Entertaining & Educating Kids at Home During School Closures
School is closed for a while – now what? We know it will be a challenge for kids to be away from school for so long, for working parents trying to juggle child care, and for parents home with little ones all day. Not to mention trying to keep everyone healthy while unsure what to participate in during the break. So we decided to share a list of our favorite resources for entertaining and educating kids at home – it’s our favorite thing to do!
Big thanks to The Constructive Quarantine for putting together LOTS of great resources for families during the school break!
Things To Do at Home During a Long School Break
Time Management & General Education Resources
Parenting During COVID-19: What to Know About School Work & Playdates
Probably the best resource we’ve read specifically for parents & families.
Managing Kids’ Time During School Closures
An occupational therapist takes some time to discuss how we can create positive and productive environments in our own homes with our children while so many schools are closed.
APT Education
APT and PBS have curated FREE, standards-aligned videos, interactives, lesson plans, and more. Really quality stuff here, and I love how it’s broken down by age, subject, and grade.
Free Educational Subscriptions to Use During School Closings
A HUGE GoogleDoc of free online educational subscriptions.
7 Tips for Incorporating Montessori at Home
Easy ways you can add Montessori methods to your home routine – great for younger kids!
30 Virtual Field Trips
Everything from art, to animals, to science is featured in this virtual list.
5 Fantastic Online Resources for Home Educators
A local homeschooling mom shares some tips for families who get to do this temporarily.
Kahn Academy
A nonprofit with the mission to provide a free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere. Has a variety of subjects and grade-level material.
Learn at Home with Scholastic
Even when schools are closed, you can keep the learning going with these special cross-curricular journeys.
The Best Online Educational Games for Kids
There are plenty of kid-friendly, educational online game sites to choose from, and many offer a selection of content free of charge.
Free BrainPop Trial
BrainPOP’s rigorous, standards-aligned lessons help all students gain knowledge and engage in deeper conceptual understanding across the entire curriculum.
Books & Reading
Books & ReadingInteract with Books & Their Authors
This is a library of resources for kids, families, teachers, and librarians to make sure that reading & learning can happen anywhere this spring.
HMCPL Storytimes on YouTube
The friendly librarian at the Huntsville Madison County Public Library branches are putting together some stories and puppet shows next week!
Huntsville Madison County Digital Media Zone
Did you know you can check out library books from your living room? HMCPL has a great selection of eBooks in their Digital Media Zone – even kid’s books!
Writing
Practice penmanship by writing notes and letters to residents in local nursing homes!
300 Writing Prompts for All Ages
These are perfect to use as kids journal writing prompts, as short story writing prompts, or just for exercises to help students and children of all ages tap into their creativity.
Cursive Writing
These worksheets will have your kids writing cursive on no time. Now they can read all those historical documents their grandparents are concerned about!
Science
Science Never Stops!
This amazing video series by the U.S. Space & Rocket Center is AWESOME. Put it at the top of your STEM resource list.
Shareable Science
HudsonAlpha’s Educational Outreach director has put together some wonderful science videos not only about COVID-19, but also about genetics and the work they do in terms everyone can understand and learn from!
Home Safari Live!
Animal-loving kids will love this video series done by the Cincinnati Zoo!
Quarantime Science Lessons & Engineering Challenges
A daily show featuring science and math lessons, crafts and games hosted by two science educators. Watch on YouTube
Usborne QuickLinks
Quality links provided by a trusted educational resource.
Mystery Science
Open-and-go lessons that inspire kids to love science!
P.E. & Fitness
5 Minute Move Workouts for Kids
Go Noodle!
Engages 14 million kids every month with movement and mindfulness videos created by child development experts.
FitApp
A totally free workout app featuring quick & effective workouts you can do anywhere.
Music
Daily Practice for Brass Band Students
beginning Monday, March 16th at 11:00 AM EDT, Huntsvillian Harry Watters will be hosting a daily warm-up livestream, focusing on the fundamentals for brass musicians of all levels. Hope to see you via “social distancing”! Watch on YouTube
Free Piano Tutorials for Kids
Great online lessons from a seasoned piano teacher.
You Can Play That
Free Live Music Classes M-W-F at 11am EST – this class is great for students located anywhere, as well as homeschool students.
Chorus Challenge
Laura Benanti wants students from canceled high school musicals to sing their songs on video
Podcast for Music Lessons at Home
The Music Box is an interactive music education podcast for kids, exploring fundamental music concepts through performing, responding and connecting.
Free Live Opera Streams
The Metropolitan Opera, after shutting its doors, will offer free streams from live performances in their HD catalog.
Art Instruction
Kids To-Go Art Kits from Spirited Art
Support a local business AND get some awesome art instruction too!
Crafting the Curve with Timbrook Toys
Another local Huntsville small business activity series for kids and kids at heart. These printable downloads are designed to use supplies that you may already have at home.
Draw Every Day with JJK
Every weekday at 2pm ET for at least the next few weeks, best-selling author & illustrator will host free webcasts for you and your kiddos. He. Is. AWESOME!
Virtual Museum Tours When You’re Stuck On the Couch
Experience the best museums from London to Seoul in the comfort of your own home.
Robot Week Live!
Art + Robots = a super fun lesson by a Tennessee art teacher.
Fun Crafts
Crafting with Kids on RCM
We love crafts, and have a whole series about it!
Build a Toy Car Out of an Empty Hand Sanitizer Bottle
Because you probably have one or two at home by now.
101 Crafts To Do with Toilet Paper RollsÂ
Because you probably have a lot of these if the empty grocery shelves are any indication.
Make Lucky Flower Pots for St. Patrick’s Day
Make a DIY Clothespin Art Display
How to Build a Marble Roller Coaster
Make Mason Jar Tissue Paper Candle Holders
Affordable Recycled Craft Ideas
Under the Sea: Make an Ocean Mobile
Whip Up Some Electroactive Slime
Get Outside!
If you’re headed to a park or other shared space, just be sure to practice social distancing, and wash your hands thoroughly.
Go on a Hike Outside on a Kid-Friendly Trail
Look for Furry Friends Around Huntsville
Get Outside at Monte Sano State Park
Go on a Lucky Duck Hunt Downtown
Learn the Secrets of the Huntsville Botanical Garden
Local Disc Golf Courses Kids Can Play
Did we miss your favorite resource for entertaining and educating kids at home? Leave us a comment below and we’ll add it in!
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