Dear Families,
We’re all learning how to deal with the new normal. As we adjust, here are some sites you might enjoy visiting. Our procedures vary day-to-day but we’re available virtually! None of us have done this before, so be kind to each other. Our kids’ room mantra ‘Write, talk, read, sing and play—everyday’ is a good guide. Stay in touch!
Are you finding being at home together, all day, a challenge to your former routine? Here’s a recommended daily schedule for kids during social distancing:
MUSEUMS:
Smithsonian Spark Lab try it at home
https://invention.si.edu/try/do-try-home
Visit the American Museum of Natural History
https://www.amnh.org/plan-your-visit/covid-19-visitors-staff
The Tate’s art website for kids.
San Francisco’s Exploratorium is closed, but they have so much on their website!
https://www.exploratorium.edu/
Virtual tours of world museums.
https://www.thrillist.com/news/nation/virtual-museum-tours
STORIES:
Actors read stories to kids on this award-winning site. Check out https://www.storylineonline.net/
Tons of sites of authors/illustrators sharing their work!
A schedule of authors/illustrators sharing their work online. Via Children’s Librarian in Utah. Some duplication with Book Riots list.
Picture Book Read Alouds
https://pernillesripp.com/2020/03/14/picture-books-read-aloud-videos-for-lesson-use/ – this is made up of authors reading their own work, including a list from the Indianapolis Public Library with over 100 titles, and titles in other languages.
Visual of Dan Santat’s promotion and #operation storytime, from Wisconsin libraries.
https://yssevents.blogspot.com/2020/03/sheltering-in-place-literature.html
Authors Everywhere:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCowhHSUaWp3KJDcuI0nR0vw?view_as=subscriber – A YouTube channel with authors sharing their books and work, will also, hopefully, host panels and other discussions.
Lunch Doodles with Mo Williams:
https://www.kennedy-center.org/education/mo-willems/ Mo Willems invites YOU into his studio every day for his LUNCH DOODLE. Learners worldwide can draw, doodle and explore new ways of writing by visiting Mo’s studio virtually once a day for the next few weeks. Grab some paper and pencils, pens, or crayons and join Mo to explore ways of writing and making together.
Reading Connects Us:
https://us19.campaign-archive.com/home/?u=5b876333808499090787c390e&id=454bd22741 A newsletter about virtual learning that is full of links to lessons, things authors are sharing, etc.
LivBits Let’s Keep Reading:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MrM7Ypu3uoEEwbyLQ6sxkx8d-sePrP2J64WQrb6dNfI/preview?fbclid=IwAR2S7d5ktOdd8PRnI2vsba_NxSPkJCzfAp0zlZm_BkGJjKdszKKIDshA5Ew A list of authors and illustrators, etc who will be doing regular live readings or interactive sessions.
SOME COOL THINGS:
Dinosaur skull found in amber!
Visit shipwrecks! Just one of the many activities for kids at NOAA.
https://oceantoday.noaa.gov/every-full-moon/welcome.html
Read, Wonder, and Learnhttps://www.katemessner.com/read-wonder-and-learn-favorite-authors-illustrators-share-resources-for-learning-anywhere-spring-2020/ – this is a lot of authors sharing lessons, excerpts, etc from their books.
Free art classes!
https://www.carlasonheim.com/product-category/classes/free-classes/
GENERAL LISTS OF RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES:
General list of educational websites for kids.
https://www.verywellfamily.com/best-free-educational-websites-for-kids-3129084
