Distance Learning Websites for Teens

In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, educators and parents are scrambling to find distance learning resources that are easy-to-implement, free, and are more or less student-directed, especially when it comes to teens.

​Of course there are the obvious online tools such as Khan Academy, but that can get a bit dull really quickly. If you want to mix things up, check out my collection of go-to websites for secondary students. 

My background is in 9-12 life science, particularly ecology, wildlife, and conservation. I will start by adding my favorite teen life-science websites. Many of these organizations have really stepped up and are offering free memberships as long as schools are closed. 

I will continue to add more online learning resources daily or as they come up. If you know of distance learning websites for middle and high school students that you'd like to share, please do so in the comments. I'd love to get a lengthy catalog going.  Note: This is not a place to sell or promote your products. If you comment with a personal product it will be deleted. FREE online learning websites for teens only. Thank you!

Distance Learning: Free Educational Websites for Teens

Distance Learning: Free Life Science Websites for Teens

Science:

1) Smithsonian Learning Lab: An incredible collection of distance learning lessons and resources. https://learninglab.si.edu/distancelearning and https://www.si.edu/learn-explore

2) Cincinnati Zoo: Home Safari Facebook Live animal show and activity  https://www.facebook.com/events/2996522950406952/

3) San Diego Zoo: Virtual tours and live webcams
https://zoo.sandiegozoo.org/live-cams

4) Dallas Zoo: Behind the scenes and educational videos
Look for #bringthezootoyou on Instagram and Twitter

5) Shedd Aquarium: behind the scenes videos of animal care
Follow @shedd_aquarium on social media. 

6) Oregon Zoo: Behind the scenes videos on social media
@OregonZoo

7) Monterey Bay Aquarium: Live webcams
https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animals/live-cams

8)Explore Live Webcams: webcams on animals in the wild
https://explore.org/livecams

9)Science Mom: She posts new lessons and science demonstrations daily since schools have closed. 
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-QcZISbFb9EiIEQ41cVhxw

10) The Kid Should See This: Love this website. There are thousands of videos on a variety of topics, but the link below is specific to science.
https://thekidshouldseethis.com/tagged/science

11) National Geographic Education: 9/12 remote learning resources 
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/topics/middlehigh-school-resources-remote-learning/?q=&page=1&per_page=25

13) BrainPOP: Great resources with ways to demonstrate learning like coding and making movies. Free membership during school closures.
https://www.brainpop.com/

14) Coursera partnership with American Museum of Natural History: From my understanding kids and/or educators can take up to three free classes. This link will bring you to science options.
https://www.coursera.org/amnh

15) Citizen Science Projects: If your students are still able to go for walks outside, citizen science projects could be a good option. There are many that could be simply be done in a backyard or courtyard. Students can also design and start their own citizen science projects on some of the websites listed below. Here are some of my favorite project catalogs:
  

• Nat Geo: https://www.nationalgeographic.org/idea/citizen-science-projects/
• Zooniverse: https://www.zooniverse.org/projects
• iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/ 
• CitSci: https://www.citsci.org/CWIS438/Browse/Project/Project_List.php?WebSiteID=7
• Cornell Citizen Science Toolkit: https://www.citizenscience.org/

***Checkout this post that I did a while back with more citizen science options.

16) Mel Science: She has an Instagram handle, @melscience, where you can find videos of chemistry experiments. The link I've provided below goes to her library of chemistry experiments, many of which can be done at home. 
Mel Science chemistry experiment video library
​Mel Science is also offering free online science classes for kids of all ages as long as schools are closed. https://melscience.com/US-en/academy/

Free Distance Learning Websites for Teens

Art/Theater/Dance:

Stages Theater Company Free Virtual Theater Activities: Specific lessons for 9-12
https://www.stagestheatre.org/beyondthestage/

Skills Share! Loaded with art and design tutorials by professionals 
https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2020/03/social-distancing-skillshare/

Creative Bug: Online art and craft classes. It’s free for now.
https://www.creativebug.com/classes

Kutovakika Lessons: Free photography tutorials
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIsbMfuxGOKQyA7R0XwGYmJ3yVD8GZffC

Google Arts and Culture

Carson Ellis Quarantine Art Club: This is pretty neat with a bunch of daily art prompts posted on the blog. You can also check out the Instagram handle for videos and sharing potential @carsonellis
https://www.carsonellis.com/blog

The Metropolitan Opera: Nightly live stream performances for as long as coronavirus closure. 
https://www.metopera.org/season/radio/free-live-audio-streams/

Reading/Writing/Lit:

Stimola Lab: Kid and young adult authors live stream about their books. 
https://www.stimolalive.com/

Movement/Physical Activity:

Yoga with Adrienne: Some teen-specific sessions.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFKE7WVJfvaHW5q283SxchA

Do Yoga with Me: Hundreds of free meditation, yoga, and pilates classes. 
https://www.doyogawithme.com/

@afrocontigbo on Instagram: She streams live dance sessions

@thevibe_dancefitness: streaming on Instagram

All/Integrated:

Scholastic Learn at Home: Lots of great free resources, lessons, magazine articles, etc. https://classroommagazines.scholastic.com/support/learnathome/grades-6-12.html

Wonderopolis: Cool inquiry site. Questions asked and answered by kids.
https://wonderopolis.org/

New York Times: The Times is offering free access to high schools during this time. 
https://www.nytimes.com/initiative/highschoolaccess


Free Courses:

Open Culture keeps a massive database of free online courses provided by University instructors from “Film” to “Intro to Bio” to “Design”. The options are endless. This would be great for kids that would otherwise qualify for PSEO. 
http://www.openculture.com/freeonlinecourses

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