The COVID-19 crisis has opened up access to online education like never before.
There are literally thousands of websites available, but who feels like wading through lists of 50+ links?
Not only is this a staggering and mind-numbing task, but it can also be quite confusing. Let’s face it, not all resources are good or even appropriate for your children.
We understand, which is why we have done the job for you!
We’ve sifted through hundreds of options and hand-picked some of the best online resources for each of Maths, Science and English.
Not all are Australian or free, although many are. But, in our opinion, they are all appropriate, useful, and worth taking a look at. Enjoy!
Maths and Science Resources
1. Bedtime Math http://bedtimemath.org/fun-math-at-home/
Here’s some great non-screen learning activities, but don’t be fooled by the name, this is not just for bedtime.
Created by an astrophysicist mom, the idea is to help children learn to use Maths naturally in their everyday lives. The daily activities and games usually take around 5 minutes to complete. There are 4 different skill levels.
Parents can use the website for free and can also receive emails with daily challenges or they can use the free app.
2. Matheletics https://www.mathletics.com/au/
Matheletics supports Maths learning for students of all ages across Australia by providing a range of interactive activities, games, and challenges.
Many students will already have a free account from school, but if not, they do offer a free trial before signing up for one of their paid options.
3. Edheads https://edheads.org/
Edheads provides Science and Maths games and activities that promote critical thinking.
All activities meet state and national standards. Many students will already have a free account from school, but if not, their annual membership for a family is just $20.
You can still play Virtual Hip Resurfacing, Sickle Cell DNA, Trauma and other games for free without logging on and without a membership!
4. PhET–Interactive simulations https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/category/new
For secondary students. This has some great Physics and Maths simulations and operate on a donation approach. Really good for your Science whiz who wants extension.
5. Wonderville https://wonderville.org/parents Wonderville is a Canadian based site that provides a place for secondary students to learn about Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) by playing online games, watching videos, and conducting experiments.
Access to the site is free while everyone is home isolating. This site also offers a fabulous glossary of STEM terminology that any parent will love.
6. Cool Maths Games https://www.coolmathgames.com/
This is an American site, suitable for Years 1 to 8, featuring lots of games to help consolidate Maths skills.
There is a free and premium membership option.
7. Numberphile https://www.numberphile.com/
For the Maths and science People in your home. Most suitable for Upper Primary to Secondary students.
Fun and fabulous extension- videos, podcasts, and related resources for each topic.
8. WooTube – Eddie Woo https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq0EGvLTyy-LLT1oUSO_0FQ
Upper primary to Secondary
If you are terrified of teaching your secondary children Maths, then join Eddie Woo on WooTube to help you and you’ll find yourself loving his free YouTube videos.
9. ABC Education https://education.abc.net.au/home#!/resources/-/mathematics
ABC Education contains lots of free educational material for Years 1-10 across all subjects, including Maths.
It has engaging videos, games and fun activities which align to the Australian curriculum.
10. EzyMath https://ezymathtutoring.com.au/resources
Our own EzyMath website offers Maths and English worksheets as well as Digital Maths textbooks for Years 3-12.
English Language Resources
11. Scholastic https://bit.ly/2WN5CTe
For early learners. Looking to inject a little fun into your child’s spelling, vocabulary, or sight word learning? These games will do the trick.
12. ABC Reading Eggs https://readingeggs.com.au/
This is a multi-award-winning online reading program for kids aged 2 to 13. They are currently providing 30 day’s free access.
13. Read Theory https://readtheory.org/
Preschool to Year 12
Ways to help build and consolidate reading comprehension. Lots of exercises which build critical, inferential affective and evaluative comprehension strategies.
14. Story Online https://www.storylineonline.net/
This is a lovely website for younger learners and has loads of lovely stories read by various celebrities.
Storyline Online is free remote learning resource during COVID-19 school closures.
15. ABC Education – English https://education.abc.net.au/home#!/resources/-/english
ABC Education contains lots of free educational material for Years 1-10 across all subjects, including English.
It has engaging videos, games and fun activities which align to the Australian curriculum.
Australian State and Territory Educational Resources
16. NSW – “Learning From Home” https://education.nsw.gov.au/teaching-and-learning/curriculum/learning-from-home/teaching-and-learning-resources
This contains resources and activities for teachers and/or parent to support students temporarily unable to attend school. Curriculum-specific resources are from Early childhood up to Year 12.
17. VIC – “Learning From Home” https://fuse.education.vic.gov.au/pages/learningfromhome
This website that contains all digital learning resources to support school, educators, and parents across Victoria during the COVID-19 crisis.
18. Queensland – “Learning@home” https://education.qld.gov.au/curriculum/learning-at-home
This website contains all digital learning resources to support school, educators, and parents across Victoria during
19. Queensland – “The Learning Place” https://learningplace.education.qld.gov.au/
Additional online resources are available for Queensland state school students through the Learning Place website using their student log in. This is the same login and password that students use to log onto the computers in their classrooms.
20. Western Australia – Learning At Home
https://www.education.wa.edu.au/learning-at-home/learning-resources-by-year-level
Resources across all year levels and learning areas are available to give children and young people the best opportunity to continue to learn at home. The Department of Education will continue to add more resources.
There you have it. 20 hand-picked websites, all of which offer quality resources to support you and your children as you continue to deal with learning from home.
Online educational resources are helpful, but they don’t equal free education. Don’t get bogged down by floods of downloadable PDFs and lesson plans, especially if you’re also working from home yourself.
We suggest finding a few good resources that work and build from there. Prioritise your children’s greatest needs and passions and aim to meet these first.
While there are many great online learning options available, remember to give kids plenty of regular breaks from time in front of the screen.
Also look for resources that will keep them connected to their real-life community – music lessons, dance classes and craft community workshops are all going online at the moment.
This won’t last forever. Hopefully soon, we’ll all be able to return to some kind of ‘normal’ when our worlds will again consist of more than four walls and the Internet.