Educational Resources

With so many resources available online, where do you begin? 

We have picked some of our favorites below. Be sure to scroll all the way down, slide left or right, and click on tabs to find all of them! If you have a favorite, we would love to know. Maybe you will see it added to our growing list.

Hands-on Activities

Looking for a fun activity to do as a family? There are so many activities that your curious child can do that will keep them learning and are fun. Maybe your child will find a new area of interest to explore further!

behind the desk is a kid scientist with crazy hair dropping chemicals into a flask. on the desk is a beaker and books.
Steve Spangler Science
Experiments you can do at home.
six paper airplanes in different colors
Build a paper airplane launcher
How can you get a paper airplane to fly far if you can use only a short distance?
the letters spelling science pinned to a graph paper
Pacific Science Center
Digging deeper into scientific topics with hand-on activities.
close up of a child's eye
Find your blind spot
Did you know that you have a blind spot in each of your eyes?
the word steam. on a table is colored pencils and paints, a robot and a microscope.
100 STEAM projects for educators
With so many projects, you will have a hard time choosing which to do first!
sound wave in between two ear buds
Build your own speaker
Have you ever wondered how a TV, computer or phone turns music into sound that your ears can hear?
girl using a brown marker to trace around a yellow leaf on paper
The Tinkering Studio
Experiments with science, art, technology and delightful ideas.
a lock of brown hair
Test the strength of your hair
How strong is a single strand of your hair?
a robot, a boy frosting cupcakes with his mom, kids with paint on their hands
4-H at home
Explore fun, educational activities and learning experiences for kids and teens to do at home.
a plastic water bottle
Holes that do not leak
Can a bottle of water with holes in it be leak free?
two boys with a homemade plastic bottle rocket on a zip line
SciencetoyMaker
Mysterious, kinetic, noisy, do-it-yourself science projects that entice scientific investigation.
the word earthquake
Sweet earthquake structure shake
Have you ever thought about what type of ground buildings are constructed on? Find out what happens when a building is built on sand.
girl holding pink slime in her hands
Slime Art
What can you do with slime that has dried out?
colorful popsicle sticks
Flying stick chain reaction
Do you love chain reactions? This one may rank up there as one of your favorites.
kids in lab coats holding flasks with colorful solutions in them
Scientific American
As the old saying (almost) goes, science starts in the home. Try fun science activities with household items in just a half hour or less.
foam
Make elephant toothpaste
With just a few ingredients you can make something that looks like foamy toothpaste being squeezed from a tube—but so big that it looks almost fit for an elephant!

Robotics & Coding

We have gathered a variety of resources to explore the world of coding and robotics. Whether you are an educator, parent, or student you will find an activity to help you reach the next level.

red square robot head with the word code in front
Learn to code
All ages can learn computer science and create projects.
laptop with various coding on the screen
CS First Coding
Free computer science curriculum that makes coding easy to teach and fun to learn.
green turtle
Blockly: Turtle
Guide a turtle to draw shapes in this game.
minority girl working on a stem project
Changing the Curve: Women in Computing
This site provides a timeline of women's achievements in computer science as well as additional resources for women.
yellow background with the word scratch in white
Scratch
Create stories, games, and animations to share with others around the world.
little robots around a laptop looking at screen. three robots on the screen with the word coding in front of them.
MakeCode
Tutorials and projects with micro:bit, create retro arcade games and more!
blue coding 010101 repeated on a black background
Praxent
A beginner's guide to coding and programming. Includes links for games, tools, and courses you can take to keep learning.
black and white panda outline on a blue background
Codemoji
Lean the basics of web development and coding. Create in the playground and workshop areas!
yellow maze
Blockly: Maze
Learn the basics of how computer coding works through this game.
the word java. a crane is holding up the letter a.
Code Monster
Learn about Javascript programming.
vegetables in a garden
Grid Garden
Create your own garden using CSS coding.
groups of robots behind the words kids learn code
Code Combat
Perfect for educators teaching coding. Student can play two games, CodeCombat and Ozaria, to learn computer science.
computer pieces laid out to form the word code
Computer Science
Computer science has become a popular topic to learn about. If the terminology sounds like a foreign language. Start here!
screen full of colorful codes
CodinGame
Improve your coding skills with games while having fun.
code your world
Code Your World
Code Your World is a four-part challenge that teaches kids ages 8-14 to apply computer science to the world around them through hands-on activities.
green frog
Flexbox Froggy
Play a game using CSS coding.
101010 written in colorful sidewalk chalk. a kids hand writing it with pieces of chalk on the ground.
LightBot
Solve puzzles using programming. Learn sequencing, overloading, procedures, recursive loops and conditionals.
robot with wrenches in hands. word robozzle above it.
RoboZZle
A social puzzle game.
monkey on a green background
Code Monkey
Introducing programming games for the next generation.
orange background with the words code for life in white
Code for Life
Free games to help kids learn computing.
robot
Tynker
Create your own landscape.
laptop computer screen with various codes
Glitch
For new and experienced developers. Build anything from a static webpage to a Node app.
robots in front a laptop looking at the monitor
Code.Game
Inspiring kids to become creators.
word code in white binary code
Vidcode
Coding for middle school and high school students.

Science, Technology, Engineering & Math

Are you an educator looking for a STEM activity for your classroom? Do you have a homeschooler that you are wanting to challenge? Maybe you are a parent looking for a fun family activity to do on a weekend, over a break, or during family night. Look no further! Explore fun STEM activities for all ages.

High School

100 STEAM Projects for Educators
With so many projects, you will have a hard time choosing which to do first!

Bird Academy
Over 150 videos from The Cornell Lab.

Engineer Girl
A website designed to explore the opportunities that engineering represents for girls and women.

Go Science Girls
A STEM resource page that includes programs, scholarships, websites and career resources, and more! 

NASA

Project Feederwatch
Find out all about birds. Watch the live cams!

STEMfinity
Free STEM resources gathered from around the web. 

The Ultimate STEM Guide for Kids
An extensive guide for students of all ages that are interested in STEM. 

Middle School

100 STEAM Projects for Educators
With so many projects, you will have a hard time choosing which to do first!

Bird Academy
Over 150 videos from The Cornell Lab.

Bring Science Home
As the old saying (almost) goes, science starts in the home. Try these fun science activities, which can be completed with household items in just a half hour or less.

Engineer Girl
A website designed to explore the opportunities that engineering represents for girls and women.

Go Science Girls
A STEM resource page that includes programs, scholarships, websites and career resources, and more! 

NASA

Pacific Science Center
Digging deeper into scientific topics with hands-on activities.

Paper Mechatronics
What does movement look like? Start with paper and create your own machine. 

Project Feederwatch
Find out all about birds. Watch the live cams!

Science with a Smartphone: Accelerometer
A physics science activity.

Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Learning Activities

Steve Spangler Science
How to make Art from slime.

STEMfinity
Free STEM resources gathered from around the web. 

The Ultimate STEM Guide for Kids
An extensive guide for students of all ages that are interested in STEM. 

Wonderopolis
A place where natural curiosity and imagination lead to exploration and discovery.

Grade School

100 STEAM Projects for Educators
With so many projects, you will have a hard time choosing which to do first!

Bring Science Home
As the old saying (almost) goes, science starts in the home. Try these fun science activities, which parents and their kids can do together with household items in just a half hour or less.

NASA 

Pacific Science Center
Hands-on activities that help foster scientific discovery.

Paper Mechatronics
What does movement look like? Start with paper and create your own machine.

Project Feederwatch
Find out all about birds. Watch the live cams!

Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Learning Activities

STEMfinity
Free STEM resources gathered from around the web.

The Ultimate STEM Guide for Kids
An extensive guide for students of all ages that are interested in STEM. 

Wonderopolis
A place where natural curiosity and imagination lead to exploration and discovery.

Staying Healthy

Kids are never too young to learn about healthy living habits and healthy eating. Make health fun!

boy watering vegetable plants with a metal watering can
Life Lab
Cultivates children's love of learning, healthy food, and nature through garden based education lessons and videos.
the word switch in blue letters on a green background
SWITCH
The School Wellness Integration Targeting Child Health program targets what students Do, View, and Chew. Do more physical activity, less screen time, and more healthy fruits & vegetables.
navy background with words EAT. MOVE. SAVE.
Budget-Friendly Nutrition Tips
Make healthier choices for your family on any budget. Find your healthy lifestyle with Eat. Move. Save.
a blank calendar on a chalkboard with the word schedule at the top. colorful chalk along the outside as a border.
Family Scheduler Template
Create a schedule to keep your kids active and engaged during remote learning? Check out this template from SWITCH.

Subject Learning

From online learning and lesson plans to powerpoints and videos, these resources are listed to help expand knowlege in any subject.

the word internet in colorful wood letters
Internet Safety
Help kids practice smart internet habits and stay safe online with these lesson plans based on grade level.
girl on a laptop with science images like a flask, atom, textbook, gears in the air surrounding her.
Mystery Science
Video science lessons for kindergarten - 5th graders. Includes digital handouts and assessments. Integrates with Google Classroom.
hands on a computer keyboard
Computer Basics: Keyboarding
To use a computer, you have to know how to type. Find out proper finger placement and ways to improve your typing skills.
view from outside of the Field Museum in Chicago
The Field Museum
Explore natural history with online resources and at-home activities for all ages.
pink piggy bank with loose change laying around its feet
The Mint
Financial education lessons for young people.
the word stem wrote in chalk on a chalkboard
Vanderbuilt STEM Lessons
STEM lesson plans. Some include powerpoint presentations and YouTube demonstrations.
computer key on a keyboard with the word games on it
Grow Next Gen - Educational Games
Online games for 3rd - 5th graders teaching reading, science and social studies skills with agriculture.
a girl with a book open on her lap with the words art, history, citizenship, maths, geography, biology, chemistry, languages, PE above in the air
National Energy Education Development
NEED has pulled together resources for teachers, organizations and families to use to keep distance learners thinking, exploring and inquiring.
the words national geographic kids in white on a green background
National Geographic Kids
Explore and learn!
the word stem on a desk. protractor, compass, magnet in a beaker with a calculator, compass, eraser, and pencil laying around it.
Snohomish STEM
Free online tools organized by grade and subject matter. From learning platforms and quizzes to gaming and TED-Ed, of course there is also everything in between.
a child holding a four pack cardboard container with plants starting to grow
Grow Next Gen
Bringing science and agriculture to life in the classroom through relevant and engaging lesson and activities.
a boy with headphones on a laptop
PBS Learning Media
All subjects - All grades
notepads, pencils, ruler, scissors, protractor, magnifying glass on a desk
National School Choice Week Team
Free online resources covering everything from foreign language & ESL, to core subjects such as Math, Social Studies and Science, as well as STEM. They even have some resources for SPED.
blue and white bird on a stick
Bird Academy
Over 150 videos from The Cornell Lab.
the word steam. on a table is colored pencils and paints, a robot and a microscope.
100 STEAM Projects
With so many projects, you will have a hard time choosing which to do first!
a boy working on a laptop with a girl watching
Grow Next Gen - Virtual Classroom
Engage students and increase their background knowledge with these lessons.

Virtual Tours

Adventure awaits from the comfort of your home! Watch live cams from zoos all over the United States. Virtually view art and treasures from museums. Take tours of places far from Illinois.

above view of ellis island
Ellis Island
Take a virtual field trip to Ellis Island.
hippos. one with its mouth open wide.
San Diego Zoo
Live cams from different exhibits around the zoo. Watch the hippos, polar bears, elephants, and so much more!
view of a portion of the great wall of china
The Great Wall of China
Visit a wonder of the world virtually. This ancient wall stretches more than 3,000 miles!
seal swimming in water
Seattle Aquarium
Watch the harbor seals or the sea otters. Join online to watch the aquarium's daily talks and feedings.
the outside of the british museum
British Museum
Find hundreds of artifacts from this iconic museum in London.
canvas on a easel with a stand next to it with a bucket of paint brushes
Google Arts & Culture
View artwork from 500 museums and galleries around the world.
panda sleeping with a leg over its head
Smithsonian National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute
Find live cams of cheetahs, lions, pandas, naked mole-rats, and elephants. Downloaded their packet to engage students.
the word musee carved into cement
Musee d'Orsay
Virtually walk through a popular gallery that has famous works from French artists.
geyser shimmering in a rainbow of colors with steam rising from it
Yellowstone National Park
Ready to explore Yellowstone? Explore the park by virtually touring some of the main attractions around the park.
gorilla sitting in tall grasses and plants
Houston Zoo
Watch the gorillas, leafcutter ants, flamingos and more with the zoo's live cams.
mars
Access Mars
Explore the real surface of Mars from footage of NASA's Curiosity rover.
sea turtle swimming in the ocean
Monterey Bay Aquarium
Live cams of sea life.
the outside of the louvre
Louvre
Take a virtual trip Paris, France to see amazing works of art.
sheep
Farm Food 360
Immerse yourself in Canadian farm and food tours.

What can Illinois Extension offer?

For Teachers

Butterfly Adventures! 4-H Virtual Butterfly Program
Learn about the butterfly lifestyle.

Creative Writing 
Practice your communication, grammar, and imagination all while exploring the field of creative writing. The best part? You probably have all the supplies you need at home! Contact Shelby Carlson for more information.

Embryology in the Classroom 
Learn about embryology and follow along as the chicks develop and hatch from their shells.

Emergency Preparedness
Be prepared for an emergency in your home.  Contact Lisa Torrance for more information.

Family History
Learn about yourself and your family using the provided guided prompts. Contact Shelby Carlson for more information.

Garden Series 
Take part in these virtual sessions on how to incorporate a garden into the school environment. Contact Lisa Torrance for more information.

Mars Base Camp STEM Challenge 
Featuring four hands-on activities that can be enjoyed with or without internet access. The challenge teaches STEM skills like mechanical engineering, physics, computer science, and agriculture. Contact Shelby Carlson for more information.

Ready in the Middle
Identify some of the hazards you might have in your home and develop some solutions. This virtual learning experience will introduce youth to common household hazards as well as encourage them, along with their families, to complete a Home Hazard Hunt. To have your class participate, contact Lisa Torrance or Carrie McKillip for more information.

STEAM Activities 
Learn about all things STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) with hands-on learning. Check out these activities!
Want some higher-level STEM content? Check out the Illinois 4-H STEM page.
Take it a step further and check out these STEM Challenges!

STEP Up with 4-H
Designed for 4th and 5th graders, STEP Up with 4-H utilizes FEMA’s STEP disaster preparedness program partnered with the hands-on learning that defines 4-H youth development programs. Youth learn to prepare for natural disasters that may plague the area where they live including: designing an emergency kit, a family communication plan, and more! Don’t wait for disaster to strike, STEP Up with 4-H and contact Shelby Carlson for more information today.

Take-Home Kits 
Each quarter, choose from our selection of creative, hands-on activities for your child in our take-home kits created by our Master Gardener and Master Naturalists. All kits come with: complete instructions, lesson prompts, and helpful hints for parents. Contact Wendy Ferguson for more information. 

Welcome to the Real World 
Students learn about the decisions they will need to make as an adult. Students investigate careers, then participate in a simulation of paying bills, buying a car, finding housing, and purchasing groceries. They learn it’s about more than driving a nice car. It’s paying the bills and making the paycheck last. Contact Shelby Carlson for more information.

What’s Quackin’? Virtual Embryology with Duck Eggs
Learn about embryology and follow along as the ducks develop and hatch from their shells.

Your Thoughts Matter 
What does mental health really mean? How many people are affected by mental health issues such as anxiety and depression? Be part of the solution by learning the answers to those questions and more. Intended for advanced-level youth who are interested in learning more about mental health, why it is important to overall well-being, and steps that promote understanding and action. Contact Shelby Carlson for more information.

For Parents

Build A Bee and Bug Bath 
Build a habitat for bees and bugs at home. Contact Shelby Carlson for more information.

Butterfly Adventures! 4-H Virtual Butterfly Program
Learn about the butterfly lifestyle.

Embryology in the Classroom
Learn about embryology and follow along as the chicks develop and hatch from their shells.

Ready in the Middle
Want to be able to identify some of the hazards you might have in your home and develop some solutions? This virtual learning experience will introduce youth to common household hazards as well as encourage them, along with their families, to complete a Home Hazard Hunt. Youth will then reconvene to discuss hazards found and possible solutions. This course will be offered virtually once 20 families are interested in participating. Contact Lisa Torrance or Carrie McKillip for more information.

Scratch Block Coding
Explore the foundations of computer science using Scratch. Scratch is free block coding software that can be run completely over the internet. No special software necessary!
Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 3, Episode 4, Episode 5

STEAM Activities
Explore more STEM activities to help keep kids of all ages engaged, learning, and having fun with 4-H at Home.
Experience the world of STEM with hands-on activities. Check out these videos! Want some higher-level STEM content? Check out the Illinois 4-H STEM page. Take it a step further and check out these STEM Challenges!

Take-Home Kits 
Each quarter, choose from our selection of creative, hands-on activities for your child in our take-home kits created by our Master Gardener and Master Naturalists. All kits come with: complete instructions, lesson prompts, and helpful hints for parents. Contact Wendy Ferguson for more information. 

What’s Quackin’? Virtual Embryology with Duck Eggs
Learn about embryology and follow along as the ducks develop and hatch from their shells.