30 (Mostly Free) Online Learning Resources, Apps, and Games for Kids - Mommy Poppins (2023)

Online learning hascertainly taken on a new level of importance for families and educators as we all beginto navigate the unchartered territory of the 2020-2021 school year. Whether your children have returned to the classroomin-person, in a hybrid model, forfull online learning, or you're homeschooling, there are countless websites and apps that can supplement kids' existing curriculum through interactive games and other resources.

From virtual museum tours andNational Geographic deep dives toonline coding classesand reading apps, we've rounded up some of our favorite—and mostly completely FREE— online learning resources for kids this year. We've included options for preschoolers, elementary-age kids, middle school, and even high schoolers.

Find more online classes, games, and resources in our Virtual and Online Guide for Families, or get hands-on with the boredom busters in ourStay-At-Home Kids Activitiesand Resources Guide.

PBS Learning Media features activities and video resources to help students. Photo courtesy of PBS Media

Virtual Learning for Kids of All Ages

1.PBS Learning Media

These interactive lesson plans are curricular-aligned to meet standardsfrom preschool all the way through high school. FREE

2.Museums with Virtual Tours Through Google Arts and Culture

Google Arts and Culture allows children to access world-renownedmuseums from home.You can tour the collections of more than 1,200 museums onlinethrough its catalog. Start with its top 10 virtual museum tour list, or just browse through the online catalog for top children's museums, or favorite periods or artist. Arts history hour, anyone? FREE

3.Khan Academy

Khan Academy is always free and provides high-quality content for kids (and adults) of all ages. Make sure to check out Khan Kids for the littlest of learners. FREE

4.Code.org

Since 2013, Code.org has been providing free online coding classes for students of all ages. Learn how to think like a programmer while completing online modules. FREE

5.Scholastic Learn From Home

The K-12 education powerhouse that is Scholastic has you at-home learning needs covered withlessons for kids from pre-K through sixth grade and up. Kids can dive into topics like the future of zoos and life science. It's all divided by age and grade level.Requiressmall monthly fee.

6.ReadWriteThink Printing Press

If your kids want to create newsletters, newspapers, brochures, or any other printable, then check out the Printing Press fro ReadWriteThink. They provide engaging lesson plans for kids in K-12 to bring the printed word to life. FREE

Sight words, math problems, and more are available for preschoolers and elementary school kids at Starfall.com.

Preschool Online and Remote Learning

7.Starfall Education

This bright and colorful website will appeal to preschoolers and those in the early elementary years, from pre-K through third grade. The activities are easy to find and arranged by discipline, season, or curricular topic. (Some FREE options, also membership options for more content.)

8.The Cat in the Hat Invents

Everyone’s favorite Cat is the start of this STEM-based website that challenges kids to be engineers and problem-solvers. FREE

9.Cosmic Kids Yoga

The Cosmic Kids YouTube channel will get your kids moving for a little post- or pre-study yoga break. Kids follow the poses that also help to tell a story in these short (roughly 10 to 15 minute)yoga sessions. (It also streams on Prime.) FREE

10.Highlights

This popular kids’ magazine provides interactive through its wide variety of websites and apps. Play endless rounds of hidden picture puzzles, learn about shapes, listen to stories, and more. FREE

Listen to any free episode of Wow in the World and print out a Wow Sheetto inspire more scientific thinking.Photo courtesy ofTinkercast

Elementary School Online Learning Options

11.Wow in the World

Wow in the World is a podcast for curious kids and their grown-ups brought to you by the folks at Tinkercast. These 20-30 minute episodes investigate factual real-world stories. FREE

12.Mystery Science

Mystery Science has opened up its most popular science lessons for FREEand easy for remote learning during the coronavirus crisis. Topics range from weather to who invented pizza. Head to your child's grade level for age-appropriate learning. FREE (as of publication)

13.DIY.org

Kids can watch videos and learn how to make something all on their own with DIY.org. Older kids will love creating their own videos to upload and share on the platform. A free 14-day trial is available.

14.Cool Math Games

This site offers tons of games that incorporate math into the strategy, from virtual Chess to more video-game like math games. Search by skill or take a break with some math trivia. FREE

15.National Geographic Kids

Explore the world through games and videos on National Geographic Kids. Take a quiz about Mars or explore current topics like Kids vs. Plastic. FREE

16.Rivet

Rivet is a free reading app that has over 3500 leveled books for kids. FREE

17.Dance Mat Typing

There is nothing all that exciting about learning how to type, but Dance Mat Typing somehow manages to make this tedious task fun! Four levels of play will have you typing like a pro in no time. FREE

RELATED: FREE Things to Do Online This Month: Virtual Shows, Festivals, Storytimes

Kids use their programming knowledge to code withMinecraft.

Middle School Online Education

18.BrainPop

BrainPop began as a collection of short cartoons that taught students about difficult topics. Over the years, it added a number ofinteractive features, such asgames and quizzes. Teachers can request free access to gain to BrainPop’s entire catalog of educational videos, and there is some FREE access to all during the coronavirus outbreak.

19.Minecraft Education

Minecraft Education is so much more than "just a game."This learning platform promotes creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving.

20.Scratch

Program your own interactive stories with Scratch. This free learning tool develops important skills like problem-solving, creative thinking, and collaboration. FREE

21.Prodigy Math

Sign up for a free account and start playing these standards-based math activities. FREE

22.Funbrain

Funbrain provides hundredsof free games, videos, and books that help kids develop their literacy, math, and problem-solving skills. FREE

23.Kodable

Type your first lines of code, learn javascript, and other programming concepts with this online computer science platform. Starting with basic drag and drop coding, Kodable provides lessons that will foster creativity and critical thinking. FREE

24. NaNoWriMo

Encourage creative writing with the NaNoWriMo 30-day writing challenge. Kids create a profile and will receive a variety of writing challenges as they work toward completing a novel!FREE

NOVA extends its science reporting toonline and in classrooms, producing an extensive list of resources and original content. Photo courtesy of PBS

High School Online Education Resources

25.Ken Burns in the Classroom

Ken Burns has been making historical documentaries for nearly half a century. These thoughtfully developed lesson plans truly bring history to life. FREE

26.Desmos

This is the modern-day version of the good ol'graphing calculator. The free app will let you graph all the parabolas you want! FREE

27.TED Talks

Watch a thought-provoking TED Talk on just about any device. This nonprofit provides free access to thousands of inspirational, motivational, educational, and instructional talks. These top 25 TED Talks are a great place to start. FREE

28.Quizlet

This mobile and web-enabled app lets users create and use virtual flashcards that cover a variety of topics. Set up a virtual study session with friends over video or among the family. FREE