/media specialist series. Although nothing can replace the specialized knowledge of a teacher-librarian, this collection of books and activities was created by an experienced elementary library/media specialist for start-of school read alouds and class discussions. The list of books to read aloud and accompanying activities center on the getting the school year off to a good start. If your library does not have the books you want from this list, try using the ISBN numbers to borrow them on interlibrary loan from a public library nearby.
tag(s): reading lists (63)
In the Classroom
Mark this one in your favorites as you plan for the first week of school.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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You Are Your Words - The American Heritage Dictionary
Grades
K to 12
14 Favorites
0 Comments
The American Heritage Dictionary offers this new web tool that allows you to create a self-portrait using your own words. Upload an image from your computer or use your webcam ...more
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The American Heritage Dictionary offers this new web tool that allows you to create a self-portrait using your own words. Upload an image from your computer or use your webcam to create an image; then adjust for size and orientation using the tools provided. Link to places with already readymade material (Facebook or Twitter) or write something unique specifically for a portrait. Save, share, and print the unique image. You Are Your Words works best in Firefox, Google Chrome, or Safari web browsers. Pictures with high contrast work better than pictures with similar coloring and low contrast. Adjust the colors, contrast and font after creating an image. Share finished images via email or to most major social media sites using the share link on the site. (Email to yourself to get the url.)
tag(s): characterization (13), descriptive writing (19), images (161)
In the Classroom
You Are Your Words would be a great getting-to-know-you activity. At the beginning of the year, a You Are Your Words bulletin board or classroom display would be a fun way for everyone to get to know each other. This site could lead to really interesting discussions about the power that our words have, what they reveal about us, and how they impact people's perception of us.You Are Your Words would also be a great way for students to create a mini biography about a hero, person of interest, historical figure, etc. Students could upload a picture and include famous quotes or words that describe the person. Students can create character description cards with words, quotes and phrases that describe fictional characters in the reading they are doing. If you have a class or small group that is reading the same book, each student can choose a character to do this for. Have them create "trading cards" of the characters that students can share with each other so that each student has a card for each character in the book. If students are doing an author study, they could create a "You Are Your Words" about the author.
As students are learning about different roles within government, they could create a You Are Your Words image about each position using a picture of the person who holds that position in government. The writing could be related to the job description for the position.
Don't stick to just images of people - upload images of any object or animal and include describing words or emotions connected with the object as part of a poetry project or for vocabulary development. What a great tool for poetry month! Have elementary students make gifts for holidays using this tool. They can write about mom or dad or about what family means to them.
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Make an Animation - ABCya!
Grades
2 to 8
10 Favorites
0 Comments
This cool tool, developed especially for older elementary students, allows you to create simple animations. You are provided with 40 frames. Click to choose your color, brush size,...more
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This cool tool, developed especially for older elementary students, allows you to create simple animations. You are provided with 40 frames. Click to choose your color, brush size, and more. The site includes the options to copy a frame, draw with a pencil instead of a brush, save, undo, clear and start over, and more. This is a simple to use tool. More in-depth instructions are provided on the site. Animations are saved as a .gif file. Read the tips on the home page to learn how to open your downloaded .gif.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): animation (43), creativity (83)
In the Classroom
This site is useful for both teachers and students. During the first day of school, create a simple animation to share with your class. Highlight information about yourself, class rules, highlights from the year, and more. Create math animations showing different geometric shapes on 2-3 slides (just click to copy a frame, rather than remaking the slide) and giving the students a chance to guess the shape before the answer is provided on the next slide. Challenge students to create their own animations "introducing themselves" to the class. Students could also create animations to demonstrate what they have learned about a piece of literature, a science unit, social studies theme or unit, or more. Save the students' work and share the animations on your interactive whiteboard or projector.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Logo Type Maker - LogoTypeMaker.com
Grades
K to 12
9 Favorites
0 Comments
Create and save text-based logos instantly with this easy to use application. Make the logo short, about 50 characters. Type in a class name, title, mythical creature, anything you...more
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Create and save text-based logos instantly with this easy to use application. Make the logo short, about 50 characters. Type in a class name, title, mythical creature, anything you wish, and generate several different logo possibilities. Click Generate logo again to see more choices. You can bookmark or download and save the ones you like. Save the logo "as is" or modify elements of the logo such as background, font type, or uploading your own image. Download the image as a png file to your computer. Only one free download allowed per day so you may want to plan accordingly.
tag(s): design (67), drawing (61), graphic design (27), images (161)
In the Classroom
Have students create custom logos to go along with book reports, classroom presentations, and more. They can create logos for themselves (using a screen name or slogan) to include on a class wiki or in other online projects. Create your own classroom logo for use on your class website, wiki or classroom stationary. Display the site on your interactive whiteboard to demonstrate how to use different fonts and colors within the program. Share this tool on your class web page so students can create logos any time. For a first week of school activity, if you have access to multiple computers, have students create individual logos of "taglines"about themselves, such as "Lego master" or "Expert dog trainer" and put them on a class wiki page for others to guess/match identities as a getting to know you activity. Others can offer their guesses using the discussion tab on the wiki page.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Speechable - Enluminari
Grades
K to 12
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Add a captivating or informative speech bubble to a picture from your computer or that you find (legally) online. Make the picture private and share with others. The public pictures...more
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Add a captivating or informative speech bubble to a picture from your computer or that you find (legally) online. Make the picture private and share with others. The public pictures on the home page change frequently, so be sure to check this just before SHARING with your students. Some of the captions could be considered offensive to some. . Be sure to make all of your pictures private.
tag(s): comics and cartoons (63), images (161)
In the Classroom
The possibilities are only limited by your imagination. Caption the homework directions on your teacher web page. Ask your students to create captions for class photos for all sorts of reasons. Use photos or digital drawings from your classroom, such as pictures taken during any hands-on activity. Have students draw in a paint program, save the file, and then add a caption. Spice up research projects about historic figures or important scientists. Have literary characters "talk" as part of a project. In a government class, add captions to photos explaining politicians' major platform planks during election campaigns. Caption the steps to math problem solving. Even primary students can make captions of an animal talking about his habitat or a "community helper" talking about his/her role. Make visual vocabulary/terminology sentences with an appropriate character using the term in context (a beaker explaining how it is different from a flask?). Students could also take pictures of themselves doing a lab and then caption the pictures to explain the concepts. This would be a great first day project (introducing yourself and breaking the ice). Share the class captions on your class web page or wiki! Leave directions to your class (for when a substitute is there). Use at back to school night to show your humorous side to the parents. Have students make talking photos of themselves as a visual tour of their new classroom for parents attending back to school night.Edge Features:
Parent permission advised before posting student work created using this tool
Includes Interaction w general public/ public galleries with unmoderated content
Includes social features, such as "friends," comments, ratings by others
Requires registration/log-in (WITH email)
Products can be shared by URL
Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Kadoo - Kadoo, Inc.
Grades
K to 12
2 Favorites
0 Comments
Kadoo is a video sharing cloud used to share your videos privately or publicly. Once an account is created, the main page provides links to upload a video, invite a ...more
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Kadoo is a video sharing cloud used to share your videos privately or publicly. Once an account is created, the main page provides links to upload a video, invite a friend, create a group, or share a file. Different uploading options are available: flash, classic, and air. Air uploading is quicker for larger files and can be used once the account is activated by responding to an account confirmation email. Video file formats accepted are AVI, WMV, MOV, MPG, MPEG, ASF, MP4, FLV, M2TS, and M4V. The maximum file size for a Kadoo Basic account is 200MB and storage is 5GB. Files can be uploaded from smartphone devices through the app available on the site.
tag(s): video (112)
In the Classroom
Use this site to store and share classroom video projects and collaborate with other classrooms safely. Challenge students to create a culminating project using this site. Have students create projects on current events (Olympics, elections, weather trends, etc..). Create projects to share with your class when a substitute is teaching. Use this site for reviewing class rules on the first day of school, to "meet the teacher," or even at back to school night. Be sure to be aware of your school's policies on sharing student work.Edge Features:
Parent permission advised before posting student work created using this tool
Requires registration/log-in (WITH email)
Premium version (not free) includes additional features or storage
Products can be shared by URL
Multiple users can collaborate on the same project
Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Annabelle's Quotation Guide - annabelle.net
Grades
2 to 12
4 Favorites
0 Comments
Browse famous quotations and find over 120 different topic areas with famous quotations from authors, leaders, and famous people found throughout history. Topics such as adventure,...more
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Browse famous quotations and find over 120 different topic areas with famous quotations from authors, leaders, and famous people found throughout history. Topics such as adventure, ambition, advice, family, forgiveness, hope, honor, patience, perseverance, wisdom, and truth offer a variety of inspiring quotations. Click on the author of the quotation to view more famous quotation from the same author.
tag(s): creativity (83), quotations (15), writing prompts (63)
In the Classroom
Use as a daily writing prompt to encourage students to develop critical thinking skills and synthesize how this might apply to their lives. Use as connections to literature and make comparisons. Explore the historical impact of the quotes in current events. Challenge gifted and advanced classes to discover how the quotes can help provide answers for pressing life decisions. Use the quotes for students to create posters or bulletin boards. Make the projects even more "high-tech" by creating electronic posters using a site such as Padlet (reviewed here). Challenge students to create virtual word clouds using Wordle, (reviewed here). Students can create their own quotes to make a class quote collection book. Use as a basis for studying themes and values that guide characters in literature and writing. Send inspirational quotes and personalized messages to each student. Never be without words of wisdom! Learn more about students during the first week of school by having each select his/her favorite quote to include on an "about me" page of your new class wiki or on a class bulletin board.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Reel Life Wisdom - Doug Manning
Grades
5 to 12
2 Favorites
0 Comments
Capture your students' attention through movies! Reel Life Wisdom, offers a collection of over 3,200 hand-picked quotes from films across the ages. Search for great quotes by...more
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Capture your students' attention through movies! Reel Life Wisdom, offers a collection of over 3,200 hand-picked quotes from films across the ages. Search for great quotes by movie title, actor, or year. Quotes are organized by character qualities such as hope, faith and belief, and courage. Love: Connect to Your Supporting Cast quotes contain quotes on family, friends, contributions, and relationships. Random Bits of Wisdom quotes examine adversity, balance, discrimination, and responsibility among many others. Reel life quotes aim to inspire and support people proactively, self-managing their life. An RSS feed and email subscription ensure delivery of daily quotes to you.
tag(s): movies (49), quotations (15)
In the Classroom
Reel Life Wisdom supports character education programs with a parent PDF offering useful tips. Use relevant quotes in discussions on theme, choice, and empowerment. Lead your students to understand they are in charge of their lives. Improve reading comprehension of any text, by making connections or comparisons to a movie. Strengthen writing skills by critiques, explanations, and point of view essays. Challenge students to reach a deeper understanding of theme by finding a quote to match the theme. Use movies as an example for positive, effective goal setting strategies. Develop written or oral language by using the quotes as writing/speaking prompts. Challenge students to discover the many choices available to every individual. Encourage a meaningful sense of story development while connecting to each student's interest. The movies also offer a personal story into the study of people, government, and values. Create a thematic bulletin board of quotes on a topic, or have students generate word clouds from several favorite quotes on the same theme. Use a tool such as Wordle, reviewed here. Post the clouds for class inspiration. During the first week of school, share this site and ask each student to share a favorite quote on a class blog or wiki for students to get to know each other.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Greensboro Sit-Ins - Greensboro News-Record
Grades
6 to 12
1 Favorites
0 Comments
This site contains an in-depth look at the Greensboro Sit-Ins that took place on February 1, 1960. You can hear the mayor of the time, George Roach, talk about how ...more
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This site contains an in-depth look at the Greensboro Sit-Ins that took place on February 1, 1960. You can hear the mayor of the time, George Roach, talk about how the city avoided violent incidents (such as those in Birmingham, Alabama.) Several other features will give you a feel for the era and the significance of the sit-ins. Take a look at the video clips or listen to the audio files. There is also a timeline, complete with historic photos. Don't miss the historical photos and stories from the News & Record archives, with a photo from the first day of the sit-ins. The site includes a look at what the Greensboro Public Library has to offer on the subject. There is even an electronic bulletin board, where visitors can write what they think - or, for many, remember - about the sit-ins and see what other people have said. There are extensive links to other civil rights and black history sites. A PDF version of the February 1, 1960, newspaper detailing all of the events is also available. You will find the site especially informative because of the way it is organized. Don't miss this intriguing look at this historical time in American history.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): african american (106), civil rights (77)
In the Classroom
Share this site on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Allow students to explore on their own. Have students create a multimedia presentation using ed.Voicethread reviewed here. This site allows users to narrate a picture. Challenge students to upload a copyright-safe photo, and then narrate as if it were a news report. Challenge your students to use a site such as Timetoast reviewed here to include the Greensboro Sit-ins in a timeline of the Civil Rights Movement. After viewing the site, ask students to research events in your state or city that related to the Civil Rights Movement.
This resource requires Adobe Flash and PDF reader software like Adobe Acrobat.
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Font de Music - Rightwork, Inc.
Grades
K to 12
0 Favorites
0 Comments
Font de Music lets you add sound and movement to words. You write your text, select font, choose color, and add movement to your words by moving your mouse up ...more
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Font de Music lets you add sound and movement to words. You write your text, select font, choose color, and add movement to your words by moving your mouse up and down. Creations can be shared via a link or through Twitter. No limit on words is stated on the site, but it appears that you can put in a few words. Note: this site loads more slowly at high traffic times. You will notice that the site creators are not very good at spelling in English. Some directions are misspelled, but the tool works. Here is an example of a musical vocab word created by TeachersFirst.
tag(s): animation (43), vocabulary (288), word study (42)
In the Classroom
Use this site to spice up some lessons around vocabulary -- what "mood" would you choose for an individual word? Or, if students were to create one of these musical pieces around their name, what decisions would they make for font, color and music? Students can use the site to make online presentations interesting, just link to their creation for inclusion in reports in Prezi reviewed here or other presentations. Use the site as an interesting way to begin a lesson and capture students' attention. Use this site as a first week of school activity. Have students write in their names and favorite hobby or color and put it to music!
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Back to School Tips - American Academy of Pediatrics
Grades
K to 8
3 Favorites
0 Comments
Parents of elementary and middle school students will be delighted with this helpful collection of ideas for successfully entering a new school year. Backpack safety, study habits,...more
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Parents of elementary and middle school students will be delighted with this helpful collection of ideas for successfully entering a new school year. Backpack safety, study habits, bullying, television use, and homework and study habits are just a few of the topics discussed.
tag(s): vision (85)
In the Classroom
If you have a summer newsletter, be sure to highlight this website. List this website on your class website during the summer months for parents to view during the break.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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29 Interesting Ways to Get to Know Your New Class - Tom Barrett
Grades
K to 12
3 Favorites
0 Comments
If you are looking for new ideas to use the first week of school, this site is sure to offer some useful suggestions. This Google Document includes suggestions from creating ...more
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If you are looking for new ideas to use the first week of school, this site is sure to offer some useful suggestions. This Google Document includes suggestions from creating a class autobiography to administering the "hardest test of the year". Ideas are available for all age ranges and can be modified to fit your needs and available resources. This is a public document so if you have a great idea, be sure to add it to the document for other teachers to use!
tag(s): back to school (16), newbies (17), substitutes (18)
In the Classroom
Use these fabulous ideas for getting to know you activities at the beginning of the school year. Have a great idea that you use in your class? Be sure to share it on this site.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Getting to Know You Ideas from TeachersFirst - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12
6 Favorites
1 Comments
TeachersFirst offers tried and true getting-to-know-you lesson plans, some with a creative twist. Get off on the right foot to establish your classroom as a learning community. ...more
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TeachersFirst offers tried and true getting-to-know-you lesson plans, some with a creative twist. Get off on the right foot to establish your classroom as a learning community.
In the Classroom
Try these activities from TeachersFirst to help you and your students get to know each other early in the school year or for a "fresh start" for a new semester or move-in students.Comments
I love the ideas and activities for helping students get to know each other early on in the new school year. In the Headstart program we focus on parent involvement and I like to do activities that involve the parents and help them to get to know each other as well. The classroom and education experience is so much more successful when everyone is working together: children , families, and teachers.Teresa, FL, Grades: 0 - 1
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Who Am I? - Starfall
Grades
K to 3
1 Favorites
0 Comments
Who Am I? allows you to create your own self-portrait by selecting various personal features. You can select the features based on the following categories: age, sex, hairstyle, hair...more
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Who Am I? allows you to create your own self-portrait by selecting various personal features. You can select the features based on the following categories: age, sex, hairstyle, hair color, skin color, eyes, and expression. Each selection is read to you in sentence format along with the corresponding vocabulary word. You are able to print your version of Who Am I? when it is all finished.
tag(s): vocabulary (288)
In the Classroom
Have students complete the site during center time and print out their Who Am I? books. This is a great site to use on the first day or week of the school year. Mix the books up and pass them around to all of the students. Have each student try to find the person who belongs to the book by matching their characteristics. An alternate version of that activity would be to have students choose a partner and play question and answer games to figure out whose book they are holding. Use this opportunity to explain to young students that they are the authors of their own Who AM I? book.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Word Clouds for Kids - ABCya.com
Grades
K to 3
6 Favorites
0 Comments
This word cloud generator is made specifically for children. This site takes any text and creates a "word cloud" (graphical display) of the words in a passage of text. The ...more
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This word cloud generator is made specifically for children. This site takes any text and creates a "word cloud" (graphical display) of the words in a passage of text. The most frequent words appear larger. Paste in any passage or grouping of text to create a word cloud of the text. Students can choose their own colors, type of display, font, and the final cloud can be printed or saved.
tag(s): speech (83), vocabulary (288)
In the Classroom
This is a great visual tool to use. Take a poll and have your students type their answers into the word cloud builder. Then display on an interactive whiteboard or projector and see which answer was the most popular. Use this site as a way to help students see and memorize text, especially visual learners. Use it also when writing poetry or to "see" themes of repeated words and images. Have students paste in their own writing to spot repeated (and monotonous) language when teaching lessons on word choice. Students will be surprised to see what words appear to be dominant. Have students work in groups to create word posters of vocabulary words with related meanings, such as different ways to say "walk" or "said" and decorate your classroom with these visual reminders of the richness of language.
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