The following is a list of additional general resources. We will continue to add online resources, including “virtual field trips," to our website posts/resource lists in the coming weeks.
National Geographic Kids (Grades PreK-8) https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/
Watch animal cameras, learn interesting tidbits about animals, see and share photos of nature, learn about different countries and try science experiments on Kids.NationalGeographic.com. There is also a "Little Kids" section for the younger explorers in your home.
West Hartford Library offers downloadable books, audio books, magazines, comics, films, and music for all ages. Visit http://www.westhartfordlibrary.org/services/ebooks_eaudio.asp or call 860-561-6990 for guidance.
PBS Kids (PreK-5) https://pbskids.org/
Many of the educational shows on PBS have their own learning section through PBSKids.org. Activities include sing-a-long songs, sorting and counting games, and videos.
PBS Learning (PK-5) PBS Learning Free standards-aligned videos, interactives, projects, lesson plans, and more.
How Stuff Works (Grades K-12) https://www.howstuffworks.com/
When your child wants to know why the sky is blue, how a tornado forms, or the answer to any number of questions, this site can help. Articles break down subjects like autos, culture, entertainment, science, money, and technology. Activities include games, quizzes, and videos
Mystery Science (Grades K-5) Mystery Science: Parent Sign-up for Mini-Lessons
This website, designed for teachers, has been offered to families at no-cost during this time of school closures (requires a parent/guardian email to sign-up). The site includes short videos on engaging topics along with optional activities using simple supplies families may already have at home (Examples of topics to explore include: What is a rainbow? Can animals laugh?)
STEM Resources
National Inventors Hall of Fame Activities designed for at-home exploration across a range of ages and grade levels; this guide incorporates innovating learning from 30 years of PK-12 STEM programming. https://www.invent.org/sites/default/files/2020-03/2020_STEMActivityGuide_Final.pdf
Coding and Computer Science Code.org is a nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to computer science in schools and increasing participation in underrepresented groups. https://studio.code.org/courses
Scratch Coding (3-5) Scratch With Scratch, you can program your own interactive stories, games, and animations — and share your creations with others in the online community.
Scratch Jr. Coding (K-2) Scratch jr. ScratchJr is a visual programming language designed to introduce coding skills to children ages 5–7. By creating projects in ScratchJr, young children can learn to think creatively and reason systematically, despite not being able to read.
Early Childhood (and beyond)
Vroom! Families of infants and toddlers to children age 5+ can sign up for https://www.vroom.org/. This is an app that provides daily ideas to build brains. It’s free and easy to use.
Story Blocks (https://www.storyblocks.org/) features a collection of 30-60 second videos of rhymes, chants and songs and finger plays in multiple languages, including ASL, appropriate for early childhood and designed as models for parents, caregivers, and library staff.
Storyline Online (https://www.storylineonline.net/
Listen to books being read-aloud and view colorful picture book pages. Closed captioning available.
Math Playground (K-5) Mathplayground.com “Play with Numbers and Give Your Brain a Workout” is the motto of Math Playground. Find games to play related to logic, number skills practice, geometry, algebra, probability, fractions and more. There are also math word problems and video instructions to help students remember how to solve them.
Khan Academy (K-12) Khan Academy Created by experts, Khan Academy’s library of trusted, standards-aligned practice and lessons covers math K-12 through early college, grammar, science, history, AP®, SAT®, and more. It’s all free for learners.. Students practice at their own pace, first filling in gaps in their understanding and then accelerating their learning.
Origo (PK-6) Origo Weekly, digital content plans for home use. The weekly plans contain activities for each day, along with digitally accessible or downloadable resources, designed for delivery by a caregiver. These resources complement the mathematical concepts and skills children are learning at their grade level.
Scholastic (K-5) Scholastic Learn At Home Resources Free access to ebooks.
More From Scholastic (PK-6) Scholastic Learn At Home Day-by-day projects to keep kids reading, thinking, and growing. Every day includes four separate learning experiences, each built around a meaningful story or video.
PreK-K
Grades 1-2
Grades 3-5
Grades 6+
Requirement:
Before you get started, you must first set up
your free account for Book Flix and Watch
& Learn Library.
username: Learning20 | password: Clifford
Video Read Alouds (PK-2) Video Read Alouds Free video read alouds of current, high quality picture books.
Starfall (PK-2) Starfall Starfall’s emphasis on phonemic awareness, systematic sequential phonics, and common sight words in conjunction with audiovisual interactivity has proven effective in teaching emergent readers. Starfall activities are research-based and align with Individual and Common Core State Standards in English language arts and mathematics.
Smithsonian (K-12)
Learning Lab:Smithsonian
Learning Hub: Learning Hub
Games:Games
Activity Pages:Activity Pages
Digital educational games and resources from Smithsonian museums, research centers, libraries, and archives,including content geared specifically toward students and teachers.
Online Zoos (PK-5)
Zoo School
Edinburgh Zoo
National Parks Virtual Field Trips (3-5)
Google Arts and Culture National Parks
Google Earth National Parks of the United States
These two websites allow students to take a virtual field trip to many of the National Parks in the United States.
Kid Citizen (K-5) https://www.kidcitizen.net Provides 8 interactive "episodes" to engage in age appropriate historical inquiry.
World Book (PK-8) World Book Online An easy-to-use guide to entertain kids and supplement classroom instruction at home. It includes games & activities to science projects and WebQuests.
Audible (PK and up) https://stories.audible.com/start-listen Instantly stream a large collection of stories, including titles across six different languages. All stories are free to stream on your desktop, laptop, phone, or tablet.
Nature Lab (PK and up) www.nature.org/naturelab The Nature Conservancy and its 550 scientists have created Nature Lab to help students learn the science behind how nature works for us and how we can help keep it running strong.
Bedtime math (K-5) Non-screen math activities
Phet (3-5+) interactive simulations for science and math
Classroom Cereal (K-5+ ) Grammar practice in free, printable short stories
Wonderopolis (K-5+) What are YOU wondering about?
