• Language Arts
  • Social Studies
  • Health & Fitness
  • College & Career
  • Homework Tools
  • Learning Differences ▽

The History Cat’s US History

Written by a high school teacher in teen-speak, The History Cat presents US history topics in a more approachable way than textbooks. Sections cover colonial America through the Civil Rights era. Topics include:

  • The Colonial Age
  • Road to Revolution
  • American Revolution
  • Creating a Constitution
  • Westward Expansion
  • Trail of Tears
  • Reconstruction
  • Industrial Revolution
  • Women Get the Vote
  • Ellis Island
  • World War I
  • Roaring 20s
  • The Great Depression
  • World War II
  • The Civil Rights Movement

The content is complete. But the author has other interactive elements planned but not yet available as of this writing. They will include critical thinking questions, document analysis, history detective, and quiz.

Jamestown Settlement & Yorktown Victory Center

Educational Adventures at Jamestown Settlement & Yorktown Victory Center give kids a window into what life was like for the Powhatan Indians and settlers in the Tidewater, Virginia area.  There are videos and podcasts on food, customs, traditions, economy, and the historic conflict with England that lead to the Revolution.

There are curriculum materials and activities for elementary age students, as well as information on field trips and programs available to homeschool students.

Tennessee History for Kids

TN History for Kids! has resources about Tennessee history and geography for K-12 students at every grade level.  You can find activities and information by grade level, or by topic.  Take a virtual tour of more than 40 historic sites from Burgess Falls to the Cumberland Gap, Hermitage Park and so much more.  Learn the history of each of TN’s 95 counties and several major cities.  View videos of historic re-enactments.  Learn about the famed sons and daughters of TN.  Find out how the state government is structured.  Take an interactive quiz based on Tennessee’s curriculum for state knowledge.

Mission US is a set of multimedia interactive games, designed for kids in grades 5-8, that immerses them in U.S. history at the time of the American Revolution and the Civil War.  Additional missions are planned for coming years.

  • Mission 1 , “For Crown or Colony,” students role play as Nat Wheeler, a printer’s apprentice in 1770 Boston. They encounter both Patriots and Loyalists, and when rising tensions result in the Boston Massacre, they must choose sides.
  • Mission 2 , “Flight to Freedom,” students play the role of Lucy, a 14-year-old slave in Kentucky. They must navigate her escape and journey  to Ohio.  In the process, they learn that life in the “free” North has its own dangers and difficulties. With the passage of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, will Lucy ever truly be free?
  • Misson 3  takes students to the northern plains to help the Northern Cheyenne tribe to track and hunt a buffalo herd.
  • Mission 4  takes students on an immigrant’s journey in the Progressive era as she works to save the money to bring her family to America.
  • Mission 5  takes students on a exploration of New Deal construction projects.

Each mission has about 10 timed questions, and opportunities to replay with different question sets.  Also available as an iPad app .

There is also a short quiz in game format to check students’ understanding of causes and events of these two periods.

Teachers, there are accompanying educator guides with additional activities and links to resources, including primary resources.

Teaching History

Funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Teachinghistory.org is designed to help K-12 history teachers access resources and materials to improve U.S History education in the classroom.

Website & App Directories

  • Language Arts & English
  • Social Studies & Civics
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Homework & Study Tools
  • Learning Differences
  • College & Career Prep

What’s Popular

  • Project Based Learning
  • World Religions
  • Websites with Lesson Plans
  • Top 100 Science Fair Projects
  • Science Websites & Apps
  • Math Websites & Apps
  • Animal Websites
  • Poetry Sites for Kids
  • Weather Sites for Kids
  • Health and Fitness
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • for Teachers
  • for Parents
  • Special Needs & Gifted
  • Homework Help
  • College and Career
  • Advanced Search

OUR ORGANIZATION

  • Privacy Policy

History Games

  • Personality Quiz

Biographies

  • Albert Einstein Albert Einstein
  • Amelia Earhart Amelia Earhart
  • Mummy Mystery: King Tut Mummy Mystery: King Tut
  • Leonardo da Vinci Leonardo da Vinci
  • Taking Flight With the Wright Brothers Taking Flight With the Wright Brothers
  • Alexander Hamilton Alexander Hamilton

world history

  • Inca civilization Inca civilization
  • Aztec civilization Aztec civilization
  • Ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt
  • Ancient Rome Ancient Rome
  • The discovery of King Tut’s tomb The discovery of King Tut’s tomb
  • Rediscovering the lost "Endurance" Rediscovering the lost "Endurance"
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Your California Privacy Rights
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • About Nielsen Measurement
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • National Geographic
  • National Geographic Education
  • Shop Nat Geo
  • Customer Service
  • Manage Your Subscription

Copyright © 1996-2015 National Geographic Society Copyright © 2015-2024 National Geographic Partners, LLC. All rights reserved

Best Kids Websites

Just reading about history in a textbook isn’t very exciting. Visiting a website that allows kids to read unique stories, play games, and interact with history in other ways can pique their interest in history and make it seem a lot more exciting.

The best history websites for kids found on Best Kids Websites help bring history to life. Kids will gain access to online museum exhibits, watch videos, and complete a selection of interactive activities. They’ll have fun learning about the people, places, and events that have helped shape the world.

History.com

This website for the History Channel features resources for learners of all ages.

Continue reading →

Mr. Nussbaum

Greg Nussbaum has developed this excellent site that covers a wide variety of topics including history. Continue reading →

The Library of Congress

The Library of Congress is the biggest library in the world, and it welcomes anyone to its website, including children, teens and adults. Books are not the only resource available through the library.

The Michael C. Carlos Museum of Emory University developed this fantastic site, which features animated illustrations and important facts about Egypt, Greece, Rome, Africa, the Ancient Americas and the Near East. Learn more about these cultures through puzzles and interactive games. Continue reading →

At Home in the Heartland

This online exhibit from the Illinois State Museum in Springfield, IL is designed to teach children about life from the 1700s through the present. Continue reading →

Collapse – Annenberg Media Exhibits

Learn and explore four different ancient civilizations including the Mayas while visiting this fun, interactive site. Continue reading →

BBC: History for Kids

Explore a wide selection of historical games and activities through the BBC’s History for Kids. It will allow you to travel back in time and learn all about ancient, world and British history. Play games, take quizzes and view animations to help make history come alive. Continue reading →

The Origins of Labor Day

This section of PBS Newshour, explains in depth the history and origins of how Labor Day came to be.

America’s Story from America’s Library

This entertaining and fun website was created by the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. Continue reading →

Ben’s Guide to U.S. Government for Kids

Ben’s Guide to U.S. Government for Kids is a superb website that teaches kids about U.S history and government. Continue reading →

With so many websites available for kids, it takes a long time to find which ones truly stand out from the pack. Kids may gravitate towards websites with exciting games and popular characters, but that doesn’t always make them the … Continue reading →

Download Mobile Apps

best history websites for elementary students

History for kids

World war 1, world war 2.

World War 2 started in September 1939 when Germany attacked Poland. The Axis powers were those countries that joined to attack Europe, Africa, the Mediterranean and the Pacific. The Allied Powers generally consisted of Great Britain, The Soviet Union, China and the United States.

Middle Ages

Mesopotamia.

Image

Historyfriend.com: Learn Fun Facts, Watch Videos, Over 80 Profiles and More...

Leaders of the Ancient World

Medieval Leaders

American Leaders

Leaders in World War Two

World Leaders

Black Leaders

The Modern Era

The Ancient World

The Middle Ages

Woman Leaders

Entrepreneurs

World Explorers

American Explorers

  • WordPress.org
  • Documentation
  • Learn WordPress
  • Members Newsfeed

best history websites for elementary students

The Best History Websites to Teach Students of All Grade Levels

  • Online Learning & eLearning

best history websites for elementary students

Introduction:

History is an essential subject that helps students develop a deep understanding of the world around them, its past events, and civilizations that helped shape society today. From elementary school to university, history websites are valuable tools for both students and educators. Discover the best history websites to support your students of all grade levels.

1. Khan Academy (https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/history)

Khan Academy offers engaging video lessons on a wide range of historical topics, perfect for students in middle school, high school, or college. With a focus on US history, world history, and art history, Khan Academy allows students to grasp fundamental concepts and context through interactive quizzes and articles.

2. Smithsonian Education (https://www.si.edu/educators)

The Smithsonian Institution’s vast resources are readily available for educators at various grade levels with lesson plans, activities, and comprehensive guides. Students can engage with virtual exhibitions covering American history, world cultures, arts and design, science, and technology.

3. The Library of Congress (https://www.loc.gov/teachers/)

The Library of Congress is an incredible source for primary documents such as letters, photographs, maps, speeches, diaries, and eyewitness accounts. Teachers can find lesson plans backed by these authentic sources to better engage their students in historical exploration.

4. Teaching American History (https://teachingamericanhistory.org/)

Teaching American History is designed specifically for K-12 educators looking to supplement their curriculum with primary sources. It offers document-based lessons on American founding principles & the presidents while providing professional development opportunities for educators.

5. PBS LearningMedia (https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/subjects/social-studies/history-diary-of-anne-frank/)

PBS LearningMedia provides standards-aligned resources covering significant historical topics from the Middle Ages to current events. With its easy-to-navigate interface, students and teachers at any grade level can explore and engage with multimedia materials, such as videos, primary sources, activities, and lesson plans.

6. BBC History for Kids (http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/forkids/)

BBC History for Kids offers an exciting mix of animations, quizzes, and publications for young learners to explore history in a fun and interactive way. The site covers a range of topics, from ancient civilizations to modern inventions, making it perfect for elementary and middle school students.

7. National Geographic Kids (https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/history/)

National Geographic Kids offers captivating resources for kids to discover the fascinating world of history. With engaging articles, photos, videos, and activities on topics such as ancient civilizations, world cultures, historical figures & events, this website is perfect for elementary school students.

Conclusion:

Providing students with unique and engaging learning experiences is essential to motivate them and spark their curiosity in the subject of history. These websites offer a wide variety of resources to teach students across grade levels while encouraging them to develop critical thinking skills as they delve into the past. Make use of these online platforms to create a robust and engaging history education for your students.

icon

Related Articles

I Took an Online Course to Learn About Self-Pacing, and I'm Never Going Back

The utilization of technology in education has brought about significant advancements, with…

no reactions

Introduction: As more and more schools shift to distance learning, it's important…

9 Essential Tips for Learning From Home

With the increasing availability of online resources and virtual classrooms, learning from…

best history websites for elementary students

Pedagogue is a social media network where educators can learn and grow. It's a safe space where they can share advice, strategies, tools, hacks, resources, etc., and work together to improve their teaching skills and the academic performance of the students in their charge.

If you want to collaborate with educators from around the globe, facilitate remote learning, etc., sign up for a free account today and start making connections.

Pedagogue is Free Now, and Free Forever!

  • New? Start Here
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Registration

Don't you have an account? Register Now! it's really simple and you can start enjoying all the benefits!

We just sent you an Email. Please Open it up to activate your account.

I allow this website to collect and store submitted data.

Educational App Store

  • Home (current)
  • App Categories
  • App Reviews
  • English Learning Apps for Kids
  • Alphabet Apps
  • Spelling Apps
  • Math Resources
  • Multiplication Apps
  • Science Apps
  • Chemistry Apps
  • Physics Apps
  • AI Tools Directory
  • AI Tools for Education
  • Apps for Parents
  • Apps for Students
  • Augmented Reality Apps
  • Computer Science Apps
  • Coloring Apps
  • Special Education Apps
  • Language Learning Apps
  • Best of Lists
  • Apps for Education
  • Best Maths Apps
  • Best Apps for Kids
  • Free Apps for Kids
  • Toddler Apps
  • Preschool Apps
  • Kindergarten Apps
  • EdTech Articles
  • Game Reviews
  • Brain Training Apps
  • Brain Games for Kids
  • Word Game Apps
  • iPad Games for Kids
  • Free Games for Kids
  • Website Reviews

Best Websites for Kids

  • Preschool Websites
  • Math Websites for Kids
  • Submit your App
  • How we certify apps
  • AI Assessment
  • Try for free

Best History Websites for Students

Best History Websites for Students

Just reading about history in a textbook isn’t very exciting. Visiting a website that allows kids to read unique stories, play games, and interact with history in other ways can pique their interest in history and make it seem a lot more exciting. History Websites helps students to interact with times and places past, and can really bring history into the present plan for some memorable history lessons.

Making history come alive in the here-and-now can be a bit of a challenge, but there are lots of super websites that can help you do just that. These history websites contains primary and secondary documents, exhibits, map collections, prints and photographs, sound recordings and motion pictures. 

The best history websites help bring history to life. Kids will gain access to online museum exhibits, watch videos, and complete a selection of interactive activities. They’ll have fun learning about the people, places, and events that have helped shape the world.

Here is the list of the top history websites for teachers and students.

National Geographic

1. National Geographic

National Geographic - 4 star rating

(iPhone, iPad)

National Geographic Education is a popular trusted website for history-based lessons available for pre-K to higher education in formats such as activities, videos, photos, interactives, maps, educator guides, and more. A fantastic resource for kids and teachers alike, it has everything you need to fall in love with history.

National Geographic provides free lessons coupled with activities on geography. Its offerings have completion times from under an hour to week-long, making it incredibly versatile.

The website offers longer units, with all classes dedicated to using facts, mental maps, and critical thinking to inform your students geographically. The site also contains resources for other subjects, including history, and culture. 

Grades: Pre-K-12

 Library of Congress

2. Library of Congress

 Library of Congress - 4 star rating

The Library of Congress is an outstanding resource for American history that has multimedia collections of photographs, recorded sound, moving pictures, and digitized text. The home page features a rotating group of Collection Highlights under subjects like American Memory, Prints and Photographs, Maps, Historic Newspapers, and more. For the most kid-friendly stuff, click Kids and Families; you'll find links to subsites like Everyday Mysteries, a place full of fun science facts, or Today in History. 

Grades:  1-12

Edsitement

3. Edsitement

Edsitement - 4 star rating

EDSITEment is a website that offers lesson plans and online resources in the subject areas of history and social studies. It's a collection of content from all over the Web, but all the links have been vetted for quality by the National Endowment for the Humanities, and they've connected Common Core standards to everything on the site. EDSITEment is a fantastic resource, especially for history teachers.

Grades:  Pre-K-12

Get unlimited access to the 4 or 5-star teacher certified apps. Start your free trial now!

Hand-picked educational apps by teachers that will improve your child's learning.

Timeline - World history

4. Timeline - World history

(Android, iPhone, iPad)

A dynamic collection of resources and instructional strategies to enhance the teaching of U.S. history. A gold mine of cross-curricular literacy lessons that encourage sound, research-backed strategies for reading, analysis, and critical thinking.

Grades: 8-12

National Archives

5. National Archives

National Archives - 4 star rating

The National Archives website features legal and historical records, documents, and other materials from the federal government, which students can use for personal or academic research. Students can also obtain historical documents, like the Constitution, and items that relate to key historical events, such as the Lewis and Clark Expedition. It's possible for fourth-graders and up to use the site, but older middle and high school students will probably get the most out of it as they build serious research skills.  

PBS Learning Media

6. PBS Learning Media

PBS Learning Media - 4 star rating

For teachers with time to sift through and adapt materials, PBS Learning Media is a great source for information on a myriad of historical events and personalities. Students can explore Westward Expansion from 1790 to 1850 using an interactive map, teachers can create a document-based question for students to analyze dozens of Civil Rights documents, and classes can discuss political cartoons from every time period from the Colonial Period to Contemporary America. 

Grades: Pre-K-12 

Google Arts & Culture

7. Google Arts & Culture

An easily explored one-stop shop for a vast amount of compellingly curated and contextualized art and history resources, but it's lacking educator supports. If you’ve ever ventured to visit the Google Arts & Culture website, you’ve probably noticed that the site has an incredible collection of interesting information, photographs, and artwork from around the world. Google Arts & Culture’s Natural History collection has virtual tours of entire museums. Just as the natural history exhibit lets you get face to face with a sea dragon, Google Places has a zoom feature that allows students to get closer than ever before to the work of greats like Vincent van Gogh. 

Grades: 6-12

World War One - WW1 For Kids

8. World War One - WW1 For Kids

World War One - WW1 For Kids - 5 star rating

This app is a narrated and embellished timeline taking its user through the time of World War One. It uses both written and narrated methods of teaching about the war as well as some animations for further explanation.  It is not highly detailed but gives a broad overview.

Grades: 7-12

The above best history websites for kids help bring history to life. Kids will gain access to online museum exhibits, watch videos, and complete a selection of interactive activities. 

You may also like:

Social Studies Websites

News Websites for Students

See Our Rating and Review Process | Meet Our Review Board

AI Literacy School

Similar Best App Lists

Best Homework Help Websites

Best Homework Help Websites

Best Free Websites for High School Students

Best Free Websites for High School Students

Best Second Grade Websites

Best Second Grade Websites

5 Best Apps for Black History Month

5 Best Apps for Black History Month

Best Game Websites for School

Best Game Websites for School

To access all the app lists

Recent Posts

  • Financial Literacy for Kids
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Kids
  • Benefits of Personalized Learning

Most Popular

  • Apps for Schools
  • Apps for Kids

Related Content

AI for Education Learning Hub

AI for Education Learning Hub

Best Websites for Kids

How can Teachers use AI to Save Time

Best Apps to Improve Math Skills for Adults

Best Apps to Improve Math Skills for Adults

  • This Day In History
  • History Classics
  • HISTORY Podcasts
  • HISTORY Vault
  • Link HISTORY on facebook
  • Link HISTORY on twitter
  • Link HISTORY on youtube
  • Link HISTORY on instagram
  • Link HISTORY on tiktok

best history websites for elementary students

HISTORY Classroom

HISTORY Classroom offers resources for educators, including education guides, learning tools, and links to educational content.

HISTORY at Home - Space Walk

HISTORY at Home

This Day in History

This Day in History

Topics

Study Guides

This Day in History for Kids

This Day in History for Kids

History Film Corps

History Film Corps

Take

Get Instant Access to Free Updates

Don’t Miss Out on HISTORY news, behind the scenes content, and more.

  • Privacy Notice
  • Terms of Use

Need help with the site?

Create a profile to add this show to your list.

Best Back to School Ideas 🍏

best history websites for elementary students

10 Free Social Studies Websites for the Elementary Classroom

Share this post:.

Pinterest Hidden Image

Social Studies can have a bad reputation for being boring. I must admit it wasn’t my favorite subject to teach. I had very limited resources, and I simply wasn’t given much time in my daily schedule. Here I was, guilty of using Brainpop videos to drive my instruction. I knew I needed to find other ways to bring the lessons to life. That’s when I decided to look for interactive social studies websites to create fun and engaging lessons. Today I want to share with you my top 10 websites that you can use in your classroom. Come check them out!

social studies websites for elementary teachers

NewsELA  is a free database that provides high-interest news articles. Your students can read the texts at multiple levels and in English or Spanish. The reading levels can also be adjusted so that your students have a more enjoyable experience.

best history websites for elementary students

When students are reading right at their level, they are more likely to be engaged. Another reason NewsELA is one of my favorite websites is that students can take brief comprehension quizzes to demonstrate understanding.

2. iCivics.com

iCivics is a fantastic way to integrate game-based learning into your social studies curriculum. There are many games and topics to choose from, including government, landmarks, or anything else civics!

best history websites for elementary students

What’s really neat is that the more games your kiddos play, the more they learn and the more points they earn! Students can spend their earned points on community service projects they are passionate about. This website is recommended for grades K and up.

3. Library of Congress

This website contains a wealth of knowledge on any social studies topic imaginable! I would recommend using the primary source sets that will be easier for your elementary kiddos to navigate. Even printing out the resources for your students can be very helpful.

best history websites for elementary students

For teachers, there is an extensive blog and a teacher’s network that you can join for more support using their website. Another reason I love this website is that it promotes Common Core reading skills and critical thinking skills.

4. Google Earth

Google Earth is packed solid with tons of information! It is the perfect website to use when learning about historical places and monuments. Google Earth is so much more than just a map. There are short tutorial videos that you don’t want to miss. It may take a little time for your students to be able to use this website independently. However, once they get the hang of it, the possibilities are endless!

best history websites for elementary students

If you’re struggling to use Google Earth, you can quickly also use Google Maps. Just plug in the place you are learning about and switch to people view. This will allow you to jump into bubbles of 360 degree pictures of the area you are learning about. Want a lesson done for you that takes your students on a tour of six major National Monuments ? Check out this best-selling resource !

5. Teachinghistory.org

This website is designed with teachers in mind! This website has an extensive collection of lessons, instructional strategies, and technology tools. It will make planning your lessons so much easier! There are many ways to encourage critical thinking among your students.

best history websites for elementary students

I also love how this website can teach your students to read like a historian or make sense of maps. These are two skills I might struggle with teaching on my own.

6. The British Museum

The British Museum has a virtual experience that allows you and your students to learn about various historical artifacts. The main page is organized by continents and time periods. You can also find specific artifacts based on certain categories, such as art and design or trade and conflict. Teachers can browse lessons and activities by subject, culture, or age group.

best history websites for elementary students

There are tons of printables, lesson plans, writing assignments, and more!

7. Social Studies for Kids

This website is great because it contains resources for current world events, book reviews, geography, maps, archeology, and more! This website is very teacher and student-friendly.

best history websites for elementary students

8. National Geographic Education

National Geographic Education is a website where education meets exploration. The website provides amazing classroom resources related to topics on geography, social studies, and science. The website also keeps teachers in mind by providing professional development for Pre-K to 12th-grade educators.

best history websites for elementary students

9. Smithsonian’s Learning Lab

This interactive  lab  is free and puts the world’s largest museum at your students’ fingertips! There are millions of digital resources, and you can create collections and share them with others. The website is very student-friendly and easy to navigate. It also makes for a great virtual field trip!

best history websites for elementary students

10. Time for Kids

I have used Time for Kids throughout my teaching career. It is still a website I continue to utilize even today! I love the site because it provides real age-appropriate information for your kiddos. The content is very engaging and can be tied to your student’s reading level. I love that the website inspires learners to develop and lifelong interest in world events!

best history websites for elementary students

Bringing Social Studies to Your Reading Block

When you’re low on time but still have Social Studies content to teach… it can be tricky to feel like you can fit it all in. That’s why I love bringing Social Studies into my reading block. I’ve taken all the guesswork out of aligning social studies content with reading standards with Reading Comprehension Mini-Lessons: Social Studies.

reading comprehension social studies 2nd grade

This bundle of resources includes activities for teaching six of my favorite Social Studies concepts, including:

  • Citizenship
  • Maps and Globes
  • Native Americans
  • Immigration
  • Goods and Services
  • America’s Government

Click here to check it out in my TeachersPayTeachers store!

Free Social Studies Websites for Elementary Teachers

Okay, so I think it’s safe to say you can say goodbye to boring social studies lessons. Or, if you were like me and simply did not have enough time in your schedule, you can now use some or all of these websites to make your planning a breeze. I know these websites will help you create interactive, fun, and engaging social studies lessons. Please comment below and tell me which websites you plan to use? Or will you use them all?

Related Posts

  • 10 Free Tools for Teaching Social Studies
  • Easy Social Studies Resources and Activities for Your Classroom
  • 5 Ways to Teach Social Studies When You Don’t Have Time
  • 5 Ways to Celebrate Native Americans in your 2nd Grade Classroom

Sign up to snag these!

best history websites for elementary students

Receive all these classroom management tools right to your inbox!

Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

  • Categories: 2nd Grade , 3rd Grade , Social studies

best history websites for elementary students

Hi, I'm Leigh.

The Applicious Teacher is all about creating hands-on and engaging lessons that align with the standards while still having time for your life. This is your place for ideas, tips, and resources for the REAL teacher!

best history websites for elementary students

Recent Posts

summer relaxtion tips for teachers

Popular in the Store

best history websites for elementary students

You may also enjoy...

Say Hello to the Summer Rise

No More Summer Slide: Spur the Summer Rise!

arctic animals research project- perfect for beginning researchers! THeAppliciousteacher.com

Arctic Animal Research Project- Beginning Research Projects

best history websites for elementary students

Second Grade Training Camp: End of the Year Review for 1st Grade

© 2021 The Applicious Teacher. All Rights Reserved

Designed by Ashley Hughes

Use of Cookies

Privacy overview.

CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
  • Grades 6-12
  • School Leaders

Have you seen our latest free teacher workshop?

55+ Best Social Studies Websites for the Classroom

Don’t you love it when other teachers do the research for us?

55+ Best social studies websites with a young boy learning from home on the computer.

Social studies takes a look at the different branches of human society, and as we’ve navigated this global pandemic, we’ve watched a major moment in history unfold. Why not use this opportunity to push our kids and students to explore humanity? Whether you’re teaching online or in-person, this list of the best social studies websites will help you create lessons that are informative, fun, and interactive. We’ve categorized over 55 of the best social studies websites as follows:

Social Studies Lessons

  • Virtual Museum Tours

Virtual Field Trips

  • Games and Simulations

American Panorama

This historical atlas of the United States combines cutting-edge research with innovative interactive mapping techniques.

American Social History Project

This resource challenges traditional ways of learning about the past by exploring the diverse social and cultural histories of the United States. The site also offers professional development seminars for teachers.

Big History Project

Two elephants on the Big History social studies website

Focused on high school students, the Big History Project is a joint effort between teachers, scholars, scientists, and their supporters to bring a multi-disciplinary approach to knowledge.

[contextly_auto_sidebar]

Crash Course World History

This fantastic YouTube channel provides an engaging glimpse into some of the most notable events and developments in history. With sequences of videos on the World Wars, the history of science, U.S. History, and more, it’s a great first introduction or review.

Crash Course Kids

The creators of Crash Course have also created a second channel geared towards younger students. This biweekly show is meant for elementary school kids and covers topics ranging from Earth science to chemical reactions.

EdTechTeacher

Need a list of some great history websites? EdTechTeacher has done the hard work and compiled them all for you!

The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History

A nonprofit organization that has developed an array of programs for schools, teachers, and students that now operate in all fifty states, including a website that features more than 60,000 unique historical documents.

The Idea of America

At its heart, America is an idea. What keeps this idea vibrant? The Idea of America is a digital U.S. history program that presents our nation’s rich history through an original framework that views America as an enduring “Great Debate.”

Inquiry Journeys

A free inquiry-based distance learning curriculum created by inquirED. The 20-minute social studies lessons can be done at home and address questions like How can I capture where I am in time and place? , How can we communicate with others to share our thoughts and ideas? , and How can we celebrate our everyday heroes? . New inquiries are being released weekly.

Library of Congress

It’s hard to beat the National Library of Congress. It’s one of the best social studies websites and even features an entire portal just for teachers.

National Archives

Use the online tool to access countless primary source documents to enhance learning. Find lesson plans and more on the Educator Resources page.

Rozzy Learning

This colorful site contains lessons that meet national and state standards as well as STEM and College and Career Readiness goals. They’ve even got lessons on coronaviruses!

Smithsonian’s History Explorer

Developed by the National Museum of American History, Smithsonian’s History Explorer is designed for K-12 teachers and students and offers hundreds of free, innovative online resources for teaching and learning American history.

Stanford History Education Group

The Reading Like a Historian curriculum promotes historical inquiry while engaging students. The lessons are designed to explore a central historical question and include a set of primary documents for students of various reading skills.

Studies Weekly Online

It’s easy to see why we’ve included this on our list of the best social studies websites. Studies Weekly Online allows you to create a customized, standards-based curriculum for social studies and offers a free trial.

TCI offers the full package! You’ll find resources to help you better prepare, present, assign, grade, and teach—even through distance learning!

Teaching American History

The Ashbrook Center at Ashland University worked with the National Endowment for the Humanities to develop web-based lesson plans for U.S. history and American government teachers.

Teaching History

This site is designed to help K–12 history teachers access resources and materials to improve U.S. history education in the classroom and through distance learning.

Teaching Tolerance

Teaching Tolerance is dedicated to reducing prejudice, improving intergroup relations, and supporting equitable school experiences for our nation’s children. There is even a special module specifically designed for the racism surrounding the coronavirus pandemic.

Utah Education Network

This interactive site is designed for 3-6 grade students and includes lessons on geography, environment, U.S. history, and U.S. government.

Voices of Democracy

On this site, you will find scholarly articles offering critical analyses of significant speeches, curriculum units designed for undergraduate teachers and students, lesson plans for high school and middle school teachers, and a blog with brief commentaries on speeches and pedagogical issues.

World History Matters

A portal to world history websites including Women in World History, World History Sources, and more.

World History Project

This infinitely adaptable, free standards-aligned world history course for high school students connects to the past to the present, with an eye to the future.

Museum Tours

Art institute of chicago.

Enjoy virtual visits to the galleries, go behind the scenes, and engage with art from anywhere with our virtual events, videos, and themed audio tours.

Boston Children’s Museum

Explore three floors of the Boston Children’s Museum on this virtual tour which includes fun stops at the Explore-a-Saurus and Japanese House exhibits.

British Museum, London

Located in the heart of London, students can explore this iconic museum with exhibits dedicated to everything from Egyptian mummies to the Rosetta Stone and Egyptian mummies.

Detroit Institute of Arts

Explore the “ At Home With DIA ” museum experience at the Detroit Institute of Arts that offers virtual field trips, online exhibits, weekly film screenings, and more.

Guggenheim Museum, New York

This is definitely one of the best social studies websites around! Use Google’s Street View feature to tour the world-famous Guggenheim museum, including works of art and the breathtaking spiral staircase.

J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles

The Street View tour of this California museum gives students access to European artworks that date back as far as the 8th Century.

Musée d’Orsay, Paris

Travel to Paris might be out of the question right now, but students can virtually walk through this gallery which includes works from Monet, Cézanne, Gauguin, and more.

National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.

Scope out two incredible online exhibits through Google: one dedicated to American fashion and another featuring a collection of works from Dutch Baroque painter Johannes Vermeer.

National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico City

Dig into the archaeology and history of Mexico’s pre-Hispanic heritage with a virtual tour of 23 exhibit rooms , including artifacts from the Mayan civilization.

National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul

South Korea might be on the other side of the Pacific, but you can still visit one of the country’s most popular museums through this extensive virtual tour of Contemporary art  from Korea and more.

Pergamon Museum, Berlin

This historical museum in Germany provides a virtual glimpse of ancient artifacts, including the Ishtar Gate of Babylon and the Pergamon Altar.

Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

Explore the masterworks from the Dutch Golden Age, including works from Vermeer and Rembrandt. Google offers a Street View tour of this iconic museum, so you can feel as if you’re actually wandering its halls.

Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam

Vincent Van Gogh is one of the most iconic painters of all time, and this virtual tour allows visitors to marvel at the largest collection of his artwork.

Discovery Education Virtual Field Trips

Go beyond the classroom walls and explore some of the world’s most iconic destinations—no permission slips required.

Elkhorn Slough

Explore a variety of remote learning opportunities for students, including virtual field trips (Elkhorn Slough) , science challenges , walkabouts , and more. The site also offers a teacher resource library .

The Great Lakes

Embark on a virtual field trip that covers three main components: coastal wetlands, algae, and lake sturgeon. The videos are short and targeted at middle schoolers.

The Great Wall of China

Even through a virtual tour on a tiny screen, students will be dazzled by the magnificence and wonder of this thousands-year-old fortification system.

Metropolitan Museum of Art

There’s so much to see at this iconic New York museum—even on a virtual tour. From couture ball gowns to a history of music, students will be captivated by the 26 online galleries.

Nature Works Everywhere

These wonderful virtual field trips allow students to explore a coastal rain forest or the coral reefs in the Dominican Republic, and so much more.

San Diego Zoo

Check out the fantastic behind-the-scenes videos and stories. Then, be sure to check out the great list of activities and downloadables.

Seattle Aquarium

The Seattle Aquarium hosts a 30-minute virtual field trip. Students can learn about the animals and the food web that can be found in the Puget Sound waters.

This incredibly cool and responsive website allows students to explore more than 60,000 stars, watch sunrises, search for planets, and more!

The Smithsonian

These self-guided virtual tours give students an up-close look at permanent, current, and past exhibits.

U.S. Census Bureau

This site details the Census Bureau’s plans used to engage, educate, and ultimately count an increasingly diverse and growing population.

Perfect for K-8 social studies students, this site includes curriculum content, online learning videos, and quizzes along with a list of the corresponding national and state Standards.

Yellowstone National Park

The best way to experience Yellowstone is to visit. The second best way is to explore the cool interactive maps and, of course, the live stream of the Old Faithful Geyser eruptions.

Social Studies Games and Simulations

Classroom law project.

Dive into engaging civics and law-related education programs. Students of all grade levels can learn more about the values and skills essential to being a responsible citizen.

Kids Discover Online

Choose articles based on reading level, so you can use these articles for various ages and skillsets. Schools and districts closed due to the outbreak can request free unlimited access to Kids Discover Online.

Hippocampus

This free, core academic website delivers videos, animations, and simulations for middle-school and high-school students.

Horrible Histories BBC

This pick for best social studies websites allows students to “watch episodes, play games, and sing along to your favorite Horrible Histories songs!”

iCivics provides tools to help students learn about civic life. Teachers and students can access printable lesson plans, interactive digital tools, and award-winning games.

National Constitution Center

Established by Congress, this interactive website provides free online resources for remote students of all ages who are learning more about the Constitution.

Want more online resource suggestions? Be sure to subscribe to our newsletter so you can get our latest picks.

55+ Best Social Studies Websites for the Classroom

You Might Also Like

Student sitting with open book at desk studying science.

Best Science Websites for Middle and High School

Biology, chemistry, physics, and beyond. Continue Reading

Copyright © 2024. All rights reserved. 5335 Gate Parkway, Jacksonville, FL 32256

Educator Resources

National Archives Logo

Finding Primary Sources for Teachers and Students

Finding primary sources.

Primary Sources from DocsTeach Thousands of online primary source documents from the National Archives to bring the past to life as classroom teaching tools.

National Archives Catalog Find online primary source materials for classroom & student projects from the National Archive's online catalog (OPA).

Beginning Research Activities Student activities designed to help you navigate the National Archives resources and web site.

Online Exhibits Exhibits featuring online documents, photos and primary sources from the National Archives

Our Documents 100 Milestone Documents of American History

Getting Started with Research How to start researching records at the National Archives. Finding your topic, identifying records, planning a visit, and more.

Online Research Tools & Aids Introduction to catalogs, databases, and other online resources.

Citing Primary Sources Citing Records in the National Archives of the United States

  • Shopping for TVs: 4K vs. 8K
  • The Best Mechanical Keyboards to Buy

The 20 Best Free Learning Websites for Kids in 2024

There's more to the web than influencers and ads. These sites can help kids AND adults keep on learning

best history websites for elementary students

  • California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo
  • The Ultimate Guide to Parental Controls

Online learning is here to stay, but it can get expensive if you're not careful. We've compiled a list of websites that offer entirely free learning options to help your kids study the subjects you feel they need.

Whether you're new to homeschooling or have been doing it for years, having new options to engage kids is always helpful.

This list offers suggestions for pre-k, elementary, middle, and high school students. We've left out the most obvious sites, such as Khan Academy , to provide you with other unique, engaging options that include basics like reading, science, and math but run the gamut from art history to music.

Best for High Schoolers: Open Culture

Thousands of available courses.

Easy to use alphabetical list of topics.

Ads. Ads. Ads.

You're not always sure where you'll end up online.

Open Culture compiles free upper-level classes from universities worldwide and offers links to users. Study archaeology from the University of Reading, public speaking from Missouri State, psychiatry and mental health from the University of Sydney, plus thousands of other topics. Classes are offered in both written and online formats (including audiobooks).

Best for Middle School Math: DeltaMath

Searchable by modules or common core standards.

Assignments teach children as they go along.

Hundreds of math topics provided.

It's free but you do need to set up an account to get in and see how the site works.

Only for sixth grade and up.

If you're a parent whose strong suit is anything other than math, this is the site you need to teach math to your kids. Create a teacher account, create assignments for your kids, and let the site do all the work. If the child answers a question incorrectly, the site will give them prompts or answers to help them see where the error was so they can correct it.

Best Site for Elementary Ages: National Geographic Kids

A wide variety of learning formats.

Factual information presented in entertaining ways.

It can be a bit difficult to find a desired subject in a specific format.

National Geographic is known for its factual information, and its site for kids is no different. What's great about this site is that it offers lessons in gaming, video, and photo formats. Kids of all ages appreciate the short written lessons accompanying the visuals; even the quizzes on the site are designed to engage minds with short attention spans.

Check Out Library Books Online: OverDrive

No late fees for overdue books.

Borrow audio books for free.

Requires a library card from your local library.

If your local library partners with OverDrive, your child can check out digital books at no extra cost. It works like checking out a paper book, but you don't have to worry about late fees since books are automatically returned on the due date. Over 300,000 eBooks for children are sorted into sections, including Young Adult Fiction and Young Adult Non-Fiction.

Books for Reading Comprehension: Epic

Epic Creations Inc.

Thousands of books for children of all ages.

Colorful illustrations.

Monthly fee required.

If your little one loves to read, this subscription service is well worth the monthly fee. Users get unlimited access to an online library of books for kids of all ages, from pre-schoolers to pre-teens. Books come with quizzes that kids can complete to earn badges.

Coding for Kids: Scratch

Teaches the basics of coding.

No internet connection required.

Completely free.

Website is a little cluttered.

Social networking feature isn't appropriate for all children.

Scratch is a programming language designed by MIT's Lifelong Kindergarten Lab to teach children how to code. Recommended for ages 8 to 16, Scratch visualizes code as building blocks to help kids understand the relationships between programming components. No internet connection is required, but users can share their projects online.

Best for History and Art Fans: The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Extremely easy to navigate.

Turns art history into fun, simple lessons.

Multiple ways to engage kids of all ages.

We can't find one thing we don't like.

The Met is famous for fashion, but its website for kids, #metkids, is a well-kept secret. The site offers three different ways to engage kids in historical art facts: A clickable map that lets kids explore 5,000 years of art from around the world, a time machine that allows them to select different eras to explore, and a video section that offers lessons on everything from making a stained glass window (kid-style) to learning about children who live in other parts of the world.

Best for Finding Topics by Grade Level: Funbrain

Offers fun ways to problem-solve.

Is gated by grade level.

It's a little tricky to find certain subjects sometimes.

Lots of ads.

If you're looking for a site that offers math and reading options, plus offers games, videos, and a general online playground, you've come to the right place. Funbrain is for kids from Pre-K through 8th grade and offers hundreds of free interactive games, books, videos, and printables.

Best for Pre-K & Early Elementary Ages: Toy Theater

Unique approach to educational games.

Works on computer, laptops, and mobile devices.

You can't search by age or grade.

Ads. (But they aren't terribly distracting.)

If you're looking for a site with out-of-the-box games, try Toy Theater. These aren't racing games; they focus on teaching children about different topics such as learning time, the alphabet, measurement, numbers, and much more. The games are easy to play, covering math, reading, art, and music using online manipulatives and other interactive options.

Best for Learning about Communities: Whyville

Lots of unique activities to engage young minds.

It's sponsored to avoid ads.

You can explore the site on a limited guest account.

It's fairly juvenile for most teens.

Scientists created Whyville, a site for kids from 3rd to 8th grades. It offers an online community that engages kids by letting them explore, create, and solve problems. They can learn to protect coral reefs, use a Whyville currency, participate in the Whyville Senate, and more.

Best for Learning about the World: The Old Farmer's Almanac for Kids

Lessons offered are hard to find elsewhere.

Uses history, earth, and animals to engage young minds.

It's hard to search for specific topics.

Kids should be able to read if parents can't assist.

This site is just as you'd imagine but updated for the 21st century. It has a daily calendar to help kids learn what happened in history every day of the year, teaches them about the night sky, clouds, and daily weather, and uses history and animals to teach various lessons. The site is visually friendly and offers information in short chunks, which is great for elementary ages.

Best for Music Lovers: Chrome Music Lab

Encourages creativity.

Offers multiple, unique musical options.

No registration required.

It's a bit difficult to understand and use if you're not a music aficionado.

This site is all about tunes. Making them, practicing them, writing songs, and more. What's unique about this site is that it encourages kids to move, create and practice patterns, compose music, and even pull in math and science at times.

Best for Storytime: Storyline Online

You can search stories by author, reader, title or run time.

The videos and storytellers are excellent quality.

The selection is limited.

The filter option doesn't always return great results.

This site from the SAG-AFTRA Foundation features actors reading stories aloud. It's a great option when parents need a break; turn up the volume or give your child headphones and let the storyteller take over in a short video. Captions are provided, which are great for helping younger kids start to read and for reinforcing reading for older children. The videos are well-illustrated, and the audio is well-done, so it engages children for the entirety of the video.

Read Along and Sing Along: ABCmouse

Age of Learning, Inc.

Includes games, videos, print outs, and other teaching tools.

Detailed assessments for parents to track progress.

Only goes to the fifth grade level.

Many elementary schools use ABCmouse because it has educational tools for teachers and parents. In addition to educational games and quizzes, the website features sing-alongs and read-along books for younger students. Get access to the mobile app for a monthly fee.

Best for Online Quizzes & Assessing Development: TurtleDiary

Online quizzes.

Online assessments to help parents gauge progress.

Includes games, videos, printables and teaching tools.

It only goes to fifth grade level.

If you struggle to get your child to practice math, language arts, or science, or if you struggle to assess their skill level, check out this site. It offers a lot of learning options, but the online quizzes remove the need for printing out a ton of worksheets, and the online assessments help parents better gauge where a child's strengths and weaknesses are. The site is simple and easy to use, so kids enjoy hanging out on it.

Learning With Familiar Faces: PBS Kids Games

PBS Parents section has helpful tips for adults.

Kids can to browse by their favorite shows.

Some games might be too challenging for young kids.

Some games don't have descriptions, so you don't know what to expect.

PBS Kids caters to preschoolers with educational games featuring their favorite characters, such as Arthur, Curious George, and Bob the Builder. Games focus on fundamentals like letters, memory, math, and problem-solving. There are also games related to science, music, and more.

Best for Activity & Movement: GoNoodle

It's designed to get kids moving.

Combines activities kids enjoy to encourage physical movement.

Focuses on happiness.

The site is difficult to navigate.

Activities are limited (although they are creative!)

Since kids love to play games and watch videos, why not combine both into an educational opportunity that encourages physical movement? That's the premise behind GoNoodle, a site that offers activities involving tips and uses movement to help with subjects like math.

L is for Learning: Sesame Street Games

Sesame Street 

Create an account for free.

Sort games by which characters are in them.

Account required to access all content.

Links to other websites like YouTube and iTunes.

If your child loves Sesame Street, this website will keep them laughing and learning for hours. Kids can easily navigate the site to find games featuring their favorite characters to learn about shapes, letters, numbers, and more. In addition, each game suggests an offline activity that parents can do with their children to help reinforce the lesson.

Safe Viewing for Children: YouTube Kids

Advanced parental controls.

Thousands of hours of kid-friendly content.

Some videos include ads.

Not all content is educational.

Not everything on YouTube is kid-friendly, so there's a separate version of the site for young children. Naturally, YouTube Kids has a ton of educational videos. Like with regular YouTube, you can subscribe your child to educational channels and automatically get recommendations for similar content.

Games for Edutainment: Treehouse Games

 Treehouse Games

Games feature popular cartoon characters.

Topics covered include typing and coding.

Some games take a while to load.

Fewer games than similar sites.

Treehouse has casual and educational games featuring characters from popular kids' shows. Although the selection of games is limited, all the content is high quality. Kids will recognize faces from popular franchises like Paw Patrol, Blues Clues, and Dora the Explorer.

The best educational channels on YouTube for kids include TED-Ed, Khan Academy, National Geographic Kids, Crash Course Kid, and SciShow Kids.

Typing.com, TypingClub, Ratatype, Speed Typing Online, Dance Mat Typing, and Sense-Lang.org all offer online typing lessons for kids and adults.

The best sites to find free online preschool games for kids include Nick Jr. Games, Universal Kids, Thomas & Friends, Kids' Pages, and Disney Junior.

Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day

  • The 21 Best Educational YouTube Channels for Kids
  • The 8 Best Free Genealogy Websites of 2024
  • 14 Safe Podcasts for Kids and Schools in 2024
  • How to Use Amazon Kids+
  • 7 of the Best Video Streaming Apps Made Just for Kids
  • Calendar Templates for Kids
  • Our 8 Favorite Parental Control Apps and Services of 2024
  • How to Childproof Your iPad Using Parental Restrictions
  • How to Block Websites on the iPhone
  • 7 Free Back-to-School Apps for Students
  • How to Set Up Internet Parental Controls
  • How to Turn Off Parental Controls on iPhone
  • How to Use Samsung Parental Controls
  • Our 8 Favorite Learning Apps of 2024
  • The Ultimate Parent's Guide to Roblox
  • 10 of Our Favorite Apps for High-Schoolers
  • For Parents
  • For Educators
  • Our Work and Impact
  • About Digital Citizenship
  • Digital Citizenship Curriculum
  • Digital Citizenship (U.K.)
  • Lesson Collections
  • All Lesson Plans
  • Digital Life Dilemmas
  • SEL in Digital Life Resource Center
  • Implementation Guide
  • Toolkits by Topic
  • Digital Citizenship Week
  • Digital Connections (Grades 6–8)
  • Digital Compass™ (Grades 6–8)
  • Digital Passport™ (Grades 3–5)
  • Social Media TestDrive (Grades 6–8)

best history websites for elementary students

AI Literacy for Grades 6–12

  • All Apps and Websites
  • Curated Lists
  • Best in Class
  • Common Sense Selections
  • About the Privacy Program
  • Privacy Evaluations
  • Privacy Articles
  • Privacy Direct (Free download)
  • Free Back-to-School Templates
  • 21 Activities to Start School
  • AI Movies, Podcasts, & Books
  • Learning Podcasts
  • Books for Digital Citizenship
  • ChatGPT and Beyond
  • Should Your School Have Cell Phone Ban?
  • Digital Well-Being Discussions
  • Supporting LGBTQ+ Students
  • Offline Digital Citizenship
  • Teaching with Tech
  • Movies in the Classroom
  • Social & Emotional Learning
  • Digital Citizenship
  • Tech & Learning
  • News and Media Literacy
  • Common Sense Recognized Educators
  • Common Sense Education Ambassadors
  • Browse Events and Training
  • AI Foundations for Educators
  • Digital Citizenship Teacher Training
  • Modeling Digital Habits Teacher Training
  • Student Privacy Teacher Training

best history websites for elementary students

Training Course: AI Foundations for Educators

best history websites for elementary students

Earn your Common Sense Education badge today!

  • Family Engagement Toolkit
  • Digital Citizenship Resources for Families

Family Tech Planners

Family and community engagement program.

  • Workshops for Families with Kids Age 0–8
  • Workshops for Middle and High School Families
  • Kids and Tech Video Series

best history websites for elementary students

  • Get Our Newsletter

A photo of a teacher helping a student learn using a laptop computer

Back-to-School Hub

Free digital citizenship resources for back-to-school, from AI to cellphone bans and beyond!

10 Great Free Websites for Elementary School

On the hunt for free websites you can use in your elementary classroom? There's a ton out there, especially for helping kids learn and practice literacy and math skills. Out of the hundreds of K-5 websites we've rated, these are some of our favorites. We've selected these websites for their ability to engage students and their pedagogical value as well as their utility in the classroom. Our hope is that these content-rich sites can be reliable go-to destinations for your kids all year long. Use them with students from pre-kindergarten through the fifth grade to help them pick up new skills and build solid foundations in math, science, and reading.

best history websites for elementary students

One-stop shop for a wealth of fantastic PBS Kids educational content

Bottom Line : Robust collection of learning resources covers an impressive array of topics.

National Geographic Kids

best history websites for elementary students

Kid-friendly science and social studies info via videos, games, and more

Bottom Line : Large collection of approachable, fun multimedia resources about animals, habitats, countries, and cultures.

Smithsonian's History Explorer

best history websites for elementary students

Browse and use American history artifacts and activities

Bottom Line : This is a handy resource that, with some effort, will uncover resources for kick-starting curious learning.

ReadWriteThink

best history websites for elementary students

Free hub for literacy lessons aims to deepen learning, engagement

Bottom Line : This is a trustworthy site that teachers of all grades/subjects could find a way to use weekly for lessons or professional development.

best history websites for elementary students

Social storytelling site helps kids create, publish storybooks

Bottom Line : A great fit for teachers looking to develop students' writing and digital citizenship skills through storybook creation.

best history websites for elementary students

Innovative combo of live instruction and adaptive online math lessons

Bottom Line : It's a great balance of online lessons, in-person instruction, and instructional resources, all for free.

best history websites for elementary students

Whimsical, kid-friendly intro to the wide world of art

Bottom Line : A wonderful, endlessly detailed way to get kids engaged in the world of art.

best history websites for elementary students

Creative sandbox opens the door to coding in any subject area

Bottom Line : Scratch draws students of all types into coding and lays a foundation for future learning.

Biblionasium

best history websites for elementary students

Site for reviewing and sharing books makes reading a social adventure

Bottom Line : This safe, simple social network lets kids share their reading success with friends, creating healthy competition and confidence.

Related Content

best history websites for elementary students

best history websites for elementary students

80+ Fun & Educational Websites for Elementary School Students

by Bored Teachers Staff

For the many teachers transitioning to virtual classrooms and the millions of parents looking for resources to keep kids learning in the meantime, this list is for you! Covering all subjects, from math to science, language arts, social studies, art, and music, these are some of the best educational resources you can find on the internet for  elementary school students .

You might want to take a look at our lists for middle school and high school students as well!

1. MATH WEBSITES

1.  Khan Academy   is a free math resource for students, parents, and teachers. It offers lessons, quizzes, challenges and exercises aligned with math educational standards from kindergarten – college. 

2.  FunBrain  has math games broken down by grade level from first – eighth. 

3.  Math Playground  features games, videos and logic challenges for grades 1 – 6. 

4.  Online Math  has games organized by grade level.

5.  Kidzone Math  offers free printable practice worksheets. 

6.  Varsity Tutors – A Plus Math  has games, flashcards, worksheets, and a homework helper.

7.  ABCYA  lets kids play fun math games that align with common core math standards. 

8.  BrainPop  is filled with fun, interactive math games. Many teachers use it in the classroom, so lots of kids are already familiar with it.

9.  Starfall   offers math practice in basic skills for preK – third grade.

10.  AAA   math features thousands of interactive arithmetic lessons. 

11.  Edhelper  has tons of fun math worksheets for all ages.

2. SCIENCE WEBSITES

12.  Farmer’s Almanac  is filled with cool facts and videos. 

13.  Home Science Tools  offers videos, lessons, coloring pages, printables and more. 

14.  Scholastic  has info, video, and activities on a wide range of science topics. 

15.  Mystery Science  offers free lessons broken down by grade level on fun topics like, “Why are baby animals so cute?”

16.  oLogy!  is a science website for kids from the American Museum of Natural History. It includes games, stories, videos, activities to do at home and more.

17.  Science Bob  offers videos of experiments and then directions to try it at home.

18.  Breakout Edu  offers interactive digital games on topics such as the solar system.

19.  Curriki  has lesson plans on fun topics such as the velocity of sailing and speed of NASCAR.

20.  Science Fun  has instructions for tons of cool experiments. 

21.  Exploratorium   has fun videos and instructions for at-home science experiments. 

3. LANGUAGE ARTS WEBSITES

22.  The International Children’s Digital Library   offers free access to high-quality books from around the world in different languages.

33.  Grammar Bytes  is filled with fun grammar games, activities and videos.

24.  StoryJumper  allows kids to write, illustrate, publish and record audio for their own books.

25.  Amazon Inspire  offers teachers and parents a place to gather and share resources, lesson plans, activities, etc. 

26.  Free printable sight word worksheets  can be colored or turned into fun games.

27.  Fun Fonix  has printable phonics games and worksheets. 

28.  Plain and Not So Plain  offers spelling lists and handwriting practice sheets. 

29.  Scholastic  has free online books and activities to keep kids reading. 

30.  Story Bird  has over 700 challenges to inspire kids to write short stories.

31.  Scholastic  offers tons of fun activities, videos, and lesson plans.

32.  Kahoot  lets you play fun language arts learning games as a family.

33.  Spelling Shed  has fun, interactive spelling activities. 

34.  Read Works  platform and materials are completely free. It has great content, curriculum, and tools to power teaching and learning from Kindergarten to 12th Grade

4. SOCIAL STUDIES

35.  Ben’s Guide to the US Government  has fun digital learning adventures. 

36.  50 States   has map outlines, quizzes and tons of info.

37.  World Atlas  offers interactive maps, clocks, flags and videos. 

38.  US.gov  has fun lessons like a tour of a money factory or a look into different types of government jobs.

39.  Liberty Kids  is a fun animated history series.

40.  Amazon Inspire  offers teachers and parents a place to gather and share resources, lesson plans, activities, etc. 

41.  Soft Schools  offers free printable social studies word searches, quizzes and worksheets.

42.  Captivating Compass  has a free lesson plan for studying Ireland. Other countries are also available.

43.  US Mint  features online money education games. 

44.  iCivics   has online games that teach concepts like the importance of voting.

5. MUSIC AND ART

45.  Masterpiece Society  has free art lessons. 

46.  Incredible Art  has a long list of online art games.

47.  San Francisco Symphony  has online games and activities for kids. 

48.  New York Philharmonic  has a kid zone with concert videos, games, puzzles and instructions for making instruments. 

49.  Color with Leo  is a collection of online art games.

50.  HGTV  has instructions for making clay sea sculptures. 

51.  Columbus Museum of Art  lets kids chose a background and build a digital collage with yarn, shells and other scraps. It then encourages them to go recreate it in real life.

52.  Scrapcoloring  is a digital coloring book where kids can explore colors and patterns.

53.  Open Culture   has   free printable coloring pages featuring art from 113 museums. 

54.  Mo Willems , animator, author and voice actor, is doing lunchtime art classes at 1 pm EST.

55.  Classics for Kids  offers videos, games, quizzes and activities about classical music composers. 

56.  National Gallery of Art  has lessons, online courses, videos, films and activities for all ages. 

57.  Kennedy Center  offers activities and lessons on art, dance, performing arts and more.

58.  Toy Theatre  lets kids use virtual tools to build, create and animate. 

59.  #metkids  by the Metropolitan Museum of Art is online content made for, by and with kids.

60.  Ducksters  teaches about artists and art history.

61.  Teaching Ideas  has fact cards about famous arts, online books with activities and printables. 

62  Art Projects for Kids  has instructions for projects like drawing a peacock or bubble lettering.

63.  Art for Kids Hub  teaches step by step drawing.

64.  Chrome Music Lab  lets users explore musical concepts and sounds.

65.  Kids Guitar Zone  offers free beginner lessons.

66.  Piano Patch Kids  has free downloadable lessons to teach your child to play the piano, even if you’ve never played before yourself. 

6. PE AND MOVEMENT

67.  Daily Burn  is streaming over 2,000 free exercise classes. 

68. The Body Coach is conducting  virtual PE class es  each weekday. 

69.  Cosmic Kids Yoga  on Youtube teaches movement through song, story and popular movies. 

70.  Down  Dog  is a yoga app currently free to students and teachers. 

71.  Fitness Blender  has hundreds of free workouts searchable by body parts worked, interest and equipment available. 

72.  Stretch and Grow of the Rockies  specializes in quick physical brain break sessions. Have the YouTube channel bookmarked to pull up whenever kids (or adults!) need to get some wiggles or frustrations out stat.  

73.  Strong by Zumba  has free 7, 20 and 30-minute videos to squeeze in some movement during a brain break. 

74.  Beach Body  has released free kids’ workouts, including Shaunt T’s Fit Kid Club.

75.  Planet Fitness  is streaming daily 20-minute workouts that don’t require any equipment. 

76.  Core Power Yoga  is offering free access to many online classes. 

77.  A Mindful Heart  is offering a free slow flow yoga and meditation class.

78.  Lady Gaga’s former backup dancer  Mark Kanemura is doing daily dance classes on Instagram. 

79.  Breathe & Learn  is offering free online yoga classes. These classes incorporate breathing exercises, movement, story, journaling, and song.

80.  YMCA  is offering video versions of over 60 exercise classes including yoga, barre, boot camp, weight lifting and boxing.  

Also Read :

  • 63+ Websites for Middle School Students To Continue Learning at Home
  • 60+ Educational Websites for High School Students During the Quarantine
  • 30+ FREE Physical Education Classes & Resources For Kids at Home
  • +50 Awesome Reading and Writing Websites to Keep Kids Learning at Home
  • 40 Science Websites to Keep Kids Engaged and Entertained at Home
  • The Best Online Math Resources for All Grade Levels
  • These FREE Online Resources Can Help Continue Kids’ Learning From Home
  • +100 Totally FREE At-Home Learning Printables Made By Teachers For All
  • 50 Online Art and Music Resources to Help Kids Learn and Create from Home

80+ Fun & Educational Websites for Elementary School Students

TREAT YO' INBOX!

All the trending teacher stories, resources, videos, memes, podcasts, deals, and the laughter you need in your life!

IMAGES

  1. Best History Websites To Teach Students of All Grade Levels

    best history websites for elementary students

  2. Best History Websites To Teach Students of All Grade Levels

    best history websites for elementary students

  3. Best History Websites To Teach Students of All Grade Levels

    best history websites for elementary students

  4. Best U.S. History Websites for Students

    best history websites for elementary students

  5. Best History Websites To Teach Students of All Grade Levels

    best history websites for elementary students

  6. Best History Websites To Teach Students of All Grade Levels

    best history websites for elementary students

VIDEO

  1. "The Best History" IB: @faqids2681 #countryballs #edit

  2. Students of History Curriculum Preview for Civics, World, & US History

  3. History For Kids

  4. How I Teach HISTORY In Our Homeschool

  5. Countries with the best history part 3 + ultimate #country #history #shorts #viral

  6. Historian's Toolbox: Thinking Like a Historian

COMMENTS

  1. Best U.S. History Websites for Students

    Pretty good primary source site helps kids dig into historical photos. Bottom Line: KidCitizen is an easy-to-implement historical and societal inquiry platform perfect for either one-off lessons or deep study in elementary social studies classes. Grades: K-5.

  2. Best History Websites To Teach Students of All Grade Levels

    Zinn Education Project. Cost: Free. Tell the more complete story with downloadable lessons and articles organized by theme, time period, and grade level. Based on the approach to history highlighted in Howard Zinn's best-selling book A People's History of the United States, these teaching materials emphasize the role of working people ...

  3. Best History Websites and Resources

    Access U.S. history with treasure trove of docs, genealogy, and other resources. Bottom Line: NARA's website wasn't designed for kids, but they can definitely use it to research and learn about history, genealogy, and the U.S. population and government. Grades: 4-12. Price:

  4. Home

    Teachinghistory.org is designed to help K-12 history teachers access resources and materials to improve U.S. history education in the classroom. With funding from the U.S. Department of Education, the Center for History and New Media (CHNM) has created Teachinghistory.org with the goal of making history content, teaching strategies, resources ...

  5. 40 US History Websites for Students in Grades K-12

    Mission US is a set of multimedia interactive games, designed for kids in grades 5-8, that immerses them in U.S. history at the time of the American Revolution and the Civil War. Additional missions are planned for coming years. Mission 1, "For Crown or Colony," students role play as Nat Wheeler, a printer's apprentice in 1770 Boston.

  6. History

    History. Learn about historical events and famous people from the past.

  7. The Best History Websites for Kids

    BBC: History for Kids. Explore a wide selection of historical games and activities through the BBC's History for Kids. It will allow you to travel back in time and learn all about ancient, world and British history. Play games, take quizzes and view animations to help make history come alive. Continue reading →.

  8. Home

    Welcome to History for Kids the free online history network. We hope you enjoy and have fun exploring our history. The website is packed with articles, worksheets and even a quiz on each section. You will find cool games, videos, worksheets on many historical events that will help you understand those that have gone before us.

  9. Best of History Websites

    Designed for history educators and students, this useful portal provides access to more than 700 of the best history resources online. Sites are organized into 10 categories—Prehistory, Ancient/Biblical, Medieval, U.S History, Early Modern European, 20th Century, World War II, Art History, General Resources, and Maps. Many of the five-star ...

  10. History Friend: History for Elementary Students

    History reference site for elementary students, teachers and parents. History Friend: History for Elementary Students Historyfriend.com: Learn Fun Facts, Watch Videos, Over 80 Profiles and More...

  11. The Best History Websites to Teach Students of All Grade Levels

    From elementary school to university, history websites are valuable tools for both students and educators. Discover the best history websites to support your students of all grade levels. ... or college. With a focus on US history, world history, and art history, Khan Academy allows students to grasp fundamental concepts and context through ...

  12. PBS LearningMedia

    Inspire your students with thousands of free teaching resources including videos, lesson plans, and games aligned to state and national standards.

  13. Activities & Websites to Teach Historical Timelines to Students

    12. Incorporate a Basic Timeline Template. This basic template is the perfect blank template when it comes to teach historical timelines. Learn more: Josie's Classroom. 13. Use Sutori. This imaginative and interactive tool is an easy and flexible solution for all kinds of classrooms. Learn more: Sutori. 14.

  14. Best History Websites for Students

    Here is the list of the top history websites for teachers and students. 1. National Geographic. (iPhone, iPad) National Geographic Education is a popular trusted website for history-based lessons available for pre-K to higher education in formats such as activities, videos, photos, interactives, maps, educator guides, and more.

  15. HISTORY Classroom

    HISTORY Classroom. #HISTORYClassroom. HISTORY Classroom offers resources for educators, including education guides, learning tools, and links to educational content.

  16. 10 Free Social Studies Websites for the Elementary Classroom

    Social Studies for Kids. This website is great because it contains resources for current world events, book reviews, geography, maps, archeology, and more! This website is very teacher and student-friendly. 8. National Geographic Education. National Geographic Education is a website where education meets exploration.

  17. 10 Best Social Studies Tools for Elementary School

    Smithsonian Learning Lab. Discover, create, remix, and share first-rate museum artifacts. Bottom Line: This thoughtfully crafted, open-ended curation and creation tool has a place in most classrooms. Grades: 3-12. Price: Free. Get it now. See full review. 10 Best Social Studies Tools for Elementary School is a list of 9 apps, games, and ...

  18. 55+ Best Social Studies Websites for the Classroom

    Whether you're teaching online or in-person, this list of the best social studies websites will help you create lessons that are informative, fun, and interactive. We've categorized over 55 of the best social studies websites as follows: Social Studies Lessons. Virtual Museum Tours. Virtual Field Trips. Games and Simulations.

  19. Most Reliable and Credible Sources for Students

    Library of Congress. Dig into famed library's collection of research goodies. Bottom Line: The Library of Congress delivers the best of America's past and present, and with teacher support it could be a reliable research resource for students. Grades: 1-12. Price:

  20. Finding Primary Sources for Teachers and Students

    Finding Primary Sources Primary Sources from DocsTeach Thousands of online primary source documents from the National Archives to bring the past to life as classroom teaching tools. National Archives Catalog Find online primary source materials for classroom & student projects from the National Archive's online catalog (OPA). Beginning Research Activities Student activities designed to help ...

  21. The 20 Best Free Learning Websites for Kids in 2024

    Scientists created Whyville, a site for kids from 3rd to 8th grades. It offers an online community that engages kids by letting them explore, create, and solve problems. They can learn to protect coral reefs, use a Whyville currency, participate in the Whyville Senate, and more. Go to Whyville. 11.

  22. 10 Great Free Websites for Elementary School

    Bottom Line: This safe, simple social network lets kids share their reading success with friends, creating healthy competition and confidence. Grades: 2-8. Price: Free, Paid. Get it now. See full review. 10 Great Free Websites for Elementary School is a list of 9 apps, games, and websites curated by Common Sense Education editors.

  23. 80+ Fun & Educational Websites for Elementary School Students

    1. MATH WEBSITES. 1. Khan Academy is a free math resource for students, parents, and teachers. It offers lessons, quizzes, challenges and exercises aligned with math educational standards from kindergarten - college. 2. FunBrain has math games broken down by grade level from first - eighth. 3. Math Playground features games, videos and ...