Links for Kids
Alphabet and English
Made for 4-7 year olds, Between the Lions offers educationally sound reading instruction that combines phonics and whole language. Stories, songs, games, and resources for parents and teachers are available. Endorsed by the National Education Association.
The most commonly used phonetic alphabet today is the NATO phonetic alphabet. It is used daily by airline pilots and special operation forces - who commit it to memory. The NATO phonetic alphabet is useful to the rest of us too.
Write and illustrate your own stories, play reading games, express yourself through poetry. This site is a wonderful resource for younger children to explore reading and writing.
Art
Here kids can learn origami, the beautiful art of paper folding; get to know the benefits that origami brings, read lectures about origami and receive practical skills in origami.
Astronomy and Space
An earth map; you can see where it is day, or night, right now. You can view either a map of the Earth showing the day and night regions at this moment, or view the Earth from the Sun, the Moon, the night side of the Earth, above any location on the planet specified by latitude, longitude and altitude, from a satellite in Earth orbit, or above various cities around the globe.
Games, art, stories, and activities for children presented by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). NASA also runs competitions for kids, for instance the latest NASA Space Pennant Design Challenge, won by Tapasya Das of Mount Laurel, N.J. flew on the space shuttle Endeavour's STS-118 mission during the summer break in 2007.
Chemistry and Physics
Periodic table of the elements
Maintained by the Los Alamos National Laboratory, this site provides basic information about chemical elements and the periodic table for elementary, middle, and high school students.
Basic chemistry information for kids (and others) including matter, elements, atoms and reactions; describes different types of chemistry. Recommended by ALA. The site starts with this introduction to matter:
"So you're asking, what is chemistry?
Well... Here's our best definition. Chemistry is the study of MATTER and the changes that take place with that matter.
Don't ask us why that matters. It just does. A lot. Everything on Earth, everything in our solar system, everything in our galaxy, and everything in the universe is made up of matter. Matter is the name that scientists have given to everything that you can touch, or see, or feel, or smell. Go take a look!"
Environment
Kid's Planet - Defenders of Wildlife
Information and activities relating to endangered animals; morph your face into an imperiled species, get your family to adopt an animal, play games online and learn how to defend the environment.
Government
The FEMA for Kids site teaches you how to be prepared for disasters and prevent disaster damage. You can also learn what causes disasters, play games, read stories and become a Disaster Action Kid. Herman the spokescrab walks kids through.
The United States Mint H.I.P Pocket Change Web site was launched in 1999. H.I.P Pocket Change is a fun educational tool for students and teachers that generates interest in coins, the United States Mint, and U.S. history.
The National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences teaches kids about environmental health topics by using games, songs, brainteasers, and jokes.
General Learning sites
This site has kid's activities with friends from Sesame Street as teachers. Play games with Prairie Dawn, Elmo, and the Cookie Monster.
Animated Educational Site for Kids (Grade 3 and up) -- Science, Social Studies, English, Math, Arts & Music, and Technology. Note: This site requires a subscription.
Animated Educational Site for Younger Kids (K-3) -- Science, Social Studies, English, Math, Arts & Music, and Technology. Note: This site requires a subscription.
Who ever thought learning math could be so much fun? Test your math skills with these fun and interesting games. Includes teacher and parenting resources.
Math
Free online cool math lessons, games & apps. Fun math activities, pre-algebra, algebra and precalculus.
Online lessons in math, science, computer science and economics, humanities and test prep. Ages 6 - adult.
Museums
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
This is one of the largest and finest art museums in the world. Its collections include more than two million works of art - several hundred thousand of which are on view at any given time - spanning more than 5,000 years of world culture, from prehistory to the present.
National Gallery of Art for Kids
Explore stories in art, take a post card tour of one of the galleries, get directions for art activities and projects, and more.
Useful since kids study this area of history. "Haunted Happenings," a commercial part of Salem stuff, is very neat. Also great for Halloween.
Whether you're planning a visit, have already visited and even if you've never been to the Smithsonian Museum, this site will have something of interest for you. Take a virtual tour, learn about science, natural history, aviation, dinosaurs, or whatever else interests you. There is something here for everyone.
The Exploratorium, San Francisco, CA
An online version of a hands-on museum in San Francisco that permits you to do your own cow's eye dissection or learn the science behind a home run; be sure to visit the "Learning Studio."
Music
This site has a complete set of piano lessons on the Web. Put a keyboard next to your keyboard and you're ready to go! With many links to other music sites, this is a great place for information about all things piano.
This site provides information about instruments, a music basics tutorial and a listing of family programs and activities at the San Francisco Symphony.
Science
A science fair project Resource Guide
The Internet Public Library has links to exceptional resources about science fairs. Even if you have never attempted a science fair project, this site will walk you through every step of the way.
Technology and Internet
Learn all about this system of writing used by the blind through games, secret messages, a reading club and information about Louis Braille and Helen Keller.
The Tech Museum of Innovation is a great place to engage kids (and others) in exploring technology and how it affects their lives. Find out about computers, satellites, DNA, robotics, lasers, and inspire the young to become innovators in the technologies of the future.
Zoos and Aquariums
The "E-Quarium" site gives you a look at how one of the newest and most elaborate aquariums in the country works, learn about the effects of El Nino, and see how the sea otter population is being preserved.
National Zoo, Washington, D.C.
Solve jigsaw puzzles and crossword puzzles, take a virtual world tour, send an e-card, learn about animals and their names, even build your own sea lion. There's plenty to do on the National Zoo's Website.
Meet the critters, discover the recipe for Queen Bee quesadillas, check out cool science experiments and learn animal jokes.