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10 Crafts & Activities Winter Solstice - How Wee Learn
Grades
2 to 5
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Explore the simple, nature-inspired crafts and hands-on projects to help students understand the meaning of the winter solstice through art, observation, and play. From making icy sun...more
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Explore the simple, nature-inspired crafts and hands-on projects to help students understand the meaning of the winter solstice through art, observation, and play. From making icy sun catchers to creating themed journals or light-themed decorations, the activities encourage students to notice seasonal changes, reflect on light and dark, and connect outdoor learning with classroom discussions. It's an inviting collection for teachers looking to blend science, creativity, and seasonal celebration.
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tag(s): crafts (90), earth (190), seasonal (35), seasons (55), sun (83)
In the Classroom
Have students create simple ice sun catchers using water, natural materials, and a freezer or outdoor cold temperatures. Afterward, they can write a quick observation about how the changing light interacts with their artwork and what this reveals about the winter solstice. Using a solstice-themed journal (inspired by the page), have students write short entries describing what they notice about daylight, temperature, and nature during this time of year. For a digital version, use Book Creator, reviewed here. After learning about different cultural celebrations of light around the solstice, students can create a small craft (such as a lantern, candle silhouette art, or light-themed collage) and write a short explanation card that connects their piece to the meaning of the solstice.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Winter Solstice - Twinkl Educational Publishing
Grades
2 to 6
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This teacher-friendly resource explains what causes the winter solstice, why daylight changes throughout the seasons, and how different cultures have celebrated this moment for centuries....more
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This teacher-friendly resource explains what causes the winter solstice, why daylight changes throughout the seasons, and how different cultures have celebrated this moment for centuries. It also provides ready-to-use materials, including PowerPoints, reading passages, comprehension activities, and printable displays, that help students explore Earth's tilt, seasonal traditions, and wintertime observations in a meaningful, cross-curricular way.
In the Classroom
Use one of the provided reading passages about the solstice (myths, traditions, or science). Have students highlight key details, identify the main idea, and write a short summary explaining why the solstice is significant. After viewing Twinkl's content on places like Stonehenge, students can research how ancient monuments align with the solstice. They can create a one-page "Show What You Know" poster using paper or DesignCap Poster Creator, reviewed here illustrating the structure and its purpose. Using a pencil taped upright to a piece of cardboard, have students measure the length of its shadow at different times of day. They can compare their observations with Twinkl's explanation of Earth's tilt and discuss why shadows change as daylight increases or decreases.
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Storytime with Kate Meszaros- Winter Solstice Wish - Kate Ingersoll-Meszaros
Grades
K to 5
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This read-aloud video features a warm and engaging storytelling session of Winter Solstice Wish by Kate Allan Fox, where the narrator guides students through the meaning of the...more
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This read-aloud video features a warm and engaging storytelling session of Winter Solstice Wish by Kate Allan Fox, where the narrator guides students through the meaning of the winter solstice using vivid imagery and connections to real seasonal changes they can observe. The video highlights why the solstice occurs, what it feels like during the shortest days of the year, and how people around the world celebrate light, hope, and renewal during this time. Through rich descriptions of dwindling sunlight, growing shadows, and traditions like gathering firewood and making wishes, students gain a deeper understanding of both the science and the symbolism of the solstice. If your district blocks YouTube, then the video may not be viewable.
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tag(s): crafts (90), earth (190), seasonal (35), seasons (55), snow (21), sun (83)
In the Classroom
Have your students write or draw their favorite moment from the story and explain how it shows what the winter solstice feels like or why it is special. Inspired by the book's theme of hope and renewal, have students create a "winter wish" card or paper lantern expressing something they hope will grow brighter in their lives or their community. Students can choose a winter solstice or winter-light celebration (such as Yule, Dongzhi, or Soyal) and make a slide using Google Slides, reviewed here explaining one tradition. Compile these slides into a class presentation to share with the class.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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What Is the Winter Solstice? - Bozeman Public Library
Grades
3 to 7
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The video "What Is the Winter Solstice?" explores why the solstice marks the shortest day of the year by following host Jane Lindholm at an outdoor Earth clock and in ...more
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The video "What Is the Winter Solstice?" explores why the solstice marks the shortest day of the year by following host Jane Lindholm at an outdoor Earth clock and in a planetarium, where she and meteorologist Mark Breen explain Earth's tilt, daylight patterns, and the cultural meaning behind this seasonal milestone. It provides clear visuals and real-world demonstrations that help students connect scientific concepts with seasonal changes they can observe. If your district blocks YouTube, then the video may not be viewable.
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In the Classroom
Using a globe and a flashlight, have students recreate Earth's tilt and shine the light at different angles to see how daylight changes. Have students look up the sunrise and sunset times for your location on the solstice and calculate total daylight. Then have them repeat this for an area in the Southern Hemisphere and compare the results. Have students measure the length of a shadow at the same time multiple days leading up to and after the solstice. Then have them graph the results using ChartGizmo reviewed here to observe how the angle of the sun changes over time.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Winter Solstice Activity for Kids - Treehouse Schoolhouse
Grades
3 to 7
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Celebrate the magic of the year's shortest day with this engaging winter solstice activity from Treehouse Schoolhouse. The website offers a clear and teacher-friendly explanation of...more
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Celebrate the magic of the year's shortest day with this engaging winter solstice activity from Treehouse Schoolhouse. The website offers a clear and teacher-friendly explanation of the winter solstice. It provides a free "Winter Solstice Daylight Tracker" worksheet that guides students in recording sunrise and sunset times, calculating daylight hours, and graphing the changes. The activity supports scientific inquiry, observation skills, and simple data analysis, and it can be paired with nature walks, journaling, or seasonal crafts to deepen students' understanding of how Earth's tilt affects daylight. This resource is easy to integrate into lessons on seasons, natural cycles, or winter traditions and works well for a wide range of classroom settings.
tag(s): crafts (90), cultures (249), data (152), earth (190), seasonal (35), seasons (55), sun (83)
In the Classroom
Have students use the Winter Solstice Daylight Tracker to record sunrise and sunset times for several days. They can calculate total daylight hours and create a simple line graph that shows how the amount of daylight changes. Assign students to keep a short journal on paper or using Write Reader, reviewed here where they note outdoor observations during the week of the solstice. After learning about the winter solstice, students can create a piece of art that represents the "longest night" or the "return of the light," such as a watercolor sunrise, paper lantern, or nature collage.
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December Solstice - PBS LearningMedia
Grades
2 to 6
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This PBS LearningMedia resource features a winter solstice-themed video that helps students understand why the solstice occurs, how the Earth's tilt affects daylight, and what seasonal...more
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This PBS LearningMedia resource features a winter solstice-themed video that helps students understand why the solstice occurs, how the Earth's tilt affects daylight, and what seasonal changes people notice during the darkest time of the year. The short, engaging video is paired with easy-to-use lesson plans and extension activities that support visual, auditory, and hands-on learning. Although it is designed for the Northeastern United States, the concepts are applicable anywhere and can be adapted for use in classrooms in other regions. Teachers can use the video as a hook to introduce a science or social studies lesson on seasonal patterns, guide students in observing local daylight changes, or incorporate art and writing activities to explore winter traditions and the natural world.
tag(s): cultures (249), earth (190), seasonal (35), seasons (55), sun (83)
In the Classroom
Have students track sunrise and sunset times for a week before and after the winter solstice, then graph the changes using LiveGap Charts reviewed here to visualize how daylight shifts over time. Using a stick or pencil placed upright outside, students can measure the length and direction of shadows at different times of day. They can compare results to understand why shadows are longest near the solstice. After watching the video, have students research how different cultures recognize or celebrate the winter solstice. They can create a simple poster, mini-presentation, or journal page in Canva for Education, reviewed here about a tradition they find interesting.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Hour of Code - Code.org
Grades
K to 12
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Hour of Code provides teachers, students, and parents with resources and activities to support computer science education and their new initiative, Hour of AI. Visit the "Learn" portion...more
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Hour of Code provides teachers, students, and parents with resources and activities to support computer science education and their new initiative, Hour of AI. Visit the "Learn" portion of the site to find videos, tutorials, and programming activities for all ages and ability levels. The "Teach" area features downloadable curricula for all grade levels, including instruction on coding and AI. Visit the link for parents to take advantage of activities that teach the fundamentals of coding through Hour of Code activities and self-paced computer science courses. If your district blocks YouTube, then the video may not be viewable.
tag(s): artificial intelligence (216), coding (89), critical thinking (140), logic (158), problem solving (243), STEM (331)
In the Classroom
Bookmark and save this site to use during annual Hour of AI or Code activities and throughout the year as part of computer science instruction. Integrate coding activities into cross-curricular lessons, for example, by incorporating coding exercises that enable students to explore geometry and patterns within their math lessons. Integrate with science lessons to explore the scientific method or use coding activities to create interactive stories that bring student writing projects to life. Extend student learning by including activities and lessons from Hour of AI, reviewed here as part of your computer science curriculum. Share student projects on your class website or on a site such as Milanote, reviewed here to curate and share information.
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Minecraft Education Hour of Code: AI for Good - Minecraft Education
Grades
3 to 8
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Step into a world where coding meets creativity with Minecraft: Education Edition's "Hour of Code: AI for Good." In this interactive lesson, students become digital problem-solvers...more
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Step into a world where coding meets creativity with Minecraft: Education Edition's "Hour of Code: AI for Good." In this interactive lesson, students become digital problem-solvers as they guide their Minecraft Agent to analyze forest fires, collect data, and protect a virtual village using the power of artificial intelligence. Designed to introduce coding and AI in an engaging, game-based environment, this activity shows how technology can be harnessed for environmental good while fostering collaboration, critical thinking, and real-world problem-solving skills.
tag(s): artificial intelligence (216), coding (89), critical thinking (140), data (152), game based learning (215), problem solving (243)
In the Classroom
Have students complete the AI for Good Minecraft challenge, guiding their Agent to detect fires and protect the forest. Have them record observations about how coding decisions impact the environment and outcomes in the game using Book Creator, reviewed here. Ask students to design their own "AI for Good" scenario in Minecraft or on paper. They can use AI to clean oceans, track endangered animals, or reduce pollution, and write a short reflection explaining their idea. Have students create a class infographic or poster titled "How AI Helps Our Planet." These can be made on paper or digitally using DesignCap Poster Creator, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Tynker - Hour of Code - Tynker
Grades
K to 8
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The Tynker Hour of Code website offers more than 50 engaging, beginner-friendly coding games and activities that introduce programming concepts such as loops, conditionals, artificial...more
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The Tynker Hour of Code website offers more than 50 engaging, beginner-friendly coding games and activities that introduce programming concepts such as loops, conditionals, artificial intelligence, and physics through fun puzzles and interactive projects. Click on the AI tab at the top to view the five activities created for Hour of AI. The five activities include Weather Control AI, Balancing Act AI, Tickle Monster AI, Fruit Fighter AI, and Turtle Racer AI.
Educators can access a free teacher dashboard, track student progress, and utilize printable certificates, lesson guides, and answer keys to simplify and enhance the setup process. The resource supports all students, regardless of prior coding experience, and works on standard web devices, allowing for either a flexible one-hour coding event or an extended exploration of computer science concepts. If your district blocks YouTube, then the videos may not be viewable.
Educators can access a free teacher dashboard, track student progress, and utilize printable certificates, lesson guides, and answer keys to simplify and enhance the setup process. The resource supports all students, regardless of prior coding experience, and works on standard web devices, allowing for either a flexible one-hour coding event or an extended exploration of computer science concepts. If your district blocks YouTube, then the videos may not be viewable.
tag(s): artificial intelligence (216), coding (89), puzzles (148)
In the Classroom
Share the AI-specific activities during the Hour of AI. Have students complete one of Tynker's interactive Hour of Code puzzles, such as "Dragon Blast" or "Candy Quest," where they use block coding to move characters, collect items, and solve challenges. Invite students to create a short interactive story or animated scene using Tynker's story-based tutorials. They can choose characters, write dialogue, and program actions to retell a story or show what they've learned in another subject. Assign students to design a simple game using Tynker's coding tools, test it with classmates, and revise it based on feedback. This connects coding with design thinking and collaboration.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Explore Hour of AI Activities - CSforALL
Grades
K to 12
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The Hour of AI website, created in partnership by CSforALL and Code.org, offers free, hands-on activities that introduce students to artificial intelligence in a meaningful and accessible...more
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The Hour of AI website, created in partnership by CSforALL and Code.org, offers free, hands-on activities that introduce students to artificial intelligence in a meaningful and accessible way. It provides ready-to-use tutorials, teacher guides, event registration tools, and multilingual resources to help K-12 educators lead engaging hour-long AI learning experiences without needing prior expertise. Teachers can choose from unplugged or tech-enabled activities that connect to any subject area, helping students explore AI concepts, creativity, and the responsible use of technology. Topics/activities include AI Quests, Minecraft Hour of AI: The First Night, AI HackStack: Poetry in Motion, Vibe Coding: Build Your First Game Using AI, Dance Party: AI Edition, and countless others! The site also includes downloadable posters, email templates, and resource toolkits that make it easy to plan, launch, and promote an event at school, giving teachers a friendly and practical entry point for building AI literacy and empowering students to become thoughtful creators of technology. If your district blocks YouTube, then the videos may not be viewable.
tag(s): artificial intelligence (216), coding (89)
In the Classroom
Have students explore how computers recognize objects by sorting pictures into groups, then compare their choices to an AI model's results. Discuss how AI "learns" from examples and what happens when data is biased or incomplete. Challenge students to imagine an AI system that could solve a real-world problem in their community, such as recycling or accessibility. They can create posters or short videos using Adobe Express Video Maker, reviewed here to pitch their ideas, emphasizing creativity and ethical use. Show one of the Hour of AI introduction videos, then have students brainstorm where AI appears in their daily lives, such as music recommendations, navigation apps, or digital assistants, and present their findings with examples.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Wildlife Ecology Basics - Michigan State University Extension
Grades
4 to 12
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Step into the wild with the Michigan Forests Forever Wildlife Ecology website, where students can explore the fascinating relationships between forests and the animals that depend on...more
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Step into the wild with the Michigan Forests Forever Wildlife Ecology website, where students can explore the fascinating relationships between forests and the animals that depend on them. This educational resource helps teachers bring forest ecosystems to life by covering essential topics like habitat needs, population cycles, and forest succession. With detailed examples from Michigan's diverse wildlife, including threatened and endangered species, the site encourages students to think critically about conservation and environmental change.
tag(s): animals (291), conservation (104), ecosystems (93), endangered species (28), environment (249), forests (31), habitats (100), population (53)
In the Classroom
After learning about basic habitat needs (food, water, shelter, space), give students cards with different Michigan animals and habitat types. Have them match each animal to its correct habitat based on clues from the website. Using the site's information on forest animals, students can create a forest food web poster or digital web using Canva Edu reviewed here showing the connections between producers, consumers, and decomposers. Using the site's information on forest succession, have students create a timeline using Sutori reviewed here or Timeline Infographic Templates reviewed here or model showing how a forest changes over time, and how those changes affect wildlife.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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NASA - Games and Interactives - NASA
Grades
4 to 12
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Blast off into learning with NASA Interactives, a dynamic website that turns space exploration into an immersive classroom adventure! This collection of hands-on digital tools invites...more
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Blast off into learning with NASA Interactives, a dynamic website that turns space exploration into an immersive classroom adventure! This collection of hands-on digital tools invites students to explore the universe through virtual tours, 3D models, simulations, and augmented reality experiences. Perfect for sparking curiosity and deepening understanding, these resources align with STEM goals and bring real NASA missions and discoveries right to your students' fingertips. Whether you're teaching about the solar system, Earth science, or the International Space Station, NASA Interactives offers an out-of-this-world way to enrich your lessons.
tag(s): nasa (31), solar system (115), space (231), stars (77), STEM (331), virtual field trips (132)
In the Classroom
Guide students through a virtual tour of the solar system. Have them pick a planet or moon to "visit" and record three fascinating facts about it. After exploring how NASA designs spacesuits, students can work in teams to create a "paper prototype" for a next-gen spacesuit, labeling each layer's function. Let students try landing a rover on Mars using the simulator. Discuss the challenges involved and have them write a short paragraph about their experience.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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We Will Rock You (The Rock Cycle) - Emily B
Grades
4 to 7
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This lively, classroom-ready video is a playful parody of Queen's iconic "We Will Rock You," created by B.Ed candidates to teach the rock cycle through song. With stomps, claps, and...more
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This lively, classroom-ready video is a playful parody of Queen's iconic "We Will Rock You," created by B.Ed candidates to teach the rock cycle through song. With stomps, claps, and clever lyrics, it introduces how igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks form and transform in a memorable way. Perfect for elementary science classes, the video reinforces rock cycle vocabulary and processes through rhythm and repetition, making it a catchy and engaging tool to support students' understanding of geologic change. If your district blocks YouTube, then the video may not be viewable.
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tag(s): rock cycle (25), rocks (43)
In the Classroom
Students can recreate the rock cycle using Kiddle reviewed here to learn more about each of the different types of rocks featured in the song. Students can use Book Creator reviewed here to create a book about the different types of rocks. After watching the video, have students create their own short rock cycle song or chant using familiar tunes (like "Twinkle, Twinkle" or "Row, Row, Row Your Boat") to reinforce the processes and types of rocks. They can perform their songs in small groups and include hand motions or simple percussion to make the learning experience fun and memorable.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Listening with Understanding and Empathy (Habit of the Mind) - TeachersFirst
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K to 12
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Discover our collection of resources on the Habit of Mind of Listening with Understanding and Empathy--the practice of devoting genuine mental energy to another person's thoughts and...more
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Discover our collection of resources on the Habit of Mind of Listening with Understanding and Empathy--the practice of devoting genuine mental energy to another person's thoughts and ideas while making a sincere effort to perceive their point of view and emotions. This vital habit helps students move beyond simply hearing words to truly understanding others by asking clarifying questions, considering perspectives different from their own, and giving their full attention during conversations. In a world of constant communication, we've gathered a variety of tools to help you teach students to listen beyond the words and to make an effort to perceive another person's perspective. In this collection, you'll find things like video examples demonstrating active listening skills and empathetic responses, role-playing activities and conversation scenarios that practice perspective-taking, printable question stems and sentence starters to guide meaningful dialogue, lesson plans featuring partner interviews and collaborative discussion protocols, and reflection journals where students can explore different viewpoints, as well as digital platforms for structured discussions and collaborative storytelling. As you weave these resources into your daily routines, you'll create a classroom where students practice understanding one another, which helps foster a culture of respect and genuine connection.
In the Classroom
Share these resources with your students to learn more about listening with understanding and empathy. Share a link to this collection on your school web page and in your school newsletter (or email). Find resources to incorporate into your lessons.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Questioning and Posing Problems (Habit of the Mind) - TeachersFirst
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K to 12
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Investigate our collection of resources on the Habit of Mind of Questioning and Posing Problems--the curious practice of asking yourself "How can I find out?", developing powerful questioning...more
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Investigate our collection of resources on the Habit of Mind of Questioning and Posing Problems--the curious practice of asking yourself "How can I find out?", developing powerful questioning strategies, and actively seeking problems to solve with a commitment to excellence and a relentless pursuit of precision. This inquiry-driven habit empowers students to ask meaningful "why" and "what if" questions, identify gaps in their understanding, and formulate questions that deepen learning and spark new discoveries. In this collection, you'll find video examples of scientists, innovators, and students modeling effective questioning techniques, interactive inquiry activities and problem-finding challenges that stimulate curiosity, interactive checklists and digital rubrics that help students verify their work against clear criteria, question stems and wondering journals to capture emerging thoughts, lesson plans featuring Socratic seminars and question formulation techniques, and mystery scenarios that require students to generate their own investigative questions. With these resources, your students will gain practical strategies and examples to help them double-check their work, verify information, and strive for the highest level of quality in all their endeavors.
tag(s): questioning (34), thinking skills (33)
In the Classroom
Help your students learn and practice questioning and posing questions. This list includes resources for all grades. Read each resource's Classroom Use section to learn ways to incorporate the information in your lessonsAdd your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Thinking Flexibly (Habit of the Mind) - TeachersFirst
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K to 12
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Learn about Thinking Flexibly, a Habit of Mind--the ability to change perspectives, generate alternatives, and look at situations from multiple angles to discover new possibilities....more
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Learn about Thinking Flexibly, a Habit of Mind--the ability to change perspectives, generate alternatives, and look at situations from multiple angles to discover new possibilities. In an ever-changing world, we've gathered a variety of tools to help you foster creativity, adaptability, and the ability to generate alternatives in your classroom. This creative habit empowers students to find various approaches to solve problems, adapt their strategies when circumstances change, and consider different viewpoints during discussions and debates. In this collection, you'll find interactive simulations and virtual labs that require students to adapt their strategies to succeed, as well as digital platforms for brainstorming and mind mapping that encourage diverse solutions. You will also discover brain teaser puzzles (and digital escapes) that require multiple solution pathways, interactive activities that challenge students to explore alternative perspectives, printable and virtual graphic organizers for comparing different approaches and options, lesson plans featuring open-ended problems with no single "right" answer, and debate protocols that encourage respectful consideration of opposing views. By deliberately incorporating these resources into your daily routines and creating a classroom culture that celebrates diverse thinking, you'll help students develop the mental agility and adaptability essential for navigating our ever-changing world.
tag(s): flexibility (5), thinking skills (33)
In the Classroom
Discover new tools to try in your classroom that foster flexible thinking. Also, explore the professional resources (for you). Each review includes classroom use ideas. Read the details of each tool and find the ones that will work for you and your students.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Project Zero Thinking Routines - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12
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Project Zero Thinking Routines are research-based instructional tools designed to cultivate students' thinking dispositions and make their cognitive processes visible in powerful, accessible...more
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Project Zero Thinking Routines are research-based instructional tools designed to cultivate students' thinking dispositions and make their cognitive processes visible in powerful, accessible ways. Developed by researchers at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, these simple, repeatable mini-strategies are the building blocks of an authentic thinking culture in your classroom. These routines have been refined over decades of classroom implementation and represent some of the most effective strategies for developing critical and creative thinking skills. What makes Project Zero routines so impactful is their elegant simplicity--structured prompts like "Think, Pair, Share," "See, Think, Wonder," and "Circle of Viewpoints" can be learned quickly but used deeply, helping students develop habits of mind such as reasoning with evidence, considering different perspectives, and making careful observations. These aren't just classroom activities; they're cognitive frameworks that students internalize and carry with them, becoming tools they naturally reach for when encountering new ideas or complex problems. Discover resources in this collection, including templates, anchor charts, videos, lesson plan examples utilizing Thinking Routines, collaborative whiteboards, debate tools, collaborative sharing platforms, virtual bulletin boards, video and audio tools, and more. The resources help you understand the research behind these routines, learn how to implement them effectively across grade levels and content areas, and discover how they can transform your classroom into a culture where thinking is valued, shared, and continuously developed.
tag(s): thinking skills (33)
In the Classroom
Explore this collection to learn more about Thinking Routines and how to implement them in your lessons. Begin by selecting a routine that aligns with your learning objective--such as "See, Think, Wonder" for developing observation skills or "Think, Pair, Share" for collaborative processing--then model it explicitly before having students practice it regularly. As routines become familiar through repeated use, students internalize these cognitive frameworks and begin applying them independently, transforming your classroom into a culture where thoughtful inquiry and reflection become natural habits.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Flexible Thinking Activities - Life Skills Advocate, LLC
Grades
3 to 12
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The Life Skills Advocate blog provides a warm and practical collection of quick-hit strategies and activities designed to promote flexible thinking in students. It explores what flexible...more
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The Life Skills Advocate blog provides a warm and practical collection of quick-hit strategies and activities designed to promote flexible thinking in students. It explores what flexible thinking really means, why it matters for learning and life, and provides easy-to-use prompts, such as changing routines, trying different perspectives, or playing brain-teaser games, to foster adaptability and problem-solving. This resource is invaluable if you're looking for ways to build student resilience, creativity, and executive-functioning skills in the classroom.
tag(s): flexibility (5), perspective (24), problem solving (243), thinking skills (33)
In the Classroom
Give students a puzzle or game that has more than one solution and challenge them to find at least two ways to solve it. Then, have them share how they chose those methods. After reading a poem or short story, have students write what a different character or stakeholder might think or do. Then discuss how shifting their viewpoint changed their understanding of the text. Have students identify a classroom or school routine or space (for example, recess line-up, library checkout, transitions) and redesign it using flexible thinking. Then have the students map out at least two alternative versions, predict outcomes, and present their designs and reasoning to the class.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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OER Commons- Thinking Flexibly - OER Commons
Grades
1 to 12
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The OER Commons website offers a helpful collection of free lessons and activities focused on the habit of thinking flexibly. Teachers can find ready-to-use resources such as lesson...more
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The OER Commons website offers a helpful collection of free lessons and activities focused on the habit of thinking flexibly. Teachers can find ready-to-use resources such as lesson plans, checklists, and discussion prompts that help students learn how to adjust their thinking, see new perspectives, and try different strategies when solving problems. These materials cover a range of grade levels and subjects and can be easily adapted to fit your classroom needs, making it a great place to support creative and critical thinking.
tag(s): critical thinking (140), flexibility (5), perspective (24), problem solving (243), thinking skills (33)
In the Classroom
Start class with puzzles or riddles that can be solved in more than one way, encouraging students to explore different strategies and perspectives. In small groups, have students tackle an open-ended task, such as designing a classroom improvement plan or inventing a tool for everyday life, using creative and logical thinking to propose multiple solutions. Use an OER Commons lesson in science or math that asks students to approach a problem from more than one angle, emphasizing that flexibility strengthens understanding in all subjects.
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Thinking Flexible Lesson Plan - scribd
Grades
4 to 12
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This lesson plan, titled "Thinking Flexibly," focuses on helping students understand what flexible thinking looks like, how it differs from rigid thinking, and how they can develop...more
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This lesson plan, titled "Thinking Flexibly," focuses on helping students understand what flexible thinking looks like, how it differs from rigid thinking, and how they can develop it as a habit of mind. The objectives include explaining what "thinking flexibly" means, identifying examples and non-examples, transforming rigid-thinking scenarios into flexible ones, and applying the skill in the classroom, home, and real-world contexts. The plan includes definition, examples, group practice, and reflection to help students internalize the mindset shift.
tag(s): flexibility (5), thinking skills (33)
In the Classroom
Present students with everyday classroom situations (for example, "You forgot your homework" or "Your partner disagrees with your idea"). Have them sort these into rigid or flexible thinking responses and discuss what makes each one different. Have students reflect weekly on moments when they practiced flexibility in school or at home, describing how adapting their thinking helped them succeed. In science or math, challenge students to find two different methods to reach the same result, showing that flexible thinking leads to problem-solving success.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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