Games and Activities (online)

literacy gamesSometimes when you want to help a child learn to read, it pays to think “outside the book.” Unlike many of us, our kids are not only growing up with free access to computers, there is at least one screen at their disposal at all times.

Whether they get to the Web from a desktop, laptop, or mobile device, there are fun ways to use that screen time for literacy.

see also Audio and eBook Resources, Fun and Games with Literacy Concepts, Multi-media Tools for Literacy

Please note: Being on this list does not imply endorsement. We curate content for informational purposes only.

General  |  Educational Games  | Sites with Book Connections

GENERAL

ALA’s Great Websites for Kids – Want to know if a website is safe or educational? This is the place to go.

EDUCATIONAL GAMES

Best Wordgame Apps for Young Kids – A collection of curated educational apps via Common Sense Media.

BestHistorySites – A collection of history games and animations, ranging from ancient history to modern history.

Boowa and Kwala – This site offers fun activities and games for kids that are easy to navigate.

Game Classroom – Games from all over the web are sorted according to skill, topic and grade level (K to 6). There’s a homework help section with learning tips, online resources and sample problems. According to the site, content was created by professional educators with more than 200 years of teaching experience, and has been outlined using US state educational standards. There are games here simple enough for children younger than five, yet more challenging ones too. There are heaps of Language Arts games

Games on History – The History Channel offers interactive games and puzzles that encourage learning in the subject of history.

Highlights – Free activities and interactive fun from the children’s magazine HIghlights.  See the Book Chook review.

I Spy – You’ll find games and puzzles just like Scholastic’s I Spy book series. Check out this part of Scholastic’s huge site that offers games, riddles and fun for the whole family. The games are interactive, and kids who aren’t at the reading stage can listen to the clues. I like the neat zoom in/zoom out feature that enabled me to search the pictures more easily.

Literactive Online educational games for preschool to Grade 1. The program is comprised of carefully levelled guided readers, comprehensive phonic activities and a wealth of supplemental reading material which gradually develop a child’s reading skills in a sequential and enjoyable manner.

Tagxedo – Site that turns words into cloud blocks in a variety of shapes.  See the Book Chook review.

Teaching Literacy Online –  compiled list of 50 free online literacy games

Whomp – This is a Shockwave game where you attempt to make as many words as you can in a prescribed time period.  It is very similar to Boggle. Players adopt a monster avatar such as the Yeti or Chupacabra and compete against another monster. This game will help reinforce spelling patterns and increase orthographic knowledge. (Jeff Berger NC Teacher Stuff, March 2010)

 

Sites with Book Connections

Preschool and Elementary Ages
Middle Grade to Young Adult
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