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. Browse our editors' picks, and try a new tool for your next unit.

For Elementary Classrooms

BrainPOP Jr.: Social Studies Visit Website: http://www.brainpopjr.com Charming civics videos, high-energy history, and more pump up the fun	Grades Pre-K-5 Type Website Price From $175 Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 4
Homes by Tinybop Publisher: Tinybop Explore homes -- and cultures -- around the world in exquisite detail	Grades K-3 Type App Price $3.99 Platforms iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 4
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
Globe Smart Education 1 Publisher: Round by Design Engaging stories, activities introduce kids to peers around the world	Grades K-4 Type App Price $19.99 Platforms iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 5
News-O-Matic for School, 2015-16, Nonfiction Reading Publisher: Press4Kids Flexible, interactive daily stories for elementary school students	Grades 2-5 Type App Price $4.99 Platforms Android, iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch 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 $4.99 Platforms iPad Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 5
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
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
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
BrainPOP Featured Movie Publisher: BrainPOP Incredibly engaging cartoons on a wide range of topics draw kids in	Grades 2-8 Type App Price Free Platforms Android, iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, Chrome, Apps for Windows Common Sense Rating 4 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
BrainPOP: Social Studies Visit Website: http://www.brainpop.com Charming videos let kids explore the many facets of society	Grades 3-12 Type Website Price From $220 Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 4
ePals Visit Website: http://www.epals.com Students learn together in well-rounded, collaborative global classroom	Grades 4-7 Type Website Price Free 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

For Middle and High School

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
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
PBS LearningMedia: Soldiers, Veterans, and War in American Life Visit Website: http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/ High-quality resources offer empathetic intro to controversial topic	Grades 2-12 Type Website Price Free, Paid 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
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
Flocabulary: Social Studies Visit Website: http://www.flocabulary.com/ “Don’t know much about history” no longer applies with these rhymes	Grades 5-12 Type Website Price Free to Try, Paid Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 4
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
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
HSTRY Visit Website: http://www.hstry.co/ Create and explore interactive timelines, bring history to life	Grades 6-12 Type Website Price Free, Paid Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 4
iCivics Visit Website: http://www.icivics.org/ Assortment of exceptionally well-designed games demystifies government	Grades 6-12 Type Website Price Free Common Sense Rating 5 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
Listenwise 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
PBS LearningMedia: Civil Rights Visit Website: http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/ Compelling resources capture voices and events of the Civil Rights era	Grades 6-12 Type Website Price Free, Paid Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 4
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
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
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
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
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
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
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

For Elementary Classrooms

For Middle and High School

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