Web Resources for Students

Web Resources for K-12 Students . . . and their teachers and families

The resources and websites listed here are either designed specifically for children or have been deemed appropriate for children. The content of these resources has been written, edited, or approved by somebody for K-12 students. Not everyone has the same idea of “appropriate,” “useful” or “censorship.” Please review these sites before recommending them to colleagues, children or children’s families.

General

* Arcademic Skill Builders: Online Educational Games- http://www.arcademicskillbuilders.com/
* Braineos – FREE, interactive flashcard/game. Create your own flashcards or use sets created by other members of the community. No sign-up is necessary. You only have to log in if you want to create cards, not just to use them. No complicated learning is necessary to use Braineos–just jump right in!
* Fact Monster – dictionary, thesaurus, encyclopedia and almanacs in all subject areas. The almanacs are the strong point of this website.
* Great Web Sites for Kids – websites on all areas from the American Library Association. Resources are identified by age level (including sites for parents), and are searchable by topic, intended audience, and keyword.
* Howtoons.com
* Internet Public Library “Information You Can Trust” – a merger of the (IPL) and the Librarians’ Internet Index (LII)- http://www.ipl.org/div/kidspace/index.html
Internet Public Library for Kids
Internet Public Library for Teens
* It’s My Life – a guide to everyday life as a kid. Kids and teens (and various experts) share experiences and advice. Articles, stories, games, activities, videos, quizzes and polls. The site is organized into six “channels”: Friends; Family; School; Body; Emotions; and Money
* Kid Sites – a collection of links to “the best kid’s web sites” in many different areas of interest. Includes links for parents and teachers as well.
* Kids.gov – the official kid’s portal for the U.S. government. Includes links in all subject areas for grades K-5 and 6-8.

Search Engines

* Ask Kids – a version of “Ask Jeeves” for kids
* KidsClick – “web search for kids by librarians”
* Factmonster.com- online almanac, dictionary, encyclopedia, and homework help


Science, Mathematics and Technology

* All About Birds – a web guide from Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Look up birds by name, or browse the guide by name, taxonomy or shape. Also included are tips on getting started in birding, and lots of articles about birds. For those on the go, iBird is a dynamic and inexpensive Android/iPhone app.
* Astronomy for Kids – a “free astronomy resource designed to teach children about the exciting world of outer space.”
* FigureThis- http://www.figurethis.org/challenges/math_index.htm
* How Toons – Simple science and engineering projects with directions presented in comic book format. ”The world’s greatest D.I.Y. comic website.”
* Math Playground – http://www.mathplayground.com/index.html
“an action-packed site for elementary and middle school students. Practice your math skills, play a logic game and have some fun!”
* National Library of Virtual Manipulatives – http://nlvm.usu.edu/
a digital library containing Java applets and activities for pre K-12 mathematics. Activities are categorized by grade level and by mathematics subject area. Available in English, Español, Français, and 中文. Download a trial version, or purchase individual or multiple-station licenses. (from Utah State University)
* Neuroscience for Kids – http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/neurok.html
a wealth of information and activities about the nervous system for children and teachers.
* Science News for Kids – http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/
weekly science web-zine for children ages 9-14 offers “timely items of interest to kids, accompanied by suggestions for hands-on activities, books, articles, Web resources, and other useful materials.”
* The Science Toymaker – http://www.sciencetoymaker.org/
Do it yourself science toys and projects – totally cool.
* Toys From Trash – http://arvindguptatoys.com/toys.html
Explore science and mathematics principles (and have fun) using everyday objects.
* The WHY Files – http://whyfiles.org/
The mission of The Why Files is to explore the science, math and technology behind the news of the day, and to present those topics in a clear, accessible and accurate manner.

Humanities

* African-American History Month Resources – http://www.africanamericanhistorymonth.gov/index.html
The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join in paying tribute to the generations of African Americans who struggled with adversity to achieve full citizenship in American society.
* Asia Society for Kids – http://kids.asiasociety.org/
Stories, games and activities explore Asian culture, arts, languages and history.
* Jewish Holidays – Here are links to some of the many sites that explore and explain the history, meaning, traditions and rituals of Jewish holidays and festivals. Akhlah Children’s Guide to Jewish Holidays, the Chabad/Tzivos Hashem Guide to Jewish Holidays for Children, Children’s Judaica provides holiday information and activities as well as more general information about Judaism for kids.
* NativeTech.org - Native American Technology, Art, and Science resources: Art, science, history, culture, technology, and engineering come together in this "internet resource for indigenous ethno-technology focusing on the arts of Eastern Woodland Indian Peoples, providing historical & contemporary background with instructional how-to's & references"

Language and Literacy

* International Children’s Digital Library (ICDL) – http://en.childrenslibrary.org/
Read lots of books in all languages online…for free. Books are searchable by language, genre, topic, length, age-range, even by the color of the cover. Click on the “Read Books!” link to get started.
* Magnetic Poetry Online – http://kids.magpogames.com/
The same magnetic poetry that is on your refrigerator. Use word tiles to make sentences, phrases and poems. Play online, print and save your creations, and even email them to friends.
* Read Children's eBooks Online: www.kids.nypl.org/reading/Childrensebooks.cfm
* Spelling City – http://www.spellingcity.com/
Free, interactive spelling instruction, testing and games. Sections for students, parents and teachers. Premium accounts that offer additional resources are available.
* Typing: http://www.typeonline.co.uk/lesson1.html
* Wordsmyth – http://www.wordsmyth.net/
an online Dictionary/Thesaurus that includes audio pronunciation, antonyms, acronyms, and more. The dictionary/Thesaurus can be set to beginning, children’s or advanced levels. A Wordsmyth widget can be added to the toolbar of any browser. Etymology is missing, but the site is in flux and taking suggestions from users.

Arts

* The Art Zone – http://www.nga.gov/kids/zone/zone.htm
Interactive art that you can make online from the National Gallery of Art.
* Inside Scoop and Family Art Guides – http://www.nga.gov/kids/linkguides.htm
downloadable PDF guides for families on individual artists, art movements, exhibits and other special topics. These guides are great. They include quality, in depth analyses, information and activities…and they don’t talk down to kids!
* Destination Modern Art – http://www.moma.org/interactives/destination/
Explore New York’s Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and P.S. 1 “with a visitor from outer space.” for kids aged 5 – 8.
* Jewish Museum Kid Zone – Games, activities, information and museum guides for kids and families.
* New York Philharmonic for Kids: http://www.nyphilkids.org
* San Francisco Symphony for Kids: http://www.sfskids.org/templates/splash.asp

Health, Nutrition and Fitness

* Healthy Teeth – oral health education for elementary-aged children. Includes information about tooth care and diseases, experiments and activities . . . even a virtual trip to the dentist.
* Kids Health – “…information about health, behavior, and development from before birth through the teen years.” There are separate sections for Kids, Teens and Parents.