TeachersFirst - Featured Sites: Week of Jun 17, 2018
Here are this week's features. Clicking the tags in the description area of each listing will present a list of other resources with this topic. | Click here to return to the Featured Sites Archive
MakerSpace Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12
2 Favorites
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This collection of reviewed resources from TeachersFirst is selected to help teachers and students learn about the MakerSpace movement and mindset. Engage your students, challenge their...more
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This collection of reviewed resources from TeachersFirst is selected to help teachers and students learn about the MakerSpace movement and mindset. Engage your students, challenge their minds, teach cooperative learning, and more. There is no right or wrong way to do a MakerSpace. Use the tools provided to find digital options to use in your MakerSpace area. Read the professional information to educate yourself about the mindset of MakerSpace.
In the Classroom
Use these resources for your digital MakerSpace. Find tools for all grades. Don't miss the Twitter Chat for teachers just starting a MakerSpace. There are also a few sites that have more information for educators just learning about MakerSpace. Some of these resources are ideal for individual devices.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Room Escape Maker - doctorfou.com
Grades
8 to 12
3 Favorites
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Room Escape Maker takes the popular room escape adventures online. The only way to escape is to solve a series of puzzles using hints and strategies as you find your ...more
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Room Escape Maker takes the popular room escape adventures online. The only way to escape is to solve a series of puzzles using hints and strategies as you find your way out of the locked room. Browse through the selection of games created by others to find ideas on how to use this site. When ready, choose "Create Game" to start. Begin with your chosen canvas or background and follow prompts to add items and clues to your escape room.
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This site includes advertising.
In the Classroom
Increase student engagement in any subject through this form of gameplay! Create games to introduce main concepts within the escape room. Ask students to create a game using the information they have learned to share with fellow students. Before creating a game, have students map out information and strategies they will include in a blog format using a tool like edublogs, reviewed here. Ask fellow students to share comments describing their problem-solving process as they try to escape the room.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Twitter Chat: Start a School Makerspace from Scratch - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12
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This archived Twitter chat is from July 2016 and will open in Wakelet. View this archive to learn how to Start a School Makerspace from Scratch. Browse the tips and ...more
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This archived Twitter chat is from July 2016 and will open in Wakelet. View this archive to learn how to Start a School Makerspace from Scratch. Browse the tips and tools offered by the chat moderators and participants.
In the Classroom
If you are starting Makerspace, or need some new ideas, view this archive. Share this tool with your colleagues who are interested in Makerspace.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Robotics Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12
3 Favorites
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Bring robotics into your classroom using these fabulous tools and resources. Learn about National Robotics Month, celebrated in April. Use these resources for STEM or Makerspace activities....more
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Bring robotics into your classroom using these fabulous tools and resources. Learn about National Robotics Month, celebrated in April. Use these resources for STEM or Makerspace activities. Find resources for all grade levels.
In the Classroom
Use these robotics resources during National Robotics Month (April) or any time of the year. If you are just getting started with Makerspace, and looking for some new resources, check out these sites!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Makerspace Lesson Plans - Gretchen Renshaw
Grades
K to 6
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Are you new to makerspaces or looking for fresh ideas? Makerspace Lesson Plans is a blog by an elementary school Lead Makerspace Teacher including a variety of lesson plans. Criteria...more
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Are you new to makerspaces or looking for fresh ideas? Makerspace Lesson Plans is a blog by an elementary school Lead Makerspace Teacher including a variety of lesson plans. Criteria for inclusion of lesson plans includes activities suitable for beginners, divergent outcomes, and use of low-cost items. Select lessons from different categories to download the complete activity in a PDF form. The colorful images clearly demonstrate how to perform the shared activities with students.
In the Classroom
Bookmark this site to include with your makerspace lesson ideas or use it as an excellent starting point to begin makerspaces. Consider using a bookmarking tool such as Pinterest, reviewed here, to find additional lessons and save interesting ideas. As you begin working with students use an interactive whiteboard to have students share thoughts or questions as they begin the process. Have students take pictures of their progress and share in blogs using Telegra.ph, reviewed here. Telegra.ph will create a "quick and easy" blog to be used one time only. A unique URL is provided, and with Telegra.ph you just click on an icon to upload images from your computer, add a YouTube or Vimeo, or Twitter links. It's as easy as using a basic Word program! When finished, have students use a tool like Story Maker, reviewed here, to type a story and draw pictures sharing their makerspace experience.
This resource requires PDF reader software like Adobe Acrobat.
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Makerspaces - Andrew Miller
Grades
K to 12
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Makerspaces is a resource created to help schools and libraries learn about, build, and run makerspaces. Choose the Maker Projects link to find many project ideas including tutorials...more
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Makerspaces is a resource created to help schools and libraries learn about, build, and run makerspaces. Choose the Maker Projects link to find many project ideas including tutorials that incorporate tools such as 3D printers and circuits. Download a free ebook with over 250 resources for any makerspace program. Find out what others are doing with makerspaces by choosing the Makerspace tab, this includes tweets from makerspace users, project ideas, and a showcase of makerspaces in action. If your district blocks YouTube, then they may not be viewable.
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the many ideas and tutorials found on this site when creating a makerspace in your classroom or school. Collaborate with peers to create different makerspaces within your classroom communities. Ask parent volunteers to help teach students about circuits and other technology used in your makerspace.
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Coding In the Classroom Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12
3 Favorites
0 Comments
This collection of reviewed resources from TeachersFirst is selected to help teachers and students learn about coding, and for use as a guide for finding the appropriate tools for use...more
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This collection of reviewed resources from TeachersFirst is selected to help teachers and students learn about coding, and for use as a guide for finding the appropriate tools for use with all grade and skill levels. Nurture problem solving, logic, and creativity. Find resources for just one hour of code or for use as ongoing technology lessons.
In the Classroom
Explore these resources for use with after-school computer clubs or as an excellent tool when recruiting skilled parent volunteers. Turn the intimidating content of computer programming into an exciting learning adventure for all with these helpful sites!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Virtual Musical Instruments - Virtual Musical Instruments
Grades
K to 12
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Bring the world of music and instruments into your classroom. With Virtual Musical Instruments, you can explore the guitar, piano, pan flute, drums, or bongos. Select the instrument,...more
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Bring the world of music and instruments into your classroom. With Virtual Musical Instruments, you can explore the guitar, piano, pan flute, drums, or bongos. Select the instrument, and follow the directions for using the keyboard to play the different notes. Create different melodies using different notes or rhythms. Use the guitar tuner to be sure you are in tune. There is no record option on this tool. If you want to record your beat, there are many alternative options (such as using a cell phone, or an old-fashioned recorder). You can hear notes using your computer, but having a touch screen device would create the full experience, by touching several keys/strings, etc. at one time.
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In the Classroom
Virtual Musical Instruments opens up the world of music into many other subjects. In music class, discover the different instruments, sounds, and rhythms the virtual instruments can produce. Allow your students to make their own compositions. Challenge them to determine a way to give the directions for their composition to another person so that they can repeat the original piece. In language arts class, discuss mood in literature. Determine the instruments used, the rhythms, and sounds needed to make that effect. During Readers' Theater, add a musical score for more excitement and engagement with further analysis of the text. Have students create a musical composition that tells a story. Now, play that musical story for the class, and turn it into a writing prompt. Use musical sounds and beats to illustrate the concepts of literature and the use of plot. Determine a melody for each character. Write to explain why each character has that musical composition. Math class brings the study of fractions with types of notes: whole note, half note, quarter note, and eighth notes. Let students create a musical sentence that represents them and write to explain why. Use whatever recording option is most practical in your classroom.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Tinkercad - Circuits - Autodesk
Grades
4 to 12
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Create circuit diagrams easily with this tool. Drag and drop elements onto the schematic. Name each of the elements (resistors, etc.) and save schematics once you create an account....more
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Create circuit diagrams easily with this tool. Drag and drop elements onto the schematic. Name each of the elements (resistors, etc.) and save schematics once you create an account. Add layers by clicking on the Settings tab. Use the Help tab to find the most common shortcuts with this tool. This tool has been tested in Chrome which is the recommended browser. Other browsers work, though there may be some issues with how items look or perform.
In the Classroom
This site is a great addition to any classroom lesson or unit on electricity or circuits. Try the activities as a class on your interactive whiteboard or projector, explaining what the symbols mean. Have students complete activities on their own using classroom computers. Take screenshots of the digital schematics students have created. Have students create an online presentation on electricity and circuits using using one of the many TeachersFirst Edge presentation tools. Some tool suggestions are (click on the tool name to access the review): Visme, Adobe Creative Cloud Express for Education , Kizoa, and Clipchamp.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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