Below you will find a wide range of resources that we created as an accompaniment to our book Read The World. We have created this robust list in an attempt to differentiate for educators; tools that would be appropriate for those new to digital learning and those who are well versed. We do not intend for you to utilize them all; we recommend you start with 2 and then add something new each quarter or trimester. -Katie and Kristin
For Students
😄 Okay for students to access 😬 Teachers should access and filter (age dependent) 😻 Okay for students to use images in projects |
Websites and apps for digital articles and books 😄
A collection of current event articles that are adapted from vetted news sources like The Washington Post, Scientific American, and the Associated Press. Available in Spanish and English, these digital articles span history, science, and ELA.
A question of the day blog that provides answers to frequently asked student questions. Includes texts with a read-to-me function and a paired video.
www.tweentribune.com/category/tween56/
www.tweentribune.com/category/junior/
News articles curated by the Smithsonian covering a variety of topics.. Features an adjustable text difficulty.
A free resource for digital books, audio books, read-to-me books and videos. Offers a variety of fiction and non-fiction books for students to access.
Student news sites with many images and video to accompany articles. Articles can be sorted by a subject of interest, interest levels range from third through eighth grade. Offers a computer-generated audio reading in an adjustable voice. Easy sharing to Google Classroom.
www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/
This site, perfect for middle school and up, offers articles on current issues and developments in science.
Images, texts, videos, sounds, and text sets from United States history.
scholasticnews.scholastic.com/
Subscription-based news magazine with a digital component by grade level.
https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/
Subscription-based print magazine. Free resources include an interactive world map, animal profiles, and videos.
Sports news just for kids.
Websites for Images
Images from professional photographers that can be used with or without attribution for lesson resources and student projects. Teachers should filter images into an easy to share format with students, some mature subject matter.
https://www.nytimes.com/column/learning-whats-going-on-in-this-picture
A weekly feature from the New York Times of a compelling image. Teachers will find these images work well with image study lessons. We recommend filtering for elementary aged students. Older students can access the site and participate in digital conversations.
Bank of age-appropriate images that can be used by students in digital project work.
Bank of age-appropriate images that can be used by students in digital project work.
kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/my-shot-s-best-of-photo-galleries/
Kid friendly photo features from National Geographic Kids
www.nationalgeographic.com/photography/
High-quality Images from around the globe as curated by National Geographic photographers. Some images may be mature for younger students.
Images, texts, videos, sounds, and text sets from United States history. Student access dependent on topic and age range.
Art and culture online exhibitions as curated by Google. Student access dependent on topic and age range.
This site features an artists illustration of a current news story. Student access dependent on topic and age range.
apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
Daily astronomy photos from Nasa
Most news outlets have a steady stream of images for teachers to use in image students or for students to access for research purposes. Student access should be limited to older students. We recommend you consult the Allsides.com Media Bias Chart when selecting articles, images, or videos from any news outlets.
Websites for infographics
www.kidsdiscover.com/infographics/
Infopackets featuring infographics can be accessed with a free account.
www.nytimes.com/column/whats-going-on-in-this-graph
From the New York Times and Learning Network, this site provides weekly graphics and visuals each Monday for students to closely read and analyze. Throughout the week classrooms around the world engage in discussion via the comments section of the site. On Thursdays, the site reveals the origin of the graph and explains what data the graphic represents.
www.choosemyplate.gov/infographics
This site offers a wide variety of health-related infographics.
A steady stream of infographics from a variety of sources and about a variety of topics. Some are good to use with students, many are not.
Resources for Visual Mathematics
ntimages.weebly.com/photos.html or kristenacosta.com/number-talk-images/
Engage students in open-ended mathematical inquiry through the use of compelling images and number talks.
Students use logic, reasoning, and evidence to justify thinking about an image that poses a compelling “would you rather” type question.
Students use a 6 step protocol to discuss an image to build number sense and explore mathematical talk.
Present students with four simple items and engage them in verbal and written reasoning to determine…which one doesn’t belong.
Engage student’s visual processing with representations of mathematical concepts.
stevewyborney.com/2018/04/the-estimation-clipboard/
www.npr.org/podcasts/510321/wow-in-the-world
www.npr.org/podcasts/474377890/but-why-a-podcast-for-curious-kids
www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/shortandcurly/
http://www.sciencepodcastforkids.com/
whyy.org/programs/eleanor-amplified/
Resources for Video
A collection of thousands of videos for curious minds. All videos are intended for elementary age children and highlight science, technology and the arts.
A collection of visuals and resources to pair with comprehension lessons, genre or book study.
The school version of TED talks, TEDed sparks curiosity and passion in all learners. A series of lessons to learn from as well as opportunities for students to share their voice with the world by creating their own TED-style talks..
Try safeshare.tv or Quiettube for classroom-friendly ways to share videos from youtube. Alternately, you can easily embed videos from Youtube into a Google Slides presentation for a clean viewing that offers interactive possibilities.
Resources for Maps & Data
tourbuilder.withgoogle.com/gallery#
Take a digital tour on Google Maps. This tool enables teachers and students to create educational geographic tours. Check out the gallery for some early examples.
Explore the native lands of indigenous populations through territory, language, and treaties
https://www.esri.com/en-us/maps-we-love/gallery
A collection of various and interesting maps and data visualizations.
https://www.google.com/streetview/gallery/#
Take a virtual field trip to various destinations around the world.
A collection of live action cameras, mostly animals, but some nature as well.
Tech Tools for (Almost) Any Device
Flipgrid is a free video recording tool that provides a place for students to record short videos in response to a topic, question, or prompt from the teacher. Teachers can create multiple grids on an account and have multiple topics per grid.
See Saw is a kid-friendly classroom LMS where teachers and students can post and respond to images, videos, documents, screencasts, and writing. See Saw is easy to use for all ages and offers an opportunity to practice online collaboration and commenting.
Book Creator enables students to create digital books; including text, images, videos and more. Students can easily collaborate on projects and teachers can push book creator templates out to the class to be used as digital notebooks for any subject.
Kidblog is a student and teacher friendly class blogging platform that offers each student their own personal blogging space while connecting the class in a way that makes it easy to read and comment on each other's work.
Padlet is a digital bulletin board for resource sharing and collaboration. Include articles, images, links, videos and more. Padlet features several different ways to sort and organize posts from freeform to labled columns.
A creative tool for making infographics and other graphic design elements. Comes with many free templates, text types, icons, and layout possibilities. Some icons may feel a bit mature for younger users. (We’re looking at you wine glass!)
The adobe spark suite consists of three useful applications; Post, Page, and Video. Adobe Post is useful for creating single images that blend pictures and text, text animations are also available. Adobe Page is a simple way for students to create professional looking websites. Adobe video is a functional and easy to use video editing tool.
One of our favorite video creation apps! Record easy to edit short clips that work together for a longer video project. Lots of editing and creative possibilities. Apple iPad only.
Katie & Kristin’s Example Multi-Media Tech Sets by Topic
For Teachers
Media Literacy and Educational Technology Websites
Resources on digital citizenship, including research and practical suggestions for classrooms, app and tool reviews, parent outreach materials.
Professional Development, research, articles, and classroom curriculum, and materials related to media literacy in education.
EdTech Educator Kathy Schrock maintains this site which has a rich supply of learning articles, blog posts, links, and ideas about various EdTech for the classroom.
Instructional Strategies, Equitable Practices, Trauma-Informed Teaching Websites
Learn and connect with other educators committed to bringing the art of questioning to classrooms. Features articles, videos, and an educator community.
www.tolerance.org
Free anti-bias resources, including classroom tools, videos, podcasts, and more. Teaching Tolerance’s downloadable Let’s Talk resources are an excellent starting point for exploring the organization’s offerings.
Perspectives Texts: https://www.tolerance.org/classroom-resources/texts
www.nctsn.org/resources/child-trauma-toolkit-educators
Free, downloadable PDF includes clear explanations of the psychological and behavioral impact of trauma, examples of situations that can cause trauma, signs of trauma in students, and suggestions for educators.
Offers a free interactive resource guide, All Hands In, which includes lesson ideas as well as links to strong videos for classroom use.
Offers lessons, texts, and instructional strategies for helping students to engage with critical historical and civic content.
Offers teaching resources and videos that help students to see gender bias at work in their own lives.
Children’s Literature Websites
Offers resources to help educators and librarians find high-quality books featuring diverse characters and storylines.
https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/
AICL offers recommendations of book by or about American Indian a well as key perspectives on how indigenous peoples are portrayed in books that we may be using or wish to use in the classroom.
Resources on this site detail the realities of disability as opposed to the popular media portrayals that are often inaccurate. Content is sorted by disability, genre and more. It includes articles, book reviews, and book lists.
www.colorincolorado.org/books-authors
¡Colorín colorado! Is a website with a variety of resources to support bilingual educators and families. They have a variety of book lists organized by age range.
Offers book lists that focus on “contemporary diverse stories that all children could enjoy,” reflection tools, teacher resources, and informative blog posts.
A blog about books, reading lives, and literacy populated with posts from teachers and librarians in the field.
Last updated May, 2022
@KatieMuhtaris @KristinZiemke