Fourth Grade
Coding lessons use Scratch, a block based coding language, ideal for the transitional and fluent reader. Users of the site can create online projects using a block-like interface. The service is developed by the MIT Media Lab.
Extra Resources for Students
NetSmartz Kids
Resources such as movies, games, and songs can be used both at home and in the classroom. Watch as your child has fun while learning to be safe and responsible on and offline with Webster, Nettie, Clicky, Gig, Router, and the WizzyWigs (the bad guys online)!
Interland - Be Internet Awesome
Interland is an online adventure that teaches the key lessons of internet safety through four fun, challenging games. Play your way to being an Internet Legend.
Scratch
Scratch is a block-based visual programming language and website targeted primarily at children. Users of the site can create online projects using a block-like interface. The service is developed by the MIT Media Lab, has been translated into 70+ languages, and is used in most parts of the world.
Mystery Science
Mystery Science combed through its past lessons and pulled the ones that were easiest to reproduce at home. Activities range from five-minute mini-lessons (including one called "How Does Hand Sanitizer Kill Germs," which seems appropriate right now), to full, 45- to 90-minute classes with hands-on experiments.
NASA for Kids
Activities and Articles by NASA experts.
Crayola
For remote teaching and learning, Crayola offers thousands of art-infused lesson plans that can be easily adapted for virtual experiences.
Typing Club
TypingClub's lesson plan contains over 600 lessons, guiding students from individual keys through numbers and punctuation, and all the way to a goal of 75 WPM.
The carefully designed lessons include instructional videos, educational games, cross-curricular content, and other interactive experiences.
Outschool
Outschool offers live, online classes for ages 3 to 13, and, for a limited time due to a big donation, it's signing up families affected by school closures into $300,000 worth of online classes (limit $200 per family). And if you're not one of the lucky ones, the lessons are still very affordable — some are as low as $5 per class.
GoNoodle
When it's time for them to get up and move around, this always-free app has videos that kids can follow along with for a little dance break. They're also coming up with daily activities for parents to use at home.
Cosmic Kids Yoga
Similarly, the Cosmic Kids yoga videos are good for a few minutes peace and quiet so you can work — we mean, a nice stretch and mindfulness break in the middle of all the academic learning. The app requires a subscription, but you can watch the videos on YouTube.
Reading Common Sense Media reviews of YouTube channels is a good way to get a sense of their age-appropriateness and quality. And digging into the videos themselves -- watching with your kids or on your own -- is wise. You never know what's going to come up on a particular channel, since all the content is user-generated.
If you're wondering which parental controls to install on your desktop, laptop, or tablet, the answer might be right at your fingertips -- literally! The top three internet browsers -- Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, and Apple Safari -- each offer settings and add-ons to help make your kid's online experience more age-appropriate. With a few tweaks, you can block sites, filter search results, and even create a white list of sites that are OK for your kid...
If you're considering a smartphone for your kid, you'll need to think through a few things, from who will pay for it to whether he/she is responsible enough to use it appropriately.