When Stephen Schutz was young, he had reading difficulties that caused great struggles in his learning. Fortunately, his teachers never gave up on him. Now with a PhD in physics, Schutz wanted to give back to the educational community that helped him learn to read, so he developed a committee and created Starfall. Starfall is a completely free, no-registration-required website that offers preschool through second grade reading activities, beginning with phonemic awareness and phonics and building up to vocabulary, fluency and reading comprehension. Many activities can be printed as worksheets, as well.
Through games that allow them to explore such places as underwater worlds and lands with strange creatures, kids will learn and practice math, reading, critical thinking and social studies skills on the award-winning Jumpstart site. Parents can register several children for free but, unfortunately, the free play is very limited. Many more possibilities are available if you are able to pay for a monthly, annual or lifetime membership. The paid memberships not only allow open access to all of the interactive educational games, but they offer printable worksheets and project ideas.
Nicknamed the "Leader in Educational Games," Knowledge Adventure, established in 1991, is the creator of the Jumpstart brand. Though Jumpstart is a fantastic site, the best activities cost money. Now, Knowledge Adventure offers free online activities appropriate for toddlers all the way up to 12-year-olds. Games are available for math, science, reading and spelling, and no registration is required.
Lesson Pathways is more than just a website; it is an entire curriculum for preschool through fifth grade. Perfect for homeschooling or the differentiated classroom, parents and instructors can select the pathways, or week-long units, for each child to complete. Every online lesson takes students to links on the topic of study, and they are available free of charge with the exception of books or other materials needed to go along with various activities. There are alphabet and early-reading lessons good for the average 5-year-old, but there are also lessons for more advanced learners ready to move past the basics.
This website has free educational games and activities for kindergarten through fifth grade and does not require the user or parent to register. The lowest level activities, such as alphabetical order, counting and numerical order, shapes and patterns and holiday-themed puzzles, are ideal for grabbing the attention of a young learner. The games and activities also have verbal instructions so that non-readers may play and learn.