TeachersFirst's Free Image Resources
This curated list of resources provides free image tools. As educators, it is important for us to set good examples of digital citizenship. Image usage is a perfect time to discuss the important topics of copyright, Creative Commons, and more. Use your discussions related to copyright and Creative Commons to fuel the discussion about digital citizenship. Read the classroom use suggestions for additional ideas about how to implement these tools in your classroom.
Don’t miss our Special Topics Page – Copyright and Fair Use Resources.
View our complete list of tagged items related to Copyright.
View our complete list of tagged items related to Creative Commons.
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Vecteezy - Eezy Inc
Grades
K to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): creative commons (29), images (269), search engines (50)
In the Classroom
Users need to be able to use good search terms to find the best pictures possible as well as knowing how to save images on their computer. Use in the classroom any time that an image is needed for projects, even if it is not going to be put on a website for others to see. Be sure students are aware that any time another person's image is used, they must give full credit for it, even if that owner cannot see it. Demonstrate Vecteezy on a projector or interactive whiteboard so students know how to use it. Student groups can use Vecteezy to collectively find the best image to use for a project. Have students create a multimedia presentation using Image Annotator, reviewed here. For example, students studying renewable energy can use Vecteezy to find images of various renewable energy sources, then explain them using Image Annotator. Teachers can collect Creative Commons images for use on their interactive whiteboard for sorting activities (monocots and dicots, producers and consumers, etc). Never assume that your students, even the gifted ones, understand about giving proper credit and only using copyright-safe images (CC or public domain). Vecteezy makes it easier. Be sure to hold students accountable by including a "digital citizenship" category in your project rubric, requiring proper credit for all images. You will want to spot-check a few of the URLs to be sure they are actually correct credits. Share Vecteezy as an important tool on your class web page, wiki, or blog so students can access it anywhere, anytime.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Public Domain Clip Art Blog - sookietex
Grades
K to 12In the Classroom
Find images to illustrate curriculum topics, such as historical photos and cultural images. Include them in activities on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Art teachers can use images freely to illustrate design concepts. Create montages of images from eras in history, a culture, or scientific concepts to give visual learners a way to remember new content. "Harvest" images for students to use in their own projects, saving them on a local drive or computer (copying these images is OK!). Have students select an image as an inspiration for a writing assignment or blog post. Upload images to Google Drawings, reviewed here, and have students critique or explain it orally in a world language, science, or social studies class. Google Drawings allows you to annotate an image with links to videos, text, websites, and more. Not familiar with Google Drawings? Watch an archived OK2Ask session to learn how to use: OK2Ask Google Drawings, here. Have student groups use these copyright-safe images (with credit, of course) in their online Bookemon books, reviewed here, about a curriculum concept.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Pics4Learning - Tech4Learning,Inc.
Grades
2 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): creative commons (29), images (269)
In the Classroom
Use images from this site with any classroom activities including research papers, blogs, and multimedia presentations. Have students create a simple infographic using images from this site using Canva Infographic Maker, reviewed here, or Venngage,reviewed here. Include images from Pics4Learning when creating screencast explanations. Use a tool like Free Screen Recorder Online, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Flickr - Flickr
Grades
5 to 12tag(s): images (269), photography (130), Storage (6)
In the Classroom
Join the site for free (and make sure you turn OFF all the "send me emails" features). Place photos online for all the projects you expect to do with students. They will remain in place for future years. If you wish to, remove them from "public" viewing when you do not need them. Note: You MUST be the actual copyright holder to upload photos to this site, so use your digital camera, NOT downloaded photos from the web! Skills needed: taking and saving digital pictures, location and upload of photo files, "tagging" them so students can a find them, copying the URL of the tagged group or of the collection, and changing the attributes of your uploaded pictures. Find other tools such as Big Huge Labs Captioner or Motivator to use with the photos.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Prints and Photographs On Line - Library of Congress
Grades
1 to 12In the Classroom
Use the images on this site to create a "picture walk" in your classroom, introducing any number of the topics hosted. Select 10-15 of the more powerful and diverse images, hanging them up in different locations around your classroom. Have students rotate around the classroom every 30-45 seconds, jotting down what they observe and infer about each image until the entire class has completed the circuit. After the class is back in their seats, have a class discussion based on what they observed and what this says about historical events. A great way to get students thinking about the content in a way that's more personal and lecture-less!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Alaska's Digital Archives - Historical Alaska Images - Fish and Wildlife Service
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): air (106), alaska (20), copyright (46), states (122)
In the Classroom
If you're looking for photos of early Alaska, this is a great resource. Use these images as a chance to teach students about copyright use.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Images from Nasa - NASA
Grades
2 to 12tag(s): air (106), images (269), solar system (108), space (213)
In the Classroom
Use the images on this site to create a visual discovery activity in your classroom, introducing the topic of Solar Flares, or another outer space related topic. Select 3-5 images from this site, choosing the most powerful and moving images. Placing the images on individual slides, allow students 1-2 minutes to observe each image. During that time period, students should be taking notes based on what they observe, predict and infer about each image. The more powerful and detailed the image is, the more information students can take out. After the class has observed all the chosen images, have a class discussion based on the notes students took. This is a great way to introduce content in a way that engages and gets students thinking, as well as avoiding the typical lecture format.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Unsplash - Ooomf.com
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): creative commons (29), images (269), photography (130)
In the Classroom
Use images from Unsplash as creative writing prompts. Have students create a multimedia presentation using Microsoft PowerPoint Online, reviewed here, uploading the image they choose and narrating it. Challenge students to find a photo (legally permitted to be reproduced), and then narrate the photo as if it is a news report. Allow students to browse through Unsplash when locating images for multimedia projects and curate collections for all to use.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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