Resources from Partner Organizations & External Sites
Check out these helpful resources from fellow educational organizations in a variety of subjects.
English Language Arts and Literacy
- 826Digital
Creative writing prompts and projects from a nonprofit organization focused on igniting a love of writing in all students. (Grades 1–12) - Boogie Down Books
This bookstore, which provides pop-up shops for students in the Bronx, also features educator guides and book recommendations on their site. (Grades PreK–12) - Book Wizard
Use this online tool to find the guided reading level of various books. Also available as an app. (Grades K–8) - The Booklist Reader
Provides book lists on a variety of topics and genres, as well as news articles, and features recommendations from librarians, Booklist Reader staff, and more. (Grades K–12) - CommonLit
Online lessons and reading passages paired with teacher-development resources and classroom monitoring tools (Grades 3–12) - Kids Read 2 Kids
Designed by families with experience in ADHD and dyslexia, Kids Read 2 Kids provides decodable chapter books and abridged classics read aloud by kids. (Grades K–12) - Lee and Low Books
This publisher features diverse book lists, grade-level resources, and lesson plans on its site. (Grades PreK–12) - NewsELA
A suite of non-fiction articles, biographies, and more with paired activities; all texts are available at multiple reading levels. (Grades 2–12) - Poets.org
Lesson plans, essays, and more on incorporating poetry into your curriculum. (Grades 1–12) - Quill
Interactive writing and grammar activities and lessons for middle school and high school. (Grades 6–12) - ReadWriteThink
An English Language Arts hub for educators and parents, includes lesson plans, printables, and professional development information. (Grades K–12) - Reading Is Fundamental
Great literacy tools and resources, including lesson plans, reading passages, games, printables, and videos. RIF’s Literacy Central provides access to thousands of free resources that connect to the books that educators, parents, and caregivers regularly use for instruction. RIF also has interactive activity calendars to ensure students are connecting to reading each day, as well as a literacy tracker for students. (Grades PreK–12) - Reading Rockets
Book lists, reading guides, activities, and more. (Grades PreK–5) - School Library Journal
Resources for librarians and educators, including book lists and reviews. (Grades PreK–12) - StoryCorps
Lesson plans and resources to help students conduct their own oral history projects. (Grades 4–12) - Teaching Books
Invite students and families to delve into the world of children's and young adult books with read-along performances of favorite books that are available in more than 100 languages, virtual storytimes with thousands of book readings, insightful interviews with authors, discussion questions, and more. (Grades PreK–12) - Smithsonian Tween Tribune
Current events articles at a range of adjustable reading levels. (Grades 4–8) - Starfall
Phonics-based learn-to-read activities, as well as math and music activities. (Grades PreK–3) - We Need Diverse Books
We Need Diverse Books is a nonprofit that advocates for more diverse books to be published, and their site features a booktalking kit and blog to assist school librarians in promoting culturally responsive titles. (Grades PreK–12)
Social Studies
- Annenberg Classroom
Free resources, including videos, games, and complete lesson plans, for teaching about the United States Constitution. (Grades 6–12) - Facing History and Ourselves
A collection of lessons, articles, and resources focused on history and how to confront bigotry and hate. (Grades 6–12) - iCivics
Learn about civics through games that place you in the White House, on the Supreme Court bench, or fighting fake news. (Grades 4–12) - National Archives
The National Archives has educator resources, as well as free distance learning programs featuring primary sources from their collections. (Grades K–12) - NewseumED
A center for first amendment media literacy, NewseumED has thousands of lesson plans, digital artifacts, videos, and more for students of all ages. (Grades 3–12)
Science and Technology
- Applied Digital Skills from Google for Education
Ready-to-use digital lessons for older students and adults, including how to create a resume, if-then adventure stories, and planning and budgeting. Educators can also learn how to utilize Google Classroom for remote learning through this learning platform (Grades 7–12) - California Academy of Sciences
Lesson plans, videos, and other immersive resources for science education with a focus on the environment. (Grades K–12) - Code.org
Resources for learning computer science while at home (Grades K–12) - Intrepid Museum Online
The Intrepid provides virtual guided tours you can view to learn more about the incredible machines on display. The Intrepid Museum's education team has developed enriching programs and resources that may be adapted and customized for self-contained classes or groups of individuals with disabilities. (Grades K–12) - Mystery Science
Free science lesson plans, including lesson plans specifically for remote learning due to school closures. - NASA for Educators
Lesson plans, videos, simulations and more from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Grades K–12) - National Geographic Magazines for Students
The site features a teacher’s guide, as well as an interactive edition for students. (Grades K–5)
Mathematics
- Illuminations
A project from the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics that provides virtual games, interactives, and standards-aligned lesson plans. (Grades K–12) - Math Snacks
Short videos and games to introduce different math concepts to school-age kids. (Grades 4–8) - Mathigon
Interactive math textbook with engaging digital illustrations of concepts. (Grades 6–12)
Arts and Culture
- EDSITEment!
Developed by the National Endowment for the Arts, EDSITEment! features lesson plans and teacher’s guides. The site also features a section dedicated to digital resources and online education for the humanities, and has Google Classroom integration. (Grades K–12) - Google Arts and Culture Museum Views
While school is closed and students are stuck inside, invite them to take a virtual exploration of art collections from around the world. (Grades 2–12) - Lincoln Center
Lincoln Center will be providing live streaming performances and concerts at the Center's Campus as well as other locations. Lincoln Center also has a new series called Pop-Up Classroom with a range of classes, such as songwriting workshops and Puppetry making. Classes are weekdays at 10 am on Facebook Live. (Grades K–12) - The Metropolitan Museum of Art
#MetKids is an interactive site developed for, with, and by kids. Students will learn fun facts about the Met and get ideas to create amazing projects. The Met also features lesson plans for teachers that introduce students to the richness and diversity of the museum’s collections. (Grades 2–6)
Multiple Subjects
- ABCya!
Educational games, which include literacy and math skills, as well as practice typing and computer navigation skills, for elementary students. (Grades PreK–6+) - Common Sense Media
Articles and resources for parents and educators on books, games, television, and movies. For educators, Common Sense Media provides digital citizenship lessons, as well as an informative article on how to reduce anxiety and stress in students due to COVID-19. (Grades K–12) - Hippocampus
More than 7,000 videos in 13 different subject areas. Teachers can create a free account to customize their playlist for their students. (Grades 6–12) - Khan Academy
Online educational resources on a variety of subjects for all ages. Includes video instruction, practice exercises, articles, and quizzes. (Grades PreK–12) - The New York Times Learning Network
The New York Times education hub featuring learning resources paired with the newspaper's content. Access to articles is free through this site. Features writing prompts, quizzes, and more. (Grades 8–12) - PBS Learning Media
Hub for all PBS educational resources including lesson plans, videos, and interactives for all core subjects. (Grades K–12) - Quizlet
Study guides on various topics for all ages. Teachers can create quizzes for their students. Includes flashcards, vocabulary, diagrams, and quizzes. (Grades K–12) - Scholastic Learn from Home
Provides 20 days worth of content for students to access at home, and invites educators to use this content to plan their instruction. (Grades PreK–6+) - Share My Lesson
This site is created by educators, for educators, in order to share lesson plans and resources. The site has an entire section dedicated to remote learning, to assist educators facing school closures. (Grades PreK–12) - Smithsonian Learning Lab
Collection of distance learning resources from the Smithsonian’s museums, libraries, and archives; includes videos, texts, lesson plans, and more - TED Talks
TED Talks provide information through captivating and engaging videos that focus on a variety of different topics, such as technology, business, and global issues. There are even informative talks on COVID-19, the power of hand-washing, and how vaccinating bats can help teach the world about pandemics. (Grades 9–12) - Teaching Tolerance
This site features over 2,000 learning plans for educators to use to teach tolerance and acceptance. They even feature a specific remote learning lesson for schools impacted by closures. Educators can use this resource to build social emotional learning (SEL) skills at home. (Grades K–12)
Get Started With SimplyE
With your library card, it's easier than ever to choose from more than 300,000 e-books on SimplyE, The New York Public Library's free e-reader app. Library cardholders can gain access to an array of digital resources for all ages, including e-books, audiobooks, databases, and more.
If you don’t have an NYPL library card, New York State residents can apply for a digital card through the Library’s SimplyE app (available on the App Store or Google Play). Once you’ve received your barcode and PIN, explore SimplyE to discover hundreds of thousands of e-books, plus visit our website to find many more digital resources. You can also find your library card number by logging into your library account with your SimplyE username and pin. The 14 digit library card number is displayed underneath your name.
Patrons 13 years and older can apply for their own library cards. Patrons 12 and under will need a parent or caregiver to create an account. Note: These accounts cannot be restricted to only children’s materials.
After registering, it may take a few hours to receive your barcode in order to access the Library’s digital resources. Once you sign up for a card through SimplyE, you will need to select a home library after your barcode has been emailed to you. Log into your account and click on Settings to set your Preferred Pickup location.
If you have questions, please email schoolvisits@nypl.org
Note About Privacy & External Websites
Please note: This web page contains third-party links. By clicking on the website links above, you will leave NYPL’s website and enter a website not operated by NYPL. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of every third-party website or service that you visit or use, including those third parties with whom you interact through our Library services.
For more information about these third-party links, please see the section of NYPL's Privacy Policy describing "Third-Party Library Services Providers . Note that children under the age of 13 should not submit any personally-identifiable information (e.g., name, email address, etc.) to any online website, per federal COPPA requirements.