Learning Tools
Looking for new and creative ways to engage children and youth? You've come to the right place! In addition to activity aids and examples of quality program practices, we also provide links to K-12 curriculum materials, allowing program directors to structure activities within the context of what students are learning during school.
General Tools
Afterschool.gov Planning Activities
This comprehensive site offers links to learning activities ranging from arts projects and programs to understanding the mathematics of knots.
Beyond the Bell
Offers a useful homework sharing tool.
Bringing Education to After School Programs
A government manual with sections on how to introduce reading, math, technology and art to an after-school program. Includes ideas for parent involvement and teacher recruitment and training.
The Learning Network
Offers a wealth of cross-curricular activities and resources for instructors and providers.
Reading and Language Arts
AfterSchool KidzLit
Developmental Studies Center offers this reading enrichment program designed specifically for use in out-of-school settings. Aimed at increasing young people’s motivation to read, build literacy skills and develop core values of helpfulness, fairness, personal responsibility, and respect for others.
Food for Thought Curriculum
Developed by Project Bread, this curriculum provides age-appropriate sections (grades K-2, 3-5, middle school, and high school) with several lessons for each section. The goal is to increase awareness of hunger and its causes and consequences, and to instill a sense of responsibility and community service in young people.
Reading in After School Programs
Short practical suggestions from the US Department of Education on how to integrate reading activities into after-school programming.
Scholastics Reading Solutions
Scholastics produces a rich array of research-based programs that are ideal for improving reading skills after school. All programs are aligned to No Child Left Behind and feature highly motivating, multicultural reading selections and activities. Materials are available for purchase for students in Grades K-12.
Science, Math and Technology
Baltimore's Mayor's Math Challenge
This game was created to encourage students to brush up on their math skills over the summer. No need to limit these fun math skills games to summer time. Use them whenever you want a math game specific for a particular grade level. This is part of the Summer Learning Campaign which was created to raise awareness about summer learning loss and to provide students, parents, caregivers and others the tools they need to access community resources and help prevent learning loss.
The Math Explorer
Rain Forest and Science Study
The Intercultural Center for Research in Education's bilingual (English/Spanish) site offers overviews of curricula on rain forests and hands-on science and environmental subjects.
The Science Explorer
TryScience
Contains a wealth of activities to interest middle school-aged children in science and engineering. See the TryScience Brochure for more details. Products are available for purchase.
Physical Activity
Physical Activity Tools
This document offers five tools and additional resources for child and adolescent programs with a physical activity component. First, it presents definitions and specific examples of physical activity, exercise, and fitness. Guidelines for increasing involvement of children and adolescents in physical activity are presented. Finally the tools offer descriptions of effective and appropriate physical activity programs and guidelines for coaching in these programs.
Sport for All
A turnkey recreational program suited for after–school programs for ages 3–10 (with 40 activities in each module) available for purchase.