For those who have students home from school due to COVID-19, children’s book creators are putting together a number of resources to keep your students occupied and engaged. Aside from creator content, I am also sharing some of my favorite sites for kid-friendly activities and content. My goal is to keep this site updated as I find out about more.
- YOUR LIBRARY! Remember, you can likely access many books from your local library (audiobook or ebook) using resources like Overdrive/Libby (my personal favorite) and Hoopla. Many also have online classes available to cardholders through sources like Lynda. com Finally, don’t forget free online homework help for at-home learners.
- I’ve uploaded a hands-on engineering design activity to my YouTube channel based on the book WOOD, WIRE, WINGS: Emma Lilian Todd Invents an Airplane. https://youtu.be/f1MK69KNA6I This activity also appears on the Soaring 20s educational site. More content added soon! https://www.soaring20spb.com/teachers-librarians
- Each Tuesday, the STEMTuesday team shares a booklist centered around a single topic (week 1), related hands-on activities (week 2), language arts connections (week 3) and an author interview. Check out our archives https://fromthemixedupfiles.com/stem-tuesday/
- Patricia Newman has a wonderful blog feature called LitLinks, which connects books with hands-on learning. https://www.patriciamnewman.com/blog-4/
- Kate Messner has put together a site with online learning and read alouds: https://www.katemessner.com/read-wonder-and-learn-favorite…/
- Looking for STEM activities to do with your students at home. NASA’s JPL has launched Learning Space. jpl.nasa.gov/edu/learning-s
- Two of my favorite sites for hands-on activities for kids are:
What do we do all day? https://www.whatdowedoallday.com/author/mom-and-kiddo/ - and Pragmatic Mom: https://www.pragmaticmom.com/
- Librarian Betsy Bird has a rundown of 90-Second Newbery Videos to engage your students: http://blogs.slj.com/…/ghosts-of-newbery-past-present-and-…/
- The new StorySeeds podcast (just for kids) is also up and running: http://blogs.slj.com/…/a-new-podcast-for-your-children-sto…/
- And speaking of podcasts, 6 Minutes is my son’s favorite: https://app.kidslisten.org/pod/Six-Minutes
- Write. Draw. Create. Community. with Authors’ Everywhere. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCowhHSUaWp3KJDcuI0nR0vw
- Khan Academy is a great source of online learning: https://www.khanacademy.org/
- They also have partnered with Pixar for PIXAR in a Box series on storytelling, animation and more: https://www.khanacademy.org/partner-content/pixar
- Common Sense Media has a roundup of kid-friendly content and resources: https://tinyurl.com/vk84rhj
- Many museums have virtual tours. You don’t even have to leave your couch. https://www.travelandleisure.com/attractions/museums-galleries/museums-with-virtual-tours
Kirsten W. Larson 