Are you a teacher or parent looking for free, high-quality resources for your students? You’re in luck! Pittsburgh is packed with incredible organizations offering lessons, activities, and experiences that won’t cost a thing. Below is a curated list of tried-and-true favorites that inspire learning both inside and outside the classroom.
1. Find Lesson Inspiration with The Frick Pittsburgh
Looking to bring art, history, and creativity into your classroom? The Frick Pittsburgh has you covered. Whether you’re preparing for a field trip or building a lesson inspired by their collections, their website is full of free classroom resources designed with educators in mind.
Planning a visit? The Frick offers several ready-to-use lesson plans that help students better understand what they’ll see in the galleries. Current offerings include:
- Chemistry of Color – exploring the connection between science and art
- Join the Guild – a deep dive into the European guild system of the Middle Ages
- Medieval Gold – how art was used as communication during medieval times
Not heading there in person? No problem! The Frick also provides a wide variety of online art lessons perfect for budding artists. Students can learn to paint like Picasso, analyze artwork using different strategies, step into history, or even write letters inspired by the past—all through free lesson plans available online.
Visit their website to explore these resources and spark creativity in your classroom.
2. Explore Pittsburgh with Kidsburgh
Kidsburgh is a go-to resource for both parents and teachers in the Steel City. Their website makes it easy to discover kid-friendly events, activities, and learning opportunities happening all around Pittsburgh.
While Kidsburgh highlights plenty of family fun (from workshops to community events) they also share at-home and classroom-ready activities that educators can use for lesson inspiration. Not every event is free, but Kidsburgh consistently features options for every budget year-round.
Teachers, don’t worry, you won’t miss out! Their Maker Mondays series is a standout, offering free, hands-on activities published weekly and perfect for classroom use.
Check out Kidsburgh’s website to access activities and upcoming events.
3. Get Free or Discounted Tickets with RAD Pass
Did you know your Allegheny County library card unlocks more than just books? One of its best perks is RAD Pass, which provides free or reduced-price tickets to popular museums, theaters, zoos, and cultural attractions across the Pittsburgh region.
Families and educators can reserve up to four tickets per attraction, while supplies last, making this an amazing option for field trips or weekend adventures.
Don’t let your library card collect dust. Put it to work for unforgettable learning experiences!
Visit the RAD Pass website to browse available attractions.
4. Borrow Classroom Materials from the University of Pittsburgh’s Free Lending Library
The Asian Studies Center at the University of Pittsburgh offers an incredible free lending library exclusively for educators. This hidden gem allows teachers to borrow a wide range of classroom materials, including:
- Books and curriculum guides
- Documentaries, feature films, and animated films
- Artifact lending kits
- Language-learning programs and multimedia resources
Materials are available for all grade levels and may be borrowed for up to two weeks, with extensions available upon request.
Visit their website to explore the full catalog and start borrowing.
5. The Education Partnership (TEP)
A bit of a self-plug, but for good reason! The Education Partnership is one of the top school supply organizations in the country, supporting over 231 underserved schools across Southwestern Pennsylvania.
Teachers who visit our Teacher Resource Center typically leave with around $1,000 in free classroom materials and supplies that would otherwise come straight out of their own pockets.
Wondering if you qualify? It’s simple:
- Your school must have 70% or more of students enrolled in the Free or Reduced Lunch Program
- Check this page to see if your school is already enrolled
- If it is, contact your administrators to get registered
- If it’s not and your school qualifies, encourage administrators to apply near the end of the school year so teachers can benefit the following year
Supporting educators is what we do best, and we’re proud to help classrooms thrive.
Author: The TEP Team
