The Internet is filled with cool STEM websites and apps for kids that teachers or parents can utilize to nurture interest in science, technology, engineering, and math fields. These resources are important as the United States’ education system fights against further STEM decline. According to the World Economic Forum, America ranks just 44th globally for math and science instruction. The PISA Initiative found that U.S. students scored 38th on math and 24th on science tests administered in 71 nations. STEM resources for children can help spark innovation by teaching our nation’s youngest citizens crucial critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical skills for tomorrow.
Budding scientists should always be encouraged and enriched because faster-than-average STEM job growth has hit 17 percent. The Department of Labor reports that STEM-related employment will rise by 9 million by 2022. STEM college graduates also earn roughly $15,500 more with an average yearly wage of $65,000 according to Business Insider. Guiding kids to STEM websites and apps could unleash their scientific potential for curing cancer, colonizing Mars, coding hack-proof software, eliminating air pollution, and more later. Invest in children’s lifelong success by introducing some of these 250 great science, technology, engineering, and math websites for kids.
STEM Websites
Here we’ve compiled STEM websites for children that address all concepts in science, technology, engineering, and math for one click to well-rounded, practical learning.
Center for Game Science
The University of Washington’s Center for Game Science offers online STEM skill training games like “Nanocrafter” and “Refraction.” Games aligned to Common Core standards are added yearly as Dr. Zoran Popovic’s course capstone.
Kids Ahead
Founded by Dr. Delores Etter at Southern Methodist University, Kids Ahead is a STEM website with middle school-age activities for medicine, robotics, wind energy, and more. Location-specific resources are available from San Francisco to Washington, DC.
NISE Network
The National Informal STEM Education Network has created a digital library of 75+ videos on topics from nanotechnology to molecular gastronomy. Hands-on NISE activities like the Frankenstein200 Kit and Earth & Space Toolkit are easily downloaded.
The STEM Laboratory
Started in 2012, The STEM Laboratory is a one-stop shop for simple early childhood lessons across four subjects. Besides paid-for experiment packs, there are free activities, including the “Pumpkin Volcano” and “Reindeer Sequencing,” PreK-2 kids adore.
TEDEd
TEDEd features 63 searchable pages of lessons built around TED talks in several categories, such as Engineering & Technology, Science & Technology, and Mathematics. Clicking on clips like “How Does Fracking Work?” leads to STEM discovery.
BrainPOP
Educators often subscribe to BrainPOP, BrainPOP Jr., and BrainPOP ESL to give students access to short, playful video lessons. Entering your classroom code unlocks illustrated science, math, engineering, and tech lessons with built-in games and quizzes.
DK FindOut!
Certified Kid-Safe, Dorling Kindersley’s FindOut! STEM website for children answers questions about everything from dinosaurs to computer coding with verified facts. More than 70 videos like “What is Friction?” are uploaded to nourish inquisitive minds.
KnowitAll
Sponsored by the South Carolina ETV Commission, KnowitAll is a K-12 technology initiative that places STEM documents, audio, photos, and interactive games at kids’ fingertips. There are also 159 video series, including “Science Splash” and “Math in Motion.”
STEM Projects
Boasting 2,770 followers, STEM Projects is a Pinterest board created by Miranda Reagan for teachers to share science, technology, engineering, and math challenges. Currently, 292 pins provide directions for recreating engaging activities like “Designing Dandelions.”
Quizlet
Each month, Quizlet attracts more than 30 million students from 130 countries to review 211 million study sets. Either online or via iOS apps, kids access flashcards and tests on wide-ranging STEM topics from DNA structure to cloud computing.
MN STEM
The Minnesota Department of Education created MN STEM, a user-friendly database for Gopher State residents to dig into learning resources by age, subject, and program type. Some sample opportunities include the FIRST Lego League, Physics Force, and Raptor Center.
Concord Consortium
Since 1994, the Concord Consortium has been a leading STEM resource finder with free, curated collections of K-16 activities on SmartGraphs. Student assessments are embedded into 250+ lessons, such as “Air Pollution Modeling” and “Dooltubribing Velocity.”
STEM Learning
Partnered with Project Enthuse, STEM Learning Ltd. is a Britain-based website that collects 90-minute enrichment lessons, including “Great Shakes” and “The Colour of Nature.” Students can also get involved in STEM Learning’s Cisco Little Big Futures Competition.
Khan Academy
Reporting a 115-point average PSAT score increase, Khan Academy is an educational nonprofit that partnered with MIT to provide high schoolers with STEM content online. From Newton’s laws to the Marangoni effect, students learn crucial concepts via video demos.
Science Websites for Kids
Below are science websites for K-12 students to find intriguing, interactive experiments to follow in the influential footsteps of Albert Einstein, Marie Curie, and other scientists.
Environmental Health Student Portal
Operated by the NIH, the Environmental Health Student Portal connects middle schoolers to scientific lessons on chemicals, pollution, and climate change. Step-by-step instructions for experiments like “Earth on Fire” and “Water Purification” are included.
Minute Physics
Established by Henry Reich, Minute Physics is a YouTube channel with 350 million views of short, illustrated STEM videos uploaded monthly. Children spend four minutes or less watching simplified depictions of tough topics like angular momentum and Bell’s theorem.
Science News for Students
Did you know scientists discovered that vaping stiffens the heart and store receipts have BPA? Science News for Students is an awesome, award-winning tool that breaks down the latest STEM happenings into easily digestible language.
CSI: Web Adventures
Collaborating with CBS, Rice University started CSI: Web Adventures for students to learn forensic science and build crime-solving skills through five thrilling cases. The video games require Adobe Flash Player and come with an epilepsy warning.
EdHeads
Offering $20 annual memberships, EdHeads is an Ohio-based, Nem5 Award-winning company that activates the mind with science games for Grades 2-12. EdHeads recommends the Puffin Academy browser to play simulations like “Nano Start-Up” and “Knee Replacement Surgery.”
Mocomi
Presented by India’s Anibrain in 2011, Mocomi is one of the science websites for kids aged 4-12 to access animated reading pods on biology, chemistry, physics, and technology. Fun continues with Mocomi’s coloring printables, outdoor activities, games, and STEM party ideas.
HippoCampus
Powered by The NROC Project, HippoCampus offers 6,800 free, multimedia-rich lessons online for middle and high school kids to study 13 science and math subjects. Students customize playlists with brain-building videos, such as “Nutrition & Digestion” or “Statistics & Probability.”
PhET
The University of Colorado-Boulder’s Nobel Laureate Carl Wieman created PhET in 2002 to deliver interactive, game-like science, math, and technology simulations. Whether they learn to code with “HTML5 Hero” or use magnets with “Faraday’s Law,” students play for free.
HowtoSmile
Launched by the Lawrence Hall of Science in 2010, HowtoSmile is a free, online educational community where kids search more than 3,500 hands-on activities. Nearly 1 million visitors practice lessons like “Ocean Literacy” and “Skeletal Chemistry” annually.
Physion
Available in seven languages for Windows or Linux, Physion is cutting-edge 2D physics simulation software for experimental STEM tutorials. Videos, such as “Lunar Walker” and “Mechanical Binary Counter,” make Physion a free, virtual laboratory.
MyPhysicsLab
Granted the Apache 2.0 license, MyPhysicsLab is open-source software coded by Erik Neumann of Seattle to deliver 50+ online science simulations. High school kids learn by clicking and dragging objects in animations like “Pendulum Clock” and “Brachistochrone.”
Windows2Universe
Supported by NASA, Windows2Universe is an online space portal that shuttles K-12 kids into articles and activities about the solar system. Available with beginner, intermediate, and advanced tabs, the science website has fun facts on planets, poles, and Pluto oh my!
FT Exploring
Rated among Homeschool.com’s “Top 100 Websites,” FT Exploring was built by David E. Watson in 2011 to cover basic principles on nature and living things. This free science resource for kids centers on biology with lessons from photosynthesis to cell metabolism.
Science Kids
From New Zealand, Rene Smith runs the Science Kids website to serve 4 million visitors with kinesthetic experiment and project ideas. Visual learners find high-definition videos in 30+ STEM topics like animal science, robotics, and geography.
Sparticl
Sponsored by Twin Cities PBS, Sparticl is a free, mobile collection of science videos, articles, and games on disciplines from natural disasters to fossils. The “101 Surprising Science Jobs” resource introduces unique STEM careers like forensic anatomist and fragrance chemist.
Weather Wiz Kids
Aspiring meteorologists can eye the skies using Weather Wiz Kids, a free science website created by WXIN-TV’s Crystal Wicker. Along with featured articles from sandstorms to wildfires, students access weather maps, Q&As, jokes, games, and experiments.
Amazing Space
Given a 2005 Webby Worthy Award, Amazing Space is operated by the Space Telescope Science Institute to promote STEM resources concerning astronomy. Highlighted projects like “The Star Witness” shed light on our solar system, stellar evolution, and galaxy exploration.
Animal Diversity Web
The University of Michigan’s Museum of Zoology maintains the online Animal Diversity Web glossary to inform kids about members of the Kingdom Animalia. From Abrocoma cinerea to Anomochilus weberi, the ADW includes 1,363 pages of profiles on different species.
Bill Nye
Cue the theme song “Science Rules!” because Bill Nye’s official website is jam-packed with home demos, printable worksheets, and episode guides. The Science Guy also offers the two-volume Solving for X: Pre-Algebra series for mathematical learning.
Cool Cosmos
Developed by Caltech with NASA, Cool Cosmos is an outreach initiative to teach children about astronomy and planetary science through infrared technology. While viewing images of dwarfs, expolants, galaxies, and more, students can pose questions via “Ask an Astronomer.”
Earth and Moon Viewer
The Earth and Moon Viewer was created in 1996 by John Walker to showcase up-to-date satellite imagery. Young scientists can glean details like city latitude and longitude, cloud formation, land temperature, water vapor distribution, and others.
Kids Do Ecology
Headquartered in Santa Barbara, the NCEAS runs the Kids Do Ecology website in English or Spanish for teaching about terrestrial and marine mammals in diverse biomes. Elementary projects like “Do Predators Affect Bird Feeding Habits?” are featured.
San Diego Zoo Kids
Home to 3,700 animals, the San Diego Zoo maintains another of the science websites for kids to 650+ species from zebras to geckos. Downloading stories, videos, and activities is free, but Koala Club passes cost $52 yearly.
Ocean Portal
Budding marine biologists seeking STEM resources should check out the Smithsonian’s Ocean Portal, which covers all facets of saltwater aquatic ecosystems. Kids can read “Today’s Catch” post, deepen knowledge of ocean life, and join conservation efforts.
Science NetLinks
Produced by the AAAS, Science NetLinks delivers dynamic, standards-aligned K-12 lessons, digital tools, after school projects, and news articles. Teachers search by grade for activities like “Color Burst” in 12 topics from medicine to technology.
ScienceWorld
Eric Weisstein from Wolfram Research founded ScienceWorld as one of the largest free, online encyclopedias of scientific biographies with 1,071 entries on 222 key figures. Children easily search for scientists, including Nobel Prize winners like Frederick Sanger, by STEM branch.
24/7 Science
Granted the 2013 Common Sense Media Learning Award, the Lawrence Hall of Science spreads beyond Berkeley with the 24/7 Science website. This STEM arcade keeps kids’ attention with responsive games, including “Virus Worker” and “Whale Sounds.”
Wonderwise
The Women in Science Learning Series launched Wonderwise to encourage girls in STEM by delivering activity books, kits, and 4-H resources online. Girls take free, virtual field trips by shadowing female parasite sleuths, pollen detectives, genetic counselors, and more.
Arkive
As Earth’s biggest natural science encyclopedia, Arkive created the Kids Section with easy-to-understand identification guides for invasive, endangered, and extinct species. Youngsters may also download projects like the “Shoebox Habitat” and play games like “Team WILD.”
Biology4Kids
Andrew Rader Studios’ Biology4Kids gifts free, digital guides for delving into the basics of living organisms. Quizzes, worksheets, and activities help students quickly distinguish cells from molecules, invertebrates from vertebrates, and microbes from mammals.
Bottle Biology
Funded by the NSF, the Wisconsin Fast Plants Program started the Bottle Biology website to share hands-on, minds-on STEM projects in recycled two-liter soda bottles. Students can apply science by modeling tornadoes, pickling cabbage, making microscopes, and more.
Chem4Kids
Learning the composition of organic and inorganic compounds matters, so head to the Chem4Kids website developed by Andrew Rader, PhD. Childhood chemists can review the periodic table, test chemical reactions, and take atomic quizzes.
Cosmos4Kids
Another of Rader’s STEM websites for children is Cosmos4Kids, which awards out-of-this-world resources for studying our orderly, interconnected universe. Ideal for promising astronomers, it rockets through details on stars, planets, black holes, galaxies, comets, and more.
Extreme Science
Fostered by Elizabeth Keller in 1998, Extreme Science is a Bay Area-based, Optimnem Learning Guide Award-winning website focused on the wildest world records. Kids discover hundreds of extreme examples, including worst tornado, biggest bug, and deepest ocean.
InnerBody
Featured on Discovery Education, InnerBody is one of the science websites for kids to explore interactive guides on human anatomy and physiology. After touring major organs like the kidneys, children learn about medical procedures and healthcare careers.
Kids’ Science Challenge
Requiring Adobe Flash, Kids’ Science Challenge is an online STEM library managed by Jim Metzer Productions to provide interactive lessons for Grades 3-12. Other resources include the Scavenger Hunt, games like “Pollution Blasters,” and Science Careers page.
Kinetic City
Adhering to Project 2061 Benchmarks, Kinetic City is a hands-on, Web-based science program that compiles STEM challenges for Grades 3-8. Kids can take missions to Planet Vearth, construct the Lab Car, and play Volcano Baseball for points.
Mosaic Magazine
Published by the NSF since 1970, Mosaic Magazine offers the Science Articles Archive online for kids to peruse STEM research literature. Articles from 60+ volumes are searchable by varying topics, such as cell biology, symmetry, and engineering.
Nourish Interactive
Chosen for Mom’s Choice Awards, Nourish Interactive is a free, bilingual website that’s Certified Kid-Safe for playing science video games centered on nutrition. Children accompany Chef Solus through challenges like “Whack a Snack” to master healthy habits.
Optics4Kids
Featuring over 7,000 members, the Optical Society of America (OSA) launched Optics4Kids to inform youth about the science of light. The website includes science fair ideas, optical illusions, term glossaries, and Science Educators’ Day videos.
Peep and the Big Wide World
Peep and the Big Wide World, a Canadian animated preschool series, supplements on-air adventures with online math and science games like “Shadow Shapes.” The partnership with Tynker also unlocks 30+ coding tutorials for PreK-4 children.
Physics4Kids
Developed by Dr. Andrew Raper at the Kapili Islands, Physics4Kids is among the STEM websites for children to grasp concepts on matter and motion. Activities, including “Electricity & Magnetism” and “Heat & Thermodynamics,” culminate in 10-question quizzes for assessment.
PlanetPals
Celebrating Earth Day daily, PlanetPals is a free, eco-friendly website turning PreK-5 children into green enthusiasts with global warming expertise. Kids will find recycle crafts, peace puzzles, ecology video contests, and the “Litterbug Game.”
Rudiments of Wisdom
English engineer Tim Hunkin designed the Rudiment of Wisdom as an online STEM encyclopedia with comic book-style depictions of topics from insecticides to lasers. Hunkin’s 200+ experiments, such as “How to Levitate a Paper Clip,” make for exciting science fair projects.
Quarked
The University of Kansas started Quarked in 2013 for game-based STEM adventures into the subatomic universe with fun characters like Higgs, Deena, and Mustafa. Quarked club members can ask Mr. Marks questions, download coloring pages, and nanoscale videos.
Science Bug
Given the Parents’ Choice Silver Honor, the Science Bug is funded by the Best Buy Foundation for young investigators to compete in mind-boggling STEM puzzles. Data sheets accompany instructions for several experiments, including the “Spider Search” and “Mushroom Spore Prints.”
Science Made Simple
Located in Voorhees, Science Made Simple has outlined easy home and school STEM projects for scientific method practice since 1995. Online resources include experiments like “Why are Leaves Green?” as well as metric conversions and monthly newsletters for $11.95 memberships.
Sea and Sky
Operated by J.D. Knight in Orlando, Sea and Sky is another of the science websites for kids with games galore exploring our oceans and universe. Check out the celestial calendar, aquarium guide, Messier catalog, sea gallery, and more.
Sky & Telescope
Established in 1941 with The Amateur Astronomer, Sea & Telescope went digital with interactive astronomical tools, including the “Jupiter Almanac” and “Mars Profiler.” For free, kid scientists receive stargazing eBooks, sky tour podcasts, observing news, and astrophotography tips.
Snow Crystals
Caltech Professor Kenneth G. Libbrecht brings winter alive with Snow Crystals, a science guide to study faceting, branching, and sharpening in ice phenomena. Stunning videos show how scientists use recirculating chillers to design distinct snowflakes at -15 degrees Celsius.
Space Racers
Aired on PBS Sprout, Space Racers is a half-hour, animated preschool series that lets kids attend Stardust Space Academy themselves online. Budding rocket scientists aged 4-8 can print coloring pages, rewatch episodes, learn satellite songs, and play “Space Collector.”
Space Scoop
Affiliated with the European Community’s Horizon 2020 Programme, Space Scoop is a kid-friendly online news outlet sharing insider know-how about the universe. Targeting children aged eight and up, articles translated into 30 languages inclusively discuss topics from nebulae to supernovas.
Killer Asteroids
Formerly called the Space Weather Center, Killer Asteroids is a free, bilingual NASA-backed website dedicated to the astrophysics of minor planets. Kids adore playing “Rubble!,” getting Asteroid Watch alerts, and viewing the Google Earth Impact simulation.
Strange Matter Exhibit
Hosted by Gainesville’s Cade Museum currently, the Strange Matter Exhibit is a traveling STEM showcase and website teaching materials science. The Fun Stuff! section highlights simple activities, such as “Electrify Your Ketchup,” for kids reimagining everyday materials.
Teachers TryScience
The New York Hall of Science collaborates with IBM to manage Teachers TryScience, an integrated STEM website that encourages educators to publish kids experiments. Children search 71 experiments like “Loony Balloons” in nine fields from medicine to social science.
Ask a Biologist
Since 1997, Arizona State University’s Ask a Biologist website has answered over 40,000 life science questions from inquisitive K-12 minds. Besides Q&As, students discover games like “Beetle Dissection,” biology podcasts, bone zoom galleries, and the Bird Finder.
Ask Dr. Universe
Similarly, Washington State University launched Ask Dr. Universe for kids to pose scientific questions to a friendly feline character. Children can read detailed responses to inquiries like “Why Don’t Plants Get Sunburns?” and submit their own.
BugGuide
Future entomologists should visit Iowa State University’s BugGuide to peruse creepy crawly details on 1.3 million described species. From Hahncappsia mancalis to Cryptops hortensis, children learn insects’ habitats, range, size, food, and more.
Celebrate Urban Birds
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Celebrate Urban Birds initiative has distributed over 500,000 educational kits to PreK-12 students since 2007. Mini-grants also fund online resources, including the Bird Identification Guide, Data Study Kit, and Green Oases Project.
Climate Kids
NASA reports that sea level has risen 3.4 inches since 1994! Climate Kids is a green science website for kids to track global warming trends while playing games like “Coral Bleaching,” making terrariums, and watching Climate Tales videos.
Earthquakes for Kids
Locating 20,000 tremors yearly, the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program started Earthquakes for Kids with articles and animations on seismic activity. Children discover Google Earth files, science fair projects like “Plate Tectonic Modeling,” and earthquake history lessons.
Jefferson Lab
Operated by the U.S. Energy Department, Jefferson Lab formed the Student Zone for K-12 children to accelerate their physics understanding. Kids can play the “Balancing Game,” take virtual field trips, and experiment in Frostbite Theater.
Kerbal Space Program
Requiring 4GB RAM, Kerbal Space Program is a multi-genre game interface developed by Squad for children to design and manage their own aerospace missions. Costing $39.99, this STEM website includes full-fledged Vehicle Assembly and Flight Simulators.
4-H Embryology
The University of Nebraska’s Institute of Agriculture initiated the 4-H Embryology: School Enrichment Project to teach kids about prenatal development. Students master biological science concepts while watching the Egg Cam and setting up incubators.
Little Bins for Little Hands
From the authors of 100 Fine Motor Ideas comes Little Bins for Little Hands, a STEM website with over 100 Lego projects, 30 downloadable activities like homemade slime, and 20 scavenger hunts for PreK-3 children.
Periodic Table
Coded by Petr Kletecka, the Periodic Table is an interactive online tool showing chemical properties for elements from halogens to metalloids. For example, kids clicking on Manganese view statistics like density, electronegativity, atomic mass, and ionization.
HowStuffWorks
Granted a 2015 People’s Voice Award, HowStuffWorks claims 40 million monthly visitors of wide-ranging ages to answer their how-to questions. The Science Section has 11 searchable categories, including engineering, environmental science, transportation, and military.
Science Bob
Regularly featured on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, “Science Bob” Pflugfelder designed this STEM website for children to explore experiments like the “Fantastic Foamy Fountain.” Kids also discover science FAQs, YouTube video demos, and research help.
StarChild
Award the Kid-Safe Seal, StarChild is managed by NASA’s Dr. Laura Whitlock as a two-level, online learning center for young astronomers. Students are introduced to the solar system, galaxy, and space travel through fun activities like “Doppler Shift.”
StarDate
The University of Texas’ McDonald Observatory offers StarDate with astronomy guides to stars, planets, meteorites, and moons for kid stargazers. Fun activities like the “Cassiopeia Clock,” image galleries, and StarDate radio shows are included.
Switch Zoo
Created by Tubehead, Switch Zoo introduces K-6 children to biology with interesting profiles on 142 animal species. Students can also access the Endangered Species Map, play “Meerkat Grab-a-Snack,” build online habitats, and enter creative writing contests.
Tox Town
Using Apple QuickTime, the National Institutes of Health created Tox Town, an interactive online simulation depicting the toxic effects of 40+ chemicals. Young environmental scientists pinpoint health risks in the city, farm, port, town, and US Southwest.
Wonderville
Powered by Mindfuel from Alberta, Canada, Wonderville targets children aged 6-14 across 170 countries with award-winning STEM resources. Registered students access 220+ interactive games like “Solar Energy Defenders,” experiments like “Bouncing Ball Polymer,” and career guides.
OLogy
The American Museum of Natural History’s OLogy website offers 377 flashcards in several scientific study disciplines from microbiology to anthropology and paleontology. Kids also explore experiments like “DNA in a Blender,” game simulators, and audio stories.
Butterflies and Moths
Labeled user-friendly by Citizen Science Central, Butterflies and Moths is an online science database for K-12 kids exploring the Lepidoptera order. Recent sightings maps open detailed profiles and photographs on various North American species like Phocides urania.
Canadian Geographic
Published in Ottawa since 1930, Canadian Geographic is an RCGS publication circulated to over 147,200 readers. Free educational resources, including games like “The Great Clean-Up” and PDF animal fact sheets, are also accessed online.
ChooseMyPlate
The USDA launched ChooseMyPlate, an engaging website where PreK-5 students learn nutritional science for balanced meals of fruits, vegetables, grains, protein, and dairy. Children play games like “Food Detectives,” find Move More activities, and access TeacherTube demos.
Color Matters
Chaminade University professor Jill Morton, PhD, created Color Matters to explain how objects reflect light for different hues. Children may take the Global Color Survey and follow Color Travels from Finland to Hawaii.
MythBusters
Fans of Discovery Channel’s Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage should visit the MythBusters website for more exhilarating fun testing myths. Celebrating its 20th year, the science show has 261 episodes available for free with TV subscriptions.
Earth Rangers
Boasting 150,000 members, Earth Rangers is a free, Canadian Oracle Eco-Enterprise Innovation Award-winning website that’s nurturing young animal-saving conservationists. Kids read Wild Wire posts, complete missions like “Battery Blitz,” and start fundraisers.
Energy Kids
The U.S. Energy Information Administration launched Energy Kids, an Adobe Merit Award-winning website, for learning kinds of kinetic and potential forces. Can’t-miss resources include the Energy Calculator, experiments like “Static Power,” and Solar Decathlon field trips.
Exploratorium
Located on San Francisco’s Pier 15, the Exploratorium is an inquiry-based museum offering 371 pages of STEM online activities like “Seismic Slinky” and “Sound Bite.” K-12 students also discover games, blogs, and apps, including Total Solar Eclipse.
Fact Monster
Owned by Sandbox Networks, Inc., Fact Monster is an online homework helper providing glossaries, Q&As, and lab simulations for 25 science categories from computers to anatomy. Reference tools like the encyclopedia and almanac are featured.
Genetic Glossary
Scientists at the National Human Genome Research Institute have recorded audio definitions, illustrations, and 3D animations for the Genetic Glossary. After reviewing heredity terms like mutation and chromosome, kids test their gene knowledge.
3D4Medical
Chosen for the 2016 Eir Elevation Award, 3D4Medical is a biological, Dublin-based website boasting 12 million downloads of three-dimensional anatomical models. Children can review 90-second videos introducing body systems, bones like the sternum, and conditions like diabetes.
Popular Science
Distributed bi-monthly to 1.32 million in 45 countries, Popular Science is a 145-year-old U.S. publication spreading news about science, space, and new technology. Without subscription, children can peruse DIY projects like “Gailileo’s Telescope” online.
Science Buddies
Partnered with NOVA Labs, Science Buddies is a free, nonprofit STEM website matching K-12 kids to 15,000 pages of scientist-developed content. Students search over 1,150 science, math, and engineering projects like “Roaming Robots” by topic.
TweenTribune
Accessed by over 200,000 teachers, TweenTribune is a free STEM resource launched by the Smithsonian Institution for lessons customized by Lexile level (500-1600). Middle school classes log in for assigned science articles with built-in, 10-minute quizzes.
Crash Course Kids
Twice weekly, the Crash Course Kids YouTube show uploads two- to five-minute videos aligned to 5th grade NGSS science standards. Featuring 195,000 subscribers, the channel’s most popular lessons include “The Engineering Process” and “Fabulous Food Chains.”
It’s Okay To Be Smart
Hosted by Dr. Joe Hanson, It’s Okay To Be Smart is a PBS Digital Studios production with 1.7 million YouTube subscribers curious about science. Popular uploads include “100,000,000 Years From Now” and “The Sixth Extinction.”
SciShow Kids
Premiered in 2014, SciShow Kids is another YouTube channel uploading elementary science videos hosted by Jessi Knudsen Castañeda with 33.18 million views total. Every Tuesday and Thursday, videos like “Super Sharks!” and “Why Do We Shiver?” appear.
Radtown
The Environmental Protection Agency built Radtown USA, an online simulation city that points out radiation sources in the Downtown, Burbs, Countryside, and Waterfront. Children also complete activities like “Uranium Mining” and use the Radiation Dose Calculator.
SciJinks
Administered by NOAA’s Nancy Leon, SciJinks is one of the science websites for teens (Grades 7-12) with resources on weather and the atmosphere. Students may try the Hurricane Simulator, play “Satellite Insight,” watch GOES-16 footage, and more.
Mars Global Surveyor
UC Berkeley’s Space Sciences Lab launched the Mars Global Surveyor with readable, kid-friendly content about the second-smallest planet. Tomorrow’s Neil Armstrongs check out MGS instruments like the Ultra-Stable Oscillator and explore magnetic fields.
NASA Kids’ Club
Since 2007, NASA Kids’ Club has provided STEM skills training for PreK-4 children with standards-aligned games like “Rocket Builder” and “Flip Time.” Nebula also guides kids to experiments, coloring prints, lunar calendars, and contests.
Technology Websites for Kids
The following are technology websites teaching kids to code, script, and program by exploring the inner workings of computers in today’s high-tech digital age.
CODE
Celebrated by Stephen Curry and Sheryl Sandberg, CODE is an online technology studio where 23 million K-12 children have written 21.3 billion lines of code. Sixty-minute Hour of Code activities like “Candy Quest” and “Jumping Jam” have 45 languages.
Crunchzilla
Developed by Geeky Ventures, the Crunchzilla Code Monster is a free, interactive Javascript programming tutorial teaching kids to code. The 59-module lesson tests students’ progress through skills like nested looping, recursion, and animation.
Scratch
The MIT Media Lab partnered with Lifelong Kindergarten Group to create Scratch, a free technology forum used in 150 countries by children aged 8-16. Students have shared 26.8 million coding projects like “The Shadow Planet” and “Pong Game.”
Codecademy
Featured on CBS and USA Today, Codecademy is a free, New York-based website that’s helping 45 million users build technical prowess. Interactive coding curriculum progress through three-hour courses on HTML, Sass, jQuery, and more.
Tynker
Offering 10 free levels, Tynker has online, iPad, and Android platforms using JavaScript to train young programmers in grades 4-8. Animated missions like “Counter Hack” and “Mod Minecraft” involve typing and dragging codes for prizes.
Alice
Honoring author Lewis Carroll, Alice is Carnegie Mellon’s free online gift for middle and high school kids to practice coding through game design. Simple, drag-and-drop virtual projects like “Sea Encounter” prepare winners for the Alice Regional Challenge.
App Inventor
The University of San Francisco’s Democratize Computing Lab published the NSF-funded App Inventor in 2012 to introduce coding to thousands of beginners. Easy, plugging puzzles and social games help kids build Android apps within hours.
Tech Rocket
Using iD Tech credentials, kids aged 10-18 log into 28 free Tech Rocket courses like “Modding with Java” and “Game Physics” to master programming languages. Students might also attend Coding Camp or get online tutoring for $50/hour.
Gamestar Mechanic
Granted a 2011 KAPI Award, Gamestar Mechanic is funded by the MacArthur Foundation to serve 250,000 members taking game-based coding quests. Designers aged 10+ climb the ranks in a futuristic sci-fi world with minimal violence.
STEM Challenge
Established in September 2010 at President Obama’s White House, the National STEM Video Game Challenge selects 23 winners of $1,000 each year. Middle and high schoolers form four-member teams to code playable games for change.
Autodesk
Available in English, Brazilian, or Russian, the Autodesk Design Academy is free, cloud-based software offering self-paced webinars like “Introduction to BIM.” Beginner and intermediate coders also access Tinkercad, Fusion 360, and Instructables.
BBC Bitesize
BBC Bitesize created Dance Mat Typing as one of the primary technology for kids aged 4-11 to improve their comfort and speed with computer keyboards. Similar resources from Britain’s largest broadcaster include Programming Robots and Technobabble.
Carnegie Cyber Academy
Headed by Commander Omni, the Carnegie Cyber Academy is an interactive, Flash-based game teaching kids in grades 3-5 about Internet safety. Cadets earn Gold Badges while completing missions on spam, website dangers, and cyber bullying.
Robot-App Store
Started in 2011 by Elad Inbar, the Robot-App Store is a California-based, PayPal-verified cloud marketplace where children download programmable virtual devices. Among the free robots are the Dancing Roomba, Lego Brick Sorter, and Qbo Camera.
CodeCombat
Attracting more than 5 million players speaking 50 languages since 2013, CodeCombat is an engaging, wizardly game with trial-and-error coding training. Praised by PC Magazine, the multi-player, browser-based platform empowers 3-12 technology curricula.
WordPress
Used by 29 percent of the Internet’s pages, WordPress is a free, open-source content creation dashboard where kids can practice designing responsive mobile websites. Since 2003, WordPress has developed 45,000+ plugins like Yoast SEO to help.
W3Schools
Ranked 193rd by Alexa, W3Schools is the largest web developer site chock-full with free technology tutorials to learn Bootstrap, AngularJS, SQL, and others. Operated by Refsnes Data in Norway, W3Schools also offers schema references, HTML quizzes, and web templates.
Engineering Websites for Kids
Our guide to STEM websites for girls and boys continues with engineering websites for children who enjoy tinkering with structures to solve real-world human problems.
DiscoverE
The National Engineers Week Foundation started DiscoverE for sharing K-12 educational activities like “Building Pyramids” and “Designing Catapults” in six languages. Face-to-face annual events, including the Global Marathon and Girl Day, are also planned.
You CAN Do the Cube
Approved by STEM and Kid-Safe, You CAN Do the Cube publishes step-by-step engineering design activities using 3×3 and 2×2 Rubik’s cubes. Other resources include Teaching with a Twist guides, mosaic templates, regional competitions, and cube lending programs.
Tinker
Targeting ages 9-16, Tinker stands out among engineering websites for kids by sending hands-on STEM project blueprints and materials for $16.95/month. Given Parents’ Choice Gold Awards, some sample KiwiCo crates are “Hydraulic Claw” and “Fiber Optic Stars.”
Makedo
Makedo is an Australian, for-profit corporation that sells ready-to-build cardboard construction toolkits for $10-$440 with free 15-minute tutorials online. Young engineers then show off their clever creations by uploading pictures to the Makedo Inspiration Gallery.
Creativity Catapult
Supported by Walt Disney, the Bay Area Discovery Museum’s Creativity Catapult initiative provides engineer-curated online STEM activities for children aged 2-14. Early engineering experiences like “Fort Building” and “Ice Exploration” are filtered by topic, difficulty, and duration.
Space Engineers
On Steam Early Access, Space Engineers is a multi-player, sandbox game where building spaceships, satellites, and planetary outposts is crucial to survive. Released by Keen Software House in 2013, the engineering game boasts 1.7 million downloads.
Tinkercad
Certified CARU Kid’s Privacy Safe, Tinkercad is an Autodesk affiliate that melds engineering with coding for online 3D designs. Supporting HTML5/WebGL, the Web platform simplifies creating Minecraft mods, Pokémon, fidgets, bricks, and more.
Design Squad
Aired on PBS Kids from 2007-2011, Design Squad is a Peabody Award-winning reality show that lives on with online engineering resources. Join Nate and Deysi in playing games like “Fidgit Factory” and starting projects like “Kick Stick Challenge.”
TryEngineering
Featuring 423,000 members in 160+ countries, IEEE launched TryEngineering as a free, pre-university portal for students to find 22 million standards-based projects, such as “Drone Design.” Kids might also take the Bionic Arm Challenge and pursue $4,000 scholarships.
Bob the Builder
Voiced by Neil Morrissey on PBS Kids, Bob the Builder is a 20-year animated show introducing preschoolers to engineering and masonry basics. Online, children can try projects like “Construction Cone,” rewatch episodes, and download puzzles.
Engineering Adventures
Boston’s Museum of Science created Engineering Adventures as a free, Engineering is Elementary (EiE) after-school curriculum for Grades 3-5. Ten units, such as “Acoustic Devices” and “Flying Technologies,” include eight, 45-minute activities each.
Left Brain Craft Brain
Liked 71,700+ times on Facebook, Left Brain Craft Brain (LBCB) is another of the engineering websites for kids to peruse sensory projects, five-minute crafts, STEAM kids’ books, and products like “Robot Turtles.”
Curiosity Machine
Sponsored by Boeing and Cummins, Curiosity Machine is a nonprofit, engineering website that’s created 80+ design challenges based on NGSS standards. From cantilevers to edible skyscrapers and exoskeletons, each challenge offers access to online, expert mentors.
EngineerGirl
The National Academy of Engineering (NAE) started EngineerGirl to supply inspiring interviews with pioneering females in 13 fields from biomedical to nuclear. Young ladies may Ask an Engineer, enter the Essay Contest, and attend Camp Invention.
The Engineering Place
The Engineering Place, NC State’s K-20 STEM resource headquarters, compiles outreach activities for kids like “Pipecleaner Towers” and “Strawberry DNA.” Other opportunities include touring the Solar House, attending Summer Camp, and entering the Future City Competition.
Arrick Robotics
Founded by Roger Arrick in 1987 in Tyler, Texas, Arrick Robotics is a small automation company giving online robot resources galore. Robot Information Central connects K-12 kids to robotics simulators, space toys, data links, AI books, and competitions.
eGFI
Published bi-annually since 2011, the American Society for Engineering Education’s eGFI Magazine developed a vast online collection of trailblazing tools. Children can watch 170+ E-Tube videos, read news stories, and find projects like “Flying T-Shirt Challenge.”
Math Websites for Kids
Next comes the math websites and apps for kids to relieve their arithmetic anxiety and sharpen mathematical problem-solving skills with fun numbers games.
Shodor
Powered by the NSDL, Shodor is a nonprofit, Sloan Award-winning math website for kids age eight and up to complete 100+ Interactivate workshops like “Perimeter Explorer.” Students also access Project Succeed, DEAF STEM lessons, and Blue Waters Internships.
Team Umizoomi
Broadcast on Nick Jr. from 2010-2014, Team Umizoomi is a musical children’s animated show where Milli and Geo build mighty mathematical powers. Along with full episodes, the website has games like “Camp Count” on Pre-K concepts.
Cyberchase
Created by Sandra Sheppard for PBS Kids, Cyberchase is an 11-season children’s TV program where Jackie, Matt, and Inez use math to defeat the wicked Hacker. Website activities include jigsaw puzzles, numbers sense games, and fraction missions.
CK-12
Signing into CK-12 via Google or Facebook lets students create free, personalized math lessons from arithmetic to trigonometry and probability digitally. Children can download FlexBook apps, join study groups, and take practice tests.
Figure This!
Established by the NCTM, Figure This! is among the bilingual math websites for kids taking 80+ educational challenges like “Line Up” and “Perplexing Percentages.” Challenges are completed online, downloaded via Adobe Acrobat, or purchased on CD.
Ask Dr. Math
Another of the NCTM’s websites is Ask Dr. Math, an interactive forum where K-12 children review questions answered by 300+ volunteer experts. Archives are searched by grade level or topic, such as subtraction, square roots, and statistics.
MathGameTime
Honored among Homeschool Base’s top 10, MathGameTime is a virtual arcade packed with PreK-7 animated adventures like “Meteor Multiplication” and “Ratio Blaster.” Kids can also access the Ultimate Math Cheat Sheet and download the Math Monkey app.
PBS Kids Lab
Targeting children aged 2-8, PBS Kids Lab was developed by the U.S. Department of Education with math mentors. Skills from counting to sorting are tested in online activity collections like “Dinosaur Train” and “Curious George.”
Rick’s Math
Started in 1998, Rick’s Math is a free, browser-based resource where over 4,800 math problems are uploaded for PreK-12 concepts from unitary method to set theory with downloadable graph paper and self-graded tests.
AAA Math
Translated to 100+ languages, AAA Math offers free, unlimited access to thousands of interactive, intriguing arithmetic lessons for grades K-8. Some sample lessons like “Comparing Fractions” and “Place Values” conclude with the 20 Questions game.
A Maths Dictionary
Requiring Adobe Flash Player, A Maths Dictionary was created in 2001 by Jenny Eather to explain definitions for 630+ mathematical terms from addition to z-intercept. Check out the 280 free printable math charts too.
Chi Alpha Mu
Chi Alpha Mu, America’s junior mathematics honor society, enriches middle schoolers’ learning with freebie giveaways, including TI-84 calculators. Members might also earn $500 Summer Grants, enter the Annual Competition, and access Pi Day activities.
CoolMath
Operated by Constructive Media LLC, CoolMath boasts an amusement park of 100+ math games for ages 13-100. Among the most popular Adobe Flash games uploaded are “Papa’s Fooderias,” “Wheely,” and “Pixel Quest.”
CoolMath4Kids
Younger children aged 4-12 turn to CoolMath4Kids, which has simpler games like “Tugboat Addition” and “Minus Mission,” instead. Students also click to illustrated arithmetic lessons, brain teasers, digital manipulatives, and printable flashcards.
Gamequarium
Administered by Diana Dell, Ed.S., Gamequarium is a math website that’s swimming with fun for PreK-6 children to master concepts from money to pre-algebra. The 1,719 math resources also include video clips, free eBooks, and interactive whiteboards.
Math Advantage
Harcourt School Publishers in San Diego created Math Advantage, a free textbook supplement e-Lab with activities for grades K-8. Games, including “Fraction Man,” “Carnival Cars,” and “Robot Studio,” are adapted from CDs for online play.
HoodaMath
Available ad-free for $10, HoodaMath is an engaging, four-star ALA website compiling online games for kindergarteners to high school seniors. Whether they’re playing “Alphattack,” “Bloxorz,” or 250+ others, children will use mathematics and logic creatively.
Math.com
Math.com is an online homework help hotline for K-12 children to search easy-to-understand guides on Common Core subjects from integers to inequalities. Other resources include practice tests, scientific calculators, graphers, and games like “Tower of Hanoi.”
Math Blaster
Certified Kid-Safe, Math Blaster has provided an online, outer space-based MMO gaming console from JumpStart for 15 years. Free memberships let PreK-6 children integrate math problems into fun scenarios like “Space Zapper” and “Monster Mutt Rescue.”
Mangahigh
Utilized by 5,200 schools, Mangahigh was founded by Mohit Midha for free and subscription-based packages with activities that reinforce math skills. Teachers in Grades K-10 assign adaptive lessons with attention-grabbing games like “Flower Power” and “Tangled Web.”
MathIsFun
Launched in April 2000, MathIsFun offers a concise table of contents for PreK-12 children to easily search for Common Core-aligned numeric lessons. Students also bookmark worksheets, play games like “Mad Virus,” and review the Illustrated Math Dictionary.
Multiplication.com
Krimsten Publishing began Multiplication.com to strengthen K-8 children’s math abilities in exciting games like “Bubble Bugs,” multi-player contests, goofy videos, and puzzling quizzes with detailed progress reports for teachers.
NumberNut
Rated SafeSurf, NumberNut is another or Dr. Andrew Rader’s STEM websites for kids to get informed on K-8 mathematical concepts from division and decimals. Students also access a math glossary, free PDF workbooks, and three-choice quizzes.
The Mint
Northwestern Mutual in Milwaukee pioneered The Mint, an ALA-approved math website for kids to develop financial literacy, in 1997. Children become money-savvy with activities like the “Writing a Check” lesson, Savings Calculator, and Entrepreneurship Challenge.
Get the Math
Powered by Thirteen Productions, Get the Math is a NETA Award-winning website helping youth aged 12-18 with applying algebra for real-world problems. Students can join Moody’s Mega Math Challenge, play Math in Music videos, and more.
WebMATH
Serving over 50 million K-12 pupils, Discovery Education manages several STEM websites for kids, including the free math help forum called WebMATH. Hundreds of math problem solvers are available in alphabetized units from factoring to derivatives.
ChiliMath
At ChiliMath, children in Grades 7-12 review illustrated lessons with diagrams and concrete examples to learn introductory, intermediate, and advanced algebra. Since 2011, Mike and Kathy Estela have added the free Mathway Widget for checking homework.
CreateAGraph
The NCES Kids’ Zone utilized Macromedia Flash Player to launch the CreateAGraph online tutorial for developing bar, line, area, pie, and XY graphs. The Grab Bag also includes math teasers, mathematician quizzes, and word searches.
NRICH
The University of Cambridge’s Millennium Mathematics Project started NRICH, a free online collection of enriching resources for children ages 5-18. Young math detectives complete skill-building tasks like “Secret Number,” “Missing Multipliers,” and “Mystery Matrix.”
Perennial Math
Founded by Dr. Sylvia Dean, IEEE’s Pre-University Educator of the Year, Perennial Math is a competitive online website where children in grades 3-12 join 60-minute WebEx virtual tournaments quarterly to showcase their talents.
A+Click
Recognized by Education World, A+ Click is a free, four-star website with 4,200 math problems for grades 1-12. Working toward the Hall of Fame, students answer questions, from circumference to proportions, that adhere to the Common Core.
Convert-Me
Convert-Me is a free, kid-friendly STEM website founded in 1996 by Sergey Gershtein to instantly complete math and science conversions between U.S. and metric units. From weight to temperature and volume, Convert-Me makes measurements easier.
DimensionU
Reporting average math proficiency growth of 33 percent, DimensionU is a standards-based gaming platform with BYOD activities for grades 3-9. Peer-to-peer collaboration is developed alongside math principles with games like “Tower Storm” and “Velocity.”
Funbrain
Included within ENC’s Digital Dozen, Funbrain is one of Poptropica Worldwide’s educational, Certified Kid-Safe websites boasting over 35 million monthly visits. The Math Arcade has single-player games for grades K-8, such as “Apple Catch” and “Cake Monster.”
Math Goodies
Given the Internet Minute Award, Mrs. Glosser’s Math Goodies has compiled 168 in-depth, interactive arithmetic lessons for grades 5-8 since 1999. Corresponding worksheets, puzzles, quizzes, and games like “The Decimal Dance” are included.
Math Playground
Developed by veteran K-8 teachers, Math Playground is a responsible, Certified Kid-Safe website where students exercise their brains with 425+ games. Common Core videos, such as “Line Plots” and “Skip Counting,” also explain key concepts.
MathTV
Published by Charles P. McKeague in 2008, MathTV has an All-Access Pass costing $45 yearly for students viewing mini-lecture videos that supplement XYZ Textbooks. Each chapter depicts real-life math examples on middle and high school topics like polynomials and functions.
APlusMath
Varsity Tutors LLC established APlusMath, an interactive math resource guide covering addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and geometry. Children print PDF worksheets, play games like “Math Memory,” take flashcard quizzes, and access the homework helper.
STEM Apps for Kids
Let’s now focus on the brightest STEM apps for kids to download onto mobile devices for mastering science, technology, engineering, and math subjects on-the-go anywhere.
The Elements
Needing iOS 10.0, The Elements by Theodore Gray brings chemistry alive with a periodic table of stunning 3D images. Currently costing $8.99 on iTunes, the science app breaks down elements’ atomic weight, density, melting/boiling points, and half-life.
Brain Play
Granted the Parents’ Choice Gold Award, Brain Play is a free iOS app from Morphonix’s NeuroPlay Adventures series that introduces kids to the functions of five brain parts: cerebellum, cerebral cortex, amygdala, hippocampus, and brainstem.
BrainBalance
Funded by the NIH, BrainBalance with SaraBellum is another of Morphonix’s STEM apps for kids ages 5-8 to learn fun neuroscience facts while stacking and balancing shapes. iTunes presently charges $2.99 for iPhone or iPad downloads.
Neuron Galaxy
Vetted by Floyd Bloom, MD, Neuron Galaxy is a free science app given Common Sense Media’s ON for Learning Award to teach children ages 5-8 about synaptic connections in the brain, the Milky Way’s most remarkable organ.
Sound Rebound
Made for ages 9-11, Sound Rebound is a premier, open-ended Exploratorium app for young physics explorers to freely move various 2D shapes to create different sounds and colors when struck by bouncing balls.
Robots for iPad
The IEEE created Robots for iPad in 2015 with 3D exploration of 158 robots, including Google’s self-driving car. Given a Tabby Award, the free app also includes 500+ high-definition photos of androids, drones, quadrupeds, and more.
Yup
Co-developed by Stanford professors, Yup is a five-star, free iOS app where students receive 24/7 access to math, chemistry, and physics homework assistance. Highly trained, doctoral-level tutors speaking 23 languages help children reach correct solutions.
Sky Map
Turning Android devices into mobile planetariums, Sky Map is among the open-sourced, 4.5-star science apps for kids. Using GPS, the sensor tells children exactly where to look for astronomical phenomenon like planets and comets.
Timeline Eons
Costing $1.99 on iTunes, Timeline Eons is an ad-free, 223MB app sold by Jarir Maani that provides a zoomable timeline with dates for natural science and technology events happening throughout history back to Big Bang.
DroidScript
Starting with the Whack-a-Droid tutorial, DroidScript stands out among technology apps for kids by using Android’s built-in Chrome V8 JavaScript engine, WiFi, and Bluetooth serial support to teach kids to code software 10x faster.
Lightbot
Played by over 20 million kids ages 8+, LightBot is currently $2.99 on iTunes and Google Play for providing 50 levels of programming puzzles. Guiding colorful robots through commands teaches first-time coders about conditionals, loops, and more.
Move the Turtle
For $3.99, Move the Turtle is downloaded onto the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch for children ages 5+ to learn the basics of Logo programming. The coding-centric STEM app also touches elementary geometry and measurement.
SpriteBox
Created by LightBox’s Danny Yaroslavski, SpriteBox is another of the coding apps for kids aged 6-8 to engage in 70 programming puzzles. The $2.99 price unlocks 500 stars for mastering parameters, sequencing, loops, procedures, and Swift syntax.
SimplePhysics
Rated over 8,900 times, SimplePhysics is Jundroo’s iOS app giving aspiring engineers blueprints editing tools for designing realistic structures on several levels. Slow-motion features let you pinpoint inaccuracies and watch annihilating explosions.
Truss Me!
Scientific Monkey LLC launched Truss Me!, a $1.99 iOS engineering app for recreational construction projects, in June 2016. Children earn golden nuts while using design tools that simulate those used by aerospace, mechanical, and civil engineers.
SimCity BuildIt
Selected for iTunes Editors’ Choice, SimCity BuildIt is among the most popular free engineering apps for kids to develop burgeoning metropolises. SimCash and in-app purchases give children the tools to erect buildings from the city center to the marina.
Blokify
Updated in December 2016, Blokify is a 3D modeling app developed by Noquo Inc. for children ages 6-8 to engineer building blocks into practical structures for $3.99. Virtual reality also becomes physical thanks to one-click wireless printing.
Skyscrapers
Ranked seventh in Tinybop’s Explorers Library series, Skyscrapers is a $2.99 educational app letting children ages 6-8 investigate the engineering of Earth’s tallest buildings. The Parents’ Choice Award winner also tests structures in earthquakes, hurricanes, lightning, and more.
Robot Factory
Featured in WIRED Magazine, Robot Factory is another of Tinybop’s STEM apps for children ages 6-8 to develop physics-driven robots from 100+ digital parts. The open-ended construction kit costs $2.99 with unlimited design capabilities and free text stickers.
World of Goo
Chosen for TouchArcade’s “iPad Game of the Year,” World of Goo is a four-star massive online game costing $4.99 that lets competitive youngsters work toward building the tallest buildings, bridges, and creatures with slimy goo.
Minecraft
Suggested for ages 9+, Minecraft is a building-blocks engineering game developed by Mojang AB for building structures and weapons in virtual realms. With 30 days fee, the $6.99 app has monthly subscription plans for up to 10 friends.
LEGO Life
Installed over 3 million times from Google Play, LEGO Life is a free, creative Android app for children ages 5-12 to turn blocks into genius engineering creations, watch mini LEGO movies, and chat with the Emoticon Keyboard.
Mystery Math Town
Published by Artgig in October 2015, Mystery Math Town is a $3.99 Apple app where children aged 6-12 join colorful characters in completing addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division challenges for rescuing the missing fireflies.
Bedtime Math
Proven effective by University of Chicago psychologists in Science, Bedtime Math is a free iOS or Android app with 1,600+ animated math problems for nightly use. Difficulty is customized in three levels: Wee Ones, Little Kids, or Big Kids.
Numbers League
Developed by Bent Castle Workshops in Rochester, Numbers League is among the iPad math apps for kids ages 5+ to play superhero and protect Infinity City from villains while cleverly perfecting basic arithmetic skills.
Butterfly Math
Eligible for Google Play’s Family Library, Butterfly Math is a Bugaboo Math Games app charging $0.99 on Android for Pre-K and elementary children to catch beautiful butterflies and avoid bee stings while fostering basic arithmetic fluency.
Motion Math Pizza
Graded A+ by Common Sense Media, Motion Math Pizza is a five-star, $3.99 iOS app where children ages 8+ run successful pizzerias. Kids must calculate prices, purchase ingredients, and count profits while serving hungry customers.
MathBoard
Measuring 18.7MB, MathBoard was developed by PalaSoftware as a $4.99 random equation generation app that configures to each K-6 child’s needs. Fun activities like “Match Math” and “Find the Sign” removes the tediousness of math drills.
Algebra Touch
Priced at $2.99 on iOS, Algebra Touch is one of Regular Berry Software’s math apps for kids ages 10+ speaking 12 languages to simplify polynomial lessons. Students can also save their own single-variable algebraic equations via Apple iCloud.
Domino Calculations
Published in English or German by Michael Graetzbach, Domino Calculations is a free, 20.8MB arithmetic app for children in first grade to practice counting, adding, and subtracting domino dots up to 20.
EduGuru Maths
Adhering to the UK National Curriculum, EduGuru Maths is an early childhood iOS app where preschool and kindergarten children play eight basic games on topics from telling time to sorting shapes and cosmic counting for $1.99.
Fiete Math
Sold by Ahoiii Entertainment, Fiete Math utilizes Montessori methods for children from preschool to first grade to experiment with arithmetic in colorful waterfront scenes. The free iOS download includes 1,000+ tasks like “Magic 5” and “Splitting Numbers.”
Jump Numbers
Granted the Children’s Technology Review Editor’s Choice Award, Jump Numbers is a $2.99 mathematics app from Artgig Studio where children ages 6-8 save 140+ Snortles by skipping through the sea squishing digits into sequences.
Math 42
Downloaded more than 2.2 million times, Math 42 is a free, German-based STEM app for middle and high schoolers to save tutoring money with step-by-step formula instructions. Exercises identify strengths and weaknesses on topics from factorization to matrices.
Tiggly Chef
Requiring iOS 8.0 or later, Tiggly Chef is a free, Brain Child 2014 Award-winning app where children ages 3-6 practice early addition while preparing 40+ outrageous recipes, including Blushing Radish Hootenanny, in three realistic kitchens.
Blob Chase
Fans of PBS Kids’ hit educational comedy Odd Squad should download Blob Chase, a $1.99 iOS app where children ages 5-8 help Olive and Otto trek through spooky Blobsylvania with 75 levels of arithmetic problem-solving challenges.
Kids Learn Math
Australia’s Mobileroo Pty Ltd. created Kids Learn Math, a free, simple iOS training game for children ages 5-8 to perfect all arithmetic operations. Features include large buttons, colorful animations, immediate learning feedback, and self-paced levels.
Mathemagics
Billing $2.99, Mathemagics is an award-winning, 16.8MB STEM app from Blue Lightning Labs that teaches children ages 6+ mental math tricks. From elementary practice sessions to PSAT prep, the iOS application helps kids solve arithmetic problems lightning fast.
Space Math Hero
Divided into three difficulty levels for ages 5-15, Space Math Hero is one of the $3.99 iOS math apps for kids to solve 6,000+ calculations while progressing across the planetary map to save the Universe from malicious monsters.
Slice Fractions
Launched by Ululab in 14 languages, Slice Fractions is a free, Android or Apple app awarded an International Serious Play Gold Medal. Children ages 5-12 remove the mammoth’s obstacles by solving 140+ fraction puzzles aligned to the Common Core.
DragonBox Algebra
On Amazon for $5.99, DragonBox Algebra is an exciting, Best Nordic Innovation Award-winning app developed by the University of Washington for children ages 6+ to complete 10 progressive chapters with 200 math puzzles teaching algebraic concepts.
Virtual Frog Dissection
Granted the PETA Mark Twain Ethical Science Award, Virtual Frog Dissection is a humane, mess-free biology alternative with 3D organ views for anatomy training. Costing $3.99, the iOS app features information on frog species and life cycle changes.
Sid’s Science Fair
Available on Google Play, Amazon, Apple, Windows, or Nook, Sid’s Science Fair is a $0.99 PBS Kids app targeting children ages 3-6 with addictive experimental activities like Gerald’s “Time Machine” and Gabriela’s “Collection Inspection.”
Gilbert Gas
Taking place in Quirksville, Gilbert Gas costs $4.99 from Creative3 as another of the iOS science apps for kids to learn about carbon dioxide. Children join Gary Goat in chemistry experiments, puzzles, memory games, and coloring pages.
DIY Nano
UC Berkeley’s Lawrence Hall of Science started the free DIY Nano app for children ages 8+ to experience 15 nanoscale technology and engineering activities. Family-friendly videos from Whatisnano.org are included to ignite big interests in itty-bitty things.
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration offers this free, 42.7MB app to stream over 13,000 videos, 15,000 HD images, and interactive maps on the latest NASA science missions to children’s iOS mobile devices.
Science Journal
Installed nearly 500,000 times, Google’s free Science Journal app is compatible with Androids, iPhones, iPads, and Chromebooks to conveniently record experimental data. Children can also use the camera to document pictures and sensors to measure light or sound.
Pocket Universe
Given 5/5 by MacWorld, Pocket Universe was developed by Craic Design as a $2.99 iOS science app for children to explore over 80,000 stars. Pop-up links to Wikipedia help explore other astronomy phenomenon, including Jupiter, 4 Vesta, and Scorpius.
DNA Play
Declared BBC Focus Magazine’s “App of the Week,” DNA Play costs $2.99 on iTunes for young scientists ages 6-8 to learn basic genetics while mutating genes to create over 200 billion quirky monsters.
Weather
Tinybop’s Weather app simplifies meteorology for children ages 6-8 to learn forecasting terms in 40+ languages. Costing $2.99, this STEM app also features a hurricane creator, cloud jump, thermometer, altitude model, and weather infographic.
Resources for Girls in STEM
Women earn only 35 percent of STEM bachelor’s degrees, so here are STEM websites for girls to feed their scientific appetites early and close gender gaps later.
SciGirls
Produced by Twin Cities PBS since 2010, SciGirls is a Daytime Emmy Award-winning outreach series encouraging elementary and middle school-aged girls to pursue STEM careers. Online NSF-funded resources include games like “Aqua Bot,” self-designed profiles, and video clips.
Carnegie STEM Girls
Carnegie Mellon University’s Science Center in Pittsburgh started STEM Girls to get underrepresented young ladies excited about technical training. Girls can join the Covestro Science Fair, download DIY projects like “Build a Hovercraft,” engage with STEM Book Club, and review Careers A-Z.
GC3
NSF’s Girls Communicating Career Connections (GC3) website shares short videos filmed by middle school-aged girls conducting inquiry-based experiments in different STEM jobs. Kids find cool activities to determine which careers, such as toxicologist or civil engineer, suit their interests.
G2O
The Connecticut Women’s Education and Legal Fund hosts the Generating Girls’ Opportunities (G2O) Expo for 300-600 teens annually with hands-on workshops like “Battling Bots” and “Catapulting Solutions.” Online, girls discover career spotlights, engineering design challenges, and even sexual harassment training.
Female Mathematicians
Scotland’s University of St. Andrews maintains the Female Mathematicians database for girls to find STEM inspiration in leading lady pioneers. Clicking on names like Emmy Noether, Ada Lovelace, and Sophie Germain leads to biographies of these women’s greatest achievements.
STEM Career Guides
Wondering how STEM websites for children can turn into respected, well-paid jobs? Here are three can’t-miss resources covering the steps for building STEM careers.
iON Future
Played by over 13,000 girls in Grades 7-12, Change the Equation’s iON Future is a free, online hidden object game where items connect to 100 STEM career profiles with interviews, videos, and professional pathways of jobs from 3D animator to forensic anthropologist.
USAGov Jobs
Developed in 2000 by President Clinton, USAGov Jobs is an organized, online career database where middle and high schoolers find video interviews with STEM professionals like wildlife biologists and architects. Links to the BLS website are included for job outlook and salary data.
STEM Career
STEM Career was created by Colorado State University’s Rick Feller to guide teens through following their aspirations. Compiled online resources include the STEMStudy Quiz, College Affordability Guide, Science Olympiad, SULI Internship, and Andrew Rock Foundation Scholarship.
In the classroom and at home, today’s tech-savvy children are challenged to experiment, innovate, and problem solve through the guise of entertaining games. Develop foundational skills the fun way by checking out these 250 great STEM websites and apps for kids.
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