Worrying about children missing out on education?
Here are a selection of FREE online education resources
A non-exhaustive list that might help those affected by school closures due to coronavirus.
Feel free to share.
Whole School Communication and Learning Environments
Google Classroom
Google Classroom is a resource many teachers are using to upload resources, create deadlines, mark work and start discussions with their classes online. In the event of school closures, many students will be able to continue with their learning.
Class Dojo
Class Dojo is a free app that connects teachers with students and parents to build classroom communities. Teachers can bring parents into the classroom experience by sharing photos, videos, announcements and instant messages with parents.
Early Years / Key Stage 1
Cbeebies Radio
https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/radio
Listening activities for the younger ones.
Nature Detectives
https://naturedetectives.woodlandtrust.org.uk/naturedetectives/
A lot of these can be done in a garden, or if you can get to a remote forest location!
Oxford Owl for Home
https://www.oxfordowl.co.uk/for-home/
Lots of free resources for Primary age
Blue Peter Badges
https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/joinin/about-blue-peter-badges
If you have a stamp and a nearby post box.
The Artful Parent
https://www.facebook.com/artfulparent/
Good, free art activities
Red Ted Art
https://www.redtedart.com
Easy arts and crafts for little ones
The Imagination Tree
https://theimaginationtree.com
Creative art and craft activities for the very youngest.
Toy Theater
https://toytheater.com/
Educational online games
DK Find Out
https://www.dkfindout.com/uk
Activities and quizzes
Primary Key Stage 2/ Key Stage 3
Stem Kit
Online lessons including Hopscotch, Scratch and other hands on STEM activities.
British Council
https://www.britishcouncil.org/school-resources/find
Resources for English language learning
Sumdog
Online learning platform, Sumdog, has a number of engaging and challenging maths and literacy games that your child can use to enhance their learning at home.
BBC Learning
http://www.bbc.co.uk/learning/coursesearch/
This site is old and no longer updated and yet there’s so much still available, from language learning to BBC Bitesize for revision.
No TV licence required except for content on BBC iPlayer.
National Geographic Kids
https://www.natgeokids.com/uk/
Activities and quizzes for younger kids.
Duolingo
https://www.duolingo.com
Learn languages for free. Web or app.
Mystery Science
https://mysteryscience.com
Free science lessons
The Kids Should See This
https://thekidshouldseethis.com
Wide range of cool educational videos
Blockly
https://blockly.games
Learn computer programming skills – fun and free.
Scratch
https://scratch.mit.edu
Creative computer programming
Code.org
Lots of fantastic coding and unplugged computing activities
Khan Academy
https://www.khanacademy.org
Especially good for maths and computing for all ages but other subjects at Secondary level.
Note this uses the U.S. grade system but it’s mostly common material.
Paw Print Badges
https://www.pawprintbadges.co.uk
Free challenge packs and other downloads. Many activities can be completed indoors. Badges cost but are optional.
Tinkercad
https://www.tinkercad.com
All kinds of making and coding.
Prodigy Maths
https://www.prodigygame.com
Is in U.S. grades, but good for UK Primary age.
Crest Awards
https://www.crestawards.org
Science awards you can complete from home.
iDEA Awards
https://idea.org.uk
Digital enterprise award scheme you can complete online.
Pix Blocks
PixBlocks is an application that enables programming for people at any age group. It is a simple tool helping you to learn coding, regardless of the level of one’s advancement.
Code for Life
Code for Life is designed for students new to coding. This is where you will build up your ability until you are ready to advance to Kurono, where you can test your skills in Python.
Discovery Learning
Discovery Learning has a number of free resources as well as a paid subscription area.
Secondary Key Stage 3 / Key Stage 4
Big History Project
https://www.bighistoryproject.com/home
Aimed at Secondary age. Multi disciplinary activities.
Geography Games
https://world-geography-games.com/world.html
Geography gaming!
Futurelearn
https://www.futurelearn.com
Free to access 100s of courses, only pay to upgrade if you need a certificate in your name (own account from age 14+ but younger learners can use a parent account).
Seneca
https://www.senecalearning.com
For those revising at GCSE or A level. Tons of free revision content.
Paid access to higher level material.
Crash Course
https://thecrashcourse.com
You Tube videos on many subjects
Key Stage 4 / Adult
Openlearn
https://www.open.edu/openlearn/
Free taster courses aimed at those considering Open University but everyone can access it. Adult level, but some e.g. nature and environment courses could well be of interest to young people.
Ted Ed
https://ed.ted.com
All sorts of engaging educational videos
Normally paid subscription but free at present:
Twinkl
https://www.twinkl.co.uk
This is more for printouts, and usually at a fee, but they are offering a month of free access to parents in the event of school closures.
Book Creator
Book Creator are offering everyone the ability to collaborate together on books in real-time. This is a premium feature that is usually only available with a paid subscription, but they’re offering 90 days free use of this tool, to help keep students and teachers connected.
Secondly, they have pulled together a list of ideas for using Book Creator for remote learning – ideas that you can put in place today to help keep kids engaged whilst unable to attend school.
Purple Mash
2Simple are offering schools Free access to Purple Mash and Serial Mash. Purple Mash is our online platform that can be accessed on any device, that has internet access, containing thousands of opportunities for learning. These activities can be set for children to complete online, but can also be printed off if the school were looking to send packs home with students.
School Closure Pack contains top tips and what you can do within Purple Mash, enabling teachers to set up blogs and set work via Purple Mash quickly and easily so that the learning can continue.
Within our teacher area in Purple Mash, we have uploaded several one-page guides for teachers that walk them through remote and online learning and how to set and assess work online.
If you are a Purple Mash school – you can also access Serial Mash for free while schools are closed, you can sign up here.