Putting the “T” in STEM! 60+ Resources for Teaching with Technology!

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“Yes, kids love technology, but they also love Legos, scented markers, handstands, books, and mud puddles. It’s all about balance.” by K.G., 1st Grade Teacher

One of the best things about teaching very young learners is that they are super excited to learn! They also love technology, but we must ensure that children learn early on balance and digital safety. When a child begins to use technology, especially technology connected to the Internet, they must also learn how to protect themselves and learn wellness.

For the past 20 years, I have been teaching with technology, with children all over the world! Currently, I am the Computer and Technology Teacher for over 450 elementary students at a STEM Charter School. I also have an energetic and enthusiastic 2 year-old daughter who loves technology, but enjoys playing and exploring more.

Below I am sharing my tips and resources that I feel are especially enjoyable and safe for young learners (toddlers to 6th grade). For a quick view of my top tips, download my slide presentation free, Teaching the “T” in STEM! Using Technology with Young Learners. All resources mentioned have a free version or trial for educators and many are registration and ad free so that students don’t have to give their private information.

Remember to ask parent permission and have a Digital Use Policy signed by parents and students when integrating technology.

Top Tools and Apps for Teaching with Technology

Buncee to create digital stories, digital posters, and more! COPPA Compliant! Students enter codes given by the teacher. Find over 20 activities and examples here.
My Story Book is an easy to use web tool for students to create digital story books, no registration required and ad free.
Make Beliefs Comix is a website and app to create comics, no registration required.
TinyTap is a wonderful iOS app for even preschool children to create their own games and quizzes. You can click the website to play vocabulary games designed by others.
ABCYA animator to create a movie or gif, no registration required.
Sketch.io is to create a digital poster with gifs and paint tools, no registration required.
Voki is a website for creating talking avatars. The free version only provides limited options.
Bubbl.us is a website for creating colorful concept maps, no registration required.
Class Dojo and Seesaw are my favorite web tools and apps for communicating with parents and creating student digital portfolios.
Read, Write, Think has several interactives for children of various ages to learn to read and write.
Brain Pop has awesome videos, learning games, and other resources.
National Geographic for Kids is a great website to research countries and animals.
Edublogs is a safe way for students to create blogs.

Teaching with technology - children using laptop computer enthusiastically — Teaching with technology is fun!

STEAM Tools and Apps for Teaching with Technology

Find typing tips for children in this post I wrote for ESL Library which includes awesome websites, such as Typetastic, Dance Mat Typing, Typing Town.
Teaching coding? 1st to 5th graders at my school enjoy Kodable, Tynker, and Lightbot. Upper elementary and older enjoy Code.org and Made With Code. Find more coding apps and web tools for any age group here!
3D printing with elementary students? TinkerCad has 5 minute super easy tutorials and designs children can easily edit to design rings, figurines, name tags, and more!
Conduct safe web searches with Duckster, Kiddle, Fact Monster, and KidzSearch.
Art For Kids Hub is a website where students learn art and how to draw from listening to instructions from a video. My students love the videos. I love that the artist reinforces literacy and math. His instructions include steps like draw an oval or a backwards letter U.
Quiver Vision combines coloring and augmented reality. I use this for children to see vocabulary come to life.

Literacy Websites

I highly recommend Wordsmyth’s Children’s Dictionary and Picture Dictionary!
Starfall has interactive stories and games.
Learn English Kids is full of interactive games, songs, stories, and videos.
Storyline Online is a website with videos of celebrities reading children’s books.
My students love John Spencer’s Video Writing Prompts!
Novel Effect is an iOS app that uses voice recognition technology to add sound effects, character voices, and music while you read aloud popular books.