Free Resources

Informed by experts and extensive research, these free resources from First Book's Accelerator™ save you time and offer actionable steps you can take today to support the kids and teens in your community.

Do you have feedback on any of our free resources? We want to hear about it!

Informed by experts and extensive research, these free resources from First Book's Accelerator™ save you time and offer actionable steps you can take today to support the kids and teens in your community.


Featured Free Resource


Featured Free Resource

Click to download the 2024–2025 School Year Calendar: Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion in STEM.Click to download the 2024–2025 School Year Calendar: Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion in STEM.

2024 – 2025 School Year Calendar: Celebrating Diversity
and Inclusion in STEM

This year's STEM-themed school calendar celebrates the scientists and inventors whose contributions have changed our world for the better. Themed months, religious observances, and dates with cultural or historical significance are also included.

Click to download the 2024 – 2025 School Year Calendar: Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion in STEM.Click to download the 2024 – 2025 School Year Calendar: Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion in STEM.

Tap to download the 2024 – 2025 School Year Calendar: Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion in STEM.Tap to download the 2024 – 2025 School Year Calendar: Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion in STEM.

2024 – 2025
School Year Calendar:
Celebrating Diversity and
Inclusion in STEM

This year's STEM-themed school calendar celebrates the scientists and inventors whose contributions have changed our world for the better. Themed months, religious observances, and dates with cultural or historical significance are also included.

Tap to download the 2024 – 2025 School Year Calendar: Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion in STEM.Tap to download the 2024 – 2025 School Year Calendar: Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion in STEM.

Jump directly to a specific resource or topic using the links below:


Toolkits & Guides to Support Your Work


Toolkits & Guides to
Support Your Work

Click to explore the STEM Defines Our Future Accelerator pageClick to explore the STEM Defines Our Future Accelerator page

STEM Defines Our Future: Soft Skills and STEM Success

Through engaging videos, lessons, and teaching strategies, this initiative guides you in helping students connect the dots between what they are learning in their traditional STEM classes, soft skills like communication and creativity, and the rewarding STEM careers of the future.

Created in partnership with General Motors.Created in partnership with General Motors.
Click to learn more about the STEM Defines Our Future: Soft Skills and STEM Success Accelerator and Video SeriesClick to learn more about the STEM Defines Our Future: Soft Skills and STEM Success Accelerator and Video Series

Click to explore the STEM Defines Our Future Accelerator pageClick to explore the STEM Defines Our Future Accelerator page

STEM Defines Our Future: Soft Skills and STEM Success

Through engaging videos, lessons, and teaching strategies, this initiative guides you in helping students connect the dots between what they are learning in their traditional STEM classes, soft skills like communication and creativity, and the rewarding STEM careers of the future.

Created in partnership with General Motors.Created in partnership with General Motors.
Click to learn more about the STEM Defines Our Future: Soft Skills and STEM Success Accelerator and Video SeriesClick to learn more about the STEM Defines Our Future: Soft Skills and STEM Success Accelerator and Video Series

Click to download the 2024 – 2025 School Year Calendar: Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion in STEM.Click to download the 2024 – 2025 School Year Calendar: Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion in STEM.

2024 – 2025 School Year Calendar: Celebrating Diversity
and Inclusion in STEM

This year's STEM-themed school calendar celebrates the scientists and inventors whose contributions have changed our world for the better. Themed months, religious observances, and dates with cultural or historical significance are also included.

Click to download the 2024 – 2025 School Year Calendar: Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion in STEM.Click to download the 2024 – 2025 School Year Calendar: Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion in STEM.

Tap to download the 2024 – 2025 School Year Calendar: Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion in STEM.Tap to download the 2024 – 2025 School Year Calendar: Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion in STEM.

2024 – 2025
School Year Calendar:
Celebrating Diversity and
Inclusion in STEM

This year's STEM-themed school calendar celebrates the scientists and inventors whose contributions have changed our world for the better. Themed months, religious observances, and dates with cultural or historical significance are also included.

Tap to download the 2024 – 2025 School Year Calendar: Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion in STEM.Tap to download the 2024 – 2025 School Year Calendar: Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion in STEM.

Click to explore the Supporting Grieving Students page.Click to explore the Supporting Grieving Students page.

Supporting Grieving Students

Together, the New York Life Foundation and First Book are working to empower and equip those working with bereaved children and families by providing necessary resources and meaningful stories.

Click to explore the Supporting Grieving Students page.Click to explore the Supporting Grieving Students page.

Tap to explore the Supporting Grieving Students page.Tap to explore the Supporting Grieving Students page.

Supporting Grieving Students

Together, the New York Life Foundation and First Book are working to empower and equip those working with bereaved children and families by providing necessary resources and meaningful stories.

Tap to explore the Supporting Grieving Students page.Tap to explore the Supporting Grieving Students page.

Click to download the Taking Care Educator Guide to Healthy Habits for Student Emotional Wellness resource.Click to download the Taking Care Educator Guide to Healthy Habits for Student Emotional Wellness resource.

Taking Care: An Educator Guide to Healthy Habits for
Student Emotional Wellness

Developed in response to First Book educators' concerns about the mental health challenges faced by students, this guide contains best practices and activities to optimize mental fitness and emotional resilience and decrease stress and anxiety.

Click to download the Taking Care Educator Guide to Healthy Habits for Student Emotional Wellness resource.Click to download the Taking Care Educator Guide to Healthy Habits for Student Emotional Wellness resource.

Tap to download the Taking Care Educator Guide to Healthy Habits for Student Emotional Wellness resource.Tap to download the Taking Care Educator Guide to Healthy Habits for Student Emotional Wellness resource.

Taking Care: An Educator
Guide to Healthy Habits for
Student Emotional Wellness

Developed in response to First Book educators' concerns about the mental health challenges faced by students, this guide contains best practices and activities to optimize mental fitness and emotional resilience and decrease stress and anxiety.

Tap to download the Taking Care Educator Guide to Healthy Habits for Student Emotional Wellness resource.Tap to download the Taking Care Educator Guide to Healthy Habits for Student Emotional Wellness resource.

Click to learn more about the Getting Started Guide: Teaching about the Holocaust resource.Click to learn more about the Getting Started Guide: Teaching about the Holocaust resource.

Getting Started Guide: Teaching about the Holocaust

This guide features free, high-quality resources and lessons from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum designed to support educators in teaching about the Holocaust with historical accuracy to students in grades 7-12.

Click to learn more about the Getting Started Guide: Teaching about the Holocaust resource.Click to learn more about the Getting Started Guide: Teaching about the Holocaust resource.

Tap to learn more about the Getting Started Guide: Teaching about the Holocaust resource.Tap to learn more about the Getting Started Guide: Teaching about the Holocaust resource.

Getting Started Guide:
Teaching about the Holocaust

This guide features free, high-quality resources and lessons from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum designed to support educators in teaching about the Holocaust with historical accuracy to students in grades 7-12.

Tap to learn more about the Getting Started Guide: Teaching about the Holocaust resource.Tap to learn more about the Getting Started Guide: Teaching about the Holocaust resource.

Click to explore the Time for Change page.Click to explore the Time for Change page.

Time for Change: Dream. Act. Change Our World.

Changemaking is the idea that, in collaboration with others, every person can apply creative solutions to address problems in their communities. Help foster Changemaking with the Time for Change program.

Click to explore the Time for Change page.Click to explore the Time for Change page.

Tap to explore the Time for Change page.Tap to explore the Time for Change page.

Time for Change:
Dream. Act. Change Our World.

Changemaking is the idea that, in collaboration with others, every person can apply creative solutions to address problems in their communities. Help foster Changemaking with the Time for Change program.

Tap to explore the Time for Change page.Tap to explore the Time for Change page.

Click to download the Climate Change in the United States resource.Click to download the Climate Change in the United States resource.

Climate Change in the United States

Explore information about how changing weather patterns and increasing temperatures affect specific communities and industries throughout the country as well as activities for students and links to additional climate change lessons and resources.

Click to download the Climate Change in the United States resource.Click to download the Climate Change in the United States resource.

Tap to download the Climate Change in the United States resource.Tap to download the Climate Change in the United States resource.

Climate Change in the United States

Explore information about how changing weather patterns and increasing temperatures affect specific communities and industries throughout the country as well as activities for students and links to additional climate change lessons and resources.

Tap to download the Climate Change in the United States resource.Tap to download the Climate Change in the United States resource.

Click to download the Expanding Climate Change Education resource.Click to download the Expanding Climate Change Education resource.

Expanding Climate Change Education

This guide will help you incorporate climate change education into
a variety of educational subjects and settings with lessons, standards alignment, and more.

Click to download the Expanding Climate Change Education resource.Click to download the Expanding Climate Change Education resource.

Tap to download the Expanding Climate Change Education resource.Tap to download the Expanding Climate Change Education resource.

Expanding Climate Change Education

This guide will help you incorporate climate change education into a variety of educational subjects and settings with lessons, standards alignment, and more.

Tap to download the Expanding Climate Change Education resource.Tap to download the Expanding Climate Change Education resource.

Click to download the Future Without Waste resource.Click to download the Future Without Waste resource.

A Future Without Waste

This resource includes facts and statistics about waste and reuse in the U.S., additional student activities, helpful defi­nitions, take-home guide for caregivers, and much more!

Click to download the Future Without Waste resource.Click to download the Future Without Waste resource.

Tap to download the Future Without Waste resource.Tap to download the Future Without Waste resource.

A Future Without Waste

This resource includes facts and statistics about waste and reuse in the U.S., additional student activities, helpful defi­nitions, take-home guide for caregivers, and much more!

Tap to download the Future Without Waste resource.Tap to download the Future Without Waste resource.

Click to download the Human Impact resource.Click to download the Human Impact resource.

Human Impact: Saving Today’s Dinosaurs

Learn the many ways human behavior has changed the Earth, including its species and ecosystems. Includes an overview plus activities that encourage students to consider the complexity of human activity and practice proposing and evaluating options for reducing harm.

Click to download the Human Impact resource.Click to download the Human Impact resource.

Tap to download the Human Impact resource.Tap to download the Human Impact resource.

Human Impact:
Saving Today’s Dinosaurs

Learn the many ways human behavior has changed the Earth, including its species and ecosystems. Includes an overview plus activities that encourage students to consider the complexity of human activity and practice proposing and evaluating options for reducing harm.

Tap to download the Human Impact resource.Tap to download the Human Impact resource.

Click to download the Literacy Rich Classroom Library Checklist resource.Click to download the Literacy Rich Classroom Library Checklist resource.

Literacy Rich Classroom Library Checklist: An Assessment
Tool for Equity

Developed in partnership with literacy researcher Susan Neuman, this resource highlights the elements that make up a literacy rich classroom environment. Assess your classroom library and advocate for the resources you need to create an equitable environment.

Click to download the Literacy Rich Classroom Library Checklist resource.Click to download the Literacy Rich Classroom Library Checklist resource.

Tap to download the Literacy Rich Classroom Library Checklist resource.Tap to download the Literacy Rich Classroom Library Checklist resource.

Literacy Rich Classroom Library
Checklist: An Assessment
Tool for Equity

Developed in partnership with literacy researcher Susan Neuman, this resource highlights the elements that make up a literacy rich classroom environment. Assess your classroom library and advocate for the resources you need to create an equitable environment.

Tap to download the Literacy Rich Classroom Library Checklist resource.Tap to download the Literacy Rich Classroom Library Checklist resource.

Click to learn more about the free Reading Universe website.Click to learn more about the free Reading Universe website.

Reading Universe

Looking for free resources to supplement your reading instruction? Explore the video-rich Reading Universe website for evidence-based strategies and practical guidance to help you in your classroom!

Click to learn more about the free Reading Universe website.Click to learn more about the free Reading Universe website.

Tap to learn more about the free Reading Universe website.Tap to learn more about the free Reading Universe website.

Reading Universe

Looking for free resources to supplement your reading instruction? Explore the video-rich Reading Universe website for evidence-based strategies and practical guidance to help you in your classroom!

Tap to learn more about the free Reading Universe website.Tap to learn more about the free Reading Universe website.

Click to download the Quick Start Guide: Using the Literacy Tools in Microsoft 365 Education resource.Click to download the Quick Start Guide: Using the Literacy Tools in Microsoft 365 Education resource.

Quick Start Guide: Using the Literacy Tools in
Microsoft 365 Education

To help students become confident readers, Microsoft created free literacy tools for classroom and home use. Learn how to use a variety of resources to streamline reading assessments and help students build key literacy skills.

Click to download the Quick Start Guide: Using the Literacy Tools in Microsoft 365 Education resource.Click to download the Quick Start Guide: Using the Literacy Tools in Microsoft 365 Education resource.

Tap to download the Quick Start Guide: Using the Literacy Tools in Microsoft 365 Education resource.Tap to download the Quick Start Guide: Using the Literacy Tools in Microsoft 365 Education resource.

Quick Start Guide:
Using the Literacy Tools in
Microsoft 365 Education

To help students become confident readers, Microsoft created free literacy tools for classroom and home use. Learn how to use a variety of resources to streamline reading assessments and help students build key literacy skills.

Click to download the Quick Start Guide: Using the Literacy Tools in Microsoft 365 Education resource.Click to download the Quick Start Guide: Using the Literacy Tools in Microsoft 365 Education resource.

Click to download the Colorful Conversations resource.Click to download the Colorful Conversations resource.

Colorful Conversations

Help elementary school students learn about the science and social significance of skin tone and the importance of positive racial identity. Resource includes identity charts, self-portrait templates, guidance for mixing paints, facts about skin tone, and more.

Click to download the Colorful Conversations resource.Click to download the Colorful Conversations resource.

Tap to download the Colorful Conversations resource.Tap to download the Colorful Conversations resource.

Colorful Conversations

Help elementary school students learn about the science and social significance of skin tone and the importance of positive racial identity. Resource includes identity charts, self-portrait templates, guidance for mixing paints, facts about skin tone, and more.

Tap to download the Colorful Conversations resource.Tap to download the Colorful Conversations resource.

Click to explore the Empowering Educators page.Click to explore the Empowering Educators page.

The Empowering Educators Toolbox

Want to talk about race but not sure where to start? Discover resources to support your anti-bias, antiracist work and facilitate conversations with your students—from tips and best practices to get you started to lesson plans and tools to help you dig deeper.

Click to explore the Empowering Educators page.Click to explore the Empowering Educators page.

Tap to explore the Empowering Educators page.Tap to explore the Empowering Educators page.

The Empowering Educators Toolbox

Want to talk about race but not sure where to start? Discover resources to support your anti-bias, antiracist work and facilitate conversations with your students—from tips and best practices to get you started to lesson plans and tools to help you dig deeper.

Tap to explore the Empowering Educators page.Tap to explore the Empowering Educators page.

Click to download the Trauma Toolkit.Click to download the Trauma Toolkit.

Trauma Toolkit

Learn how childhood trauma affects a student's ability to learn, best practices to support their development, the importance of educator self-care, and more in this expert-informed toolkit.

Click to download the Trauma Toolkit.Click to download the Trauma Toolkit.

Tap to download the Trauma Toolkit.Tap to download the Trauma Toolkit.

Trauma Toolkit

Learn how childhood trauma affects a student's ability to learn, best practices to support their development, the importance of educator self-care, and more in this expert-informed toolkit.

Tap to download the Trauma Toolkit.Tap to download the Trauma Toolkit.

Click to download the Respect & Empathy Toolkit.Click to download the Respect & Empathy Toolkit.

Promoting Respect & Empathy: A Toolkit for Educators
of All Grades

Want great ideas on how to promote respect and empathy among your students? First Book members from across the US share their lesson plans, tips, and recommendations in this first-of-its-kind toolkit!

Click to download the Respect & Empathy Toolkit.Click to download the Respect & Empathy Toolkit.

Tap to download the Respect & Empathy Toolkit.Tap to download the Respect & Empathy Toolkit.

Promoting Respect & Empathy:
A Toolkit for Educators
of All Grades

Want great ideas on how to promote respect and empathy among your students? First Book members from across the US share their lesson plans, tips, and recommendations in this first-of-its-kind toolkit!

Tap to download the Respect & Empathy Toolkit.Tap to download the Respect & Empathy Toolkit.