TeachersFirst's Reference Materials
A collection of reference materials is an invaluable asset for students at all educational levels. Reference materials are helpful to all students, especially our multilingual learners. These materials serve as foundational tools for research, fact-checking, and expanding knowledge across various disciplines. Digital reference tools have revolutionized access to information, offering features like full-text search, multimedia content, translation, and other accessibility features. By leveraging these diverse reference materials, students can enhance their research skills, verify information accuracy, and develop a deeper understanding of their subjects, ultimately fostering academic success and lifelong learning habits.

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Smithsonian Institution - Smithsonian
Grades
K to 12tag(s): aircraft (17), critical thinking (128), inquiry (26), museums (53), space (220), virtual field trips (130)
In the Classroom
Explore historical innovations on the National Air and Space Museum or Smithsonian Science Education Center websites and challenge students to design and build a model inspired by a historical invention (ex., a Wright brothers' airplane or a Mars rover). Three-dimensional models can be created online using CoSpaces, reviewed here or Tinkercad, reviewed here. Have students explore a Smithsonian virtual exhibit, such as the National Museum of Natural History, and provide a scavenger hunt list with key artifacts, asking students to find and describe their significance. Select a primary source or artifact from the Smithsonian Learning Lab or a digital collection and have students analyze the object. Students can present their findings in an infographic using Canva Infographic Creator, reviewed here or make a mini-documentary using Adobe Express Video Maker, reviewed here.NASA - NASA
Grades
K to 12tag(s): moon (73), planets (113), solar system (107), space (220), stars (70), STEM (298)
In the Classroom
Challenge students to create a simple paper model of NASA's Ingenuity Mars Helicopter to explore aerodynamics and engineering. Have students create their models with a digital tool using CoSpaces, reviewed here or Tinkercad, reviewed here. They can also use these tools to design a sustainable Moon base using NASA guidelines after researching lunar environments. They can present their designs as a digital model or poster. Students can apply math skills to real-world NASA space missions, calculating rocket trajectories, planetary distances, and astronaut survival needs. Students can also take a virtual tour of the ISS, exploring astronaut life and experiments conducted in space.Science For A Changing World - USGS
Grades
K to 12tag(s): climate change (100), earthquakes (46), ecosystems (83), geology (62), landforms (39), map skills (63), maps (220), natural disasters (18), STEM (298), volcanoes (55)
In the Classroom
Students can explore USGS topographic maps and identify major landforms. Have them use clay or papier-mache to create 3D models of mountains, valleys, or river systems. Use USGS Water Science School to learn about watersheds, groundwater, and precipitation and have students create a mini water cycle model using plastic containers, water, and a heat source. The water cycle can be built on Scratch, reviewed here or Tinkercad, reviewed here to incorporate technology in the classroom. Assign students a natural disaster (earthquake, flood, landslide, volcano) and use USGS hazard data to have students develop an emergency plan for a specific city or region.National Archives - The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration
Grades
3 to 6tag(s): bill of rights (34), constitution (98), declaration of independence (16), photography (131)
In the Classroom
Use DocsTeach to select a primary source related to your lesson (Declaration of Independence, Emancipation Proclamation, letters from historical figures) and have students answer questions about who wrote the document, why it was created, and how it relates to today's world. Show students a virtual tour or video from the National Archives YouTube Channel and take notes using Webnotes, reviewed here or TurboNote, reviewed here for a class discussion afterwards. Select a historical photograph, letter, or document from DocsTeach or archives.gov and provide students with limited context. In groups, students can play detective by analyzing clues (dates, signatures, language, historical events) to figure out the document's purpose and significance.WorldCat - OCLC, Inc.
Grades
K to 12tag(s): authors (107), book lists (167), digital reading (17), Research (88), resources (83), Teacher Utilities (200)
In the Classroom
Have students search for a specific book, author, or topic related to your curriculum using WorldCat. Ask them to find the closest library with the book and compare availability across locations. Choose a novel or historical text related to your class and find different editions or translations on WorldCat. Have the class compare publication dates, cover designs, and publishers, then discuss how these factors might affect interpretation. Provide students with a historical event or literary movement and have them use WorldCat to locate a primary source (ex., original speeches, diaries, first editions) and present their source, explaining its historical significance and how it connects to modern perspectives.Geography - American Association of Geographers and Esri
Grades
3 to 12tag(s): climate (84), critical thinking (128), cultures (181), ecosystems (83), maps (220), multimedia (53)
In the Classroom
Have students explore Geography.com to find answers to questions about landforms, climates, and world regions. Create a bingo-style worksheet with prompts like "Find a fact about the Amazon Rainforest" or "Identify a country with multiple time zones". Using interactive maps from Geography.com, students choose a continent or country to study, and create an illustrated map that includes physical features, climate zones, and key cultural landmarks. Students can present their maps and explain how geography affects life in that region. Each student picks a country or city and writes five geography-based clues about it. Clues should include landforms, climate, population, or cultural features found on Geography.com.Library of Congress Research Guides - Library of Congress
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): african american (116), architecture (76), black history (133), branches of government (65), civil rights (209), civil war (139), conservation (102), energy (133), engineering (129), environment (252), foreign policy (13), hispanic (36), industrialization (12), jews (33), latin (23), literature (221), middle east (50), native americans (109), nutrition (140), photography (131), politics (118), population (51), religions (95), Research (88), sports (82), statistics (121), Teacher Utilities (200), women (151), womenchangemaker (37), womens suffrage (52)
In the Classroom
Assign students to explore a Library of Congress guide on a historical event (ex., Civil Rights Movement, World War II) and have them read and summarize a firsthand account or diary (or blog) entry. Students can then write a journal entry or letter from someone who lived through the event. Try a simple blogging tool like Telegra.ph reviewed here. Choose a literature-focused research guide related to a classic novel or author (such as To Kill a Mockingbird or The Great Gatsby) and have students create a timeline using Time Graphics Timeline Maker, reviewed here or a newspaper front page using a template from Canva Infographic Creator, reviewed here.NPR- Breaking News, Analysis, Music, Arts, and Podcasts - NPR
Grades
K to 12tag(s): civil rights (209), cultures (181), journalism (74), news (228), podcasts (111), scientists (67), space (220)
In the Classroom
Have students listen to NPR's Student Podcast Challenge winners for inspiration and assign them to create a short podcast episode on a topic related to your curriculum. Use free tools like NPR's podcast resources or Buzzsprout, reviewed hereto guide their scriptwriting and recording process. Choose an NPR article and a similar report from another news source and have students analyze the tone, word choice, and sources used. Use NPR's science and history archives to explore a key discovery or event. Have students present their findings through a timeline project using Timeline Infographic Templates, reviewed here or Turbo Timeline Generator, reviewed here.Encyclopedia Britannica - Encyclopedia Britannica
Grades
K to 12tag(s): biographies (94), primary sources (119), Research (88), resources (83), timelines (56)
In the Classroom
Assign students a historical figure from Britannica's biography section and hold a "Meet the Influencers" day, where students dress up and present as their historical figure. Students pick a topic, use Britannica to research key details and gather images or videos. They create a short video (2-5 minutes) using Adobe Express Video Maker reviewed here or moovly reviewed hereexplaining their topic, incorporating facts from Britannica. Students develop their own research question use Britannica's resources to find answers and create a one-page infographic summarizing their findings using Canva Infographic Creator, < a href="/single.cfm?id=17570">reviewed here.Connected Papers - ConnectedPapers.com
Grades
K to 12tag(s): professional development (385), Research (88)
In the Classroom
Share this site with high school students to find academic papers related to their current research projects or use this tool as a professional aid to research current teaching practices. If citing research found when using Connecting Papers, use MyBib, reviewed here to create citations in many different formats.ZeroGPT - ZeroGPT
Grades
4 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): artificial intelligence (182), citations (33), editing (93), plagiarism (34), summarizing (23), writing (324)
In the Classroom
Use ZeroGPT for several purposes, including checking student work for AI-written content with the AI detector tool. However, caution should be exercised, as not all information provided by AI tools is accurate. The AI checker gives you a percentage likelihood that the content is either written by AI or a human. This site should be used as part of a qualified educator's overall evaluation of work and not as a sole means of evaluation. If students use AI to create writing projects, images, or media, teach them to use the citation generator to provide credit for using AI in their work.Almanack - Almanack.ai
Grades
K to 12tag(s): artificial intelligence (182), assessment (148), presentations (23), Teacher Utilities (200), worksheets (70)
In the Classroom
Use Almanack to quickly create classroom slide presentations, worksheets, and learning activities. Quickly create materials to differentiate instruction using the same topic but adjusting for different grade levels to meet students' abilities. A straightforward way to learn how to use Almanack is by beginning with the resources section. For example, start with video recommendations to find YouTube videos to include with your lessons. Being as specific as possible with requests will lead to the best suggestions that meet your needs.MyBib - MyBib.com
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): citations (33), expository writing (31), persuasive writing (58), plagiarism (34), Research (88)
In the Classroom
Include this tool on all classroom computers and as a link on your class website for student use. This bibliography tool helps students properly format their Works Cited pages. Use this tool to help keep your students (or even yourself) organized! Make sure you teach plagiarism lessons about paraphrasing and proper citation of sources, so students use this tool properly! Take the drudgery out of writing formal papers by emphasizing thinking over mechanics. Whether teaching beginning research or seniors in high school, introduce them to MyBib. For younger students, seeing all the formatting and citing done correctly from the beginning makes sense, whether it is the body of the writing or the bibliography. With either age group, give lessons about each part of a paper or letter. Demonstrate on an interactive whiteboard (or with a projector) and think out loud as a group to pull together ideas, sources, quotes, and more to support an argument and build a paper. You can use it, too, when you write for your graduate program. Since you can choose from virtually any formatting style, you do not have to worry about memorizing punctuation and double-checking the format.Country Flag Pictures - FlagPictures
Grades
3 to 12In the Classroom
Bookmark this site to use as a quick reference and resource for information about any country. Share results on your interactive whiteboard with students. Engage students in learning by using flag images from this site using Whiteboared.chat, reviewed here. Create and share a Whiteboard.chat with students and add the flag image. Ask students to add sticky notes to the board, sharing information they already know and questions they want to find out. As students learn more about countries and their flags, create digital books sharing their learning using Book Creator, reviewed here, that include student text, upload images, and videos.openverse - Creative Commons
Grades
5 to 12tag(s): copyright (44), creative commons (28), images (264), photography (131), search engines (48)
In the Classroom
Use this image search in a variety of ways for classroom use. Ask students to find images of cells, animals, geographic formations, etc. to use with class projects and presentations. Be sure to remind students to use the attribution link along with the photo, especially when publishing on the web. Keep this site as a reference link on your class web page for any time students are creating wikis, blogs, or electronic projects where they need images. They can find just the right picture with CC licensing, and you should require them to include the citation provided! Be sure that students understand the rules for sharing appropriate and inappropriate images and copyright concerns.National Park Service - National Park Service
Grades
5 to 12tag(s): animal homes (57), animals (294), habitats (92), national parks (29)
In the Classroom
Bookmark and save this site to use with a wide variety of language arts, science, and social studies activities. Take advantage of the free lesson plans to include with your classroom activities. Include the section for kids with your other bookmarks on classroom computers for students to explore during science centers or during free reading time as a non-fiction selection. Share images from the media gallery with students as you study biomes, states, or historic areas of the United States. As students learn about different parks around the country, ask them to modify their technology use to create infographics using Canva Infographic Maker, reviewed here, to share facts and information. Transform student technology use even further by asking students to use Google My Maps, reviewed here, to create a virtual field trip to a national park or across different biomes found in the United States. Include this site with your history lessons then ask students to use Google My Maps, reviewed here, to create an animated map telling the story of historic events including text, images, historical maps, and more.Dictionary.com - Dictionary.com, LLC
Grades
4 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): DAT device agnostic tool (147), dictionaries (48), game based learning (205), thesaurus (22), word choice (14)
In the Classroom
Use this online dictionary instead of printed dictionaries and thesauruses in the classroom. Be sure to share a link to this site on your class website. Display the word of the day on your interactive whiteboard as a lesson starter during writing or language arts lessons. Ask students to include featured words during writing activities using Google Documents, then highlight each time the word is used. Take it a "tech" step further and have students create a word cloud of the important terms they learn from this site using a tool such as WordItOut, reviewed here. Dive even deeper and have students or groups of students create daily video presentations featuring their choice for word of the day (or week) using a tool like Powtoon, reviewed here. Share their videos on a site such as TeacherTube, reviewed here.Space, NASA Information and News - Tech Media Network
Grades
3 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): moon (73), nasa (28), space (220), stars (70), sun (70)
In the Classroom
Share the videos and activities on your projector or interactive whiteboard. Try using this website as a resource in art class to have students find a picture and recreate it though their own interpretation. Have students in a language arts class choose a photograph and create a story about how it came to be as a creative writing exercise. Have students in science class use it as a research resource for adding great images to their presentations. Or assign a particular article that relates to an astronomy class, have the whole class read it as homework, and then have them post reactions on a class wiki page. Not familiar with wikis? Check out the TeachersFirst Wiki Walk-Through.World Sites Atlas - sitesatlas.com
Grades
3 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): continents (33), countries (73), maps (220), states (124), statistics (121)
In the Classroom
Share this site with your students on your interactive whiteboard or projector, and then allow them to explore on their own on classroom computers. Create a scavenger hunt for students to find information included on maps located on the site. Have students find interesting facts, then prepare a scavenger hunt for other students.Khan Academy - Sal Khan
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): atoms (43), cells (82), energy (133), functions (52), homework (29), matter (45), molecules (43), photosynthesis (21), respiration (11), structures (18)