Teaching today is more dynamic than ever. Whether you’re inside a traditional classroom or teaching remotely, having access to free, high-quality resources can save time, reduce stress, and boost student engagement. The best part? There are countless free tools online that offer everything—from lesson plans and printable worksheets to interactive simulations and virtual field trips. Let’s dive into the top free educational resources every teacher should know.
Online Resource Libraries for Teachers
OER Commons
A massive collection of open educational resources including lesson plans, full courses, textbooks, and activities. Everything is free and customizable.
OpenStax
Perfect for high school and college teachers. It offers free, peer-reviewed, high-quality textbooks in subjects like math, science, and social sciences.
MERLOT
A curated online repository of educational materials contributed by educators worldwide—ideal for professional development and subject-specific learning.
Ready-Made Lesson Plans and Activities
Share My Lesson
Teachers share thousands of free lesson plans and classroom activities. The platform also offers free webinars and training.
Teach Starter – Free Resources
Although the premium version is paid, the free section includes plenty of worksheets, posters, behavior charts, and activities.
ReadWriteThink
Offers free reading and writing lesson plans, interactive tools, and printable materials for English and language arts teachers.
Free Printable Worksheets and Classroom Materials
Teachers Pay Teachers – Free Section
Download free worksheets, games, digital activities, and templates created by real teachers.
Education.com Free Worksheets
High-quality worksheets for math, reading, science, and handwriting (limited free downloads per month).
Super Teacher Worksheets
While mostly paid, they offer a collection of useful free printable materials for K–5.
Free Digital Tools for Classroom Engagement
Kahoot!
Create fun quiz-based games that engage students in real time.
Quizizz
Assign quizzes as homework or host live games; students love the gamified experience.
Nearpod (Free Version)
Allows teachers to create interactive lessons with quizzes, polls, and embedded videos.
Multimedia Learning Resources
National Geographic Kids
Great for science, nature, geography, and environmental studies. Includes videos, quizzes, and articles.
TED-Ed
Short, animated videos with ready-made questions and discussion prompts.
Smithsonian Learning Lab
A treasure trove of historical photos, artifacts, and interactive exhibitions.
Subject-Specific Resources
Math – Khan Academy
Completely free video lessons, practice exercises, and personalized learning dashboards.
Science – PhET Interactive Simulations
Amazing free science and math simulations for physics, chemistry, biology, and earth science.
English – British Council Teaching Resources
Lesson plans, grammar games, and activities for ESL and English language teachers.
Social Studies – iCivics
Free games and lessons that teach civics, government, and law.
Free Educational Apps for Teachers
Google Classroom
Perfect for organizing assignments, communicating with students, and managing digital classes.
Seesaw (Free Edition)
A simple digital portfolio tool that helps students share their work.
Duolingo for Schools
A fun language-learning tool tailored for classroom use.
Professional Development Resources
Coursera (Free Audit Option)
Teachers can access high-quality university courses for free and expand their skills.
Edutopia
Articles, videos, and guides on modern teaching strategies and classroom innovations.
FutureLearn (Audit Free)
Free courses on education, technology, and pedagogy.
Classroom Management Tools
ClassDojo
Builds positive classroom culture with points, messages, and parent communication tools.
Remind App
A free communication tool that helps teachers send announcements and reminders.
ClassCharts (Limited Free Version)
Helps with seating charts, behavior tracking, and classroom management.
Online Assessments and Worksheets Generators
EasyTestMaker
Allows teachers to create quizzes, tests, and assessments easily at no cost.
Canva for Education (Free for Teachers)
Design worksheets, posters, presentations, certificates, and infographics with ease.
Wordwall (Free Version)
Create interactive activities like matching games, quizzes, and word searches.
Free Virtual Field Trips
Google Arts & Culture
Students can explore museums, monuments, and artworks worldwide.
Discovery Education Virtual Field Trips
Offers immersive learning experiences for science, nature, and history.
NASA Virtual Tours
Take students into space, NASA labs, and observatories.
Free Resources for Remote & Hybrid Learning
Zoom for Educators
Useful for online classes with breakout rooms and screen sharing.
Microsoft Teams for Schools
Offers collaboration tools, meetings, and assignment management.
Flip (by Microsoft)
A video-based discussion platform where students can record responses and share ideas.
Tips for Using Free Resources Effectively
Adapt, Don’t Copy
Use free materials as inspiration and tailor them to your students’ needs.
Verify Content Quality
Check the accuracy, relevance, and source before using any material in class.
Organize Your Resource Library
Create folders or digital libraries so you can quickly access your go-to tools.
Conclusion
With so many free educational resources available, teachers no longer need to spend hours creating lessons from scratch or struggle with limited budgets. From interactive simulations to printable worksheets and professional development courses, these tools help teachers teach smarter, engage students better, and create meaningful learning experiences. With the right mix of creativity and these free resources, every classroom can become a space for powerful, inspired learning.
FAQs
1. What are the best free websites for teacher resources?
OER Commons, Khan Academy, Share My Lesson, and National Geographic Kids are some of the best.
2. Are free teaching resources reliable?
Many free platforms offer high-quality, teacher-created or expert-reviewed content.
3. Can I use these free resources for remote teaching?
Yes! Tools like Google Classroom, Zoom, and Nearpod are designed for digital learning.
4. Which free apps help with classroom management?
ClassDojo, Remind, and Seesaw are excellent for managing activities and communication.
5. How do I organize all my downloaded resources?
Create digital folders, label files clearly, and bookmark websites for quick access.