We know home-schooling is really tough for parents, carers, learners and teachers!
There is a lot of science content out there but how do you know where to start, and what content is best?! The S4 Outreach Tutors have done the hard work for you, going through what is available online and giving a quick summary so you can pick what is right for your young scientist!
We hope the guide points below are useful and, don’t forget, there is loads more content on our webpage!
What is it?
A quarterly pop science ‘zine’ (online magazine) targeted at high school students. There is a selection of articles and videos available online discussing chemistry topics, as well as teachers guides with recommended activities.
Most useful for?
Teachers, and learners with a particular interest in chemistry.
Our favourite bit
The chemistry of nappies in “Adventures in Chemistry” for younger students! Who knew that nappies were so fascinating! Link here.
Link to the main site is here.
What is it?
A selection of online textbooks covering a wide range of ages. Each book comes in manageable chunks with plenty of pictures and practice quizzes.
Most useful for?
Students learning at home.
Our favourite bit
The Life Sciences textbook – learn about life from the very smallest cells to the tallest of trees and find out how they interact and support each other.
Link to the main site is here.
What is it?
An online bank of curated professional video clips covering a wide variety of broad and specific topics. These include clips from news organisations as well as popular media such as The Simpsons and Doctor Who.
Most useful for?
Teachers looking to incorporate modern media into their lessons.
Our favourite bit
Learning all about the difference between acceleration and velocity from Malcolm in the Middle.
Link to the main site is here.
What is it?
An archive of online resources including worksheets, videos on various subjects with tools to produce your own content
Most useful for?
Teachers looking for resources to include in their lessons and students looking to supplement learning at home.
Our favourite bit
CurrikiStudio is great for creating interactive online content!
Link to the main site is here.
What is it?
A well-curated selection of e-books, audiobooks and educational entertainment videos for supporting learning across a wide variety of subjects and at various levels. (Free to educators but parents get a free trial only)
Most useful for?
Parents and teachers, looking for high quality and engaging learning materials.
Our favourite bit
The app makes it really easy to access and display everything on phones and tablets
Link to the main site is here.
What is it?
A selection of lesson materials for real-world subjects such as financial literacy, health and mental wellbeing and sustainability. Can be accessed by both educators and students but requires teachers to make a free account and sign up their students.
Most useful for?
Teachers, trying to find materials for real-world applications
Our favourite bit
The app makes it really easy to access and display everything on phones and tablets
Link to the main site is here.
What is it?
A platform that provides videos and materials for science, maths, English and social studies. All content will automatically match with the student’s level of learning.
Most useful for?
Teachers looking for differentiated content to reach all their students across skill levels
Our favourite bit
Freckle provides detailed reports on each student, so you know just how they’re getting on!
Link to the main site is here.
What is it?
Tons of presentations, videos and worked examples for maths, science and humanities provided by recognised institutions.
Most useful for?
Pupils who are trying to learn or revise at home
Our favourite bit
The mathematics sections are especially packed with helpful information and workings!
Link to the main site is here.
What is it?
A selection of mini-courses on all kinds of digital skills, from coding to e-safety! You have the choice of taking short, specific modules or opting for a full, more comprehensive course.
Most useful for?
Students (or anyone) interested in learning to code and considering a career in cyber.
Our favourite bit
You can even learn about designing for virtual reality! Wow!
Link to the main site is here.
What is it?
A collection stuffed full of videos, courses, quizzes covering a full breadth of school subjects. Topics are grouped by subject and can be accessed individually or as part of full courses. There are also plenty of learning tools for teachers as well as access to professional development seminars.
Most useful for?
Students trying to learn at home and teachers looking to set reading homework.
Our favourite bit
They’ve Got Tech: Next Gen Farmers provides an intriguing look into how New Zealand’s farmers are employing technology to reduce their environmental impact.
Link to the main site is here.
What is it?
Kahoot helps you learn by playing games on your tv or computer with your phone. Questions are asked on the big screen and everyone playing answers secretly on their phone with the points tallied at the end – if it sounds complicated, we promise its simple in action! While Kahoot has plenty of other uses, there’s lots of educational content from official sources too!
Most useful for?
Parents looking for a fun way to help their children learn.
Our favourite bit
The official Marvel Science Kahoots let you learn all about science with your favourite superheroes! Who wouldn’t want to learn all about physics with Wolverine?
Link to the main site is here.
What is it?
An expansive archive of high-quality educational content, including video, audio and interactive media, covering a full range of school subjects.
Most useful for?
Pupils looking to expand their learning with real-world examples and applications.
Our favourite bit
In “Solar Eclipse: Awesome Totality” you can find out all about how Albert Einstein used a solar eclipse to prove his theory of relativity.
Link to the main site is here.
What is it?
Quality online videos, lessons and assessments created specifically for Khan Academy by experienced professionals. Khan Academy states that everyone should have access to free, high-quality education.
Most useful for?
Teachers wanting to incorporate more online material into their lessons and students looking to expand their learning at home.
Our favourite bit
Khan Academy lets you differentiate for all the students in your class so that everyone can work at the appropriate level!
Link to the main site is here.
What is it?
A large, award-winning library of science and social studies material that can be accessed on any device. They not only offer articles and books but also assessments, learning tools and text-to-speech to help with learning to read.
Most useful for?
Teachers looking to set reading with included exercises and students wanting to learn more about science.
Our favourite bit
The Discover Map provides a visual representation of how all your reading links together and helps you find what you want to find out more about next. We can waste hours here!
Link to the main site is here.
What is it?
A game-based maths learning program aligned to the US curriculum (but still very useful!). Explore the game world completing maths quests!! Teachers and parents can keep track of achievement, and learners can play at the same time.
Most useful for?
Learners that like video games and learning in groups.
Our favourite bit
Battling monsters by completing maths questions that let you cast spells!
Link to the main site is here.
What is it?
Downloadable, interactive digital activity books (that can be read either through a web browser on through a smartphone app) covering all the key curriculum areas. Five books are available for free with charges thereafter.
Most useful for?
Learners that want to revise specific parts of KS3 science – for example, heat and thermal transfer or ecology.
Our favourite bit
Each digital book has loads of videos that help explain and demonstrate the topic.
Link to the main site is here.
What is it?
A learning and assessment platform with lots of slide-show style lessons and quizzes covering the national curriculum.
Most useful for?
Learners looking for revision lessons to go through in their own time.
Our favourite bit
The ‘KS3 Science: Diagnostic misconceptions’ lessons, which go into commonly misunderstood parts of the curriculum.
Link to the main site is here.
What is it?
A teacher resource for quickly collating, distributing and marking science and maths lessons (both print and online) for classes. Proficiency and confidence levels can be set for students to tailor their experience.
Most useful for?
Teachers looking for an extra, easy to use teaching tool with tools for keeping an eye on class progress.
Our favourite bit
The software can instantly group students together into similar ability levels.
Link to the main site is here.
What is it?
Learn to touch type (typing efficiently and quickly like a pro – a cool skill to learn in the modern world!) through a series of well-designed challenges and activities.
Most useful for?
Anyone looking to improve their confidence and ability at typing.
Our favourite bit
The clickity-clack sound effects and very pretty visuals that guide you through the tasks.
Link to the main site is here.
What is it?
A smartphone game AND online web browser game for practising organic chemistry. You move around electrons, protons and whole molecules around by the most efficient pathway, making and breaking bonds as you go. The base game is free with optional paid-for extras.
Most useful for?
Students looking for a unique, engaging and fun alternative to traditional chemistry learning.
Our favourite bit
The satisfying ‘pops’ as you send electrons from bases to acids.
Link to the main site is here.
What is it?
Maths (and some other subjects) separated by school year (1-6), with activities and games affiliated with BBC bitesize daily lessons. Some resources are completely free, others you can use via a free trial followed by a paid subscription service.
Most useful for?
Parents or carers looking for some quick-fire maths games to break up the day.
Our favourite bit
Practising our multiplication tables using coloured socks!
Link to the main site is here.
What is it?
Live streams of lessons and quizzes, study guides and lesson recordings. Focused on the American curriculum but still very relevant information, with lessons covering nearly every topic you could ask for.
Most useful for?
Students that want to learn in their own time.
Our favourite bit
Being able to ask questions of the lesson teachers during a live lesson is a great opportunity to delve deeper into a subject.
Link to the main site is here.
What is it?
A range of short and long science lessons (free trial only) in a conversational tone covering a variety of topics from biodiversity to lava. Printouts and worksheets accompany each lesson.
Most useful for?
Teachers and students after a question and observation-based approach to learning.
Our favourite bit
Using the short videos as ‘discussion starters’ whilst you follow along with the activities.
Link to the main site is here.
What is it?
Hundreds of downloadable learning packs covering Maths, Science and Humanities. Some are single sheet downloads and others are collated ‘packs’, ranging from challenge cards, to word searches, drawing, experiments and more.
Most useful for?
Parents/carers or teachers that want to put together their own lesson from related activities.
Our favourite bit
The ‘boredom busting’ challenge cards for use in between lessons!
Link to the main site is here.
What is it?
A cognitive development smartphone app that gives you micro-tips for turning everyday tasks or events, like cleaning, bathtime or dinnertime, into a learning opportunity (e.g. discussing the shapes of sandwiches or measuring a distance in socks).
Most useful for?
Parents or carers with young children.
Our favourite bit
New activities are automatically waiting for you every day in your child’s ‘journal’.
Link to the main site is here.
What is it?
A cognitive development smartphone app that gives you micro-tips for turning everyday tasks or events, like cleaning, bathtime or dinnertime, into a learning opportunity (e.g. discussing the shapes of sandwiches or measuring a distance in socks).
Most useful for?
Parents or carers with young children.
Our favourite bit
New activities are automatically waiting for you every day in your child’s ‘journal’.
Link to the main site is here.