When I wrote my last blog post two weeks ago, I can assure you that Coronavirus, Covid-19, and homeschooling were not on my short list of future blog posts. I’ll be honest—two weeks ago the virus, to me, was a horrible disease that was only afflicting people in China and a small pocket of people in Seattle. Now I sit in my office, with my husband and children quarantined at home for a minimum of 2 weeks (more likely 8+ as of today), trying to figure out how to navigate this new reality! I find that when I am anxious, trying to be more organized and in control helps. So when North Carolina finally cancelled school over the weekend, I went into planning mode.
First, I found this schedule another mom had posted on social media and I tweaked it a bit.
Next, I started to pull together all the online resources (along with usernames & passwords) that my daughter’s teacher had sent us over the course of the year. Full disclosure, I’ve struggled this year with knowing how much computer time is too much. When my daughter gets home from school, I want her to go and play outside or do something creative or read…not go online and do more school work. But I’ve let her on rainy days, snow days, or when mama really needs to get some work done!…and I’m SO THANKFUL for these resources today! And speaking of playing outside — I have two girls, age 5 and 7 who won’t be going to school or having play dates for the foreseeable future, so getting outside will be key to all of us keeping our sanity!
So here is a list of resources I’ve put together to help us all. It includes places to explore outdoors, places to explore online, and FREE online educational resources.
Places to Explore Outdoors
We’ve been to a few of these and are excited to visit the rest!
Anne Springs Close Greenway https://www.ascgreenway.org/
US National Whitewater Center https://usnwc.org/
Dupont Forest https://www.dupontforest.com/
Uwharrie National Forest https://www.fs.usda.gov/nfsnc
McDowell Nature Center & Preserve https://www.mecknc.gov/ParkandRec/StewardshipServices/NatureCenters/Pages/McDowell.aspx#trails
Latta Nature Center & Preserve https://www.mecknc.gov/ParkandRec/StewardshipServices/NatureCenters/Pages/Latta.aspx
Reedy Creek Nature Center & Preserve
https://www.mecknc.gov/ParkandRec/StewardshipServices/NatureCenters/Pages/Reedy.aspx
Grandfather Mountain State Park https://www.ncparks.gov/grandfather-mountain-state-park/home
Crowders Mountain State Park https://www.ncparks.gov/crowders-mountain-state-park/home
Places to Explore Online
We joined the Cincinnati Zoo’s FB live today and the kids LOVED it. They loved the interaction. And I just learned about the Mo Willems videos, and my kids love his books, so I’m excited to introduce them to that tomorrow!
Cincinnati Zoo https://www.facebook.com/cincinnatizoo/ (3pm EST every day!)
Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmzjCPQv3y8 (1pm EST every day!)
San Diego Zoo – https://kids.sandiegozoo.org
Yellowstone National Park – https://www.nps.gov/…/lea…/photosmultimedia/virtualtours.htm
MARS – https://accessmars.withgoogle.com
Monterey Bay Aquarium – https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animals/live-cams
Houston Zoo Cams – https://www.houstonzoo.org/explore/webcams/
Jellyfish & Beluga Webcam – https://www.georgiaaquarium.org/webcam/beluga-whale-webcam/
Museum Tours – https://artsandculture.google.com/story/igKSKBBnEBSGKg?hl=en
Free eLearning Resources
We already have access to some of these through my daughter’s school, but even if you don’t, they are all FREE for at least a month!!
Scholastic – Reading (FREE 30 DAY ACCOUNT) https://classroommagazines.scholastic.com/…/learnathome.html
ABC Mouse – Reading – Math – Science – Art & Colors (Ages 2-8) (FREE 30 DAY ACCOUNT) https://www.abcmouse.com
Raz Kids – Reading – (FREE TRIAL) https://www.raz-kids.com
Prodigy – Math (FREE ACCOUNT) https://www.prodigygame.com/blog/
ABCya – Online Educational Games (FREE) https://www.abcya.com
Epic! – Reading (FREE 30 DAY ACCOUNT) https://www.getepic.com
Highlight Kids – Activities, Games, Jokes (FREE) https://www.highlightskids.com
National Geographic Kids – (FREE) https://kids.nationalgeographic.com
PBS Kids (FREE) https://pbskids.org/games/
Coloring Pages – Drawing Tutorials – Paper Crafts – Puzzles & Games (FREE) http://www.supercoloring.com/sections/paper-crafts
The sites above are ones I’ve used and know that my kids enjoy, but there’s a much longer list here that we may need if this goes longer than two weeks!
And now the piece de resistance!
Would you like a daily calendar of every, single virtual event that is taking place for the next few weeks? Click here!
Update 3/18/20
Want some ideas for educational tools that are not 100% computer-based? My husband’s colleague’s wife is a self-proclaimed “recovering teacher” and has provided some great activities for reading, math, and creative arts: https://www.unstuckatho.me/.
Here are some more virtual field trips that my friend Stephanie sent me! https://adventuresinfamilyhood.com/20-virtual-field-trips-to-take-with-your-kids.html
https://www.instagram.com/petethecatofficial/?igshid=100t00fokew9x&fbclid=IwAR1qXKwaoXIa3UseroN2gcnJy-R30DjK5WkcplFPe1rcOp1ucMW3A-Ivbfk
https://adventuresinfamilyhood.com/20-virtual-field-trips-to-take-with-your-kids.html