193 Exciting Free Educational Resources for Kids

As we are all being urged to practice social distancing and self-isolation during this time of crisis, many parents are suddenly home all day with their kids. And because your children are missing school, I’m sure you’re wondering how you can both teach and entertain them during this time. Some of you may be working remotely and need to figure out how to get some work done with a house full of kids.

I suggest taking some notes from those who were already homeschooling their kids – they do have the most experience!

According to Kristy Finley, this is the perfect time for you to make lasting memories with your children. You can strengthen your bond while still educating them about things that go beyond the ‘normal’ school syllabus.

Use this time to learn more about your children and help discover their unique interests and passions. By taking the time to help them find their interests and encouraging them to use this time to learn more about it, you’ll inspire a love of learning in your children.

Luckily for you, there is plenty of technology, streaming services, documentaries and other resources that both entertain and teach. But, in order to survive this situation, you need to learn how to manage your responsibilities while still prioritizing your children’s education.

Now is the Time to Get Organized

This is where the need for organization and time management comes in. You’ll need to plan your time accordingly to get your work done while the kids are busy learning. Then schedule free time for all of you to do something fun together.

Additionally, this is also one of the best times to start a home project that you have been avoiding. Since you’re home, it’s the ideal time to clean out your closet, teach your kids how to be organized or get creative together and let them help you redecorate your home.

As challenging as this situation is, make the most of your time together and you’ll find a positive side to it.

Educational Toys for Kids (and Adults)

Personally, my family and I are taking this time of self-isolation very seriously. But we are still finding ways to bond and learn together. We absolutely love the game “Simon” that I purchased from Walmart. We’re playing it every day and it truly helps to improve concentration, memory, and focus. Who says learning can’t be fun?

Their wide selection of educational toys such as puzzles, activity books, and games to boost the mind are the perfect way to ensure your kids have fun while still keeping their minds active. While you’re browsing all that Walmart has to offer, why not check out the numerous educational toys for adults too. One of the best ways to remain calm and avoid panic is to stimulate your brain by focusing on trying to solve a problem.

Educational Resources for Kids (and Adults)

Below you’ll find a comprehensive list of 193 free fun learning resources suitable for kids of all ages ranging from toddlers to teenagers. There are even some that will be of interest to adults. Some of these are always free and some are only free during this current quarantine.

Thank you, Kristy Finley, for compiling this huge list!

• The San Diego Zoo has a website just for kids with amazing videos, activities, and games. Enjoy the tour! https://kids.sandiegozoo.org/
• Tour Yellowstone National Park! https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/photosmultimedia/virtualtours.htm
• Explore the surface of Mars on the Curiosity Rover. https://accessmars.withgoogle.com/
• This Canadian site FarmFood 360 offers 11 Virtual Tours of farms from minks, pigs, and cows, to apples and eggs.  https://www.farmfood360.ca/
• Indoor Activities for busy toddlers https://busytoddler.com/2020/03/indoor-activities/?fbclid=IwAR3tYXAqw7tJRAzLExpPcJo4rApLsKtgL0AwghzxgnhwOajc4auX6o12_xw
• Play games and learn all about animals https://switchzoo.com/
• Play with fave show characters and learn too https://pbskids.org/
• Travel to Paris, France to see amazing works of art at The Louvre with this virtual field trip.  https://www.louvre.fr/en/visites-en-ligne
• This Virtual Tour of the Great Wall of China is beautiful and makes history come to life. https://www.thechinaguide.com/destination/great-wall-of-china
• Math and Reading games  https://www.funbrain.com/
• Phonics skills https://www.starfall.com/h/
• This iconic museum located in the heart of London allows virtual visitors to tour the Great Court and discover the ancient Rosetta Stone and Egyptian mummies.  https://britishmuseum.withgoogle.com/
• Read, play games, and hang out with Dr. Seuss https://www.seussville.com/
• 300,000+ FREE printable worksheets from toddlers to teens https://www.123homeschool4me.com/home-school-free-printables/
• Geography and animals: https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/
• Math practice from counting to algebra and geometry http://www.mathscore.com/
• Fave kids books read by famous people https://www.storylineonline.net/
• Crafts, activities, mazes, dot to dot, etc, https://www.allkidsnetwork.com/
• High school chemistry topics https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/education/resources/highschool/chemmatters/articles-by-topic.html
• Math and reading games https://www.abcya.com/
• Math and language games https://www.arcademics.com/
• Hands on Elem science videos https://www.backpacksciences.com/science-simplified
• Voice based learning… learn through Alexa https://bamboolearning.com/resources
• Fun games, recipes, crafts, activities  https://www.highlightskids.com/
• ClickSchooling brings you daily recommendations by email for entertaining websites that help your kids learn. https://clickschooling.com/
• Math as a fun part of your daily family routine http://bedtimemath.org/
• Games to get “into the book” https://reading.ecb.org/
• Online history classes for all ages preteen through adults  https://school.bighistoryproject.com/bhplive
• Biology  https://www.biologysimulations.com/
• Elem Math through 6th grade  https://boddlelearning.com/
• Educational games K-12  https://www.breakoutedu.com/funathome
• Digital archive of history  https://www.bunkhistory.org/
• Test Prep for SAT, ACT, etc.  https://www.bwseducationconsulting.com/handouts.php
• Geometry https://www.canfigureit.com/
• Resources for Spanish practice https://www.difusion.com/campus/
• Chinese learning activities  https://chalkacademy.com/
• Music is for everyone https://musiclab.chromeexperiments.com/Experiments
• Science, Math, Social Studies https://www.ck12.org/student/
• Grammar practice for middle grades  https://www.classroomcereal.com/
• Daily free science or cooking experiment to do at home. http://www.clubscikidzmd.com/blog/
• Chemistry  https://www.playmadagames.com/
• Reading passages for grades 3-12, with reading comprehension and discussion questions. https://www.commonlit.org/
• Vocabulary, grammar, listening activities and games in Spanish, French, Italian, German, Portuguese, Korean, and Latin.   https://conjuguemos.com/
• 35,000 pages of online content on the cultures and countries of the world. https://www.countryreports.org/
• K-5th Science lessons  https://mysteryscience.com/
• Tons of free classes from leading universities and companies  https://www.coursera.org/
• Free printable K-8 Reading and Math activity packs (available in English and Spanish) https://www.curriculumassociates.com/supporting-students-away-from-school
• Digital learning content for preschool through high school https://www.curriki.org/
• A wide range of math content from middle school through AP Calculus.  https://deltamath.com/overview
• Day-by-day projects to keep kids reading, thinking, and growing.  https://classroommagazines.scholastic.com/support/learnathome.html
• 3 Free Weeks of Maker Stations to keep your children creating at home! Each challenge includes simple instructions using materials around the house, QR code video resources, and a student recording sheet. bit.ly/freemakerstations
• Classes for older teens or adults https://www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/lp/t1/freemo?source_id=FREEMO&utm_source=Social_Media&utm_medium=Facebook&utm_campaign=1000614&fbclid=IwAR1vaJx-3_aCdyE75S0fTJg4JZ_jI6KJvsJb4CnXY03tnfTm3FdgflaNpYs
• Online homeschool platform & curriculum for Pre-K to 12th grade.  All main subjects are covered, plus extra curriculum courses.  http://discoveryk12.com/dk12/
• Printable board games, activities and more for phonics and reading all using evidence-based methods. They can be customized to any student’s needs including creating flashcards for other subjects. https://dogonalogbooks.com/printables/
• K-8 online math program that looks at how a student is solving problems to adjust accordingly and build a unique learning path for them. https://www.dreambox.com/at-home
• Engaging reading game for grades 2-8 that combines strategy, engagement, and imaginative reading passages to create a fun, curriculum-aligned literacy game. https://www.squigglepark.com/dreamscape/
• Higher level math series… online video series with detailed solutions to more than a thousand publicly-released College Board SAT Math, Subject Test Math Level 1, and Subject Test Math Level 2 problems.https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbQoCpvYRYRkRRvsObOPHaA?reload=9
• Foreign languages  https://www.duolingo.com/
• Interactive video earth science based curriculum supplement. https://www.everyday-earth.com/
• A safe research site for elementary-level readers. They are offering — free 24/7 access. USERNAME: read (case sensitive).PASSWORD: read (case sensitive) https://www.facts4me.com/
• Resources for AP students including live reviews, live trivia, and study guides! https://app.fiveable.me/
• Educational brain breaks to help students review essential literacy and math skills, while getting in some exercise. Find over 900 videos to help your child keep learning at home and burn off some extra energy. Our site is best used for ages 4-8. https://fluencyandfitness.com/register/school-closures/
• Movement and mindfulness videos created by child development experts.  https://www.gonoodle.com/
• 7,000 free videos in 13 subject areas  https://hippocampus.org/
• Carmen Sandiego videos, stories, and lessons for all subject areas  https://www.carmensandiego.com/resources/
• Math Videos with lessons, real life uses of math, famous actors https://www.hmhco.com/math-at-work
• Entertaining & educational videos for all levels and subjects https://www.izzit.org/index.php
• Online education program for toddler through high school…  https://www.khanacademy.org/
• Free Printables for PreK-2nd Grade https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Literacy-With-The-Littles/Price-Range/Free
• Free printables library with activities for children 0-6  https://www.littlesparkcompany.com/printables-library
• Free at-home kids yoga lesson plans   https://littletwistersyoga.com/online-store/
• Magic Spell is a carefully crafted spelling adventure.  https://brainbox.games/
• Resources for AP students https://marcolearning.com/
• Enter your math problem or search term, press the button, and they show you the step-by-step work and answer instantly.  2nd grade through college.  https://www.mathcelebrity.com/online-math-tutor.php
• Elem Math games, logic puzzles and educational resources https://www.mathplayground.com/
• Poetry and music  https://www.thewell.world/mindful-music/mindful-poetry-moments
• 3D printing projects and Coding projects, involving math and other K-12 subjects  https://www.instructables.com/member/EdgertonCenter/instructables/
• Introductory and intermediate music theory lessons, exercises, ear trainers, and calculators.  https://www.musictheory.net/
• Scads of free resources, games, learning resources, and lesson plans for teaching personal finance  https://www.ngpf.org/
• Improve your typing skills while competing in fast-paced races with up to 5 typers from around the world. https://www.nitrotype.com/
• Illustrated recipes designed to help kids age 2-12 cook with their grown-ups. Recipes encourage culinary skills, literacy, math, and science.  https://www.nomsterchef.com/nomster-recipe-library
• Online curriculum that builds better writers.  https://www.noredink.com/
• 80+ do at home science activities https://elementalscience.com/blogs/news/80-free-science-activities
• Daily lessons and educational activities that kids can do on their own  https://www.superchargedschool.com/
• Adaptive curriculum in Math and ELA for Grades K-8 https://www.scootpad.com/
• Novel Effect makes storytime a little more fun for kids (and grown-ups too!) As you read out loud from print books (or ebooks!) music, sound effects, and character voices play at just the right moment, adjusting and responding to your voice.  https://noveleffect.com/
• Quick & easy at home projects curated for kids 2 and up: https://www.kiwico.com/kids-at-home
• Teaches students how to write a paragraph through interactive online tutorial  http://www.paragraphpunch.com/
• PreK-12 digital media service with more than 30,000 learning materials https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/
• Curricular content hub specifically designed for K-3 students. https://pebblego.com/free-pebblego-capstone-interactive-access-school-closures?fbclid=IwAR0ldr6TT3grhEDzJ_fEpYvNGG13kqYo5ogwEqYneW7QBkX8L4u7cEIS0nE
• Science and math labs and simulations  https://phet.colorado.edu/
• An online physics problem and video bank designed for conceptual, standard, honors or AP1 physics.  https://www.positivephysics.org/home
• Prodigies is a colorful music curriculum for kids 1-12 that will teach your kids how to play their first instrument, how to sing in tune & how to understand the language of music! 21 for free  https://prodigiesmusic.com/
• Free videos from around the world from grade 3-12: https://www.projectexplorer.org/
• QuaverMusic is offering free access to general music activities to all impacted schools, including free student access at-home https://www.quavermusic.com/info/at-home-resources/
• For students to practice and master whatever they are learning. https://quizlet.com/
• ReadWorks is an online resource of reading passages and lesson plans for students of all levels K-12.   https://www.readworks.org/
• Critical Thinking resources for K-6 students https://marketplace.mythinkscape.com/store/redtkids
• Music Based Spanish Learning  https://rockalingua.com/
• Science simulations, scientist profiles, and other digital resources for middle school science and high school biology: https://sepuplhs.org/
• The Shurley English program for grades K-8 provides a clear, logical, and concrete approach to language arts.  https://www.shurley.com/
• Sight reading and sight singing practice exercises. https://www.sightreadingfactory.com/
• Music practice transformed  https://www.smartmusic.com/
• Spellingcity is free right now with code VSCFree90: https://www.spellingcity.com/
• Kid-friendly workouts — choose from Strength for Kids, Agility for Kids, Flexibility and Balance for Kids, Warm-Up for Kids, Cooldown for Kids, Stand Up and Move for Kids, OR create your own custom kid workout.  https://app.sworkit.com/collections/kids-workouts
• A collection of hundreds of free K-12 STEM resources, from standalone models and simulations to short activities and week long sequences of curriculum materials.  https://learn.concord.org/
• Course sets (Levels 1–5) that combine and thoroughly cover phonics, reading, writing, spelling, literature, grammar, punctuation, art, and geography—all in one easy-to-use, beautiful course.  https://www.goodandbeautiful.com/
• At home OT, PT, and ST resources designed to build skills in children through movement and play. https://www.theottoolbox.com/
• Science projects that can be completed with or without Internet access  https://sciencespot.net/Pages/classhome.html
• Keyboarding practice    https://www.typingclub.com/   or https://www.typing.com/
• Next Generation Science video game focused on middle school where students directly engage in science phenomena as they solve problems.  https://www.tytoonline.com/
• Short videos and readings that answer various burning questions for students. There are vocabulary challenges and comprehension questions. http://wonderopolis.org/
• Math practice  https://xtramath.org/#/home/index
• K-5 curriculum that builds deep understanding and a love of learning math for all students  https://www.zearn.org/
• A quick start resource to help families pull together a plan for surviving the next 1-2 months at home with their kids, but it can also be a time of slowing down and enjoying kids as they learn. Preschool through 8th grade   https://abetterwaytohomeschool.com/learning-at-home-everything-you-need-in-one-place.html?fbclid=IwAR0Lo2FZ5cWLMt-6nto19auqTtI5kztqLqwi3japOPl1rcR_rLaNuCUcaYw
• 450 Ivy League courses that you can take https://www.freecodecamp.org/news/ivy-league-free-online-courses-a0d7ae675869/?fbclid=IwAR0tbYeSJTzmrzgs1z1Brpoh-Lg8zoqnThQAUTFqR-bBX9O6AEh2_lnLhTs
• Spelling 1-4 grade: https://www.spellingtraining.com/
• 2,500+ online courses from top institutions  https://www.edx.org/
• 22 languages to learn  https://www.memrise.com/
• Learn to code https://www.codecademy.com/
• Miscellaneous games for all subjects k-8  https://www.funbrain.com/
• Phonics and learning to read https://readingeggs.com/
• PreK – 5 games for all subjects  https://www.turtlediary.com/
• Online digital coloring pages  https://www.thecolor.com/
• Every course you could possibly want to homeschool preschool – 8   https://allinonehomeschool.com/
• Every course you could possibly want to homeschool for high school https://allinonehighschool.com/
• Phonics worksheets for kids  https://www.funfonix.com/
• Free stories online ages 3-12  https://www.freechildrenstories.com/
• National Geographic Young Explorers is a magazine designed specifically for kindergarten and first grade students.  Children can listen to the magazine being read to them as they follow along with the highlighted text.   https://ngexplorer.cengage.com/ngyoungexplorer/index.html
• Learn all about earthquakes https://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/kids/
• Learn all about the periodic table  https://www.chemicool.com/
• Farmer’s almanac for kids…  Date, weather, moon phase, etc.  https://www.almanac.com/kids
• Guide to gardening for kids  https://web.extension.illinois.edu/firstgarden/
• Website allows students to play basic games to reinforce math skills and compete against the computer or others  https://www.mangahigh.com/en-us/
• Space science for kiddos  https://www.nasa.gov/kidsclub/index.html
• Math Games, Logic Puzzles and Brain Builders https://www.mathplayground.com/
• Games, quizzes and fact sheets take kids on a journey through time.  https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/forkids/
• NGAkids interactives offer an entertaining and informative introduction to art and art history. https://www.nga.gov/education/kids.html
• News and more for kids  https://www.youngzine.org/
• Randomly generates 356,300,262,144 story starters: https://thestorystarter.com/
• Immerse yourself in cryptography  https://www.cryptoclub.org/
• Math games galore  https://gridclub.com/
• Tons of science experiments that you can do at home: https://www.stevespanglerscience.com/lab/experiments/
• An interactive way to learn history: https://www.mission-us.org/
• Just explore, have fun, and learn some science along the way.  https://thehappyscientist.com/
• Interactive games based on the book series: https://www.magictreehouse.com/
• Work on the 8 parts of speech  https://www.grammaropolis.com/
• Learn all about cells  https://www.cellsalive.com/
• All sorts of learning here if you dig in https://www.google.com/earth/
• Scratch draws students of all types into coding and lays a foundation for future learning.  https://scratch.mit.edu/
• A wonderful, endlessly detailed way to get kids engaged in the world of art.  https://www.metmuseum.org/art/online-features/metkids/
• Tests kids’ geography skills. Using images from Google’s Street View, it plops players down in the middle of the street and asks them to figure out where they are.  https://www.geoguessr.com/
• Allows students to type in any city, state, or country to view an archive of historical photographs and other documents. It’s a unique way to help them learn about history.  http://www.whatwasthere.com//
• Short videos about numbers that help kids explore complex math topics and make math more fun.  https://www.numberphile.com/
• A human visualization platform that allows students to explore the human body in really cool ways. https://human.biodigital.com/login?returnUrl=/dashboard
• Helps kids learn to appreciate the arts by providing them with the opportunity to play games, conduct investigations, and explore different forms of art.  https://artsology.com/
• Lets kids play instruments online. Instruments include the guitar, piano, pan flute, drums, and bongos. https://www.virtualmusicalinstruments.com/
• Crafts, activities, bulletin board designs, and finger plays for early education teachers and parents to use with kids.http://www.preschoolexpress.com/
• A large selection of fun songs to help teach preschool and kindergarten students https://www.songsforteaching.com/preschoolkindergarten.htm
• Resource section includes free flashcards, coloring pages, worksheets, and other resources for children, teachers, and parents.  https://supersimple.com/
• Life skills curriculum for students in grades K-12. Their resources include strategies for teaching social and emotional skills.  https://www.overcomingobstacles.org/
• Coding for ages 4-10  https://www.kodable.com/
• No need to travel to one of the Smithsonian’s zoos or museums — this website brings your child everything from live video of the National Zoo to the Smithsonian Learning Lab right to their screen https://www.si.edu/kids
• Cool Kid Facts gives your child access to educational videos, pictures, quizzes, downloadable worksheets, and infographics. They can use these to learn about geography, history, science, animals, and even the human body.  https://www.coolkidfacts.com/
• This interactive website, hosted by the U.S. Government Publishing Office, allows your child to see the ins and outs of the U.S. government by taking a series of learning adventures with none other than Benjamin Franklin. https://bensguide.gpo.gov/
• This NASA initiative covers a wide range of topics including weather, climate, atmosphere, water, energy, plants, and animals.  https://climatekids.nasa.gov/
• Ask Dr. Universe is a science-education project from Washington State University. Kids can send Dr. Universe any question they may have about history, geography, plants, animals, technology, engineering, math, culture, and more. https://askdruniverse.wsu.edu/
• Your child can play games, learn fun facts, and find out how to turn coin collecting into a hobby.  https://www.usmint.gov/learn/kids
• From rainbows to tornadoes and winter storms to tsunamis, meteorologist Crystal Wicker breaks down the fascinating world of weather.  http://www.weatherwizkids.com/
• Kids Think Design explores careers in fashion design, graphic design, interior design, book design, product design, film and theatre, architecture, animation, and environmental design. http://www.kidsthinkdesign.org/
• This educational website hosted by the Smithsonian Museum takes a deep dive into ocean life. https://ocean.si.edu/
• Brainscape offers over a million flashcard decks for every subject, entrance exam, and certification imaginable.  https://www.brainscape.com/
• The Theta Music Trainer offers a series of online courses and games for ear training and music theory. https://trainer.thetamusic.com/en
• Banzai exposes students to real-world financial dilemmas to teach them the importance of smart money management. https://www.teachbanzai.com/
• Innerbody explores the 11 bodily systems in depth. With interactive models and detailed explanations, this website will help them learn more about the internal mechanics of the amazing human body.https://www.innerbody.com/htm/body.html
• Alcumus is specifically designed to provide high-performing students with a challenging curriculum appropriate to their abilities   https://artofproblemsolving.com/alcumus
• Find and fix learning gaps  https://www.mobymax.com/
• Algebra games for kids  https://www.dragonboxapp.com/
• Fractions practice http://www.mathchimp.com/freddysfractions.php
• Education for kids all topics https://www.ducksters.com
• Math and logic problems for ages 5 and up to adult: https://www.aplusclick.org/
• Science podcasts to listen to with your kids https://medium.com/kidslisten/19-great-science-podcasts-you-can-listen-to-with-kids-6fe46ac506b8#.rb23iuaw6
• Alaskan Wildlife cams http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=viewing.webcams
• Coding with Star Wars  https://code.org/starwars
• Tons and tons and tons of games some learning some just fun     https://www.crazygames.com/
• Crafts, projects, science, recipes for young children https://www.funology.com/
• Amphibian unit studies  https://premeditatedleftovers.com/naturally-frugal-mom/amphibians-unit-study-resources/
• Engineering challenges with things you have at home: https://thehomeschoolscientist.com/paper-structures-engineering-challenge/
• Online photograph jigsaw puzzles  You can set the pieces from 6-1000+  https://www.jigsawexplorer.com/
• Toddler and preschool age ideas  https://preschoolinspirations.com/
• 100 free online educational program ideas: https://savingdollarsandsense.com/free-educational-resources-for-kids/?fbclid=IwAR2UGmsPc7PImViwJ9mID1u7NKS9Vccq_CO1NAR0VqesLkj4Vog7HJbhZJ8
• Bible story resources early childhood – 6th grade: https://www.life.church/kids/media/

Similarly, Varsity Tutors have a list of free resources available to students and parents. Varsity Tutors is the largest live learning platform in the United States and we have numerous free resources to help students and parents cope with school and summer camp closures. Check out their free resources:

• Virtual School Day: Nearly 200 free, live K-12 classes available all day long intended to help parents fill their children’s day with enriched learning. Some popular classes are “Intro to Spanish for Kids”, “Coolest Women in History”, “Java Programming Basics”, and “The Story of Your Favorite Fairy Tales”. We have received exceptional ratings from thousands of parents and students.
• Virtual Summer Camps: Free half-day summer camps are a week-long, with enrichment-based classes in subjects like foreign languages, chess, theater, coding, Minecraft, how to be a detective, photography, and more. These live, interactive camps will be taught by expert instructors vetted through Varsity Tutors’ platform. We already have 300+ camps scheduled for the summer and 2,000 families per day signing up.
• Adaptive Diagnostic Assessments: Measure a student’s proficiency and identify strengths and weaknesses in hundreds of subjects. Get an effective learning plan along with free tools to improve.
• Varsity Learning Tools: More than 250,000 free practice problems in over 200 subjects. Also available as mobile applications.

Please feel free to share this with other parents during this time of need!

Do you know of any other educational resources to add to this list?

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