resources on any device and at three different reading levels
“In 2014 we set out on a mission to answer one question: ‘What does the modern classroom look like?’” said Ted Levine, the president and CEO of Kids Discover. “We knew we wanted to offer up our entire nonfiction library in digital form, but more importantly we wanted to create an experience that educators and students would want to use on a weekly basis. Only once we began visiting schools and sitting in on classes did we begin to architect the experience of Kids Discover Online. It was our conversations with educators and students that enabled us to develop such an engaging platform.”
Upon logging in to Kids Discover Online, teachers will find a newsfeed of relevant science and social studies content that can be filtered down into ten different categories. Unlike a chapter book or textbook, Kids Discover’s content has the visual appeal of interactive GIFs, custom animations, and historically accurate photos and illustrations that make reading a truly immersive experience. “We’ve always prided ourselves on providing the highest quality nonfiction resources in the market. Now we have a platform that makes accessing and integrating those resources easier and more affordable than ever,” said Levine.
Each article within the platform offers three differentiated reading levels. Teachers can adjust reading levels for individual students and assign material through the Classroom setting. Students then log in to Kids Discover Online using a classroom code and are dynamically served content at the appropriate reading level. Students also have the option to select easy, medium, or hard reading levels if they are using the platform for independent reading or research.
The Discover Map, which shows an interactive web of relationships between related topics, is an alternate entry point into Kids Discover Online, and something that came directly out of Kids Discover’s research. “With the rise of inquiry-based learning and student-led research, we wanted to create a tool that enabled students to make connections, to have those ‘light-bulb’ moments,” said Levine. Additionally, teachers can add lessons to their Desk, a customizable lesson-planning tool. Kids Discover Online aligns with Common Core, State Standards, and Next Generation Science Standards.
About Kids Discover Online
For more than 25 years, Kids Discover has been creating beautifully crafted nonfiction products for kids. With a specialty in science and social studies, the team of talented writers, award-winning designers and illustrators, and subject experts from leading institutions is committed to a single mission: to get children excited about reading and learning. For information, please visit KidsDiscover.com.