TeachersFirst - Featured Sites: Week of Jan 26, 2025
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The Purring Test - TED
Grades
3 to 12
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Looking for a quick, engaging brain break? TED's "The Purring Test" offers just that and more. Perfect for adding a playful twist to your classroom, TED's first game, The Purring ...more
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Looking for a quick, engaging brain break? TED's "The Purring Test" offers just that and more. Perfect for adding a playful twist to your classroom, TED's first game, The Purring Test, began with a curious question: "What would it be like to play Pictionary with an AI?" Intended to help understand different types of minds when challenged with quirky associations and unexpected twists, the outcome is usually hilarious and fun. This interactive game invites players to compete against friends and family with new puzzles daily, making it a playful addition to your classroom or a fun way to spark curiosity about AI and communication.
tag(s): artificial intelligence (161), gifted (66), puzzles (144)
In the Classroom
Use this game as a brain break during those long lessons or indoor recess. Turn the daily puzzles into a friendly competition or debate and pair students to play a Pictionary-inspired game, mimicking how AI might interpret their drawings. After playing, lead a discussion on how AI "thinks" compared to humans.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Connections - ConnectionsGame.org
Grades
4 to 12
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Connections lets players create personalized "custom" versions of the New York Times' Connections game. The game's goal is to identify the four words in four categories with connections...more
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Connections lets players create personalized "custom" versions of the New York Times' Connections game. The game's goal is to identify the four words in four categories with connections shared in a 16-word grid. Create your custom activity using the tools to add a title for each category and four clues in each category. If desired, drag and drop categories to order them by difficulty level. When complete, click submit and share the game using the provided URL.
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This site includes advertising.
tag(s): gamification (80), vocabulary (239), word study (60)
In the Classroom
Use Connections as an engaging tool for students to study and discuss connections between words. Create a custom game introducing new vocabulary for science and social studies units. For example, when teaching about US presidents, add categories with the presidents' last names, first names, wives' names, and birthplaces. In science, create categories for students to categorize animals by habitats or class of animal. Include your connections game as part of a choice board or playlist; learn more about creating choice boards by viewing the archive of OK2Ask: Engage & Inspire: Choice Boards for Differentiation, Part 1, reviewed here. Ask older students to create Custom Connections to include with multimedia presentations. Add the link to presentations made with Google Slides, reviewed here or as a link on an interactive image made with Genially, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Wordsmith - Wordsmith
Grades
5 to 12
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Challenge yourself and your students with this fast-paced word game. Create as many words as you can in 120 seconds. Longer words will get a higher score, so click the ...more
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Challenge yourself and your students with this fast-paced word game. Create as many words as you can in 120 seconds. Longer words will get a higher score, so click the tab for more letters! The average score is 130.
tag(s): game based learning (183), spelling (98)
In the Classroom
Introduce this game on your whiteboard or with a projector. Ask if there is a volunteer who wants to play it in front of the class, giving your wordies a chance to shine! Use the game as a brain break, or put it on computer stations for students to rotate through or use on rainy day recess.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Sembl - Dan Finkel
Grades
K to 6
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Sembl is a platform that shares curated tasks to teach and practice math skills in grades K-6. Create an account using your email and select the grades you teach. Find ...more
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Sembl is a platform that shares curated tasks to teach and practice math skills in grades K-6. Create an account using your email and select the grades you teach. Find available tasks in many ways, including by grade, type of task, math content, and task creator. Example tasks include slow reveal graphs, 3-act math problems, and puzzles. Select a task to open and view directions for use and launch the activity. Add any activity to your account as a favorite to find and use anytime.
tag(s): addition (127), charts and graphs (170), counting (59), critical thinking (120), decimals (84), estimation (32), fractions (158), geometric shapes (135), measurement (123), number sense (70), patterns (62), problem solving (225)
In the Classroom
Add Sembl to your teacher's toolbox of activities to support math instruction. Most tasks include links to extended directions and additional enhancements to extend student learning. Share activities on this site with parents to practice math skills at home with their child. Use Free Online Screen Recorder, reviewed here to create a short tutorial on completing the task and sharing it with parents. Extend student learning by recreating tasks using student examples or data. For example, the 3-act math problem Lil' Sister asks students to compare the heights of sisters, recreate this activity using two students, and share on a simple website created using a simple one-page website maker such as Caard, reviewed here. Many activities share links to Google Slides, reviewed here, after opening the slides, choose to copy the file and change information to create a new activity that includes different data. Choose tasks found on Sembl to use during math station rotations, math family nights, or as homework activities.
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Wordle - Josh Wardle
Grades
3 to 12
1 Favorites
0 Comments
Wordle is a deceptively easy-looking word game that promotes problem-solving and strategy skills to solve a daily five-letter word. Players get six chances to solve for the word of...more
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Wordle is a deceptively easy-looking word game that promotes problem-solving and strategy skills to solve a daily five-letter word. Players get six chances to solve for the word of the day. Correct letters in the proper place are highlighted green, letters in the word but the wrong location are marked yellow and gray boxes indicate the letter is not in the word. After solving the puzzle, a colored grid shows your progress through each step toward solving the daily task.
tag(s): game based learning (183), puzzles (144), vocabulary (239)
In the Classroom
Include Wordle as part of daily classroom activities in many ways. For example, ask students to solve Wordle individually or as part of a collaborative group. Encourage students to discuss helpful strategies in solving the puzzle, such as starting words that include several vowels--experiment by beginning with the same word each day or using different daily choices. Create a daily graph that shares the results of your class's attempts in solving the daily puzzle. Data Gif Maker, reviewed here, is a very easy to use graphing tool to quickly share results. Consider making personalized Wordles based on reading vocabulary, science terms, or student names using My Wordle, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Brain Teasers and Puzzles - Brain Easer
Grades
2 to 12
7 Favorites
0 Comments
Improve critical thinking and problem-solving skills through the use of brain teasers, puzzles, and riddles found on this clever site. Select from fifteen categories of teasers divided...more
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Improve critical thinking and problem-solving skills through the use of brain teasers, puzzles, and riddles found on this clever site. Select from fifteen categories of teasers divided into three categories - math & logic, language & visual, and other. Brain teasers are also sorted by difficulty level, beginning with very easy and proceeding up to very difficult. Each puzzle includes the solution to explain the logic behind the answer.
tag(s): critical thinking (120), geometric shapes (135), patterns (62), Problem Based Learning (12), problem solving (225)
In the Classroom
Bookmark and save this brain teaser site to use throughout the school year. Share a problem of the week with your students to complete as homework or during a work center. Provide teasers of different levels of difficulty to differentiate and challenge your students. Enhance student learning by asking them to explain their success in solving challenges and sharing their process to find the correct solution. Use Padlet, reviewed here, to share your weekly teasers, then have students create and share a video response. This is a link to Padlet's Help section for posting video or an image. Extend learning further by creating a class book using Imagine Forest, reviewed here. Use Imagine Forest to make and share a digital book of brain teasers. Use the interactive elements to add links to audio suggestions for tackling problems or link to video solutions on the final pages of your book.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Education for the Real World - EVERFI
Grades
2 to 12
3 Favorites
0 Comments
EVERFI provides free digital curricula in real-world skills through interactive, game-based lessons. Topics include financial education, STEM and career readiness, social and emotional...more
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EVERFI provides free digital curricula in real-world skills through interactive, game-based lessons. Topics include financial education, STEM and career readiness, social and emotional learning, remote learning, summer learning, and more. Select any topic to view the courses offered with a summary and grade-level suggestions. Each unit is correlated to Common Core Standards and includes features such as videos, games, digital lessons, and teacher guides. Use the teacher dashboard to create classes and enroll students after completing the free registration information. Once registered, use the site's features to assign topics that are available for both online and offline learning.
tag(s): cross cultural understanding (170), financial literacy (91), game based learning (183), literacy (118), mental health (35), social and emotional learning (98), STEM (287), Teacher Utilities (174)
In the Classroom
Discover the many free resources on this site to provide individual lessons or complete learning units for your students. As students complete assignments, use the many offerings found at Class Tools, reviewed here, to enhance learning through creating timelines, completing graphic organizers, and more. For activities that include new vocabulary, use a digital game creation site such as Baamboozle, reviewed here, to review and practice new words and terms. Have students show what they know upon completion of any of the activities using Adobe Express for Education, reviewed here, to create a collage, poster, flyer, or multimedia presentation sharing their knowledge of the subject.
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Nova Labs - PBS
Grades
6 to 12
2 Favorites
0 Comments
Engage in authentic scientific exploration with the games and interactives offered through Nova Labs. Engage in lab topics of cybersecurity, evolution, RNA, clouds, energy, and the...more
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Engage in authentic scientific exploration with the games and interactives offered through Nova Labs. Engage in lab topics of cybersecurity, evolution, RNA, clouds, energy, and the sun. Each interactive includes a collection of videos providing background information. The site also shares educator guides specific to each lab with strategies for use.
tag(s): cells (83), critical thinking (120), energy (131), evolution (88), internet safety (112), Research (85), solar energy (34), sun (71), weather (161)
In the Classroom
Nova Labs provides many opportunities for engaging students in authentic learning situations. Consider using this site as an introduction to any of the included topics. For example, begin your energy unit by assigning the energy lab as homework or as a flipped learning activity. Watch the introductory video together, then allow students to explore the site on their own. Use Playposit, reviewed here, extend technology use by adding questions and student responses to videos to encourage critical thinking skills. Have students share their learning after participating in the lab by annotating images using Google Drawings, reviewed here. Google Drawings allows you to annotate an image with links to videos, text, websites, and more. Not familiar with Google Drawings? Watch an archived OK2Ask session to learn how to use: OK2Ask Google Drawings, here. Google Drawings presents a variety of levels for technology use depending on teacher requirements for the project, or even student ability; it allows for adding narration, videos, text, and links to help explain the project. Ask tech-savvy students to create their own learning games with Scratch, reviewed here, using information learned from their research.
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Which One Doesn't Belong? - Mary Bourassa
Grades
5 to 12
2 Favorites
0 Comments
Which One Doesn't Belong provides stimulating and challenging math puzzles. Select a category to find puzzles related to numbers, shapes, graphs, expressions, photos, incomplete sets,...more
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Which One Doesn't Belong provides stimulating and challenging math puzzles. Select a category to find puzzles related to numbers, shapes, graphs, expressions, photos, incomplete sets, and miscellaneous. The site does not provide a "correct" answer. Each puzzle has multiple (possible) answers providing opportunities for all to choose and justify their response.
tag(s): critical thinking (120), logic (162), problem solving (225), puzzles (144)
In the Classroom
These puzzles are perfect for use with an interactive whiteboard or projector. Use the puzzles as a warm up for any math class or use for journal writing prompts. The photos are perfect to use with younger students. Use this site for discussion and debate with your gifted students. Challenge students to create puzzles and have classmates solve. Have cooperative learning groups create online books of their puzzles using a tool such as Bookemon, reviewed here. Have students create an annotated image including text boxes and related links using a tool such as Google Drawings, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Gridlock Buster - ITS Institute, University of Minnesota
Grades
K to 12
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Become a member of Traffic Team Alpha. Join the mission to get cars through intersections as quickly as possible by controlling traffic lights. As you complete each mission, move up...more
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Become a member of Traffic Team Alpha. Join the mission to get cars through intersections as quickly as possible by controlling traffic lights. As you complete each mission, move up to more congested intersections and improve your problem-solving skills. Read and follow the directions for priorities with each level.
tag(s): computational thinking (41), critical thinking (120), engineering (127), problem solving (225)
In the Classroom
Share Gridlock Buster on an interactive whiteboard or projector, and create a link on classroom computers. Challenge students to increase their score on each mission. Have students discuss their strategies for improving scores. Be sure to share a link on your class website for students to play at home.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Odd Squad - Odd Squad
Grades
1 to 4
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Odd Squad had its start with the television series Odd Squad on PBS Kids. Join the squad as an agent to solve challenges using reasoning and math skills to "put ...more
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Odd Squad had its start with the television series Odd Squad on PBS Kids. Join the squad as an agent to solve challenges using reasoning and math skills to "put things right again." The activities promote a variety of levels to differentiate for each student. The interactive activities strengthen reasoning and challenge an understanding of math concepts. Find episodes of Odd Squad, Games, and more on this site and bring the television series to life. After registering, earn agent awards for achievements.
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tag(s): critical thinking (120), logic (162), problem solving (225)
In the Classroom
Challenge your math, science, and gifted classes with a variety of activities and provide differentiation for each student. Introduce Odd Squad on your interactive whiteboard to gain interest and excitement. Make center time engaging and beneficial for each student. Use cooperative learning groups to add more engagement and shared verbal reasoning into the interactives. Be sure to include this site on your class webpage for students to access both in and outside of class for further practice.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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0h h1 - Martin Kool
Grades
3 to 12
9 Favorites
2 Comments
Oh h1 is an addicting and challenging interactive for problem solving and logic. Choose from four different grid sizes to play. Click on squares to make them red or blue. ...more
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Oh h1 is an addicting and challenging interactive for problem solving and logic. Choose from four different grid sizes to play. Click on squares to make them red or blue. The goal is to never have more than 2 squares of the same color in a row, and to have equal numbers of colors in all rows and columns. The rules are explained as you play. Increase difficulty by increasing the number of grids and completing in the shortest elapsed time.
tag(s): DAT device agnostic tool (146), game based learning (183), logic (162), problem solving (225), puzzles (144)
In the Classroom
Oh h1 is perfect for use on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Use this site as a computer learning center or on individual computers. Challenge students to increase difficulty levels and elapsed time. Share this engaging site with your gifted students for some mind stretching fun! Be sure to include a link on your class website or blog (parents may want to try this one too). Have students challenge their parents to see who can complete puzzles the quickest!Comments
Great for logic practice.Melissa, , Grades: 0 - 5
Fun logic game-kids won't realize they are learning.Tammy, OR, Grades: 0 - 9
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Quandary - Learning Games Network
Grades
3 to 9
1 Favorites
0 Comments
Quandary is an online simulation in ethical decision-making while building a new colony on the planet Braxos. Face decisions without right or wrong answers but that have implications...more
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Quandary is an online simulation in ethical decision-making while building a new colony on the planet Braxos. Face decisions without right or wrong answers but that have implications on you and others in the colony. This activity was created for students ages 8-14. Login is optional to save scores or track and assess student performance or you can play as a guest. The game includes four different episodes with each containing different scenarios for decision-making. View information on the game, extension questions and more within the teachers and parents portions of the site. Find lesson plans, standards mapping (matched to Common Core ELA standards), and printable materials within the teachers section for classroom use. Don't miss the introduction video, under Families, explaining the site!
tag(s): creativity (92), critical thinking (120), ethics (21), game based learning (183), social and emotional learning (98)
In the Classroom
Try this activity on your interactive whiteboard (or projector). Create a quick poll (with no membership required) using Poll Everywhere, reviewed here, to view students' choices of actions to take throughout the game. Challenge cooperative learning groups to create videos using Adobe Creative Cloud Express Video Maker, reviewed here, explaining what they learned and sharing them on a site such as TeacherTube, reviewed here, to explain the decision-making process for different scenarios.
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5 Minute Mystery - Mystery Competition, LLC
Grades
4 to 12
14 Favorites
0 Comments
This mystery reading game helps increase reading comprehension and critical thinking skills in an innovative way. The basic game is free. You can sign up to have two mysteries a ...more
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This mystery reading game helps increase reading comprehension and critical thinking skills in an innovative way. The basic game is free. You can sign up to have two mysteries a week sent to you, or you can use their archive. There is an indepth "How to Play" section, on the top menu bar, where you can read the instructions. After reading a mystery you select the correct sentences that are clues, and select a character that the clue either exonerates or implicates. Points are awarded for each clue you get correct. You can set up a leaque or several leagues to track students' performance and progress.
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tag(s): critical thinking (120), mysteries (20), reading comprehension (150), short stories (18)
In the Classroom
Use your projector or interactive whiteboard to show your students the directions for getting points by selecting the correct clues and solving the mystery. To begin with, as a class, read a mystery and discuss what the clues might be and whether they implicate or exonerate each suspect. Once the students have volunteered their ideas for which sentences are clues, submit them to see the score. The program will highlight the answers you should have had, if you got any wrong. Model for your students a discussion about why those are the correct answers and why the ones they submitted weren't. Eventually they can have this discussion by themselves in small groups. Those of you with multiple classes will want to create a league for each class. Eventually you can have small groups of students compete against each other by creating leagues. Have your students come to consensus about the clue sentences and who the real perpetrator is by voting using Tricider, or Vevox.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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