NCDPI Recommended Instructional Resources
Focus: Core Subjects
Resource Features
Web Address
English Language Arts (ELA),
Mathematics, Science, Social Studies,
Others
# Items
Britannica Online
Free Discovery Education
Draft 4/2/13
Britannica does not link to other sponsors. They provide all content.
Encyclopedia and magazine articles, maps, images, and videos are
available. Spanish translations are available for articles as well as a
read aloud feature. Students are able to build 21st-century skills in
science, technology, engineering, and math. Sponsored by NCDPI.
www.school.eb.com
The focus is on science and math. Offers a captivating digital library
for exposing students to science as it applies to everyday living. Visit
the Innovation Headquarters for free lesson plans, virtual labs, games
and more. Web math offers hundreds of instant-answer, self-help on
math problems. Some access on this site does require school login
information and select tools are not free.
www.discoveryeducation.com
Khan Academy
Khan Academy does not link to other sites, and all videos are currently
taught by Salman Khan. Khan offers clear instructional videos
covering simple addition to calculus. Other subjects include science,
finance and economics, history, health care, and test preparation
(SAT). It can generate problems for students based on skill level and
it can track student performance. Assessments, interactive challenges,
and translated lessons are available in numerous languages. Common
Core State Standards (CCSS) alignment to video instruction is
provided. This is a free resource.
www.khanacademy.org
Learn NC
LEARN NC, a program of the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Education,
provides lesson plans, professional development, and innovative web
resources aligned to CCSS and North Carolina Essential Standards
(NCES). Instructional tools include multimedia items such as slide
shows and digital textbooks. Numerous providers contribute such as
American Museum of Natural History, Galileo, National Park Service,
British Library, NC Museum of Art, N. C. educators, and others. This
is a free resource.
www.learnnc.org
Science Technology
Engineering and MathNorth Carolina School of
Science and Math
This NCSSM site provides teacher resources in science, math,
professional development, and distance education. Enrichment across
several disciplines is available through interviews with accomplished
academicians and celebrities covering a diverse range of topics
http://www.dlt.ncssm.edu/stem
1
Focus: Core Subjects
Resource Features
Web Address
ELA, Mathematics, Science, Social
Studies, Others
Ohio Resource Center
ORC provides links to peer-reviewed instructional resources that have
been identified by a panel of Ohio educators as exemplifying best or
promising practices. Available resources also include content and
professional resources as well as assessment and general education
resources that will support the work of pre K–12 classroom teachers
and higher education faculty members. The resources are correlated
with Ohio’s academic content standards and with applicable national
content standards. This is a free resource.
http://www.ohiorc.org
Open Educational
Resources
OER are online educational materials that offer an opportunity for
people everywhere to share, use, and reuse knowledge. Providers for
OER include Children’s Literature, Connexions, Galileo, Learn NC,
MIT Open Courseware, PBS, Nobelprize.org, and many others.
Instructional tools available include labs, games, assessments, and
lesson plans. This is a free resource.
www.oercommons.org
Pearson
Pearson’s focus is to promote literacy around the world. A progress
tracking system is in place for the elementary literacy component.
Pearson offers projects and campaigns that support teacher education
and developments. Inquire about resource costs.
www.pearson.com
Public Broadcasting System
PBS offers tens of thousands of digital assets, including lesson plans,
interactive activities, videos and discussion questions for pre K-12
educators that align with the CCSS. PBS also features content from
NASA, National Archives and PBS programs such as NOVA,
Frontline, American experience, and SID the Science Kid all in one
place. Courses available: ELA, math, science, social studies, health
and physical education, arts, and professional development for
educators. This is a free resource.
www.pbs.org/teachers
Edutopia
The George Lucas
Educational Foundation
Edutopia is dedicated to transforming the learning process for K-12
students by helping educators in the areas of comprehensive
assessment, integrated studies, project based learning, and teacher
development. There are free classroom guides and educational
downloads with useful tips for teachers, parents, and school
administrators. Best practices are highlighted.
http://www.edutopia.org
2
Focus: Core
Subjects
Resource Features
Web Address
ELA, Mathematics, Science, Social
Studies, Others
SAS Curriculum Pathways
SAS delivers free online resources for grades 6-12. Resources are
mapped to both CCSS and NCES. Features include interactive tools,
web lessons, and audio tutorials in ELA, math, science, social studies,
and Spanish. Formative and summative assessments are available.
Schools benefit from having a designated school coordinator in order to
access additional links within lesson plans including answer sheets.
www.sascurriculumpathways.com
Students at the CenterTeaching and Learning in
the Era of the Common
Core
This free site provides a cross-disciplinary look at the possibilities
offered by student-centered approaches to learning. It includes a
central, searchable resource database that includes videos, websites,
slides, external research papers, and more.
http://www.studentsatthecenter.org/home
Thinkfinity
Thinkfinity links to numerous other instructional websites. Some of
them include, Science Netlinks, Read Write Think, Arts Edge,
Smithsonian’s History Explorer, Edsitement, Econedlink, and Learn
NC. Available subjects include ELA, math, science, social studies,
geography, and economics. Learning resources are aligned to the CCSS
and the NCES. This is a free resource.
www.thinkfinity.org
Free Federal Resources for
Educational Excellence
E-Learning for Kids
Hundreds of free teaching and learning resources from across
more than 35 federal agencies are available at this federal web
site for education. Resources span a wide variety of academic
subjects and grade levels. There is an easy search feature and
updates can be followed on Twitter.
http://free.ed.gov
The vision for E-Learning is to be the source for fun and free childhood
learning, for ages 5-12, on the Internet. The animation is vivid and
entertaining. Engaging and interactive courses are offered in math,
science, reading, and keyboarding. E-Learning is building a community
for parents and educators to share innovations and insights in childhood
education. Webinars are provided on topics like learning innovation,
blended instruction, and new teaching tools.
http://www.e-learningforkids.org/aboutus.html
3
Focus: Core
Subjects
Resource Features
Web Address
ELA, Mathematics, Science, Social
Studies, Others
America in Class
From the National Humanities
Center
America in Class is designed to promote the analytical skills
called for in the CCSS for ELA and literacy in history and social
studies. The primary sources include collections of historical
documents, literary texts, and works of art thematically organized
with notes and discussion questions, annotated and excerpted for
classroom use. Other collections include: online seminars,
lessons, essays on topics in American history and literature, and
bibliographies.
http://americainclass.org
Focus:
Mathematics
Mathematics Vision
Project
Resource Features
Web Address
The MVP classroom experience is composed of modules for grades 912 that are aligned with the CCSS for Mathematics. This classroom
experience does not look like the traditional mathematics
classroom. In the MVP classroom, the teacher launches a rich task and
then through “teacher moves” encourages students to explore,
question, ponder, discuss their ideas and listen to the ideas of their
classmates. The MVP team provides professional development that is
aligned with the Comprehensive Math Instruction Framework, the
CCSS, and the latest research and quality practices of Mathematics
Education Professionals.
http://www.mathematicsvisionproject.org/for-educators.html
Rhode Island Department of
Elementary and Secondary
Education (RIDE)
The RIDE link will take you to the Office of Instruction, Assistance, and
Curriculum. It offers professional development resources in ELA,
mathematics, science, and social studies to help transition to the CCSS.
http://www.ride.ri.gov/Instruction/CommonCoreMaterials.aspx
National Geographic
Education
The National Geographic Society educates audiences about our planet.
National Geographic Education is responsible for creating varied
educational programs and resources for schools, out-of-school
settings, and the home. National Geographic Education’s work targets
two goals which are geo-literacy and educational outreach.
http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/?ar_a=1
4
Focus: Core
Subjects
Resource Features
Web Address
ELA, Mathematics, Science, Social
Studies, Others
Smithsonian Center for
Education
The center provides leadership in education at the Smithsonian
through this web site, the gateway to the institution’s educational
resources and programs, and conducting professional development
programs for educators.
http://smithsonianeducation.org
Annenberg Learner
Annenberg Learner's multimedia resources help teachers increase
their expertise in their fields and assist them in improving their
teaching methods. Many programs are also intended for students in
the classroom and viewers at home. All Annenberg Learner videos
exemplify excellent teaching.
http://learner.org
Smithsonian National
Museum of Natural History
As one of the largest science classrooms in the world, the National
Museum of Natural History works to explore the natural world through
the Museum's exhibits, onsite programming and online resources. This
work is built on a foundation of scientific research by the Museum's
staff of over 150 scientists and curators as well as the national and
international community of scientists. There are more than 126 million
artifacts and specimens in the collections.
http://www.mnh.si.edu/education/index.html
NC Civic Educational
Consortium, UNC-Chapel
Hill
This database focuses on social studies and includes lesson plans
aligned to the North Carolina Essential Standards, as well as activities
and resources for use in the classroom, after school and extra-curricular
programs.
http://database.civics.unc.edu
5
Focus:
Mathematics
Balanced Assessment in
Mathematics
Dynamic Software Core
Math Tools
Resource Features
Web Address
The Balanced Assessment library of over 300 mathematics
assessment tasks is free and available to teachers on this site. The
focus is to help students become proficient in demonstrating their
mathematical knowledge through developing their critical thinking
and mathematical actions. These actions include the ability to
conceptualize or model a problem, to do the necessary mathematical
calculations or transformations, to recognize and generalize results,
and to communicate their solutions and understanding of the
concepts. This is a free resource.
http://balancedassessment.concord.org
Core Math Tools is a downloadable suite of interactive software tools
for algebra and functions, geometry and trigonometry, and statistics
and probability. The tools are appropriate for use with any high
school mathematics curriculum and compatible with the Common
Core State Standards for Mathematics in terms of content and
mathematical practices. This is a free resource.
http://www.nctm.org/resources/coremathtools
Enriching Mathematics
This resource offers thousands of free mathematics enrichment
materials (problems, articles, and games) for teachers and learners
from ages 5 to 19 years old. All the resources are designed to develop
subject knowledge, problem-solving and mathematical thinking skills.
The website is updated with new material on the first day of every
month. For guidance on how to find the right resources for
instructional needs, go to the Help section of the site.
http://nrich.maths.org/public
Illustrative Mathematics
Turn-On Common Core
Math
Illustrative Mathematics, founded by creators of the Common Core
State Standards in Mathematics, supports a “faithful implementation”
of the standards “by illustrating the range and types of mathematical
work that students will experience.” Funded by the Bill & Melinda
Gates Foundation, the website provides examples of tasks for each
standard by grade level, ranging from kindergarten through high
school. This is a free resource.
http://illustrativemathematics.org
Turn-On Common Core Math is a teacher resource from the North
Carolina State University Friday Institute. It offers 18 learning
trajectories with descriptors that unpack all of K-8 CCSS mathematics
standards with mapping via a hexagon map.
http://www.turnonccmath.net
6
Focus:
Mathematics
Mathematical Modeling
Lesson Plans
Resource Features
Web Address
This site offers lessons developed by the Indiana Mathematics
Initiative Mathematics Teachers and tested in their classrooms. The
lessons cover a wide range of topics and grade levels ranging from
seventh grade through twelfth grade. These are all word document
files that can be saved. In addition, there are 40 math modeling
projects for downloading. These modeling projects have been written
and tested by high school teachers under the direction of university
mathematics and education professors. These projects are best suited
for students who are new to mathematical modeling.
http://www.indiana.edu/~iucme/mathmodeling/lessons.htm
Meta Metrics
Mathematics
The Quantile Framework is a measurement system that uses a
common scale to assess both a student’s mathematical achievement
level and the difficulty of the skills and concepts being taught. It
spans the developmental continuum from kindergarten mathematics
through algebra II, geometry, trigonometry, and pre-calculus. The
score is reported on the NCMAPP. This framework targets instruction
and improves mathematics teaching and learning by placing the
curriculum, the instructional materials and the students on the same
scale. Quantile resources are free.
http://www.metametricsinc.com/quantile-framework-mathematics
National Council of
Supervisors of Math
The NCSM is the “go-to” destination for mathematics specialists,
coaches and leaders. In accordance with their mission, this site offers
the Coaching Corner to bolster individual growth through independent
study and resources.
http://www.mathedleadership.org/coaching/index.html
National Library of Virtual
Manipulatives
The National Library of Virtual Manipulatives is a National Science
Foundation supported project to develop a library of uniquely
interactive, web-based virtual manipulatives or concept tutorials,
mostly in the form of Java applets, for mathematics instruction (K-12
emphasis). The project includes internal and external evaluation and
computer-based mathematical manipulatives and interactive learning
tools at elementary and middle school levels.
http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/siteinfo.html
EduCore
Tools for Teaching the CC
This website is filled with aligned math and literacy resources, lessons,
and professional development that support the implementation of the
CCSS. Educators should create an account in order to login and fully
use the available tools.
http://educore.ascd.org
7
Focus:
Mathematics
National Council of Teachers
of Mathematics
Resource Features
Web Address
Curriculum, instruction, and assessment is one focus for NCTM. It
provides guidance and resources for developing and implementing
mathematics curriculum, instruction, and assessment that are coherent,
focused, well-articulated, and consistent with research in the field, and
focused on increasing student learning. One special feature is Core
Math Tools. This is a downloadable suite of interactive software tools
for algebra and functions, geometry and trigonometry, and statistics
and probability. The tools are appropriate for use with any high school
mathematics curriculum and compatible with the Common Core State
Standards for Mathematics in terms of content and mathematical
practices. Java required. This is a free resource.
http://www.nctm.org/mission.aspx
Shodor
Shodor has been recognized as a national leader and a premier
resource in the effective use of computers to improve math and
science education. A variety of interactive resources are on this site.
Shodor is located in Durham, N.C., and serves students and educators.
Their online education tools such as Interactivate and the
Computational Science Education Reference Desk, a Pathway Portal
of the National Science Digital Library, help transform learning
through computational thinking. On line resources are free and there
are minimal fees for student technology workshops (grades 6-12) at
the center.
http://www.shodor.org
Inside Mathematics
Inside Mathematics has aligned tasks and assessment resources with
the Common Core State Standards for Mathematical Content.
Educators can search by grade level as well as by progression. The
initiative includes a formative and summative performance assessment
system. Demonstration lessons on student re-engagement are featured.
http://insidemathematics.org/index.php/about-inside-mathematics
Mathematics Assessment
Project
This project is working to design and develop well-engineered
assessment tools to support US schools in implementing the Common
Core State Standards for Mathematics. Some of these resources
include lessons for formative assessment and professional
development.
http://map.mathshell.org/materials/index.php
8
Focus:
Mathematics
Illuminations NCTM
LearnZillion
Resource Features
Web Address
The National Council of the Teachers of Mathematics sponsors
Illuminations. The Illuminations site has 607 math lesson plans
available covering grades K-12. It provides standards-based
resources that improve the teaching and learning of mathematics
for all students.
http://illuminations.nctm.org/About.aspx
The LearnZillion Common Core Navigator Tool gives teachers a
birds-eye view of what a student needs to learn in each grade
level. When you click on a grade level, the Navigator zooms
into that grade, showing the domains and clusters that should be
covered throughout the year, along with descriptions of each
standard. Click on the blue folders next to a standard to see the
LearnZillion lessons and resources that were built for that
specific standard.
http://learnzillion.com
Focus:
English Language
Arts
Intel in Education
Resource Features
Web Address
The Intel Showing Evidence Tool helps students learn how to
construct well-reasoned arguments and prove their case with credible
evidence. The tool provides a visual framework to make claims,
identify evidence, evaluate the quality of that evidence, explain how
the evidence supports or weakens claims, and reach conclusions based
on the evidence. This thinking tool supports activities where students
debate differences, make and defend decisions, and analyze conflicting
information. Teachers can browse short project ideas or longer,
detailed unit plans. The tool and related resources are free.
http://educate.intel.com/en/thinkingtools/showingevidence
Literacyhead
Literacyhead combines reading and writing research with visual
art to create online lessons that are as instructionally sound as
they are beautiful. Literacyhead includes lessons to support
students during read aloud, writing workshop, tier two
vocabulary instruction, and more. From original comic strips
written to illustrate mini-lesson topics during writing workshop
to read aloud lessons featuring interior illustrations from new
and classic picture books, Literacyhead can help teach the
standards with less work and more student engagement.
http://literacyhead.com
9
Focus:
English Language
Arts
America Achieves
Common Core
Resource Features
Web Address
This site features a video and lesson resource project to support CCSS
objectives in ELA and mathematics. The video modules exemplify the
key shifts that the Common Core is bringing to pedagogy in
classrooms across the United States. Each lesson module contains: a
video of a CCSS lesson, a printable lesson and related materials, and
exemplars of student work. Resources are free.
http://commoncore.americaachieves.org
EngageNY
EngageNY is an evolving, collaborative platform for educators. New
York’s educators are investigating better ways to improve what is
being taught, how it’s being taught, and what to do about obstacles to
student learning. Content areas have been designed to facilitate
change that includes the CCSS, data driven instruction and school
based Inquiry, and teacher/leader effectiveness. The site includes a
Common Core Toolkit to assist with guiding the implementation of
instruction. Resources are free.
http://engageny.org/about
Meta Metrics
Reading
The Lexile Framework for reading is a resource for accurately
matching readers with text. This framework evaluates reading ability
based on actual assessments. The Lexile score is provided on the
NCMAPP for English. Lexile measures help a reader find books and
articles at an appropriate level of difficulty and determine how well
that reader will likely comprehend a text. The Lexile Book Database
provides titles for all Lexile levels. Lexile resources are free.
http://www.metametricsinc.com/lexile-framework-reading
Achieve the Core-Reading
Exemplars
The provided reading exemplars model how teachers can support their
students as they undergo the kind of careful reading the CCSS require.
Each of these exemplars features the following: readings tasks in
which students are asked to read and reread passages and respond to a
series of text dependent questions; vocabulary and syntax tasks which
linger over noteworthy or challenging words and phrases; discussion
tasks in which students are prompted to use text evidence and refine
their thinking; and writing tasks that assess student understanding of
the text. The shifts in instruction are reviewed for ELA and math.
www.achievethecore.org/steal-these-tools/close-reading-exemplars
10
Focus:
Science
Learn Genetics
Teach Genetics
Resource Features
Web Address
Learn.Genetics delivers educational materials on genetics, bioscience and health topics.
They are designed to be used by students, teachers and members of the public. The
materials meet selected US education standards for science and health.
Designed for non-research audiences, they are jargon-free, target multiple learning
styles, and often convey concepts through animation and interactivity.
A companion to the Learn. Genetics site is Teach. Genetics. It provides resources for
K-12 teachers, higher education faculty, and public educators. These include PDFbased Print-and-Goâ„¢ activities, unit plans and other supporting resources. The
materials are designed to support and extend the materials on Learn.Genetics.
http://learn.genetics.utah.edu
http://teach.genetics.utah.edu
National Science
Resources Center
The NSRC works with diverse groups to create effective science education curriculum
programs that can assist school districts to construct effective K–12 instructional
programs through professional development. Science and technology sample lessons
are available for students and teachers.
www.nsrconline.org
National Science The K-12 National Science Digital Library is an open-access online digital library and
collaborative network of disciplinary and grade-level focused education providers. The
Digital Library
mission is to provide quality digital learning collections to the science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education community. The Pathways feature
will assist educators navigate through the resource collections to specific course
content.
http://nsdl.org/resources_for/k12_teachers
Teachers’
Domain
Teachers’ Domain is a free digital media service for educational use from public
broadcasting and its partners. Educators will find thousands of media resources,
support materials, and tools for classroom lessons, individualized learning programs,
and teacher professional learning communities. Browse Teachers’ Domain resources
by individual state educational frameworks, national standards, or by Common Core
State Standards.
http://www.teachersdomain.org
Howard Hughes
Medical
Institute
The Howard Hughes Medical Institute plays a prominent role in advancing biomedical
research and science education in the United States. The BioInteractive website features
virtual labs, animations, and other engaging instructional materials to help science
educators teach about important concepts. Virtual labs are available that will assist high
school biology classes and AP biology classes. This is a free resource.
http://www.hhmi.org/biointeractive/vlabs
11
Focus:
Science
PhET Interactive
Science
Simulations
Resource Features
Web Address
PhET is a suite of research-based interactive computer simulations for teaching and
learning physics, chemistry, math, and other sciences. The simulations are animated,
interactive, and game-like environments where students learn through exploration.
They emphasize the connections between real-life phenomena and the underlying
science, and help make the visual and conceptual models of expert scientists
accessible to students. PhET simulations are primarily developed for and tested with
university and high school students, but have been found to be educational and fun
for students "from grade school to grad school." Simulations are written in Java and
Flash and can be run using a standard web browser as long as flash and Java are
installed.
http://serc.carleton.edu/sp/library/phet/index.html
RESCu
RESCu was developed in the Rice University Elementary Model Science Lab and it is a
free resource for teachers. K-5 lesson plans are provided in earth science, life science,
and physical science. Each lesson provides subject clarity by offering the following:
scope, engagement, exploration, explanation, elaboration, and evaluation.
http://rescu.rice.edu
12
FOCUS:
Professional
Development &
Formative
Assessment Tools
The Core Task
Project
Resource Features
Web Address
The Core Task Project is a professional learning model that challenges assumptions and
addresses the CCSS “instructional shifts.” It answers the question, “What does it mean
to do the Core?” Inquiry based and developed by teachers, the CTP uses Close Reading
Exemplars, developed by Student Achievement Partners, as a means to refine classroom
instruction so that is matched to the CCSS. Teacher training resources are posted in
instructional areas such as such as Striving Readers, English Learners, Academic
Vocabulary, and Complex Text.
http://coretaskproject.com/about
The Aspen
Institute
The Aspen Institute is an educational and policy studies organization based in
Washington, DC. The program assists policy makers and education leaders in
supporting the implementation of the Common Core State Standards, strengthening
human capital systems, and strategically allocating fiscal resources to teaching and
learning priorities. Information on this site provides a detailed description of Close
Reading of text.
http://www.aspeninstitute.org/sites/default/files/content/docs/pubs/CR.Primer.print_.pdf
This site provides the Aspen Institute mission statement, leadership programs, and
seminar opportunities.
http://www.aspeninstitute.org/events/2012/10/09/common-core-state-standardswhat-will-it-take-our-students-succeed
ArtsFolio
ArtsFolio is being developed and it is a formative assessment tool that helps learners
assess their competencies in dance, music, theatre arts, and/or visual arts. It documents
their arts experiences and learning in and outside of school. It also assists students to
become reflective and autonomous in their learning.
Learners may be coming from a number of environments and programs along the K-12
continuum. ArtsFolio displays the learner’s competencies as they develop literacy and
proficiency in each of the arts disciplines.
URL-?? (related link: http://www.learnnc.org/lp/editions/linguafolio)
Teaching Channel The Teaching Channel offers a free lesson planner feature and email alerts when there
are new videos that match an educator’s interest. Teachers can post questions to other
teachers to solicit ideas on instructional strategies. Professional development videos are
available showcasing teachers in classrooms. Educators must sign-in to fully
participate.
https://www.teachingchannel.org
13
FOCUS:
Professional
Development &
Formative
Assessment Tools
WestEd Common
Core
Implementation
Resource Features
Web Address
The goal of WestEd is to help states address the issues of creating systems aligned to
Common Core standards. WestEd collaborates with State Education Agency staff to
develop CCSS implementation plans, maximize the use of limited state resources, and
to develop tools, resources, and professional development services. Tools are also
available to support ESL learners and students with disabilities.
http://commoncore.wested.org/state-education-agencies/implementing-common-corethroughout-your-state
14