Free Online Resources for Children and Teens

cloudLibrary
This app or website gives users access to books and audio books. Free with your Mandel Public Library card. [Reading]

hoopla
This app or website gives users access to books, audio books, comics, numerous videos. They have a wonderful collection of read aloud books. Free with your Mandel Public Library card. [Reading]

Kathy, Youth Services Supervisor, says, "My five-year-old son, Jacob loves hoopla! He regularly asks his smart speaker to open hoopla and read him stories. Jacob recommends Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, the I Survived series, the Mercy Watson series, anything by Mo Willems and Disney Read-Alongs."

Kanopy
This app or website contains lots of movies from around world including children's read-along picture books videos. First-time users need to register with library card. Set the app option as "Kanopy Kids" to use children's materials only. Free with your Mandel Public Library card. [Reading]

Khan Academy for Kids
This app is especially great for ages 2-7. Content includes activities on math, tracing, letter knowledge, socio-emotional learning and creative expression. Free, no ads or subscriptions. [Math, Reading, Writing]

Youth Services Manager, Jennifer says, "My kids absolutely love this app. I especially love their selection offline learning activities. Henry (4 yrs. old) enjoys counting fruits to blend in the Moose Juice activity and tracing the alphabet."

Little Chickies /Los Pollitos
This app is from the Association of Library Service to Children (ALSC) Notable Media list. Originally from Canticos Boardbook. Children can listen to the traditional Spanish lullaby in 8 different languages. Other interactive activities included. Free to download, no sign up required. [Reading]

PBS Kids
This site is especially popular with preschoolers. Its filled with tons of videos, activities and games around their shows such as Curious George, Sesame Street and newer additions like Ready, Jet, Go and Wild Kratts and more. Free, no ads or subscriptions. [Math, Reading, Science]

PEEP Family Science
Based on the television show "PEEP and the Big Wide World." Children can explore colors through various activities. Free download, no sign up required. Parent interaction with children is required. For example, Week 2, Day 1 activity asks to gather "quiet sound objects" and ask questions to child(ren) [Reading, Science]

Tami’s Tower
The Smithsonian produced this game to help children discover an engineering mind. Free to download. No sign up required. It asks to enter child's first name at the beginning of the game. Very simple and fun game to understand shapes and balance. Highly recommended. [Math, Writing]

GoNoodle
GoNoodle gets kids up and moving to fun, engaging content and games. Every dance party, yoga session, mindfulness activity, and game session is an opportunity for kids to wake up their bodies, engage their minds, and be their best. [Health]

Highlights Kids
Highlights encourages children to become their best selves by publishing content and creating experiences that engage, delight, and foster joyful learning. [Reading, Writing, Arts & Crafts]

Khan Academy
Khan Academy offers practice exercises, instructional videos, and a personalized learning dashboard that empower learners to study at their own pace in and outside of the classroom. [Math, Language Arts, Science, Computer Science, Arts & Humanities, Test Prep]

NASA at home
NASA at Home spotlights educational and entertaining resources and activities for families and students in kindergarten and up. Plus, it provides access to everything from formal lesson plans to amazing imagery and stories about how science and exploration help the world. [Science, Technology]

National Geographic Kids
National Geographic's mission is to teach kids about the world and how it works, empowering them to succeed and to make it a better place. Kids can watch educational videos, play games, and read science related articles. [Science]

PBS KIDS - Design Squad Global
Design Squad Global empowers kids to solve real-world problems and understand the impact of engineering in a global context. Refreshed weekly with challenges, videos, and activities, the website is one of the only places on the web where kids can share their engineering ideas with other kids. Kids can start a design project by sharing an idea or contribute to an existing project by sending in a drawing. The Build section features hands-on projects with short demo videos and step-by-step photo instructions. [Science, Technology, Engineering]

Scratch
Scratch is a programming language and an online community where children can program and share interactive media such as stories, games, and animation with people from all over the world. As children create with Scratch, they learn to think creatively, work collaboratively, and reason systematically [Science, Technology, Coding]

Sheppard Software
Sheppard Software has hundreds of free online learning games for kids. Subjects include geography, math, animals, science, language arts, and health. [Math, Reading, Science, Geography, Health]

Starfall
Starfall is a program used to teach reading, language arts and mathematics for students in Preschool - Third grade. Starfall focuses on phonemic awareness, systematic sequential phonics, and common sight words combined with audiovisual inter-activities. [Math, Reading]

Storyline Online
Storyline Online, streams videos featuring celebrated actors reading children's books alongside creatively produced illustrations. Each book includes supplemental curriculum developed by a credentialed elementary educator, aiming to strengthen comprehension and verbal and written skills for English-language learners.[Reading]

Code.org
Self-guided coding and computer science activities for both beginner and expert coders, and offers a smartphone option for those without a computer at home. Educators and caregivers can download informative resources to support their middle and high schoolers. Additionally, teens can tune in on Wednesdays at 1 p.m. for live, interactive classroom sessions at code.org/break. [Science, Technology, Coding]

Write. Right. Rite.
Students can get inspired to "grab the mic" and craft their own stories alongside 2020-2021 National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, Jason Reynolds. New videos are posted on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. Caregivers and educators can subscribe to a monthly newsletter as well. [Writing, Reading]

Khan Academy
A free resource helping kids and teens develop understanding in math, grammar, science, test prep for the SAT and ACT, and more. In response to school closures, they've created daily schedules that caregivers can use to keep their kids on track. [Math, Language Arts, Science, Computer Science, Arts & Humanities, Test Prep]

NASA's Space Place
Compiles resources for caregivers and educators focused on science and tech. Includes crafts, games, and other activities to keep students engaged. [Science, Technology]

PBS Learning Media
A directory of PBS videos and interactive activities for caregivers and educators. Includes current events, history, science, and more. Access provided with a free account. [Math, English Language Arts, Science, Social Studies, Arts, Technology, Health]

Scholastic Learning at Home
Article-based activities to boost reading comprehension, math skills, and more. Students can follow a weekly curriculum to stay on track. [Math, English Language Arts, Science, Social Studies, Arts, Technology]