Middle school is an opportune time to expand students' horizons, and to plant the seeds for critical thinking skills and content knowledge that'll propel students to success through high school and beyond. On this list, we've narrowed down the huge market of edtech out there for grades 6-8 to 10 great choices free across just about every subject area. You'll find tools for literacy, math, science, social studies, arts, and creation; many cross over and address a few of these subjects. No matter what they cover, however, each pick in this list is a top-rated tool with tons for students to do that'll go the distance in your classroom.
Middle school CS curriculum has stellar resources, room for creativity
Bottom Line: A high-quality introductory CS curriculum where students can be creative, collaborate with others, and express themselves, in the classroom or at home.
Wildly engaging contest turns students into novelists in 30 days
Bottom Line: A thoughtful adaptation of the famous and fun grown-up novel writing contest, NaNoWriMo Young Writers Program is brimming with advice and encouragement as well as classroom support.
Elegant graphing calculator and math simulations promote collaboration
Bottom Line: Part calculator, part interactive simulation tool, Desmos is a standout example of inquiry-driven math with super-smart instructional supports.
