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Reading Resources for K-12

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ReadWorks | Award-Winning, EdTech Nonprofit Organization

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ReadWorks is an edtech nonprofit organization that is committed to helping to solve America's reading comprehension crisis.

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All ages

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Over 3,800 Resources on Leader in Me Online!

Leader in Me School staff members can access thousands of resources including lesson plans, videos, classroom materials, and on-demand professional development courses as part of their School Membership. Feel free to share the public resourcesI below, or log in to Leader in Me Online today! If you have questions about becoming a Leader in Me School contact us.
LEADER IN ME ONLINE CONTACT US

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Leader in Me School staff members can access thousands of resources including lesson plans, videos, classroom materials, and on-demand professional development courses as part of their School Membership. Feel free to share the public resourcesI below, or log in to Leader in Me Online today!

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As we navigate these uncharted waters, we believe it is important to provide you with resources for extended learning for our Willard Tigers. We will miss having them in our classrooms over the next two weeks, and look forward to having them back with us soon!
We will continue to add to this padlet to provide you with additional resources for extended learning opportunities.

Stay well, and we hope to see you soon!

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Instantly access over 40,000 of the best books & videos for kids on Epic

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Raise a reader by getting the best book recommendations, reading tips, and discounts delivered straight to your inbox.

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Freckle by Renaissance - Differentiation Platform for K-12

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Accelerate literacy equitably with differentiated resources.

K-12 coverage of standards and skills

Over 1,000 nonfiction and fiction passages that adapt to each student's level

Teachers can assign a specific standard for some or all students to practice

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Freckle by Renaissance | Reach Every Student at Their Level

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Freckle helps K-12 teachers differentiate instruction and reach every student at their own level across Math, ELA, Social Studies and Science.

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PK-K

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Raise a reader by getting the best book recommendations, reading tips, and discounts delivered straight to your inbox.

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Grades 1 and 2

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Get our best book recommendations delivered straight to your inbox by signing up for the Scholastic Parents newsletter.

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Grades 1 and 2

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Get our best book recommendations delivered straight to your inbox by signing up for the Scholastic Parents newsletter.

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Stress-free science lessons for K-5 distance learning

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One of the best things America ever did was establish the national parks system, conserving the nation's ecological heritage and pristine wilderness for everyone to enjoy.

But, while visiting the parks is a family road trip classic, it's not exactly an inexpensive experience for many of us, not to mention how time consuming it can be.

Good news! You don't actually have to leave your couch to see some of America's most glorious landscapes. Powered by Google Earth, a whole bunch of parks offer free virtual tours.

Check out some of the highlights!

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You Can Virtually Tour A Whole Bunch Of National Parks From Your Couch

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One of the best things America ever did was establish the national parks system, conserving the nation's ecological heritage and pristine wilderness for everyone to enjoy. But, while visiting the parks is a family road trip classic, it's not exactly an inexpensive experience for many of us, not to mention how time consuming it can be.

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Grades 3 through 5

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Raise a reader by getting the best book recommendations, reading tips, and discounts delivered straight to your inbox.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
When it's time for math facts practice, do you automatically reach for the flash cards? That's one classic way to learn, but it's not very exciting, and some kids just don't respond to it. That's why we're big fans of these new ways to get in some math facts practice. The games, activities, and crafts here are ideal for reluctant learners and lots of fun for everyone!

1. Put together egg halves

This is a quick hands-on way to practice math facts. For more excitement, try hiding the egg halves and letting kids hunt for them before they match them up!

Learn more: Homeschool Preschool

2. Roll and multiply

This is like a simpler version of Yahtzee, and it's a cool way to practice multiplication. If you use two dice instead of one, kids can practice their facts up to 12.

Learn more: What We Do All Day

3. Compete at Multiplication Squares

If you've ever played Dots and Boxes, this will look familiar. Players roll two dice (try these polyhedral dice to expand the facts in play), and draw a line to connect two dots next to the answer. If they complete a box, they color it in with their own marker.

Learn more: Games 4 Gains/Multiplication Squares

4. Get Four in a Row

This free printable is completely editable, so you can use it for any type of math facts practice. Kids choose a problem and give the answer. If they get it right, they cover it with their marker. When they get four in a row, they win!

Learn more: Fun Learning for Kids

5. Try "Sticky Math"

Don't confuse Sticky Math with timed tests. The goal is just for kids to complete as many problems as possible in a set amount of time, then work to beat that record each time.

Learn more: Lucky Little Learners

6. Face off in Dice War

Dice games are fantastic in the classroom! With this one, kids practice their addition facts and get a little work with subitizing too. The concept is so simple: Each player rolls the dice and adds up their numbers. The highest sum wins that round. Use this game for subtraction and multiplication too.

Learn more: Miss Giraffe's Class

7. Assemble math-facts grab bags

Fill a variety of bags with collections of small objects. Kids grab a handful from two different bags, then count and add up the results. Be sure they write it all down to get practice at setting up equations. (Also, try this with subtraction and multiplication facts.)

Learn more: Susan Jones Teaching

8. Play Shut the Box

This game has been played for hundreds of years, but it's a fun and sneaky way to practice addition facts fluency! The goal is to "close" each of the numbers in the box from one to nine by rolling the dice. For instance, if a player rolls 11, they may close 1, 2, 3, and 5, as these add up to 11. If no numbers are available to add up to the dice total, play passes to the next player and continues until someone finally "shuts the box" by closing the last available number. You can play this game as people have for centuries with a specially designed box. You don't need the box, though; simply have kids write out the numbers 1 through 9 and cross them out as they play.

9. Play Math Facts War

Each student flips two cards, then adds them (or subtracts, or multiplies). The person with the highest total keeps both cards. For a tiebreaker, flip another card! See more rules at the link.

Learn more: Math Facts War/Creative Family Fun

10. Turn an egg carton into a problem generator

Using an egg carton, have students write the numbers 1 through 12 in the bottom of each depression. Place two marbles inside the egg carton and close the lid. Shake the egg carton, open the top, and then add, subtract, or multiply whichever two numbers the marbles have landed on.

Learn more: The Unlikely Homeschool

11. Assemble a domino puzzle

Dominoes are perfect for math facts practice! Keep it simple by pulling a domino from a bag, then adding, subtracting, or multiplying the two numbers.

For even more fun, print the free puzzles at the link below. Then start filling in the puzzle one piece at a time by placing a domino that adds up to the number shown in each rectangle. The trick is that regular domino rules still apply, so each number must touch another domino with the same number on that end.

Learn more: Games 4 Gains/Domino Math

12. Circle math facts in a Number Search

These number search puzzles are harder than they look! First, kids complete the addition facts. Then, they search for those equations in the puzzle. Get three free puzzles at the link, where you can purchase more if you like them.

Learn more: The Sprinkle Topped Teacher

13. Use flash cards to play Fifteen in a Row

When it comes down to it, flash cards are still one of the best ways to practice fact fluency, but a game can at least make them more fun. The goal is to lay out 15 flash cards in a row by the total of their sums (or differences, products, or dividends), from smallest to largest. Learn how it's played at the link.

Learn more: The Measured Mom

14. Make a math-facts practice wheel

All it takes is paper plates, glue, and a marker to help your students learn their math facts. Up the fun factor by having students decorate their plates any way their imagination can dream up!

Learn more: Math Facts Wheel/Creative Family Fun

15. Whack a ball to subtract

You know your elementary math students are going to love this! Build your own whack-a-mole 10-frame with a shoebox and Ping-Pong balls. Then, have kids whack the balls to practice their subtraction facts. So fun!

Learn more: Planning Playtime

16. Get a jump on your math facts practice

Lay out a grid like the one shown that has the answers to whatever set of math flash cards you're currently working with. (This teacher used masking tape; you could also do sidewalk chalk on the playground.) Two players face off, one on each side of the board. Show the flash card, and kids race to be the first to jump to the correct square with both feet inside the lines. Get all the rules at the link below.

Learn more: Teaching and Tapas

17. Run a flash card race

Tape a series of flash cards to the floor and challenge kids to see who can correctly make their way from start to finish the fastest. They can call out the answers or write them down, but they have to get it right before they move on. Kids can race side by side or work independently to beat their own best time.

Learn more: There's Just One Mommy

18. Draw Waldorf math facts flowers

This is a creative way to teach math facts. Start by drawing the center of a flower and write any number from 1 to 9 in the middle. Next, draw 12 petals around the center, labeling them 1 through 12. Last, draw another 12 petals and write the sum or product of the center number and the petal adjacent to the new petal.

Learn more: Multicultural Motherhood

19. Catch a math beach ball

Beach balls are so much fun in the classroom. Scribble numbers all over one with a Sharpie, then toss it to a student. Wherever their thumbs land, they add (or subtract, or multiply) those two numbers together before tossing the ball to the next student.

Learn more: There's Just One Mommy

20. Practice facts by stacking cups

We're not sure why, but kids simply love stacking cups. Label yours with math problems and answers, then have kids build pyramids and towers galore!

Learn more: The Kindergarten Smorgasboard

21. Design an outdoor board game

Draw a winding path and fill the spaces with math equations. Kids roll the dice and move from space to space (have them jump, skip, or twirl to mix things up). If they get the answer right, they move to the new space. If not, their turn is over. Customizable math games like this can be used at any level.

Learn more: Look! We're Learning

22. Compete at math bingo

Math facts bingo is so easy to set up and play! Give kids empty grids and ask them to write various sums, differences, products, or quotients, depending on what you're working on. Then call out math problems and have them cover the answers. First to fill in a row wins!

Learn more: Happy Go Lucky

23. Play math facts checkers

Label a checkerboard with math facts. Play checkers as usual, following the traditional rules. The twist is, you must solve the math problem you land on!

Learn more: Teach Beside Me

24. Change your students' names (temporarily)

This is so clever! Grab some name tags and write math facts on each. Give a tag to each of your students. For the remainder of the day, everyone will refer to one another by the answer to the equation on their tag (e.g., the student with the name tag that says 7×6 would be referred to as "42").

Learn more: Mr. Elementary Math

25. Match up math facts

Play Memory (also called Concentration) with math facts. Get free printable cards at the link for addition facts to get you started.

Learn more: Playdough to Plato

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25 Easy Ways to Make Math Facts Practice Fun and Effective

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When it's time for math facts practice, do you automatically reach for the flash cards? That's one classic way to learn, but it's not very exciting, and some kids just don't respond to it. That's why we're big fans of these new ways to get in some math facts practice.

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The coronavirus pandemic has closed schools worldwide. Most schools are catering for home learning so that children can continue with their education despite the necessary measures. Let's take these difficult times as they come and try to focus on the positive rather than negative. Spending time at home allows you to spend some quality time with your children, which you may not have otherwise been able to have.

Below are some ideas of screen-free things you could do with your kids, during this time. Staying indoors to keep safe and healthy is imperative but it doesn't have to be boring or detrimental. After your children have finished with their e-learning tasks, read on to see what you could do with them.

1. Homemade gifts. Encourage your child to make a gift for someone or a greeting card. There are many ideas and instructions online, start searching!

2. Get baking. Bake some cakes or biscuits. Have them help you in the kitchen! Who doesn't need a great helper?

3. Reminisce. Sort through old photographs, make a scrapbook of memories. It might sound a bit old fashioned but it's so therapeutic and you get to spend quality time with your kids.

4. Organise. Get your child to sort through their belongings and throw out what they don't need. Ask them to organise their room.

5. Draw or create a family tree. Why don't you even make an art gallery at home and show of your child's artwork?

6. Chat. Let your child spend time with their friends on Skype or phone. Teenagers especially, truly feel isolated if their aren't in contact with their friends.

7. Treasure hunt. If you are lucky enough to have a garden create an exciting treasure hunt with clues and home-made treasures for your kids to find.

8. Get gardening. Show your child how to take care of plants and let them garden, too. If you live in apartment, go to your balcony plant some flowers in pots.

9. Movie time. Having a family 'film day' is a great way of spending time together watching favourite movies. To make it educational, ask your child to write a film review or draw a movie poster.

10. Show time. If your children like performing, go through carnival/halloween outfits and help them to put on a show for the family. They can even work on some literacy skills in a fun way by writing a play script and act it out.

11. Puppets. Make finger puppets and help them create their own puppet show. Make a theatre out of a box and get creative.

12. Read. Start a family book club. Discuss what your favourite characters and what part you liked best and why.

13. Picnic time. Have a family picnic indoors, on the balcony or in the garden.

14. Create. Make potato stamps, stamp paper or even a shirt.

15. Adventure time. Go camping in the garden or the living room.

16. Sports. Make your own mini-golf course in the living room. There are many online ideas you can easily recreate.

17. Homemade games. In the evenings get the kids to design a game that you can make the next day - give them ideas to keep it simple such as a paper boat race in the bath or homemade skittles using a tennis ball and empty toilet rolls.

18. Origami. All you need is paper and instructions which can be found online, will keeps kids amused and they will learn a new skill.

19. Theatre. Encourage the kids to put on a play or a magic show. They could even use the dress up with clothes and props from around the house. If you have a camera, you can even film it to watch later or for some great memories.

20. Games. Play board games and card games, I'm sure there are some lurking somewhere in the house.

Like and share this post to spread the ideas! ❤

Image from CleanPng

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20 Screen-Free Things To Do With Your Kids Indoors When School Is Closed

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The coronavirus pandemic has closed schools worldwide. Most schools are catering for home learning so that children can continue with their education despite the necessary measures. Let's take these difficult times as they come and try to focus on the positive rather than negative. Spending time at home allows you to spend some quality time...

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Click here to browse library resources and checkout a book! Email your librarian for pick up days and times.

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Review Movies Before Your Kids Watch Them

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Common Sense Media: Age-Based Media Reviews for Families

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Common Sense Media is the leading source of entertainment and technology recommendations for families. Parents trust our expert reviews and objective advice.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
When it's time for math facts practice, do you automatically reach for the flash cards? That's one classic way to learn, but it's not very exciting, and some kids just don't respond to it. That's why we're big fans of these new ways to get in some math facts practice. The games, activities, and crafts here are ideal for reluctant learners and lots of fun for everyone!

1. Put together egg halves

This is a quick hands-on way to practice math facts. For more excitement, try hiding the egg halves and letting kids hunt for them before they match them up!

Learn more: Homeschool Preschool

2. Roll and multiply

This is like a simpler version of Yahtzee, and it's a cool way to practice multiplication. If you use two dice instead of one, kids can practice their facts up to 12.

Learn more: What We Do All Day

3. Compete at Multiplication Squares

If you've ever played Dots and Boxes, this will look familiar. Players roll two dice (try these polyhedral dice to expand the facts in play), and draw a line to connect two dots next to the answer. If they complete a box, they color it in with their own marker.

Learn more: Games 4 Gains/Multiplication Squares

4. Get Four in a Row

This free printable is completely editable, so you can use it for any type of math facts practice. Kids choose a problem and give the answer. If they get it right, they cover it with their marker. When they get four in a row, they win!

Learn more: Fun Learning for Kids

5. Try "Sticky Math"

Don't confuse Sticky Math with timed tests. The goal is just for kids to complete as many problems as possible in a set amount of time, then work to beat that record each time.

Learn more: Lucky Little Learners

6. Face off in Dice War

Dice games are fantastic in the classroom! With this one, kids practice their addition facts and get a little work with subitizing too. The concept is so simple: Each player rolls the dice and adds up their numbers. The highest sum wins that round. Use this game for subtraction and multiplication too.

Learn more: Miss Giraffe's Class

7. Assemble math-facts grab bags

Fill a variety of bags with collections of small objects. Kids grab a handful from two different bags, then count and add up the results. Be sure they write it all down to get practice at setting up equations. (Also, try this with subtraction and multiplication facts.)

Learn more: Susan Jones Teaching

8. Play Shut the Box

This game has been played for hundreds of years, but it's a fun and sneaky way to practice addition facts fluency! The goal is to "close" each of the numbers in the box from one to nine by rolling the dice. For instance, if a player rolls 11, they may close 1, 2, 3, and 5, as these add up to 11. If no numbers are available to add up to the dice total, play passes to the next player and continues until someone finally "shuts the box" by closing the last available number. You can play this game as people have for centuries with a specially designed box. You don't need the box, though; simply have kids write out the numbers 1 through 9 and cross them out as they play.

9. Play Math Facts War

Each student flips two cards, then adds them (or subtracts, or multiplies). The person with the highest total keeps both cards. For a tiebreaker, flip another card! See more rules at the link.

Learn more: Math Facts War/Creative Family Fun

10. Turn an egg carton into a problem generator

Using an egg carton, have students write the numbers 1 through 12 in the bottom of each depression. Place two marbles inside the egg carton and close the lid. Shake the egg carton, open the top, and then add, subtract, or multiply whichever two numbers the marbles have landed on.

Learn more: The Unlikely Homeschool

11. Assemble a domino puzzle

Dominoes are perfect for math facts practice! Keep it simple by pulling a domino from a bag, then adding, subtracting, or multiplying the two numbers.

For even more fun, print the free puzzles at the link below. Then start filling in the puzzle one piece at a time by placing a domino that adds up to the number shown in each rectangle. The trick is that regular domino rules still apply, so each number must touch another domino with the same number on that end.

Learn more: Games 4 Gains/Domino Math

12. Circle math facts in a Number Search

These number search puzzles are harder than they look! First, kids complete the addition facts. Then, they search for those equations in the puzzle. Get three free puzzles at the link, where you can purchase more if you like them.

Learn more: The Sprinkle Topped Teacher

13. Use flash cards to play Fifteen in a Row

When it comes down to it, flash cards are still one of the best ways to practice fact fluency, but a game can at least make them more fun. The goal is to lay out 15 flash cards in a row by the total of their sums (or differences, products, or dividends), from smallest to largest. Learn how it's played at the link.

Learn more: The Measured Mom

14. Make a math-facts practice wheel

All it takes is paper plates, glue, and a marker to help your students learn their math facts. Up the fun factor by having students decorate their plates any way their imagination can dream up!

Learn more: Math Facts Wheel/Creative Family Fun

15. Whack a ball to subtract

You know your elementary math students are going to love this! Build your own whack-a-mole 10-frame with a shoebox and Ping-Pong balls. Then, have kids whack the balls to practice their subtraction facts. So fun!

Learn more: Planning Playtime

16. Get a jump on your math facts practice

Lay out a grid like the one shown that has the answers to whatever set of math flash cards you're currently working with. (This teacher used masking tape; you could also do sidewalk chalk on the playground.) Two players face off, one on each side of the board. Show the flash card, and kids race to be the first to jump to the correct square with both feet inside the lines. Get all the rules at the link below.

Learn more: Teaching and Tapas

17. Run a flash card race

Tape a series of flash cards to the floor and challenge kids to see who can correctly make their way from start to finish the fastest. They can call out the answers or write them down, but they have to get it right before they move on. Kids can race side by side or work independently to beat their own best time.

Learn more: There's Just One Mommy

18. Draw Waldorf math facts flowers

This is a creative way to teach math facts. Start by drawing the center of a flower and write any number from 1 to 9 in the middle. Next, draw 12 petals around the center, labeling them 1 through 12. Last, draw another 12 petals and write the sum or product of the center number and the petal adjacent to the new petal.

Learn more: Multicultural Motherhood

19. Catch a math beach ball

Beach balls are so much fun in the classroom. Scribble numbers all over one with a Sharpie, then toss it to a student. Wherever their thumbs land, they add (or subtract, or multiply) those two numbers together before tossing the ball to the next student.

Learn more: There's Just One Mommy

20. Practice facts by stacking cups

We're not sure why, but kids simply love stacking cups. Label yours with math problems and answers, then have kids build pyramids and towers galore!

Learn more: The Kindergarten Smorgasboard

21. Design an outdoor board game

Draw a winding path and fill the spaces with math equations. Kids roll the dice and move from space to space (have them jump, skip, or twirl to mix things up). If they get the answer right, they move to the new space. If not, their turn is over. Customizable math games like this can be used at any level.

Learn more: Look! We're Learning

22. Compete at math bingo

Math facts bingo is so easy to set up and play! Give kids empty grids and ask them to write various sums, differences, products, or quotients, depending on what you're working on. Then call out math problems and have them cover the answers. First to fill in a row wins!

Learn more: Happy Go Lucky

23. Play math facts checkers

Label a checkerboard with math facts. Play checkers as usual, following the traditional rules. The twist is, you must solve the math problem you land on!

Learn more: Teach Beside Me

24. Change your students' names (temporarily)

This is so clever! Grab some name tags and write math facts on each. Give a tag to each of your students. For the remainder of the day, everyone will refer to one another by the answer to the equation on their tag (e.g., the student with the name tag that says 7×6 would be referred to as "42").

Learn more: Mr. Elementary Math

25. Match up math facts

Play Memory (also called Concentration) with math facts. Get free printable cards at the link for addition facts to get you started.

Learn more: Playdough to Plato

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25 Easy Ways to Make Math Facts Practice Fun and Effective

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
When it's time for math facts practice, do you automatically reach for the flash cards? That's one classic way to learn, but it's not very exciting, and some kids just don't respond to it. That's why we're big fans of these new ways to get in some math facts practice.

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Welcome to CK-12 Foundation | CK-12 Foundation

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Welcome to CK-12 Foundation | CK-12 Foundation

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Use these resources to encourage your child's math learning at home!

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This link takes you to "Amazing Educational Resources" that are being made available for families.

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MSN | Outlook, Office, Skype, Bing, Breaking News, and Latest Videos

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Your customizable and curated collection of the best in trusted news plus coverage of sports, entertainment, money, weather, travel, health and lifestyle, combined with Outlook/Hotmail, Facebook, Twitter, Bing, Skype and more.

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A Life-Changing Parent's Guide For Their Kids Online Safety

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How to Keep Your Kids Safe in The Online World? The internet is now wide open and easily available to most of the homes. We often use the internet for multiple purposes including different social media sites, to find out any information, to buy new things from e-commerce stores or to watch movies.

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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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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.

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Wednesday, June 17, 4:00 PM EST

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Rainy day blues? Weather at the extremes? Need to stick to a budget and stay in? Whether you are looking for simple games for kids or full scale activities for groups, it's easy to save the day, bust boredom and have fun with this list of screen-free indoor games for kids of all ages! What indoor games did your family love to play growing up, and what indoor games do you play now with your kids? Did you learn some great games for kids at school? Let us know your favorite games to play when bored in the comments so we can share them!
Note: Most of these indoor games for kids are fun games to play with friends indoors without many materials. The classics don't require any fancy equipment. However, if you prefer, we have found ready-made versions of these games for children to play. Click the image to go to the product on Amazon. While your price does not change, we receive a small commission on any purchases made through our site.
If you stick with us, this list of indoor activities has been categorized into age appropriate groups at the end of the article (fun games for preschoolers up through teens). Or you can use the quick links below to skip to the lists. As always, these games and activities for kids can truly be enjoyed by anyone who is ready and willing to have fun.

This may be the most absurdly simple of all the indoor games with friends - blow up some balloons, tell the kids to keep the balloons from touching the floor, and get the party started! This is admittedly one of those kids physical games that can get a little rambunctious indoors, so move the breakables out of the way. Buy It: 500 pack multi colored balloons.

Balloon tennis or balloon volleyball: String up a divider as a net and see how many times they can volley the balloon over the net without it touching the ground. Fly swatters, plastic spatulas or wooden spoons could work well for the tennis game, but they aren't absolutely necessary. (This works best with only two children playing for safety reasons.)

This is a great indoor game to focus young kids on the sense of touch in a world so focused on the sense of sight. Train their minds to associate information other than just how the object looks. Start by putting interesting objects into containers that a child must reach into and identify by touch. Shoe boxes work well as they are usually readily available, can be easily cut with scissors, and do not let light through. Making the boxes is part of the fun - have the kids decorate them, just make sure to cut out a child-sized hand hole on the side of the box beforehand. Place an item in each box and have your kids take turns guessing what the items are. Encourage questions and offer clues as needed.

This is another of the games for kindergarten readiness that you can easily pull together. When a child plays a sorting game, they are analyzing objects, describing and comparing them and engaging in critical thinking. All kinds of learning is going on. Start by creating "bins", which can be as simple as using tape on a level surface. Buy It - Learning Resources Mini Muffin Match Up Counting Toy Set.

Colors: For younger kids, using colors is the easiest way to start a sorting activity.Try taping down pieces of colored construction paper, then gather objects to match. (LEGO Duplos work well.)

Advanced: Sort by the texture of a surface or type of object, for instance wooden vs plastic vs metal.

More variations: You can make it into a full on game by asking competing children to go find 5 objects of each type the fastest. Or you can enforce an order that they must retrieve them in - first red, then blue, then yellow, then repeat.

We typically think of bubbles as an outdoor activity; this version can be played indoors around a table. Simply get a plate and straw for each child and put a coin-sized drop of dish soap on the plate. Mix a little water in until suds form. Each child should then put the end of the straw straight up and down into the suds so that a layer of soap forms over the end of the straw. Blowing very slowly, a single bubble will start to grow! Who can make the biggest bubble? Who can hold the bubble there the longest?

I Spy and its variations are wonderful sensory games for young kids to get to know the world around them. For a child who has never played, you can start by picking out a secret object within plain view and saying, "I Spy something blue." If there is only one child, then she can keep guessing until she gets it right. If there are multiple children then they can take turns looking around and guessing. The first child correct gets to spy something next. It is so versatile, you can take it anywhere.

Variations: Limit the number of guesses each child gets. Or, say things like "I Spy something that is a circle." The difficulty is easily changed by what you are actually spying (smaller or less obvious things) and how you describe what is spied (bumpy or soft things, for example).

This is a more easily set up indoor game than you might think. Using painter's tape (go gentle on flooring), tape down a line of any length, and have a blast. Challenge your child to only walk on the line all the way to end. Buy It - Healthstar Foam Balance Beam 6″ Blue.

Angles: Try taping down further lines at different angles. Spirals and zig-zags are always fun. This is one of those physical games for kindergarten readiness that is easy to practice.

Backwards: Switch up the challenge by having the child walk the tape line backwards or with eyes closed (socks off so they can feel the line).

Other variations: Walk the tape line heel-to-toe or try jumping down the line (both feet still on!)

If you're able to create enough space on the floor, constructing a tape maze can be a great indoor activity. Design a simple maze for toddlers or add dead ends to challenge older kids.

Add balls: Can the kids dribble a small ball through the maze without crossing any of the tape lines? Get a timer and mark how long it takes the kids to move the ball through the maze - then challenge them to improve their time.

Number maze: This is a good variation for children who are learning number recognition and counting skills. Mark numbers along the maze route the child can follow in the correct order from start to exit.

Again, you'll need the painter's tape for this game. Design a road map on the floor for your kid's collection of matchbox cars and those other mini vehicles we somehow all accumulate. Get creative and add other pieces to make a street scene or use furniture in the room as obstacles. The kids will be driving all over town all day long.

Variations: The tape course is limited only by your imagination. Trains could follow train tracks or unicorns could dance on rainbows.

Buy It: If you can imagine it, you can probably buy a decorative tape already printed.

When any indoor games need to be low energy:
Indoor Fun at Home: No Energy, No Space, No TV, No Problem

- SOCK FUN GAMES -

Sock Wars

The setup of this game can actually be as fun as playing it. Divide into two teams, create some sock balls from pairs of socks, and then each team creates its fort! Blankets, pillows, chairs, and couches are all fair game. Once you have built your elaborate fort, make sure all breakables are cleared away and start throwing! If a kid is hit then they are out for the remainder of the game. The last team standing wins. If you don't mind your kids activity games to get crazy, this is the indoor game for you. It also translates well to an outdoor game - just make sure you bring in all the socks when you are done.

Sock basketball: Basketball games for indoor fun? You betcha! Make a few "snowballs" out of pairs of socks, get a laundry basket (or smaller receptacles for more challenge), and you're all set. Kids can take turns shooting to score, and they could even take the risk of a longer shot worth more points!

More sock basketball variations: Each kids shoots the ball, and if they score they take a step back. The one to score from the furthest distance wins. Buy It: Nerf Sports TablePros Basketball

Sock hockey: Likely the safest way there is to play hockey - no helmets or even sticks required! We like to use a plastic laundry basket tipped sideways for the goal. Pick a kid (or adult) for goalie and try to toss the socks into the goal.

Sock bean bag toss: A great use for that large cardboard box you were about to recycle. Cut holes of various widths and shapes and assign point values to each one. Flip the box upside down and you've got an instant carnival-style bean bag toss. You can use soft socks to toss or small balls such as ping-pong. Little prizes totally optional.

Hot Potato: This indoor game can get a little giggly, so be warned! It is great though, because it is one of those games to play with kindergarten kids up through the older grade school ages. Simply get any soft ball or rolled up socks and underhand-toss it to a child. Instruct them to under-hand toss it to someone else as quickly as possible. Each child repeats this. When does this game end? Who knows? Just get rid of it! Buy It: Hot Potato Family

Hot potato variations: If you have enough children, play short segments of music while they toss the object, stop the music, and the last child to touch it when the music stops is out of the game. Repeat until there is only 1 child.

- MOVEMENT GAMES -

Charades

If you haven't played this classic game, then you need to. Right now! This game is all about acting out a word or phrase using no spoken words whatsoever. It can be easily modified for any age group. For full instructions click here.

Buy It: Charades Party Game - Family Charades.

Animal Charades: Before playing, first print off a page of animal pictures. Cut out each individual animal, fold each in half, and put them in a bucket. Begin the game by having the first child choose a piece of paper. The child then needs to act out the animal silently, while the other children try to guess what animal is being portrayed. Once the animal is guessed, choose another child who has not picked a piece of paper yet, and then they get to have their fun acting. Charades games are so versatile that they can be group games for 5 year olds, one on one games for 2 kids or even adult games with no kids at all. We like this game when we're tired, too.

More variations: All secret words could come from a theme such as movies. Or play with a partner and compete against other sets of partners. Buy It: Animal Charades.

Duck, Duck, Goose (or Duck, Duck, Grey Duck for us Minnesotans!)

If you are looking for an easy game to play with kindergarten and preschool-aged kids, you found it! This fun indoor game needs about a minimum of 6 children to play it. Choose someone to be the Goose (or Grey Duck). All the other kids sit in a circle. The Goose then walks around the circle, tapping each kid on the head and calling, "Duck, duck, duck, duck..." Eventually, the Goose calls "Goose!" when tapping a child. The old Goose has to run around the circle and try to sit in the vacant spot before the new Goose can catch them.

There are two outcomes: 1) the old Goose is able to run around the circle and sit down in the new Goose's spot without being tagged. A new round of the game begins. Or, 2) the old Goose is tagged before he/she gets to sit down in the vacant spot in the circle and must remain the Goose for the next round. Buy It: Try a less rambunctious version - Game Zone Duck Duck Goose.

Indoor Bowling

You will need a level space indoors to create a bowling "lane" for this game. Collect items to act as pins such as empty water bottles or plastic cups. A small ball works best for indoor bowling; nothing heavy is needed. If there are a lot of kids, make it an indoor team game for kids by creating "leagues". Buy It: KOVOT Foam Bowling Set.

Variations: Make a bulls-eye on the ground out of masking tape or one on a piece of paper. With each section worth different amounts of points, the kids can take aim and challenge each other.

If you'd prefer to get out of the house instead, try our list of Twin Cities bowling alleys.

Musical Chairs

Get your dancin' shoes on! This game is best with at least 4 or more children playing and 1 additional person to stop the music. This is probably the most popular of the children's group games for inside. Buy It - Musical Chairs And Party Games

Variations: If you don't have enough chairs, try substituting pieces of colored construction paper taped to the ground. When the music stops, the child who gets both feet on first claims the spot.

Indoor Obstacle Course

This is one game that I absolutely loved as a kid. Depending on the skill level of the stations you create, obstacle courses can be fun games to play with kindergarten-aged children through adults. Here are some ideas for your course that you could put in any order:

Put down pillows or couch cushions and the kids need to jump from one to the next. Alternatively, the kids could need to jump over the pillows or cushions!

Climb over ottomans.

Allow only jumping/somersaulting/crawling/crab walking from one area of the course to another.

Put down some Balance Beams as described in game number 2.

One of my personal favorites as kid - crawling through tunnels made from blankets or sheets hung over chairs and couches.

Perform various exercises like 20 jumping jacks.

Toss 5 sock snowballs from game number into laundry baskets. Throwing stuffed animals also works here.

Crawl under tables

Variations: For older kids, time them to see how long it takes them to go through the whole course. Buy It: Papair Indoor Obstacle Course Game

Sardines

If you are tired of the same old indoor group games for kids, shake up your game of hide-and-seek a little with only one person hiding and everyone else doing the seeking. In the game of Sardines, as soon as a seeker finds the hider, he or she must join the hider in the hiding spot. (It's a fun challenge to discover a hiding spot that will fit your whole crowd!) The last person to find the spot becomes the hider for the next round.

Hide and Seek

This has to be one of oldest games on planet Earth. It ranks among my favorite indoor games for family get-togethers. Anyone from tot to grandma can play along. Variations of hide and seek are wonderful games to play in a big house, but can be scaled down for a smaller home. Buy It: Hide and Seek Puppy Game For Kids (This is a good way to modify hide and seek for smaller kids).

In the dark: The variations of this game can be truly fun for both kids and adults. Hide and seek in the dark (or dim room) can be a mildly spooky thrill. It really can be a lot harder to find someone, which appeals to older kids. As with all games, exercise caution and talk ahead of time about what's off limits.

Simon Says

Start by selecting someone to be "Simon". Next, kids must do whatever Simon says when starting a command with "Simon Says", for instance, "Simon Says touch your nose." If a child fails to do it before you finish saying before Simon gives the next command, then they are "out" of that game. You can also attempt to get children "out" by saying commands that don't start with Simon Says. If a child follows that directions then they are "out". The last kid that is "in" gets to be Simon. If you want to make the game difficult for older kids, simply issue commands faster and faster, and make the needed actions more and more difficult to complete. What I LOVE about this game is that it can be one of the most adult-controlled physical games for kids. They get some exercise, but you can keep the rowdy down as Simon. You can play this game when you are looking for 3 player indoor games.

Simon Says Draw or Color: A fun variation is to play Simon Says with drawing or coloring. For example: "Simon Says draw a circle. Simon Says draw a stick figure. Draw a tiger. Ohhh, Emily you're out, you started to draw a tiger!"

The Floor is Lava

I had to add this idea to our list of indoor games for preschoolers because my four-year-old LOVES this game, which she learned from her older siblings. Any time, any where she is likely to yell, "The floor is lava! Mom you're dead". Sweet, I know. It is a very easy game to learn. When the floor is declared lava, no one is allowed to touch it. Players have to get where they are going by stepping on furniture and anything they can toss on the floor. Hint: I always declare that moms and dads have special lava shoes, so we can still walk on the floor.

Variations: Hey! You could make anything lava: "The fridge is lava." "Mom's chocolate is lava". It could work?! Buy It - If you don't want kids walking on the furniture but still want some physical activity games, you can use foam pieces in the board game version: The Floor is Lava - Interactive Game for Kids and Adults.

For games to play physically when you are sick of your own home:
Twin Cities Indoor Playgrounds and Play Areas Guide

- SCAVENGER HUNTS & TREASURE HUNTS -

Scavenger Hunt

If you haven't done a Scavenger Hunt lately, then you just aren't living! This was one of my favorite games with cousins when I was a kid. A scavenger hunt is all about finding items from a list in certain rooms or areas. Depending on how many items you want the kids to find and how many kids are a part of the game, you can either hand write the lists of items for each child, or type it up on a computer and print out copies. If the items will be in difficult hiding spots you can write clues next to each item on the list. The kids will love the adventure and challenge. Buy It: Scavenger Hunt for Kids.

Traveling? A scavenger hunt can be taken on the road rather easily and many attractions (museums and galleries in particular) offer their own versions.

Color & Number Hunts: Simplify the hunt for younger children. Instead of writing items on a list they may not be able to read, mark boxes of color on a white piece of paper and ask the children to find items around the house to match the colors. Add numbers into the mix if they have a grasp on those.

Puzzle Piece Hunt: This works best if you start with a relatively tidied-up space (which we find in short supply around our house.) Hide the pieces of a large jigsaw puzzle around the room and ask the kids to hunt for them. Bring the pieces back one at a time to fit together into the completed puzzle.

Glow-in-the-Dark Hunt: This awesome idea came from our reader, Denise, and I had to share! Denise said, "My kids love it when I hide glow-in-the-dark stones, turn off the lights, and let them see who can collect the most. They usually demand we repeat the game multiple times (ages 4 and 7)." I found some cute glow-in-the-dark stones on Amazon for a pretty reasonable $10.

Treasure Hunt with Clues

This indoor game usually gets all ages in our family involved. The younger ones often request their older siblings to design a treasure hunt that will lead them around the house in search of some token prize (usually fruit snacks). The challenging part is writing the clever clues that will lead the seekers from point to point until the treasure is located. Adults can be involved and make this as simple as necessary for younger kids to play if they cannot yet read. For instance, using picture clues instead of written clues.

Rhyming clues: Older kids might enjoy the extra challenge of creating clues that rhyme. Bonus: they're working on their writing skills!

- TABLE GAMES & BOARD GAMES -
Many of these Fun Physical Games for Kids can be adjusted to be indoor games for kids.
Dominoes

Another one of those classic games for kids and adults alike. Click here for instructions on how to play. You don't even need to buy dominoes, just print them and cut them out!

Buy It: Cardinal Double 12 Color Dot Dominoes in Collectors Tin.

Domino Toppling

Unlike playing the game dominoes, you'll need to purchase these from a store. This is one of those activity games for kids that can go all day on a rainy day. Simply set them up one after the other and tip them over!

Rube Goldberg machine

The objective of a Rube Goldberg machine is to complete a simple task using a complicated series of steps. (Yes, making it complicated is actually the fun part.) My kids have built these machines at home to compete at our local county fair. Your own Rube Goldberg machine doesn't need to be nearly so involved. Your goal is to link together simple devices to produce a domino effect, in which each device triggers the next. Completing a simple task is optional and can depend on how much the children want to be challenged.

Buy It: Rube Goldberg Machines

Our Favorite Board Games

Board games - the ultimate indoor games for kids. Below is a fun games list of some of our classic favorites. We know that families often look for indoor games for 4 players. Most of these board game activities for kids will accommodate four or even more players.

Since we started this list, we have had readers recommended Blokus Strategy Game and Four Score. What are some of your board game ideas for kids? We'll keep growing our list.

Marbles

When collecting marbles for this game, make sure to get 1 bigger marble for each kid that is going to play. First, make a circle 3 feet wide out of masking tape or string. Then place 3-5 marbles near the center of the circle for each kid that is playing. Then each child takes a turn, with their hands outside the circle, flicking their big marble out of their fist with their thumb towards the marbles in the center. If they knock any marbles out of the ring then they get to keep them and shoot again. If they miss, then they leave their big marble there until it is their turn again. The winner is the kid with the most marbles when all marbles are knocked out of the ring. Buy It: Toysmith Marbles in a Tin Box or add to the fun with a Marble Run.

Dice Games

A set of 10 dice can fit in your purse and you instantly have mini games to play at home or wherever you land. These are four of our favorite family indoor games you can play with just a set of dice, paper and pen. The links will take you to instructions on how to play.

For when you need some place to go for indoor summer games and activities:
10 Free & Air-Conditioned Indoor Family Outings

- CARD GAMES -

Great Card Games for Families

Kid-friendly card games are an easy way to keep indoor games for kids on hand. While you can buy books with instructions for more game than you'll ever be able to play, we recommend these four to start.

- PAPER GAMES -

Paper Games - Indoor Games For Kids Anywhere You Need One

These classic paper games are fun, super portable activities (all you need is a sheet of paper and a pen) and require no set up or clean up. If you are looking for indoor games for just two players, these are always good go-tos. What would you add to this list?

Hangman - children do need to know their letters to play this game. You can start with simple, three-letter words to practice spelling skills or increase the challenge for older kids with multiple words or phrases. Give the kids a hint by telling them a category the word falls into (i.e. "Animal").

Dots and Boxes

Paper airplane landing strips

This is a great engineering game we love from What Do We Do All Day? Can you design the ideal airplane to land in the correct "landing strip?" Get creative with the landing space adjusting the size to fit the kids playing.

- QUIZ GAMES & SPOKEN GAMES -

Alphabet Game

This activity is all about coming up with themes and is among the family pastimes that are easily convertible to group indoor games. I've listed some theme ideas below to get you started. Within your chosen theme, take turns with letters of the alphabet and come up with things in the theme. For instance, in the theme "Animals", you would have anteater, baboon, carp, duck, etc.

Animals

Countries and US states

Famous people (many sub-categories here, actors, actresses, etc)

Household items

Kitchen items

Food

Drinks

Movies

Cartoon characters

Variations: Normally played in the car, start from "A" and say things that you see while driving or find each letter on signs and license plates as you pass.

Rock, Paper, Scissors

For anyone looking for mini games indoors, this is the go to. I always love using this game to settle something when I don't have a coin to flip. You can play once or keep busy for a long wait at the doctor's office.

Variations: Try holding a tournament. You can get as fancy as you want, writing down the tournament brackets of all the children on paper, or having each child play all other children and see who gets the most wins. Buy It: Rock Paper Scissors Card Game - This is a good way to randomize the game for younger kids who can't get the concept of picking something other than Rock.

Telephone

I get excited just thinking about this game. The more kids the better. Line the kids up, think of a sentence of sufficient length, and see what that sentence becomes by the time each kids whispers it into the next kid's ear. O.M.G. Funny. Buy It - Electronic Phone Game.

Twenty Questions

This activity is great one for indoors, car rides, and anytime you are waiting. Super easy to play - one person thinks of an object, and another person has 20 questions to guess what it is! Buy It: The Classic Game of 20 Questions

Variations: Instead of a thing, one person thinks of something in a category such as famous people or occupations.

Two Truths and a Lie

This game is a favorite of the short fun games for kids when a leader needs to facilitate introductions, but it doesn't need to be used only with strangers. Each kid simply writes down two truths and one lie about oneself, and the others need to guess which one is the lie.

Variations: Try a game of two lies and a truth and guess the truth! Buy It - Truth & Lies Playing Cards.

Jeopardy

Perfect for grade-school kids who need a break from the screens. Create a homemade game of jeopardy and suit the categories to the age group you're playing with. You provide your own game questions and price levels. Materials used can be as simple as writing the categories on a white board or pin post-in notes to a bulletin board. Split kids into three teams, if possible, and rope an older sibling or adult into being the game host. For buzzers, use three different noise makers (we use small musical instruments such as shakers and whistles). Once buzzed, the team has a certain amount of time to come up with the correct answer. (via How to Adult).

The Song Game

I thought I made this game up. We used to play it in the car, but now I see it is a board game, too. When we played it in the car as kids, we would let the youngest sibling say a word and we would have to come up with a song about the word, In our rules, there was no winner or loser, it was just a fun way to keep us busy in the car.

Variations/Buy It: The board game, Spontuneous, is the same concept except the first person to blurt out a song gets to roll the dice to move ahead on the board. If you love singing - whether you are good at it or not - this is a fun way to pass some time.

Want to know how to write Indoor Games in Hindi: इंडोर गेम्स. Is that not the coolest?!

INDOOR GAMES FOR KIDS OF ALL AGES, CATEGORIZED

INDOOR GAMES FOR KIDS AGES 2-4

For inside games for preschoolers, we often want to think of fun physical games to tire the little ones out - especially when the weather is uncooperative for outdoor games. We have a few ideas for both physical games for children as well as quieter games for preschoolers indoors. Many of these simple games for preschoolers can be adjusted for older kids, too.

Balance beam

Touch-and-feel boxes

Sorting - Sorting games make good color games for preschoolers.

Bubbles

I-Spy

Keep the Balloon Up

FUN GAMES FOR KIDS AGES 5-8

Some of the best fun can be had with these games for school age kids. You'll recognize many of these games to play with school-agers from your own childhood. We've suggested this list as great indoor games for kindergarten through third grade, but like all the games, they can be adapted for other ages.

Scavenger & Treasure Hunts

Simon Says

Duck, Duck, Goose

Hide & Seek

Charades

Indoor Obstacle Course

Musical Chairs

Paper Games

Fun physical games to play in the water?
Family Exercise Fun: Twin Cities Indoor Waterparks and Pools

As kids get to middle school age, games can sometimes get a bit more complicated, but are still a great deal of fun. When your kids are looking for fun games to play at home with friends inside, they could try any of these games.

Indoor Bowling

Sock Basketball

Marbles

Board & Table Games

Card Games

Dice Games

Dominoes

Rube Goldberg Machine

Quiz Games

If you have more fun games and indoor activities ideas for kids, we would love to hear them. Leave us a message in the comments, send us an email or tag us on social media. Let's get this list up to 100!!!

75 Fun Indoor Games for Kids was originally published in 2016 by Tom Kingston
and has been updated periodically

RELATED ARTICLES:

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Rainy day blues? Weather at the extremes? Need to stick to a budget and stay in? Whether you are looking for simple games for kids or full scale activities for groups, it's easy to save the day, bust boredom and have fun with this list of screen-free indoor games for kids of all ages!

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Find it out

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Where the Wonders of Learning Never Cease | Wonderopolis

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Where the Wonders of Learning Never Cease

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Freckle by Renaissance - Differentiation Platform for K-12

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Accelerate literacy equitably with differentiated resources.

K-12 coverage of standards and skills

Over 1,000 nonfiction and fiction passages that adapt to each student's level

Teachers can assign a specific standard for some or all students to practice

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Freckle by Renaissance | Reach Every Student at Their Level

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Freckle helps K-12 teachers differentiate instruction and reach every student at their own level across Math, ELA, Social Studies and Science.

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Gather up your playing cards, because we're about to deal you in on one of our favorite ways to get kids to enjoy math! Math card games require no prep time and only a few simple supplies. Use them to practice skills from basic counting all the way up to fractions and order of operations. These games are a sure bet!

1. Race to 100

Flip a card and add its value to your running total. First person to reach 100 without going over wins! (Remove face cards for younger players; use these values for older kids: Jack-11, Queen-12, King-13, Ace-0.)

Learn more: 123Homeschool4Me

2. Play pyramid solitaire alone or in teams

Some versions of solitaire are really just sneaky math card games, and pyramid is one of them. Try to find cards that add up to 10 as you clear your pyramid row by row. Learn how to play at the link below.

Learn more: Multiplication.com

3. Go fishing for pairs that make 10

Your students probably already know how to play Go Fish, but in this version, they're fishing for pairs that add up to 10. Have them ask: "I have a 2. Do you have an 8 to make 10?" Change aces to 1 for this game and leave face cards out entirely.

Learn more: Mrs. Weigand's Mathematics Resources

4. Practice counting on with cards

Remove the face cards for this one, and grab a die. Players flip a card and roll the die. Starting with the number on the card, they "count on" using the number on the die. For instance, if the player flips a 7 and rolls a 4, they would say, "Seven... eight, nine, ten, eleven." If they get it correct, they keep the card.

Learn more: Creative Family Fun

5. Try for a total of 10

Play this math card game alone or as a team. Lay out 20 cards on the table (leave out face cards or change them to equal 0, while aces equal 1). Kids remove sets of cards that add up to 10, ultimately trying to remove all the cards from the table. It's harder than you think!

Learn more: The First Grade Roundup

6. Practice number sequencing with Builder's Paradise

Simple math card games can help kids learn how to put numbers in order. To play builder's paradise, discard the face cards and lay out the 4 sevens in a deck side by side. In each round, players work to add the next higher or lower number in each suit, trying to be the first to get rid of all their cards. Get the full how-to at the link below.

Learn more: Math Geek Mama

7. Add decimals to Make a Buck

Draw, swap, and discard to make a hand that equals $1. Learn what face cards equal and get all the rules at the link.

Learn more: Math Geek Mama

8. Declare a fraction war

War is one of the original math card games, but this version adds a fraction aspect. Students deal two cards, a numerator and denominator, then determine whose fraction is the largest. The winner keeps all four cards, and play continues until the cards are gone. ( Click here for more fun and free fraction games.)

Learn more: Mrs. Weigand's Mathematics Resources

9. Learn numbers with card bingo

Remove the face cards and have each student lay out a 4 x 4 playing "board" of cards. The remaining cards (or another deck) are placed face down, and a caller flips over a card. Any player who has that number on their board turns the card face down. Play continues until one player has a row flipped over horizontally, vertically, or diagonally and calls "Bingo!"

Learn more: Top Notch Teaching

10. Play a game of "I Spy"

Lay out cards on the table, then take turns giving clues. "I spy two cards that add up to 12." Differentiate for younger kids with options like, "I spy a card that's less than 4," or for older ones: "I spy two cards that are factors of 12."

Learn more: Susan Jones' Teaching

11. Use order of operations to get to 24

Math card games aren't just for little kids; even adults will find this one a bit tricky. Each player is dealt four cards, then uses the order-of-operations rules to try to make a number as close to 24 as possible. Simple but challenging!

Learn more: Learn With Math Games

12. Take a gamble with triple-digit dare

Each player gets three cards and privately determines the highest three-digit number they can make (you can use decimals or not, depending on age). Then, each player has a turn to stick with the cards they have, swap with one from the deck, or steal one of the other player's. All players then lay down their best number to see who wins. See more at the link below.

Learn more: Math Coach's Corner

13. Deal and round to tens to win

Each player deals two cards and lays them on the board. Then, round to the nearest ten to find the winner of that hand.

Learn more: Adventures in Third Grade

14. Find a way to make 10 (or 15, or 20 ... )

One of the terrific things about math card games is that many of them can be customized for various concepts and skill levels. The original goal of this game was to look at the cards you're dealt to find ones that add up to 10, but it can be changed to 15, 20, or any number you choose. You can also add to the difficulty by allowing addition and subtraction (for example, you could use 8+4=12 or 12-2=10). Get the rules and free printable mats at the link below.

Learn more: Mama.Papa.Bubba

15. Use Close Call to practice two-digit addition or subtraction

The best math card games are simple at heart. To play Close Call, each player deals themselves four cards then determines how to arrange them so they make two two-digit numbers that add up as close as possible to 100 without going over. For a subtraction version, work to get as close to zero as possible. Learn how to play at the link.

Learn more: Math Geek Mama

16. Let card color indicate negative or positive

In this game, red cards are negative integers while black cards are positive. Students attempt to play pairs of cards that total 6 or -6. You can change the goal number as needed.

Learn more: Filing the Frame With Learning

17. Take a trip around the card spiral to practice math facts

You'll need a pair of dice for this math card game. Lay cards out randomly in a spiral formation as shown, and set a marker for each player on the center card. Player one rolls the dice then moves their piece that number of spaces shown. They then must multiply (or add or subtract, depending on preferences) the card number by the number on the dice. If they get the answer correct, they stay where they are. If not, they return to their original card. Play continues until one player reaches the end.

18. Flip to make a prime number

Flip two cards. If you can add, subtract, or multiply them to make a prime number (use one or all of these operations), you get to keep them.

Learn more: Games4Learning

19. Be the fastest in the race to pi

In this game, kids work to lay out the digits of pi in order. It's a simple draw-and-play game, but will help familiarize students with this important number. You can write out the digits first or see who knows them from memory. Find out how to play at the link below.

Learn more: Math Geek Mama

20.Pick three to make number sentences

Flip any three cards. If you can use them to form a valid number sentence (8-3=5), you keep the cards!

Learn more: Games4Learning

21. Do some basic fast facts practice

Give your flash cards a rest and practice facts with math card games instead. Simply lay down two cards from the deck (remove the face cards first) and add, subtract, or multiply them. Kids can work on this alone, or you can make it a contest to see who can call out the correct answer first.

Learn more: Top Notch Teaching

22. Challenge them to beat the teacher

Practice place value by drawing cards and trying to build the largest number possible. Kids play against the teacher to see who wins! Get the rules at the link below. ( Find more fun place value activities here.)

Learn more: Relief Teaching Ideas

23. Read minds to figure out the correct numbers

Two students draw a card from the deck without looking and hold it up to their forehead facing out. A third student mentally multiplies the numbers and gives them the product. The students then must figure out what number each is holding. You can do this with addition and subtraction too. You'll find this game along with dozens of other math card games in the free printable book at the link below.
If your students like math card games, try these Dice Games That Teachers and Students Will Love. Need more? Find all the Elementary Math: Games, Tips, and Ideas you could ever want!

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23 Card Games That Will Turn Your Students Into Math Aces

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Gather up your playing cards, because we're about to deal you in on one of our favorite ways to get kids to enjoy math! Math card games require no prep time and only a few simple supplies. Use them to practice skills from basic counting all the way up to fractions and order of operations.

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Parents can choose a grade in the upper left corner. If asked to sign-in, the Username is the student's lunch pin and the password is the student's birthday in MMDDYY format.

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Launch sheep into the machines to see how they change. Once you know the operation a machine performs, guess the value of a mystery sheep!

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Grades 3 - 12

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Access thousands of reading lessons and our comprehensive ELA curriculum, CommonLit 360.

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The CommonLit assessment questions are aligned to our ELA standards, which is extremely helpful when prepping for the state exam.

Teachers trust CommonLit to foster students' reading comprehension

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CommonLit | Free Online Reading Passages and Literacy Resources

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CommonLit is a comprehensive literacy program with thousands of reading lessons, full-year ELA curriculum, benchmark assessments, and standards-based data for teachers.

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K - 8

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K - 8

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For administrative security, we will verify your email address before you can sign in to MobyMax. Please allow 24 hours for us to verify with a telephone call to your office. We will leave a voice mail message upon verification. To expedite this process, please call (888)793-8331.

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So it appears that COVID-19 is here for a while and many schools are canceling and they are asking for students to participate in eLearning or distance learning activities.

This definitely presents a unique challenge for all teachers (and families), and especially special education teachers who are wondering how in the world am I going to do that? Here's a few ideas, including some FREE (and some paid) resources.

Give Suggested Learning Activities:

Make a BINGO board with suggested activities for parents and students to complete together.

I love this Homework Choice board that Taylor, a member of our Breezy Special Ed facebook group, made for home learning days. She was so nice to share her template if you are looking for something similar! CLICK HERE, then choose "make a copy" and you should be able to edit your copy.
On a bingo board / list like this you can come up with functional, real things that students can do at home that they might not otherwise get the chance to do! It will also help give parents some ideas and strategies to pass the time.

Send Home Packets:

I know many teachers are scrambling to print at home packets. Let me help! I picked out a few 2 week resources in my store that I think would be great to use as home packets.

Head over to my TpT store to get these zoo themed writing, math, and reading activities for FREE through the rest of this 2019-2020 school year. (The regular price of these combined resources is $14.)

Then all you need to do is:

1. Print by level (there are 3 levels for beginning learners in both the life skill math and journal sets and 2 levels for the reading comprehension)

2. Staple together

3. Send (or mail or email*) home with your students

*email is not typically allowed but due to these unique circumstances is allowed

If you need more than two weeks, you can also grab these packets at 50% off, on sale through the rest of this school year.

Google Classroom:

Wondering how to do e-Learning with your students? Interactive self-checking PDFs with a Google Quiz might be the answer!

All BSE digital resources are extremely VISUAL and require NO READING.
See how to use the BSE Digital Activities in Google Classroom in this video below.

I will be adding more of these digital activities to the bundle during the next few weeks as well to help with this kind of distant learning. If you own the bundle, all future downloads will be free (otherwise all new digital activities will be listed at a heavily discounted price of $1 during the duration of these school closures)

Many companies are making their subscriptions free during this time. Here are a few that I have heard of and am familiar with.

See a large list of more resources HERE.

Are your students feeling anxious about COVID-19 and school closing / the possibility of school closing?

There's so much talk about the virus on the media and no reason for our students to feel nervous because that doesn't help anything!

I wrote some social stories (available with or without symbols) to help your students know:

All in a non-threatening, not scary way.

Knowledge is power! Download these free COVID-19 resources HERE!

Visual Schedules:

Widgit Online offers a free 21 day trial that would be perfect for creative visual schedules for kids to use at home to help provide some structure and predictability in each day.
Widgit Online is very user friendly. You just type and the symbols appear! They also have templates you can use to make it even easier.
Here is a sample one I created:

What else are you doing to prepare your students?

We have so many great ideas and discussion going on in our BSE Insiders group on facebook. Now stay calm, stay healthy and print those Join us.
free and discounted resources! ;)
As always, please let me know if there is any other way I can help.

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Distance / Home Learning Packets and Strategies for Special Education

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So it appears that COVID-19 is here for a while and many schools are canceling and they are asking for students to participate in eLearning or distance learning activities. This definitely presents a unique challenge for all teachers (and families), and especially special education teachers who are wondering how in the world am I going to do that?

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K - 8

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For administrative security, we will verify your email address before you can sign in to MobyMax. Please allow 24 hours for us to verify with a telephone call to your office.

We will leave a voice mail message upon verification.

To expedite this process, please call (888)793-8331.

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For administrative security, we will verify your email address before you can sign in to MobyMax. Please allow 24 hours for us to verify with a telephone call to your office. We will leave a voice mail message upon verification. To expedite this process, please call (888)793-8331.

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30 iPad Apps for Students with Special Needs

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30 iPad Apps for Students with Special Needs

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Best iPad Apps for Students with Special Needs - Educators Technology

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Students with special needs can sometimes face challenging problems that disrupt their learning process which is why, as teachers and parents, we need to make sure we are equipped with the right pedagogical tools and strategies to help this group of learners thrive and shine.

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K - 5

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Engage students and close learning gaps

With standards-based games, videos, and other interactive math and reading activities, each student works independently to succeed at their own level and pace.

Playful personalization, leveled for every student

Differentiate learning with a wide variety of standards-aligned instruction and practice for math and reading. eSpark is not just fun for kids, it also meets all ESSA requirements for evidence-based interventions.

Every Quest includes both direct instruction and playfully personalized activities to teach students key standards with engaging videos, games, activities, and quizzes.

Students can work on their Quests during center time, as homework, or after they complete their teacher-assigned lessons. The adaptive path requires no teacher intervention.

Explore the standards and activities in eSpark

Save time with targeted lessons

Assignable Small Group Skills lessons help you reinforce the standard you're teaching each week and take the prep work out of small groups and centers.

Every differentiated reading and math lesson includes an instructional video to teach the skill, at least one game or activity for practice, and a quiz to show mastery.

Students can complete these mini-lessons independently in under 15 minutes, giving you real-time data and opportunities to remediate.

Identify learning gaps and monitor growth

eSpark gives you the data you need to support your students with detailed online reports and personalized email updates right to your inbox.

Student progress and activity reports help teachers identify learning gaps and class trends down to the specific standard.

Weekly email alerts highlight opportunities for celebration and intervention while sharing relevant resources for your next small group.

Student mood check-ins provide teachers with daily social-emotional insights.

Roster and assessment integrations make it easier than ever to get started

Over 1 million students use eSpark. Get your classroom started with thousands of math and reading activities today!

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Math and Reading Activities for Grades K-5 | eSpark

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Playfully personalized math and reading activities for elementary teachers. Explore eSpark's student-centered learning environment today.

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Pre-k to 12 years of age

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Instantly access over 40,000 of the best books & videos for kids on Epic

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Activities for Children with Special Needs

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Activities for Children with Special Needs

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Learning disabilities impact the way children are able to process and understand information; they are neurological disorders that might manifest themselves as difficulty listening, thinking, writing, speaking, spelling, or doing mathematical calculations.

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What exactly are special needs? Most of us have heard the term "special needs children", but the reality is that there are many different conditions that a child may have in order to fall into the category of being a special needs child.

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Speech Articulation Carryover Activities 

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Speech Articulation Carryover Activities 

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If your students are stuck at the word or sentence level with their articulation therapy, then you need these articulation carryover activities to help you with increasing your students self awareness. Your students will feel empowered as they start to see their progress and you will feel relief as you see them move past those word and sentence levels. Because when our students stop making the progress we want, it feels overwhelming and stressful to figure out what to do next.

These articulation visuals, self reflection sheets and suggested activities will create a structure for your therapy sessions. Your students will know what to expect as you incorporate these ideas and visuals each session.

Articulation Carryover Activities & Visuals

Many of the visuals and self reflection sheets can be paired with any activity that you plan in therapy. You can have your students set goals prior to doing the sentence, reading or conversational activity with the level of accuracy they are trying to achieve. After the activity, the SLP is able to give the student feedback about his/her performance.

Click here to download your artic carryover materials

If your students is able to produce their sound at the conversational level, they can judge your productions for correct or incorrect.

Students at the word or sentence level, can benefit from judging their performance with the yes/no visuals. There are check boxes for them to judge their production. Then, the SLP and student can compare what each of them thought of the articulation production.

Have your students take their own data during a structured conversational activity.

There is a list of suggestions for activities that you can do with your students or your student can do at home for additional practice. Write out a conversational script for communication event or activity that your student may need to practice their correct speech sounds. They can take the script home to practice before the event.

Click here to download your artic carryover materials

Need CEU Hours and Want to Learn More About Articulation Carryover

I took Pam Marshalla's Carryover Techniques in Articulation and Phonology Course on Speech Therapy PD for CEUs and it was very helpful. It was practical and helped me to feel confident with how to provide with students in articulation therapy.

Use my code: SLPROCKSTAR to get $10 off either Speech Therapy PD subscription. I love that I can spend under $100 a year and get a ton of practical training and my CEUs covered!

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If your students are stuck at the word or sentence level with their articulation therapy, then you need these articulation carryover activities to help you with increasing your students self awareness. Your students will feel empowered as they start to see their progress and you will feel relief as you see them move past those [...]

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After a long day at work, I was never 'thrilled' to take my daughter grocery shopping. Mostly, it was because I was just drained and I knew that she was too. I never knew if we would be 'that family' that had the meltdown in the grocery store (I'm including myself in that meltdown too!) Grocery shopping became easier when I kept us both engaged in learning and fun! Here are some tips that you can share with your student's parents that will encourage bringing the kids to the store and building their speech and language while they are there!

1.) Build Vocabulary by Labeling and Describing EVERYTHING! The grocery store is filled with speech and language opportunities. Parents and students can discuss size, color, function, category, location, etc.. Trying to find a few items in the same category is always fun!

2.) Work on Prepositional Phrases! Is the item that you are looking for on the top shelf? Between the canned corn and the canned green beans? Is it on the second shelf?

3.) Work on Following Directions! It can be as simple as 'please grab the big box of Chex' or more complex such as 'After you grab the small box of Chex cereal and put it in the cart, point to the kind of instant oatmeal you would like us to buy this time.'

4.) Work on Taking Turns and Inferencing Skills! That is right, play good ole' I SPY in the grocery store! Encourage parents to take turns with their kids in describing an item, its use, where it comes from (tree, cow, etc..), and its appearance while the communication partner guesses!

5.) Work on Pragmatic Skills! Model and reinforce positive social skills and language to demonstrate good manners. Practice taking turns asking and answering questions about the environment, what they need to find next, where they might find the item, and using please and thank you when asking the bakery for that free cookie or sample (not all stores offer the cookie but you would be surprised how many do!)

6.) Have a Sound Search Party! While walking down the aisle, how many items can the student find that has their sound? Where is the sound located in the word (initial, medial, final position)? Did the student find more or the parent (I always encourage making it into a game)?

I provided my friends that have joined my email list this exclusive freebie that include a starter list or words by sound!

7.) Build Executive Functioning Skills! Prior to going shopping have parents and students decide on a recipe they want to complete at home and make the shopping list for it or just a shopping list for that week's groceries. By planning ahead, getting organized, making a list, and developing a plan for where in the store they need to go, student's are building executive functioning skills!

8.) Expand on these Lessons at Home with the Little Ones! If they have a play kitchen at home... bonus! However, these days parent's can get cheap toy food at the local dollar store or at some of the chain stores. Continuing to practice the above-mentioned tips at home during play will increase speech and language skills too (plus it is a bonus if you just really can't bring yourself to include the kids at the grocery store due to the fear of meltdowns)!

How do you encourage parents to build speech and language skills at the grocery store? There are a million ways (including learning money names, values, and concepts)! I would love if you would share with me different ways that you have helped encourage speech and language growth at the grocery store!

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Build Speech and Language Skills at the Grocery Store

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After a long day at work, I was never 'thrilled' to take my daughter grocery shopping. Mostly, it was because I was just drained and I knew that she was too. I never knew if we would be 'that family' that had the meltdown in the grocery store (I'm including myself in that meltdown too!)

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NASA encourages you to visit NASA Kids' Club and use its games and activities to inspire the next generation.

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Do-It-Yourself | Kids – NASA Solar System Exploration

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NASA’s real-time science encyclopedia of deep space exploration. Our scientists and far-ranging robots explore the wild frontiers of our solar system.

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K - 12

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Anyone can learn computer science. Make games, apps and art with code.

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K - 12

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Duolingo is the world's most popular way to learn a language. It's 100% free, fun and science-based. Practice online on duolingo.com or on the apps!

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K - 12

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Hey, y'all! I'm about to share some of my fave home-based learning projects but...this is just the tip of the iceberg! I have a TON of art lesssons on my YouTube channel for you and your artists to explore. Be sure and subscribe as I'll be adding many more!

Currently, we as educators find ourselves in the most unusual of situations: away from our students for an unforeseeable amount of time and wanting to still connect, teach and create. If you are like me then your district has requested that you attempt to do just that with home-based learning. Because this is unchartered territory, the idea of teaching remotely is confusing, daunting and overwhelming. Where to even start?

I've been putting some serious thought into this topic for the last couple of days as I create fun art activities for my students to do at home. I'll be sharing them all right here (for free, of course!) but in the meantime, I wanted to share with you the home-based art lessons I plan to use. Each of these lessons, videos and PDFs are FREE for you and your students can use right now. Feel free to include in your take-home packets or modify to fit your student's needs. Let's begin with this Monochromatic Self-Portrait lesson that is appropriate for kindergarten on up!

Just click for the video! Because many students may not have markers at home, you might suggest crayons for them to add color.

This Colorful Village lesson was one that all of my students loved! I did it with my first through fourth graders and it was a huge hit. In case students don't have paint at home, markers and crayons can be used. Without those supplies, this could simply be a great drawing task for them to work on creating three-dimensional buildings. Here's the video:

These colorful houses were so fun to create!

My fourth graders always loved this Romero Britto-inspired self-portrait project. I do think that younger children would love it too.

Again, consider suggesting students swap out supplies used for what they have on hand at home.

Chris Uphues is easily my student's favorite artist! And can you blame them for loving him so much, his work is just so full of joy! You can check out the entire lesson here.

The link to this blog post also includes free downloadable PDFs!

Introduce your students to both James Rizzi and Vincent van Gogh with this fun lesson. Click the link for free handouts! Here's the video:

Of course, if you want to get kids creating, then you could always have them create their own sketchbook! I plan to create a video to show kids how to create one easily. In the meantime, they could use the Sketchbook Decoder Sheets found here to personalize their sketchbooks!

If these look kinda familiar, we have done a similar project with my Getting to Know You sculptures. That project is also one that could be done at home with improvised materials!

Times like these could get you down...but we can't let it! So why not have students create drawings of people, places and things that they are grateful for? Click here for two free PDFs!

Without access to construction paper, students could simply use the paper that they have on hand.

Alright, y'all! Stay tuned as I have much more to come. I hope that gives you and all the young artists out there a fun place to start!

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My Favorite Lessons for Home-Based Art Education!

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Hey, y'all! I'm about to share some of my fave home-based learning projects but...this is just the tip of the iceberg! I have a TON of art lesssons on my YouTube channel for you and your artists to explore. Be sure and subscribe as I'll be adding many more!

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K - 12

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"exercise for kids" "kids exercise" "gym for kids" "kids fitness" "kids workout" "fitness for kids" "exercise videos for kids" "workouts for kids" "kids exercise videos" "gyms for kids" "fun exercises for kids" "exercise for children" "fitness activities for kids" "physical activities for children"

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BORN TO MOVE™ inspires young people to fall in love with physical activity. With BORN TO MOVE you can take the effort out of physical activity by making it f...

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smartmusic (Free access through June 30)

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smartmusic (Free access through June 30)

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K - 12 - Music Practice

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Power Your Potential with MakeMusic Cloud - MakeMusic

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Our music education software frees up teachers to focus more on their student’s progress. Packed with an ever-growing music catalog, dynamic practice tools, and vetted resources to help you and your students thrive. Discover how MakeMusic Cloud can transform your music education experience.

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K - 12

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Explore standards-aligned (NGSS and Common Core) STEM lessons and classroom activities for teachers and educators from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

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Grades 6 - 12

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history biology literature learning education science humanities school "world history" ap tests smart fun chemistry psychology apush whap

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At Crash Course, we believe that high-quality educational videos should be available to everyone for free! Subscribe for weekly videos from our current courses! Right now, we're producing Climate & Energy. The Crash Course team has produced more than 45 courses on a wide variety of subjects, including organic chemistry, literature, world history, biology, philosophy, theater, ecology, and many more!

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Generation Genius There is a Kahoot at the end of each video the kids good complete at home. That could be fun!

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Generation Genius There is a Kahoot at the end of each video the kids good complete at home. That could be fun!

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There is a Kahoot at the end of each video the kids could complete at home. That could be fun!

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Video lessons made in partnership with the National Science Teachers Association that engage, educate & inspire kids in science. Generation Genius videos are 12-minutes long and include lesson plans, teacher guides, DIY activities and stopping points for class discussion.

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I often get asked how long and how often families should practice speech and language skills at home.

I recently posted an article on my own site on this very topic.

My professional opinion on this matter is based on what I have seen work the best with my own clients from my clinic.

I recommend that families shoot for two 5-minute sessions per day to target your child's speech and language skills.

The research is showing that shorter, more frequent sessions are more effective for learning and retention than longer, less frequent sessions.

(It's kind of like studying for a test for a few weeks instead of cramming the night before).

Five minutes does not give you much time to work on a lot, which is by design. Most children learn best when they are only working on one skill at a time.

By limiting your sessions to five minutes, you will only have time to work on one skill.

Your child's speech therapist will probably have an idea of what one skill would be best for you to work on at home.

Ask him/her for a recommendation. If your child is not currently seeing a speech-language pathologist, you can choose a skill for your child.

Try to choose something that is age-appropriate (other children his age are doing the skill) but that is not too hard for him.

You want to start with some easier skills that he will have success with instead of frustrating him right off the bat.

The key is to take whatever skill your child is missing and break it down to its easiest level.

For example, if you want to teach your child to say /p/ correctly, you should first start by just having your child say the sound by itself, like "p...p...p".

Then, you can make it a little harder by having your child say it in non-sense syllables, like "puh, poh, pah".

Then, you can move up to words, sentences, and conversation.

The same can be done for language skills, just make them as easy as possible to start with and build your way up.

What Do We Do During Our 5 Minutes?

I'm so glad you asked!

The goal of each 5-minute session will be to get your child to practice the skill correctly as many times as possible.

Imagine shooting for 50-100 repetitions of the same skill. You may not always get to that but it's a great goal.

So, if your child is working on saying the "p" sound, you want him to say that sound 50-100 times while you do a quick activity.

Or, if your child is practicing pronouns, you want him to repeat 50-100 sentences that use the pronouns "he" or "she" while doing the activity.

If the skill you're doing takes a little longer to practice, you can reduce the target number of repetitions.

In order to make this happen, you will need an activity that doesn't take a lot of time and won't take away from the goal of the 5 minutes, which is to practice the skill over and over again.

Here are some great ideas of activities you can do while getting your child to practice his skill:

Use a Counter

Go to a sporting goods store and purchase a counter. This is a small, round object with a single button. Each time you push the button, the counter goes up by one.

Set a goal for your child (number of repetitions) and tell him to push the button each time he does the skill correctly. Once he hits the target number, he's done.

Time him and see if he can beat his old score (but he has to say it correctly for it to count, no rushing through and messing up!).

Bankruptcy Game

Put a bunch of plastic coins in a bag but color one of them red. After each repetition, you and your child will both pull out one coin.

If anyone pulls out the red coin, they have to put all of their coins back (bankrupt!).

Whoever has the most coins after 5 minutes wins. (Got this one from www.5minutekids.com , love it!)

Hold Yoga Poses

Look for pictures of yoga poses for kids online. Have your child choose one and hold it while he does his skill.

See how many repetitions he can get in before he loses the pose.

Trace Lines or Shapes

Draw lines or shapes on a piece of paper. Then, laminate that page or put it in a plastic sheet protector.

Have your child trace the lines or shapes with a dry erase marker while repeating his skill. When he's done, erase and use again next time.

Put Blocks on a Tower

Each time your child practices the skill, give him a block to place atop a tower. When the tower falls, take the blocks back and start over.

See how tall he can make it before it falls.

Play Hopscotch

Draw a hopscotch track (or other shapes/numbers) on the ground and have your child do the skill once before each jump or move on the track.

Turtle Race

You need at least 2 people for this but you can be the second person if need be.

Have both people sit on their bottoms with their knees up. Each time your child does the skill, everyone gets to move forward one scoot.

Bottom must stay on the ground, no picking it up and jumping.

Whoever gets the farthest in 5 minutes wins.

Moving Beans or Marbles

Place beans or marbles in a small container. Get a second similar container.

For each repetition, move one bean or marble to the other container. When all the beans/marbles are moved, you're done!

Make Me Jump

Each time your child does the skill, have someone else (you or another adult/child) jump or do another action.

See how many times your child can make that person jump during 5 minutes.

Playdough

Give your child a pinch of playdough (or a similar substance) for every repetition. Once your child has all of the playdough, he can play with it.

Tickle Me

Start with your hand on your child's head or toes.

For each repetition, move slightly closer to his belly. When you get to his belly, tickle him like crazy. Then, start over and repeat until the 5 minutes is up.

Go for a Walk

When you are walking somewhere with your child, have him take one step for every repetition.

Try this one when you're walking to the playground from the car or into the house when you get home.

Stoplight Speech

While you're sitting at a red stoplight, see how many times your child can do the skill correctly before the light turns green.

Playing Cards

Get a playing card for every repetition. When your child has all of the playing cards, you can play the game with him.

Blowing Bubbles

Blow bubbles for every 10 repetitions that your child does.

Puzzle Pieces

Give your child a puzzle piece for every 10 repetitions he does.

Graph Your Results

Count how many correct productions your child can do in 5 minutes.

Graph that on graph paper and see if he can beat it the next time.

Connect Four...Or More!

Drop connect four pieces into the game randomly, one for each repetition. At the end, see if there are any patterns or designs created from where they all landed.

Wind-Up Toys

Wind up a toy and let it go. See how many times your child can do the skill correctly before it runs out of power.

Throw a Ball

Throw a ball back and forth and play catch while your child practices the skill.

There you have it!

Twenty awesome ways to work on speech in five minutes. Make sure that you pay attention to your child's frustration levels.

If your child is getting frustrated with these activities, you will want to either make the skill easier or back off to a shorter time.

You want your child to feel positive about working on speech, it shouldn't be a battle. Thanks so much for reading!

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Twenty 5-Minute Speech Therapy Activities You Can Do at Home

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I often get asked how long and how often families should practice speech and language skills at home. I recently posted an article on my own site on this very topic. My professional opinion on this matter is based on what I have seen work the best with my own clients from my clinic.

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Preschool

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Preschool

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Welcome to Virtual School Activities for all ages! A collection of sites to live webcams, virtual tours/trips, and other miscellaneous fun educational sites. (This site is updated every few days, so to see the latest links be sure to refresh the site if you’re a return visitor!)

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K-6

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Daily Free Learning Workbooks for Teachers to Share with Parents while Schools are Closed - Kids will actually do these!

Math Game that Kids can Play Daily

Get the free Let's Play School Math Game App by edHelper so your kids can practice math every day this summer. A new 5-minute math challenge will await them each day, and they only have to play once a day.

Printable for your Refrigerator to Record Scores After Kids Practice Their Math

Free math workbooks to use that you will WANT to print and use with your kids

These are math worksheets that will keep kids engaged in math and truly enjoying their learning experience. Why should you use these workbooks? Math is one of the school subjects that kids need to practice regularly. It's important to prepare them not only for standardized tests but also for life. However, kids quickly become bored with traditional worksheets. These workbooks were designed to challenge students and keep their interest levels high, and the puzzles are activities that even adults will enjoy. Keep your kids learning during COVID-19 and prepare them for when school reopens.

Free Math Workbook #1

Free Math Workbook #2

What is the Coronavirus Activity Pages Book with Time Capsule

Teach kids about the Coronavirus and follow it up with fun activity pages. Or try the book for older kids for things to try to keep busy at home.

Math with Critical Thinking Puzzle Worksheets

Teaching critical thinking skills helps kids learn to navigate an age where information is everywhere. These small workbooks will challenge kids to think creatively.

Reading Comprehension Worksheets for Grades 2 to 6

Free Math and Science for Little Kids Workbooks

If you want harder math, scroll below for all the free workbooks, but it's full STEAM ahead with these fun coloring math challenge with STEAM page books for younger kids.

Math Word Problems Worksheets Book

Reading Comprehension with Math - Book #3

Spelling Challenge Workbooks

Mind Bending Critical Thinking Puzzle Workbooks For Kids

Try these math and logic problem workbooks with your kids for some brain-boosting fun. Each workbook starts with a logic puzzle and is filled with math problems and more logic problems to keep them busy. Want to challenge your kids more? Try giving them work from a different grade. The books are not labeled by grade, so why not try a fifth-grade book as a challenge for a fourth-grader?

Art, Movement, and Reading Challenges for Kids - Perfect for your refrigerator!

Kids need to color these in as they do them. If you have more than one child, print one for each and write their name on the bottom.

Back By Popular Demand - More Coding Workbooks!

Along with the puzzle worksheets and math workbooks, these coding workbooks have been the most requested. So glad to hear how much kids are enjoying these, especially since they are a lot different from the usual teacher worksheets.

Idea for Today - How about Teaching Kids Cursive?

4-Page Sudoku Puzzle Workbook

Kids are going to love these little 4-page sudoku puzzle workbooks. These worksheets include standard sudokus, ones with spelling, ones with pictures, and math sudokus. Don't be surprised if your child asks for more!

This Week's Math Workbooks for Homeschooling

Daily workbook craziness continues! This week's math workbook is better than ever. Print it out and put it on the kitchen table. Don't feel as if you HAVE to print the grade that your child is in; use whatever works!

Ready to Homeschool Your Kids?

Parents, we are here to help with free worksheets that will give your kids practice in math, reading, and writing. Are you ready for them?

Sibling Challenge Word Search and Vocabulary Builders

Coloring with Math

It's always a great time to take a break with some coloring. Just don't tell your kids they will be doing math at the same time! These books are awesome!

Missing Digits Math Worksheets with Mixed Math Practice

Daily workbook craziness continues with missing digits challenge pages. Not only that - every other page is a mixed math worksheet page.

Homeschooling Worksheets to Teach Your Kids While School is Closed

Who doesn't like a good word search? But these books will introduce kids to so many different puzzles. And, yup, some math pages also!

Math Workbooks

Daily workbook craziness continues! How about an all-new math workbook to challenge those little ones stuck at home? Throw it on the kitchen table and let them pick and choose the math pages to do!

Coding Workbooks

If you want more math or you prefer reading or writing, look below. But for now, how about a coding book?

Math Puzzle Worksheets

Who doesn't love a good puzzle? These small puzzle books are easy for kids to do and will give them some new challenges for following directions.

Reading Comprehension with Math - Book #1

Math Workbook for the Week!

These are perfect little math workbooks to share with parents. It combines a mix of fun math puzzles and challenging problems that won't bore kids.

Kids will enjoy some creative writing with this writing challenge workbook.

Free Amusing Activity Book for Kids

Are your kids ready for spring? Baseball may be delayed, but the flowers won't be. Let them enjoy this amusing workbook!

March Jumbo Math Worksheets Books

Try these workbooks for lots of pages for you to randomly give your kids!
Kindergarten, 1st grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, 6th grade, or middle school math pages for your kids!
Set a Realistic Schedule and Have your Kids Try To Make One

At one time or another, most adults have probably dreamed about being forced to stay home and tackle those projects that never seem to get done. While initially this may be the case and lonely drawers will finally be organized, lazy pajama days may need to be replaced by a schedule of some sort. Setting a family schedule may help save your sanity and create a sense of normalcy for your kids.

When you think through a daily schedule for your family, be sure to keep your expectations realistic. If your children are not voracious readers, don't suddenly expect them to read independently for six hours a day. Map out a day that includes time for academics with and without technology. Create an opportunity for some worksheets, online math games and search YouTube for art lessons. Incorporate daily movement outside with the help of sites like Go Noodle or YouTube. Set aside time for journaling or letter writing. You may also want to include time for life skills. These weeks at home are perfect for cooking, baking, laundry and house cleaning.

This may be challenging for the younger kids to make their own school day schedule, but they will be able to handle it. Even if they end up with a 90 minute snack time, let them work through the schedule one day to see how they did. Then maybe they can make a BETTER schedule for the next day!

Print Practice Pages

Daily practice and review of skills will be very important over the next few weeks. Take advantage of these fun and engaging daily workbooks from edHelper.com. These varied activities will give you both something to look forward to. They will enjoy having something fun and different to do each day. You will enjoy the fact that you aren't stuck wasting time scouring the internet for quality practice pages.

Keep Calm and Parent On

Remember that your children will look to you as they determine how they are supposed to respond to their time at home and the current state of the world. Approach each day with a sense of hope and hug those you love, but stay six feet away from everyone else! Use the tools at your disposal and make the most of this time you have together.

Here is also FREE Handout to E-Mail Parents

If you're a Tiger Mom, ferociously looking for more math materials for your children, look no futher than our Math Worksheets and Math Challenge Books. Allow your child to review critical skills or push them to think critically about new ones. While there are several options for online math games, videos, and tutorials, research still shows the power of paper and pencil when it comes to developing and internalizing skills and standards. Allow these resources to help you limit screen time and encourage strategic academic growth.

As a new homeschooling parent, you most likely have a new appreciation for what your child's teacher does each day, especially when you consider that he or she works with close to thirty students at a time! When school finally resumes, parents will no doubt be ready to shower their children's teachers with praise, but, until then, edHelper.com will keep you and your children engaged with the high-quality and engaging materials you need.

More Free Printables, Ideas, and Reading

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Daily Free Learning Workbooks for Teachers to Share with Parents while Schools are Closed - Kids will actually do these!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Print free worksheets to homeschool your kids when school is canceled.

# data[].attributes.body
K - 6

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Daily Free Learning Workbooks for Teachers to Share with Parents while Schools are Closed - Kids will actually do these!

Math Game that Kids can Play Daily

Get the free Let's Play School Math Game App by edHelper so your kids can practice math every day this summer. A new 5-minute math challenge will await them each day, and they only have to play once a day.

Printable for your Refrigerator to Record Scores After Kids Practice Their Math

Free math workbooks to use that you will WANT to print and use with your kids

These are math worksheets that will keep kids engaged in math and truly enjoying their learning experience. Why should you use these workbooks? Math is one of the school subjects that kids need to practice regularly. It's important to prepare them not only for standardized tests but also for life. However, kids quickly become bored with traditional worksheets. These workbooks were designed to challenge students and keep their interest levels high, and the puzzles are activities that even adults will enjoy. Keep your kids learning during COVID-19 and prepare them for when school reopens.

Free Math Workbook #1

Free Math Workbook #2

What is the Coronavirus Activity Pages Book with Time Capsule

Teach kids about the Coronavirus and follow it up with fun activity pages. Or try the book for older kids for things to try to keep busy at home.

Math with Critical Thinking Puzzle Worksheets

Teaching critical thinking skills helps kids learn to navigate an age where information is everywhere. These small workbooks will challenge kids to think creatively.

Reading Comprehension Worksheets for Grades 2 to 6

Free Math and Science for Little Kids Workbooks

If you want harder math, scroll below for all the free workbooks, but it's full STEAM ahead with these fun coloring math challenge with STEAM page books for younger kids.

Math Word Problems Worksheets Book

Reading Comprehension with Math - Book #3

Spelling Challenge Workbooks

Mind Bending Critical Thinking Puzzle Workbooks For Kids

Try these math and logic problem workbooks with your kids for some brain-boosting fun. Each workbook starts with a logic puzzle and is filled with math problems and more logic problems to keep them busy. Want to challenge your kids more? Try giving them work from a different grade. The books are not labeled by grade, so why not try a fifth-grade book as a challenge for a fourth-grader?

Art, Movement, and Reading Challenges for Kids - Perfect for your refrigerator!

Kids need to color these in as they do them. If you have more than one child, print one for each and write their name on the bottom.

Back By Popular Demand - More Coding Workbooks!

Along with the puzzle worksheets and math workbooks, these coding workbooks have been the most requested. So glad to hear how much kids are enjoying these, especially since they are a lot different from the usual teacher worksheets.

Idea for Today - How about Teaching Kids Cursive?

4-Page Sudoku Puzzle Workbook

Kids are going to love these little 4-page sudoku puzzle workbooks. These worksheets include standard sudokus, ones with spelling, ones with pictures, and math sudokus. Don't be surprised if your child asks for more!

This Week's Math Workbooks for Homeschooling

Daily workbook craziness continues! This week's math workbook is better than ever. Print it out and put it on the kitchen table. Don't feel as if you HAVE to print the grade that your child is in; use whatever works!

Ready to Homeschool Your Kids?

Parents, we are here to help with free worksheets that will give your kids practice in math, reading, and writing. Are you ready for them?

Sibling Challenge Word Search and Vocabulary Builders

Coloring with Math

It's always a great time to take a break with some coloring. Just don't tell your kids they will be doing math at the same time! These books are awesome!

Missing Digits Math Worksheets with Mixed Math Practice

Daily workbook craziness continues with missing digits challenge pages. Not only that - every other page is a mixed math worksheet page.

Homeschooling Worksheets to Teach Your Kids While School is Closed

Who doesn't like a good word search? But these books will introduce kids to so many different puzzles. And, yup, some math pages also!

Math Workbooks

Daily workbook craziness continues! How about an all-new math workbook to challenge those little ones stuck at home? Throw it on the kitchen table and let them pick and choose the math pages to do!

Coding Workbooks

If you want more math or you prefer reading or writing, look below. But for now, how about a coding book?

Math Puzzle Worksheets

Who doesn't love a good puzzle? These small puzzle books are easy for kids to do and will give them some new challenges for following directions.

Reading Comprehension with Math - Book #1

Math Workbook for the Week!

These are perfect little math workbooks to share with parents. It combines a mix of fun math puzzles and challenging problems that won't bore kids.

Kids will enjoy some creative writing with this writing challenge workbook.

Free Amusing Activity Book for Kids

Are your kids ready for spring? Baseball may be delayed, but the flowers won't be. Let them enjoy this amusing workbook!

March Jumbo Math Worksheets Books

Try these workbooks for lots of pages for you to randomly give your kids!
Kindergarten, 1st grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, 6th grade, or middle school math pages for your kids!
Set a Realistic Schedule and Have your Kids Try To Make One

At one time or another, most adults have probably dreamed about being forced to stay home and tackle those projects that never seem to get done. While initially this may be the case and lonely drawers will finally be organized, lazy pajama days may need to be replaced by a schedule of some sort. Setting a family schedule may help save your sanity and create a sense of normalcy for your kids.

When you think through a daily schedule for your family, be sure to keep your expectations realistic. If your children are not voracious readers, don't suddenly expect them to read independently for six hours a day. Map out a day that includes time for academics with and without technology. Create an opportunity for some worksheets, online math games and search YouTube for art lessons. Incorporate daily movement outside with the help of sites like Go Noodle or YouTube. Set aside time for journaling or letter writing. You may also want to include time for life skills. These weeks at home are perfect for cooking, baking, laundry and house cleaning.

This may be challenging for the younger kids to make their own school day schedule, but they will be able to handle it. Even if they end up with a 90 minute snack time, let them work through the schedule one day to see how they did. Then maybe they can make a BETTER schedule for the next day!

Print Practice Pages

Daily practice and review of skills will be very important over the next few weeks. Take advantage of these fun and engaging daily workbooks from edHelper.com. These varied activities will give you both something to look forward to. They will enjoy having something fun and different to do each day. You will enjoy the fact that you aren't stuck wasting time scouring the internet for quality practice pages.

Keep Calm and Parent On

Remember that your children will look to you as they determine how they are supposed to respond to their time at home and the current state of the world. Approach each day with a sense of hope and hug those you love, but stay six feet away from everyone else! Use the tools at your disposal and make the most of this time you have together.

Here is also FREE Handout to E-Mail Parents

If you're a Tiger Mom, ferociously looking for more math materials for your children, look no futher than our Math Worksheets and Math Challenge Books. Allow your child to review critical skills or push them to think critically about new ones. While there are several options for online math games, videos, and tutorials, research still shows the power of paper and pencil when it comes to developing and internalizing skills and standards. Allow these resources to help you limit screen time and encourage strategic academic growth.

As a new homeschooling parent, you most likely have a new appreciation for what your child's teacher does each day, especially when you consider that he or she works with close to thirty students at a time! When school finally resumes, parents will no doubt be ready to shower their children's teachers with praise, but, until then, edHelper.com will keep you and your children engaged with the high-quality and engaging materials you need.

More Free Printables, Ideas, and Reading

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Daily Free Learning Workbooks for Teachers to Share with Parents while Schools are Closed - Kids will actually do these!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Print free worksheets to homeschool your kids when school is canceled.

# data[].attributes.body
K - 6

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Daily Free Learning Workbooks for Teachers to Share with Parents while Schools are Closed - Kids will actually do these!

Math Game that Kids can Play Daily

Get the free Let's Play School Math Game App by edHelper so your kids can practice math every day this summer. A new 5-minute math challenge will await them each day, and they only have to play once a day.

Printable for your Refrigerator to Record Scores After Kids Practice Their Math

Free math workbooks to use that you will WANT to print and use with your kids

These are math worksheets that will keep kids engaged in math and truly enjoying their learning experience. Why should you use these workbooks? Math is one of the school subjects that kids need to practice regularly. It's important to prepare them not only for standardized tests but also for life. However, kids quickly become bored with traditional worksheets. These workbooks were designed to challenge students and keep their interest levels high, and the puzzles are activities that even adults will enjoy. Keep your kids learning during COVID-19 and prepare them for when school reopens.

Free Math Workbook #1

Free Math Workbook #2

What is the Coronavirus Activity Pages Book with Time Capsule

Teach kids about the Coronavirus and follow it up with fun activity pages. Or try the book for older kids for things to try to keep busy at home.

Math with Critical Thinking Puzzle Worksheets

Teaching critical thinking skills helps kids learn to navigate an age where information is everywhere. These small workbooks will challenge kids to think creatively.

Reading Comprehension Worksheets for Grades 2 to 6

Free Math and Science for Little Kids Workbooks

If you want harder math, scroll below for all the free workbooks, but it's full STEAM ahead with these fun coloring math challenge with STEAM page books for younger kids.

Math Word Problems Worksheets Book

Reading Comprehension with Math - Book #3

Spelling Challenge Workbooks

Mind Bending Critical Thinking Puzzle Workbooks For Kids

Try these math and logic problem workbooks with your kids for some brain-boosting fun. Each workbook starts with a logic puzzle and is filled with math problems and more logic problems to keep them busy. Want to challenge your kids more? Try giving them work from a different grade. The books are not labeled by grade, so why not try a fifth-grade book as a challenge for a fourth-grader?

Art, Movement, and Reading Challenges for Kids - Perfect for your refrigerator!

Kids need to color these in as they do them. If you have more than one child, print one for each and write their name on the bottom.

Back By Popular Demand - More Coding Workbooks!

Along with the puzzle worksheets and math workbooks, these coding workbooks have been the most requested. So glad to hear how much kids are enjoying these, especially since they are a lot different from the usual teacher worksheets.

Idea for Today - How about Teaching Kids Cursive?

4-Page Sudoku Puzzle Workbook

Kids are going to love these little 4-page sudoku puzzle workbooks. These worksheets include standard sudokus, ones with spelling, ones with pictures, and math sudokus. Don't be surprised if your child asks for more!

This Week's Math Workbooks for Homeschooling

Daily workbook craziness continues! This week's math workbook is better than ever. Print it out and put it on the kitchen table. Don't feel as if you HAVE to print the grade that your child is in; use whatever works!

Ready to Homeschool Your Kids?

Parents, we are here to help with free worksheets that will give your kids practice in math, reading, and writing. Are you ready for them?

Sibling Challenge Word Search and Vocabulary Builders

Coloring with Math

It's always a great time to take a break with some coloring. Just don't tell your kids they will be doing math at the same time! These books are awesome!

Missing Digits Math Worksheets with Mixed Math Practice

Daily workbook craziness continues with missing digits challenge pages. Not only that - every other page is a mixed math worksheet page.

Homeschooling Worksheets to Teach Your Kids While School is Closed

Who doesn't like a good word search? But these books will introduce kids to so many different puzzles. And, yup, some math pages also!

Math Workbooks

Daily workbook craziness continues! How about an all-new math workbook to challenge those little ones stuck at home? Throw it on the kitchen table and let them pick and choose the math pages to do!

Coding Workbooks

If you want more math or you prefer reading or writing, look below. But for now, how about a coding book?

Math Puzzle Worksheets

Who doesn't love a good puzzle? These small puzzle books are easy for kids to do and will give them some new challenges for following directions.

Reading Comprehension with Math - Book #1

Math Workbook for the Week!

These are perfect little math workbooks to share with parents. It combines a mix of fun math puzzles and challenging problems that won't bore kids.

Kids will enjoy some creative writing with this writing challenge workbook.

Free Amusing Activity Book for Kids

Are your kids ready for spring? Baseball may be delayed, but the flowers won't be. Let them enjoy this amusing workbook!

March Jumbo Math Worksheets Books

Try these workbooks for lots of pages for you to randomly give your kids!
Kindergarten, 1st grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, 6th grade, or middle school math pages for your kids!
Set a Realistic Schedule and Have your Kids Try To Make One

At one time or another, most adults have probably dreamed about being forced to stay home and tackle those projects that never seem to get done. While initially this may be the case and lonely drawers will finally be organized, lazy pajama days may need to be replaced by a schedule of some sort. Setting a family schedule may help save your sanity and create a sense of normalcy for your kids.

When you think through a daily schedule for your family, be sure to keep your expectations realistic. If your children are not voracious readers, don't suddenly expect them to read independently for six hours a day. Map out a day that includes time for academics with and without technology. Create an opportunity for some worksheets, online math games and search YouTube for art lessons. Incorporate daily movement outside with the help of sites like Go Noodle or YouTube. Set aside time for journaling or letter writing. You may also want to include time for life skills. These weeks at home are perfect for cooking, baking, laundry and house cleaning.

This may be challenging for the younger kids to make their own school day schedule, but they will be able to handle it. Even if they end up with a 90 minute snack time, let them work through the schedule one day to see how they did. Then maybe they can make a BETTER schedule for the next day!

Print Practice Pages

Daily practice and review of skills will be very important over the next few weeks. Take advantage of these fun and engaging daily workbooks from edHelper.com. These varied activities will give you both something to look forward to. They will enjoy having something fun and different to do each day. You will enjoy the fact that you aren't stuck wasting time scouring the internet for quality practice pages.

Keep Calm and Parent On

Remember that your children will look to you as they determine how they are supposed to respond to their time at home and the current state of the world. Approach each day with a sense of hope and hug those you love, but stay six feet away from everyone else! Use the tools at your disposal and make the most of this time you have together.

Here is also FREE Handout to E-Mail Parents

If you're a Tiger Mom, ferociously looking for more math materials for your children, look no futher than our Math Worksheets and Math Challenge Books. Allow your child to review critical skills or push them to think critically about new ones. While there are several options for online math games, videos, and tutorials, research still shows the power of paper and pencil when it comes to developing and internalizing skills and standards. Allow these resources to help you limit screen time and encourage strategic academic growth.

As a new homeschooling parent, you most likely have a new appreciation for what your child's teacher does each day, especially when you consider that he or she works with close to thirty students at a time! When school finally resumes, parents will no doubt be ready to shower their children's teachers with praise, but, until then, edHelper.com will keep you and your children engaged with the high-quality and engaging materials you need.

More Free Printables, Ideas, and Reading

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Daily Free Learning Workbooks for Teachers to Share with Parents while Schools are Closed - Kids will actually do these!

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Print free worksheets to homeschool your kids when school is canceled.

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For movement

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Typing Lessons - Learn To Type And Improve Typing Speed Free - Typing.com

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Learn to touch type and improve your typing speed with free interactive typing lessons for all ages. Start your typing practice now!

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Art For Kids Hub - Art Lessons - How To Draw For Kids

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Welcome to Art For Kids Hub! Here you’ll find all kinds of art lessons for kids, including how to draw for kids, even painting and origami for kids.

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For fine motor, sensory, visual perceptual, etc.

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Browse all the free Your Therapy Source special education, occupational and physical therapy printables, forms, worksheets, and activity ideas. We have finally reorganized these pages so it will be easier for you to navigate. If you were used to the old page and knew where everything was just scroll down.

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Browse all the free Your Therapy Source special education, occupational and physical therapy printables, forms, worksheets, and activity ideas.

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Gross Motor, Fine Motor, Visual Perceptual Needs

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Gross Motor, Fine Motor, Visual Perceptual Needs

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Viewing this page on your device?
Please adjust your settings to enable images!
I use small photos to illustrate the information and activities that I share, and you will have a much better experience on this website if you can view the images.

I offer these free teacher resources and printables out of my admiration and respect for teachers, who carry a huge workload and also have to find ways to help the special needs children and struggling learners in their classes.

They are aimed at preschool, kindergarten and early elementary teachers, but homeschool moms may find them helpful too!

I personally hate having to give out my email address to get a freebie - to me, that feels like paying with my personal identity. So, all my freebies really are free - you just tick some blocks (to prove you are not a robot) then click and get to the download page right away :-) . If you are interested in signing up for my newsletter, you can sign up on a separate page.

You can access a couple of the free teacher resources right here on this page. The others are scattered through my site - you will find a brief description of each freebie here and then you can click through to the ones you are interested in.

Information Handouts

For parent/teacher meetings, or parent seminars, you may find these printable handouts useful. They contain some basic information helpful to parents, and will direct them to specific pages on this website where they can find relevant activities.

Here's a brief overview of the contents of each handout:

Gross Motor Skills (200 KB)
This handout explains why gross motor skills are important, and how they can help kids with the skills needed for learning to read and write.

Fine Motor Skills (450 KB)
This handout describes the four essential bases for good fine motor development, and gives some activity ideas to help kids.

Visual Perception Information (500 KB)
This parent handout gives an overview of the different aspects of visual perception, and gives some ways kids may struggle if their skills are weak.

Filling in the form below will unlock access to all three freebies - you can then choose which ones to download

Español

Folleto informativo gratuito para padres en estas páginas:

Por favor, no enlazar directamente con el archivo PDF desde tu propio blog - por favor enlace a esta página. ¡Gracias!

Free Classroom Exercises

I have a page full of gross motor exercises on my website that are easy to implement in your classroom. Best of all, you can access a Free Printable OT Mom E-Book TM !

Hop on over to read my article - and don't forget to scroll down to get your free printable at the end!

Free Scissor Cutting Templates

Do your kids need to practice scissor skills?

You can get a free basic scissor cutting template on my cutting activities page. Visit the page and scroll down to get your templates!

Free Pencil Grasp Download

Are you wondering whether your child's pencil grasp is developmentally appropriate?

You can get a free pencil grasp information download on my Pencil Grasp Development page. Visit my page and scroll down to get the free handout!

Free Letter Formation Tips Download

Is your child struggling to form letters correctly? Does your child want to start writing but you are not sure how to help teach correct letter formations?

You can get a free download of Letter Formation Tips and Strategies on my Letter Formation Tips page. Hop on over to read the tips and download the handout at the end!

Free Playdough Activities
(A Mini E-Book)

I recommend various playdough activities on different pages of my site - and this free mini-e-book pulls them all together in one convenient, printable download.

You will get 6 pages of photographed activities plus my own favorite playdough recipe! Scroll down my Playdough Activities page to find the mini-e-book near the bottom.

(Mostly) Free Christmas Printables

Head over to my Christmas pages to find some free teacher resources you can use in your classroom or homeschool setting.

More Free Teacher Resources

Kay M. Donato has a valuable page on Teaching Strategies that I think is immensely helpful for anyone who is teaching any child with special needs, not just autism.

So head over to her page on Teaching Strategies for Autism and be encouraged and inspired!

There are lots of free information and activity ideas on this website, so please sign up for my free newsletter to keep in touch with new pages and new ideas as I post them.

These free teacher resources arise from requests made and needs identified by teachers who have contacted me.

It is my hope that teachers all over the world will find these pages helpful, which will enable more children to be the best they can be!

PS...Need Supplies For Your Classroom?

Pop on over to my OT Products page to see recommended products.

You can get pencil grips, educational games, special needs resources and much, much more.

If this page was helpful, please share it with your friends!

Didn't find what you were looking for? Try a search of my site!

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Viewing this page on your device? Please adjust your settings to enable images! I use small photos to illustrate the information and activities that I share, and you will have a much better experience on this website if you can view the images.

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Here is a collection of 40 fine motor skills activities for young children that are easy to set up and promote a whole range of skills. They're creative, open-ended, appropriate and varied with ideas for practising motor skills through art, sensory play and simple manipulative games, and there are so many to choose from!

One of the most important ways we can help our children while playing with them at home or in a childcare/ classroom setting is through setting up simple activities that help to develop fine motor skills. Young children need to be able to hold and use scissors and pencils appropriately before using them in a classroom context. We cannot expect them to be able to write if they haven't yet developed the strength needed in their hands and fingers.

There are plenty of easy ways to strengthen these muscles, practise co-ordination and develop hand:eye co-ordination using simple, everyday materials and a bit of creative fun! Here are 40 that we have done over the past few years with babies to 5 year olds. There are a million variations you could make from each of these to cater for your own child's particular interests and learning dispositions. Use these as a springboard and pin it for future reference too!

[ Herbal play dough with natural materials to explore]

My personal favourite tool for developing all fine motor skills is the humble ball of homemade play dough. It can be used in SO many ways by adding other combinations of materials to it, and automatically strengthens little hands as they roll, squeeze, twist and build with it. Here is a whole post about the benefits of playing with play dough and a handy guide to starting out with building your own play dough tool kit. Of course, baking with real dough is another wonderful way to play and learn simultaneously!
The many benefits of play dough (and a tool kit)
Other activities we have loved have included exploring sensory play materials, transporting small parts, threading beads, hands-on art projects, cutting and sticking, tearing and scrunching papers, opening and closing fastenings and countless others. Here is a selection of some of those favourites, all of which can be adapted for different age groups and abilities.
Threading with beads onto pipe cleaners Threading, posting and slotting toys for babies and toddlers Poking straws into holes Pasta necklaces Monster play dough Weaving around cardboard Fairy sparkle playdough Pipe cleaners and colanders Beads on spaghetti Hair rollers sticky construction First sewing basket Edible fingerpainting Making marks in fairy dust Decorating play dough eggs Mark making and scooping in lavender sensory salt Building 3D models Sorting and pattern making with shells Patterning with lego Lid posting game Snipping and doodling sticky stained glass windows Whisking up coloured sensory soap Salt dough alphabet modelling Pebble sorting Stacking cups Play dough cupcakes Foam and water window art

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40 Fine Motor Skills Activities - The Imagination Tree

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Here is a collection of 40 fine motor skills activities for young children that are easy to set up and promote a whole range of basic learning skills.

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Fine Motor Activities Using Household Items

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Fine Motor Activities Using Household Items

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If you've been wanting to do fine motor activities with your toddler or preschooler but don't want to spend a lot of money and just don't know where to start, this is the post for you! As both a think-outside-the-box occupational therapist and money-saving mom, I'm right there with you.

Here is a list of 25 fine motor activities using ordinary household items. These activities are great because they are incredibly simple and they cater to your little one's desire for repetition and I-can-do-it-myself. This keeps little hands and minds busy (that's a win right there) while also encouraging the development of fine motor skills needed for the preschool years and beyond. Just be sure to supervise children when playing with small items that could be choking hazards.
Specific fine motor skills encouraged in these activities include:

Pincer grasp: Pinching with thumb and index finger. More info and ideas about pincer grasp HERE.

Finger isolation: Activating a single finger on command (such as the index finger for pointing and pushing). More info and ideas about finer isolation HERE.

Thumb opposition: Coordinating the thumb with the other fingers to help with holding, squeezing, and strengthening the space between thumb and index finger (known as the "web space"). More info and ideas about thumb opposition HERE.

Tripod grasp: Pinching with thumb and index finger while resting the object on the middle finger, much like you'd hold a pencil. More info and ideas about pencil grasp HERE, plus an e-Book written by an OT that can be instantly downloaded with activities to strengthen fine motor skills in kids ages 4-9, found HERE.

Hand-eye coordination: Coordinating hand movements based on what the eyes are seeing. Also known as visual-motor integration. More info and ideas about hand-eye coordination HERE.

Bilateral coordination: Coordinating the use of two hands to accomplish a task, such as stabilizing an object with one hand while working with the other. More info and ideas about bilateral coordination HERE, plus an e-Book written by an OT that can be instantly downloaded with lots of bilateral coordination activities HERE.

Midline integration: Being able to come to and cross over the invisible line that separates the left and right sides of the body. This contributes to the development of hand dominance. If your child struggles with this, encourage midline crossing by placing desired items on the side opposite the hand they are using so they have to reach across their body. More info and ideas about midline crossing HERE.

Ready for our 25 fine motor activities using ordinary household items? Here we go!
1. Push pom poms into a plastic container. Use a water bottle with your young toddler (such as in this post HERE), use an empty container with one or several holes cut out (such as in this post HERE), or watch a video demo in this Facebook post HERE.

2. Drop marbles into a hole in the top of a plastic container. The weight and firm texture of the marbles give more sensory feedback than pom poms. Encourage an open web space between thumb and pointer by making an "O" with the fingers.

3. Place coins in the slit of a plastic container. You can use real coins or fake ones (the coins from Connect Four work well, as pictured in this Mama OT Facebook post). Smaller coins promote more refined grasp. Larger coins are less of a choking hazard. Your call. You can use almost any type of container that is clean and empty - an old container of baby food, cream cheese, margarine, salsa, Cool Whip...anything!

4. Pinch toothpicks and drop them in the holes of a spice container. Cinnamon containers are the perfect size for toothpicks! Read more about this activity HERE.

5. Cut Q-tips in half and drop them in a Tic-Tac container. Keep this stashed in your purse or diaper bag for times when you need to keep your little one occupied, like when you're at a restaurant or doctor's office. It's portable, quiet, and easy to do over and over again!

6. Pinch and place buttons in slits that have been cut at varying angles in the side of a snack box. Vertically-oriented slits mimic the arm position used when practicing buttoning. Diagonally-oriented slits encourage the beginning of forearm supination (turning the forearm into a palms-up position). Horizontally-oriented slits take it a step further and mimic the "thumbs up" position needed for higher level fine motor tasks such as cutting with scissors and holding the paper with the helper hand.

7. Pour small items back and forth between containers. You can use dry rice, pasta, or even pebbles from outside. These types of solid materials provide additional auditory feedback as they go clink! clink! clink! from one container to the other.

8. Paint with sponge shapes. Cut up a kitchen sponge into whatever shapes you want, then show your child how to dip them in paint and use them as stamps. This activity was shared on the Mama OT Facebook page HERE a while back.

9. Push beads into play dough. Pretend you're making cookies and the beads are chocolate chips, or hide the beads in the play dough and search for hidden treasure as you exercise those finger muscles! If you don't have play dough, it's super easy to make. My go-to recipe that ingredients from the cupboard, takes 5 minutes to make, and can be found HERE.

10. Make shapes in play dough with cookie cutters. It doesn't matter if they match the season. It's okay to use pumpkin shapes and snowflakes in the spring, or hearts and bunny rabbits in the summer. Flatten the dough, push down the shapes, and pinch to pull up out of the dough. So much fine motor power!

11. Smash play dough with a potato smasher. Or, you know, smash some real potatoes. Or bananas. Original post found on the Facebook page HERE.

12. Paint with pom poms. Read more about this activity HERE.

13. Make a play dough puzzle. Usewhatever shapes you have around the house. Read more about this activity HERE.

14. Squeeze chip clips onto the rim of a plastic container. Then take them off. Then put them back on again. Then take them off. And so on and so forth. You'd be surprised at how time consuming this activity can be! To really strengthen those little fingers and hands, encourage your kiddo to squeeze and pinch with their fingertips, as opposed to squeezing with their palm or the side of their thumb (as pictured below).

15. Transfer marbles or water beads between bowls. Use fingers for pinching or add in spoons, tongs, or muffin tins! Read more about this activity HERE and watch a variation of it on the Mama OT Facebook page HERE.

16. Put pipe cleaners in the holes of a colander. Another incredibly simple yet repetitive and engaging activity! Read more about this activity HERE.

17. Put Cheerios on pipe cleaners. This is a great skill for older toddlers to start practicing, and is safer for the little ones who still want to put real beads in their mouths. Shoelaces work well too if you don't have any pipe cleaners.

18. Stack beads on dry spaghetti. It can actually be pretty tricky to put the beads on without breaking the noodles! Use Cheerios if you're worried about your toddler or preschooler putting small beads in their mouth (or stray beads bouncing to the floor and baby sibling finding them later).

19. Drop pipe cleaners into a plastic container. Punch some holes in a plastic lid or, for beginners, simply give them pipe cleaners and an empty water bottle or parmesan cheese container to drop them in.

20. Bend a straw in half and use it as tongs for crumpled napkin bits. Especially useful when trying to entertain your kids while waiting for your food at a restaurant.

21. Drop toothpicks through a straw. I have shared a video of this one in action on the Facebook page HERE and have used it many a time while waiting for food with an antsy toddler!

22. Paint with water. Paint outside on the ground, the walls, the tricycle! All you need is an old paintbrush and a bowl, bucket, or cup of water. Shorter or thinner paintbrushes tend to promote a more mature grasp.

23. Peel fruit. Did you ever think about this as a fine motor activity? It is! Those tiny tangerines are perfect for chubby little hands. This one was shared on the Facebook page HERE as well.

24. Pour water from one container to another. This can be done inside during bath time (such as in THIS POST), outside in a baby pool, or even while playing with a water table (read more about why I love water tables HERE)!

25. Pull a scarf out of a baby wipes box. Or you can use a Kleenex box. Read more about this activity HERE.

Please be sure to supervise your child while doing any of these activities in order to ensure safety. However, do not force them to try any of these ideas just because you saw them online and thought they looked super cool! Follow your child's lead and, if they aren't interested in your favorite fine motor activity from this list when you present it to them, that's fine! It may not be a good fit for their interests or developmental skill level at that time. But that doesn't mean it won't be a good fit at some point in the future! So pin this post and tuck it away in your brain. That way, when your little one starts to show interest in fine motor activities such as these, you'll be ready with those old wipes containers, butter tubs, and coffee cans. Have fun!
. . . . . Linking up at Sensory Activities for Kids! . . . . .

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25 Fine Motor Activities Using Household Items

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If you've been wanting to do fine motor activities with your toddler or preschooler but don't want to spend a lot of money and just don't know where to start, this is the post for you! As both a think-outside-the-box occupational therapist and money-saving mom, I'm right there with you.

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Virtual Tours

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Explore The Hidden Worlds of our National Parks

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Explore The Hidden Worlds of our National Parks

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Follow rangers on a journey to places most people never go in stunning 360° video.

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Home Learning!

I hope this helps support your home learning adventure! I am available via SeeSaw if you need help retrieving passwords or accessing any of our online learning tools. I have "most" of our accounts set up for students to log in through their google accounts. Tell them this is the login they use to get into their chromebooks. For those of you who would like a schedule- click HERE.
​In addition to the links below, you can access any of the resources on this page. Happy Learning!

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I hope this helps support your home learning adventure! I am available via SeeSaw if you need help retrieving passwords or accessing any of our online learning tools. I have "most" of our accounts set up for students to log in through their google accounts.

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Ages 13+

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Looking for ideas for remote learning? Each week The Learning Network offers a dozen new ways for students to practice reading, writing and thinking using Times journalism - all free.

Each week we round up the best comments on our writing prompts in our Current Events Conversation. These are images from that collection.

Note: High school students and teachers in the United States can register to get free digital access to nytimes.com.
Schools around the country have closed their doors and switched to remote learning in an attempt to slow the spread of the coronavirus outbreak. If you are a teacher or parent looking for ways to keep your students reading, writing and thinking critically during these uncertain times, The Learning Network offers a dozen new writing prompts each week, all based on Times articles, photographs, illustrations, videos and graphs, about a wide array of issues, including internet memes, climate change, the #MeToo movement, racism, the 2020 election and healthy habits. All of these activities are completely free for everyone.

Here is how to get started.

Students can create a free account by pressing the "Log In" button on the top right-hand corner of the screen. They will be taken to a sign-in page that looks like this:

Please note: Students must be 13 years or older to use any part of nytimes.com in the United States and the United Kingdom, and 16 years or older anywhere else. If students are less than 18 years of age and would like to create an account, they must ask a parent or legal guardian to review and agree to the Times Terms of Service before registering.
Students can click on the link "Create one." Then they can click on "Continue without subscribing." When students make their first comment, they will be asked to enter a name and a location.

Examples of names include: Amy, Emilia AOSE, Payton L and Mrs. Miller's 3rd period class.

Examples of locations include: Ohio,Milbank, SD, and Hoggard High School in Wilmington, N.C.

While students don't need to have a New York Times account to access the Learning Network's many activities, they will need one if they want to submit a comment.

Students can comment via desktop, laptop, tablet or phone. To submit a comment, they should click on the comment bubble at the top of the article or the comment button at the bottom. Either way will bring them to a box where they can share their thoughts, as well as reply to other student commenters from across their school or around the world.

We encourage young people to have a civil dialogue about all sorts of topics, but if students cross a line - for example, if they use offensive language or are disrespectful to other commenters - we will reject those comments.

We follow Times commenting standards as we moderate, but we also allow for the reality that many students don't have perfect spelling or grammar or are still learning English. Our comment section is intended to be a rehearsal space - a safe place for students to practice writing and to share their ideas.

We moderate comments regularly during weekday work hours, but during other times, like nights and weekends, approval can sometimes take several hours.

We invite students to share their opinions and analysis about all sorts of issues and types of media on The Learning Network. In our Student Opinionfeature, we ask questions like: " Should Blowouts Be Allowed in Youth Sports?" and " Should the Adults in Your Life Be Worried by How Much You Use Your Phone? " About half of our questions help students develop their argument skills, and the other half invite them to share experiences and observations from their own lives. All of these prompts are inspired by Times articles.

We also invite students to respond to the many photographs and illustrations in The Times. In our Picture Prompt feature, we use a daily image to inspire four types of student writing: storytelling, argument writing, personal writing and analysis. Similarly, our What's Going On in This Picture? feature asks students to look closely at an intriguing photo and share what they see and what details support their interpretation. On Mondays, our partner organization Visual Thinking Strategies provides live moderation for this activity to strengthen students' visual literacy skills. Both of these features can be great for any student, but they're especially accessible for younger students and students who struggle with reading.

We also use other types of Times multimedia to encourage student writing and thinking. Our Film Club showcases a short documentary film from The Times - often under 10 minutes - and asks students to think about themes like race and gender identity, technology and society, and artistic and scientific exploration. And, What's Going On in This Graph? asks students to notice and wonder about a Times graph, map or chart. On Wednesdays, our partners at the American Statistical Association facilitate a live conversation for this activity to strengthen students' data literacy skills.

Finally, we also offer contests for students all year long. Right now students can submit 450-word editorials. Next month they can submit five-minute podcasts. During the summer they can participate in our 10-week-long Summer Reading Contest.

All of these activities and contests are free. They've always been.

Learning Network prompts can be used in any number of ways as a teaching tool at school or from home. Teachers often let students choose the prompts they want to respond to based on the topics they find most interesting. Other times they assign a specific prompt: for example, if they are studying a theme, like friendship, or a topic, like slavery.

Many teachers use our prompts as a standing homework assignment every night or each week. Other teachers use the prompts as a class activity to complete together. For example, in the tweet below, Adriana Diaz shares images of her class doing a What's Going On in This Picture? activity.

Since we offer so many ways for students to read, write and think, teachers can differentiate as they see fit. They might ask some students to get started with our image-based prompts, while suggesting others comment on our Student Opinion questions.

And, while we appreciate when teachers assign students to comment directly on The Learning Network, we also understand that many teachers prefer to have their students respond to our prompts in a classroom space like Google Classroom or Schoology. We want teachers to have the freedom to use our resources in the way that works best for them.

Not only do we moderate comments, but we also select comments to spotlight in a weekly roundup from our two daily writing prompts: Student Opinion questions and Picture Prompts. Teachers tell us they and their students get excited when they see their classmates' names published in The New York Times.

Here is an example of a weekly roundup: " What Students Are Saying About Fact-Checking Facebook, Making Small Talk and Being Alone."

Teachers naturally want to know what their students are saying in our online forums. The easiest way to hold students accountable is to instruct them to forward the confirmation emails they automatically receive. To do this, students need to make sure that the box "Email me when my comment is published" is checked underneath the comment box. (The check appears when students begin typing.)

For our contests, students also receive confirmation emails, which they can easily forward to teachers. And, since we celebrate many winners, runners-up and honorable mentions with each of our contests, teachers get to send out their own emails, tweets and messages when one or more of their students are selected as finalists.

At The Learning Network, we want students to have a civil discussion about the issues of our day. We want them to have an authentic audience for their writing and ideas. We believe student voice matters. Our comment section and regular contests are our way to make this happen. We hope you'll invite your students to join our community of learners.

If you have any questions about how to get your class started using The Learning Network, please use the comment section or email us at LNFeedback@nytimes.com.

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Students Can Respond to Daily Writing Prompts, Inspired by The New York Times, at Home for Free (Published 2020)

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Looking for ideas for remote learning? Each week The Learning Network offers a dozen new ways for students to practice reading, writing and thinking using Times journalism - all free. Note: High school students and teachers in the United States can register to get free digital access to nytimes.com .

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An interactive way to learn history

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Play Mission Us

1848 the antebellum era

Flight to Freedom

Teach mission us

Mission US includes extensive teaching materials for each mission. The educator guides feature:

What people are saying about Mission US

About mission us

Mission US is an award-winning educational media project that immerses young people in transformational moments from U.S. history.

Developed for use by middle school students in the classroom and beyond, Mission US is a deeply-researched, award-winning educational media project with proven positive impact on history learning. To date, more than three million registered users across the country have played and learned from Mission US.

Mission US is committed to teaching complicated and sensitive topics in American history. We recommend that teachers/parents preview game content to make sure it is appropriate for their students/children.

Go to about

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Play Mission Us 1848 the antebellum era Teach mission us Mission US includes extensive teaching materials for each mission. The educator guides feature: What people are saying about Mission US About mission us Mission US is an award-winning educational media project that immerses young people in transformational moments from U.S.

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WeAreTeachers | Ideas, Inspiration, and Giveaways for Teachers

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WeAreTeachers celebrates educators with classroom ideas, "helpline" advice, inspiration and laughs every day. Why? Because teachers are AWESOME!

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Online speech and language games

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Create your own educational games, quizzes, surveys, and web pages. Search millions of games and quizzes created by educators around the world.

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DreamBox learning is currently offering families a FREE 90 day subscription to their K-8 adaptive math software. No credit card required.

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↓ Skip to Main Content

Every time a child logs into DreamBox, they are immersed in an interactive world of math adventures where learning is fun! This means extra math fun and meaningful screen-time to complement the amazing work happening at your child's school. Whether remote or in-school, DreamBox is here to support you and your child.

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DreamBox was Awarded Best Math Learning Solution in 2019 by EdTech, and has the highest privacy rating by Common Sense Media. Independent research shows just 60 minutes a week can improve math scores by nearly 60%.

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Every time children log in to DreamBox, they are immersed in an interactive world of math where learning is FUN! They log in to a consistent platform - whether in the classroom or at home - with engaging lessons to keep kids on track.

Track progress

Families who use DreamBox at home get dashboards with information that highlights important learning milestones. You'll see both additional needs and achievements so you're in touch with your child's math progress. Learn more about our dashboards.

Top Parent Resources

Remote learning tips

This back-to-school season is unlike any other. With many schools in the midst of distance learning plans, there's a plethora of advice on how to navigate remote learning - it's information overload. We believe parents are in tune with what their children need, and can set up a successful start to the school year.

We've compiled a simplified list of remote learning tips to provide both supportive suggestions and a reminder that you've got this. We are in awe of all parents do and honored to partner with you this academic year.

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Building math confidence

We believe a positive mindset goes a long way. Students build math confidence as they strengthen their social-emotional skills - skills that include grit, perseverance and goal setting. As many schools engage in distance learning this fall, DreamBox has three simple tips for helping children build confidence in math from home.
Check them out

How it works

DreamBox adapts to in-the-moment formative assessment tools that determine how students solve problems, providing powerful data to identify gaps. As a result, students get personalized instruction they need to thrive. What's more, DreamBox Math has one of the highest privacy ratings on Common Sense Media. Log in anytime, anywhere- DreamBox fits your child's math routine, regardless of remote learning schedules.
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Getting started with a school account

If your child has a DreamBox Learning account through school, you'll be able to set up parent access to a Family Dashboard that allows you to monitor your child's progress.

View full written directions.

Note: If your student doesn't know their username and password, please contact their teacher for that information. DreamBox will never share student information.

Trusted & loved by parents & teachers

Laura Hunovice, Math Resource Teacher
Carroll County, MD

Amy L.
Co-op Member (Homeschool Parent)

DreamBox recommends

5+ Lessons

per week for all grade levels

Studies show students who complete five or more lessons per week experience more learning growth than their peers who complete fewer.

Learn more

Test drive DreamBox!

DreamBox offers three unique, age-optimized environments. All 2,300+ lessons are compatible with each environment, allowing any student to move forward, or fill in gaps within the same familiar space.

Missing DreamBox at your child's school? Sign up for a home subscription and your child can play too!

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DreamBox Learning - Online Math Learning for Home

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↓ Skip to Main Content Every time a child logs into DreamBox, they are immersed in an interactive world of math adventures where learning is fun! This means extra math fun and meaningful screen-time to complement the amazing work happening at your child's school.