Student Activity Web Sites Carolyn Hornik

Finding appropriate activities for students to do on a classroom computer can be a challenging task. Fortunately, the web offers a multitude of enjoyable activities designed for students to reinforce their language arts and mathematics concepts and skills.

It is a huge time saver if the teacher can preview the web sites he or she intends the students to use and then bookmark them. Often when students look up a particular topic or web site, too much time is consumed searching and the possibility of accessing inappropriate sites becomes greater. For those teachers who are able to create web pages, it would be a good idea to create a class web site that contains links to sites you would like your students to use.

To get you started, I’ve compiled a list of mathematics and language arts web sites you might like your students to use.

Mathematics

SOS Mathematics Interactive Cyber Exams -- Middle and high school students may take interactive quizzes. Math subjects include Intermediate Algebra, Mathematics for Social Sciences, Pre-calculus, Calculus, and Differential Equations.

Primary Games -- Elementary students may choose math games involving reading a clock, odd and even numbers, finding number equivalents, and basic addition. Social studies games include identifying presidents, identifying flags, identifying states, and running a business. Science games revolve around topics such as dinosaurs, Earth Day, plants and flowers, insects, and gravity. Language arts games stress phonics, spelling and sight words.

Funbrain and MathBrain -- Basic math skills are reinforced at Fun Brain and Math Brain through games such as Math Baseball, Car Racing, and Power Football. For grades K-12.

National Council of Teachers of Math -- Two students at a time can play the Product Game. Students have fun while reinforcing multiplication number facts. This site is appropriate for grades 4-12.

National Council of Teachers of Math -- Similarly, students can play the Factor Game to find factors of multiples. This site is appropriate for grades 4-12.

MathDork -- Destroy the asteroid which equals the value of x shown. This is a great way for grade 3-8 students to reinforce number facts for all operations.

Disaster Math -- Survive Disaster Math while solving math problems. This site is appropriate for students in grades 4 through 8.

Count On Games -- Play interactive games like Mathgorilla, Shape Invaders and Othello. For elementary level students.

A+ Math -- Choose the Java or non-Java versions of game activities like Hidden Pictures, Matho, and Concentration. Elementary level students can use the non-Java flashcards to practice math facts.

Language Arts

Starfall -- Early childhood and English Language Learners are able to listen to phonic sounds, enjoy related activities and read simple online books.

Reading Matrix -- Elementary school students will find Interactive children's stories, games, and activities. Many activities are animated and have sound.

Charlotte's Web -- This is a second grade class web site with chapter summaries, puzzles, and poems related to Charlotte’s Web.

Poetry4Kids -- Students in grades 3 though 6 can read a variety of different poetry forms, play interactive games, and learn how to write their own poetry.

The Internet Public Library
Students in grades 2 though 6 can read online animated stories. This is a good site for read aloud materials. Upper grade tutors can read the stories on this site to lower grade students.

Bedtime Story -- Elementary and middle school students can read online stories and get a synopsis of each story. This site is excellent for read alouds.

Children's Storybooks -- Students can read illustrated, interactive stories online. Stories range in level for primary students through young adults.

Make sure to read my related article Managing a One Computer Classroom.