Resources for Grades 1 - 5
Learn, Create, Discover, Explore

Click on a category to jump to that section:​
Online Encyclopedias
Languages
STEM & Health
Computer Skills
News & Social Studies
Games & More
​Podcasts

General Homework Help

Britannica School Edition (Children's)
Read articles, view videos, and explore this elementary-friendly version of Britannica for grades K-5.
Britannica Escolar (Spanish Edition of Britannica School)
Enciclopedia para estudiantes de 6 a 14 años de edad. Busca biografías e información sobre lugares y cosas. Mira los videos y animaciones para aprender más.
Kids InfoBits by Gale
A child-friendly database which searches across reference books and periodicals covering history, current events, sports, government, and people.
Pebble Go
The award winning PreK – 2 database for reading and research, includes database options for Animals, Science, Biographies, Social Studies, Dinosaurs, and Health.

Languages

Mango Languages
​Start the conversation in your choice of over 70 world languages and dialects through courses crafted using conversational methodology. You can even download the app and learn on-the-go!
Muzzy on Kanopy
Designed for all ages (from toddlers to teens and adults), MUZZY's simple and effective program works by teaching through fun and animated stories featuring Muzzy and friends. These stories use the natural immersion method, which is modeled after the way children learn their first language. Kanopy has a variety of Muzzy language courses available including Spanish (Castilian), German, and French.

STEM & Health

KidsHealth
Find out ways to stay healthy and learn about your body works with movies, quizzes, games, and more.
Learn with Smithsonian
Meet the animals at the National Zoo, take a 3D tour of different artifacts, play STEM games online, or visit the learning lab for ideas to build stuff at home.
National Geographic Kids
Play games, watch videos, learn about animals and cultures, and find fun facts.
NASA Space Place
Explore space with interactive games and projects that help kids look at our sun and earth, solar system, and the universe beyond.
San Diego Zoo Kids
Take a virtual trip to the San Diego Zoo! You can find pictures of all the animals at the zoo, watch videos or live animal cams, play games, and learn about all kinds of animals from A to Z.
​Thinking Money for Kids
Develop financial savvy with four games! Earning It, which follows a diverse group of characters translating their childhood interests into successful careers; Balance My Budget, which shares tips on how to prioritize spending between basic needs, luxuries, and saving up; Money Trail, which lets kids practice making tough decisions about spending and earning; and Let’s Deal, which explores buying and selling in a farmers’ market setting.
Total Darkness
When the power goes out, it’s time for action. Venture into the dark, explore different locations, meet new characters, and discover the reason behind the blackout with your science skills.

Computer Skills

Interland by Google
Interland is an adventure-packed online game that puts the key lessons of digital citizenship and safety into hands-on practice.  In the game, players explore four floating islands: Kind Kingdom, Reality River, Mindful Mountain, and Tower of Treasure.
Code.org
The Code Studio is always open! Learn computer coding basics or build your own game.  No account is needed, but you can create one to save your progress (be sure you have permission from your grown-up).
Typing Club 
​Progress through lessons for touch typing (using all of one's fingers to type on a keyboard, without looking at the keys) that includes upper and lower case letters, numbers, and symbols.
Typetastic
This sites offers a series games to help students learn the layout of the keyboard and the basics of touch typing on both keyboards and tablets.
Website Evaluation
Visit the Library's website evaluation practice page; we have three websites that could be real or fake.  It's up to you to determine the difference to build skills and be sure you avoid Fake News and misinformation in your everyday life. The C.A.R.S. method and the 5 Ws are both presented to help you evaluate each site.

News & Social Studies

Tween Tribune
Stay up-to-date on news relevant to you! Smithsonian sponsors this not-for-profit site that provides articles chosen for students with topics ranging from arts and entertainment to world news and culture.  Visit their grades K-4 or grades 5-6 pages for a reading level that suits you.
TIME for Kids
TIME for Kids brings real news and information to young people so that they can develop a lifelong interest in, and a connection to, world events, enabling its readers to become literate, critical thinkers, and informed, responsible citizens. Readers can visit their articles for grades K-1, grade 2, grades 3-4, or grades 5-6.
Genealogy for the Next Generation
​The New England Historic Genealogical Society has exercises that are designed to teach critical skills while encouraging kids to explore their personal connection to the past. Kids can become a photo detective, go on a family history scavenger hunt, and create a Family Tree.

Games & More

ABCya features fun, educational games for Pre-K to grade 6+ in a variety of topics and categories including math, letters, geography, strategy, and more!  This teacher-created site is kid-friendly and also works on mobile devices and tablets.
ChessKid is an online chess opponent and tutor all in one. 
​The site includes interactive lessons, puzzles, and even a downloadable curriculum for adults interested in teaching chess.
Plays.org
Find free and fun online games. There are no ads and no need to register! Plays.org offers a dedicated Math games section to help kids learn and practice addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and more.
Wonderopolis encourages kids to ask and answer questions every day.  Each "Wonder of the Day" is designed to get kids and families to read, think, talk, and find learning moments together in everyday life.

Podcasts

  • Circle Round: *The stellar host curates global folktales in this podcast from WBUR: Boston’s NPR news station.
  • Story Pirates:* Actors perform kid-written sketches that are weird, funny, and original.
  • Buttons & Figs:* Nonsense literature, from jokes to tongue twisters, helps kids make sense of the world around them and create nonsense of their own.
  • "What if" World:* The narrator spins comic tales out of kid questions, like “What if Santa were an elephant?” or “What if sharks had legs?”
  • Peace Out:* Perfect for getting kids to relax and breathe while sneaking in mindfulness lessons. A great way for kids to wind down.
  • Tumble:* Crack science reporting and interviews with experts on new scientific discoveries, from biofuels to black holes.
  • Short and Curly:* An Australian podcast examines serious ethical questions (“Would you donate your kidney to a stranger?”) with plenty of time for students to interact and share views.
  • Story Seeds: This show captures the magic that unfolds when kids ages 6-12 collaborate with beloved storytellers who grow original stories inspired by their story ideas!
  • The Past and the Curious:* History with a side of fun, this features stories about such figures as Nellie Bly and Henry “Box” Brown.
  • The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel:* Middle grade kids script and voice this mystery show in a high-quality cross between The Goonies and Stranger Things.
  • The Alien Adventures of Finn Caspian:* Sci-fi adventures starring an eight-year-old on a space station who explores the galaxy with friends.
  • Brains On!:* Kids submit questions; scientists answer them. Music, wisecracks, and decoding a mystery sound every episode keep things lively.
​*Recommended by School Library Journal's "Prime Time for Podcasts."