Free Online Learning Tools for Summer

Over the course of a summer, students forget 22 percent or more of what they learned over the school year (often referred to as summer slide). Kids might groan at the idea of school work over the summer break, but check out these online learning tools—with project ideas—that won’t seem like work at all.

Audacity

Instead of kids trading texts over the break, have them create their own short podcasts. Encourage them run with their own topics or come up with a list that will help guide the conversation.

Pixton

Along the same line, maybe students would rather share their own comics based on your topic list or what they’ve been up to over the summer. This website makes it easy for anyone to make a comic with no real art skills required.

Geocaching

Geocaching is a technology-aided scavenger hunt. Cachers use the GPS on their phones to find little trinkets hidden by other cachers, then put it back for others to find. If students really love it, tell them to start placing their own caches.

Code.org

Many kids get bored with the apps they have and are interested in learning to code themselves. This is a very valuable—and marketable—skill for their future. This site is geared towards students and makes coding into a series of games.

Smithsonian Quests (reimagined)

It’s the gamification of the Smithsonian! Students investigate digital Smithsonian resources and recreate some of the favorite activities from the original Smithsonian Quests program.

Project Noah

Project Noah lets students sign up to help gather data for actual collaborative biodiversity projects with other students. It’s a great place to share and enjoy wildlife experiences from around the world!

Coaster Crafter

Roller coaster design games are always fun and reinforce physics and STEM concepts like force, motion, and momentum while they’re playing. Their site also includes a variety of other roller coaster creation online learning tools.

YR Media (formerly Youth Radio)

Student content creators get a chance to improve their skills. This unique organization provides young journalists with a number of programs to prepare them to create the future of media.