PBS TeacherSource

PBS TeacherSource is a resource-based site that provides teachers with sample enrichment lesson plans and activities in seven broad subject areas, namely, Arts & Literature, Health & Fitness, Maths, Science, Social Studies, Preschool to Lower Primary curriculum and Library media. This site contains materials that are suitable for preschool all the way to post-secondary education.

Teachers who want samples of enrichment lessons that relate theoretical content with real world problems and situations would find PBS TeacherSource useful. For example, for a subtopic like “Kids and Chemicals – Facts and Laws”, chemistry students are required to identify some of the synthetic chemicals they come in contact with in their everyday lives and consider how toxic synthetic chemicals affect people differently depending upon age, general health, genetics, and exposure levels.

The materials in this site are developed by trained and practising educators. Among the features of PBS TeacherSource, apart from the free lesson plans and activities which teachers can select by grade and topics, are:

• a weekly posted column on featured lessons and activities;
• a monthly posted column on concepts across the curriculum;
• NewsHour Resources column; and
• a link to Online Professional Development for educators.

This website is very user-friendly and the site map allows users to locate clearly the headings and links they want to get to. There is a search engine embedded within the website which allows users to zoom in on a keyword, then select a resource type and further refine the search by subject and grade. This website will be useful for teachers who want ideas on enrichment lessons and activities as a follow up to the routine content-based lessons.