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Virtual Field Trips | Electronic Literacy Resources for Teachers

Electronic Literacy Resources for Parents | Electronic Literacy Resources for Children

Virtual Field Trips

▼   Ally Glass- Virtual Dives
  • Subject: Science
  • Website: https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/vr/#gallery
  • Description: This is virtual field trip was actually something that I was able to experience with my kindergarteners last semester so I know first hand how much students enjoy it! We used virtual dives when learning about different animals and their habitats. Our particular "dive" was to explore coral reefs but the link includes several other underwater adventures, such as diving with sea lions. I believe it is also worth mentioning that some videos may work better on iPads or other tablets.
  • Time Needed: 20-45 minutes
  • Grade Level(s): K-2
▼   Tina Lowery- Tour of Mars
  • Subject: Science
  • Website: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/take-360-degree-tours-mars-and-moon-180958085/
  • Description: The Mars virtual field trip would be a great tool to use when introducing planets. The virtual field trip will come to great use when talking about the anatomy of Mars and any form of life that may live on Mars. Its also a great tool to use to show how the surface of Mars looks, because often times from pictures we expect planets to look different and contain different components.
  • Time Needed: 15-20 minutes
  • Grade Level(s): K-3
▼   Leila Lipscomb- Fire Station Tour
  • Subject: Social Studies
  • Website: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcmE9FThpGA
  • Description: Using this virtual tour, students will explore the role of community helpers in their neighborhood. Children are introduced to the most important room in the fire house, work schedules, and daily routines of the firefighter. This is a great resource for children to explore the firehouse and learn about the expectations of firefighters. It's time to answer the call as you explore what it takes to be a firefighter!
  • Time Needed: 3-5 Minutes
  • Grade Level(s): K-1
▼   Emily Wilkinson - Take a Field Trip to the Recycling Center
  • Subject: Science
  • Website: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jAAux3g17k&t=
  • Description: This video takes students on a field trip to a Recycling Center! It shows three children meeting a worker at the recycling center, touring the center, and learning so much about the recycling process. Through this virtual field trip, students can learn what recycling is, what materials can be recycled, and the process an object goes through to be recycled.
  • Time Needed: 8 Minutes
  • Grade Level(s): K
▼   Emily Maurer - Take a field trip to the San Diego Zoo
  • Subject: Science
  • Website: https://kids.sandiegozoo.org/
  • Description: On the website, the students have the opportunity to explore by playing videos, and they can learn about different types of animals, the environment they live in, and the conservation efforts being made to protect those environments.
  • Time Needed: 30 minutes to an hour
  • Grade Level(s): K-3
▼   Kristen Silvers- San Diego Zoo Field Trip
  • Subject: Science
  • Website: https://kids.sandiegozoo.org/videos
  • Description: This virtual field trip will allow students to see live cams of animals at the San Diego zoo. This will allow students to see the different animals and how each one differs among each habitat. They can look at all sorts of animals that live at a zoo. There are also many videos that share different facts about the animals, so it would make you feel as if you were right there at the zoo.
  • Time Needed: 1 Hour
  • Grade Level(s): K-2
▼   Sydney Pierce - NASA Glenn Research Facilities
  • Subject: Science
  • Website: https://www.nasa.gov/glennvirtualtours
  • Description: 3.. 2.. 1.. We have lift off! Immerse yourself in the fascinating world of the NASA Glenn Research Center by exploring the different facilities the center has to offer. Watch videos on how they use the different types of technology that help prepare our astronauts for life in outer space. Click on the informational texts found throughout the tour to provide additional information on each room. All of these great features are a perfect way to help introduce the wondrous world of outer space as our students will begin exploring.
  • Time Needed: 1 Hour
  • Grade Level(s): K-5
▼   Madison-Ann Stanley- Georgia Aquarium field trip
  • Subject: Science
  • Website: https://www.georgiaaquarium.org/at-home-learning-with-georgia-aquarium/
  • Description: On this website you are able to scroll through different webcams and see different parts of the aquarium. This virtual field is great for students to see up close all of the different animals that are in a aquarium. This also allows students to see what animals are in the same tank and therefore can coexist together in the wild. You can also find different pictures of the animals on this website and learn information about them! Under the at-home learning tab there are lessons plans for the students and parents to use while they are homeschooling. The kids can also draw pictures of their favorite animals and submit their artwork to the aquarium website. There are so many different things to do and explore on this website!
  • Time Needed: 1-3 hours depends on how many different animals and activities you do!
  • Grade Level(s): K-5
▼   Tiffany Williamson - Yellowstone National Park in 3D
  • Subject: Science or Social Studies (landforms, models, and wildlife habitats)
  • Website: https://www.nps.gov/gis/storymaps/cascade/v1/index.html?appid=ee0b10d44b6843b18ccf829c2891ed01
  • Description: Yellowstone is an extraordinary place. Visitors are treated to beautiful landscapes, wildlife, and geysers as they explore the Park. The scientists at Yellowstone National Park have created 3-D models of some of these features, and you can now explore them like never before.
  • Time Needed: 1-2 hours, if needed
  • Grade Level(s): 2nd grade and up
▼   Morgan Walden- Virtual Farm Field Trip
▼   Maisie Engle- Statue of Liberty
  • Subject: Social Studies
  • Website: https://www.nps.gov/stli/learn/photosmultimedia/virtualtour.htm
  • Description: A landmark in America. A gift from the French that was dedicated in October 1886. Immerse your students in a breathtaking view of the Statue of Liberty without ever leaving the comfort of their seats. This virtual field trip is found on the National Park Service website. Students have the opportunity to see the Statue of Liberty in a way they may never have before.
  • Time Needed: 30 minutes-1 Hour
  • Grade Level(s): Any
▼   Kaylee Cleckler - Interactive tour of Ellis Island
  • Subject: Social Studies
  • Website: http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/immigration/tour/
  • Description: Ellis Island is a small island located in the New York Harbor. In 1890, Ellis Island was established as the Nation's first immigration station by president Benjamin Harrison. Although the immigration station is now closed, more the 12 million immigrants made their first stop in America at the Island and more than 40 percent of Americans can trace their family history back to Ellis Island! Since second grade focuses a lot on immigration, this would be a great opportunity for students to learn more about Ellis Island through personal stories, historical photographs, and interesting facts!
  • Time Needed: 1-2 Hours
  • Grade Level(s): 2nd Grade
▼   Brheannon Horton - Hawaii Volcano Tour
  • Subject: Science
  • Website: https://www.nationalparkstraveler.org/2013/06/take-virtual-tour-hawaii-volcanoes-national-park-video23427
  • Description: This virtual field trip of the Hawaiian Volcanoes allows students to have the ability to see a time-lapse of volcanoes erupting. The students will see the complete process of the volcano erupting and be able to get an up close visual of how lava affects the landforms surrounding the volcanoes. They will also experience how lava, when meeting the ocean, turns into rock. This would be a great virtual field trip to show students when you are introducing volcanoes or the process of how lava forms into solid materials, such as rock.
  • Time Needed: 3-5 minutes
  • Grade Level(s): 2nd Grade
▼   Harley Landry - BREEF's Virtual Coral Reef Field Trip: Life on the Bahamian Coral Reef
  • Subject: Science
  • Website: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9N-2XqICOwU
  • Description: This video gives a deeper understanding of life on a coral reef. It defines terms, and gives facts about the living and non-living organisms on the coral reef. The video also discusses how human life and lifestyles can affects the quality of a coral reef. It discusses marine pollution, and ways to prevent these types of disasters.
  • Time Needed: 45 mins -1 hour
  • Grade Level(s): 2nd Grade
▼   Nadine Jones - Atlanta Zoo
  • Subject: Science, Language Arts
  • Website: https://zooatlanta.org/panda-cam/
  • Description: This site provides a live cam of various animals - take the Pandas for example. The site always gives updates, which seems to be rather sporadic. The updates will discuss how the Zoo team is caring for the animals during this time, facts about the animals, ways to differentiate the animals, their habitats, and much more. Various keepers of these animals, for example, the keeper of the Sloths, Lemurs, and Monkeys will record videos of themselves giving updates on how they are doing, just so we can stay up to date with our favorite animals.
  • Time Needed: Truthfully depends on which animal, and how long you'd like to watch the live cam, and read the updates. 45 minutes to and hour seems sufficient to explore different animals, watch the keepers videos, the live cam, and read updates.
  • Grade Level(s): 3rd Grade
▼   Haley Jones- San Diego Zoo Virtual, Self-Guided Field Trip
  • Subject: Science and Reading
  • Website: https://kids.sandiegozoo.org/save-animals
  • Description: This website is an engaging, up-close experience that has an endless amount of resources. This site provides students with free educational books to read (appropriate for all reading levels), coloring sheets, crafts, interactive games, and recipes for your pets! Located under the video tab, students can find information about animal wildlife, jobs within the zoo, saving species, and so much more. Along with all of these excellent resources, there are real-time webcams that show an up-close view of the animals. There is also an adult version of this experience available.
  • Time Needed: 30 minutes to an hour.
  • Grade Level(s): 4th Grade and up
▼   Taylor Eady - Smithsonian Museum Virtual, Self-Guided Field Trip
  • Subjects: History and Science
  • Website: https://naturalhistory2.si.edu/vt3/NMNH/z_tour-022.html
  • Description: This virtual field trip is a self-guided, room by room, tour of the Smithsonian Museum. Students can navigate through the museum accessing exhibits from the past, present and permanent exhibits as well. Visitors also have access to select collections and research areas at the Smithsonian's satellite support and research stations as well as past exhibits that are not on display anymore. Make sure you send your students to the second floor "Bone Hall" so they can take a look at all different kinds of skeletons!
  • Time Needed: 30 minutes to 1 hour
  • Grade Level(s): 3rd to 6th Grade
▼   Caroline Barlow-The Great Wall Of China, Self-Guided Field Trip
  • Subjects: History
  • Website: https://www.thechinaguide.com/destination/great-wall-of-china
  • Description: This virtual field trip is a self-guided trip where you can explore the different areas of the Great Wall Of China. Students can navigate through the area by using the arrows provided. This is a great way for students to see what the Great wall Of China looks like in person. They can even click on the option to see it when it is snowing outside. This field trip would be great during a history lesson about the Great Wall Of China. It also includes a map to show you where it begins and where it ends.
  • Time Needed: 30 minutes to 1 Hour
  • Grade Level(s): 4th to 6th Grade
▼   Hannah Vasko- The Grand Canyon
  • Subject: Science
  • Website: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngFc15tlScc
  • Description: In this Virtual field trip you will embark on the giant wonders of the famous Grand Canyon. You will start out waiting on the helicopter that will take you down into the canyon. You will get to see the amazing cuts and divots of the canyon due to the natural causes of weathering and erosion. You will then land beside the Colorado River, which runs through the Grand Canyon, and from there you will get to take a boat ride through the canyon. You will then get off of your helicopter and make your way to the skywalk area where you will see several people standing on an engineered cliff that hangs over the canyon with a glass bottom. Next you will find yourself at Guano Point which is famous for its bat droppings from all the bats.
  • Time Needed: 13 Minutes
  • Grade Level(s): 4th to 6th Grade
▼   Megan Cayton - I Survived the American Revolution
  • Subject: Social Studies
  • Website: https://www.scholastic.com/beyondthebattlefield/
  • Description: This website has a great virtual field trip to the Museum of the American Revolution. The virtual field trip is roughly twenty-five minutes long. It has a vocabulary list attached to it, so that students will know what the words mean. The virtual tour lists discussion questions for each grade level to complete with an answer key. This website also has several related articles, that are grouped by grade level, that students can read about the American Revolution.
  • Time Needed: 1 to 2 Hours
  • Grade Level(s): 2nd to 4th, 4th to 6th, and 6th and 8th Grade
▼   Serena Colvin: Ellis Island Virtual Field Trip
  • Subject: Social Studies
  • Website: http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/immigration/webcast.htm
  • Description: The virtual field trip to Ellis Island follows along with the 6th grade social studies standard (2) about reform movements during the Progressive Era in the United States. This website allows students to explore Ellis Island, meet young immigrants, view immigration data, and hear stories of those who went through the immigration process at Ellis Island during that time. The students are also able to explore the rooms and the primary documents.
  • Time Needed: 1 to 2 Hours
  • Grade Level(s): 6th Grade
▼   Angela Hoffman - Gulf Detectives
  • Subject: Science
  • Website: https://apt2.org/learning_adventure/episode-1-gulf-detectives/
  • Description: Gulf Detectives, presented by Dauphin Island Sea lab, allows students to explore the Mobile Bay Watershed and it's inhabitants without leaving their desks. The goal is to engage students and increase their knowledge and scientific literacy. What makes this trip unique is the local connection to waterways, beaches, and the coastal wetlands they see and explore often. The field trip also includes a kahoot and quiz for teachers to use after the video is over.
  • Time Needed: 1 Hour
  • Grade Level(s): 5th to 8th Grade

 

Electronic Literacy Resources for Teachers

▼   ReadWriteThink
  • Website: ReadWriteThink
  • Phonemic Awareness: Collection of PA instructional resources
▼   Turtle Diary: Re-imagination of Learning for Teachers
  • Website: Turtle Diary: Re-imagination of Learning
  • Phonemic Awareness: Games and worksheets
  • Phonics: Games, worksheets, and more
  • Expanding Vocabulary: Games, worksheets, and more
  • Comprehension: Games, worksheets, and more
  • Fluency: Games, worksheets, and more
▼   Reading Rockets for Teachers
  • Website: Reading Rockets, Fluency, Classroom Strategies
  • Phonemic Awareness: Teachers’ guides and resources
  • Phonics: Teachers’ guides and resources
  • Expanding Vocabulary: Informative article for vocabulary instruction including ELL portion
  • Fluency: Tips to assist in improvement
▼   Storytime Standouts for Teachers
  • Website: Storytime Standouts
  • Phonemic Awareness: Learning activities and games as well as recommendations for picture books
▼   Begin to Read: What is Phonemic Awareness? for Teachers
▼   K12 Reader: Effective Strategies for Teaching PA
▼   SoftSchools for Teachers
  • Website: SoftSchools
  • Printables: flashcards and worksheets
▼   Education.com for Teachers
  • Website: Education.com
  • Free membership required
  • Activities and online printables
▼   Spelling City for Teachers
  • Website: Spelling City
  • Games and accompanying instructional resources
▼   Pinterest: SightWordFun for Teachers
▼   Mr. Nussbaum! Learning + Fun for Teachers
▼   Making Inferences, Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears
▼   Fluency Boot Camp
▼   Reading Resource.net: Reading Fluency Strategies for Teachers
▼   Pinterest: Teaching Fluency
▼   Scholastic: Oral Fluency Assessment Calculator for Grades 3-5
▼   Reader’s Theater Scripts and Plays
▼   Reader’s Theater Editions
▼   Reading Sage for Teachers
  • Website: Reading Sage
  • Materials for multisensory instruction
▼   Scholastic: 5 Surefire Strategies for Developing Reading Fluency
▼   The Horn Book
  • Website: The Horn Book
  • An interview with children’s author, Eloise Greenfield
▼   Scholastic: Phonemic Awareness


 

Electronic Literacy Resources for Parents

▼   Turtle Diary: Re-imagination of Learning for Parents
  • Website: Turtle Diary: Re-imagination of Learning
  • Phonemic Awareness: Games and Worksheets
  • Phonics: Games, worksheets, and more
  • Expanding Vocabulary: Games, worksheets, and more
  • Comprehension: Games, worksheets, and more
  • Fluency: Games, worksheets, and more
▼   Mobile Public Library for Parents
  • Website: Mobile Public Library
  • Phonemic Awareness: Pre and early reader links selected by librarians (Most
    branches have free weekly story times and weekend educational and fun activities)
  • Phonics: Pre and early reader links selected by librarians (Most branches offer weekly story times & weekend educational & fun activities)
  • Expanding Vocabulary: Links for educational support, games, and websites selected by librarians (Most branches have free weekly story times and
    weekend educational and fun activities)
  • Comprehension: Links for educational support, games, and websites selected by
    librarians (Most branches have free weekly storytimes and weekend educational and fun activities)
  • Fluency: Links for educational support, games, and websites selected by librarians (Most branches have free weekly story times and weekend educational and fun activities)
▼   Reading Rockets for Parents
  • Website: Reading Rockets, Fluency, Classroom Strategies
  • Phonemic Awareness: Assistance and advice for parents of struggling readers
  • Phonics: Assistance and advice for parents of struggling readers
  • Expanding Vocabulary: Informative article to understand vocabulary development and assisting the process
  • Fluency: Tips to assist in improvement
▼   Storytime Standouts for Parents
  • Website: Storytime Standouts
  • Phonemic Awareness: Learning activities and games as well as recommendation for picture books
▼   Begin to Read: What is Phonemic Awareness? for Parents
▼   Spelling City for Parents
  • Website: Spelling City
  • Expanding Vocabulary: Games and accompanying instructional resources
▼   Pinterest: SightWordFun for Parents
  • Website: Pinterest: SightWordFun
  • Expanding Vocabulary: Extensive list of activities, games, and resources for sight word practices
▼   Mr. Nussbaum! Learning + Fun for Parents
▼   Reading Comprehension
▼   Literacy Leader for Parents
  • Website: Literacy Leader
  • Comprehension: One page printable with steps for comprehension
▼   Reading Resource.net: Reading Fluency Strategies for Parents
▼   Reading Sage for Parents
  • Website: Reading Sage
  • Fluency: Materials for multisensory instruction
▼   Oxford Owl
  • Website: Oxford Owl
  • Phonemic Awareness: Educational Ebooks, audio guides, worksheets, and videos
  • Phonics: Educational Ebooks, audio guides, worksheets, and videos
  • Expanding Vocabulary: Educational Ebooks, audio guides, worksheets, and videos
  • Comprehension: Educational Ebooks, audio guides, worksheets, and videos
  • Fluency: Educational Ebooks, audio guides, worksheets, and videos
▼   Animated Children’s Books for Parents
  • Website: Animated Children’s Books
  • Fluency: A YouTube channel devoted to bringing your favorite children’s books to life through engaging animations
▼   Education.com for Parents
  • Website: Education.com
  • Phonemic Awareness: Free literacy worksheets and online games
  • Phonics: Free literacy worksheets and online games
  • Expanding Vocabulary: Free literacy worksheets and online games
▼   STEM
▼   Kids in the Kitchen
  • Website: Kids in the Kitchen, PBS
  • Expanding Vocabulary: Tips and tricks for parents with picky eaters, videos, and recipes to cook with your children. Cooking with kids improves vocabulary, comprehension, and fluency.
  • Comprehension: Tips and tricks for parents with picky eaters, videos, and recipes to cook with your children. Cooking with kids improves vocabulary, comprehension, and fluency.
  • Fluency: Tips and tricks for parents with picky eaters, videos, and recipes to cook with your children. Cooking with kids improves vocabulary, comprehension, and fluency.
▼   Bri Reads for Parents
  • Website: Bri Reads
  • Phonemic Awareness: Songs and Read-Alouds for kids
  • Phonics: Songs and Read-Alouds for kids
  • Expanding Vocabulary: Songs and Read-Alouds for kids
  • Comprehension: Songs and Read-Alouds for kids
  • Fluency: Songs and Read-Alouds for kids

 

 

Electronic Literacy Resources for Children

▼   Turtle Diary: Re-imagination of Learning for Children
▼   Mobile Public Library for Children
  • Website: Mobile Public Library: Babies and Toddlers, Kids 5 and under, Kids 6-12
  • Phonemic Awareness: Links for educational support, games, and websites selected by librarians (Most branches have free weekly storytimes and weekend educational and fun activities)
  • Phonics: Links for educational support, games, and websites selected by librarians (Most branches have free weekly storytimes and weekend educational and fun activities)
  • Expanding Vocabulary: Links for educational support, games, and websites selected by librarians (Most branches have free weekly storytimes and weekend educational and fun activities)
  • Comprehension: Links for educational support, games, and websites selected by librarians (Most branches have free weekly storytimes and weekend educational and fun activities)
  • Fluency: Links for educational support, games, and websites selected by librarians (Most branches have free weekly storytimes and weekend educational and fun activities)
▼   Starfall
  • Website: Starfall
  • Phonemic Awareness: Learning games for PA and more on to Phonics
  • Phonics: Learning games for PA and more on to Phonics
  • Expanding Vocabulary: Learning games for PA and more on to Phonics
▼   Room Recess
  • Website: Room Recess
  • Phonemic Awareness: Matching game for sounds
▼   Storytime Standouts for Children
▼   ABC Fast Phonics
▼   SoftSchools for Children
▼   Education.com for Children
▼   Spelling City for Children
▼   Pinterest: Reading and Literary Activities
  • Website: Pinterest: Reading and Literary Activities
  • Phonemic Awareness: Fun ideas for learning activities
  • Phonics: Fun ideas for learning activities
  • Expanding Vocabulary: Extensive list of activities, games, and resources for sight word practice
▼   PBS Kids: Vocabulary Games
▼   Fun4the Brain: Popcorn Words
▼   Painless Reading Comprehension Challenge
  • Free downloads are available in iTunes and Amazon.com App Store
  • Comprehension: Reading comprehension combined with arcade games
▼   Literacy Leader for Children
  • Website: Literacy Leader
  • Comprehension: One page to print out with steps for comprehension
▼   Funbrain: Reading
▼   Read Me Stories
  • Free downloads are available in iTunes and Amazon.com App Store
  • Digital storybooks including text, graphics, and sound
▼   Online Tech Tips
▼   Animated Children’s Books for Children
  • Website: Animated Children’s Books
  • Fluency: A YouTube channel devoted to bringing your favorite children’s books to life through engaging animations
▼   Bri Reads for Children
  • Website: Bri Reads
  • Phonemic Awareness: Songs and Read-Alouds, and book-based crafts for kids
  • Phonics: Songs and Read-Alouds, and book-based crafts for kids
  • Expanding Vocabulary: Songs and Read-Alouds, and book-based crafts for kids
  • Comprehension: Songs and Read-Alouds, and book-based crafts for kids
  • Fluency: Songs and Read-Alouds, and book-based crafts for kids
▼   Education World
  • Website: Education World
  • Phonemic Awareness: Reading games
  • Phonics: Reading games
  • Expanding Vocabulary: Reading games
  • Comprehension: Reading games
  • Fluency: Reading games