Educational Things to Do on the Internet

Educational Internet Resources

Online Games

Many educational websites offer content-centered games designed to be played on the Internet, and some of these are free. Some games are oriented around school subjects and may be organized by grade level or academic content. Subjects for these games vary greatly; topics may help kids improve math or English language arts skills. Some games feature complex virtual worlds, while others consist of simple sounds and graphics. In some cases, children provide a username and password so they can create unique characters and return to play the game at the last level they achieved.

Informational Websites

There are many fun, education-oriented websites designed for kids. If your child picks a topic he is interested in reading about, he will likely find several websites to browse. For example, your son can find illustrated short stories, animal facts, geologic explanations and arts news for children.

Websites for museums and other organizations, such as The Smithsonian, NASA and The National Geographic Society, often feature a kids section. The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) offers animated games, vocabulary-learning activities and a read-aloud book club for kids (www.pbskids.org). There are also public library sites for children that provide lists of kid-appropriate websites on diverse topics, such as health, sports and encyclopedic facts.

Arts and Crafts Tutorials

Many websites offer simple, easy-to-read steps for creative projects your child or teen might be interested in exploring. Some activities may require adult supervision, such as making decorative soap or building a birdhouse; other activities may be safe for your child to do by herself. Your daughter can get instructions for a long list of creative activities, such as drawing or painting, working with clay, making candles, folding origami or printing paper dolls. If you can't locate physical materials for creative projects, you might also consider introducing your child to websites that allow users to virtually create designs or make clay figurines on the computer.

Homework Help

Numerous websites are available to help students improve their schoolwork. Worksheets can be found for science questions and K-12 levels of mathematics. Students can also print out reading and writing handouts that test a variety of abilities, such as vocabulary, grammar and reading comprehension. Several websites offer students a chance to ask homework questions and receive an answer from a librarian or trained tutor within a few hours. If your child or teen wants to get homework help via the Internet, make sure to read the website carefully to assess the training or experience of website staff members.