Maths & Science
Minecraft Education Edition: Free access to schools, but also some free options for home devices on a trial basis. https://education.minecraft.net/get-started/
Mystery Science: bite size science lessons https://mysteryscience.com/school-closure-planning
Google Earth: Find places on Google Earth you’d like to visit, do some research, find out more about the world around us. There are so many things to do on google earth, check out the help pages for ideas. https://www.google.co.uk/intl/en_uk/earth/
The Happy Scientist: Lots of science concepts explained www.thehappyscientist.com
Cool Math Games: Fun games which consolidate maths concepts www.coolmathsgames.com
Coding
Hopscotch: Free coding app, great for iPads https://www.gethopscotch.com/
iDEA: Your students can learn coding and ICT skills through self-directed easy-to-use modules, and even gain awards. This can be provided as a resource for them to use at their own discretion or you could set them up as learners through the organiser feature. https://idea.org.uk/about/organiser
Mangahigh: Game based maths and coding concepts. Free access for schools affected by closures
https://www.mangahigh.com/en-gb/blog/2020-03-06-free-access-schools-online-maths-coronavirus
Scratch & Scratch Jr: Free easy to use coding apps available on different platforms, your kids will feel like they’re playing while learning the basics of coding https://scratch.mit.edu/ https://www.scratchjr.org/
Reading and Literacy Apps
Teach your monster to read: Easy to use fun app to help children at the early stage of reading and phonics . Free to use on laptops or PCs, small charge to download the app onto a phone or tablet https://www.teachyourmonstertoread.com/
Pocket Phonics: App for iPads focussing on letters sounds and words available in the Apple App Store, similar app is Jolly Phonics on the Google Play store
Oxford Owl: free e-book library to read on tablets, with loads of short videos to watch which explains lots of literacy and numeracy concepts that you probably haven’t thought about since you left school!
nilibraries: free online library of ebooks, audio books and magazines https://www.librariesni.org.uk/Pages/LNIeBooksandeMagazines.aspx?src=hpbnr12032020
Quiz Apps
Kahoot: Easy to use quiz app, Kahoot is providing free premium access to educational institutions.
https://kahoot.com/blog/2020/02/27/kahoot-free-access-schools-higher-education-coronavirus/
Socrative: Create quizzes to revise learning https://socrative.com/blog/news/covid-19-complimentary-showbie-pro-socrative-pro-for-schools-moving-to-distance-learning/
Irish Language Apps and websites
Cód na Geilge: Irish language phonics app available in the app and google play stores
Seideann Sí: Irish language literacy website, you can choose your childs’ level (based on RoI school system – P/R3 equals First class etc) and dialect https://www.seideansi.ie/
Cula4: irish language TV programmes aimed at younger children, available on the app stores
Multiple curriculum areas:
Scholastic: Free resources packs for Early Years right through to KS2 children https://resource-bank.scholastic.co.uk/
Twinkl: Twinkl are offering a month free ultimate membership... go to www.twinkl.co.uk/offers and enter code UKTWINKLHELPS
Classroom Secrets: Free interactive resources to play on tablets or computers as well as downloadable home learning packs https://classroomsecrets.co.uk/
Google: lots of amazing tools to facilitate distance learning, this blog article gives a good overview of how you might use them at this time.
https://www.blog.google/outreach-initiatives/education/distancelearning-covid19
Creative and other Apps
Book Creator: The app is offering a premium upgrade to all users https://bookcreator.com/2020/03/support-for-schools-affected-by-coronavirus/
Screencastify: Free and easy way to record lessons including what’s on the screen https://www.screencastify.com/
Physical and Mental Health
Healthy Kidz: Many of your children will be familiar with Healthy Kids coming to schools for PE lessons and activities. Follow them on facebook for regular mini workouts that you can do with your kids https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=healthy%20kidz&epa=SEARCH_BOX
The Body Coach: Celebrity fitness and nutrition expert, Joe Wicks is doing a live online PE session every morning at 9am on his YouTube channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAxW1XT0iEJo0TYlRfn6rYQ
Communication Apps
Class DoJo: A free app which allows you to communicate with parents and set work for students https://www.classdojo.com/
Edmodo: Free school to home communication app, they have provided some really good tutorials on how to get set up quickly for distance learning https://go.edmodo.com/distancelearning/
Seesaw: Free app to allow communication from home to school: https://web.seesaw.me/remote-learning?utm_medium=banner&utm_source=homepage