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Best Global and Cross-Cultural Education Apps and Websites
Top Picks
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National Geographic Kids
Kid-friendly science and social studies info via videos, games, and more
Bottom line: Large collection of approachable, fun multimedia resources about animals, habitats, countries, and cultures.
Grades: Pre-K–8
Price: Free
National Geographic Education
Top geography resource site provides global exploration opportunities
Bottom line: This is a must-bookmark site for classrooms across the curriculum hunting for inspiring place-based resources.
Grades: Pre-K–12
Price: Free
Roots & Shoots
Lessons, activities, and projects promote social and environmental change
Bottom line: Jane Goodall's Roots & Shoots will inspire you to lead change in your community.
Grades: K–12
Price: Free
Homes by Tinybop
Explore homes -- and cultures -- around the world in exquisite detail
Bottom line: Offers a delightful and accessible way for kids to learn about the world's cultures.
Grades: K–3
Price: $2.99
Google Earth
Dazzling globe-trotting tool has endless classroom applications
Bottom line: This tool defines engagement and offers a completely open-ended experience perfect for use across the educational spectrum.
Grades: K–12
Price: Free
The Wonderment
Ambitious global community aims for public good through student engagement
Bottom line: A powerful, improving social network for exploring the world and effecting positive change.
Grades: 1–12
Price: Free
Touchable Earth
Videos of kids from around the world encourage global citizenship
Bottom line: Brief, high-interest videos present a wonderfully authentic way for kids to find connections with other kids from across the globe.
Grades: 2–5
Price: Free
Better World Ed
Wordless videos link core subjects, SEL; connect students to the world
Bottom line: If your school or home can afford it, Better World Ed is a well-done interdisciplinary curriculum that will expand students' global view.
Grades: 2–10
Price: Free to try
Newsela
Great stories, just-right leveled reading; now mostly by subscription
Bottom line: Up-to-date, high-interest articles will meet students right at their level, and help teachers bolster students' nonfiction reading skills.
Grades: 2–12
Price: Free, Paid
Oddizzi
Kids travel the world, cultivate global curiosity and responsibility
Bottom line: Kids get a sense of culture and global responsibility via kid-friendly articles and great multimedia.
Grades: 3–8
Price: Free to try, Paid
Belouga
Impressive cross-curricular platform establishes global connections
Bottom line: Versatile video-based curriculum inspires reflection and action.
Grades: 3–12
Price: Free to try
Google Earth VR
Explore the world with an incredible new perspective and sense of scale
Bottom line: An amazing experience that brings the world to life, despite the heavy investment in VR required.
Grades: 3–12
Price: Free
PenPal Schools
Give students global perspective with pen pal projects in any subject
Bottom line: This is a thoughtful, ready-to-go platform that facilitates authentic and safe cross-cultural collaboration.
Grades: 3–12
Price: Free
SDGs in Action
Empowering sustainable development app organizes, educates
Bottom line: It's a well-packaged way for teachers to educate students about the current challenges facing the world and to give them a conduit for social justice.
Grades: 3–12
Price: Free
ePals
Kids learn together in well-rounded, collaborative global classroom
Bottom line: A safe communication system and excellent learning materials help create a global youth community.
Grades: 4–7
Price: Free
Fantasy Geopolitics
Impressive fantasy "sports" game engages students on current events
Bottom line: This game could be the hook that gets students engaged with international news.
Grades: 5–12
Price: Free to try, Paid
Google Maps
Hugely popular mapping tool has tons of learning potential
Bottom line: This familiar tool can go beyond here to there and take kids to new educational destinations.
Grades: 3–12
Price: Free
My Hero
Global community of storytellers share inspiring examples of humanity
Bottom line: Free resource that teaches kids about all kinds of heroism, gives them skills to tell stories, and offers a platform to share them.
Grades: 5–12
Price: Free
When Rivers Were Trails
Point-and-click story shares Native perspectives on forced migration
Bottom line: Offers a valuable alternative perspective to the colonial history found in U.S. classrooms, through a familiar, Oregon Trail-style format.
Grades: 5–12
Price: Free
Facing History and Ourselves
A wealth of resources explore racism, prejudice, and anti-Semitism
Bottom line: These valuable materials empower students to understand and address difficult ethical choices -- past and present.
Grades: 6–12
Price: Free
Proven Sustainable
Globally-minded materials spotlight the wisdom of resilient cultures
Bottom line: This is a valuable resource, with perspectives often kept out of curricula, but it'll require a motivated teacher to turn into actual lesson plans.
Grades: 6–12
Price: Free
Gapminder
Interactive animated charts explore global development trends
Bottom line: Gapminder brings meaning to what otherwise might be considered “boring” numbers; students learn about social, economic, and environmental development.
Grades: 7–12
Price: Free
Stop Disasters!
Slick sim explores global natural disasters
Bottom line: Few other browser-based sims better illustrate the potential of gaming for learning about serious issues in our world.
Grades: 7–12
Price: Free
YourCommonwealth
Engage with passionate international perspectives from youth
Bottom line: Offers a rich variety of news and opinion stories on global issues, and its young writers will get U.S. students hooked on civic engagement.
Grades: 7–12
Price: Free
Write the World
Global community helps young writers write, revise, think, and grow
Bottom line: With interest-based writing prompts and thoughtful feedback from peers and pros, this is a great tool for writing for authentic audiences.
Grades: 8–12
Price: Free
Bury Me, My Love
Moving portrayal of the dangers and uncertainty of a Syrian refugee
Bottom line: It effectively connects students with the harrowing journey of a Syrian refugee, even though some of the interactive elements are underwhelming.
Grades: 9–12
Price: $2.99
Global Oneness Project
Captivating, cross-curricular stories increase cultural awareness
Bottom line: Teachers looking to enrich their curriculum with high-quality, thought-provoking videos and photos will find plenty of inspiration, but may need to create or fine-tune some lessons.
Grades: 9–12
Price: Free, Paid
Fate of the World: Tipping Point
Complex global-influence game in which players’ choices rule the world
Bottom line: Complex multi-issue game succeeds in teaching world politics and global development while building perspective and decision-making skills.
Grades: 10–12
Price: $18.99
Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade Database
Deep, complex database is challenging but a peerless research tool
Bottom line: This is a highly academic site for better and for worse; it's filled with deep, research-backed resources and primary sources but is intimidating without clear guidance.
Grades: 10–12
Price: Free
