LEARNING ARCADE PLAYLIST

 FunBrain

Funbrain offers hundreds of games, books, comics, and videos that develop skills in math, reading, problem-solving and literacy.https://www.funbrain.com/grade/8

 Light Up Your Brain

The brainteaser games and audio stories featured on Light Up Your Brain help students hone their problem-solving, reading, color-matching, math, and fine motor skills. For example, your child can test his or her understanding of physics in “Successful Experiment” by using different-sized balls to move an object to a designated spot. http://lightupyourbrain.com

 Prongo

offers free games, e-cards, jokes, downloads, brainteasers, and links for most major academic subjects. You can also create interactive quizzes for your student using the Quiz Station. http://www.prongo.com

 GooseChase EDU

Digital scavenger hunts provide dynamic, fresh learning experiences https://www.goosechase.com/edu

 Friv

Lots of games! http://www.friv.com

 Lure of the Labyrinth

Lure of the Labyrinth is a digital game for middle-school pre-algebra students. Intriguing math-based puzzles are woven into an exciting narrative with two main goals: find your lost pet and save the world from monsters! http://labyrinth.thinkport.org/

 The Radix Endeavor

The Radix Endeavor is an online multiplayer game designed to augment math and biology instruction. Students use their knowledge of math and science to solve quests in a virtual Earth-like world.https://www.radixendeavor.org/

 Gamestar Mechanic

Gamestar Mechanic uses fun, game-based quests and courses to help you learn game design and make your own video games!https://gamestarmechanic.com/

 Scratch

Jump-start future programmers with adaptive sandbox tool http://scratch.mit.edu

 Codecademy

Terrific hands-on coding practice with live feedback http://www.codecademy.com

 Alice3

Alice is a free, educational, introductory Java development environment created at Carnegie Mellon University. Java programming concepts through developing 3-D animations. Offline Programmehttp://www.scholastic.com/createvideogames/

 Mozilla Thimble

Inspiring platform teaches coding through remixing https://thimble.mozilla.org

 Code.org

Popular games, big names get kids and teachers pumped to program http://www.code.org

 Codemoji

Emoji-based coding tool demystifies web design and animation https://www.codemoji.com

 Google CS First

Middle school CS platform offers stellar resources, organizing tools https://www.cs-first.com

 Made with Code

Made with Code Enticing projects and inspiring videos offer anyone an intro to coding https://www.madewithcode.com/

 Thunkable

Build a working iOS or Android app, even without coding experience https://thunkable.com

 Mozilla X-Ray Goggles

Remix tool reveals code, can strengthen kids' understanding of the web https://goggles.webmaker.org

 Code School

Awesome interactive coding lessons can make anyone a programmer https://www.codeschool.com/

 Appinventor.org

Great mobile app creation site http://www.appinventor.org/

 Twine

Cool interactive story creator can both dazzle and baffle https://twinery.org/

 Level Up!

High-level lesson plans aspire to turn classrooms into game studios http://www.scholastic.com/createvideogames/

 Space Quest!

Choose a cadet and play this space game that teaches kids like you how to code https://www.tynker.com/lesson/host

 Typing.com

Clear typing instruction with detailed statistics and fun encouragement http://www.typing.com

 TypingClub

Gamified, data-driven activities help improve keyboarding skills http://www.typingclub.com

 Typing Games

Keyboarding games that can increase your skills--IF you don't watch your fingers! http://hms.sps.lane.edu/curric/keyboardinggames.html

 Noteflight

Safe, collaborative space for creating and sharing original music http://www.noteflight.com

 Math Science Music

Thoughtful tools teach STEM skills through music and creativity http://mathsciencemusic.org

 MediaBreaker/Studios

Free video-remix tool boosts media literacy, presents some challenges https://mbstudios.thelamp.org

 Listenwise

Bring real-world stories from public radio into the classroom https://listenwise.com

 StoryCorps

From the everyday to the extraordinary, personal interviews get kids listening http://storycorps.org/

 ArtsEdge

Impressive cross-curricular resource helps put the A in STEAM https://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/educators.aspx

 KidsThinkDesign

Projects inspire creativity; a place for kids' sharing would boost fun http://www.kidsthinkdesign.org/index.html

 Workbench

Find and assign STEAM tasks with dynamic project-based learning hub https://www.workbenchplatform.com/

 South African History Online

South African History Online (SAHO) is a non-partisan people's history project concerned with the presentation of a critical, open access, and democratic history of South Africa http://www.sahistory.org.za/classroom

 Nat Geo Kids

Do you love exploring, learning and discovering new and exciting things? Nat Geo has articles and games about Animals, Science, History, and Geographyhttps://www.natgeokids.com/za/

 Nobel Prize Games

You don't have to be a genius to understand the work of the Nobel Laureates. These games and simulations, based on Nobel Prize-awarded achievements, will teach and inspire you while you're having FUN! https://www.nobelprize.org/educational/

 ReMission

Each game puts players inside the human body to fight cancer with an arsenal of weapons and super-powers, like chemotherapy, antibiotics and the body’s natural defenses. The game play parallels real-world strategies used to successfully destroy cancer and win. http://www.re-mission2.org/games/

 Lure of the Labyrinth

Lure of the Labyrinth is a digital game for middle-school pre-algebra students. Intriguing math-based puzzles are woven into an exciting narrative with two main goals: find your lost pet and save the world from monsters! http://labyrinth.thinkport.org/

 The Radix Endeavor

The Radix Endeavor is an online multiplayer game designed to augment math and biology instruction. Students use their knowledge of math and science to solve quests in a virtual Earth-like world.https://www.radixendeavor.org/

 Demolition Division

A math game that lets you destroy tanks by solving division problems.https://www.coolmath4-kids.com/math-games/demolition-division

 NaNoWriMo

Young Writers Program Wildly engaging contest turns students into novelists in 30 days https://ywp.nanowrimo.org/

 Storybird

Social storytelling fun; artwork inspires, but limits creative freedom http://www.storybird.com

 Story Wars

Read, write, and vote on engaging collaborative storytelling site https://www.storywars.net/

 Youth Voices

Vibrant online community hosts authentic student writing https://www.youthvoices.live/

 Write the World

Global community helps young writers write, revise, think, and grow http://www.writetheworld.com

 Teen Ink

Get kids writing, publishing, critiquing in this valuable network http://www.teenink.com

 Design Squad Nation

Classmates can compete to solve fun engineering problems http://pbskids.org/designsquad

 DIY

Design, build, and share new things offline and online http://www.diy.org

 Curiosity Machine

Kids build, share, receive pro feedback with awesome engineering site https://www.curiositymachine.org

 MAKE:

The Maker Movement embraces innovation, creativity, and learning to improve our communities and create a better future. Tinkerers, educators, parents, and professionals are included, because we are all Makers. That includes you. What will you make? https://makezine.com/

 Angela Lee Duckworth: Grit: the power of passion and perserverence

Several students recommend this talk. Koshi Joshi from Georgia says that this talk had a powerful impact on her, by teaching that “learning comes with effort and hard work, and that working hard is the key to success.” Meanwhile, Juwon Pade from Connecticut agrees with ”the idea that hard work and determination make a huge impact.”Angela Lee Duckworth: Grit: the power of passion and perserverence

 Julian Treasure: How to speak so that people want to listen

Julian Treasure’s talk is another top pick by students. High schooler Karol Dobrowolski from Poland says that she took Julian’s advice — and it helped her prepare to give her TED-Ed Club talk.Julian Treasure: How to speak so that people want to listen

 Cameron Russell: Looks aren’t everything. Believe me, I’m a model

This talk is a great reminder that it’s what’s on the inside that counts. Amelia Browne, a student in San Francisco, writes about why it inspired her: “Her story allowed me to further my understanding of the privilege and opportunity I’ve been given by today’s society. I was able to better comprehend how I use those qualities to create change for the generations to come so that there is not inherent privilege, and instead compassion and acceptance.”Cameron Russell: Looks aren’t everything. Believe me, I’m a model

 Drew Dudley: Everyday leadership

TED-Ed Club Members love this funny talk. San Francisco student Isabella Scal believes in the message Drew Dudley is trying to spread, and says: “Small acts of kindness can change someone’s life, and each person in their own way positively affects the people around them. This talk has made me appreciate my peers and elders so much more because I know that they help(ed) to shape me into the person I was, I am, and I will be."Drew Dudley: Everyday leadership

 Susan Cain: The power of introverts

J“Susan Cain’s talk validated my feelings and experiences and empowered me to embrace my introversion, even if our culture does not. With the understanding of introversion from her TED Talk (and from her book, which I had read before seeing the talk), I gained a new way to understand the people around me, and developed an improved attitude about my own personality. Her eloquent, well-organized and confident presentation further proved her point on the power of introverts, and also reminded me not to use introversion as an excuse for not participating in important discussions and events."Susan Cain: The power of introverts

 Casey Neistat: High school stories

“Casey Neistat’s talk taught me that as I am fortunate to live in the United States and go to a great school, I must seize this opportunity to help someone else who does not receive the same luxuries that I do. This has fueled my love for community service and helping others. I often volunteer at the senior home and the homeless shelter. At the moment, I am starting a club at my school that will help the refugees who are in dire need of our support. There is so much that I can do to improve the lives of people who need it most.”Casey Neistat: High school stories

 Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: The danger of a single story

“One perspective is what shapes people into being closed minded and ignorant of the world around them. This TED Talk inspired me to learn more about current events so that I would not become one of those ignorant people who thinks that everyone is the same as them and everyone has the amenities and opportunities that they do.”Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: The danger of a single story

 Adora Svitak: What adults can learn from kids

This talk is a favorite for teachers and students alike, as Adora Svitak reminds us why it’s so important to listen to youth voices..Adora Svitak: What adults can learn from kids

 Crash Course

Crash Course is a YouTube channel created by John Green — author of “The Fault in our Stars” — and his brother, Hank. It offers deeply-researched, information-packed video courses in episodic format on big topics like world history and astronomy. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX6b17PVsYBQ0ip5gyeme-Q

 TED-ED

You’ll find Ted-Ed on nearly every educational YouTube list for a reason—the library of expert talks they provide is large enough to keep your students busy every day of the week for the rest of the year! Keep students excited with videos like Why are human bodies asymmetrical? and How do we know what color dinosaurs were?

 SMITHSONIAN CHANNEL

Subjects ranging from cars and jet engines to polar bears and sharks.

 EXPERT VILLAGE

Bring learning into the real world with this educational YouTube channel. Students can learn how to raise a dog and take great photographs all within five minutes.

 NPR

Turn to NPR for lessons on everything from politics to health. Students can safely peruse this channel for video content, but may not find a lot of as exciting as it could be, so it may be best for you to hand-pick the videos that make the most sense for your lessons.

 TALKS AT GOOGLE

Students will be in awe as they list to talks about “Searching for the Oldest Stars” or watch celebrities like Lady Gaga speak about tech topics.

 NASA JOHNSON

If you have budding astronauts in your classroom, they will be begging to watch more videos from this YouTube channel. They can tune into live broadcasts (and all previously recorded live broadcasts), learn about how astronauts live in space and see what the world looks like from way up there.

 BRIGHTSTORM

Let other educators do the work for you if you’re feeling overwhelmed by picking class videos from this education-focused channel. Designed for students in high school, videos cover Math, Science and English with mini-lessons from teachers just like you. Students can learn about the parts of an essay, absolute value inequality graphs and electromagnetic waves.

 MINUTE PHYSICS

With more than 3 million subscribers, this is one of the most popular channels on YouTube. Their tagline, “cool physics and other sweet science,” are not just words—each video is accompanied by fun, colorful graphics that make topics like Angular Momentum exciting.

 BIG THINK

This fun channel provides more abstract lessons that can supplement more specific lessons in the classroom. Many topics cover mainstream topics such as our obsession with selfies and presidential debates, while others dig into deeper content such as the Big Bang and mindful daydreaming.

 VANCOUVER POETRY SLAM

Get students excited to write by showing them some of these inspiring and impressive performances by writers of all ages. Topics and styles vary from video to video, allowing every student to find something that speaks to them.

 ANIMAL PLANET

This YouTube channel is home to an interesting combination of videos, and its strength really lies in their playlists, which pull together a variety of 1- to 5-minute videos to completely cover a single topic.

 COMPUTER HISTORY

This channel, managed by the Computer History Museum, is perfect for your next STEM lesson. With intriguing videos about technology and our current tech startup culture, students will get a real-life glimpse into the world of computers and tech.

 BOOKTV

Students will love hearing authors of their favorite novels talk about their writing. It may take some time to dig through the videos and find a few that your students will like, but the one you choose could be the inspiration one of your student’s needs to write more.

 WORDSOFTHEWORLD

This interesting YouTube channel discusses the most popular and familiar words in the English language today, digging up the history and true meanings behind them. Find a video for at least one vocabulary word every month—students will get excited when video time comes around each month.

 THE CULINARY INSTITUTE OF AMERICA

This is a must-watch channel for any budding chefs in your classroom. Dig through their large library of videos to find cooking demonstrations and informational pieces of about protein and New York state apples.