Newsela offers four leveled news articles at five reading levels for teachers to choose from. The articles will be available for four weeks; Newsela Lite is free for any teacher to access four pre-selected news articles, select and lock reading levels for students, see alignment to state standards, schedule assignments and set due dates, access students' quiz scores, and respond to students' writing prompt submissions and annotations. Many of these features were on the "premium" account until the 2023-2024 school year.

In case you're wondering - Newsela features current events stories tailor-made for classroom use. Click "Products" on the top menu and slide down to browse content in subject areas (social studies, science, etc.). Stories are student-friendly and can be accessed in various formats tailored to different reading levels. Use Newsela to differentiate nonfiction reading. Newspaper writers rewrite a story four times, resulting in a total of five Lexile levels per story. All articles feature embedded Common Core-aligned quizzes that align with reading levels, allowing for checking comprehension, customizable assignments, writing prompts, and annotations. An account is required to use Newsela, both for teachers and students. However, students sign up using a teacher- or parent-provided code rather than an email address. Click the Resources tab at the top to find guides and short webinars. Teachers can create classes and assign reading-level-specific articles to individual students or download printable PDF copies of the article in any of its reading-level versions. There is no outside advertising.

tag(s): DAT device agnostic tool (129), differentiation (99), guided reading (31), independent reading (83), news (221), reading comprehension (146), remote learning (32)

ABCya.com, created by a web developer turned computer teacher, provides educational games, videos, and activities for elementary students. Choose from six free games that change frequently. Be sure to preview the games before sharing them with the class to ensure the one you want to use is still available. Nearly every subject is included. Simply click on your grade level (K-6+) and find what is available under language arts, math, and other subjects. Specific topics range from basic typing activities to creating word clouds to grammar games (at all levels) and so much more. The interactives are teacher approved and offer colorful and attention grabbing ways for learning. Opportunities for sharing on Facebook, tweeting, and sharing on social bookmarking sites are incorporated. This is a MUST SEE site for elementary teachers looking for some great practice sites for basic skills!

tag(s): alphabet (46), audio books (43), audtxt (19), decimals (94), drawing (57), fractions (178), game based learning (308), geometric shapes (151), keyboarding (28), latitude (9), literacy (124), longitude (8), number sense (73), numbers (119), operations (71), preK (322)

Find great math resources on this free site on countless topics. Click each resource to find sites useful on individual computers or projected on a whiteboard screen. Be sure to test out each interactive prior to using with a class, as some require Flash or other programs. Find great games about Numbers and Operations, Algebra, Geometry, Probability, and Money. Though these interactives are labeled for grades 7-12, several can be used by K-5 teachers i.e. the number line interactives. Click on an activity and then explore the tabs above. There is a wealth of material here, so be sure to check it out!

tag(s): data (204), money (112), numbers (119), probability (129)

iCivics is a free, web-based platform founded by Justice Sandra Day O'Connor to teach students civics and inspire democratic participation. The main site offers interactive games, webquests, and comprehensive lesson plans covering topics like government structure, civil rights, elections, and constitutional law. Teachers can access standards-aligned resources, student progress tracking, and printable materials. The separate Vision.iCivics.org site outlines the organization's framework for civic learning, offering insights into six core civic competencies to guide long-term, inclusive civic education. Many lessons include videos hosted on YouTube; if your district blocks YouTube, these may be inaccessible. iCivics continues to grow with new tools, updated games, and professional development resources for educators.

tag(s): bill of rights (39), branches of government (70), civics (128), congress (39), constitution (104), courts (25), democracy (29), elections (87), game based learning (308), presidents (151), supreme court (33)

Check out this site offering FREE learning courses to students in science and math, including environmental skills and health and life skills. Students will travel the world learning about the topic in addition to more about the continents, countries, and oceans. Choose from a wide variety of different learning experiences in the subject areas for learning in a fun and engaging way. Each subject area has countless interactives ready to go! Detailed instructions are provided for each activity. You can control sound easily from the screen.

tag(s): body systems (46), continents (29), countries (70), cultures (290), fractions (178), human body (98), matter (52), measurement (124), money (112), nutrition (137), sorting (3)

All Aboard.... the Dinosaur Train! This website takes two topics that kids love (dinosaurs and trains) and turns the experience into a wonderful lesson in language arts, science, social studies, and more. Climb aboard the train and find lesson plans, games (which ARE educational), a field guide (introducing the various dinosaurs), a print option for printable pages of dinosaurs, and a video button to view clips of this educational show. Scroll to the bottom of the page for links for parents and teachers (with lesson plans, class activities, overview of the show, and more).

NOTE: the popularity of this site can make it slow to load, especially at peak times. Open it on the classroom computer before the lesson so it is in the "cache," and avoid heavy traffic times such as 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Eastern time when schools are online across the U.S.

tag(s): counting (66), dinosaurs (48), measurement (124), paleontology (28), preK (322)

Use this interactive (and entertaining) site to excite even the youngest students about science! There is so much to explore at this site. Sid, the Science Kid, mixes science with humor so be prepared for some giggles. The site features video clips, and interactive educational games. Examples of topics include the effects of heat, health, measurement, the five senses, and many others.

tag(s): heat (13), measurement (124), preK (322), senses (22)

Do you need ideas to engage students in reading over the summer? Start with a Book shares free resources based on topics kids already like, such as superheroes, music, and dinosaurs. Find 24 different topics with specific books and activities to get students reading and creating. In addition to the book lists and activities, Start with a Book includes book-based summer science activities and toolkits, and guides for at-home learning. Other information on the site has tips for parents on increasing reading fluency in English, Spanish, and nine different languages. Sign up for weekly messages that deliver updates and motivational tips.

tag(s): independent reading (83), parents (52), preK (322), reading lists (76), reading strategies (93), summer (50)