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10 Great Free Apps for Elementary Schoolers
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Khan Academy Kids
Creative, smart mix of pre-K to K activities is a breath of fresh air
Bottom line: It's tough to stand out in the crowded early learning space, but this collection does just that, offering a one-stop shop for creative learning of foundational skills.
Grades: Pre-K–K
Price: Free
TinyTap - Educational Games
Book-and-game builder empowers creativity, boasts vast content library
Bottom line: With some patience and planning, this game maker can be a classroom game changer.
Grades: Pre-K–5
Price: Free to try
Artsonia Kids Art Museum
Online art museum empowers students to exhibit, explain their work
Bottom line: A well-loved digital art museum that allows students to share work and reflect on their artistic process while helping teachers assess student understanding of artistic concepts.
Grades: Pre-K–12
Price: Free
ScratchJr
Drag-and-drop programming is an effective intro for budding coders
Bottom line: With a little adult help, this is a rich platform for getting kids into programming and digital creation.
Grades: K–2
Price: Free
Epic! - Unlimited Books for Kids
Free, expansive digital library unlocks treasure trove of books
Bottom line: This large collection of books and videos on a wide variety of topics is an easy -- and free -- enhancement to any classroom library.
Grades: K–6
Price: Free, Free to try Free to elementary school teachers and school librarians in the U.S. and Canada.
Seesaw: The Learning Journal
Versatile digital portfolio appeals to teachers, students, and parents
Bottom line: A powerful multimedia learning and communication tool that demonstrates student progress over time.
Grades: K–12
Price: Free, Paid Seesaw Plus is $120 per year, and gives teachers more privacy options and other features. Seesaw for Schools, which includes school-wide reporting, is priced per student.
Plum's Photo Hunt
Photo-finding missions get kids out to explore and enjoy their world
Bottom line: Inspiring photo-hunting missions are wonderful outlets for creative expression and easily prompt deeper exploration.
Grades: 1–4
Price: Free
Recap: Video Response and Reflection for Education
Multimedia reflection app puts a new spin on class discussion
Bottom line: By promoting regular self-reflection and inquiry through Recap, teachers can support more authentic learning and self-assessment among their students.
Grades: 2–12
Price: Free
Wizard School
Curated videos and creative challenges ignite active learning
Bottom line: There's plenty of material to inspire kids to embark on learning adventures that get them to explore, create, and share safely on the screen and off.
Grades: 2–8
Price: Free
Shadow Puppet Edu
Resource-rich video slideshow maker a gem for a variety of classrooms
Bottom line: Easy-to-use free tool is a must-have for elementary classrooms; just keep an eye on sharing and privacy.
Grades: 2–12
Price: Free
DIY App - Creative Community for Kids
From cardboarding to cooking, this app helps kids find the fun in DIY
Bottom line: Fabulous way for kids to get skills and share their projects digitally.
Grades: 3–8
Price: Free While currently free at the time of this review, this app will reportedly offer paid premium services and real embroidered patches for a fee in the future.