TEACH!
Perhaps nobody deserves free things as much as teachers and their students. Teachers often spend their own money (an average of about $700 per year!) to outfit their classrooms and provide educational tools and resources to their students. Fortunately, there are many great resources out there that won’t cost teachers, or their students, a dime. Here are some of the best.
1. Teachers Pay Teachers
Offering a wealth of printable classroom materials, Teachers Pay Teachers also has thousands of free materials for teachers and their students. Browse the topic you’re teaching and download any number of free supplemental worksheets, games, and puzzles.
2. The Learning Network
This resource from the New York Times gives students writing prompts, quizzes, vocabulary practice, and visuals that support learning. It also offers lesson plans.
3. Education.com
Once you join for free, you’ll have access to over 37,000 resources sure to meet your needs and the needs of your students.
4. Education World
This website offers hundreds of lesson plans for teachers and students on a broad range of topics.
5. Hour of Code
Coding is a hot topic in education these days. Hour of Code offers students free 1-hour tutorials that will help them learn the basics of the art of coding.
6. Audubon
Any teacher or student passionate about birds must take advantage of the free materials from Audubon.
7. Cornell Lab of Ornithology
This is another great resource for teachers and students interested in birds and birdwatching. The free activities are separated by age and grade level, making it easy to find something appropriate for your classroom.
8. The Kennedy Center Education
Students and teachers can access the digital library with a range of classic topics, such as history, math, and music, while also exploring more focused topics such as hip hop culture and puppetry.
9. FunBrain
Teachers can browse through topics students might be interested in and students can play games, watch videos, read, and do math that correlates with what they’re learning in the classroom.
10. ABCya
Find great educational games and activities for students on ABCya. It also offers free printables.
11. Khan Academy
This is one of the most comprehensive resources as far as range of topics and age levels. Khan Academy is accessible for students and, according to research, boosts their academic achievement. Activities are available for everyone, from early elementary learners all the way to college students.
12. Library of Congress
Teachers can take advantage of professional development, students can access virtual workshops, and families can explore resources to help everyone learn.
12. Space to Learn
Outer space will come alive for students and teachers with a variety of resources from NASA that cover topics such as planets, the moon, and STEM related activities.
13. PBS Learning Media
Teachers and students can access videos that align with curriculum, interactive activities, and lesson plans, all for free!
15. National Geographic
Enhance your geography and science lessons with free maps, videos, and other resources designed to bring the world to your students.
16. Smithsonian Science Education Center
Encourage the love of science with a variety of resources for teachers to introduce in the classroom, including resources for students to explore on their own.
17. GoNoodle
GoNoodle is perfect for inside recess because it encourages physical activity. On top of that, it can also be used as a more comprehensive tool for teaching about health and wellness. Teachers and students can also take advantage of GoNoodle’s free printables.
18. Kahoot
Teachers can create quizzes for students based on what they’re learning in the classroom and students can brush up on their skills with this interactive free quiz website.
19. Annenberg Learner
With Annenberg Learner, teachers get access to online professional development and students can explore thousands of educational resources across all subjects, including world languages and STEM.
20. World Wildlife Wild Classroom
Connect your students to the world around them with free lesson plans and printables.
21. U.S. Currency Education Program
Help your young students understand the concept of spending money with free lesson plans that cover currency in a fun and engaging way.
22. Virtual Nerd
Middle and high school math teachers can utilize over 1500 free videos that help solidify math concepts for students. Students can use the videos to practice their new skills and prepare for tests.
23. SchoolTube
SchoolTube is like YouTube, but it is only geared toward education. It offers a wide range of videos great for lessons and student research.
24. Science Buddies
Teachers can find lesson plans, video lessons, and classroom activities devoted to science concepts while students can search for ideas to create their own science projects.
25. Seacoast Science Center
The Seacoast Science Center offers curriculum resources to teachers and provides a huge selection of science-related resources for students to explore.
26. Share My Lesson
Teachers can search for lessons created by other educators that cover all subjects and age levels on Share My Lesson. Parents and students can also access resources to supplement classroom learning.
27. Really Good Stuff
The free resources library offers access to teachers looking for educational printables that they can use in the classroom. The resources are also available to students.
28. Lakeshore Learning
Lakeshore Learning is an online and brick and mortar store that sells classroom and curriculum materials, but they also offer over 1000 free resources on their website. Teachers can find things to help them in the classroom while students and families can access things like educational videos, craft ideas, and flash cards.
29. Science Bob
Students can find ideas related to science fair projects and teachers can use the Q&A to help answer their students’ burning science-related questions.
30. TedEd
Through TedED, educators can create lessons and invite students to share their great ideas. Students can learn through interactive lessons and educational collections.
31. Numberphile
Teachers can help make math more fun with these short videos about numbers. Students can re-watch them to help them explore concepts or study for tests.
32. Wonderopolis
Students can learn about the wonder of the day and teachers can use all the wonders to encourage class discussion and further learning.
33. PhET Interactive Simulations
This resource from the University of Colorado provides short science simulations that show students science in action.
34. BioDigital
With a free account, teachers and students can explore the human body and all the amazing ways it works.
35. Artsonia
This is the world’s largest collection of art created by students. Teachers and students alike can browse the enormous collection and learn more about art and art concepts along the way.
36. Virtual Musical Instruments
Teachers and students can play virtual instruments of all kinds on this website.
37. Stopbullying.gov
This resource offers numerous articles, printables, and videos which aim to reduce and eliminate bullying in classrooms across the country. It also has materials that will empower teachers and students to stand up for those being bullied.
38. PE Central
PE teachers can browse a huge collection of lesson plans and videos to share with students during PE class. The website also offers online professional development.
39. Cool Math Games
Students can hone their math skills by playing arcade style games on this website. Students get to learn in a fun way and teachers get to watch their students increase their math skills – it’s a win win!
40. Bouncy Balls
This website is great for students and teachers alike – especially when everyone needs to be working quietly. The screen fills with bouncing balls and the noisier the class gets, the more balls bounce. It’s a visual way for students to monitor their own noise level so the teacher can work with small groups or do other essential tasks.
41. Overcoming Obstacles
Overcoming Obstacles is a free life skills curriculum that benefits both teachers and students. The materials teach students how to communicate, set goals, and make informed decisions. The entire award-winning program is available completely free with no registration!
42. Recycle Rally
Recycle Rally is a free tool that helps teachers and their students start and maintain recycling programs in their schools. It would make a great addition to any climate or preservation study and includes a variety of free resources to make it possible.
43. Read Works
Using the Science of Reading, this website provides a wealth of resources to teachers and students alike. Teachers can take advantage of webinars to help strengthen reading instruction and students can access a variety of content and tools to help them become better readers.
44. Newsela
The free version of Newsela allows teachers to provide instruction around news and current events that are available at five different reading levels.
45. We Are Teachers
We Are Teachers is another great resource with a huge supply of free printables for teachers and students. Find what you need across a wide range of topics and age levels to get the perfect materials for your lessons.
46. The Nature Conservancy
Bring nature into the classroom with this resource that includes activities and videos that build knowledge around how the natural world works as well as how to protect and take care of it for future generations.
47. National Gallery of Art
Teachers can request print resources and students can take advantage of art related lessons, activities, and interactives.
48. Learning for Justice
Formerly called Teaching Tolerance, this website educates students on how to create a fair and just world for everyone. It also gives teachers a variety of resources to help teach these lessons in the classroom.
49. EVERFI
This resource offers free mental health and wellness curriculum. It includes lesson plans and activities to help teach middle and high school students essential skills.
50. EDSITEment
Teachers can take advantage of professional development around a variety of topics, including civics and literature. Students can access videos and other resources on a variety of topics.
These 50 sites are excellent options for free resources, but don’t overlook the power of your local community. Electric companies, water treatment plants, animal shelters, farms, factories, and other local businesses are often willing to share resources and materials for free. All you have to do is ask!
