Free Online Learning Resources for School Closures
The following information was correct at the time of publishing online -
16th March 2020
As the Coronavirus pandemic puts a stop to our most major sporting events and talks of banning all mass gatherings is looming, parents turn their thoughts to schools and how they'll keep their children entertained. The 'Home Ed' community have been doing this for years, especially in our home town of Portsmouth, but what is out there for home learning and is any of it free?
Taken from various useful posts in groups, talking to friends and home educators and from experience as a teacher myself, here's my TOP list of discounted or free resources for home learning. Some are exclusively for schools but many are for everyone. Make the most - some of these offers are only for a few months. (There's are A LOT more than 20 in reality - but here's a start!) In no particular order...
1. TWINKL
It's a biggie - having already paid over £100 for their Ultimate Membership option, I have to say it's worth every penny.
They are offering a month's free membership and even if you don't fancy that, there's also free ‘Home Learning Packs’ for Early Years, KS1, KS2, KS3, GCSE and SEND to download - ALL FOR FREE.
Twinkl has thousands of downloadable worksheets and resources for all age groups. There's also Twinkl Go! for interactive content, Twinkl Originals books and a Parent's Hub for online games and homework help.
As a teacher in the classroom and as a private tutor, I use Twinkl regularly, it's great!
2. EDSHED
EdShed is the home for Maths Shed, Spelling Shed, Literacy Shed and Literacy Shed Plus - all amazing platforms that are used in schools.
They offer whole school free 14-day-trials all year round, but at the moment are extending their free trials for the duration of the school closures.
Children can even use the online platform to play with their friends and there's a clever app for Android, iPad or iPhone. For parents wanting to get their own subscription - prices are around £30 per year for each 'Shed'. Great value!
If you're looking for GCSE maths revision - this is the site to go to. Just before the GCSE examinations last year, I must have listened to this man talk more than my own husband! Students find his video tutorials easy to understand, the worksheets are clear and he even produces lists of what subjects are likely to come up in between papers.
All worksheets and papers are FREE on his website (always have been) and there are fully worked answers too. Great to learn with video and whiteboard or print off the practice questions. John Corbett is a top guy too - very knowledgeable.
4. IXL
IXL are offering a free 90-day classroom trial. This offer is exclusively for schools and their teachers but would allow pupils to log in and access work that has been set. If you're a parent, it's worth asking your teacher to take a look, as it's really useful.
One of the best things about IXL is the fact that all year groups have topics and sub-topics which are really clearly displayed. You can focus one skill set at just the click of a button through online, interactive questions. There's even online rewards for motivating your children!
5. BBC BITESIZE
Most parents and teachers have heard of this one but I thought I'd add it to the list anyway. Who knows, they may add more material if we have mass school closures? It's all completely FREE and there's interactive games, quizzes and videos.
There are three main sections, Primary, Secondary and Post-16 and I've used all of them for whole class teaching and one-to-one tuition lessons - it's on an easy-to-use platform and offers all subjects. A no-brainer - if you're a complete beginner and have no idea where to start, start here.
6. DUOLINGO
This is a must for learning a new language - it's FREE (always has been) and has a handy app. I've never used this in the classroom but I can imagine that it's a lot of fun. (I'm usually the one using it at the airport - convinced that I'm going to be fluent by the time I get to my destination!)
They offer interactive activities many languages - the usual school options - French, Spanish, German etc.. but also High Valyrian, Greek, Danish and Hawaiian, if you fancied a change!
If you need access to free worksheets and activities, here's another good place to start. Our friends in the USA have made a really valuable platform here. You'll need to convert the year groups though!
As a rough guide:
Reception/Early Years --> Pre-Kindergarten
Year 1 --> Kindergarten
Year 2 --> 1st Grade
Year 3 --> 2nd Grade
Year 4 --> 3rd Grade
Year 5 --> 4th Grade
Year 6 --> 5th Grade
If you need secondary, just count up in years, they're one value behind the UK numbering system. As a bonus, if you're a fan of blogs - their 101 Fun things to do in COVID-19 Isolation post gives some great ideas although it would have to be an absolute miracle to get number 20 to work in our house!
8. WALKABOUTS (by ActivEd)
Aimed at children up to Year 3, Walkabouts offer interactive videos whereby children get up and move whilst learning. It's interactive, fun and at the moment - FREE!
It's a US site, so just remember to do the conversion for the year groups but it's all relevant and entertaining to use.
No need to sign up, just use the following log-ins:
Teachers - Username: TeacherFree
Reception - Username: PKfree
Year 1 - Username: Kfree
Year 2 - Username: 1free
Year 3 - Username: 2free
The password for all log-ins is walkabouts.
Classroom Secrets Kids is offering FREE access to everyone until the end of April 2020. The platform is aimed at primary aged children and covers subjects such as maths, reading, grammar and spelling.
The platform is really child-friendly so that they're able to access it on their own. There's load of games and interactive activities from phonics to SATs - definitely worth a look!
10. VOOKS
Vooks is a site full of beautifully animated story books. Great as a hook or starter for a writing task or just to enjoy! It's a US site, so you'll need those handy conversions again.
Vooks is offering access for a year FREE for teachers and home educators and there has been talk of a free month for parents. (You may have to ask them about that!) All you need to do is fill in the online form and the rest happens by magic!
11. OXFORD OWL
Oxford Owl for Home is a bright and colourful website with free resources available to download without registering. Aimed at primary aged children, they offer activities for reading, English, mathematics and interactive games. There's also handy 'How To' videos, to explain tricky concepts.
Oxford Owl's free e-books section is wonderful. It's still free but you'll need a log-in to access it. Great if your little ones are off and they would like to keep in touch with Biff, Chip, Kipper and Floppy the dog!
National Geographic Kids is a great platform for learning and it's totally FREE. There's online games, resources and competitions too. Aimed at primary aged children, there are a wide range of subjects - history, science, geography, English, Maths, Art & Design and PSHE.
13. GEOGRAPHY PODS
This website is amazing if you’re currently studying iGCSE Geography. They have free worksheets and videos and everything is very easy to follow. Well worth a visit.
14. TUTORTASTIC GROUP CLASSES AND FREE RESOURCES
Growing monthly, our free resources available on our website and affordable group classes are available all year round. We work with lots of talented teachers to facilitate an online learning environment that’s fun and enjoyable. Come and join us!
For more information join FB Group - Homeschooling & Teaching Resources UK