These are scary times for sure. With the current health situation, many communities have opted to close schools to keep children and teachers healthy. Some schools plan to close for 2 weeks and others (like our local schools, plan to close for 4 weeks). Hopefully this makes a big impact in preventing people from getting sick. During this time of school closures, many parents are left wondering what they can do to support their child’s learning at home. There are a lot of resources out there, but in doing exhaustive research, I have discovered that not all of them are appropriate for kids. Many resources are available only to teachers and other resources charge a fee. I thought it was important to compile a list of the best Free Kids Learning Resources for School Closures that you can use with your kids. I have personally checked and vetted each of these sites, and have done so using my experience as a former teacher. You might also find How to Survive Having Your Kids Home all the Time helpful.
GREAT SUPPLEMENT TO SCHOOL LEARNING PLANS
Some school districts have provided a learning plan or work packets and other information where students can work from home. Some have not provided those resources. Even if your district has come up with a learning plan during this time, the educational resources listed below are a great way to supplement it.
These websites offer wonderful games, printables, and learning activities that your kids can do from home. This way whenever school resumes, your child will be ready.
FREE KIDS LEARNING RESOURCES FOR SCHOOL CLOSURES
Curriki
This website provides digital learning content for preschool through high school. All their resources have been vetted by teachers so you know your child will be getting quality educational resources.
Age of Learning
This is the company that produces ABC Mouse, Adventure Academy, and ReadingIQ. During the Coronavirus outbreak, they are offering free access to affected schools. You do need a teacher to fill out the form to get the free access. I just contacted our teacher and was able to get access. Great for Pre-K through middle school.
Acardemics
Many free games for kids in grades 1-6 in subjects such as math, language arts, spelling, geography and typing.
BreakoutEDU
Sign up for an account and get free access to lots of learning games for kids k-12.
Classroom Cereal
Middle school kids can learn grammar, spelling, capitalization, and punctuation.
Curriculum Associates
Offers printable at-home activity packs that are designed to provide students with self-directed exercises and practice during extended absences from school. They have resources in math and reading for grades K-8.
Mystery Science
They offer full science lessons for kids in K-5. All of the lessons are designed to use items parents already have at home.
PBS LearningMedia
Always the gold standard in online education, this site offers video lessons and well as printable support materials for grades Pre-K through high school.
Prodigy
Kids will love this curriculum-aligned math game for children in Grades 1‑8.
ReadWorks
This is an online resource of reading passages and lesson plans for students of all levels in grades K-12.
San Francisco Unified School District
Here you’ll find elementary school math lessons that the district put together to help students who are affected by school closures.
Starfall
This is one of the classic learning sites that my middle schoolers loved when they were younger. They offer some free learning games for kids in grades Pre-K-3.
Libby Ebook platform
All you need is a library card to access eBooks that you can borrow and read at home. Wonderful selection for kids.
Cool Math
Math games for kids ages 13 and up. Cool Math 4 Kids is the elementary version.
FunBrain
Has your local library been closed? No problem. FunBrain allows kids to read popular books and play learning games.
Exploratorium
This San Francisco based science museum offers a ton of digital tools for teaching and learning during the school closures.
Learning Games for Kids
These educational games help kids build skills in math, language, science, social studies.
Read Write Think
Click under “parent and afterschool resources” for activities and lessons from K-12. Loaded with great resources.
Scholastic Learn at Home
The trusted Scholastic brand features cross-curricular journeys. Every day students get four separate learning experiences, built around a meaningful story or video. Best for Pre-K through 6th.
Khan Academy
Free accounts for parents and kids and lessons for grades K-12 in a variety of subjects.
Go Noodle
A great way to get kids moving and burning energy while stuck at home.
Discovery K12
This free homeschooling resource offers free accounts for kids. It focuses on a non-Common Core, traditional, secular curriculum for pre-k to 12th grade.
Walkabouts The Active Learning Platform
Because of the current situation, they are offering free access to their learning resources for grade Pre-k through 2nd. Simply go to their website and the usernames and passwords are listed. Login in with the credentials.
Nomster
I love this site! They offer fun recipe picture books that bring the whole family together. Through cooking you can practice meal prepping, family bonding, healthy eating, and learning all at once.
CommonLit
This came highly recommended to me by a teacher friend. Your child’s teacher does need to sign up for a free account so your child can have access though. Please reach out to them and ask them to do so. Over 70,000 schools use it, so your child’s class may already have an account. Provides reading, writing, communication and problem solving resources for kids in grade 3-12.
SHARE YOUR FAVORITE FREE LEARNING RESOURCES FOR KIDS
I hope these free online learning resources help your child to continue their education and keep their skills sharp during the health related school closures. If you know of any other great, free resources, please leave a comment below.
For more Free Kids Learning Resources for School Closures, check out:
Free Medical Themed Worksheets
Free Spring Preschool Worksheets
Krissy says
Love all these resources! We are so lucky to have these at our fingertips now for times like these.
Lecy | A Simpler Grace says
This is a great resource. So many parents and guardians were caught off guard!
Ashley R says
What a great post for those that have kids stuck at home. I will save this.
Nadalie Bardo says
What an excellent post. Perfectly timed with so many of us stuck at home. Plus, who knows when schools will be open again.
Katerina says
Oh my goodness, this is a fabulous list – thanks so much for doing all the research!