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10 TOOLS

10 Great Free Websites for High School

There's a seemingly endless supply of websites high school students can turn to for learning -- or for distraction. Teachers know just how hard it can be to find online resources that'll satisfy the curiosity, abilities, and maturity of high school students. The best finds have the added benefit of keeping students on task. (Well, mostly!) And, of course, nothing beats a free resource. This is why we've put together this list of great free sites for high school students. We waded through the heaps of educational sites to locate the top 10 that we feel match best with high school students' needs and sensibilities. The picks span all subject areas, including quite a few that cross disciplines. Each site is also useful and flexible enough to be used all year long, and all will give students skills they can rely on outside and beyond school. 

NOVA

Compelling science videos have high-quality classroom applications

Bottom Line: Unparalleled science documentaries offer a window into real-world scientific topics in a high-interest way.

Grades: 6–12
Price:
Free

Khan Academy

Flexible learning environment offers goal-oriented personalized pathways

Bottom Line: A robust resource for targeted, individualized instruction in most standardized subject areas.

Grades: 2–12
Price:
Free, Paid

Smithsonian Open Access

Stellar museum-based resources available for exploration and use

Bottom Line: This high-quality collection of museum resources -- ranging from artifacts to full-blown exhibits -- provides unlimited exploration for students, reliable primary sources for teachers.

Grades: 3–12
Price:
Free

Desmos

Powerful graphing calculator deepens understanding with visualization

Bottom Line: Desmos combines interactivity, visualization, personalization, and collaboration to deepen students' understanding of geometry and graphing concepts.

Grades: 6–12
Price:
Free

Google Arts & Culture

Well-curated art and history site inspires curious learning

Bottom Line: A beautifully presented one-stop shop for compellingly curated and contextualized art, history, and culture resources, but it's lacking educator supports.

Grades: 6–12
Price:
Free

Digital Civics Toolkit

Superb, timely civics lessons focus on social media and student voice

Bottom Line: For teachers looking to make civics relevant to students, there's nothing else out there as extensive or relevant.

Grades: 7–12
Price:
Free

Google Applied Digital Skills

Practical PBL lessons teach critical computer skills

Bottom Line: Thorough digital literacy curriculum offers mix-and-match options to fit any classroom.

Grades: 7–12
Price:
Free

Kialo Edu

A terrific, troll-free zone for structuring student discussion and debate

Bottom Line: A valuable platform for students to learn about social and political issues while practicing digital citizenship and argumentation.

Grades: 7–12
Price:
Free

Miro

Interactive whiteboard lets users brainstorm, organize, and collaborate

Bottom Line: This beautiful and collaborative platform is useful for everything from workflow tasks to creative expression.

Grades: 8–12
Price:
Free

OER Project

Expansive world history courses powered by great open-source materials

Bottom Line: A stellar program for exploring foundational concepts in history, humanities, critical thinking, and science with tons of support for teachers.

Grades: 9–12
Price:
Free

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