Please click here for current and updated websites, kid-friendly browsers, citation resources, how-to’s for research, and lesson plans!

Quick, safe spots to send your students for research:

1. CoolKidFacts–kid-friendly videos, pictures, info, and quizzes–all 100% suitable for children
2. Fact Monster–help with homework and facts
3. Google Earth Timelapse–what changes to the planet over time
4. Google Trends–what’s trending in searches
5. History Channel–great speeches
6. How Stuff Works–the gold standard in explaining stuff to kids
7. Info Please–events cataloged year-by-year
8. National Geographic for Kids
9. Ngram Viewer–analyzes all words in all books on Google Books
10. TagGalaxy–search using a cloud
11. Wild Wordsmyth–picture dictionary for kids
12. World Book–requires membership

Citing Resources

1. BibMe
2. Citation Machine
3. EasyBib

Kids Search Engines

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Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival or Lunar New Year, is a traditional Chinese festival that marks the beginning of the Chinese lunar calendar. The celebration usually lasts for 15 days. The date varies each year, based on the lunar calendar. This year, it is February 17, 2026.

During Chinese New Year, people welcome the new year and engage in activities that bring good luck. Some common practices include:

1. Family Reunion: It is a time for family members to come together, similar to Western cultures’ celebration of the New Year.
2. Feasting: Families prepare and share elaborate meals with symbolic dishes that represent good fortune and prosperity.
3. Red Decorations: Red is a dominant color during Chinese New Year, symbolizing good luck and warding off evil spirits. People decorate their homes with red lanterns, couplets, and other red items.
4. Fireworks and Firecrackers: The loud sounds of fireworks and firecrackers are believed to scare away evil spirits and bring good luck.
5. Giving Red Envelopes (Hongbao): Adults give red envelopes containing money to children and unmarried individuals as a gesture of good wishes and blessings.
6. Cleaning and Spring Cleaning: It is customary to clean the house thoroughly before the new year to sweep away bad luck and make room for good fortune.
7. Dragon and Lion Dances: Traditional dragon and lion dances are performed in streets and public spaces to bring good luck and prosperity to the community.
8. Temple Visits: Many people visit temples during Chinese New Year to pray for good fortune and make offerings.

Overall, Chinese New Year is a joyous and festive time aimed at ushering in prosperity, happiness, and good luck for the coming year.

–image credit Deposit Photos (more…)

Here are the most-read posts last month:

1. Public Doman Day 2026
2. Top Ten Posts and Tips for 2025
3. January is Braille Literacy Month
4. Free MLK Lesson Plans
5. Tessellations in Excel
6. Tech Tip for Writers #34: My Program Froze
7. National Handwriting Day
8. Tons of Online Resources About Classroom Management
9. Keyboarding 101
10. How to Check Your Math in Excel

Here’s a preview of what’s coming up:

Subject to change based on website needs

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The 100th day of school is varied depending upon when you start. For a lot of schools, it’s the first week of February. Here are resources (if these sound familiar, we updated last year’s list):

Geography

As a class, come up with two locations in each state, to total 100. One will be oriented around geography and one around history. Include a brief description and a picture and then share the collection with parents and schoolmates in the class newsletter or another vehicle.

History

Research what happened the hundredth year of your home country’s existence.  What was the country like? What caused it to change? Who was the leader? What has been invented since then? Divide the class into groups so the project can be completed in one class period. Then, have everyone copy their information to a digital magazine and share it with everyone. (more…)

Here are some activities for Groundhog Day–February 2nd (click here for updates to list):

1. Fun Facts About Groundhogs–video
2. Groundhog Day Digital Activities–grades 3-5
3. Groundhog Day for Kids–a video
4. Groundhog Day Games
5. Groundhog Day Teaching Resources
6. History of Groundhog Day–from History.com
7. Punxsutawney Groundhog Club Website
8. Why Groundhogs Supposedly Predict the Weather–video

–image credit Deposit Photo

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Jacqui Murray has been teaching K-18 technology for 30 years. She is the editor/author of over a hundred tech ed resources including a K-12 technology curriculum, K-8 keyboard curriculum, K-8 Digital Citizenship curriculum. She is an adjunct professor in tech ed, Master Teacher, freelance journalist on tech ed topics, and author of the tech thrillers, To Hunt a Sub and Twenty-four Days. You can find her resources at Structured Learning.

National Handwriting Day is celebrated on January 23rd. It is a day dedicated to encouraging people to embrace the art of writing by hand. This day was established to honor the birthday of John Hancock, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, known for his prominent and stylish signature on the Declaration of Independence. Handwriting is considered a personal and unique form of expression, and National Handwriting Day aims to celebrate and preserve this traditional skill.

Articles on handwriting from Ask a Tech Teacher you might enjoy:

Check these out:

Is Handwriting So Last Generation

Is Handwriting So Last Generation–Redux

How to Create a Handwriting Workbook to Help Improve Penmanship

Handwriting vs. Keyboarding–from a Student’s Perspective

When is Typing Faster Than Handwriting? (more…)

Here are some Winter activities to share the joy of winter (click for updates on this list):

1. 5 Videos to teach about winter
2. Winter Facts and Worksheets
3. The Winter Solstice, from PBS–a video for youngers
4. Winter Vocabulary–a video
5. What is a Solstice, from National Geographic–a video
6. What is the Winter Season–a video
7. Winter Coloring Pages, Printables, and more
8. Winter Games–digital

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In honor of Martin Luther King:

MLK Day in the US is the third Monday of January, this year, January 19, 2026

Ask a Tech Teacher’s 19-page two-lesson plan bundle to support your teaching of Martin Luther King (click for more information) is

66% off through Jan. 19, 2026

Lesson plans include:

• • • • an Event Chain of Dr. King’s impact on American history (adaptable to other historical events)
      • interpreting his words with a visual organizer

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If you subscribe to my blog, you are eligible for specials on tech ed books, lesson plans, tips, and help every month. Here are some of the specials subscribers have received this past year:

• 5 for $25 on tech themed bundles
• Discount on Tech Tips
• Free Posters
• 50% off Sidebar Sponsorship
• Savings on Common Core math lessons
• Holiday project book
• Discount on Back to School Survival Kits

Here are some coming up in future months: (more…)

Here are the most-read posts last month:

1. Websites that Explain Elections
2.  Subscriber Special: November Holiday Project Book
3. National STEM Day Nov. 8th
4. Geography Awareness Week November 17-21
5. A Day to Remember Veterans
6. How to Graph in Excel
7. Create a Timecard in a Spreadsheet for Grade Two+
8. 8 Tips to Teach Tomorrow’s Students
9. Thanksgiving Activities That Keep You in Charge of Learning
10. What Makes a Great EdTech Teacher?

Here’s a preview of what’s coming up: (more…)