231 mind-stretchers results | sort by:
return to subject listing
Brain Explorer
Grades
3 to 7
1 Favorites
0 Comments
If you're looking for meaningful enrichment activities in the form of challenging, yet entertaining games and puzzles, this may be just what you need. The riddles, illusions, and other...more
Here is the direct link to share this resource review. Feel free to copy and paste this URL into an email or place it on your web page or blog so others can read this TeachersFirst review:
If you're looking for meaningful enrichment activities in the form of challenging, yet entertaining games and puzzles, this may be just what you need. The riddles, illusions, and other mental adventures are taken from the Brain Explorer, a book written for children from age 9 to 12. Brain-bending games include Memory Solitaire, Welcome to the Third Dimension, and Jumping to Conclusions. Some are entirely "on-line interactive," while others require some effort with paper and pencil. One f the six erequires Shockwave. Created by the Exploratorium.
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Buggy and Buddy - Make Your Own Kaleidoscope - Buggy and Buddy - Science for Kids
Grades
2 to 8
0 Favorites
0 Comments
This is an online STEAM do-it-yourself that lets you experiment with lines, fills, and color to create your own kaleidoscope. There are lots of possible imaging, color, and mathematical...more
Here is the direct link to share this resource review. Feel free to copy and paste this URL into an email or place it on your web page or blog so others can read this TeachersFirst review:
This is an online STEAM do-it-yourself that lets you experiment with lines, fills, and color to create your own kaleidoscope. There are lots of possible imaging, color, and mathematical connections that one might draw from this one. It's also just plain fun to try. Meets Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS):
In the Classroom
This would be a good center activity to have with a parent or older buddy helping out.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
Rating (click star to set rating):
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
BrainQuest - Workman Publishing
Grades
4 to 12
0 Favorites
0 Comments
Subtitled "it's FUN to be smart," this site offers a collection of games, puzzles and activities designed to challenge active minds. There are also original articles, a 2-minute quiz,...more
Here is the direct link to share this resource review. Feel free to copy and paste this URL into an email or place it on your web page or blog so others can read this TeachersFirst review:
Subtitled "it's FUN to be smart," this site offers a collection of games, puzzles and activities designed to challenge active minds. There are also original articles, a 2-minute quiz, and a post card feature.
Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
Rating (click star to set rating):
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Play SET Online - Set Enterprises
Grades
4 to 12
0 Favorites
0 Comments
Set is a challenging logic game that is often used in building reasoning skills in students. The premise is simple enough for elementary students to understand, but the applications...more
Here is the direct link to share this resource review. Feel free to copy and paste this URL into an email or place it on your web page or blog so others can read this TeachersFirst review:
Set is a challenging logic game that is often used in building reasoning skills in students. The premise is simple enough for elementary students to understand, but the applications can be a real challenge even for older students. This online version offers a daily sample to challenge students.
Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
Rating (click star to set rating):
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
More Brain Teasers - Hoagies
Grades
1 to 12
2 Favorites
0 Comments
A creative collection of puzzles and brainteasers to challenge gifted students. This large collection is maintained by Hoagies and sometimes has a few dead links, but the collection...more
Here is the direct link to share this resource review. Feel free to copy and paste this URL into an email or place it on your web page or blog so others can read this TeachersFirst review:
A creative collection of puzzles and brainteasers to challenge gifted students. This large collection is maintained by Hoagies and sometimes has a few dead links, but the collection is still worth visiting for the MANY good sites they share.
Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
Rating (click star to set rating):
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
ChessKids
Grades
4 to 12
0 Favorites
0 Comments
This site promotes chess, school chess clubs, and chess competitions. It offers free templates and other materials which can simplify running a chess club. There are instructional sections...more
Here is the direct link to share this resource review. Feel free to copy and paste this URL into an email or place it on your web page or blog so others can read this TeachersFirst review:
This site promotes chess, school chess clubs, and chess competitions. It offers free templates and other materials which can simplify running a chess club. There are instructional sections as well with a new curriculum aligned with Common Core State Standards (CCSS), but the focus is on getting students involved with the game.
In the Classroom
Use the free sample curriculum to help develop student's cognitive development and critical thinking skills. Download the first version of the curriculum (for free) that is not aligned to the CCSS, but does follow Bloom's Taxonomy and Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS).Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
Rating (click star to set rating):
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Odyssey of the Mind
Grades
1 to 12
0 Favorites
0 Comments
This is the website for the annual Odyssey of the Mind competition, an interscholastic competion in which teams compete in an attempt to solve one of five categories of problems. ...more
Here is the direct link to share this resource review. Feel free to copy and paste this URL into an email or place it on your web page or blog so others can read this TeachersFirst review:
This is the website for the annual Odyssey of the Mind competition, an interscholastic competion in which teams compete in an attempt to solve one of five categories of problems.
In the Classroom
Entry into the competition requires each team to purchase a membership. However, this is a great resource and opportunity for teachers who work regularly with gifted students needing an additional challenge. Consider purchasing such a membership for your students, or pass the site along to a fellow teacher who works regularly with such students.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
Rating (click star to set rating):
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Makerspace Lesson Plans - Gretchen Renshaw
Grades
K to 6
0 Favorites
0 Comments
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
Here is the direct link to share this resource review. Feel free to copy and paste this URL into an email or place it on your web page or blog so others can read this TeachersFirst review:
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.
Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
Rating (click star to set rating):
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Internet for Classrooms - Internet4Classrooms, LLC
Grades
1 to 12
1 Favorites
0 Comments
Internet4classrooms is a free web portal designed to assist anyone who wants to find high quality, free Internet resources to use in classroom instruction, developing project ideas,...more
Here is the direct link to share this resource review. Feel free to copy and paste this URL into an email or place it on your web page or blog so others can read this TeachersFirst review:
Internet4classrooms is a free web portal designed to assist anyone who wants to find high quality, free Internet resources to use in classroom instruction, developing project ideas, reinforcing specific subject matter areas both in the class and at home. Information is organized by grade level, or subject area. Web 2.0 tutorials include links for information on: apps for iPod, iTouch, blogs, audio/pod casting, collaboration, graphic organizers, file converters, html editors, open source, organization tools, PLN tools, presentation tools, social bookmarking, survey makers, web browsers, video/photo, Wiki, and Word Cloud Generators. Links for Assessment Assistance give extra ways to assess in a fun technological twist. A daily dose section offers quotes, brain teasers, question of the day, and intersecting trivia. Join an RSS feed to get the latest updated information. Up to date, active links are reviewed continually. At the time of this review the Interactive Test Resource for 7th grade assessment had several broken links.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
In the Classroom
Keep this bookmarked for a variety of ideas to update your curriculum continually to keep it fresh and intriguing. The technology tutorials can teach old dogs new tricks, or also help young dogs find new tricks. Allow your students to choose from a variety of project ideas for their highest level of motivation. Add as a resource on your web site for fun sites for your students to explore. Use many tools given in tutorials to make your presentations sizzle, for students, teachers, or other audiences. Challenge gifted students with brainteasers, puzzles, accelerated curriculum, or ACT/SAT prep.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
Rating (click star to set rating):
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Tortoise and Hare Race - Shodor
Grades
3 to 12
1 Favorites
0 Comments
This site provides practice with patterns, relations, and functions through the tale of the the Tortoise and the Hare. The amount of the tortoise's head-start can be changed, then take...more
Here is the direct link to share this resource review. Feel free to copy and paste this URL into an email or place it on your web page or blog so others can read this TeachersFirst review:
This site provides practice with patterns, relations, and functions through the tale of the the Tortoise and the Hare. The amount of the tortoise's head-start can be changed, then take the racers through the various stages to find out who wins! Students will enjoy predicting the winner while watching the race unfold. The instructor's section provides detailed information on standards addressed, classroom questions, and links to similar resources. There is also a link to downloadable exploration questions that can be used in conjunction with the site.
In the Classroom
Provide students with a copy of the explorations questions to complete alone or with a partner. Use on your interactive whiteboard for a quick 5 minute filler, change the amount of the tortoise's head-start each time to offer different outcomes each time. Ask students to predict the outcome of each race before beginning, allow changes midway, and discuss what is happening to change students' opinions.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
Rating (click star to set rating):
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Fraction Pointer - Shodor
Grades
3 to 6
1 Favorites
0 Comments
Compare fractions within squares, circles, and the number line with this activity. Create fractions that are provided and construct your own original fractions. Two shapes are provided...more
Here is the direct link to share this resource review. Feel free to copy and paste this URL into an email or place it on your web page or blog so others can read this TeachersFirst review:
Compare fractions within squares, circles, and the number line with this activity. Create fractions that are provided and construct your own original fractions. Two shapes are provided to create the given fractions, once they are correctly made a third box appears to create an additional fraction that sits between the original amounts on the number line. Be sure to check out the instructor tab for an explorations worksheet, links to standards, classroom suggestions, and additional similar resources.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
In the Classroom
Provide students with the printable explorations worksheet to practice creating and ordering fractions. Introduce the site on your interactive whiteboard or projector as an introduction to comparing and ordering fractions. Have students take turns manipulating the whiteboard as they learn the site (and new skills). This activity would work well for individual or pairs of students to use on classroom computers. Provide this link on your class website for students to access both in and out of the classroom.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
Rating (click star to set rating):
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
Close comment form