In this edition of Rising Resources, we’re taking a deeper look into the mathematics and technology resource known as Funbrain. This resource is ideal for parents and educators who want to foster a positive relationship between students and educational gaming. It offers lots of hands-on learning through interactive gameplay and is also a great place to discover new classroom and leisure literature for kids. Continue reading to learn more about how students and teachers can use this website in the classroom and at home!
Funbrain is a free, educational game website for kids in grades Pre-K through 8. It was founded in May of 1992 and offers an array of games, books, and videos that focus on developing math and reading skills in particular. What’s even better is that Funbrain is a kidSAFE Seal Program member, meaning that it doesn’t collect any personal information from kids and promises to keep their privacy at the forefront.
The bright colors on Funbrain’s website make it enjoyable and easy to navigate. At the top of the main page, conveniently sits a Browse by Grade section. Here, users can quickly find all the games, videos, and reading materials best suited for a particular grade level. The rest of the main page consists of the most popular items in each category (games, literature, videos) followed by new items so educators and parents can stay up to date on current educational trends.
The five main categories (games, reading, videos, playground, and math zone) are clearly labeled so anyone can find what they are looking for and find it quickly. Within each section, the items are marked with tags that indicate what age group that item is geared towards and what category it may fall under. Tags include everything from grade levels to categories like fun, strategy, matching, adventure, grammar, and vocabulary.
There are also some other games within the site, such as Mighty Guy 1 and Turtle Wax, that are more fun to play, and others like Creepy Crawlers and Buried Memories that have more educational value since they help kids develop strategy and memory skills. Playing these games is also pretty easy since there are “how to play” and “controls” boxes for kids to follow.
While every game is free, the reading section is less so. It only has a teaser of the first chapter, so if students are interested in the book, they must purchase it to finish reading. The videos section layout is like the reading section and covers a variety of topics with well-known names, like Kidz Bop, Highlights Kids, and Young Justice. The Playground and Math Zone are specifically for Pre-K and kindergarten students and features a number of helpful, math-related games and videos.
While exploring each section is exciting, the best way to use this website in the classroom would be to identify a grade level best suited for that classroom and let students explore the page. This way all the appropriate material is in one convenient place. By allowing students to explore on their own, they also have the freedom to choose whether they would like to watch a video, play a game, or read. Since the website is already so user-friendly, once students become accustomed to it, they can start discovering new ways to learn on their own!
Funbrain is a great alternative to other gaming websites because it gives kids the same experiences that they want from regular video games, but goes a step further by challenging them to apply what they have learned in school. After playing some games on Funbrain, head over to our store to see the interactive robots, EdTech bundles, and other EdTech tools we have for your classroom, makerspace, and home. Stay tuned for next week’s Rising Resources blog as well as we post a feature on Nearpod a week from today!
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