Great Social Studies Apps and Websites

Top Pick

From world geography to U.S. government, this collection of resources covers key social studies topics for all grades. Students may be listening to podcasts of the latest current events, manipulating timelines of WWII, talking with and learning about people from other cultures, or viewing historical documents. Either way, students will be developing skills that will allow them to demonstrate global awareness, respect diversity, and be driven to social justice. Browse our editors' picks, and try a new tool for your next unit.

Current Events

News-O-Matic, School Edition, 2014-15 Publisher: Press4Kids Flexible, interactive daily stories for elementary school students	Grades 2-5 Type App Price $6.99 Platforms Android, iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 4
News-2-You Publisher: AssistiveWare Draw kids into weekly news with powerful symbols and voice narration	Grades 2-6 Type App Price Free to Try, Paid Platforms iPad Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 5
Listen Current Visit Website: https://listenwise.com Bring real-world stories from public radio into the classroom	Grades 6-12 Type Website Price Free to Try, Paid Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 4
NPR: Borderland Visit Website: http://apps.npr.org/borderland/ Illuminating, up-close-and-personal visit to the U.S.-Mexico border	Grades 9-12 Type Website Price Free Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 5

Geography & Exploration

Google Earth Cool geographical exploration tool has endless classroom applications	Grades K-12 Type App Price Free Platforms Android, iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 4
Barefoot World Atlas Publisher: Touch Press Visually stunning 3-D globe piques students' interest in world facts	Grades 1-5 Type App Price $4.99 Platforms iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 2
Stack the Countries Publisher: Dan Russell-Pinson A whole world of facts, maps, and fun waiting to be stacked	Grades 2-6 Type App Price $1.99 Platforms iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, Windows Phone, Apps for Windows Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 3
The Pyramids Publisher: Touch Press Tap into students' inner archaeologists as they discover Ancient Egypt	Grades 5-12 Type App Price $6.99 Platforms iPad Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 4

Global Awareness & Cultures

Homes by Tinybop Publisher: Tinybop Explore homes -- and cultures -- around the world in exquisite detail	Grades K-3 Type App Price $3.99 Platforms Android, iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 4
One Globe Kids - children's stories from around the world Publisher: Globe Smart Kids Beautiful photos and stories build cultural knowledge, self-awareness	Grades K-4 Type App Price Free to Try Platforms iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 4
Teaching Tolerance Visit Website: http://www.tolerance.org/ Thought-provoking classroom resources support diversity education	Grades K-12 Type Website Price Free Common Sense Rating 5 Teacher Rating 4
Oddizzi Visit Website: http://www.oddizzi.com/ Kids travel the world, cultivate global curiosity and responsibility	Grades 3-8 Type Website Price Free to Try, Paid Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating Not Yet Rated
PenPal Schools Visit Website: https://penpalschools.com/ Collaborative lessons connect students across the globe	Grades 3-8 Type Website Price Free Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 5
Facing History and Ourselves Visit Website: https://www.facinghistory.org/ A wealth of resources explore racism, prejudice, and anti-Semitism	Grades 6-12 Type Website Price Free Common Sense Rating 5 Teacher Rating 4
Global Oneness Project Visit Website: https://www.globalonenessproject.org/ Dynamic multimedia resources explore life experiences around the world	Grades 9-12 Type Website Price Free, Paid Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 4
Parable of the Polygons Visit Website: http://ncase.me/polygons/ Dynamic interactive helps classrooms explore topics of bias, diversity	Grades 9-12 Type Website Price Free Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 4

History & Historical Figures

BrainPOP Jr. Visit Website: http://www.brainpopjr.com Top-notch educational videos a boon for elementary school teachers	Grades K-3 Type Website Price From $175 Common Sense Rating 5 Teacher Rating 4
National Museum of African American History and Culture Visit Website: https://nmaahc.si.edu Powerful stories and media centralize African-American history	Grades K-12 Type Website Price Free Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating Not Yet Rated
BrainPop Visit Website: http://www.brainpop.com Clever animated hosts Tim and Moby masterfully tackle complex topics	Grades 4-8 Type Website Price From $220 Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 4
EDSITEment Visit Website: http://edsitement.neh.gov/ Extensive humanities resource offers deep well of great content	Grades 3-12 Type Website Price Free Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 4
Flocabulary Visit Website: http://www.flocabulary.com/ Schoolhouse Rock meets Tupac in this delightful hip-hop-based platform	Grades K-12 Type Website Price Free to Try, Paid Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 4
Beyond the Bubble Visit Website: http://beyondthebubble.stanford.edu/ Top-quality assessments challenge students to think like historians	Grades 6-12 Type Website Price Free Common Sense Rating 5 Teacher Rating Not Yet Rated
Think Like Churchill Publisher: Touchpress Limited Stunning visuals, thoughtful feedback bring critical decision points to life	Grades 6-12 Type App Price $3.99 Platforms iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating Not Yet Rated
IWitness Visit Website: http://iwitness.usc.edu/SFI/ Explore survivor testimony with lessons, video on teacher-geared site	Grades 7-12 Type Website Price Free Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 4
National WWII Museum Visit Website: http://nationalww2museum.org/ High-quality resources and activities offer an in-depth study	Grades 7-12 Type Website Price Free Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 4
Cuba's Days: The Cuban Missile Crisis Publisher: Flight of the Mobile Make historic decisions in this absorbing choose-your-own adventure	Grades 9-12 Type App Price $.99 Platforms Android, iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 4

U.S. History & Civics

Smithsonian's History Explorer Visit Website: http://historyexplorer.si.edu Lessons, activities, artifacts, artfully presented by the Smithsonian	Grades K-12 Type Website Price Free Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 4
Ansel and Clair: Paul Revere's Ride Publisher: Cognitive Kid, Inc. Charming play brings American Revolution to life in ways that stick	Grades 1-5 Type App Price Free to Try Platforms iPad Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 5
PBS LearningMedia Visit Website: http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/ Impressive collection of classroom-ready, free digital resources	Grades Pre-K-12 Type Website Price Free, Paid Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 4
The Oregon Trail Publisher: Gameloft Strong pioneer-simulation game with secondary emphasis on history	Grades 4-8 Type App Price $.99 Platforms Android, iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, Kindle Fire Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 3
National Archives Visit Website: http://www.archives.gov/ Access U.S. history with treasure trove of docs, genealogy, and other resources	Grades 4-12 Type Website Price Free Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 4
iCivics Visit Website: http://www.icivics.org/ Exceptionally well-designed games, lesson plans demystify government	Grades 6-12 Type Website Price Free Common Sense Rating 5 Teacher Rating 4
Zinn Education Project Visit Website: https://zinnedproject.org/ Resources, lessons help teach a more inclusive version of U.S. history	Grades 6-12 Type Website Price Free Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 4
American Social History Project Visit Website: http://ashp.cuny.edu/ Deep, research-backed resources highlight America's rich diversity	Grades 7-12 Type Website Price Free, Paid Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating Not Yet Rated

Timelines

Sutori Visit Website: http://www.sutori.com A slick way to share knowledge via interactive timelines and stories	Grades 6-12 Type Website Price Free, Paid Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 4
The Knotted Line Visit Website: http://knottedline.com/ Unique, artistic timeline lets kids explore freedom in U.S. history	Grades 6-12 Type Website Price Free Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 4
Timeline World War 2 with Robert MacNeil Publisher: Ballista Media Vast interactive multimedia resource makes history come alive	Grades 6-12 Type App Price $9.99 Platforms iPad Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating Not Yet Rated

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