Remote Learning Resources: 3rd Grade–5th Grade
Learning is fun when you use the Library’s broad online offerings to supplement school. From e-books to research databases to fun activities families can do together, NYPL has everything you need to support curious and engaged learners.
FEATURED NYPL RESOURCES
ACADEMIC SUPPORT
Free One-on-One Tutoring
Get free, online homework help from one-on-one tutors, daily from 2 PM to 11 PM through our partnership with Brainfuse. Available in English and Spanish, for early elementary through high school students, in core subject areas. Video content and other resources are also available 24 hours a day.
Learning Aids for 3rd to 5th Grade
Find resources on core school subjects in our extensive online databases, which feature e-books, videos, lesson plans, and more.
E-Books and Core Subject Resources
Bookflix
This resource pairs fictional video story books with nonfiction e-books. It plays the narration while highlighting the words of the story across the screen. Topics include: Animals and Nature, People and Places, ABCs and 123s, Music and Rhyme, and more. (Grades PreK–3)
FreedomFlix
Bring history to life with video clips and e-books, with popup features such as maps, timelines, virtual tour clips, primary source videos, and audio clips. (Grades 4–9)
ScienceFlix
An interactive science tool, with videos, articles, and suggested activities. Topics include: Earth Science, Health and Human Body, Physical Science, Technology, Math, and Engineering. (Grades 4–9)
TrueFlix
Online resource that gives nonfiction books and videos on various topics. Also includes project ideas, suggested activities, and links to related websites. (Grades 3–7)
TumbleBookCloud Junior
A collection of videos and books in a variety of different categories including e-books, read-alongs, graphic novels, videos, and audiobooks. (Grades 3–6)
TumbleBooks Library
Includes animated talking picture books, story books, and books in other languages, puzzles, and games. (Grades PreK–6)
Research Assignments and Projects
Explora Elementary
This is an easy to use database for students to search by keyword or by topic to find articles from encyclopedias, magazines, news sources, and biographies. Includes features to listen along to the text and search by lexile level. (Grades K–5)
Kids InfoBits
Child-friendly database which searches across reference books, news and magazine articles, biographies, and pictures. Includes features to listen along to text and lexile level of text. (Grades K–5)
Britannica Academic
Offers Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, world atlas and country comparison, news and magazine articles, primary sources, images and video. Select School Edition for all grades (PreK–12) and all reading abilities. Select articles by reading level and listen along to the text. You can use Escolar Online for accurate and age-appropriate content in Spanish for native Spanish speakers, bilingual students, and students learning Spanish.
Scholastic GO
Nonfiction content that includes eight encyclopedia databases, videos, leveled text, newspapers, and vetted websites. (Grades 3–8)
World Book Online Reference Center
Select Kids link (with balloon icon) to explore different topics, with pictures, articles, games, science projects, maps, and more. Includes features to listen along to the text. (Grades K–6)
To see all of the databases available from the New York Public Library, visit: Articles & Databases
READING RESOURCES
The New York Public Library offers e-books in read aloud and read along formats for children through our databases. Also be sure to explore the library’s suggested book lists for kids and teens.
Available with a Library Card
BrainPOP
Hundreds of BrainPOP videos explain a wide variety of concepts in Math, Science, Social Studies, English, Art & Music, Health and Technology. (Grades K-8)
FreedomFlix
Social Studies and History e-books. Try the Read to Me feature. (Grades 4–9)
TrueFlix
Social Studies and Science e-books. Use the Read to Me feature. (Grades 3–7)
TumbleBookCloud Junior
E-books available as read-alongs for Early Readers, Chapter Books, Children’s Classics, and Advanced Readers. (Grades 3–6)
TumbleBooks Library
E-books available as read-alongs for Early Readers, Chapter Books, Children’s Classics, and Advanced Readers. (Grades K–6)
TumbleMath
Read-alouds available for math e-books. (Grades K–6)
Available Without a Library Card
Storyline Online
The SAG-AFTRA Foundation’s award-winning children’s literacy website, Storyline Online, streams videos featuring celebrated actors, including Viola Davis, Chris Pine, James Earl Jones, and more, reading children’s books alongside creatively produced illustrations. Available 24 hours a day and also includes teachers’ guides with suggested activities.
Reading is Fundamental Read-Aloud Videos
More than 200 animated read-alouds (Pre-K to 6th Grade) from a trusted online hub for literacy and reading that also features many lesson plans, activities, and printable materials.
Brightly Storytime
From Penguin Random House, engaging picture book read-alouds to build a love of reading!
ENGAGING ACTIVITIES TO DO AT HOME
Explore engaging resources for supplemental learning on core subjects such as math, science, and reading that include activities like games and puzzles.
STEAM: Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Design, Mathematics
Brains On
From American Public Radio, a science podcast for families to enjoy together. Topics are wide-ranging and include everything from how elevators work to exploring dyslexia.
Math Snacks
Short videos and games to introduce different math concepts to school-age kids.
National Geographic
There are a wide range of activities available, from games to videos and exploratory modules on a wide variety of topics like space, U.S. states, and animals.
Hour of Code
Fun, themed coding tutorials that are great for beginners as well as kids who are comfortable with coding but want to practice or tackle a fun challenge. Spend an hour making art or designing games using popular characters from Frozen, Minecraft, or Star Wars.
The California Academy of Science
Activities to highlight the importance of the natural world through interactive games and webpages, live wildlife video feeds, and closeups of creatures.
Scratch
Scratch is a programming language developed by MIT especially for beginning coders ages eight and older. Use the Scratch website or download the free software to create, remix, and share coding projects like games and animations in a safe online community.
Sketchpad
An online platform for making digital art. Paint and draw with a wide range of tools and special effects or add clip art and text. Sketchpad’s website can be used on a computer or a tablet.
Smithsonian Fun Stuff for Kids Online
Find activities, games, apps, and other learning resources from Smithsonian institutions as well as animal live streams from the National Zoo.
Literacy and Reading
Reading is Fundamental Literacy Central
An online hub for literacy and reading that features many lesson plans, activities, and printable materials such as book-themed word searches, crossword puzzles, and memory games. Click “Find a Book” to search for specific books and paired activities. You can also search by grade level and material type. Note that a log-in is required to access the Puzzle Creator.
Brightly
An online hub from Penguin Random House to “help raise kids who love to read.” Features reading tips, book recommendations, activities, and more.
Candlewick Press Resources
Candlewick Press has produced myriad resources featuring some of our favorite characters like Stink and Mercy Watson. Click on “Activity Sheets and Reproducibles” for printable resources.
Scholastic Parents
Resources, downloadable activities, booklists and more! Click on “Activities and Printables” to find printable learn-at-home activities.
ReadWriteThink
An online reading and language arts hub jointly hosted by the International Literacy Association and the National Council for Teachers of English. Features printable activities, book recommendations, and interactive tools like a digital comic book creator.
Reading Rockets
Resources, activities, and reading tips for parents focused on building reading skills and developing a love of reading in their children. Features downloadable Reading Adventure Packs with activities parents and children can do together.
Other Resources and Activities
PBS Kids
Play games online and watch fun videos.
iCivics
Learn about civics through games that place you in the White House or on the Supreme Court bench.
Wonderopolis
Created by the National Center for Families Learning (NCFL), this website features a "wonder of the day" to promote curiosity, imagination, exploration, and discovery.
NPR’s Kids and Families Podcasts
We especially love Wow in the World, “a podcast designed for parents and kids to listen to together,” with its content focused on learning more about the world.
The Fin, Fur, and Feather Bureau of Investigation
Storytelling and fun activities to teach kids about different places and cultures across the globe.
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
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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.