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SMART Goals Worksheet - Lake Superior State University
Grades
4 to 12
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The SMART Goals Worksheet from Lake Superior State University is an easy-to-use tool that helps students set clear and realistic goals. It guides them to make goals that are Specific,...more
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The SMART Goals Worksheet from Lake Superior State University is an easy-to-use tool that helps students set clear and realistic goals. It guides them to make goals that are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-Bound. The worksheet asks simple questions, such as the goal, progress measurement criteria, and the goal date to complete the project. It also includes a section for creating an action plan that lists steps to take, potential challenges, and helpful resources. This worksheet is useful for teaching students how to plan, stay focused, and work toward their goals in an organized way.
tag(s): thinking skills (116)
In the Classroom
Have students brainstorm personal, academic, or classroom goals (for example, reading more, improving writing, or being kinder on the playground). Then guide them through completing the SMART Goals Worksheet together to turn a simple idea into a clear, structured goal. Have students pair up to share their SMART goals and action plans. Partners can give friendly feedback by checking if the goals are specific, measurable, and realistic. Create a "Goal Wall" where students post their goals (or just the focus area, like "Reading" or "Organization"). Update the wall as students reach milestones to celebrate effort and growth.
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The Recyclers: From Trash Comes Triumph - 60 Minutes
Grades
4 to 12
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This portion of a 60 Minutes episode tells the story of a town built on a garbage dump in Paraguay. This inspirational tale tells the story of the city of ...more
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This portion of a 60 Minutes episode tells the story of a town built on a garbage dump in Paraguay. This inspirational tale tells the story of the city of Cateura and the work of the trash pickers who sift through enormous piles of trash to scavenge anything they can sell. Instead of being a story about a down-and-out town, the episode features the recycled orchestra in Cateura and its creative methods for making instruments from trash. If your district blocks YouTube, then the video may not be viewable.
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tag(s): musical instruments (59), recycling (45), south america (80)
In the Classroom
Include this video with lessons on South America, recycling, conservation, or musical instruments. Use Eduaide, reviewed here to create supplemental materials that extend learning based upon the concept of recycling and resilience. For example, use the Project-Based Learning planner to generate an inquiry plan and add a KWL chart from the organizers for students to share information about the benefits of recycling. As a final extension, ask students to create musical instruments from recycled materials and use Clipchamp, reviewed here to make a video that discusses the materials in their instrument and how to play it.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Classroom Seating Planner Generator - Click School
Grades
K to 12
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Click School offers free templates for classroom seating arrangements. In Click School, you can add first and last names, gender, and target grade. There are multiple templates to choose...more
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Click School offers free templates for classroom seating arrangements. In Click School, you can add first and last names, gender, and target grade. There are multiple templates to choose from to design your seating charts. All charts can be saved or downloaded to your computer.
tag(s): behavior (49), classroom management (135), Teacher Utilities (215)
In the Classroom
Students can help design their seating arrangements in the classroom. Adjust seating based on observed needs such as attention, participation, or social dynamics. After a week, review whether the change helped and discuss strategies for productive learning spaces.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Classroom Seating Chart - Gynzy
Grades
K to 12
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Gynzy's classroom seating chart lets you set up your classroom and assign seats to your students. Setting up an account is free. Once logged into the site, you can create ...more
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Gynzy's classroom seating chart lets you set up your classroom and assign seats to your students. Setting up an account is free. Once logged into the site, you can create your own furniture, add your students, change the colors of the student names, draw, add images, and more. In addition to the classroom seating chart, there are many other ways to use Gynzy, including templates and tools from its library.
tag(s): behavior (49), classroom management (135), Teacher Utilities (215)
In the Classroom
Use the seating chart to quickly rearrange students into different seating configurations such as pairs, pods, or rows. Try a new setup each day and have students reflect on how the arrangement affects focus and collaboration. Create seating charts based on instructional goals, such as pairing students for peer support, mixed-ability collaboration, or discussion partners during reading, math, or project work. Create and save multiple seating charts for different scenarios so that substitutes or co-teachers can manage the classroom smoothly without disrupting routines.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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8 Great Classroom Management Resources for Teachers - HMH
Grades
K to 12
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"8 Great Classroom Management Resources for Teachers" is a quick read that shares simple classroom management ideas. The article is divided into Classroom Design, Organization, Student...more
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"8 Great Classroom Management Resources for Teachers" is a quick read that shares simple classroom management ideas. The article is divided into Classroom Design, Organization, Student Behavior, and Managing Instructional Time. Within these four categories are websites that offer ideas for each area.
tag(s): behavior (49), classroom management (135), Teacher Utilities (215)
In the Classroom
In addition to the bell ringers link posted on the site, students can use Do Now Activity Generator, reviewed here. Students can map out their ideal classroom using Google Drawing, reviewed here. Finally, students can decide on which PBIS reward they would like by holding a classroom vote.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Ultimate List of PBIS Incentives - PBIS Rewards
Grades
K to 12
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The Ultimate List of PBIS Incentives is a tier-1 list of ideas that educators and administrators could provide. The chart is divided into Incentive, Grade Level, Price, Category, and...more
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The Ultimate List of PBIS Incentives is a tier-1 list of ideas that educators and administrators could provide. The chart is divided into Incentive, Grade Level, Price, Category, and Value. Examples of incentives include: Family Night Bag, Afternoon Movie, Bingo, DJ Dance Party, Salt Dough Creation, Teacher Lip Sync Battle, and more. The chart allows for filtering to view incentives easily.
tag(s): behavior (49), classroom management (135), teaching strategies (68)
In the Classroom
Students can fill out a Google Form, reviewed here to decide as a class or school what they are working for. Students can see a visual of their progress by creating an incentive jar on either Google Drawing, reviewed here or Canva for Education, reviewed here. Finally, students can write thank-you letters if they receive any donations for their incentives.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Positive Descriptions of Student Behavior - TeacherVision
Grades
K to 12
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TeacherVision's Positive Descriptions of Student Behavior provides teachers with a practical, ready-to-use list of positive behavior comments for report cards or progress reports. The...more
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TeacherVision's Positive Descriptions of Student Behavior provides teachers with a practical, ready-to-use list of positive behavior comments for report cards or progress reports. The resource focuses on clearly describing student behaviors such as cooperation, responsibility, effort, participation, and self-control using strengths-based language. It is especially helpful for saving time during grading periods while ensuring feedback is specific, encouraging, and professional. The comments can also be adapted for conferences, behavior notes, or goal-setting conversations with students and families.
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tag(s): behavior (49), classroom management (135), teaching strategies (68)
In the Classroom
Students can use Padlet, reviewed here to list examples of adjectives that they can use to describe positive behavior in their classroom. Students can create magazine covers using Magazine Cover Maker, reviewed here to showcase examples of positive student behavior. Finally, students can use Book Creator, reviewed here to create a book of positive student behavior with visuals.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Positive Behavior Strategies: A Guide for Teachers - Understood
Grades
K to 12
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"Positive Behavior Strategies: A Guide for Teachers" is an informative article that explains how positive behavior strategies support student success in the classroom. The article is...more
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"Positive Behavior Strategies: A Guide for Teachers" is an informative article that explains how positive behavior strategies support student success in the classroom. The article is organized into clear sections that address why positive behavior strategies are important, what they look like in practice, how teachers can implement them in the classroom, and how families can support these strategies at home. It also includes additional resources and research for further learning. Embedded within the article is a short YouTube video, approximately three minutes long, that focuses on teaching self-regulation through modeling.
tag(s): behavior (49), classroom management (135), teaching strategies (68)
In the Classroom
Students can begin to monitor their moods by posting their feelings on a Padlet, reviewed here feelings board. Students can use brain breaks featured on GoNoodle, reviewed here. Students can use Canva for Education, reviewed here to create posters for nonverbal cues.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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How to Implement the 6 Blended Learning Models - Prodigy
Grades
K to 12
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Prodigy's "How to Implement the 6 Blended Learning Models" is an informative blog post that introduces educators to blended learning by first defining it and outlining its key benefits....more
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Prodigy's "How to Implement the 6 Blended Learning Models" is an informative blog post that introduces educators to blended learning by first defining it and outlining its key benefits. The article then explains six blended learning models, including Face-to-Face Driver, Rotation, Flex, Online Lab, Self Blend, and Online Driver. Each model is described in detail, with practical guidance for immediate classroom implementation and clear examples of its use in instructional settings.
tag(s): blended learning (28), blogs (77), classroom management (135), Teacher Utilities (215)
In the Classroom
Students can participate in various blended learning models in the classroom. In the Flex Model, students can participate in a Kahoot!, reviewed here or create their own Blooket, reviewed here. Finally, students can use Lino, reviewed here to build an online collaborative board of material that they learned from any of the examples of blended learning shared in the blog post.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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TTS Reader Player - WellSource Ltd.
Grades
3 to 12
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The TTSReader Player is a free, web-based text-to-speech tool that lets users paste or load text, documents, or even webpages to be read aloud. One helpful feature is the option ...more
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The TTSReader Player is a free, web-based text-to-speech tool that lets users paste or load text, documents, or even webpages to be read aloud. One helpful feature is the option to switch to a free voice (non-premium). You can click on the voice selector, choose a free voice, and it will continue to work across different URLs without needing to be reset each time. When premium voices are selected, the site may prompt you to sign in with Google to unlock them, but the free voices remain usable without signing in.
tag(s): Accessibility (11), text to speech (23)
In the Classroom
Upload a short story, article, or poem into TTSReader and play it aloud for the class. Have students follow along with the text to build fluency and listening comprehension. Provide students with complex texts (like historical documents or scientific articles) and let them use TTSReader independently. They can pause, replay, and annotate, making it easier to engage with challenging content. Have students paste their own essays or reports into TTSReader. Hearing their writing read back helps them catch errors, improve sentence flow, and strengthen revisions.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Harvest for Healthy Kids Farm to Preschool Curriculum - Mt Hood Community College Head Start
Grades
K to 2
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Harvest for Healthy Kids helps young children develop healthy eating habits by providing downloadable activity kits with hands-on activities focused on fruits and vegetables. The kits...more
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Harvest for Healthy Kids helps young children develop healthy eating habits by providing downloadable activity kits with hands-on activities focused on fruits and vegetables. The kits teach math, science, and literacy using picture cards and also include activity plans, a Teacher Bites newsletter, a Family Newsletter, and recipes. Visit the Research link to download a brochure that explains the Harvest for Healthy Kids philosophy and data analysis of their research.
In the Classroom
Print the included activity cards to use as a learning center. Create additional cards using Canva for Education, reviewed here or the trading card creator at Big Huge Labs, Canva for Education, reviewed here. Include locally grown fruits and vegetables in your area, and incorporate these activities into lessons on community and careers. Ask students to draw pictures of their favorite fruits and vegetables and make a class book using Write Reader, reviewed here. Write Reader offers many tools for use with young students, including the ability to add students' writing and also an educator's text field to transcribe it into "proper" spelling.
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WikiTTS - WellSource Ltd
Grades
4 to 12
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WikiTTS is a free, web-based tool that allows users to listen to Wikipedia articles read aloud by expressive AI voices. It offers access to over 100,000 articles, making it useful ...more
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WikiTTS is a free, web-based tool that allows users to listen to Wikipedia articles read aloud by expressive AI voices. It offers access to over 100,000 articles, making it useful for students who benefit from auditory learning or who have visual or reading difficulties. The content is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0, meaning it's free for educational use with proper attribution. Teachers can use WikiTTS for in-class listening exercises, flipped classroom assignments, or as a support tool for English language learners.
tag(s): artificial intelligence (303), text to speech (23), wikis (15)
In the Classroom
Assign students a Wikipedia article on a relevant topic (such as a historical figure or scientific concept) and have them listen to it through WikiTTS. Afterward, have them write a summary in their own words. Divide the class into groups, each listening to a different article related to the unit of study (e.g., ecosystems, civil rights leaders). Have students present their findings to the class, comparing perspectives and building research synthesis skills. Have English Language Learners or struggling readers follow along in the written text while listening to the article. Then have students practice reading a short excerpt aloud themselves to improve pronunciation, fluency, and confidence.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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10+ Free EduProtocol Templates Plus Ideas for Using Them in the Classroom - Ditch That Textbook
Grades
K to 12
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EduProtocols are lesson frames that promote active learning and deepen student understanding. These protocols are adaptable for all ages and subject areas. This site features a short...more
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EduProtocols are lesson frames that promote active learning and deepen student understanding. These protocols are adaptable for all ages and subject areas. This site features a short video explaining eduprotocols, more than 10 templates, and tips and ideas for using them. Viewers can find most of the templates in Google Slides, reviewed here and Seesaw, reviewed here and many include links to videos and webinar archives that provide in-depth information on preparing and using specific protocols.
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tag(s): critical thinking (179), professional development (319), thinking skills (116), visual thinking (13)
In the Classroom
Save this site to use as an introduction to EduProtocols or as a resource for templates and advice on using EduProtocols. Include eduprotocols as part of choice boards or playlists to engage students in hands-on, active learning activities. Use these ideas as a model to create EduProtocol slide templates for your classroom using Google Slides, reviewed here or Canva for Education, reviewed here. Learn more about EduProtocols by reading the book, EduProtocol Field Guide by Marlene Hebern and John Corippo.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Free EduProtocol Slide Deck Templates - EdTech Emma
Grades
K to 12
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Eduprotocols offer structured frameworks to enhance and deepen student thinking and understanding through collaboration and creativity. This site offers several Google Slides templates...more
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Eduprotocols offer structured frameworks to enhance and deepen student thinking and understanding through collaboration and creativity. This site offers several Google Slides templates that you can copy and personalize for classroom use. The templates also include basic instructions for using the protocol in the slide notes. To obtain the slides, select a protocol and copy the slide when prompted. Although these slides are for use in middle- to high-school English classrooms, they are adaptable to any grade and subject area.
tag(s): critical thinking (179), teaching strategies (68), thinking skills (116), visual thinking (13)
In the Classroom
Learn more about eduprotocols by reading the book, EduProtocols by Marlena Hebern and Joe Corippo. Use these templates as part of your classroom routines that promote active learning and higher-order thinking skills. Use the templates as a guide to creating other templates for eduprotocols using Google Slides, reviewed here. Adapt the slides to fit your content and student grade level. For example, use the 8 Parts of Speech Stories by breaking the content into two or three parts, such as nouns and verbs for younger students, or use the Gallery Walk slides in a math class to create a display of different approaches to a math problem.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Earth and Space Science - PBS LearningMedia
Grades
K to 12
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The Earth and Space Science collection on PBS LearningMedia offers educators a diverse range of multimedia resources, videos, interactive activities, games, and lesson plans that cover...more
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The Earth and Space Science collection on PBS LearningMedia offers educators a diverse range of multimedia resources, videos, interactive activities, games, and lesson plans that cover topics such as our planet's features, the solar system, space phenomena, and Earth's early history. The materials are organized by grade bands, making it easy for teachers to find content appropriate for their students. Many resources include accompanying support materials, such as discussion questions, annotations, and suggestions for classroom use.
tag(s): climate (95), climate change (112), earth (194), solar energy (35), solar system (124), space (248), volcanoes (62), weather (175)
In the Classroom
Use this collection to spark curiosity about planetary science by assigning a video or an interactive simulation on hot-spot volcanoes or weather patterns. After students explore the media, enhance their understanding by having them use Genially, reviewed here to create an interactive "escape room" game where players must solve science-themed puzzles to progress. Extend the learning experience by tasking students to use Snorkl, reviewed here to record a short verbal explanation of the concepts they learned, providing immediate feedback on their scientific reasoning. This approach allows students to transition from passive viewers to active creators as they synthesize information and share their findings with their peers.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Design Thinking Process for Kids - Seesaw
Grades
3 to 8
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The video Design Thinking Process for Kids - STEM Lessons from Seesaw Learning introduces upper-elementary students to the five stages of design thinking: empathize, define, ideate,...more
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The video Design Thinking Process for Kids - STEM Lessons from Seesaw Learning introduces upper-elementary students to the five stages of design thinking: empathize, define, ideate, prototype, and test. It explains each stage in kid-friendly language, showing how students can observe needs, generate multiple ideas, build simple versions of those ideas, and then test and refine them. The Seesaw platform is used to help students document their thinking, share feedback, and reflect on their work. The video is well-suited for hands-on, group-based STEM projects, helping students understand not only what each part of the process looks like but also how they fit together in real-world design challenges. If your district blocks YouTube, then the video may not be viewable.
tag(s): collaboration (113), design (76), problem solving (275), STEM (371)
In the Classroom
Show the video to the class and pause after each stage (empathize, define, ideate, prototype, test). Ask students to share examples from their own lives that connect to each step. Have students list small challenges they notice in their classroom or school (such as messy desks, long lunch lines, or broken supplies) to build empathy and set up a real-world context for applying design thinking. Ask students to use Seesaw, reviewed here to document their process, add pictures of prototypes, and reflect on what worked and what they would change.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Free Design Thinking Worksheets - Makers Empire
Grades
3 to 8
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The Makers Empire Design Thinking Cycle Worksheet Handout Template offers a clean, one-page worksheet that helps students keep the stages of design thinking visible and clear. The worksheet...more
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The Makers Empire Design Thinking Cycle Worksheet Handout Template offers a clean, one-page worksheet that helps students keep the stages of design thinking visible and clear. The worksheet is downloadable in both US Letter and A4 sizes, so teachers can print it to fit their classroom needs. It's designed to support students through the cycle of empathize, define, ideate, prototype, and test by providing a structured format for recording their thoughts and actions. Makers Empire also offers a more detailed, six-page workbook for deeper work. This resource is helpful for STEM, maker challenges, project-based learning, or any lesson that encourages students to plan, iterate, and reflect on their design process.
tag(s): collaboration (113), design (76), problem solving (275), STEM (371)
In the Classroom
Begin by giving students the worksheet and guiding them through each stage of the design thinking cycle with a simple, shared example (e.g., redesigning the classroom pencil sharpener). Have students use the "Ideate" section of the worksheet to brainstorm as many solutions as possible for a fun prompt like "How could we make recess better?" After testing, students share what worked, what didn't, and what they would improve. Use the worksheet to document insights and model the importance of iteration.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Design Thinking - Tatonka
Grades
2 to 4
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The Design Thinking page from Tatonka Education Services offers free classroom resources to help students develop creative problem-solving and innovation skills. Teachers can access...more
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The Design Thinking page from Tatonka Education Services offers free classroom resources to help students develop creative problem-solving and innovation skills. Teachers can access downloadable materials, including lesson plans, student worksheets, design-thinking rubrics, maker-space class agreements, and peer-critique tools. Ready-to-use project ideas include "The Box Project," "The Littles Design Thinking," and "Problems in Our Community," many of which align with standards such as ELA and Social Studies. These tools guide students through the design thinking stages, empathize, ideate, prototype, and test, while offering practical support for implementation in both traditional classrooms and maker space settings.
tag(s): collaboration (113), design (76), problem solving (275), STEM (371)
In the Classroom
Present students with a plain cardboard box and ask them to brainstorm as many creative uses as possible. Use this quick activity to show that everyday items can spark innovation. Have students work in teams to design a simple tool or toy for younger children (such as kindergarten or first grade). They can make digital sketches on ABCya, reviewed here. Begin with a class discussion about small problems in the school or local community. Record all student ideas on chart paper to encourage curiosity and connect design thinking to real-life issues.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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What is Design Thinking? Activities for Kids - Twinkl Parents
Grades
K to 8
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This blog article from Twinkl, reviewed here, "What Is Design Thinking? Activities for Kids" explains design thinking as a creative, student-centered...more
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This blog article from Twinkl, reviewed here, "What Is Design Thinking? Activities for Kids" explains design thinking as a creative, student-centered approach to problem solving that encourages learners to design solutions that meet real needs. It highlights how this process develops important skills, such as problem-solving, creativity, self-confidence, curiosity, and empathy, while engaging students in meaningful, hands-on learning. The article also shares ten practical activities for kids, including building marble mazes, creating recycled robot collages, designing VR games, crafting wildlife sculptures, and participating in junk modeling challenges, each designed to spark innovation and critical thinking. Additional resources are recommended to help teachers extend learning through STEM and design-technology themes, making this article a useful tool for guiding lessons and projects in which students explore, prototype, test, and reflect.
tag(s): design (76), empathy (67), problem solving (275), STEM (371), student-centered (9), thinking skills (116)
In the Classroom
Provide simple materials like cardboard, straws, and tape, and have students design and build their own marble mazes. Present students with a short scenario (e.g., a playground problem or classroom issue) and ask them to brainstorm possible solutions before learning the design thinking process. For older students, challenge them to sketch a virtual reality game or mobile app that helps others learn or solve a real-world problem.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Instructional Strategies Playlist - lead4ward
Grades
K to 12
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The strategy playlists on this site provide detailed guidance on strategies that actively engage students in learning. Choose from five different lists that include movement and discourse,...more
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The strategy playlists on this site provide detailed guidance on strategies that actively engage students in learning. Choose from five different lists that include movement and discourse, rehearsal and practice, extending thinking, learning from mistakes, and evidence of learning. Each list contains links to information about each strategy that provides the purpose of the plan, directions, classroom management ideas, and more. Additional links under the playlists share extended details on the strategy and a language support resource.
tag(s): collaboration (113), playlists (8), teaching strategies (68)
In the Classroom
Add these playlists and strategies to your current teaching strategies to encourage students to extend thinking and practice cooperation and collaboration skills. Begin by choosing a current classroom activity that you want to move from passive to active learning, and select an activity on the playlist that supports your learning objectives. Take the time to model the activity and consider classroom management needs such as time allocation and physical space.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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