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I chose edX because I thought it would be a good resource for my high achieving students.  They could use this site to pursue interests outside of class or to see if their particular career path choices are right for them. I also think it would be a good place to for my high readiness low achievers to push themselves because they do well when working in pursuit of what interests them.

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Discover thousands of offerings - from free courses to full degrees - delivered by world-class partners like Harvard, Google, Amazon and more.

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I chose Academic Earth because I thought it would be a good site to show my seniors who are unsure about what they want to do, or who are convinced that college isn't accessible to them for whatever reason. Here, they can be exposed to programs that may be considered nontraditional and more accessible to them.

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AcademicEarth.org is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site. Got it!

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AcademicEarth.org - Free Online Courses From Top Colleges

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AcademicEarth.org is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site. Got it!

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I love Open Stax! I always send a list of helpful links to my seniors who are college bound and Open Stax is the first on the list. I completely understand how much books cost and am happy to give these kids a possible alternative.

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OpenStax | Free Textbooks Online with No Catch

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OpenStax offers free college textbooks for all types of students, making education accessible & affordable for everyone. Browse our list of available subjects!

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I picked Story Weaver because I have an assignment the has students rewrite a novel as a children's book. I think this would be a good resource for them to complete that assignment.

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I think these would be most helpful to me as a learner, but also to older students who are transitioning to college.  I'm not sure how I would incorporate them in my teaching, but I thought they might come in handy.

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I would use this to help incorporate scientific topics in my ELA classroom. I would also share it with my science colleagues so that they could use it too.

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The purpose of NASA STEM is to engage students in NASA's mission. Our vision is to immerse students in NASA's work, enhance STEM literacy, and inspire the next generation to explore. NASA has a portfolio of programs and opportunities dedicated to attracting, engaging and educating students and to support educators and educational institutions across the nation.

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This will be a great resource for lesson plans and incorporating science .

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Explore STEM Resources for K-12 Educators

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NASA invests in our nation's future workforce by providing unique science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) opportunities for students, educators and institutions. NASA's Office of STEM Engagement collaborates with NASA STEM experts to connect both learners and educators to exciting NASA missions through dynamic STEM content.

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This is a site that I could use in a humanities class or when teaching about the culture in which a literary work was created. This could help provide insight for students who are visual learners.

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Conceptual Art

Discover how Conceptual artists used language, performance, and instructions to fuel creativity, and sought alternatives to institutional settings.

Language and Art
Outside the Museum

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I picked this because I've had success with using projects developed by the Smithsonian in the past.

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Smithsonian

Learning Lab

Discover the digital education platform that connects people to Smithsonian objects, resources, and stories.

Collections by Grade

Explore some of our most popular Learning Lab Collections. Use them as a springboard to continue your exploration of the many collections available on the site.

Talk with Me!
Learn about your community and neighborhood. In this Toolkit, leaners explore different homes, shops, and people in your neighborhood and have fun with related activities.

Talk with Me Toolkits provide you with chances to talk with your children to improve thinking, vocabulary, and language development. Talking with your child is great-and research shows that the quality of words children hear matters more than how much you talk.

Talk with Me Toolkits give you ideas to begin conversations that are organized around a theme. The Toolkits feature videos, photographs, paintings, and artworks along with questions to talk about with your child. At the end of each toolkit there are more activities to do and books to read together. Go through this toolkit with your child and see how many topics there are to talk about!
This toolkit was adapted with a grant from the Institute for Museum and Library Services.

Links to third-party websites and videos are included in this Toolkit for informational purposes only. They do not indicate the Smithsonian's endorsement, sponsorship of, or affiliation with the third party or content of the linked site, including any advertisements that might be posted.

Learn More

Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden

What inspires you? Get to know Alma Thomas, (b. Columbus, Georgia; lived and worked in Washington, DC, 1891-1978), an American artist and educator known for her signature painting style using bright colors and patterns inspired by nature. She became a full-time artist late in her life. Born in a time of horses and buggies, she lived through big advancements in technology, such as the space race and moon landing. Her art was inspired by the nature she saw outside her home studio, and awe for the exploration of our vast universe.
Get To Know Alma Thomas Use it in the classroom to teach:
is part of the Hirshhorn KIDS About the Artist series. About the Artist biographies are designed for kids under age 12. Modern and contemporary artists' lives reflect recent human history and events. Sharing these life stories and artworks can help kids see their own potential and better understand the world and their place in it. It is our goal to inspire future generations of artists, makers, and creative problem solvers-sharing artists stories is one way Hirshhorn KIDS realize this goal.
Art classroom: Color Theory, Pattern

Language Arts classroom: Biography

Social Studies classroom: 20th century

Learn More

National Museum of American History

In this playlist you will learn about how three of the first presidents shaped the executive branch of the United States government.

Start by clicking on the first tile in the upper left hand corner. Then move through the playlist by clicking on the ">" symbol at the bottom of the page. Look for the information and paperclip icons to provide more information about selected resources. There are 34 tiles in this collection.

Learn More

Educator Programs

Cultivating Learning is a professional development series where Smithsonian educators model teaching techniques for using digital museum resources to support student learning. This year's series celebrates America at 250. Programs are free and accessible to anyone.

Wednesday, April 15, 4:00 PM EST

Join Phoebe Sherman of the National Postal Museum to explore how postage stamps can be used in the classroom to encourage civic awareness and engagement. We'll examine how stamps can spark curiosity and deepen understanding of civics, American history, national identity, and commemoration by using thinking routines that focus on both subject matter and artistic design. You'll see how these approaches come to life with students and leave with classroom-ready resources and fresh ideas for incorporating postage stamps into your teaching practice.

Watch

Wednesday, May 20, 4:00 PM EST

Join Nyssa Buning of the National Museum of American History's Spark!Lab and Carol O'Donnell of the Smithsonian Science Education Center to explore strategies for cultivating an inventive mindset in your students. We'll discuss the history of STEAM innovation in America and try an open-ended invention challenge that uses object-based learning techniques to encourage creative problem solving and support curiosity and perseverance, skills essential to inventors throughout history. You'll leave with a set of facilitation tools to support students as they develop their own inventive identity and become future problem-solvers. You'll also receive access to a newly released e-book from the Smithsonian Science Education Center, STEAM Innovation: Celebrating Our Nation's 250 Years.

Register

Wednesday, June 17, 4:00 PM EST

As America turns 250 in 2026, young people are writing its next chapter. Join a group of educators who apply interdisciplinary approaches to learning to engage young people in civic dialogue tied to their communities.

Register

What will you find in the Smithsonian Learning Lab?

Resources

Millions of Smithsonian digital images, recordings, texts, and videos in history, art and culture, and the sciences

Collections

Thousands of examples of resources organized and structured for teaching and learning by educators and subject experts

Resources

Millions of Smithsonian digital images, recordings, texts, and videos in history, art and culture, and the sciences

Collections

Thousands of examples of resources organized and structured for teaching and learning by educators and subject experts

Browse individual resources by type

Browse model collections on different topics

Tips

Tips

Create collections of resources to engage learners, or freely adapt ones already made by Learning Lab users like you.

Use Learning Lab tools to customize and enhance your collections.

Browse ready-to-use model collections by educational use

Browse ready-to-use model collections by learning strategy or theme

Tips

Tips

Subscribe to our Bright Ideas newsletter

To learn more about the Smithsonian Learning Lab and to read about strategies, approaches, new features, and more, subscribe to the Bright Ideas newsletter. We'll be sending out a new issue every few weeks.

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Smithsonian Learning Lab: Discover, Create, Share

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Smithsonian Learning Lab Discover the digital education platform that connects people to Smithsonian objects, resources, and stories. Explore some of our most popular Learning Lab Collections. Use them as a springboard to continue your exploration of the many collections available on the site. Talk with Me! Learn about your community and neighborhood.

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I picked this so I could share it with my mentee teacher. She is a 1st year social studies teacher who struggles a bit with finding resources and lesson plans for her class.

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National Geographic Maps hub including map products and stories about maps and mapmaking

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I picked this because I am constantly searching for online resources for literature. I like to provide an online copy of things that we read in class, so that students can use it at home if they need to.

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Welcome

Lit2Go is a free online collection of stories and poems in Mp3 (audiobook) format. An abstract, citation, playing time, and word count are given for each of the passages. Many of the passages also have a related reading strategy identified. Each reading passage can also be downloaded as a PDF and printed for use as a read-along or as supplemental reading material for your classroom.

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Lit2Go is a free online collection of stories and poems in Mp3 (audiobook) format. An abstract, citation, playing time, and word count are given for each of the passages. Many of the passages also have a related reading strategy identified.

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I picked this because it is amazing! I love how intricate and thorough the information is and I think it is a great resource for research.

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I picked this because I am interested in incorporating scientific topics in my classroom when there are connections to literature or for practice in reading nonfiction.

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Breaking boundaries.Empowering researchers.Opening Science. PLOS is a nonprofit, Open Access publisher empowering researchers to accelerate progress in science and medicine by leading...

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I already use Flipboard on my phone, and I think it's a great resource for current events information and articles that kids can share with the class.

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One place for all the stories you care about. Join the Flipboard community to discover and share what inspires you.

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I am using Scoop.It in class right now. I am having students create how to videos over different types of tech tools and this is one of them.

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For individuals

Publish your topic page with curated content in minutes.
Distribute it automatically with your network
to build your professional brand.

For businesses

Curate, share, and read content on private hubs.
Publish on your websites and blogs, newsletters and social media.
Aggregate curated content across multiple WordPress blogs.

Trusted by 8+ million curators, business intelligence professionals & marketers

How do content curation tools work?

A powerful content engine

Scoop.it's advanced content engine monitors global sources to find and curate relevant third-party content.

With a content curation tool you'll:

Boost credibility with readers and build brand awareness

Establish thought leadership and strengthen influencer connections

Access sources ranging from mainstream media to niche publications

Create and share curated
content pages

Publish topic pages with curated content in minutes.
Share them with your networks to build your professional brand.

Create engaging web pages from the content you curate

Feed your social channels automatically with curated content

Embed your content pages in your website

Leverage curated content in templated newsletters

Monitor and share knowledge with coworkers privately

Make it easy for your team to discover, curate and share content.

Automate content monitoring

Share curated content privately with your team

Generate internal email newsletters in a few clicks

Create private curated content hubs for your team

Integrate with SSO, intranet and enterprise social networks

Publish curated content for a targeted audience

Leverage curated content: store, share, categorize and disseminate it.

Aggregate curated content on one or multiple websites

Publish content on one or multiple Wordpress blogs

Share your team content on multiple social media

Generate customized newsletter for Mailchimp or any emailing solutions

Resources to make the most of content opportunities

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Scoop.it - Content Curation Tool | Scoop.it

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Scoop.it enables professionals and businesses to research and publish content through its content curation tool.

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I picked this to share with my mentee teacher and as a resource for biographies and stories for my ELA classes.

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We've migrated most of our American Memory collections to new presentations.

For a full list of all digitized collections at the Library of Congress, please go to https://www.loc.gov/collections/

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library congress american memory 
historical collections national digital library prints photographs manuscripts
books motion pictures music sound recordings performing arts

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American Memory is a gateway to rich primary source materials relating to the history and culture of the United States. The site offers more than 7 million digital items from more than 100 historical collections.

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I picked this because kids can use the images here in their own creations without having to worry about copyright.

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Join a global community working to strengthen the Commons

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I picked this because I'm intrigued by the concept. I want to incorporate it into a project where the kids

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Noun Project: Free Icons & Stock Photos for Everything

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Noun Project has the most diverse collection of free icons and stock photos. Download SVG and PNG. Over 5 million art-quality icons and free photos.

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I picked Kahn Academy because it is something that I rarely use, and I have heard some negative feedback about it from students. I'd like to incorporate it into class, but I'm not sure it would be for everybody.

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A required part of this site couldn’t load. This may be due to a browser extension, network issues, or browser settings. Please check your connection, disable any ad blockers, or try using a different browser.

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I picked this because it is a great resource for nonfiction informative texts to use in the classroom.

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Actionable lessons from the world’s greatest thinkers and doers.

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I picked this because I like to show cool videos in my homeroom.  Not everyone is always interested in every video, so I like to have a  variety of video sources.

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mit news engineering science research community education teaching

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Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

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Videos from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The mission of MIT is to advance knowledge and educate students in science, technology, and other area...

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Explore PBS Videos & Documentaries | PBS

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Watch your favorite PBS shows online on demand, including full episodes of Masterpiece, Finding Your Roots, Nature, Antiques Roadshow and much more!

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Celebrities news and profiles of famous people you should know.

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Discovery Education | Your Daily Learning Platform

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Discovery Education inspires educators to go beyond traditional learning with award-winning digital content and professional development. Learn more today!

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I picked this because I want a source for music for the kids to use in videos that they create in class.

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others can share, remix, use commercially, or any combination thereof. Much of the music found on the Free Music Archive is released under Creative Commons licenses. What we are highlighting here is just a small portion of the massive amount of free and reusable music available from artists who use CC and are ready to share.

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I picked this because I want to do a unit focused on narrative and podcasts.

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As we seek to enhance instruction with technology, one tool we might not think of is podcasts. These can be used in flipped classrooms or blended learning models in the same way you might use videos: to deliver content, provide enrichment, or explain topics in a different way for students who don't get a concept the first time around. As podcasts become a more popular medium, a growing number of them are being produced just for kids. Today we're going to look at eight of them that you can share with your students tomorrow.

If you know what podcasts are and you already listen to them, then you can skip this part. If not, this section will introduce you to the wonderful world of podcasts.

What is a podcast?
A podcast is a lot like a radio show. It has episodes, like a TV show would have, and it's usually in audio-only format, although video podcasts do exist. The length of a podcast episode can vary drastically, anywhere from two minutes to two hours, and they produce on a schedule that ranges from daily to "whenever." Listeners will typically subscribe to favorite podcasts, so that new episodes are delivered to them through whatever app they use.

How does one listen to podcasts?
Although you can listen to them right through a desktop or laptop computer, many people listen to podcasts on a smartphone, on a tablet, or in their cars, using a podcast app that can grab just about any show you're interested in and update that series whenever a new episode is published.This overview from Digital Trends explains how podcasts work and what your options are for listening.

Got it? Now let's dig in to these eight fantastic podcasts.
tumblepodcast.com
Age Range: Best for ages 6-12, appropriate for any age

Tumble is a science podcast that shares the stories behind science discovery. It explores how science actually works as a process. With stories ranging from reaching the deepest part of the ocean to hunting for black holes in distant galaxies, Tumble is co-hosted by a science journalist and a teacher.
Sample Episode: The Mystery of When Brains and Sports Collide
bookclubforkids.org

Age Range: Best for ages 9-14, appropriate for any age
Sample Episode: abc.net.au/radio/programs/shortandcurly Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson
In every episode of this podcast, a different group of kids discusses a young adult book. Each episode also features a celebrity reader and an interview with the book's author.
Sample Episode: soundcloud.com/the-show-about-science Is it ever okay to lie?
Age Range: Best for ages 7-12, appropriate for any age

Short & Curly is an ethics podcast from Australia. The hosts investigate dilemmas relevant to kids, like whether you have to love your sibling or whether Pokemon Go is actually playing you.
shabamshow.com
Age Range: Best for ages 3-9, but fun for curious minds of any age!

This science interview show is hosted by 6-year-old Nate, and while it has some serious science chops, it's also just plain adorable. Nate talks to scientists about everything from alligators to radiation to vultures, in his distinctly original interviewing style.

Sample Episode: Ants with Mikey Bustos
brainson.org
Age Range: Best for ages 8-18, but entertaining for older ages as well

This fast-paced, quirky podcast uses fictional stories to teach listeners about science. It's hosted by an emergency medicine physician, a science journalist, and a filmmaker. Season 1 tells the story of three kids who are separated from their parents during a zombie apocalypse.

Sample Episode: Episode 1: Brain Traps
(Note: The audio player on this site takes some time to kick in after you press play.)
digital.vpr.net/programs/why-podcast-curious-kids
Age Range: Best for ages 6-12, but interesting to all curious minds

Each episode of this science podcast is co-hosted by a different kid, tackling their questions with interviews, fun segments, and the occasional musical number. Episodes cover a wide range of topics like carnivorous plants, interpreting dog and cat sounds, and life on other planets.

Sample Episode: Mosquitoes: What are they good for?
classicsforkids.com
Age Range: Best for ages 5-10, but interesting to all curious minds

Produced by Vermont Public Radio, each episode of this podcast starts with an audio recording of a child asking a question (listeners are invited to send in their own), such as why people have different religions, why the sea is salty, and whether bumblebees have hearts. The rest of the episode goes on to answer that question by inviting experts to share their knowledge on the topic in simple language kids can understand.

Sample Episode: Why is soccer called "soccer" instead of "football"?

Age Range: Materials available for grades K-5, but content would be interesting to anyone wanting to learn about composers

The short episodes of this classical music podcast introduce listeners to different composers, often taking several episodes to study specific pieces or aspects of a composer's work. The site also offers lesson plans, games, and other activities to supplement the show.

Sample Episode: Scott Joplin: Ragtime Music

This list is just the beginning: Let's keep growing the collection in the comments! If you know of a great educational podcast that teachers and parents can share with their kids, tell us about it below, and feel free to provide a link so other readers can find it quickly.♦

I'd like to give a BIG thanks to Lindsay Patterson of the Tumble Podcast for putting this awesome list together for me, and providing many of the descriptions!

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As we seek to enhance instruction with technology, one tool we might not think of is podcasts. These can be used in flipped classrooms or blended learning models in the same way you might use videos: to deliver content, provide enrichment, or explain topics in a different way for students who don't get a concept the first time around.