Homework Help

Databases vs. Web Sites

A database contains information from encyclopedias, dictionaries, magazines, newspapers, reference books and other sources. You can search a database to find information you need. Web sites can be created by anybody and while some websites have great information, some websites may contain information that is not accurate.

What does the library offer for homework help?

Also, on this page, our library staff has selected some of the best websites we know about to help you find what you're looking for. If you see a , that means the source is a library database, and to use it from home, you'll need your library card and password. Click here to see a list of kids-related databases.

Arts & Crafts

#ArtsAndCultureInKY - Curated by Fund for the Arts, this is a collection of all-virtual arts and culture related activities from local museums, theaters, music and other organizations.
Crafts for Kids - Locate printable projects and crafts, including educational and holiday themes.
National Gallery of Art-Kids - NGAkids activities for children designed in collaboration with the Education Division of the National Gallery of Art
Smithsonian for Kids - Find activities and games organized by field of study, or explore the art, science and culture behind the collections at the Smithsonian.

Coding & Technology

Treehouse - Treehouse is an online, self-paced learning platform that teaches you how to design and develop websites or mobile apps. Classes include coding languages like HTML, Javascript, PHP, Python, Ruby and much more as well as iPhone and Android apps.
Code Academy - The easiest way to learn how to code. It's interactive, fun, and you can do it with your friends.

Fine and Performing Arts

Art Institute of Chicago - Part museum and part library, the Art Institute provides research for a collection of artwork from around the globe.
DSO Kids - Learn about instruments, listen to what they sound like, and even play music-related games.
The Louvre - One of the world's most famous art museums located in Paris, France that houses the Mona Lisa.
Met Musuem-Kids - MetKids is a digital
Speed Art Museum - Check out the current exhibits and collections of this contemporary Louisville art museum.
Smithsonian Institution - Explore the museums and zoo, research centers, and fields of study of the Smithsonian.

General

Tumblebooks - TumbleBookLibrary has over 1100 titles for grades K-6, and includes our unique animated, talking picture books, read-along chapter books, National Geographic videos, non-fiction books, playlists, as well as books in Spanish and French.
BBC Bite-size - Find free videos, step-by-step guides, activities and quizzes by level and subject.
Fun Brain - Online educational games for kids of all ages in math, grammar, science, spelling, and history.
JCPS Backpack of Sucess Skills - The JCPS Backpack of Success Skills initiative is an innovative online portfolio of learning built using Google and Amplified I.T. that can be used as tangible proof to show that students are prepared for life after high school.
Khan Academy - A free resource offering exercises, quizzes, and instructional videos lessons in math, science, and humanities from kindergarten
Ted Ed - Discover hundreds of animated lessons, create customized lessons, celebrates the ideas of teachers and students around the world.
Smithsonian Institution - Explore the museums and zoo, research centers, and fields of study of the Smithsonian.
Time for Kids - TIME For Kids brings news and current events to young people

Geography/Culture

Culture Grams - You can learn so much about states and countries using this website. You can hear a country’s national anthem, see pictures and find recipes for dishes from around the world.
Ben's Guide to U.S. Government - Learn how the government works and how you can be a better citizen.
Kids in the House - Learn about the legislative branch of the U.S. government, including lessons about the House of Representatives, the legislative process, and history.
World Factbook - Learn all about over 266 world entities in this CIA publication.

Health & Safety

Clear Health A-Z (NIH) - An alphabetical listing of articles for diagnoses and health topics.
FDA Kids Page - Through games and songs, learn about health and safety topics.
Kids Environment Kids Health (NIH) - Explore topics, games, activities, and lessons related to environmental health.
Kids Health - KidsHealth.org (Nemours Foundation)
NIAMS Kids Pages (NIH) - Information for kids related to the health of their bones, joints, muscles, and skin during childhood and teen years.

Historical & Current Events

Ben’s Guide to the U.S. government- Designed by the Government Publishing Office (GPO) to inform students, parents, and educators about the Federal Government.
Courier Journal - Find full text articles printed since 1/1/1999. There are no graphics or photographs included.
Primary Search - Search for articles from magazines, books, journals, almanacs, primary sources and more. Easy to use search tools even include searching by lexile reading level.
British Museum Collection Online - Showcases more than four million of the Museum's objects. From Indigenous clothing and Mexican skulls to necklaces made of dolphin teeth, this is one of the most extensive online museum databases in the world.
Smithsonian Museum Online- While safeguarding and presenting our nations treasures, the Smithsonian museums support education, scholarship, and research.

Language Arts

International Children's Digital Library - This digital library of outstanding children's books allows access to stories from different cultures and world communities.
Literacy Center - Explore numbers, letters, and learn colors and words with fun activities.
Read Kiddo Read - You will find book suggestions and reviews for four different age categories, interviews with authors, and more.
Spell Check - Play this fun game to identify misspelled words.
Word Central - This dictionary, thesaurus, and rhyming word finder will help you polish any homework assignment.

Literature

Library of Congress Kid’s Page - The Center for the Book in the Library of Congress invites people of all ages to discover the fascinating people, places and events that await you whenever you read.
Poetry Foundation Kids - Learn about and read children's poems from the Poetry Foundation.
Poems for Kids - Lessons, essays, and educational resources for poems for young readers from the Academy of American Poets.

Louisville/Kentucky

#ArtsAndCultureInKY - Curated by Fund for the Arts, this is a collection of all-virtual arts and culture related activities from local museums, theaters, music and other organizations.
Culture Grams - You can learn so much about states and countries using this website. You can hear a country’s national anthem, see pictures and find recipes for dishes from around the world.
Kentucky Encyclopedia- Everything you want to know about our home state. Includes people, places and events.
JCPS Student Page - Start here if you have a question as a student of Jeffeson County Public Schools.
List of JCPS Schools - Find schools, contact information, and links to school websites.
Louisville Zoo - Planning a trip to the zoo? Look here first for information about zoo hours, rates, and special exhibits.
Speed Art Museum - Find out about the exciting events, programs, and special art exhibits at this one-of-a-kind museum.

Mathematics

A+ Math - Improve your math skills with games, flashcards, and worksheets.
Desmos Graphing Calculator - Enter equations to see their graphs, and click or tap for intersections and intercepts.
IXL - Practice math skills through interactive games and practice questions. You can even select games that are aligned with your state's math standards.
Khan Academy - Ten minute videos demonstrate K-12 Math skills, as well as, Science and Humanities topics.
Math Is Fun! - This website is designed for JCPS students and families. It will provide information on what your child is learning in math, activities you can do at home to reinforce the content, and suggestions for online/app learning games.
Wolfram | Alpha - Part search engine and part calculator, you can use Wolfram|Alpha to check your algebra solutions, compare any two first names and see how common each is, check the weather or generate a star chart. You can use it to learn more or do math with anything that is computable or has numeric data.

Science

Amazing Space - Learn about the universe, based on the Hubble Space Telescope's greatest discoveries.
Animal Information Database - Discover a wealth of information about all types of animals, with photographs included.
EEK! - If you like the great outdoors, you will want to check out this electronic magazine for grades 4-8.
Exploratorium- The Exploratorium isn't just a museum; it's an ongoing exploration of science, art, and human perception.
Google Earth- Create stories and maps, add your photos and videos, customize your view, and share and collaborate with others.
IPL Kidspace - Make the grade with this resource guide just for science fair projects.
NASA for Kids- The purpose of NASA STEM is to engage students in NASA's mission.
National Geographic-Kids- Learn all you wanted to know about animals with pictures, videos, facts, news, and more.
National Park Service's Learn and explore- Explore natural resource science in a fun, interactive way.
Ocean Portal - Expand your knowledge of life in the ocean, ocean systems, and the multitude of ways that humans connect with the ocean.
San Diego Zoo - Learn about various animals through videos, stories, activities and games.
Smithsonian Learning Lab- Smithsonian Learning Lab is your destination for millions of carefully curated, easily accessible, customizable, and shareable open educational resources.
Weather.com Kids- Watch videos and do your own experiments from America's Science Lab.
Window to the Universe - A rich array of Earth and Space science topics are presented at different reading levels.
Wonderopolis - a place where natural curiosity and imagination lead to exploration and discovery in learners of all ages.

World Languages

Duolingo - Learn 30+ languages online with bite-size lessons via the web or free mobile app.
Omniglot - An online encyclopedia of writing systems and languages.
Word Reference - Bilingual and monolingual dictionaries for common languages including Spanish, Italian, French, German, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, and more. Also has forums for language learners and experts to ask and answer questions.

Last Updated: 5/1/20