Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers

With this poem generation tool, you can generate poems in several styles from a prompt. Add your prompt, choose a style, and select the poem's length, and voila, your poem appears! Download your poem as a docx document, copy the text, or download it to your device. As you select a poem style, scroll down the page to learn about the style. For example, choose Haiku to read a description of Haiku poetry, information on how Haikus differ from English poems, and FAQs about the origin of Haiku poetry.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): artificial intelligence (181), digital storytelling (155), poetry (194)

Padlet TA is a helpful assistant for creating many educational work documents without requiring registration for most tasks. Options include lesson planning, worksheet creation, text-leveling tools, and more. After choosing a tool, complete the form that asks for information like grade level, topic, and additional context. Add a file, content from Google Drive, a link, or a YouTube video. Adding content from Google Drive requires logging in to a Padlet account. After adding information, click the bright yellow/green bubble next to the form to generate content. When finished, copy the text to a document, export it to Google Docs or PDF, or use the share link to share the URL of a view-only version of your prompt and output.

tag(s): artificial intelligence (181), assessment (148), images (264), qr codes (19), quizzes (91), rubrics (38), Teacher Utilities (200), worksheets (70)

School Pages is a free site that offers various lessons already created in many subject areas. Lessons can be sorted by grade level (grades 1 through 10) and subject - English, environmental studies, Hindi, math, physical education, science, and social studies. You can access both AI Tools and AI chat if you create a free account. AI tools include a Quiz Generator, a Similar Question Generator, a National Curriculum Framework Assistant, a Lesson Plan Generator, an Opening Hook Generator, an Assignment Generator, and Bloom's Question Generator. The AI chat is similar to a chatbot in that it can assist with teaching strategies, topic explanations, or any other teaching-related questions.

tag(s): artificial intelligence (181), Teacher Utilities (200)

Million Bazillion is a podcast that inspires families to discuss money with children. Episodes include How Do People Pay for Things When They Retire, What's the Difference Between Brand-Name Items and Generic Items, What Does Money Have To Do With Climate Change, Who Sets the Price of Rent, and more. On average, podcasts are twenty minutes to thirty-five minutes in length. Episodes include transcripts and tips for adults to use as discussion points for children. Million Bazillion is available on Spotify, Apple, Amazon Music, Stitchers, and RSS.

tag(s): financial literacy (94), podcasts (111)

The Smithsonian Institution website is a valuable resource for educators, offering access to a vast collection of digital exhibitions, lesson plans, and interactive learning tools. Teachers can explore history, science, art, and culture topics through virtual tours, online activities, and curated educational materials from Smithsonian museums, research centers, and libraries. The site includes resources for all grade levels, including printable worksheets, videos, and inquiry-based lesson plans designed to engage students in critical thinking and discovery. It is an excellent tool for supplementing classroom instruction with high-quality, museum-based learning experiences. The videos are hosted on YouTube. If your district blocks YouTube, then they may not be viewable.

tag(s): aircraft (17), critical thinking (128), inquiry (26), museums (53), space (220), virtual field trips (129)

Creating effective and engaging blended learning lessons requires time and professional knowledge. The Blended Learning Planner uses AI to increase productivity by providing ideas and learning activities based on your input. Start by following the steps to create a class, then add the lesson topic, length of class time, and the blended learning components to include. Use the request changes and Beans, the chatbox, to request modifications and additions to the completed plan.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): artificial intelligence (181), blended learning (37), flipped learning (9), Teacher Utilities (200)

Create learning games with the AI-based Learning Game Generator for any topic or grade level. Begin by adding vital information, including grade level, learning outcome or objective, and the game's length. The Game Generator provides a document with instructions for playing the game, any required materials, and setup instructions. Use the provided tools to request changes to create a game that works for your classroom. Copy or download the document using the Manage Content Dropbox options when satisfied.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): artificial intelligence (181), assessment (148), Formative Assessment (74), game based learning (205), gamification (83), Teacher Utilities (200)

The "What's So Cool About Manufacturing?" lesson plan introduces students to manufacturing careers through a hands-on activity. Hosted on WQED's educational platform, the resource provides a structured lesson plan where students design and build a product, helping them develop problem-solving and teamwork skills. It aligns with STEM education by exploring real-world manufacturing concepts and encouraging creativity. The lesson is designed for educators to engage students in practical learning while highlighting the importance of manufacturing in everyday life.

tag(s): careers (156), STEM (298)

Using the Math Test Creator, you can create summative assessments with the help of AI. Create an account, click Start to begin, then Create a Class. Add a class name, select an education level (early childhood through professional development), and grade to create your class. Next, complete the form by adding information about your unit, choosing the number and type of questions, and choosing to use real-life scenarios within questions. Use Beans, the chatbot, to request changes and modify content if desired. When complete, copy or download the document and use the Manage Content option at the top of the page.

tag(s): artificial intelligence (181), assessment (148), quiz (67), quizzes (91), Teacher Utilities (200)

Planning lessons that provide engaging activities and meet curriculum standards can be challenging. The Plan My Lesson Tool uses AI to match both objectives in just a few seconds. After selecting start, complete the form by adding grade level or band, subject, and learning outcome and selecting to generate the result. After creating the document, use additional features to edit and adjust the activity to fit your needs. You can also choose sections of the document to request changes by chatting with Beans, this site's chatbot. Find options to download or export the finished document by visiting the Manage Content dropbox at the top of the page. You do need to create a free account to access this feature.

tag(s): artificial intelligence (181), professional development (385), Teacher Utilities (200)

WorldCat is a global library catalog that allows teachers to search for books, articles, and other educational resources available in libraries worldwide. By entering a title, author, or keyword, educators can locate materials in nearby libraries, access digital resources, and discover new teaching materials. WorldCat is beneficial for finding hard-to-access texts, historical documents, and academic research. Teachers can use it to expand their classroom library, recommend reading materials to students, or enhance lesson plans with diverse sources.

tag(s): authors (107), book lists (167), digital reading (17), Research (87), resources (83), Teacher Utilities (200)

Yourway offers a suite of AI-generated tools for educators. Choose from many generators to create lesson plans, assessments, and classroom activities. After selecting a generator, follow the prompt to access a form to add information such as grade level, topic or learning objective, and other directions. After the tool generates a response, you can request changes, edit the information manually, or save the document. Choose the Manage Document dropdown box to copy the document to your clipboard, save it as a PDF file, export it to Google Docs, or download your activity as a Microsoft .docx file. As you create activities, they are saved in the My Content area to revisit and reuse as needed.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): artificial intelligence (181), assessment (148), cross cultural understanding (173), differentiation (84), rubrics (38), social and emotional learning (103), Teacher Utilities (200), vocabulary (238)

PBS Learning Media's Banking and Finance collection features various resources, including videos, audio, documents, lesson plans, webpages, and collections for kindergarten through grade 12. There are thousands of resources available to search. Video topics include loan officers, federal reserve banks, financial literacy, and goods and services. Lesson plans on financial literacy, homesteading supplies, manufacturing, and more. Lesson plans include a summary, time allotted, learning objectives, preparation, procedure, and standards. Filters are available to sort by grade level, subject, resource type, length of video/audio, language, accessibility, and additional features. You can share everything in the collection via Google Classroom, a link to students, and social sharing.

tag(s): banks (8), careers (156), financial literacy (94)

The YouTube Kids platform provides teachers a safe, engaging tool to incorporate kid-friendly video content into the classroom. The site offers a simplified and safer experience for children exploring videos, with customizable parental controls and personalized student profiles. There is also a free app available. Teachers can tailor content to specific age groups (4 and under, 5-8, or 9-12), ensuring that videos align with students' developmental levels. The platform also allows educators to share relevant content directly with students, manage screen time, and block inappropriate videos when necessary. With its smaller, curated content library and protections like automated filters and human reviews, YouTube Kids offers a secure way to enrich lessons with videos while fostering responsible media consumption habits in students.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): enrichment (13), internet safety (114), personalized learning (10), playlists (8), video (266)

The Google Indoor Maps platform is a valuable resource for educators and students exploring spatial awareness, geography, and technology integration. It offers detailed indoor maps for airports, museums, shopping malls, and universities, providing floor plans and navigation tools. Teachers can use it to help students understand mapping technology, analyze layouts of complex buildings, or plan field trips. This tool also emphasizes the real-world applications of geography and technology, fostering digital literacy and practical problem-solving skills.

tag(s): DAT device agnostic tool (147), digital literacy (6), map skills (63), maps (220), problem solving (233), virtual field trips (129)

Genially's Escape Room Game Templates provide educators with interactive and customizable digital escape room experiences. These templates allow teachers to create engaging, gamified learning activities where students solve puzzles, answer questions, and unlock clues to progress. The platform supports multimedia elements such as images, animations, and clickable objects, making lessons more immersive. Teachers can use these escape rooms for review sessions, team-building exercises, or subject-specific challenges across various grade levels.

tag(s): digital escapes (15), game based learning (205), gamification (83), puzzles (149)

Explore this valuable tool for educators; it offers curated collections of primary sources, historical documents, and research materials across a wide range of subjects. These guides help teachers incorporate authentic historical artifacts, government records, and literary works into their lessons, enhancing students' critical thinking and research skills. With ready-to-use teaching resources, topic guides, and bibliographies, this site supports interdisciplinary learning and provides rich content for inquiry-based projects in history, literature, civics, and more.

tag(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 (87), sports (82), statistics (121), Teacher Utilities (200), women (151), womenchangemaker (37), womens suffrage (52)

NPR (National Public Radio) is a valuable resource for educators, offering high-quality news, podcasts, and articles on current events, culture, science, and history. The site features engaging audio stories, in-depth journalism, and educational content that can enhance classroom discussions and critical thinking skills. Teachers can use NPR's stories to connect lessons to real-world events, introduce students to diverse perspectives, and encourage media literacy. Additionally, NPR's student-friendly resources, such as NPR Ed and Student Podcast Challenge, provide interactive and project-based learning opportunities.

tag(s): civil rights (209), cultures (180), journalism (74), news (228), podcasts (111), scientists (67), space (220)

Britannica's main website is a comprehensive and reliable resource for teachers seeking accurate, well-researched information across a wide range of subjects. It offers encyclopedia articles, biographies, timelines, images, videos, and primary sources, making it a valuable tool for classroom instruction and student research. The site includes Britannica School, which provides leveled content for different grade levels, and Britannica Kids, designed for younger learners. With its fact-checked, up-to-date content, Britannica helps educators enhance lessons, support inquiry-based learning, and promote critical thinking skills.

tag(s): biographies (94), primary sources (117), Research (87), resources (83), timelines (56)

The Do Now Activity Generator uses AI to create five-minute activities that engage students of any grade or content area. After selecting to start, enter the learning objective and grade level to generate activities. The Do Now generator provides students with questions based on a possible scenario. Make changes and find additional ideas by selecting the Request Change button and providing details on changes.

tag(s): artificial intelligence (181), assessment (148), classroom management (120), Formative Assessment (74), questioning (36), Teacher Utilities (200), teaching strategies (50), thinking skills (17)