Great Websites

The future of open-source learning is almost here! What an amazing opportunity our children now have to learn just about anything their little hearts desire. And we parents can easily find the tools to help them. The following are my family's favorite websites, along with resources I use for my writing and workshops. I have finally put them together to share with you. Enjoy!

Math

Learning With Googol Power

Hey, that's us! Inspire an interest in math through music, games and stories.

Crazy 4 Math

Annual contest with a comprehensive list of past entries on how kids use math in activities they enjoy.

List of Math Reference Tables

ThatQuiz

Generate your own practice tests for all levels of math

Math Worksheets Generator

Make up your own worksheets for all sorts of arithmetic including time, averages, place-value, exponents, factors, odd/even and more.

Math TV

Middle school math tutorials.

Math Playground

Math Playground is an action packed site for students in grades K to 6. Practice your math skills, play a logic game and have some fun!

MegaMathematics

I love this site! A compilation of materials from teachers, students and mathematicians to provide opportunities for children and their teachers to experience mathematics in ways it is experienced by mathematicians and scientists.

Primary Games (Preschool-4)

Online math games.

Number Nut: (K-8)

Lessons with activities to follow.

Mudd Math Fun Facts

This site was designed for college students but parents can get lots of ideas here on mathematics that can help create an interest in it. This is a perfect 'family learning' site.

Absurd Math

This is an interactive mathematical problem solving game series. The player proceeds on missions in a strange world where the ultimate power consists of mathematical skill and knowledge. Many of the pages have hidden clues and areas.

AAA Math (K-8)

Lesson followed by interactive practice session.

Nim Values for Games

We used this as a starting point to make up our own nim games.

Big Learning Math Activities

A great big list of fun math activities for kids.

Go Math

Algebra and geometry questions and solutions for extra practice.

Cool Math (Pre K to 6)

Interactive math games, puzzles, an online calculator and a coloring book.

Ohio Works

Videos on this site shows students in grades 7-9 how industry professionals use mathematics in their careers by taking students behind the scenes in companies and give students an opportunity to do the math-based tasks that are done by professionals on the job.

Best Paper Airplanes

Instructions with illustrations on how to fold paper airplanes.

Teaching Treasures

Interactive math quizzes to reinforce math skills in grades K through 10.

A Plus Math

Homework help, create your own flashcards and play math games.

Lessons for Meaning in Mathematics

I loved these! A set of lessons that have been used in various classroom. These lessons conform to the NCTM Standards in that they are founded in understanding through reasoning and applications to life.

Math Word Problems for Kids

A website funded by Canada's SchoolNet. Hints and answers provided for many word problems divided by grade. This starts at grade 5 but as a family you can do them together much earlier.

Ask Dr. Math

Answers to all your questions. Browse, search through the archives or write to him yourself.

Math Cats

A very cute web site! Playful exploration of math concepts through games, interactive applets and activity suggestions.

Math Angles Made Easy

A colorful exploration of angles.

Kids Place Mathematics

Colorful games, quizzes, and brainteasers.

Archive of Mathematics for Parents Newsletter

Great articles and lesson ideas.

The Math Page

Complete online courses in Arithmetic, Algebra, trigonometry and Pre-Calculus. This is a fabulous free resource!

The National Library of Virtual Manipulatives

An amazing free resource of virtual manipulatives... tiles, pentominoes, base 10 blocks, Tower of Hanoi, pegs — everything you need!

Math Lesson Videos

Free video-on-demand from the Annenberg Channel. These also include great introductions on why we need to learn math. Algebra, pre-calculus, probability, calculus, linear equations and more. A great review for parents too!

Sudokus for Kids

Some easy ones and instructions to get started.

Sudokus

More Sudokos once you are addicted!

Guinness World Records

You can't help but find googols of math here!

Multiplication Table Applet

This is an online math chart where kids can practice their times tables. Provided by Dickinson State University.

Mathsroom

A growing collection of links to math web resources and interactive teaching aids put together by a teacher in Scotland. Interactive activities and math games: online calculator, base 10 blocks, moveable Cuisenaire rods, grids, charts, clocks, fractions, time geometry, graphs and more.

Number Properties

Portions of Richard's Phillip's book Numbers: Facts, Figures & Fiction are online and talk about different number properties. You can read a page for one number each day of the month!

SuperKids

A collection of easy-to-use, free educational resources, for home and school such as math worksheets, educational games, vocabulary builders, quotes of the day. Make your own worksheets, scrambles words, word search and more.

The Resource Room

Math charts where you can fill in missing numbers to practice the times tables.

Math League Help

An online help resource for 4th through 8th grades.

Math: Big Numbers

A Googol of Atoms?

A directed, interrupted case in estimation and large numbers.

About Big Numbers

Explore the world of big numbers. Discover how big and how small our world is. How big is a zillion? How small is a quadrillion?

Molecular Expressions

View the Milky Way at 10 million light years from the Earth and then move through space to a microscopic world of a leaf.

The MegaPenny Project

Visualize a billion and more, starting with a penny.

Math: Challenges

Enriching Mathematics (K-12)

This site publishes 15 problems and some games each month.

Figure This

Families can have fun solving the challenge questions together.

Math and Music

Math in Sports

Math History

Living Math

A wonderful site that bridges history and the beauty of mathematics.

History of Math

The story of mathematics starts at least 5,000 years ago in Ancient Egypt. Tradition holds that the first geometers were Egyptian.

Historical Mathematicians

Alphabetical and chronological index of biographies of famous mathematicians.

Famous Problems in the History of Math

A small portion of the history of mathematics through an investigation of some of the great problems that have inspired mathematicians throughout the ages.

Science

How Stuff Works

Great answers to all those questions young curious minds ask and you may have as well. Our favorite place to answer all my sons endless questions.

Wonderville

Videos, activities and games answering many of the questions kids wonder about.

Exploratorium

This was one of the first science museums to build a site on the World Wide Web with over 15,000 Web pages exploring hundreds of different topics.

Plant and Animal Field Guide

A field guides to look up plants and animal life with pictures and sounds.

Fun Science Gallery

How to make different science tools such as a telescope, microscope and battery. May require parental participation.

Magic School Bus

My kids loved the Magic School Bus when they were young. Here are some online games.

Light Science

Newton, Archimedes and other experiments.

Digger and the Gang

All new adventures and activities to help 5-11 year olds get to grips with English, math and science.

Energy

This 'Kids Korner' from the Plumas-Sierra Rural Electric Cooperative teaches all about energy sources and its history.

Nobel Prize Educational Games

These games and simulations, based on Nobel Prize-awarded achievements, will teach and inspire you while you're having fun!

Environment: Clean Sweep U.S.A. (Grades 4-8)

Colorful lessons and games teaching about preserving our world.

The Science of Gardening

Cute interactive videos that demonstrate the science of gardening.

Microbe Zoo

Find out what a microbe is and more.

Nature Sounds

Every wondered what a Kingfisher sounds like? Birds, insects, whales... now you can hear them.

Extreme Science

The place online to find the biggest, baddest, and the best in the world of extremes and learn about the science behind what makes each the most extreme example of its kind.

Rocks For Kids

If you already collect rocks then this is the place for you! Find out where you can get more rocks, look at some super pictures of rocks, learn how to identify the rocks you already have and discover neat things you can do with rocks.

Forestry

Learn about sustainable forestry through an e-book, crafts and information provided by the State of Wisconsin.

Honey.com — Just For Kids

Interactive games on bee biology, plants and more.

Insects

A microscopic look at the most wanted bugs.

Computer History Museum

Learn about the invention of the computer and life before computers!

Boston Museum of Science: Virtual Exhibits

Fun virtual experiences for everyone to enjoy!

Cool Bug Stuff

Lots of information on bugs and great bug facts (that use math!)

Astronomy

Starchild

A learning place for young astronomers.

Galaxy Leap

A collection of interesting astronomy links for both parents and children to look at together.

KidsAstronomy.com

Activities, games and lessons to help kids learn about astronomy.

Social Studies

Social Studies For Kids

Resources about history, geography, government and different cultures.

Current Events

An online current and special events news site for grades 3-12 — updated weekdays during the school year.

History

America's Story from the America's Library: Discover the inventors, politicians, performers, activists and other everyday people who made this country what it is today.

TeacherOz

A history site put together by a mother, musician and history teacher.

Civilization.ca

Learn about history through games (includes quite a bit on Canadian history too!)

The Miniature Earth

This slideshow represents the ratio of the world's population reduced down to a community of 100 people.

Music

Piano Nanny

Free piano lessons online.

Music Lessons

Uses video clips from YouTube to present music demonstrations.

Printing

Handwriting

Handwriting Worksheet Generator.

Typing

Dance Math Typing.

Make Your Own Printing Sheet

Make your own practice sheets!

Early Reading, Language and Literature

Reading A to Z

30 free downloadable e-books for early readers.

Hello

Learn how to say hello to the world in different languages.

StoryArts

Develop storytelling skills after listening to these free stories.

Myths, Legend and Fables

Find out their differences and read several well known myths, legends and fables.

Digital Children's Book Library

A great collection of children's online books in many different languages.

Anagrams

Here is some language fun with anagrams.

French

BBC Languages

A self-contained free online course for French.

French English Dictionary

Translate words from English to French and vice versa with this great tool.

Kids Playground

Wow! This is an amazing resource. Go to the French section to play games and activities in French.

Jeannot Le Lapin Fou

Colorful online stories of a little crazy rabbit. Good for French reading practice.

American Sign Language

A Basic Course in ASL

Learn how to sign language!

ASL Browser

Video demonstrations of sign language!

Morse Code Translator and Phonetic Alphabets

(Alpha, Bravo, Charlie).

Art

Webmuseum Paris, Famous Artworks Exhibition

A good representation on works sorted by artists, styles and period.

Sand Art

Videos from Ilana Yahav sand animation performances. Using only her fingers, Ilana draws with sand on glass table.

Lessons and Activities — All Subjects

Enchanted Learning

A great site with information on just about everything for young children- animals, plants, explorers, languages, music, art. Perfect for preschool and elementary school. Lots of worksheets to download. You can become a member for extra services.

Sample Lessons and Other Resources

A very organized site with lesson activities for K-3 used in the kings park computer lab. Click on the grade links on the right.

Early Childhood Technology Literacy Project

This website from Montgomery County Public Schools has lesson plans, early childhood links, training resources, and suggested software to support early literacy.

BBC Learning

An extensive learning resource site for students and adults with online course, database of articles, and activities.

Educational Databases and Links

The Gateway to Educational Materials (GEM Project)

Search more than 30,000 lesson ideas, learning activities, and instructional materials found on hundreds of federal, state, university, non-profit, and commercial websites.

Federal Resources for Educational Excellence

Database of teaching and learning resources from the Library of Congress, National Archives, NASA, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Park Service, National Science Foundation, Smithsonian, and other federal agencies.

American Library Association

Directory of great websites for kids.

Curriculum

National Education Curriculum of the UK.

BC Ministry of Education Curriculum

Education Curriculum of British Columbia.

Free Online Publications, Articles and Books

Math and Reading Help: Article Directory

A comprehensive directory of hundreds of original articles and resources dealing with children's education.

Fostering Academic Creativity in Gifted Students

Learn about academic creativity.

Parenting

Parenting Handouts

A comprehensive collection of handouts of parenting issues from Birth-6.

Child Development and Parenting Information

Information on child development, psychology, parenting, learning, health and safety as well as childhood disorders. Comprehensive resources and practical suggestions for parents covering toddlers to teens.

Don't forget to check out the resources in our Math Club and Virtual Field Trips sections!

Are you looking for more great websites? I receive Diane Flynn Keith's ClickSchooling group e-mail. You get an e-mail each day of the week with a different topic. It's free and keeps us inspired! Thank you Diane!

Do you have a site to suggest? Fill in our suggestion form.