Whether your kids are physically attending school, participating in distance learning, or homeschooling, incorporating interactive learning sites has many benefits. Although these are primarily used in the classroom setting, they are also available for at-home use. All you need is a computer with reliable Internet connection. Here are the top five learning sites I highly recommend using with your K-8 student.
Benefits of Interactive Learning
Interactive learning provides engaging content.
Depending on the developmental age and grade level of your child, their attention span can be as little as 5 minutes to as much as 60 minutes. However, if they are not interested in something, chances are it will be hard to keep their attention at all. That’s what makes interactive learning so unique. It has a way to keep students engaged and learning simultaneously.
Interactive learning is flexible.
Every child has a unique way of learning, also known as a learning style. Interactive learning helps provide a variety of ways for children to learn as they are playing games. It touches base with hands-on, visual, and kinesthetic the most, but also provides enough interaction for those who are considered auditory learners. It’s also flexible in the activities available. From puzzles and matching to sorting and creating, you can find an interactive learning site for just about everything.
Interactive learning teaches kids valuable lessons in technology.
Because interactive learning sites are all online and require some form of technology – iPhone, Android, tablet, computer, etc. – students must learn how to operate them. Although this seems to come quite naturally to students, it still gives them an opportunity to learn the ins and outs of what it takes to make the interactive lesson work.
5 Interactive Learning Sites for Students K-8
Funbrain
One of the best aspects of this website is it includes the basics. Although it doesn’t offer very many subject selections, you can find:
- Games
- Reading
- Videos
- Math zone
- Playground
You can also conveniently use the search bar to locate something by skill, concept, and/or topic. It offers all of this for grades K-8 and everything about it is original, eye-catching, and engaging. The website does have its fair share of ads; however, they are kid-friendly. There are also newsletters and links to teacher resources.
Scholastic
Scholastic is a long-standing and loved company that has been providing educational children’s books, games, and activities for years. They’ve now upped their resources to provide teachers (and homeschooling parents) interactive units, lessons and ideas, and teacher’s toolkits. You can access materials for all grades, all from the click of a button.
They help take the guesswork out of what to do thanks to their detailed computer lab activities, interactive whiteboard activities, and listen and read activities. Simply choose one – or let your kids choose – and click “go to activity.”
PBS Kids
From having games that are for entertainment purposes only to educational games that work the brain, PBS Kids has a vibrant way of reaching (and teaching) kids. They have original games as well as some based on popular series that most kids are already familiar with. Another exciting aspect is children are able to build their own avatar. In addition, their website allows parents to keep up with their kids’ progress and see games currently in production.
ReadWriteThink
If your child has shown an interest in writing, they’ll have the opportunity to take advantage of a virtual interactive printing press. Your child can create their own newspapers, brochures, and flyers. The skills learned throughout this play will follow them through school and well into adulthood. Their resources are for students of all grade levels.
ABCya!
So far this website offers interactive learning and game-based resources for grades PreK-6. They have multiplayer games, BINGO, and games by subject. Your child can also choose games according to a specific theme or genre. Overall, ABCya provides over 300 fun and educational games designed by parents and educators who understand that children learn better if they are having fun.
BONUS: Teaching Textbooks
We have tried Teaching Textbooks and really love how Math concepts are taught and offered to students to really practice and understand.
Conclusion
If you haven’t done so already, incorporate interactive learning sites into your child’s education. Even if they are in school, doing distance learning, or homeschooling, these can be ways to add a unique twist to learning. They can also give your child practice with certain concepts and prepare them for learning new things.