The Olympics are here — and our middle schoolers are ALL IN. 🥇

In this episode, we’re sharing two free, student-friendly websites that make it easy to connect the Olympic Games (and Paralympics!) to every content area.

From researching athletes and debating who deserves the gold… to mapping host countries and learning world geography… these tools help students make real-world connections in meaningful ways.

Even students who don’t normally follow sports are hooked!

1. Team USA

https://www.teamusa.com

A fantastic resource for:

• Athlete bios and statistics
• Medal counts and qualifications
• Olympic and Paralympic information
• Event details and news
• Video highlights
• Mapping where athletes are from across the U.S.

Students can:

• Research athletes
• Compare statistics
• Build arguments and presentations
• Explore geography connections
• Analyze data in math
• Learn about training and competition pathways

This site makes research easy and engaging, with current and historical Olympic information all in one place.

2. Kids World Travel Guide

https://www.kids-world-travel-guide.com

A kid-friendly global resource featuring:

• Countries of the world
• Maps and visuals
• Fun facts and quick-reference information
• Geography, landmarks, traditions, and cultures
• Olympic host country information (including past Games)
• Trivia and quizzes

Students can:

• Research Olympic host countries
• Explore continents and global geography
• Compare countries
• Learn about cultural celebrations
• Dive deeper into world knowledge sparked by Olympic coverage

It’s easy to navigate, visually appealing, and designed specifically for student use.

The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum in Colorado Springs is an immersive experience worth exploring — and their website offers additional background resources.

When learning is tied to real-world events happening right now, engagement skyrockets. Students are asking questions like:

• Where is Kazakhstan?
• Why are events spread out across host regions?
• How do athletes qualify?
• Which athlete has the strongest stats?

And those questions lead to research, writing, math, mapping, debate, and deeper understanding.

The Olympics may last a few weeks — but the learning connections can last all year.

If you have questions or want to share how you’re using these tools, connect with Shanna on Bluesky, Threads, Facebook, or Instagram @smartinwi.

For links and resources from this episode, visit:

• smartinwi.com

Want to support the show? You can buy Shanna a coffee at:

• buymeacoffee.com/smartinwi

Mentioned in this episode:

Education Podcast Network

Tech Tools for Teachers is part of the Education Podcast Network. https://www.edupodcastnetwork.com/

This week on the Tech Tools for Teachers Podcast, we’re tackling indoor recess and cold-weather creativity with two easy, no-friction tools.

• BoMoMo – Abstract art through motion and color
• Sketchpad (Sketch.io) – Simple digital drawing and design space

• No logins or setup
• Works on Chromebooks, iPads, and laptops
• Great for brain breaks and creative resets
• Flexible for multiple content areas

BoMoMo: https://bomomo.com

Sketchpad: https://sketch.io

Mentioned in this episode:

Education Podcast Network

Tech Tools for Teachers is part of the Education Podcast Network. https://www.edupodcastnetwork.com/

This week on the Tech Tools for Teachers Podcast, we’re taking a fresh look at National Geographic Kids and all the updates that make it an even better classroom resource.

We talk about:

• Using Nat Geo Kids for bell ringers and quick research
• Quizzes, games, puzzles, and “Weird But True” facts
• Easy-to-read articles with strong visuals
• Connections to science, social studies, geography, and current events
• Why it works for elementary and middle school classrooms

🔗 National Geographic Kids: https://kids.nationalgeographic.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Education Podcast Network

Tech Tools for Teachers is part of the Education Podcast Network. https://www.edupodcastnetwork.com/

We're kicking off 2026 with two coding resources inspired by winter-break. This week, we feature Coddy.tech, a goal-based coding platform where students can choose a language (Python, JavaScript, HTML, and more) and a skill level, then follow a step-by-step learning path with built-in feedback and challenges. We also talk about projects.raspberrypi.org, a free project hub from the Raspberry Pi Foundation that offers Scratch, Python, AI, web dev, and more, all organized by student interests like nature, space, art, music, and science. Together, these tools support problem-solving, creativity, typing skills, and persistence through productive trial-and-error.

Mentioned in this episode:

Education Podcast Network

Tech Tools for Teachers is part of the Education Podcast Network. https://www.edupodcastnetwork.com/

In Episode 224, Shanna highlights Google Vids, a video creation tool inside Google Workspace that makes it easy for students and teachers to create polished videos quickly. Students can convert existing Google Slides into videos, record their own voiceovers, and create engaging presentations in less time than traditional slide talks. Shanna shares classroom examples (like research projects), discusses differences between teacher and student account features, and explains how Vids supports creativity, accessibility, and AI prompting practice—making it a strong alternative as other video tools move behind paywalls.

Mentioned in this episode:

Education Podcast Network

Tech Tools for Teachers is part of the Education Podcast Network. https://www.edupodcastnetwork.com/

In Episode 223 of the Tech Tools for Teachers Podcast, Shanna shares HelloKids.com, a free site full of creative classroom-friendly activities—step-by-step drawing guides, crafts, origami, masks, online coloring pages, and even reading resources. It’s a great pick for upper elementary and middle school students during the busy stretch between Thanksgiving and winter break, and it fits easily into choice boards, enrichment time, or whole-class activities. Shanna also recommends Art Hub for Kids on YouTube for guided drawing tutorials that kids love.

• HelloKids: https://www.hellokids.com/
• Art Hub for Kids (YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/@ArtforKidsHub

Mentioned in this episode:

Education Podcast Network

Tech Tools for Teachers is part of the Education Podcast Network. https://www.edupodcastnetwork.com/

In Episode 222 of the Tech Tools for Teachers Podcast, Shanna revisits Ducksters, a kid-friendly research site that’s perfect for elementary and middle school learners. She shares how Ducksters supports history, biography, geography, and science research with short, accessible articles, built-in audio read-alouds, quick quizzes, and clearly cited sources. Learn how to use Ducksters for biography projects, content-area research, choice boards, and helping students build stronger online research skills—without sending them into the wilds of the internet.

• Ducksters

Mentioned in this episode:

Education Podcast Network

Tech Tools for Teachers is part of the Education Podcast Network. https://www.edupodcastnetwork.com/

In Episode 221, Shanna spotlights two free science gems you can use across grade levels. Science News Explores offers up-to-date articles with audio, Power Words vocabulary, explainers, experiments, comics, and STEM career spotlights. Exploratorium brings museum-quality activities to your classroom with “Science Snacks,” NGSS-tagged projects, and print-ready instructions for low-cost, hands-on learning.

• Science News Explores
• Exploratorium
• Related episodes: 31, 90, 105

Mentioned in this episode:

Education Podcast Network

Tech Tools for Teachers is part of the Education Podcast Network. https://www.edupodcastnetwork.com/