Good places to look.
Worth your time.
A short, curated list of free (or free-to-start) resources from reputable organizations. We’re not affiliated with any of them, and we only list sites we’d send a colleague to.
Reading passages & primary sources
Leveled texts and real documents you can build a lesson around.
- ReadWorks (opens in a new tab)Free
Nonprofit library of reading passages with question sets, searchable by grade and topic.
- CommonLit (opens in a new tab)Free core library
Literary and informational texts for grades 3–12 with reading questions and discussion prompts.
- Library of Congress — Teachers (opens in a new tab)Free
Primary source sets, analysis tools and teaching guides drawn from the national library’s collections.
Math & science
Hands-on models, simulations and practice that make abstract ideas visible.
- PhET Interactive Simulations (opens in a new tab)Free
University of Colorado Boulder simulations for math and science, from fractions to food webs to circuits.
- The Math Learning Center — Apps (opens in a new tab)Free
Browser-based virtual manipulatives: number frames, fraction strips, geoboards, number lines and more.
- Khan Academy (opens in a new tab)Free
Practice exercises and short instructional videos across math, science and more, with teacher class tools.
- NASA STEM (opens in a new tab)Free
Lessons, activities and images from NASA, searchable by grade band.
- National Geographic Education (opens in a new tab)Free
Activities, maps and reference articles on geography, science and the natural world.
Video & media collections
Short, classroom-ready media when a picture really is worth a thousand words.
- PBS LearningMedia (opens in a new tab)Free account
Videos, interactives and lesson plans from public media, filterable by grade and standard.
- Code.org — AI videos & lessons (opens in a new tab)Free
Short videos and lessons that explain how AI works, written for students.
Supporting every learner
Frameworks and practical guidance for scaffolds, accessibility and reading support.
- CAST UDL Guidelines (opens in a new tab)Free
The Universal Design for Learning framework: ways to offer multiple means of engagement, representation and expression.
- Reading Rockets (opens in a new tab)Free
Research-based articles and classroom strategies for teaching reading and supporting struggling readers.
- Understood — for educators (opens in a new tab)Free
Practical articles on learning and thinking differences, including classroom accommodations.
AI guidance & AI literacy
For thinking about AI carefully — in your planning and in your students’ lives.
- TeachAI Toolkit (opens in a new tab)Free
Guidance for schools writing AI policies, with sample principles and policy language.
- Common Sense Media — AI Risk Assessments (opens in a new tab)Free
Independent reviews of popular AI products, including risks for kids and teens.
- Day of AI (opens in a new tab)Free
Free AI literacy curriculum from MIT RAISE for K–12 classrooms.
Ideas & professional learning
Thoughtful reading for the planning period (or the couch).
- Edutopia (opens in a new tab)Free
Articles and videos on classroom practice from the George Lucas Educational Foundation.
- Cult of Pedagogy (opens in a new tab)Free
Long-form articles and a podcast on teaching strategies, tech and classroom management.
Know a great free resource? We keep this list short on purpose. Links were checked on October 1, 2026; sites change, so let us know if one breaks.