Today’s elementary school kids grew up in the digital age, and they love computer-based activities and learn from them easily. Learning and sharing online isn’t just for students though. There are hundreds of fantastic sites online to help elementary educators do their jobs as well. From educational videos to interactive games and even e-book publishers, classroom management advice, and teachable moments from teachers who blog, a driven elementary educator can find just about anything he or she needs among these 151 leading sites.
The sites here aren’t listed in ranking order, as they all have different strengths and will meet different readers’ needs. They’re categorized for convenience, and every one of them is packed with great content.
General Elementary Education
Many sites on elementary education do a good job of pulling together info from every class subject or just sharing advice on how teachers can work with the education system to provide the best learning experience to their youngsters.
-
Edutopia
Edutopia helps Identify trends in education and what methods are currently working. The articles present very useful information for teachers and the site provides fantastic perspective on a number of issues.
—Keep Learning: Schools That Work—
-
International Reading Association
The International Reading Association helps promote literacy and their large base of content concerning reading is great for any teacher looking to get students more into reading.
—Keep Learning: Reading Lists—
-
Discovery Education
Discovery Education is great site from the Discovery Channel that promotes different educational initiatives and good ways teachers can change the face of learning for students. The site provides curricular resources, digital text books, along with assessment services any teacher will find useful.
—Keep Learning: Teachers—
-
Mind Shift
Mind Shift is an incredible site launched in 2010 by KQED and NPR that looks at many different aspects of education and the different ways it’s changing due to technology.
—Keep Learning: Big Ideas—
-
Teaching Channel
Teaching Channel promotes stronger educational values and works with teachers to make high quality videos that engage more students and increase the effectiveness of curriculums through technology.
—Keep Learning: Videos—
-
Arkive
Arkive focuses on different educational games that empower kids to become smarter while having fun learning the information. The content primarily focuses on science, puzzles, animals, the environment, and conservation efforts.
—Keep Learning: Team WILD—
-
Historypin
HistoryPin is an exciting and current way to learn history through tours and collections that engages users “pin” to the site. The pins are arranged chronologically to create timelines that are both memorable and fun.
—Keep Learning: Tours and Collections—
-
Education Word
Teachers need support, and peer community is one way to gain validation for your time and efforts in educating kids. EducationWorld provides that resource and it is free for you to visit, gather valuable resources, gain professional development, and network with other like-minded educators.
—Keep Learning: Lessons From Our Nation’s Schools—
-
Curriki
Curriki is an exciting community filled with volunteers, teachers, contributors, and partners who support technology blended with teaching. People can either sign up for membership or peruse over 50,000 free resources that are accessible without joining. The site offers plenty of resources and curricula ideas.
—Keep Learning: PD Workshops—
-
Share My Lesson
This online resource provides teachers with middle school lesson plans, activities, games, and other tools to use in classrooms. Teachers can add new resources or use the hundreds of tools already filed and organized by grade.
—Keep Learning: Share My Lesson Community—
-
Lakeshore
Lakeshore has been in the arts and crafts supply business since 1954, providing teachers with great prices and clever ideas for elementary-age activities. Their online presence offers resources such as lesson plans, flash cards, and even a classroom designer for efficient use of space.
—Keep Learning: Crafts and Activities—
-
Vocabulary Spellingcity.com
Vocabulary Spelling City.com provides many different spelling tools, along with games, fantastic teaching resources, and videos.
—Keep Learning: Teaching Resources—
-
Teaching A People’s History
This resourceful Zinn Education Project focuses on Howard Zinn’s best-selling book, “A People’s History of the United States.” Teachers can tap this site for more than 100 free history lessons organized by theme, time period, and reading level, as well as analytical tools to help students get the most from these lessons.
-
Reading Horizons
This tool helps teachers and their students by providing research-based strategies for teaching foundational reading skills to any beginning reader. Each workshop, which lasts four to six hours, can be saved and paused at any time, and a certificate of completion is created for the reader at the end of the workshop and can be submitted for professional development credit.
—Keep Learning: Results—
-
Docs Teach
Docs Teach from the National Archives Experience is an awesome site that allows teachers to create their own teaching materials featuring thousands of primary sources from the National Archives.
—Keep Learning: Find Documents—
-
Librarian’s Internet Database
The Librarian’s Internet Database is an intuitive tool that teachers can recommend to students, partially due to the high quality resources designed specifically for kids and teens. Additionally, they have special collections and a large array of newspapers and magazines to view.
—Keep Learning: Resources by Subject—
-
TeacherTech
Teacher’s Tech is an app for iPhones and iPads that offers resources and news that can save you time and help to avoid headaches. This app offers step-by-step instructions on how to set up and use the most popular and useful Web 2.0 tools for any classroom.
—Keep Learning: Micro-blogging for Teachers—
-
Teaching With Simplicity
Mandy Neal’s goal with this blog is to provide other teachers with tools to simplify the teacher’s life in the classroom. Her ideas also are great to use in the home if you have elementary-age kids…she offers everything, from crafts to ways to build character.
—Keep Learning: Give Me 5 Strategy—
-
The Concord Consortium
This nonprofit educational research and development organization is dedicated to making technology work for science, math, and engineering. Their site focuses on their mission, but the team also offers resources for home and school at all educational levels.
—Keep Learning: Featured Elementary School Resources—
-
TIMESAVERSforTEACHERS.com
Teachers always need more time, and if time isn’t available, then they need more help. Timesavers for Teachers provides that help through tools such as worksheets, classroom activities, class management ideas, and other resources that can save time and avoids headaches.
—Keep Learning: The Substitute Teacher Kit—
-
Smart Classroom Management
Smart Classroom Management provides simple, yet effective, tips and strategies for managing any classroom. Michael Linsin, site author, has written several authoritative books on classroom management, including “Dream Class: How to Transform Any Group of Students into the Class You’ve Always Wanted.”
—Keep Learning: About Dream Class—
-
Learning in Bliss
Marcia is a teacher who loves technology, and she uses it to enable exciting learning situations in upper elementary classes. She shares resources, links, “how-to” articles, and ideas that can make your teaching experiences fun, too.
—Keep Learning: Goin on a Blog Hunt—
-
Fact Monster
Fact Monster is a great site from “Information Please” that breaks information down into different subjects, presenting it in a way that is meant to engage children and be the most beneficial.
—Keep Learning: World—
-
Grammar Ninja Game
Greg Lieberman studies computer sciences, and makes games for elementary-age children to help them learn. The Grammar Ninja is one of those games, a tool that teaches grammar and sentence structure in a fun and kid-friendly environment.
—Keep Learning: Portfolio—
-
Lesson Plans Page
HotChalk’s Lesson Plans Page makes life easier for teachers by providing over 4,000 relevant lesson plans created by teachers. This site also offers a format for teacher networking, as lesson plans are shared, discussed, and modified to fit various grade levels or age groups.
—Keep Learning: News & Tips for Teachers—
-
GrammarBook.com
The late Jane Straus encouraged proper English usage through her book, “The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation.” This site and its accompanying newsletter continue her work in a fun, easy-to-use environment for both teachers and students.
—Keep Learning: Word nerds: Verbal custodians trapped in a time warp—
-
Digital History
Digital History is all about learning history in a digital format. The site contains historical timelines, interviews, primary sources, and multimedia stories. Teachers also can find classroom handouts, lesson plans, quizzes, history topics — all defined by historical eras.
—Keep Learning: Lesson Plans—
-
RubiStar
RubiStar helps teachers quickly and effectively create rubrics for different projects. The site has teachers fill in a form and expedites the process.
—Keep Learning: Reading—
-
Fun For First
Fun for First is a blog written by a group of individuals focused on providing ideas and activities for the youngest school kids. The ideas are easy to implement, and you’ll never run out of projects to use in your classroom.
—Keep Learning: Whole Brain Rules Freebie and Giveaway Winner!—
-
Education Station
Education Station is a great site for parents to search through many different educational resources, allowing their children to catch up, if behind, or also accelerate their learning if their ahead in their school’s curriculum.
—Keep Learning: Mathematics—
-
Laura Candler
Laura Candler’s Teaching Resources provides hundreds of different printable ideas for activities and useful schoolwork sheets designed to stimulate children and engage them further.
—Keep Learning: Strategies—
-
Cool Cat Teacher Blog
Cool Cat Teacher Blog follows Vicki Davis, a teacher and author that is heavily involved in improving the education process. Her blog also has a very engaging podcast that is great for teachers to get insightful information.
—Keep Learning: Books—
-
Teaching Ideas
Teaching Ideas stresses how instead of throwing information at students to simply memorize, the focus should be on fostering an environment conducive to learning ideas. The site’s content is great for teachers looking to reconfigure their content.
—Keep Learning: Maths—
-
SmartBrief Education
SmartBrief Education outlines the most important information pertaining to education and uses a concise and informative method to quickly relay news.
—Keep Learning: Academic Specialization—
-
Little Giraffes Teaching Ideas
Little Giraffes Teaching Ideas is a fun site with great tools for teachers, such as monthly themes, ABC Activities, Book Ideas, and much, much more.
—Keep Learning: Centers—
-
The Teacher’s Corner
The Teachers Corner is great because of its wealth of teacher resources, lesson plans, worksheets, activities, and more. In addition to seasonal items and useful collaboration tools, the side has a great message board for engaging with other teachers.
—Keep Learning: Teacher Resources—
-
Reading and Writing Project
The Reading and Writing Project helps promote the core values associated with young people becoming avid and skilled readers through a lifelong love for books. The project instills integral values in students and has fantastic evens throughout each year.
—Keep Learning: Professional Development—
-
C-Span Classroom
C-Span Classroom is a source of educational materials for social studies teachers, which encourages them to promote current events in the classroom to better their own curriculums.
—Keep Learning: Teacher Opportunities—
-
leArning3.com
LeArnin3.cOm helps teaching guide parents and students towards better supplementary content for students. They provide useful solutions, curriculum and assessment guidance as well.
—Keep Learning: Tools—
-
Learning A-Z
Learning A-Z ranks books by their grade level and provides different educational tools to promote better reading skills. The site helps students through their in-depth activities pertaining to books.
—Keep Learning: Books—
-
Ranger Rick On-line
Ranger Rick On-Line is one of the most well-known children’s magazines and regularly publishes high-quality articles on different animals and environmental information. The site has effectively moved into the 21st century, providing great games that promote stronger educational aspects.
—Keep Learning: Ranger Rick Jr—
-
FamilyEducation
Family Education – School and Learning is a good tool for letting parents contribute to the educational trajectory of their children. The site is dense with useful links for guiding children all the way through college. This is a great source for teachers to pass along to parents.
—Keep Learning: Learning Differences—
-
Strategies in Teaching
Strategies in Teaching outlines all the best ways teachers can collaborate and help each other improve at what they do. The posts all frame different problems in the education system in interesting and engaging manners.
—Keep Learning: Teaching with Math Tasks: Systems of Equations—
-
Lesson Planet
Lesson Planet is a search engine designed for teachers to educate themselves on different subjects and create effective learning objectives for students in the process. While they cover many different subjects, the material is incredibly in-depth.
—Keep Learning: Math—
-
Spellathon
Spellathon is a digital, sponsored spelling competition that helps raise money for the learning disability charity, Mencap. The site includes over 10,000 words and is very inclusive.
—Keep Learning: FAQ—
-
Go Social Studies Go
Go Social Studies Go is a great side that presents educating in a fun, informative way. The site’s useful links also propel it to deserving significant attention.
—Keep Learning: Cool Links—
-
K-12 Internet Resource Center
K-12 Internet Resource Center is great for teachers in any grade to find good supplementary tools for just about anything they would need. The site provides great advice on computers and the internet as well.
—Keep Learning: Professional Development—
-
Education.com
Education.com is a well-recognized site in the education community, largely due to its wide-ranging content and ability to instill large amounts of change into the education system. Their in-depth sections on various activities, worksheets, and workbooks are just a few of the areas they touch on.
—Keep Learning: Workbooks—
-
TVOKids: Spelling Bee Game
TVOKids is an interactive spelling bee game that helps kids up to the age of 11 further refine their spelling skills. The site’s colorful, inviting layout makes learning a fun experience for any child.
—Keep Learning: Ages 6-11—
-
SmartyGames
SmartyGames is a useful site that provides really great educational games for children to refine their skill sets in a number of areas. The site’s colorful layout is particularly engaging as well.
—Keep Learning: Math—
-
Kindergarten-lessons.com
Kingergarten-Lessons.com breaks down tips for educators into many useful areas and encourages them to better their teaching methods through the resources provided on the site.
—Keep Learning: Math—
-
Book Adventure
Book Adventure is a great site for promoting reading in children and maintaining that interest as they grow older. The site has useful sections for anyone who uses the site, from kids, to teachers, to parents.
—Keep Learning: Teachers Lounge—
-
LessonPlans.ws
LessonPlans.ws provides a ton of solutions for teachers to develop better lesson plans and save them the time from the cumbersome aspects of planning lessons.
—Keep Learning: Grades 3-5—
-
School Express
School Express helps teachers manage content in classrooms and features over 17,000 worksheets for them to use, increasing the effectiveness of lesson plans.
—Keep Learning: Make Worksheets—
-
K12 Lesson Plans
K12 Lesson Plans is a site that provides free teacher and classroom websites, allowing for better communication among teachers, students, and parents as well. Getting started is incredibly easy and the site is designed with teachers in mind.
—Keep Learning: Sample Site—
-
The Annenberg Foundation
The Annenberg Foundation is a comprehensive teaching resource, contributing to professional development across the curriculum. The site has a great video series and also tips for improving lesson plans.
—Keep Learning: Interactive—
-
Busy Teacher Cafe
Busy Teacher’s Café is for K-6 teachers and understands their busy schedule. The site provides themes, strategies, and even printable resources to help teachers stay on top of the constant stream of work coming through.
—Keep Learning: Strategies—
-
4th Grade Frolics
4th Grade Frolics is a useful site that helps 4th grade teachers with the particular challenges people confront when working with that specific age group. The author uses the site to paint a picture of what it’s like in her classroom and the content is great for helping other teachers understand what’s currently working in education.
—Keep Learning: My Classroom—
Teachers’ Blogs
There’s hardly a better place to learn about elementary education than from an actual working professional. The sites listed here are created by teachers, for teachers, and include stories from the classroom and more general information that elementary educators have learned on the job.
-
Van Meter Library Voice
Shannon McClintock Miller is not your stereotype librarian. She is an award-winning advocate for learning who loves noisy enthusiasm. Her website includes a blog, publications, library resources, and ideas that can turn your classroom into a creative collaboration for learning fun.
—Keep Learning: Lets All Connect For Dot Day and Make Our Mark On The World!—
-
Education Nation
Education Nation from NBC News provides some of the most up-to-date information pertaining to the current state of education and the ways we can all work together.
—Keep Learning: Events—
-
TeachThought
TeachThought provides a platform for teachers to learn using 21st-century technology and bending it to explore new learning models such as blended learning or project-based learning. The goal is an open-source model of teaching and learning that can benefit anyone who wants to grasp knowledge.
—Keep Learning: Mobile Learning Trends—
-
Apponomy & iPad Literature Circles
Apponomy is a useful site that looks at how different digital materials are further changing the landscape of elementary education. Site-runner Diane Darrow works extensively to promote high quality materials to further the field.
—Keep Learning: iPad Literature Circles—
-
Teaching is Elementary
Nancy enrolled in an Assistive Technology graduate program and then began to blog about how she used this newfound knowledge in her classroom. Her fourth-grade students seem to benefit and any reader can benefit, too, from tips, ideas, and methods that Nancy shares on her site.
—Keep Learning: Helping Kids Cope with Terrorism—
-
3rd Grade Thoughts
Stephanie is a third-grade teacher who shares her teaching insights on her blog, along with tools that other teachers can use in their classrooms. Feel free to share your thoughts with her, but beware…she might turn you into a Pinterest addict, all in the name of her love for teaching.
—Keep Learning: Whole Brain Teaching—
-
Mr. Nussbaum
Greg Nussbaum teaches sixth grade Advanced Academic students in Virginia. Nussbuam believes that technology can help enhance a learning environment, especially with games that reinforce skills as well as provide challenges. His site is built upon this belief, as he shares his ideas and resources for a number of classroom topics.
—Keep Learning: Mr. Nussbaum Premium FEATURES—
-
Mrs. Cassidy’s Classroom Blog
Ms. Cassidy’s Classroom Blog is a classroom of students at a school in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan in Canada. Each student has a blog of their own and then the entire classroom has a blog as well.
—Keep Learning: Reader’s Theatre—
-
The Polka-Dotted Teacher
Jessica Carlton shows her enthusiasm for teaching through this colorful site and its contents. She offers award-winning ideas on how to have fun in the classroom while teaching a variety of topics, as well as ways to teach kids how to appreciate the world around them.
—Keep Learning: Teachers/Nurses Appreciation Week Gifts—
-
The Teaching Thief
The Teaching Thief is run by a teacher who has taught for 6 years and primarily has focused on 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades. The blog posts great books for children in the midst of elementary school and is a fantastic resource for those wanting more comprehensive insight into teaching.
—Keep Learning: Fiction Friday 2013—
-
Teacher Created Resources
Teacher Created Resources is a great site to check out as a teacher who is looking for additional calendar tools and wants to increase their effectiveness as an educator. Additionally, it will save significant time designing smaller items and allow focus to remain on creating an engaging curriculum.
—Keep Learning: Geography—
-
The Book Monsters
The Book Monsters is a blog that looks at different children’s books and provides reviews and great information on what to look for. Additionally, it provides great advice for those looking to recommend new books to students.
—Keep Learning: Author Archive—
-
Think * Share * Teach
Think * Share * Teach follows a 4th grade teacher as she gives first-hand experience to teaching her students and useful tidbits she’s picking up along the way. Her commitment to education radiates in her posts and is great for elementary educators looking to connect.
—Keep Learning: My Classroom Website—
-
Reading with Mrs. Bast
Reading with Mrs. Bast aims to engage students by encourage them to become lifelong readers and continuously focus on promoting reading initiatives.
—Keep Learning: Reading Apps—
-
Adventures in 6th grade
Adventures in 6th Grade is a blog written by a teacher and for other teachers. She highlights different activities she’s working with her students on and the joys of being a teacher.
—Keep Learning: My Classroom—
-
The Idea Back Pack
The Idea Back Pack is an educational blog that helps teachers have the resources and fundamentals to effectively impact students and further their impact. The site provides useful advice and even organizational ideas.
—Keep Learning: Organization Ideas—
-
Pencils, Books, and Dirty Looks
Pencils, Books, and Dirty Looks is a fun, colorful blog that gives teachers great tips for the classroom, including great design advice.
—Keep Learning: Monday Made It—
-
Primary Inspired
Primary Inspired is run by a 1st-2nd Grade Teacher and loves watching students develop and foster stronger relationships. Her blog looks at useful educational tips and conveys the best information possible.
—Keep Learning: Flip Flop Swap – Addition to 20 Pack—
Interactive Tools & Games
Educational games and interactive activities are wildly popular with elementary school kids, and teachers with computer-equipped classrooms should be sure to make use of the great games and activities available to them.
-
The Dino Directory
The Dino Dictionary breaks down the differences between many different dinosaurs in this great source from the Natural History Museum. The “Kids Only” material is also a great tool for teachers to give to their students.
—Keep Learning: Explore—
-
Kleinspiration
Kleinspiration is a forward thinking educational resource that aims to combine traditional learning elements with technology to promote stronger values in children. The site’s useful sections, including “work together” and “tiny tech tips” provide all the tools for teachers to jumpstart their teaching methods.
—Keep Learning: Work Together—
-
TeacherTube
TeacherTube is an incredibly comprehensive tool for educators to develop curriculum plans, view useful videos, and get valuable advice on running a classroom.
—Keep Learning: Docs—
-
TeachersWithApps
Not all education apps are created equal, so Jayne Clare and Anne Rachel joined together to form TWA to help teachers and their students wade through these apps to find the best. Clare and Rachel also can consult with you to build an app that you might need, aligned with Common Core Standards.
—Keep Learning: 10 of the Best ABC iPhone Apps for Kids—
-
Storybird
Storybird is a website that acts as a digital publishing platform, allowing users to create, read, and share visual stories between each other. Typically they are art-inspired and feature colorful imagery.
—Keep Learning: Teachers—
-
Polleverywhere
Poll Everywhere is one of the best ways to create stylish polls that capture attention. These polls can be used anywhere, through texting, web, or Twitter, and the price is right — free for audiences of fewer than 40 people (perfect for a classroom!).
—Keep Learning: How Poll Everywhere Works—
-
TimeMaps
TimeMaps helps students engage in history in a creative and comprehensive way through timelines that make history accessible and understandable. The tools focus on the big picture and on specific historic episodes, providing a thorough understanding of events within contexts that are memorable.
—Keep Learning: Time Map of World History—
-
Mindomo
So, you want to use a mind map, but you’re intimidated by the hundreds of tools available and the learning curve time? Use Mindomo, a tool that is easy to use and that comes with detailed instructions and ideas for using mind maps.
—Keep Learning: Why Mindomo Desktop?—
-
KidsKnowIt
The Totally Free Children’s Learning Network is peer-reviewed for accuracy. Although the site contains ads to help pay for its goal of helping kids learn through interactive games, those ads are unobtrusive and do not detract from the site’s speed or mission.
—Keep Learning: Educational Songs—
-
In Class App
In Class App is a useful app that helps students reorganize their priorities, share notes, and maximize their learning potential. An added bonus is that the app is free.
—Keep Learning: Gallery—
-
Discovery Education’s Free Puzzlemaker
Anyone can use Puzzlemaker to create and print customized word games and math puzzles, using personal word lists. Just choose the type of puzzle from a list and make it immediately for classroom or home use — for free.
—Keep Learning: Math Squares—
-
Timerime
Use TimeRime’s web application in the classroom to create, view, and compare interactive events in any topic through a timeline. Timelines can be filled with movies, maps, text, and music to help create a fun tool that kids will remember.
—Keep Learning: TimeRime Edu Standard—
-
e-Learningforkids.org
Every elementary teacher knows that their students need to master the core basics if they are to succeed in school. The pressure is off on students and teachers both with this tool, which enables students to learn free on the Internet through best-in-class courseware in math, science, reading, and keyboarding.
—Keep Learning: Math Courses—
-
Fun Fonix
Fun Fonix provides a plethora of tools that make learning interactive and fun. You can find phonics worksheets, free printable phonics workbooks for kids, and games in topics that range from math to science. These tools also are great for ESL or adult literacy programs.
—Keep Learning: Phonics Worksheets—
-
neoK12
neoK12 is a large bank of educational videos on a variety of subjects. Students from kindergarten through 12th grade can use the site to gain a wider breadth of knowledge and more aptly solidify their educational route.
—Keep Learning: Animals Wildlife—
-
Online Hieroglyphics Translator
Online Hieroglyphics Translator is a very cool idea that helps translate any word, name, or phrase into hieroglyphics. The site is very straightforward and leaves no room for confusion.
-
AplusMath: Money Flashcards
Teachers can introduce their K-12 students to this site, which can act as an interactive math tutor. Game rooms, flashcards, and puzzles all help students get a grip on math — some games are available for smartphones, too.
—Keep Learning: What’s New—
-
The Story Starter
The Story Starter is an excellent teaching tool that randomly generates over three million story starters. Use it to break writer’s block or to generate ideas about a story. This site was selected as “The Best of the Best” in creativity by Writer’s Digest Magazine.
—Keep Learning: Story Starter for Kids—
-
B-EYE
Andy Giger is interested in the seemingly odd combination of art, science, and communication. But, the Internet makes this juxtaposition work in ideas like his B-EYE, a tool that can let watchers see the world through the eyes of a Honey Bee.
—Keep Learning: IWISTER #4 – Build your own stereogram—
-
Quizlet
Any free resource is good, but when it comes with sample study sets and support it becomes even better. Quizlet is a great way to develop quizzes that educators can use to develop lesson plans or to test plans using a professional set of questions.
—Keep Learning: You Can Study Anything—
-
Typing Club
Typing Club helps teachers monitor their students typing progress to see how fast they’re learning to properly type on a computer. Along with tracking tools and other useful metrics, they also allow teachers to customize their lesson plans.
—Keep Learning: Get Started—
-
Web 2.0 Cool Tools for Schools
Web 2.0 Cool Tools for Schools is loaded with great materials for teachers to more effectively work with students. The site is so dense with material and features almost 20 categories.
—Keep Learning: Collaborative Tools—
-
Exploratorium
The Exploratorium in San Francisco is one of the best science centers in the country and provides incredibly engaging methods for keeping the attention of children. The activities at the Exploratorium promote the imaginations of students on an incredible level.
—Keep Learning: Explore—
-
Nat Geo Education: Mapping
Nat Geo Education: Mapping is a very interesting site that shows a variety of maps around the country, along with overlays of interesting information pertaining to weather, environmental issues, and more. Additionally, there are games for kids that present maps in a fun way.
—Keep Learning: Fun With Maps—
-
The Magic School Bus Games
The Magic School Bus Games is an online portal of educational games based on the book series, The Magic School Bus. The games all convey useful building blocks of knowledge to help any students.
—Keep Learning: Where Will The Bus Take You?—
-
IXL Learning
IXL Learning breaks down educating children into useful sections ranging from Pre-K through 8th grade, then focusing on algebra and geometry as well.
—Keep Learning: Practice—
-
Gameaquarium
Gameaquarium breaks down educational games into many different categories that are intuitive for learning in children. The site also has videos and eBook materials for children as they age.
—Keep Learning: Games and Activities—
-
The 1:1 Classroom
The 1:1 Classroom posts different musings from a 3rd grade teacher in a 1:1 environment. The site highlights interesting developments in education and frequently ties to current events.
—Keep Learning: Does Education Need Its Own Edward Snowden?—
-
Internet4Classrooms
Internet4Classrooms helps students build the important skills that are necessary to successfully gain the education they desire. The different skills that are offered range from kindergarten to 8th grade.
—Keep Learning: Kindergarten Skills—
-
TurtleDiary
Turtle Diary is an educational website that teaches students through engaging games that are fun and with content that is catered to specific grades and the work they will typically face. Subjects typically are math, English, and science, and there are even supplementary worksheets.
—Keep Learning: Games by Subject—
-
Animaps
Animaps is a simple and easy-to-use site that allows teachers to create and view informative and animated maps, all for free. The tutorial is very straightforward and useful to those even with little computer experience.
—Keep Learning: Get Started—
-
Funbrain
Funbrain is a site full of engaging, entertaining educational games designed for children. The useful tools largely make a useful foundation for students developing.
—Keep Learning: Math Arcade—
-
AAA Math
AAA Math is a site featuring thousands of interactive arithmetic lessons, which allows students for sufficient coursework to refine their math skills. Additionally, the content is sorted by subject and grade level, so time won’t be wasted looking for appropriate math problems.
—Keep Learning: Algebra—
-
StarFall
StarFall helps children learn to read and provides extremely adequate resources for furthering their education through engaging and fun reads.
—Keep Learning: ABC’s – Let’s Get Ready to Read—
-
Phonics Student Online Components
Phonics Student Online Components helps educate kids on the best ways to learn and highlights some pretty innovative methods. Aside from breaking down by grade, they also provide a breakdown of subject-specific coursework students can expect to encounter in each grade.
—Keep Learning: Memory Cards—
Books & Publishers
Some publishers focus specifically on educational books, and emphasize elementary-appropriate material. There are even those that have branched out into e-books and other modern publishing formats as a way of catering to the needs of elementary school kids and educators.
-
TeachingBooks.net
Every teacher has at least one “bored” student or more, because they are either too far ahead or behind in learning a particular topic. This site can help keep those students engaged by making books come to life through ideas such as meet-the-author movies and book trailers. Teachers also gain benefits such as book guides and lesson plans.
—Keep Learning: Book Guides & Lesson Plans—
-
O’Block Books Educational Materials
O’Block Books Educational Materials is a very dense resource for elementary students from preschool through sixth grade. The site provides fantastic resources for alphabet, reading, Spanish, social studies, and learning in many other areas.
—Keep Learning: Reading—
-
Evan Moor
Evan Moor Educational Publishers is one of the most prominently publishing companies when it comes to educational materials. Their wide range of courses and detailed methods for helping students overcome any difficulties is particularly useful.
—Keep Learning: TeacherFileBox—
Math & Science
Math and science are important topics to get kids interested in while they’re young, and these sites have plenty of ways for elementary educators to make sure their students get a head start on these increasingly important subjects.
-
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics is dense with great elementary educator resources, partially because laying out the fundamentals of math is so crucial. The site also provides useful resource for middle and high school teachers as well.
—Keep Learning: Pre-K to Grade 5—
-
Top Banana Education
Top Banana Education Foundation is a nonprofit organization that works to help elementary-age children develop a love for math that lasts a lifetime. Teachers can use this site to gain insight into tools that make math exciting, even for kids who freeze at the sight of numbers.
—Keep Learning: My First Inside Look at Top Banana’s Approach—
-
Discovery Cube
Discovery Science Center is a nonprofit organization designed to educate young minds and to assist teachers in understanding and appreciating science, math, technology, and engineering. The center, located in California, offers field trips and camps. Their online presence provides a teacher education network and other resources for teachers.
—Keep Learning: Resources for Teachers—
-
The Math [email protected]
The Math Forum is the leading online resource for teachers to use to help students improve their math skills. Use this site for a wealth of problems and puzzles to use in classrooms, as well as for resources such as online mentoring, team problem solving, and professional development.
—Keep Learning: Teacher Exchange—
-
Jason Learning
JASON Learning is a nonprofit organization that helps connect students to real science and exploration. The curricula, tools, and training are designed to encourage students to enter STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math).
—Keep Learning: Curricula—
-
Science Kids
Science Kids makes science fun and engaging for children and does so through colorful imagery as well as simple facts that are easily understood.
—Keep Learning: Experiments—
-
Science4Us.com
Science4Us is great for kids to have interactive educational tools promoting stronger knowledge concerning science. Their incredible array of tools can help any student further their education.
—Keep Learning: Physical—
-
The Lawrence Hall of Science
The Lawrence Hall of Science at the University of California, Berkeley uses the children’s section of their site to provide quality, entertaining information that promotes stronger values and great sources for science education.
—Keep Learning: Collections—
-
Dreambox
Dreambox Learning helps children by using adaptive learning methods to help get children behind back up to speed and assist them as much as they can along the way.
—Keep Learning: Resources—
-
Steve Spangler Blog
Steve Spangler’s Blog highlights a bunch of fun science initiatives he helps put together. His level of renown is almost unparalleled and frequently engages in some of the most entertaining and educational material.
—Keep Learning: Science Experiments—
-
Jump Start
Jump Start has long been regarded as a fantastic educational resource through the many different games they provide. The site shows all the different games children can play that are not only tied to some of the biggest children’s movies currently, but are also incredibly engaging.
—Keep Learning: Games—
-
Science Buddies
Science Buddies frames learning in a very fun and upbeat light, which encourages students to stay focused and frequently engage in science projects.
—Keep Learning: Project Guide—
-
Super Teacher Worksheets
Super Teacher Worksheets is a site dense with useful worksheets for teachers to use, allowing them to more effectively cater to the rapidly changing demands of education. The worksheets can save crucial time from having to design menial activities that are still crucial to educational development.
—Keep Learning: Fractions (Basic)—
-
MathGameTime
MathGameTime is a site dense with games designed to sharpen student’s math skills and it even breaks down the games by grade, ranging from Pre-K to 7th grade.
—Keep Learning: Featured Games—
-
Free Math Worksheets
Free Math Worksheets is a great way for teachers to focus on other aspects of teaching by using this website to quickly compile worksheets pertaining to math up to 6th grade.
—Keep Learning: Math Worksheets, Categories, and Topics List—
-
Let’s Play Math!
Let’s Play Math! Is a great site for promoting different ways to make math fun for children and reinforce their development. The site has a very useful section on internet math resources as well.
—Keep Learning: Internet Math Resources—
-
Math and Reading Help
Math and Reading Help goes straight to the root of early education, promoting the reinforcement of different teaching elements. The tutoring section is particularly useful, as it outlines how to successfully administer tutoring to children.
—Keep Learning: Tutoring—
-
HomeSchoolmath
HomeSchoolmath shows how math can be invigorating and how students can best prepare themselves to be successful in school. The breakdown by subject and grade are particularly insightful.
—Keep Learning: Math Worksheets—
-
Cool Math
Cool Math helps make learning fun for children and spin math as the cool and happening thing. The site boasts math advice for students of any age and even has a section with featured cool math games.
—Keep Learning: Math Dictionary—
-
Math Bits
Math Bits breaks down the teaching process into small, easy-to-understand pieces that makes digesting different knowledge much more intuitive.
—Keep Learning: Jr Math Bits—
-
A+ Click
A+ click is a clean-cut site that provides the essentials to promoting better educational tools in students, no matter the grade. Teachers can browse content by grade and also by subject.
—Keep Learning: Grade 8—
Art, Reading & Music
“The Liberal Arts,” as these topics would be called at the college level, are great for stimulating kids’ creativity and teaching them to think critically about subjective topics.
-
instructables
Instructables is a site where teachers can explore, document, and share creative endeavors. This section of Instructables offers ideas and tips on developing elementary school art activities. Even a self-professed non-artist can explore and share these ideas with students!
—Keep Learning: Map Monsters—
-
Arts & Scraps
Use recycled tools for learning and fun from Arts & Scraps, a Detroit-based nonprofit that uses 28 tons of recycled industrial materials to make art kits. Gain ideas from their site and learn how you can order bulk-packed products, including kits that can be customized to your learning themes.
—Keep Learning: Programs—
-
The Children’s Music Network
CMN celebrates the positive power of music in children’s lives through sharing songs, ideas, and community based upon this belief. This is a membership organization, but even nonmembers can benefit from the information on this site, including a blog, publications, and resources to tap for classes and activities.
—Keep Learning: Children’s Music Links—
-
art in action
Art in Action is an engaging site designed to promote stronger art values through after-school enrichment programs. The non-profit also focuses on fostering stronger education development and creativity among children, crucial at young ages.
—Keep Learning: Art Education—
-
Art With Mr. E
Ted Edlinger, a Tennessee Art Teacher of the Year, offers his ideas and experiences in this blog about building art programs for elementary school children. His art and his encouragement in joining arts organizations is further proof that he loves his work and his artistic mission.
—Keep Learning: Line Design w/ Shading- The Steps—
-
Making Art Fun!
If you’re seeking free art resources for elementary art classes, this site can provide you with what you need — from learning to draw techniques to project freebies. Sign up for the newsletter to learn when new items are posted on this site.
—Keep Learning: National Standards for Visual Arts Education—
-
Pam Donkin
Pam Donkin, an award-winning children’s music entertainer, is available to perform and to teach nationwide. She shares some of her magic on this website, which offers songs and activities, music downloads, videos, and other fun resources.
—Keep Learning: Resources—
-
Reading Rockets
Reading Rockets works with students who struggle to read and provides a strong foundation for them to succeed and not fall behind. Additionally, the site has great tools for teachers to help students.
—Keep Learning: Helping Struggling Readers—
-
KinderART
KinderART provides fantastic art lesson plans to engage children and further their ability to learn. The site breaks down lesson plans into many different areas, so teachers can tailor their plans to any medium.
—Keep Learning: Lessons By Age/Grade—
-
Success for All
Success for All Foundation aims to aid those who may not have the most opportunities to achieve like they could. The initiative is largely broken into three parts, early childhood, elementary, and middle/high school. The organization is known for its high-achievements and helping push students in the right direction.
—Keep Learning: Elementary—
Assorted Useful Sites
A creative elementary education teacher can find great uses for even unconventional classroom tools. Even just reading about what other teachers are doing, and participating in online communities for teachers, can help educators develop new curricula and expand their horizons and those of their students.
-
Vimeo
Vimeo was founded in 2004 by a group of filmmakers who wanted to share their creations. Today, anyone can use this format to create and share video lessons or moments, including soundtracks and other lessons that you can learn from Vimeo’s “resident experts.”
—Keep Learning: Create Something New—
-
Ed Week Teacher
Ed Week Teacher focuses on how teachers can promote better curriculums and work better as a collective in the education system. The articles on the site cover just about anything you could imagine pertaining so teaching, so there’s always great content to find.
—Keep Learning: Tougher Requirements Ahead for Teacher Prep—
-
Edudemic
Edudemic handles different ways teachers can tailor their curriculum to best align itself with the currently developing trends. The site is very dense with content and great for teachers and students alike.
—Keep Learning: News for Teachers—
-
School Clipart
You’ve probably used free clipart sites before that used pop-up ads and other annoying distractions. This site eliminates those nuisances so you can pick and choose the art you need — from agriculture to web graphics — quickly and conveniently.
—Keep Learning: Create Templates, Photo Collages, Calendars & More!—
-
BBC Dimensions
BBC Dimensions is an interesting site that overlays how much space different events take up. With this information, they overlay it onto different parts of the world to draw a parallel to places people see locally.
—Keep Learning: The War On Terror—