Printable PDF Teaching Resources
Explore printable PDF worksheets, activities and thousands more teacher resources you can add to your lesson plans with just a few clicks — including free printables!
Thousands of Teach Starter's teacher-created resources are available in PDF file format, making it easy for any teacher to use anywhere — no matter what type of computer or software you have.
Curious about the advantages of PDF resources for teachers? Read on for a quick guide from our teacher team!
What Does PDF Stand For?
Before we dive into all the ways you can use a PDF in your classroom, it's worth looking at the meaning behind the acronym. PDF stands for "Portable Document Format."
It's a file format that was developed by the software company Adobe in the 1990s. The format was designed to protect the appearance and layout of documents across different platforms and devices.
That's exactly what makes it so easy for teachers to use. You can print a PDF worksheet on the school printer and send that same PDF via email to a student's parent, and the layout will remain exactly the same — even if you are using entirely different computers.
How Do I Open a PDF File From Teach Starter?
Most web browsers — like the one you're using right now to access our teacher resources — will allow you to open a PDF file directly in the browser.
What if you want to open the file without opening a browser? We suggest downloading Adobe's free Adobe Acrobat Reader software to easily display any PDF.
How Do I Print a PDF Document for My Students?
The ease of printing has made the PDF format a must for teacher resources, so how do you actually print your new worksheet or activity?
Simple!
- Open the PDF file in your browser or PDF viewer (like Adobe Acrobat Reader, mentioned above).
- Click on the "File" menu in the top-left corner.
- Select "Print" or use your keyboard shortcut "Ctrl + P" (Windows) or "Command + P" (Mac).
- In the print dialog box, choose your printer from the list.
- Adjust print settings like orientation, paper size and the number of copies you'll need for your students.
- Click "Print" to start printing.
Can I Edit a PDF File?
This is a common teacher question, and the answer is a bit complicated.
There's special software out there that will allow for some edits on a PDF, but you will typically need to have the original document to get the best results.
To make sure teachers can make the edits they need to adjust our resources for their lesson plans and their individual students, most Teach Starter resources are available in other (editable) formats, such as Google Slides!
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All About My Family Mini Booklet
A template for students to complete a booklet all about their family.
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Do YOU Have a Growth Mindset? – Word Search
Use this word search activity to show students the qualities and characteristics of creating a growth mindset in the classroom.
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What Could It Be? - Sensory Poem Template
Use this template when teaching students how to write sensory poems.
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Figurative Language - SCOOT! Task Cards
Explore figurative language in multiple ways with the set of 24 task cards.
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Fill the Grid Active Game
An active game that allows students to practice their multiplication facts.
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Math Mazes - Addition and Subtraction
A set of puzzling mazes that require addition and subtraction skills to solve.
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Decodable Text Worksheets – Set 2
A set of 10 decodable text worksheets for early readers.
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Biography Flipbook Template
Create a flipbook that clearly illustrates the most significant aspects of a biography subject.
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Mini Letter and Envelope Templates
A colorful set of 4 mini letter and envelope designs that can be used in a variety of ways in the classroom.
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Nonfiction Text Features: Match It Up!
Download this nonfiction text features game to teach elementary school students about the common text features of informational texts.
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Higher-order Thinking Bloom's Taxonomy Desk Plates
A simple and highly effective desk plate that makes higher-order thinking visible and encourages cognitive thinking.
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Forms of Energy Poster
A poster to display in the classroom that shows different forms of energy.
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Food Chain Poster
A poster to display in the classroom that shows the food chain.
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Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Fakebook Worksheet
Design a social media profile for civil rights activist Martin Luther King, Jr. in this creative writing activity.
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Noun and Verb Sort – Worksheet
A simple noun and verb sorting worksheet.
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Scientific Investigation Process – Posters
Remind your students of the steps to the scientific investigation process with this set of 7 posters.
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Adverb Crossword – Worksheet
A crossword for students to review different adverbs.
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5 W's Graphic Organizer
A blank 5 W's graphic organizer to use when planning a piece of writing text.
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Y-Chart Graphic Organizer
A blank Y-Chart graphic organizer to use in any subject area.
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Fry Sight Words Flash Cards
A set of flash cards for the first 100 Fry Sight Words.
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Leadership Qualities - Poster Pack
Explore the qualities embodied by a good leader with this set of 9 posters.
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Spring Is Here Poem – Comprehension Worksheet
A comprehension worksheet paired with a poem about the season of spring.
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Printable Wanted Poster Template
A 'Wanted' poster template that can be used in a variety of ways in the classroom.
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Basic Multiplication and Division Word Problem Task Cards
21 word problem task cards to use when learning to differentiate between and model multiplication and division situations.
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Initial Letter Coloring Worksheet
Identify the first letter for each picture and then color it.
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Letter Confusion Worksheets
A set of 10 worksheets for students struggling with dyslexia and letter confusion.
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Make an Eggshell Disappear - Science Experiment Booklet
Investigate chemical reactions with this hands-on experiment booklet.
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Everyday Grammar Capitalization and Punctuation Warm-Ups – Grades 1 and 2 Interactive PowerPoint
An engaging 44-slide interactive PowerPoint to use in the lower grades when learning about capitalization and punctuation.
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5 Procedural Writing Prompts
Use this set of 5 procedural writing prompts to assess your students’ procedural writing skills.
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Assorted Writing Prompts Calendar – Upper Grades
Monthly writing calendar with 240 writing prompts for the year.
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Calming Down Mini-Book
Help your students to keep calm when they are experiencing heightened emotions with this social story mini-book.
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The Best Way to Predict Your Future... – Motivational Poster
Brighten up your classroom with this motivational poster.