💻    Learning can be fun—for the entire family. Whether you are looking for a review of math or reading skills or for an exploration of science or history, consider the following excellent sources.

FREE ONLINE COURSES FOR KIDS

http://www.education.com/games/educational/ This is a source for beginning reader practice, Grades K-1.

https://www.khanacademy.org This site is the link to 6,500 Khan Academy educational videos. Math coursework is for K-8th grade levels as well as high school and beyond. (Caution: Basic reading skills are needed to complete even lowest level tasks.) Other courses (science, computers. arts and humanities, etc.) are geared for advanced middle school, high school, and beyond. The lectures are upbeat and digitally illustrated. Postings and questions that viewers have made following the videos are thought-provoking.

http://www.kidsastronomy.com/academy/ This terrific web site offers Course 1 for ages 7-11 and Course 2 for ages 12-18. In addition to topics and suggested readings, there is a free, printable sky map for every night of the year, an online simulation of a solar eclipse, etc. Kids may print a certificate of completion at the end of the course.

http://kids.nationalgeographic.com This site has the quality one expects from National Geographic. It is a good site for an adult to share with a child because the reading level of the text can be challenging.

http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/index.htm This is an excellent source for science and math review. It requires reading at a 3rd-4th grade level.

http://teacher.scholastic.com/whiteboards/languagearts.htm At this site are hours of activity for Grades K-8. Kids can read animated books online, play games, write poems, etc.–while practicing their reading and thinking skills.  

nationalgeographic.org/media/underground-railroad-journey-freedom  You are a slave. You belong to a farmer who owns a tobacco plantation on the eastern shore of Maryland. Six long days a week you tend his field. But not for much longer . . . Make your choices well on this 3D interactive program. (Recommended for Grade 6-10)