National Geographic Education
By Mieke VanderBorght,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Rich resource preps kids to be conscientious citizens.
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this website.
Videos and Photos
National Geographic Education
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What’s It About?
National Geographic Education is a massive database of high-quality educational content, searchable by grade level, subject, resource type, or audience: either educators, families, or students. The site offers a number of online and offline activities. You can also access content packages that include elements such as photos, articles, maps, and project ideas centered on a common theme (for example, natural disasters).
Is It Any Good?
Kids and parents will find fascinating information they both should enjoy pouring through. Videos and photos of animals, natural phenomena, world events, and more give kids a firsthand look at the world and truly make learning come alive, in classic NatGeo style. Thoughtful offline activities and reference materials (encyclopedias, maps) complement the media offerings, and several of the games, which range from storybook-like retellings of the Salem witch trials to a sunken-treasure-hunt game, are impressive and entertaining.
Site resources address historical subjects and a wide variety of science topics, such as animals, climate change, ecosystems, energy, migration, the ocean, and weather, as well as coverage of some very real current events happening in the world. The content is well-labeled; each item is marked as a video, an article, or another item. As a plus for parents, users can also search for items to suit specific grade levels. With this seemingly endless supply of resources, it could be easy for kids to get lost clicking on one link after another. Lots of reading material means that younger viewers may need some help navigating the site, but they should find plenty on National Geographic Education to pique their interest.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about some of the current events (political or geographical, for example) described on the site. Why is it important to know what's going on in the world?
Discuss some of the environmental issues explored on the site with your kids. What small things can they do to make a difference? Check the Get Involved section for citizen science projects and more.
What scientific subjects on the site interest your child? Look up at-home activities together to test out related principles.
Website Details
- Subjects: Language & Reading: reading, using supporting evidence, vocabulary, Science: animals, engineering, biology, ecosystems and the environment, geology, weather, Social Studies: citizenship, cultural understanding, events, exploration, geography, global awareness, history
- Skills: Thinking & Reasoning: analyzing evidence, applying information, investigation, part-whole relationships, thinking critically, Responsibility & Ethics: embracing differences, respect for others
- Genre: Educational
- Topics: History, Ocean Creatures, Science and Nature, Wild Animals
- Pricing structure: Free
- Last updated: September 29, 2021
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