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This mini Scratch lesson will walk you through how to create the illusion of moving sideways!

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Our resources were assembled by K-12 educational technology teams from around California in an effort to assist all K-12 education agencies with providing extended learning opportunities to their students during the extended school closures (as a response to COVID-19).

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Our resources were assembled by K-12 educational technology teams from around California in an effort to assist all K-12 education agencies with providing extended learning opportunities to their students during the extended school closures (as a response to COVID-19).

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Author and Illustrator Mo Willems has been awarded the American Library Association’s Caldecott Honor three times for his picture book illustration. Additionally, he is the recipient of two Theodor Geisel Medals and five Geisel Honors for his Elephant & Piggie early readers. Mo began his career as a writer and animator on Sesame Street, where he garnered six Emmy Awards. His work has been exhibited around the world, including solo retrospectives at the High Museum in Atlanta and the New-York Historical Society. Over the last decade, Mo has written three musical theater works based on his books, two of which were commissioned and toured by the Kennedy Center.

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Hello, friends! I'm Kate Messner, a former classroom teacher, forever-educator, and the author of more than three dozen books for kids. These include picture books like Over and Under the Snow, The Brilliant Deep, and The Next President; the Fergus and Zeke easy reader series; the Ranger in Time historical chapter book adventures; nonfiction like Tracking Pythons and Solve This: Forensics; and novels like All the Answers, Breakout, and . I'm happy that you found your way here!

This is a library of resources for kids, families, teachers, and librarians to make sure that reading & learning can happen anywhere this spring. Some of you may be out of school as communities try to prevent the spread of a virus known as COVID-19. Here's a great page from NPR that explains what that's all about, in a kid-friendly comic. National Ambassador for Young People's Literature Jason Reynolds shares "How to Fight the New Bad Guy in Town," a PSA for kids, on the StorySeeds podcast here. And this excellent & important post from author Laurie Halse Anderson does a great job explaining why we're seeing closings (and why that's important) for older readers.

Below, you'll find a growing collection of resources that include everything from first-chapter and picture book read-alouds (all shared with permission!) to drawing and writing mini-lessons. Be sure to check back often, as new resources will be added every day. If you'd prefer to browse learning-at-home resources by age group, my daughter Ella has put together the pages below, with even more resources, organized by grade level. (Thanks, Ella!)

Resources for grades PreK-2 (ages 3-7)
Resources for grades 3-5 (ages 8-10)
Resources for grades 6-8 (ages 11-13)
Resources for grades 9-12 (ages 14+)

Many teachers & librarians have also reached out to ask about permission to read books aloud to your students via closed platforms like Google Classroom, Zoom, and unlisted YouTube links. Individual publishers have been sharing their own guidelines for online read-alouds, and you'll find a round-up of those here.

Author Kate Messner shares a read-aloud of THE NEXT PRESIDENT: THE UNEXPECTED BEGINNINGS AND UNWRITTEN FUTURE OF AMERICA'S PRESIDENTS, illustrated by Adam Rex. Writing challenge: After the read-aloud, write your own presidential platform. What changes would you make to your country if you were in charge?

Author Kate Messner shares a read-aloud of OVER AND UNDER THE POND, illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal (shared with permission from Chronicle Books). After the read-aloud, look out your window - or step outside if you can - and see what hidden nature you notice!

Author Kate Messner shares a read-aloud of THE BRILLIANT DEEP: REBUILDING THE WORLD'S CORAL REEFS illustrated by Matt Forsythe. After the read-aloud, check out the Coral Restoration Foundation website. Learn more about the threats coral reefs are facing from NASA's Climate Kids page, and check out this page about how kids can help our oceans. Challenge: Make a poster or drawing to teach people about how we can all help coral and other sea creatures!

OVER AND UNDER THE RAINFOREST, Kate's book with illustrator Christopher Silas Neal doesn't come out until August, but we got special permission to share an early read-aloud! After the story, check out this page with more information on the wildlife of Costa Rica, where Kate did most of the research for this book. Writing challenge: Write a short article to teach people about your favorite rainforest animal!

Tracey Baptiste, the author of The Jumbies series, shares a mini-lesson on comparative mythology. She talks through how creatures from different mythologies have traits in common and encourages kids to find those similarities in the mythologies they come across. She's also sharing some reading resources such as D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths, The Element Encyclopedia of Mythical Creatures, and her own Jumbies Field Guide available at her website.

Author Debbi Michiko Florence shares a read-aloud excerpt of her chapter book JASMINE TOGUCHI FLAMINGO KEEPER, along with a writing prompt (and a peek at a real daruma doll)!

Author Leah Henderson shares a first chapter read-aloud of her middle grade novel THE MAGIC IN CHANGING YOUR STARS. Writing Challenge: Find out who Ailey Benjamin Lane is named after. (Hint: His first name comes from an African-American dancer & choreographer with the initials A.A. His middle name comes from an African-American farmer & naturalist who searches out the stars and who created an almanac in 1792. This person's initials are B.B.) Who could they be?

Author-illustrator Jarrett Lerner shares tips and techniques to help you draw ANYTHING and EVERYTHING!

Veera Hiranandani, author of the Newbery Honor winning book The Night Diary, The Whole Story of Half a Girl, and The Phoebe G. Green series offers a diary writing prompt to help you get to know your characters and create an inspired story!

Author Jason Reynolds shares a read-aloud from his MG novel, GHOST. In this chapter, the main character talks about world records, so after the read-aloud, check out this page from the Guiness Book of World Records, with some records you can try to break at home!

Author Kate Messner shares a read-aloud excerpt from TRACKING PYTHONS: THE QUEST TO CATCH AN INVASIVE PREDATOR AND SAVE AN ECOSYSTEM. After the read-aloud, you can learn more about invasive species from National Geographic and the National Wildlife Foundation. Also check out this article from New York State Conservationist Kids!

Kate also shared this article about the python scientists, with photos and infographics.

Author & illustrator Grace Lin teaches viewers how to draw a Chinese Dragon and shares some tidbits about Chinese culture! You can find more of Grace's reading & drawing videos on her YouTube channel.

Author Carole Lindstrom shares a read-aloud of WE ARE WATER PROTECTORS.

Author Jo Knowles reads from the first chapter of her MG novel WHERE THE HEART IS and offers students a fun writing exercise! For more about Jo and her books, or for teachers/book group guides that go along with her books, visit her website.

Kelley McMorris, who illustrates the RANGER IN TIME chapter book series, shares a video about how she illustrates a book cover. After you watch, try using Kelley's process to design a new cover for one of your favorite books!

Author and illustrator Debbie Ridpath Ohi shares a read-aloud of her picture book WHERE ARE MY BOOKS?, gives a drawing demo and challenges young readers to create their own imaginative squirrels, and shares a crowd-sourced "Where Are My Books?" music video. You can find lots of free, print-ready activities and other fun bonus info at https://www.debbieohi.com/wamb

Author Erin Entrada Kelly gives a peek into the notebooks for several of her novels, including HELLO, UNIVERSE. Writing challenge: What's in your notebook? Take a little time to write in it today, inspired by Erin's ideas!

Author Chris Tebbetts shares a read-aloud of the first chapters of STRANDED. Writing challenge: Choose a wilderness setting of your own - the Arctic, the desert, the rainforest - and imagine you're stranded there. How will you survive? Write an imaginary journal documenting your adventure. Check out these wilderness survival skills from Outdoor Life for ideas!

Author Nikki Grimes shares poetry selections from WORDS WITH WINGS. Writing challenge: Try writing your own poem today, in the style of one of Nikki's read-alouds! For more of Nikki's read-aloud videos and lessons, check out her YouTube Channel here.

Author Ann Braden shares a read-aloud excerpt from THE BENEFITS OF BEING AN OCTOPUS. Note: the octopus is a pretty amazing creature, so after the read-aloud, read up on them at this page from National Geographic Kids!

Author Kate Messner shares a read-aloud of UP IN THE GARDEN AND DOWN IN THE DIRT, illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal. After the read-aloud, read more about helpful insects here and check out these garden activities from KidsGarden!

Author Sarah Albee shares a STEM mystery, "Did the Doctor Do It?" as part of her series exploring the science and intrigue of poison throughout history. Check out more of Sarah's Poison videos here.

Middle grade and Young adult author, Paula Chase offers a mini-writing exercise to help students build stories around their unique traits.

Author Nancy Castaldo reads some of BACK FROM THE BRINK with tips how we can all use our voices through our writing to make a difference. Here's the link to the reader's guide for more activities.

Author Debbi Michiko Florence shares an early read-aloud excerpt of her upcoming MG novel KEEP IT TOGETHER KEIKO CARTER, along with a writing prompt!

Author & illustrator Grace Lin shares the first story from her early reader, "Ling and Ting: Not Exactly the Same!" You can find more of Grace's reading & drawing videos on her YouTube channel.

Author Kate Messner shares a read-aloud excerpt from RANGER IN TIME: RESCUE ON THE OREGON TRAIL. Writing challenge: Choose your favorite event in history and imagine how a search and rescue dog might be able to help out. Then so some research about your historical event, and write your own story about Ranger's adventures there!

Christina Soontornvat shares how she came up with the idea for her new middle grade fantasy novel, A WISH IN THE DARK. Writing challenge: Use Christina's model to brainstorm your own list of ideas for stories that might be inspired by a classic tale! And check out more videos from Christina here!

Author KA Holt reads an excerpt from her forthcoming middle grade novel-in-verse, BEN BEE AND THE TEACHER GRIEFER.

Author Mae Respicio reads a few pages from her upcoming middle grade novel, Any Day With You, and shares a quick, fun writing prompt. Writing challenge: Imagine you've been planning a beach day with your best friends. You're so excited to go but when you get there... everything goes wrong and not the way you expected it to! Describe what happens.

Author Elly Swartz shares tips on how to use the emotion in your life to create authentic characters! Writing challenge: Take a few minutes to journal about a day when you felt an especially strong emotion - joy or fear or excitement! How might you use those emotions in a fictional story?

Author Lisa Yee drinks water, reads the first chapter of Millicent Min, Girl Genius, and fumbles when she comes across a couple of lines in Latin. Writing challenge: Try rewriting a scene from this chapter from the point of view of another character!

Award-Winning author Michelle Cusolito shares a writing mini-lesson to help writers add more sensory details to their writing. You can find more resources related to Michelle's book FLYING DEEP: CLIMB INSIDE DEEP-SEA SUBMERSIBLE ALVIN here.

Author-illustrator Lita Judge shares a video about how a sketching trip inspired one of her picture books! After you watch, take your own mini-sketching trip. Go to your kitchen or your bedroom, your porch or your backyard, and sketch what you see. Observe closely!

Author Kate Messner shares a read-aloud excerpt from CHIRP, a mystery for kids that's set on a cricket farm! After the read aloud, you can learn more about entomophagy (eating insects as food!) from CBS Kids, and check out a real cricket farm's website!

Author Chris Tebbetts shares a video mini-lesson on how to create a good beginning for a story!

And another video writing workshop from Chris, called Four Elements of Character. (This is an 8-minute video where you pause & write sometimes, so the full activity will take about half an hour. Recommended for writers ages 10 and up.)

Author Aisha Saeed shares a read-aloud of her picture book, BILAL COOKS DAAL, along with a related activity!

Author Emily Jenkins shares a read-aloud of A GREYHOUND, A GROUNDHOG.

Author Lisa Schroeder shares a read-aloud excerpt from her MG novel MY SECRET GUIDE TO PARIS, along with a writing exercise!

Author Janet Fox shares a read-aloud of the first chapter of her MG novel THE ARTIFACT HUNTERS. Writing challenge: Try writing a short scene of your own in which something unexpected happens!

Author & illustrator Jess Keating shares some thoughts on where ideas for stories come from! (This is part of a series Jess shares on writing & you can find more on her YouTube channel.)

Author Chris Tebbetts shares a read-aloud of the first chapters of MIDDLE SCHOOL, THE WORST YEARS OF MY LIFE, co-written with James Paterson.

Poet Charles Waters shares poetry from DICTIONARY FOR A BETTER WORLD (by Charles Waters and Irene Latham)

Author Abby Cooper reads the first chapter of her middle grade novel, FRIEND OR FICTION.

Author Lynn Plourde shares some tips on starting an observation notebook!

Author-illustrator James Burks shares a video lesson on how to draw Squirrel from his graphic novel series, Bird and Squirrel!

Author Kristen Larson shares an engineering design activity based on her book WOOD, WIRE, WINGS: Emma Lilian Todd Invents an Airplane.

Author Liz Garton Scanlon shares a video lesson on writing am ETHEREE - a ten line poem in which each line is one syllable longer than the last.

Author-illustrator Karen Romano Young shares a video doodling tutorial. You can also check out Karen's #AntarcticLog comics, a weekly series of comics about Antarctica - as well as the Arctic and anyplace where climate change is being studied.

Author KA Holt reads an excerpt from her novel-in-verse, HOUSE ARREST. Mini-lesson: listen for as many poetic devices as you can find (metaphor, simile, assonance, hyperbole, etc.)

Author Jennifer Roy shares a video read-aloud from her historical novel YELLOW STAR, along with a writing prompt about looking for symbols of hope in tough times, recommended for ages 10 and up.

Author Laurel Snyder shares some thoughts on fiction and making up stories, along with a read-aloud of CHARLIE AND MOUSE OUTDOORS.

Author Caroline Starr Rose reads her picture book, A RACE AROUND THE WORLD: THE TRUE STORY OF NELLIE BLY AND ELIZABETH BISLAND. When you've finished listening, visit the article, How to Pack Like Pioneering Journalist Nellie Bly, Who Circumnavigated the Globe in 1889 with Just a Small Duffle Bag, to see what Nellie brought on her journey. Challenge: Plan your own trip around the world. What would you like to see? Where would you like to visit? Mark these places on a map.

Author Corinne Demas shares a read-aloud of THE DISAPPEARING ISLAND.

Author Lauren Tarshis shares a read-aloud of the first two chapters of I SURVIVED THE SINKING OF THE TITANIC. After the read-aloud, check out this link to read about Robert Ballard, the oceanographer whose team discovered the wreck of the Titanic more than seventy years after it sank.

Author & poet Nikki Grimes shares poems about one of her favorite cakes, Pineapple Upside Down Cake, along with five steps to creating your very own poem about your favorite food! For more of Nikki's read-aloud videos and lessons, check out her YouTube Channel here.

Author Sarah Aronson shares a read-aloud of JUST LIKE RUBE GOLDBERG. And here's a FlipGrip page where kids can share their projects and ask questions.

Author Chelsea Clinton shares an excerpt from her book START NOW: YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

Author Bruce Hale shares a read aloud of BIG BAD BABY.

Writing Challenge: Write about the same experience in multiple ways (letters, poems, illustrations, and screenplay).

Bonus challenge: Write positive affirmations for your family members.

Author Sayantani DasGupta shares a read-aloud of the first chapter of THE SERPENT'S SECRET.

Author Deborah Underwood reads INTERSTELLAR CINDERELLA (illustrated by Meg Hunt) and gives kids a mini-lesson on how to write their own fractured fairy tales.

Author Kate Messner shares a read-aloud of UP IN THE GARDEN AND DOWN IN THE DIRT and answers questions from kids in a "Family Book Club" video recorded earlier this year (thanks to Read-Aloud Revival for making this recording publicly available for learning at home this spring!)

Author-illustrator Brian Biggs shares a read-aloud of his EVERYTHING GOES board books.

Author Jessica Young shares a read-aloud of HAGGIS AND TANK (illustrated by James Burks) with a mini-lesson on sound words.

Author-illustrator Brandon Reese shares a read-aloud of his picture book CAVE DADA. And here's a link to download a coloring page, too!

Here's a fun challenge from author Laurel Snyder ... She's written a brand new book, but doesn't have any pictures for it. Will you help? She'll read you the story of The Beastly Collective, and you'll draw your favorite animals, while she teaches you some brand new words!

Author Christine Evans shares a read-aloud of Evelyn the Adventurous Entomologist, illustrated by Yasmin Imamura.

Author and illustrator Grace Lin shares a chapter from her book, The Year of the Dog. You can find more of Grace's reading & drawing videos on her YouTube channel.

Grace Lin teaches families how to draw a dog from the number 5 (just like in The Year of the Dog!)

Amy Guglielmo, co-author of POCKET FULL OF COLORS shares a read-aloud of her picture book biography of Disney artist Mary Blair. Art challenge: Collect a rainbow of colorful objects inside or outside as a fun follow up activity. Take part in the "Rainbow Hunt," and draw a picture of a rainbow to post in your window for neighbors to see on their daily walks.

Author Kerry O'Malley Cerra demonstrates an easy tool students can use to summarize. This tip can also be used for writers as chapter checks!

Japanese American author, Kathleen Burkinshaw reads a chapter from her MG historical fiction, The Last Cherry Blossom based on events in her mom's life as a 12 yr old in Hiroshima during WWII. Also learn a little about her mom's favorite Japanese folk tale. You can find a Discussion Guide on her website www.kathleenburkinshaw.co

Newbery Award winning author Meg Medina shares a writing lesson on Creating Tension.

Kerry Madden shares a read-aloud of ERNESTINE'S MILKY WAY.

Author Buffy Silverman shares On a Snow-Melting Day: Seeking Signs of Spring and a little science show-and-tell.

Author Diane Zahler shares a read-aloud of the first chapter of The Marvelwood Magicians and a writing prompt.

Abigail Rayner shares a read-aloud of The Backup Bunny.

Michelle Cusolito reads aloud her book Flying Deep: Climb Inside Deep-Sea Submersible ALVIN (illustrated by Nicole Wong) while Jeff Angeley of Southcoast Lessons provides live musical accompaniment. You can find more resources related to Flying Deep here.

Author Meg Fleming shares a read-aloud of her picture book, Sometimes Rain.

S.K. Ali, co-author of THE PROUDEST BLUE, shares directions for making a paper boat.

The niece and nephew of Cedella Marley read her book, Get Up, Stand Up, a picture book adaptation of one of Bob Marley's beloved songs that has a timely message for children: To counter injustice, lift others up with kindness and courage.

Author Lisa Yee talks about Bobby vs. Girls (Accidentally) and reads passages from the book. Writing prompt for today: Do you think boys and girls can be friends?

Would you rather be an #astronaut or #aquanaut? Perhaps you need more info to decide. Check out Jen Swanson's video below. Then make your choice and draw a picture of your suit!

Author Jo Watson Hackl Shows How to Take Your Reading to the Next Level by Exploring the Natural World of Your Characters.

Author Heather L. Montgomery reads-aloud chapters from SOMETHING ROTTEN: A FRESH LOOK AT ROADKILL.

Author Heather Shumaker offers a weekly author chat called Fiction Friday. She shares tips and ideas for writing fiction, reads a short excerpt from her middle grade novel The Griffins of Castle Cary, adds in a mini writing lesson, a few corny jokes, and encouragement to young writers and readers.

Author Christina Diaz Gonzalez talks about finding writing inspiration from your own family history (video is in English and then in Spanish).

Kate Messner shares a read-aloud of HOW TO READ A STORY, illustrated by Mark Siegel & shared with permission from Chronicle Books.

Author Kimberly Derting shares a read-aloud of CECE LOVES SCIENCE with permission from HarperCollins.

Author & science teacher Anne Ruppert shares a try-it-at-home fingerprinting activity from SOLVE THIS: FORENSICS (by Kate Messner & Anne Ruppert, published by National Geographic)

Author Jacqueline West shares a read-aloud from The Shadows, volume one of her bestselling MG fantasy/mystery series The Books of Elsewhere, along with a writing activity for you (and possibly your pet!) that will help you think about character and dialogue. For more info and other videos, visit her website! www.jacquelinewest.com.

Author Carter Higgins shares a read-aloud of BIKES FOR SALE with permission from Chronicle Books.

Author Deborah Underwood reads FINDING KINDNESS, illustrated by Irene Chan (Godwin Books/Macmillan, 2019).

Author Melanie Crowder reads a chapter from her middle grade novel, Three Pennies, and shares a quick and easy craft to go with it. Writing Challenge: Think of one of your favorite books-does an animal make an appearance in the story? In Three Pennies, the author writes several chapters from the point of view of an owl (named Owl). Try to add a chapter to that favorite book you've got in mind, writing from the point of view of an animal in that story.

Author Cynthia Levinson reads The Youngest Marcher: The Story of Audrey Faye Hendricks, a Young Civil Rights Activist, illustrated by Vanessa Brantley Newton. Thanks to Simon & Schuster Kids for permission.

Loree Griffin Burns, author of books like Citizen Scientists and the upcoming picture book You're Invited to a Moth Ball, shares her favorite book of all time: The Flora and Fauna of Hosmer Street. It's not a book she wrote, but rather one she made with her three kids. For one year, Loree, Sam, Ben, and Cat committed themselves to getting to know their animal neighbors; what they found surprised them. In this video, Loree show listeners a few of their best finds (garter snake! walking stick! a skeleton!), what they learned (the more you look, the more you see!) and, of course, how to start creating The Flora and Fauna of Your Place.

Many people have heard of the secret network that helped many enslaved blacks escape to freedom in the North called the Underground Railroad. But how many of you have heard about the Overground Railroad? Author Lesa Cline-Ransome reads from her book, The Overground Railroad, illustrated by her husband, James Ransome.

Author Kathleen Blasi reads HOSEA PLAYS ON, which depicts a day in the life of street musician Hosea Taylor, who made his community better, with his open-hearted giving. After the read-aloud, you can take a look at the newspaper article that inspired Kathleen to learn more about Hosea Taylor and served as the research springboard for HOSEA PLAYS ON.

Author Laya Steinberg reads her picture book THE BEST SUKKOT PUMPKIN EVER and shares a seed planting activity.

Author Jewell Parker Rhodes shares a read-aloud of the first chapter of GHOST BOYS.

Roy Freeman shares a read-aloud of CORDUROY, written and illustrated by his father, Don Freeman.

Author Nancy Tupper Ling shares a read-aloud, along with a lesson on how to make a list poem about your favorite place in the world.

Author Sarah Scheerger reads her picture book, Mitzvah Pizza, and shares a story about the real-life pay-it-forward pizza place that inspired the story. Classroom activities for the story are found here.

Writing Lessons! Many families are using this time at home to work on writing projects that range from stories and poems to special interest research reports and even novels. Here are some craft lessons from authors to help with ideas & strategies!
Author Meg Medina shares a video lesson on creating tension. Author Jennifer Torres shares a mini-workshop on setting with a video and pages to download. Here's a lesson from author Paula Chase on writing dual points of view. Author Josephine Cameron shares creative writing tips about how choosing the perfect setting can help you shape the character, plot, and relationships in your story.
Additional Resources:

Want to see even more author & illustrator videos? Check out the Authors Everywhere YouTube channel, created by Susan Tan!

Check out STEM Tuesday from The Mixed of Files of MG Authors blog for weekly book lists, interviews, and activities.

Want to try writing some poetry today? Joyce Sidman shares an amazing collection of ideas to get you started.

Here's another poetry lesson from Kathryn Apel - writing a didactic cinquain!

If you're stuck at home, it's a great time to start a writer's notebook! Author & Poet Amy Ludwig VanDerwater has a whole collection of posts from different writers, called "Sharing Our Notebooks." Check it out -so many ideas here!

Author Madelyn Rosenberg shares a collection of writing prompts here.

Here's a collection of video mini-lessons from nonfiction author Melissa Stewart - great for teaching informational writing, including research, text features, text structure, rich language, voice, and revision.

Author & poet Laura Shovan shares a collection of poetry mini-lessons on her website!

The folks at Middle Grade at Heart share a list of MG novels with discussions questions & related activities here.

Author Victoria Coe has a playlist of writing lessons for kids with 25 lessons.

Author Sarah Darer Littman offers short readings and writing prompts on her website.

On the Kids Ask Authors podcast, you can hear author/illustrator Grace Lin and a guest author answer a kid question! Kids can submit their own book reviews, poems or jokes! https://www.kidsaskauthors.com Subscribe to the podcast here: http://ow.ly/8OPg30qr7WD

Erica S. Perl (@ericaperl) is doing a weekly Instagram live author event called "Winging It with Erica S. Perl" featuring read-alouds, writing prompts, and occasional shakings of a tail feather. Tune in every Tuesday at 2 pm EST and wish her good cluck!

The KidLit TV team, a group of diverse children's book authors and illustrators, has created a virtual library of FREE read aloud, drawing & writing tutorials, podcasts, art activities + reading resources for kids. https://kidlit.tv

Jarrett J. Krosoczka, author & illustrator, shares daily drawing lessons on his YouTube channel.

Author Kathryn Hulick invites you to investigate a ghost story as a scientist, based on her book STRANGE BUT TRUE.

New Books to Check Out!

In case you're missing your weekly trip to the library or bookstore, we also want to let you know about some new books out this spring!

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Read, Wonder, and Learn! Favorite Authors & Illustrators Share Resources for Learning Anywhere - Spring 2020

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Hello, friends! I'm Kate Messner, a former classroom teacher, forever-educator, and the author of more than three dozen books for kids. These include picture books like Over and Under the Snow, The Brilliant Deep, and The Next President ; the Fergus and Zeke easy reader series; the Ranger in Time historical chapter book adventures; nonfiction like Tracking Pythons and Solve This: Forensics ; and novels like All the Answers, Breakout , and .

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The Everywhere Book Fest will be held May 1 and 2.

The coronavirus pandemic response to shut down schools and ban large gatherings means no book festivals, publishing and educator conferences, or school visits for a while. The impact has been felt on publishers, creators, educators, and readers. Authors Ellen Oh and Christina Soontornvat were disappointed by all of the cancellations and the ripple effect it would have on the industry. They were contemplating options, originally considering a virtual chat as a replacement for a canceled book festival.

"But as the number of canceled events started stacking up and schools around the country started to close, it quickly became clear that there was a need for something much bigger," Soontornvat wrote in an email.

So Oh took to Twitter.

"We wondered what we could do to maybe have a book festival online," she tweeted on March 9. "So we're currently brainstorming ideas, especially for authors w/ books out this month. Would people be interested in a virtual book festival?"

It took only days for the kid lit community to rally behind the idea. Author Melanie Conklin joined Oh and Soontornvat to organize, and the Everywhere Book Fest will be held May 1 and 2. Author and illustrator Grace Lin designed the logo.

"Public events such as book festivals, conferences, and school visits are big opportunities for authors to make real, human connections with readers, booksellers, and educators," Soontornvat wrote in an email. "Events like this can really help get your book on people's radar and get them talking about your title. And of course, there is the potential to actually sell books and sign them for readers in real time. The loss of sales has been devastating for some booksellers who were counting on the revenue from the events. But, for authors, I would say that the loss of connecting face-to-face with readers is the hardest part of all this. We get so few opportunities to meet them otherwise. That sort of human connection can make such a big impression on a young reader. It really can make a big difference in their life or turn them into a lifelong reader. And of course, our hearts especially go out to the debut authors, who have waited so long and worked so hard for their moment to shine."

There will be panels-livestreams and pre-recorded content-in picture books, middle grade, and YA, prioritizing authors and independent booksellers who had an event canceled because of COVID-19, spring debut authors, and authors from marginalized backgrounds. Children's authors and illustrators will take live questions from viewers at home, do demos, tell stories, and give sneak peeks into their daily lives, according to Soontornvat.

"The days will be fun and lively, which is something we could all use in our lives right now, especially the children who are home from school," she said. "Attendees who want to purchase books will be directed to independent bookstores where they can order signed copies from the authors in the festival."

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Kara Yorio

Kara Yorio (kyorio@mediasourceinc.com, @karayorio) is news editor at School Library Journal.

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Kid Lit Authors Organize Virtual Book Festival for May

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The Everywhere Book Fest will be held May 1 and 2. The coronavirus pandemic response to shut down schools and ban large gatherings means no book festivals, publishing and educator conferences, or school visits for a while. The impact has been felt on publishers, creators, educators, and readers.

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This walking water science experiment is so much fun and super easy to do! My kids absolutely loved it! It even comes with free printable recording sheets for kids as young as preschool! Check out the video to see how easy this walking water experiment really is. This rainbow activity is perfect for spring science!

Walking Water Science Experiment

Ok, this might just be our favorite science experiment! The whole family (adults included) were completely mesmerized with process. We all couldn't believe how quickly the water traveled up the paper towel and neat it was to watch the colors mix together.

We have wanted to try it out for a long time now and I am kicking myself for waiting so long. I don't know why, but I thought it might be difficult to do or take a long time. I was way wrong. It was very easy and we started seeing results right away!

The walking water science experiment is great at any time of the year, but it is especially perfect for spring. I love doing rainbow activities in the spring, so this was a great addition to our rainbow theme activities.
Related: Simple Spring Science and STEAM Activities
If you are looking for simple science to do with the kids and something that will really WOW them, this is definitely one to try.

You only need a few simple supplies that you probably already have around the house.

Setting Up the Rainbow Science Experiment

Printable walking water recording sheets (button to download at the bottom of the post)

Small plastic cups or glasses

Paper towels (*read my tips below for picking the right ones)

Food coloring in primary colors

Water

* The pick-a-size paper towels are best because then you just use half sheets for each cup. If you only have full sheets, then cut them in half. I've also heard that more absorbent paper towels work better too. I buy the cheap store brand ones, and our water moved pretty quickly from cup to cup, so I am not sure how important that is. It may have went quicker with something more absorbent though.
Supplies Needed:
1. Print out the recording sheets and make copies, if needed.

2. Place 7 cups in a row and pour water in the 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th cup. My cups were about 3/4 full. I have since heard that fuller is better.

3. Add 5 drops of red food coloring to the 1st cup and the 7th cup.

4. Add 5 drops of yellow food coloring to the 3rd cup.

5. Add 5 drops of blue food coloring to the 5th cup.

Doing the Walking Water Experiment

You want to try to use the same amount of food coloring in each cup. When I did this with my kids they did drop an extra one or two in since they can't control it well, but I just added a drop or two more to the others to even it out.

6. Take a half sheet of paper towel and fold it in half lengthwise and in half again lengthwise.

7. Trim off some of the length so that there isn't too much excess paper towel that will stick up in the air between each cup. This will make the water walk more quickly.

8. Place one half of a rolled paper towel in the 1st cup and place the other half in the cup next to it. Then another paper towel from 2nd cup and into the 3rd cup. This continues until you have placed the last paper towel that drapes over from the 6th cup to the 7th cup.

9. Stare at the cups and watch what starts happening. You should quickly be able to see the colored water begin to crawl up the paper towel.

10. Don't forget to do the first part of the recording sheet. Students will predict what they think will happen.

This walking water experiment is AWESOME!

Keep checking back every couple of minutes. Soon you will be able to see that the water has crawled all the way up the paper towel and is beginning to walk back down into the empty cup next to it.

Since the cup on either side of an empty cup has colored water in it, the two colors begin to mix in the empty cup. So cool!

Keep coming back throughout the two hours or soon and observe what is happening.

Question to Ask

What do you think will happen to the water?

What is happening now?

Why do you think the colors are changing?

Why might the water be able to move up against gravity like that?

How this Science Experiment Works

The water moves up the paper towels through a process called capillary action. The paper towel is made from fibers and the water is able to travel through the gaps in the fibers. The gaps in the paper towel act like capillary tubes and pull the water upward. This is what helps water climb from a plant's roots to the leaves at the top of the plant or tree.

The water is able to move upward against gravity because of the attractive forces between the water and the fibers in the paper towel.

I even removed one of the red cups and made a color wheel so I could introduce the kids to that as well.

I hope your kids have a great time with this super cool walking water science experiment!

Other Cool Science Experiments for Kids

This rainbow Walking Water Science Experiment is one of our most popular science activities!

Try this super simple Oobleck recipe that only requires two household ingredients!

This rainbow skittles experiment is sure to WOW the kids!

You can also make a rainbow of flowers with this super cool color changing flowers experiment!

This pepper and soap experiment is very simple to do, but always engages the kids!

Did you know you can put paper under water and it will stay dry? Give it a try with this keep paper dry under water experiment. The kids love this cool trick!

Explore Newton's color wheel while making colors disappear with this totally awesome science activity!

Explore chromatogography with this super fun STEAM activity that combines science and art!

This rain cloud jar science experiment give children a chance to explore clouds and rain in a hands-on and engaging way

The kids will get a kick out of this super cool dancing raisins science experiment!

Check out these other science experiments and activities for kids.

This lava lamp science experiment is always a hit with the kids!

If you haven't tried this magic milk science activity, you have to! It is so awesome and super easy to do.

This leak proof bag science experiment will make your kids jaw drop! It's hard to believe, but it works.

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Rainbow Walking Water Science Experiment for Kids

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This walking water science experiment is so much fun and super easy to do! My kids absolutely loved it! It even comes with free printable recording sheets for kids as young as preschool! Check out the video to see how easy this walking water experiment really is.

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Are you looking for FREE & cheap STEM ideas? Download or share these resources to help you add STEM to your classroom or help learning continue at home
Got a small budget but want to get some versatile STEM supplies? I made two lists on Amazon to help you shop: https://a.co/d9F4rWz https://a.co/gssP7Bl$1000 budget: Looking for more resources? Here's an A-Z list

Simple STEM Activities for Families (ideas to get your STEM learning started at home or school)

77 STEM Activities for Families in Nature English (PDF) or Spanish (PDF)

77 STEM Activities for Families #3 English (PDF) or Spanish (PDF)

77 STEM Activities for Families #2 English (PDF) or Spanish (PDF)
Thank you to Claudia Larrain, Mauricio Gonzalez, Ekuwah Moses, Ali Robbins, & Khadi Goodside for the translation work!
Super STEM Movies (ideas for using movies to engage kids with STEM)
(Note: Movies are written, directed, & produced to tell a story and make money, not to be used an educational resource. Every movie should be previewed for content that may be inappropriate for your kids)
Ideas for making car rides fun with STEM

Isometric Paper (for drawing 3-d with your students...learn how it works here)

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Got a small budget but want to get some versatile STEM supplies? I made two lists on Amazon to help you shop: https://a.co/d9F4rWz https://a.co/gssP7Bl $1000 budget: Looking for more resources?

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"X-STREAM Sundays" STEM Lessons for the Week!

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Flipgrid is where social and emotional learning happens! The leading video discussion platform for millions of PreK to PhD educators, students, and families.

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The kids LOVED it!!! Thank you so much!!!
-C. Lancaster - Ellwood Elementary

Thank you so much for joining us in my science classes this morning. My students had a lot of fun learning more about sound. They loved that you are from Australia - they couldn't believe how early in the morning it was on Friday and that you were zooming with us.
-L. Corcoran - North Ridgeville City Schools OH

I wanted to say thanks for a fantastic day of Zoom presentations. Rusty was a phenomenal presenter - highly engaging and knowledgeable, but also very professional. Although we weren't able to have him in person, he still did a wonderful job. The boys loved it!

-J.Graham - The Scots College

On behalf of Salamah College staff and students, we would like to say a big thank you for your kind effort and hard work. The experiments you put together were astonishing and engaging. Your energetic approach grasped the students' attention and kept them engaged throughout the show. We highly appreciate you reaching out to our school. It was great meeting you. Thank you, Salamah College Team,
-S. Elkordy - Salamah College

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Through this service you'll be first to know about the newest free experiments, science news and special offers.

PLUS: Get a free Kitchen Chemistry Booklet with >20 experiments, how to use variables plus a handy template!

Please fill out the details below and an email will be sent to you. Once you get that just click on the link to confirm your subscription and you're all done!

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Kitchen chemistry science experiments for kids | Fizzics Education

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The kids LOVED it!!! Thank you so much!!! -C. Lancaster - Ellwood Elementary Thank you so much for joining us in my science classes this morning. My students had a lot of fun learning more about sound.

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Create invisible ink with lemon juice - Fun Science Experiments for Kids

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Lemon juice is an organic substance that oxidizes and turns brown when heated. Diluting the lemon juice in water makes it very hard to notice when you apply it the paper, no one will be aware of its presence until it is heated and the secret message is revealed.

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Science truly surrounds us even in the sounds we hear! This water xylophone experiment is truly a must do science activity for young kids. So simple to set up, it's kitchen science at it's finest with plenty of room to explore and be playful with it. Try this easy sound waves experiment with water in glass jars for a hands-on science project for kids.

Explore Sounds Waves With Water

Have you ever heard of the phrase kitchen science? Ever wondered what it means? It's probably pretty easy to guess, but I will share anyway! Let's show our kids how cool it is to play with science.
Read more below on how you can extend this sound science experiment, add in the scientific process, and create your own sound waves science experiment.
Kitchen science is science that can come out of the kitchen supplies you have! Easy to do, easy to set up, inexpensive, and perfect science for young kids. Set it up on your counter and go!

For several pretty obvious reasons, a homemade water xylophone experiment is the perfect kitchen science! All you need is mason jars {or other glasses}, food coloring, water, and set up chopsticks or even a spoon or butter knife to explore sound.

ALSO CHECK OUT: 30 Water Experiments For Kids

Did you ever wonder how to make science easy enough to do at home or with a larger group of kids, this is it! We love sharing the simplest of ideas to get you started and comfortable with sharing science with your kids.

What Is The Scientific Method For Kids?

The scientific method is a process or method of research. A problem is identified, information about the problem is gathered, a hypothesis or question is formulated from the information, and the hypothesis is tested with an experiment to prove or disprove its validity.

Sounds heavy... What in the world does that mean?!? It means you don't need to try and solve the world's biggest science questions! The scientific method is all about studying and learning things right around you.

As children develop practices that involve creating, gathering data evaluating, analyzing, and communicating, they can apply these critical thinking skills to any situation.

READ MORE HERE: Using The Scientific Method with Kids

Note: The use of the best Science and Engineering Practices is also relevant to the topic of using the scientific method. Read more here and see if it fits your science planning needs.

Helpful Science Resources To Get You Started

Here are a few resources that will help you introduce science more effectively to your kiddos or students and feel confident yourself when presenting materials. You'll find helpful free printables throughout.

How Does A Water Xylophone Work

When you tap the empty jars or glasses, they all made the same sound. Adding different amounts of water changes the noise, sound, or pitch.

What do you notice about the amounts of water versus the sound or pitch that is created? The more water, the lower the pitch! The less water, the higher the pitch!

Sound waves are vibrations that travel through the medium which in this case is water! When you change the amount of water in the jars or glasses, you also change the sound waves!

Water Xylophone Experiment

Make sure to have your kids tap the empty jars first to get an idea of the starting sound! Have them predict what will happen when they add water. They can also create a hypothesis to explain what happens when more or less water is added. Read more here on the scientific process for young kids.

Supplies:

Food coloring (we used blue, yellow and green for varying shades of green)

Wooden sticks (we used bamboo skewers)

4+ mason jars

Instructions:

STEP 1. Fill the jars with varying levels of water. You can eyeball the amounts or grab the measuring cups and get a little more scientific with your exploration.

STEP 2. Add food coloring to make different colors for each note. More water equals lower sound or pitch and less water equals a higher sound or pitch. We made our jars pure green, dark green, blue-green, and yellow-green!

Things To Try With Your Water Glass Xylophone

Does tapping the sides of the jars make a purer sound than tapping the tops of the jars?

Try adjusting the water levels to create new sounds.

Try using different liquids and compare results. Different liquids have different densities and the sound waves will travel differently through them. Fill two jars the same amount but with two different liquids and observe the differences!

Try using different tools for tapping the glasses. Can you tell the difference between the wood chopstick and a metal butter knife?

If you want to get super fancy, you can use a tuning app to raise or lower the water level to match specific notes. We tested out a little bit although we are not music experts over here, it's a fun way to take the experiment a step farther for older kids.

More Fun Ways To Explore Water Science

Printable Science Projects For Kids

If you're looking to grab all of our printable science projects in one convenient place plus exclusive worksheets and bonuses like a STEAM Project pack, our Science Project Pack is what you need! Over 300+ Pages!

90+ classic science activities with journal pages, supply lists, set up and process, and science information. NEW! Activity-specific observation pages!

Best science practices posters and our original science method process folders for extra alternatives!

Be a Collector activities pack introduces kids to the world of making collections through the eyes of a scientist. What will they collect first?

Know the Words Science vocabulary pack includes flashcards, crosswords, and word searches that illuminate keywords in the experiments!

My science journal writing prompts explore what it means to be a scientist!!

Bonus STEAM Project Pack: Art meets science with doable projects!

Bonus Quick Grab Packs for Biology, Earth Science, Chemistry, and Physics

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Water Xylophone Experiment - Little Bins for Little Hands

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Get rockin and rollin with a homemade water xylophone experiment. Perfect for the young scientist to explore sound waves with water!

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Elvin Hill Elementary's LMC - Teaching Virtually

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UPDATE TO VIDEO! There is now a code for FREE UNLIMITED! For individuals, Screencastify is offering a one-year subscription of Screencastify Unlimited. Click here and find the option to "Redeem coupon". Enter the code CAST_COVID and click "Activate License". No credit card is required and you should ignore the next billing date that will be incorrect.

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I hope everyone is coping well and staying healthy. I wanted to create a temporary location here on my website that focuses solely on distance learning opportunities. While digital products and downloadable activities are not entirely new, the need for more resources is growing every day!

As a librarian, I love to cultivate a life-long desire to read in my students. During this time I don't want our students or children to forget that! I hope that this page will help you keep the library alive at home.

I am here to help you do that, whether you're an educator or parent. These resources can be used by anyone!

Google Teach From Home Toolkit - a temporary hub of information and tools to help educators during the COVID-19 crisis.

Read Alouds: Storytime with Ryan and Craig - excellent source of online storytimes for children to listen to.

Ten Strategies for Educators' Well-being: A Handbook for Schools During the COVID-19 Outbreak - a list of suggestions and advice to help educators cope during this difficult time.

Learning Keeps Going - a curated list of free tools, strategies, tips and best practices for teaching online.

I Keep Safe - digital safety resources for students featuring the character Faux Paw. This is a series of free ebooks and videos to help promote internet safety to elementary students.

Scholastic Learn at Home - Day-to-day projects to keep kids reading, thinking and growing.
Four Ways to Help Your Child Read More Confidently The Parents Guide to Google Classroom Virtual Field Trips Around the World 25 Non-screen Activities Kids Can Do at Home
PBS Kids Design Squad - Created to show kids engineering can be fun, this site has games, videos, challenges and much more.

GoNoodle for Families - Keep kids moving and learning with these movement and mindfulness videos.

A Big List of Podcasts for Little Kids - Here's a list of great shows to keep kids ages 2 through 6, and their caretakers, occupied.

[email protected] - YouTube channels for parents that offer videos, tutorials and activities appropriate for all different ages and areas of interest.

If you are new to my site, I have a ton of helpful resources on my site that are free and some that available for purchase. I started my journey creating materials for librarians in 2012. You can read all about there here! Below I will link to some of my favorite resources that I have made, along with any accompanying products.

In the free resource library can you find these reading activities plus many more. To access the free resource library, just sign-up for my newsletter.

More resource from my store

Free Growth Mindset Posters - display these posters in your office to help encourage a growth mindset for yourself during these difficult times. When you are back in school you can put these posters up in your library or classroom.

Elementary No Prep Printables Free Sample - use these printables to send home to your students in a print packet. Include materials for K-5th grades.

Library No Prep Printables - use these printables to send home to your students in a print packet. Include materials for K-5th grades.

Library Skills Activities for Google Slides - review the same types of library skills as the no prep printables, but in a digital manner.

Books to buy

Want to catch up on your professional reading? Now is a great time to do that. Below are three of books I recommend.

Other products to help

This is an excellent time to do some research lessons with your students. I have many different research activity packs in my store that will allow your students to learn and practice all the skills necessary to complete a successful research project. You can find lessons for kindergarten students up to upper elementary.

CLICK HERE TO LOOK AT ALL MY RESEARCH LESSON PLANS

There are many ways to use my research lessons with your students, whether you are doing print packets or online learning. I have several blog posts that will help you teach the research process. You can find the links below.

Also, with so many websites offering free access to their educational resources students have plenty of opportunities to find the information they need online. These include World Book Online, Tumblebooks and PebbleGo.

Need more help?

I'm always available for questions, so please feel free to email me here.

Also, if you are an educator, please feel free to join my Facebook group just for you! We share tips and tricks everyday for using these products, and many more!

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I hope everyone is coping well and staying healthy. I wanted to create a temporary location here on my website that focuses solely on distance learning opportunities. While digital products and downloadable activities are not entirely new, the need for more resources is growing every day!

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Find creative things to do at home, including toddler and kid at home activities like crafts, free coloring pages, adult coloring & at home learning. Check out fun things to do with kids when bored!

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Elvin Hill Elementary's LMC - E-Learning Resources

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Online Picture Book & Chapter Book Read Alouds + Activities

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Week 3 - National Unicorn Day 2020 Celebrate with Unicorn Jazz Live Show and Read Alouds for Kids with Special Guest Broadway Performer, Julian Lerner reading Unicorn Jazz and song!

~Keyana Martinez, "Kids love unicorns because they embody what it means to make-believe. Unicorns are imaginary creatures that don't come with a lot of rules. Cows have to moo, zebras must have stripes, and so on, but unicorns can be whatever you want them to be. They can have rainbow-colored tails, glittery hooves, and they can even talk! That's what kids need in order to let their imaginations run free with very few boundaries." The StoryTime Box

KICK OFF NATIONAL UNICORN DAY WITH BROADWAY STAR JULIAN LERNER

Calling all unicorn lovers worldwide for National Unicorn Day 2020! What a surprise and special unicorn treat for children of all ages this will be!

A rising star and Broadway performer at just 12 years young, Julian Lerner, will read his take for the original UNICORN JAZZ. He will also sing the Friendship Song in his own creative performance!

Julian can be seen as Nando Torres in Yes Day on Netflix coming later this year alongside Jennifer Garner, Edgar Ramirez, Jenna Ortega and Everly Carniglia.

Julian Lerner is an actor, dancer and musician from New York City. Julian has played roles from Gavroche in the National Broadway Tour of Les Miserables, originating roles in NYC for new musicals for Jerry Mitchell, James Lapine, Tom Kitt, Michael Korie, and Michael Mayer, numerous national commercials and voice-overs, guest starring roles on major television shows, as well as appearances on John Oliver, The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and Saturday Night Live.

When not performing, recording or filming, you can catch Julian running around NYC's Riverside Park with his two dogs, Bean and Ellis! In 2020, Julian Lerner, will be on Netlfix in Yes Day!

Follow Julian on Instagram.com/julianlerner

DR. CHRIS SHARES MARINE BIOLOGY FUN WITH NARWHALS!

The narwhal is said to be the unicorn of the sea. Narwhals are cool ocean animals.

The narwhal, or narwhale, is a medium-sized toothed whale that possesses a large "tusk" from a protruding canine tooth. It lives year-round in the Arctic waters around Greenland, Canada, and Russia. Dr. Chris will share some cool facts about narwhals.
SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY by NATALIA SEPULVEDA
Unicorn translated into Spanish is kind of obvious making it "unicornio."

READ ALOUD OF UNICORN BOOK ABOUT KINDNESS IN EYE SEE YOU!

There could never be enough kindness in the world. One of our favorite read aloud teachers, Erin Carr Young will read a preview of Eye See You Choosing Kindness. Learn why kindness matters today and everyday and how child(ren) can do their part to make the world a better place.

Author Lisa Caprelli will share a snippet of voice over by voice actress Tiffany Marz. TIffany certainly helps to make the stories come to life with her child-like voices and performance. One may think that 10 people have done our Audible stories, but nope, it is just one: Tiffany Marz.

Get the free National Unicorn Day education packet that goes with Unicorn Jazz's Eye See You Choosing Kindness!

Below - Unicorn Jazz Puppet DIY step by step by Teacher Laina Marie
Finger Puppets Encourage Role Play
~Keyana Martinez, "Kids love unicorns because they embody what it means to make-believe. Unicorns are imaginary creatures that don't come with a lot of rules. Cows have to moo, zebras must have stripes, and so on, but unicorns can be whatever you want them to be. They can have rainbow-colored tails, glittery hooves, and they can even talk! That's what kids need in order to let their imaginations run free with very few boundaries." The StoryTime Box

SHOW US YOUR HOME MADE PUPPETS AND CONTEST!

Whether you create a sock puppet, or paper craft puppet, like the many DIY crafts and step by step instructions found on our website, or your own, Unicorn Jazz's The Thing I Do wants to see yours!

Author, Lisa Caprelli, is giving away a complete Unicorn Jazz bundle valued at $125 for the winner.

We have already received many puppets from you. Continue to send them in. Write to lisa@unicornjazz.com or contact us today!

Celebrate National Unicorn Day all year with free stuff!

UPCOMING THE THING I DO KIDS SHOW - April 19, 2020 - ALL ABOUT PUPPETS AND IMAGINATION

History of puppets like Kermit the Frog

Andrew Martinez - fun puppet show for kids with positive lessons

Unicorn Jazz headquarter team playing with puppets

Bee-ing Happy with Unicorn Jazz and friends puppet show story book read aloud with song

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National Unicorn Day Kids Live Show 3 - Celebrate With Read Alouds and Freebies | Unicorn Jazz

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Week 3 - National Unicorn Day 2020 Celebrate with Unicorn Jazz Live Show and Read Alouds for Kids with Special Guest Broadway Performer, Julian Lerner reading Unicorn Jazz and song! ~Keyana Martinez, "Kids love unicorns because they embody what it means to make-believe. Unicorns are imaginary creatures that don't come with a lot of rules.

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We, along with the rest of the world, feel the impact of all that's going on in our communities right now. We are in this together and are here to support you and your students through the Covid-19 pandemic. The coronavirus outbreak is especially difficult for parents with young children that may be balancing working from home and homeschooling at the same time. As schools look for ways to extend online learning due to school closures nationwide, we are committed to bringing educators and parents the best learning resources and kid-friendly activities from home.

Along with offering free access to our digital learning products PebbleGo and Capstone Interactive eBooks, we have curated a collection of free printables and educational activities for kids' exploratory learning while practicing social distancing. From fun activities with kids' favorite book characters to inspiring STEAM activities to get them excited about science and easy crafting ideas they can make at home, we hope our resources will not only help keep kids busy in a constructive way, but also support their ongoing learning.

Bookmark this page! We will be adding more free resources continuously, so check back often for new projects for helping teach kids at home.

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Free Remote Learning Activities Coronavirus | Reading is for Everyone

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We, along with the rest of the world, feel the impact of all that's going on in our communities right now. We are in this together and are here to support you and your students through the Covid-19 pandemic.

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At I/O 2019, Google unveiled the fantastic new 3D Animals alongside a flurry of other augmented reality filters for Lens and Search.

The new features rely heavily on your smartphone to place 3D rendered creatures (and more) within your camera viewfinder in real-life scale. From the outset, it's worth noting that this isn't a brand-new feature by any stretch, but it's one that really helps you grasp the scale of animals in the natural world, all without having to head to your local zoo or nature reserve.

With millions of children around the globe not currently able to go to school due to quarantine and lockdown procedures due to the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, this might be a great way to give them an interesting home-schooling lesson without having to leave the house - or invite any furry friends in to make a real mess!

Things you will need

An Android smartphone running Android 7.0 or higher / iPhone running iOS 11 or later

Google Chrome for Android/iOS

The full list of 3D Animals within Google Search has grown substantially since launch, with more being added steadily since the announcement at last years I/O. Searching for any of the following animals will give you the option to bring them into your home in high-resolution 3D:

That list would likely be more than enough to fill a small zoo, and all of the animals even include realistic grunts, groans, and growls to really increase that immersion - and entertainment level. If you're wanting to keep yourself or your kids occupied, it's as easy as opening Google Chrome on your smartphone and searching for any of the AR animals above. You don't even have to view them in AR, you can see each animal in 3D within your Google Search page too.

Let us know your favorite 3D animal down in the comments section below.

More on Android:

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
Check out 9to5Google on YouTube for more news:

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Hands-on with all 3D Animals in Google Search [Video] - 9to5Google

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At I/O 2019, Google unveiled the fantastic new 3D Animals alongside a flurry of other augmented reality filters for Lens and Search. The new features rely heavily on your smartphone to place 3D rendered creatures (and more) within your camera viewfinder in real-life scale.

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Here you'll find worksheets we've created to go with online books and read-alouds. This is a work in progress. Please consider joining our Facebook Group, Lessons Inspired by Picture Books, for alerts to new content.

Wishing you peace and health...

The Crayon Man

Author Natascha Biebow reads her book The Crayon Man: The True Story of the Invention of the Crayola Crayon on KidLit. Introduce the book by asking readers to gather clues from the cover. What can they expect to learn while reading the book? Inform readers that their job is to pay close attention to the invention process. Notice what inventor Edwin Binney does to create Crayola Crayons. Download and print the worksheet. Direct readers to record what Binney did to design a useful invention.

Notable Notebooks: Scientists and their Writings

Imagine reading a story from space! Astronauts make that easy for us to do. Watch astronaut Joseph Acaba read Notable Notebooks: Scientists and their Writings on Story Time from Space. He reads the book from the International Space Station. The book is written by Jessica Fries-Gaither and illustrated by Linda Olliver. Download and print this worksheet and guide readers to list things they are curious about. Check out SciStarter and Knowledge Quest for some citizen scientist ideas. Then, encourage learners to write the steps they need to take to observe and record their findings.

Balloons Over Broadway

What does it take to put on a parade? Balloons Over Broadway, by Melissa Sweet, shows us what it took for Toni Sarg to design the giant balloons for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Watch Rocco Staino read this fascinating story on KidLitTV. Ask learners to notice what Toni Sarg's thought about while creating the balloons. What problems did he have to solve? Why was his final design a success? Download this worksheet from our book Lessons Inspired by Picture Books for Primary Grades. Invite learners to follow Sarg's example and plan a successful parade.

The Brilliant Deep: Rebuilding the World's Coral Reefs

Did you know that humans can save dying coral reefs? Author Kate Messner explains how one man restored coral reefs in her book The Brilliant Deep: Rebuilding the World's Coral Reefs. The gorgeous illustrations are by Matthew Forsythe. Invite learners to watch Messner read her story and wonder about coral reefs. Download this worksheet to record questions. Encourage learners to find answers to questions by reading books and searching online resources. Resources are listed on the worksheet and in the blog post How Much Do Your Learners Know about the Coral Reefs? on Knowledge Quest.

Words With Wings

Think of a time when words in a story were so evocative they made you pause. You may have read the words again to get the full essence of their meaning. Author Nikki Grimes has a way of doing that to me with her book "Words With Wings". A video clip of her reading an excerpt from the book can be found on the No Water River YouTube channel. Invite learners to illustrate one of the words Grimes describes in her story; butterfly, spring or carousel. Download this worksheet so they can record their thinking.

Hair Love

There's a lot more to , by Matthew Cherry and Vashti Harrison, than the book's title suggests. In fact, if readers look closely at the illustrations, they'll see that Zuri and her dad are going through something. The dad is not sleeping in his bed, and dirty laundry is strewn throughout the hallways. Ask learners to read the illustrations while watching the read-aloud on Brightly. What do they notice about Zuri's father? Learners can download this worksheet to record responses.

Hello Lighthouse

There's a lot to notice and wonder about the book Hello Lighthouse by Sophie Blackall. And it all begins with the jacket and book cover. If you have a copy of the book, take a look at the jacket; front and back. What do you notice? What do you wonder? Now, take the jacket off and contemplate the book cover. What do you notice?

Watch a reading of the story on "Storytime With Bill". We don't get to see the cover of the book in this video, but there is so much more to notice and wonder in the pages of this gorgeous book. Invite learners to jot their thinking with this worksheet as they follow along. They may find themselves pausing the video along the way to get a good look.

For more information about lighthouses, subscribe to Sophie Blackall's Youtube Channel. It's a real treat! We also have more resources that support the AASL Standards Framework for Learners on our home page.

Daniel Finds a Poem

April is National Poetry Month, and author Micha Archer has the perfect book about the craft. Learners are going to love following along with Archer as she invites viewers to participate in her reading of Daniel Finds a Poem. In the story, Daniel spends seven days asking animals what poetry is. They each come up with a different, poetic answer. Invite learners to create their own definition of poetry by downloading this worksheet.
If you like these lesson ideas, please take a look at our book, Lessons Inspired by Picture Books for Primary Grades. This resource includes ready-to-go lesson plans that meet the standards. Worksheets, assessments and rubrics are included.

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Here you'll find worksheets we've created to go with online books and read-alouds. This is a work in progress. Please consider joining our Facebook Group, Lessons Inspired by Picture Books, for alerts to new content. Wishing you peace and health...

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As we work to move our students and families online for continuous learning opportunities, we are all looking for the best platforms and methods to deliver these resources and content in organized, engaging and meaningful ways.

We are using our library Google Sites as a place to deliver and organize all of materials and resources for our students, teachers, families and learning community.

A big part of these Google Sites are the pages where we are sharing the Digital Reading and Learning Resources. These include audio books, eBooks, online read alouds, reference materials like PebbleGo, streaming videos, virtual field trips and more.

Even though I have broken each category into it's own section on this page, like above with Audio Books,

I have included a place for the Van Meter Collections by Destiny as well.

When they click on the link, it takes them into ONE nicely organized Collection by Destiny Set for all of our Collections by Destiny for Continuous Learning.

I just love how I can bring all of these Collections into one Collection Set so I have one link to share with students, teachers and families. It makes it so much easier for all of us.

Let me show you how to create a Collection Set.

First, go to your Collection homepage and click on the orange plus sign circle in the right hand corner.

You are going to create a new Collection.

I like to upload my own images that I create in Canva so they all look consistent and have the title of the Collection Set or Collection right on the image.

The image needs to be at least 600 x 400 pixels (width by height) to fit into the space for the Collection.

Once your Collection is created, you click on the orange plus sign circle in the right hand corner....

...and this menu will pop up allowing you to add Collections.

When you click on Collections, it will bring up a list of all of the Collections you have created or added to your account. You simply click on the ones you want to add to the Collection Set and go to the very bottom to click....

... Add. Those Collections then become part of your Collection Set as seen...

...here in this one for our Continuous Learning.

You will see that I create an image for each Collection,

...again, so they are consistent and appealing for everyone.

As we continue down this road and in the future of our learning community, we will add to these Collections by Destiny just like we have done through the year. In fact, we have been using Collections for the last few years for not only gathering resources, but for creating learning paths and experiences for our students in various ways.

One of our favorite Collections Sets is this one for Special Yearly Events that you will find here.

We have added this to our Van Meter Library Google Site so families can use these at home too.

Tomorrow, we will be sharing these new Collections for Continuous Learning with our school community. I am excited for how helpful these will be as our students continue to learn at home and how they will grow and change with our needs and resources we use.

As the Follett site shares, Classroom Ready Collections feature teacher-vetted, relevant resources aligned to standards for science, social studies and English language arts. These contain a variety of resource types to support every learner.

Follett is waiving the cost for current Destiny customers through June 30 for its Classroom Ready Collections. More than 2,300 free CRC licenses have been activated to support the needs of school districts, teachers, students and families.

You can read more about this very special offer here.

I am excited for what the Collections I have created, and the Classroom Ready Collections from Follett, will bring our community. I am thankful that we have such a wonderful tool to bring not only our resources, but our learners, teachers and families together in one spot. And I love the fact that I can share and collaborate with all of you!

Let me know how you are using Collections by Destiny. I want to hear how this is helping you and your school community too.

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Using Collections By Destiny For Continuous Learning!

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As we work to move our students and families online for continuous learning opportunities, we are all looking for the best platforms and methods to deliver these resources and content in organized, engaging and meaningful ways. We are using our library Google Sites as a place to deliver and organize all of materials and resources for our students, teachers, families and learning community.

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http://www.5minlib.com/2015/07/15-viral-content-ideas-for-your.html?m=1

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Feeling bored while staying at home during the lockdow... I mean, Restricted Movement period? Well, head on over to Neil Gaiman's website for some intellectual stimulation, where the British author has offered a bevy of 'Cool Stuff' for both adults and children for free on his website.

For the adults, his main website NeilGaiman.com has a ton of cool stuff to download, read and listen to, including short stories such as the Hugo Award-nominated How To Talk To Girls At Parties, his 'David Bowie fan fiction' The Return Of The Thin White Duke, essays by and about Gaiman, audio interviews, readings and book excerpts.

For kids, head over to MouseCircus.com, The "Official Neil Gaiman Website For Young Readers", where you can listen to the author read the entirety of his best-selling The Graveyard Book on video, as well as another video where Gaiman and "lots of other people" read the whole of Coraline.

Gaiman is best known for his work on the critically acclaimed The Sandman comic series, as well as novels such as American Gods, Neverwhere, Norse Mythology. He has also written books for younger readers such as The Graveyard Book, The Ocean At The End Of The Lane, and Coraline.

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Neil Gaiman offers tons of cool stuff for free for you to kill your time with

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Feeling bored while staying at home during the lockdow... I mean, Restricted Movement period? Well, head on over to Neil Gaiman's website for some intellectual stimulation, where the British author has offered a bevy of 'Cool Stuff' for both adults and children for free on his website.

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We, along with the rest of the world, feel the impact of all that's going on in our communities right now. We are in this together and are here to support you and your students through the Covid-19 pandemic. The coronavirus outbreak is especially difficult for parents with young children that may be balancing working from home and homeschooling at the same time. As schools look for ways to extend online learning due to school closures nationwide, we are committed to bringing educators and parents the best learning resources and kid-friendly activities from home.

Along with offering free access to our digital learning products PebbleGo and Capstone Interactive eBooks, we have curated a collection of free printables and educational activities for kids' exploratory learning while practicing social distancing. From fun activities with kids' favorite book characters to inspiring STEAM activities to get them excited about science and easy crafting ideas they can make at home, we hope our resources will not only help keep kids busy in a constructive way, but also support their ongoing learning.

Bookmark this page! We will be adding more free resources continuously, so check back often for new projects for helping teach kids at home.

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Free Remote Learning Activities Coronavirus | Reading is for Everyone

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We, along with the rest of the world, feel the impact of all that's going on in our communities right now. We are in this together and are here to support you and your students through the Covid-19 pandemic.

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Kids can learn a lot from observing animals, from what they eat and how they raise their young-to more advanced concepts like habitats and adaptations. Unfortunately, getting access to live animals is a challenge. Enter webcams. We compiled a list of the best nature webcams that offer kids a window into the animal world... so check it out!

Zoo Atlanta Panda Cam

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJGrLNCg0pM

These gentle giants eat almost exclusively bamboo ... and if this webcam is any indication, they do it all day long. Check out their powerful jaws!

California Academy of Sciences Penguin Cam

Let the waddling commence! Watch these little cuties from South Africa and Namibia swim and nest from one of three webcams.

Monterey Bay Aquarium Jelly Cam

These beauties are as mesmerizing as they are dangerous. These sea nettles, as they're known, have stinging cells on their tentacles in order to paralyze prey.

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Seattle Aquarium Sea Otter Cam

The Seattle Aquarium is home to four northern sea otters. The somersaults and log rolls are pretty amazing, but we won't stop watching until we see them hold hands.

Cornell Lab FeederWatch Cam

This FeederWatch cam is located at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in Ithaca, New York on the edge of the Sapsucker Woods. Their feeders attract chickadees, woodpeckers, and the Red-winged Blackbird.

RoyalCam Live Albatross Cam

Albatrosses are large oceanic birds with wingspans up to 10 feet. The last time we checked, this season's not-so-little chick was hanging out in the nest.

Raptor Resource Project Decorah Eagles

When this breeding pair's nest was destroyed (twice!), a team of researchers rebuilt it. The eagles have been coming back to brood ever since.

Bear Watching Transylvania Live Animal Cam

You won't see any vampires on this live animal cam located in Transylvania, Romania. However, you will see bears as well as red deer, roe deer, wild boar, fox, rabbit, wolf, and other wild animals.

GRACE Gorilla Forest Corridor Cam

Watch the Grauer's gorillas as they play, eat, and rest in their forest habitat in the Democratic Republic of Congo. You can even "meet" the gorillas and then try to identify who you're looking at!

Africam Nkhoro Bush Lodge

You'll need a lot of patience for this one, but you just may be rewarded with one of Africa's "big five" safari animals: lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and Cape buffalo.

Aquarium of the Pacific Shark Lagoon Cam

Don't worry-it's not as scary as it sounds. Witness the many species of sharks inside the Aquarium of the Pacific's shark lagoon-sand tiger, zebra, and whitetip reef sharks, for instance.

Polar Bears International Cape West Camera

Polar bear maternity dens?! Yes, please! Check in on the mama bears and cubs at Cape Churchill in Canada's Wapusk National Park.

Boulder County Osprey Cam

You're just in time! Last year, the ospreys arrived on March 22nd, so we should be able to watch them nest any time now!

Bella Hummingbird Nest

This tiny nest in La Verne, California, has been home to female hummingbirds and their babes since 2005. For reference, it's about the size of a golf ball cut in half.

Honey Bee Hive

If you've ever wondered what goes on in a beehive, then check out this livestream. It uses an infrared camera to show the inner workings of a bee colony living inside a large hollow log.

Nonsuch Expeditions Live Endangered Bermuda Cahows

Prepare to squee! You're looking at a critically endangered (and adorably fluffy) Bermuda Cahow chick and its parents. It's a beautiful sign of hope for a species once thought to be extinct.

Trevor Zoo Red Pandas

There are less than 5,000 red pandas in the wild. During the day, you can find the Trevor Zoo red pandas sleeping in the trees.

Animal Adventure Park Giraffe Yard Cam

April the giraffe went viral when the birth of her calf was live-streamed in 2017. Now you can check in on her and her son Tajiri while she enjoys her retirement.

Mpala Live African Watering Hole

We're here for the hippos, but at this watering hole in central Kenya, you catch also catch elephants, giraffes, zebras, gazelles, crocodiles, and leopards taking a drink or going for a swim.

Lubee Bat Conservatory Mixed Species Flying Fox Cam

Check out these rescued fruit bats and please, help us figure out if that really is a teddy bear in the cage. Do bats need toys?

Orcalab Rubbing Beach

Believe us-you've never seen anything like this before. Watch as orcas in British Columbia's Johnstone Strait engage in a unique behavior called "beach rubbing."

Audubon Puffin Loafing Ledge

You're going to have to bookmark this one until the puffins return, but it should be soon. In the meantime, you can watch the livestream highlights of Atlantic puffins foraging, feeding, and raising their young in the rock crevices of Seal Island off the coast of Maine.

Brooks Falls Katmai National Park

One more to save for later. For now, check out the amazing highlights of brown bears as they feast on the salmon who have returned to spawn.
Have your own favorite nature webcams? Come share in our WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook. Plus, 25 Amazing Virtual Field Trips for Kids.

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25 Best Nature Webcams for Science Learning at a Distance

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For a daily dose of wildlife and the opportunity to observe animal behavior, turn to the best nature webcams on the Internet.

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Thanks to the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the 2019 coronavirus, it feels like everything is getting canceled. Schools are closed, sports and performing arts are postponed, and field trips are out of the question. And for many parents who are practicing social distancing with their kids at home, finding ways to break up the day and give kids a sense of routine has been a real challenge. One of the silver linings is that authors, artists, musicians, and creators of educational tools are stepping up to offer free lessons, tours, and concerts that you can check out from the safety of your home.

Whether you want easy lesson plans from Scholastic, a living room concert from John Legend, or a drawing lesson from Mo Willems, there's no shortage of fun things to do online. We even have tools to help you find free or reduced-cost internet in your area. So check out this list of resources and events (we'll be updating it as new things are announced).

Scheduled (all times in Pacific Time)

Virtual Storytimes

Virtual Drawing Lessons

Music Classes & Performances

Other Fun Stuff

Getting Online

Educational Activities & Lesson Plans

Scholastic Learn at Home: 20 days of education activities, broken up into four grade levels

Amazing Educational Resources, a HUGE spreadsheet of tools/programs/services that usually cost money but are being offered for free, with info on subject and grade level (crowdsourced)

Encantos Learning Hub (pre-K-1 resources available in English and Spanish)

[email protected], educational YouTube channels curated by age group (YouTube)

Sesame Street has videos, games, and activities for younger kids) (sesamo.com in Spanish)

Tinkergarten has a week's worth of outdoor education DIY activities (sign up for the email newsletter on Tinkergarten's website)

Newsicle, a daily news trivia game put on by the folks behind XYZA: News for Kids

News-o-Matic suspends fees for daily news stories for kids K-8 (News-o-Matic app)

Complexly, a series of video series on educational topics ranging from literature to biochemistry (YouTube)

Story Pirates University, writing video lessons from the Story Pirates podcast team (YouTube)

Two Whats and a Wow!, a daily science-based game show from the Wow in the World podcast team, including activity challenges (NPR)

GoNoodle Good Energy at Home, entertaining videos and educational at-home activities that encourage movement

Arts, Film, and Music Lessons & Resources

Audiobooks & Virtual Storytime

Virtual Tours

Virtual tour of American National Parks (Google Arts & Culture)

Virtual tour of the deYoung Art Museum in San Francisco (Google Arts & Culture)

Virtual museums, classes, and exhibits in San Francisco (curated by Red Tricycle)

Virtual museums, classes, and exhibits in Seattle (curated by Red Tricycle)

Virtual museums, classes, and exhibits in San Diego (curated by Red Tricycle)

Virtual museums, classes, and exhibits in Chicago (curated by Red Tricycle)

Virtual tour of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

Virtual tour of the Louvre museum in Paris, France

Virtual tour of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York

Virtual tour of the Boston Children's Museum (Google Earth)

Virtual tour of the Great Wall of China

Virtual tour of Mars from pictures from NASA's Curiosity rover (Google)

Virtual "field trips" to zoos, dairies, symphonies, and operas (curated by Red Tricycle)

Fun & Games

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Free Online Events and Activities for Kids at Home

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Thanks to the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the 2019 coronavirus, it feels like everything is getting canceled. Schools are closed, sports and performing arts are postponed, and field trips are out of the question.

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As efforts to mitigate the effects of the coronavirus crisis ramp up, schools across the United States-including those in New York City, Washington, D.C., and dozens of states-have closed their doors, leading students, teachers and caregivers alike to seek out online educational tools. To help support this search, the Smithsonian Institution has launched a central portal highlighting an array of distance learning resources, from STEM webcasts to American history podcasts and comprehensive lesson plans. Offerings range from low- or no-tech (interviewing family members for oral history projects) to high-tech (diving into an interactive exploration module).

"The Smithsonian should have a prominent place in every classroom and home in America," says Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch in a statement. "Whether during the course of everyday learning or in a crisis like this, parents, teachers and students can rely on the Smithsonian's wealth of expertise and knowledge that is available for free at the click of a mouse."

Each of the Smithsonian's 19 museums, galleries, research centers and the National Zoo has its own webpage dedicated to educational resources. To help readers sort through the 1.7 million multimedia experiences available, Smithsonian magazine has curated the following list of eight online tools. Per the statement, residents of the nation's capital can access resources specifically tailored to D.C. Public Schools' curriculum; those further afield can use the Smithsonian Affiliate network's distance learning portal to find offerings organized by specific state. In the coming days and weeks, Smithsonian staff will continue to expand the Institution's digital presence, adding webcasts and organizing resources so that educators across the country can quickly identify the most relevant offerings.

Follow along with the #SmithsonianEdu hashtag, and browse the roundup below for a taste of the many tools available.

Smithsonian Open Access

Last month, the Smithsonian released 2.8 million high-resolution images from its collections into the public domain. These two- and three-dimensional artifacts, specimens and datasets-including a saxophone owned by jazz musician Charlie Parker, the Apollo 11 command module and a " creeping baby doll patent model "-are free for anyone to "use, transform and distribute," making them ideal candidates for educators and students in search of creative projects.

Examples of out-of-the-box applications abound: Ahead of the campaign's launch, artist Amy Karle sculpted nine 3-D printed models of the National Museum of Natural History's triceratops, introducing small changes in each one in the " spirit of bioengineering." Students mentored through Portland-based non-profit the N.M. Bodecker Foundation released music that adds a "contemporary pop culture twist" to the stories of prominent historical figures.

The Smithsonian Learning Lab's open access hub outlines additional ideas for students and educators: "You could include a CCO resource in an e-book," the page suggests, "or make it part of your new artwork, and you could sell those creations."

Because of Her Story

The Smithsonian American Women's History Initiative Because of Her Story campaignworks to "create, disseminate, and amplify the historical record of the accomplishments of American women"-a mission that holds particular resonance during Women's History Month. The main portal offers resources on such diverse topics as " American Women Athletes," " Entertaining Women on Stage and Screen," and " American Women Photographers;" through Smithsonian Learning Lab, students can explore the lives of five trailblazing women, including Muslim American athlete Ibtihaj Muhammad and disability rights activist Kitty Cone.

3-D Digitization

The Smithsonian's 3-D digitization portal features interactive models from a pantheon of fields. Users can browse collections of blue-and-white ceramics, numismatic specimens (also known as coins), and presidential portraits, among others. Twenty of these 3-D models are included in the new open access campaign and available for use in art projects or educational programs.

For those hoping to 3-D print miniature models of these artifacts, check out Smithsonian magazine's November 2019 guide, which features historical background on various digitized offerings, tips for printing specific models and more.

Native Knowledge 360 Degrees (NK360°)

The National Museum of the American Indian's Native Knowledge 360 Degrees (NK360°) initiative strives to change how Native American history is taught by " introducing and elevating indigenous perspectives and voices." As the campaign's website notes, "Most Americans have only been exposed to part of the story, as told from a single perspective through the lenses of popular media and textbooks."

NK360°'s curriculum builds on a framework of ten " Essential Understandings" outlined on the portal and in a free PDF publication. Lesson plans and learning experiences available through the initiative include a website dedicated to the " code talkers" active during World War I and World War II, a teacher's guide on the Chaski messengers of the Inka Empire, and an online lesson based on the question " Is a treaty intended to be forever? "

"Smithsonian Science How"

The National Museum of Natural History's " Smithsonian Science How" series invites students to participate in "free, interactive, live video webcasts" with Smithsonian experts. Participants can submit questions for researchers or interact with the webcast via live polls. Paired with "complementary teaching resources" and "aligned with national science standards," the 30-minute sessions air regularly during the school year. Currently, the next "Science How " webcasts are scheduled for April 9 (" Exploring Minerals and Gems with Geologist Gabriela Farfan") and May 14 (" What Makes Fish so Fishy? featuring Ichthyologist Adela Roa-Varón ").

If these livestreams won't work with your schedule, check out the museum's archive of more than 50 webcasts covering such topics as mummy science, demystifying microbes and mineral transformations. And remember to visit the museum's education page for additional content ranging from hands-on activities to posters and worksheets, science literacy resources, and subject guides.

America's Presidents

The National Portrait Gallery's America's Presidents portal is a digital companion to the museum's physical collection of presidential portraits. Users can browse portraits dating from 1789 to 2017, access 3-D models of presidential likenesses, and engage with educational collections created by curators and teachers around the country. Selected lesson plans include " Lyndon Johnson's Legacy," " Lincoln and Photography: A Closer Look," and " Looking at 'America's Presidents': Four Presidents through Portraiture."

In other National Portrait Gallery news, every Friday at 11 a.m., students and educators can tune in via the museum's Facebook page for Open Studio lessons with artist Jill Galloway. Storytime for children ages 3 and up will be livestreamed on Facebook Wednesdays at 11 a.m.

Additional examples of digital cultural resources from around the Institution include the Smithsonian American Art Museum's " Meet the Artist" video series; the NPG's " Portrait Spotlights"; and the National Museum of Asian Art's expansive Educator Resources, which take the form of curriculum guides, teaching posters, lesson plans and even Pinterest boards. Aspiring art historians can develop their analytical skills by comparing two James MacNeill Whistler portraits of British shipping magnate Frederick Richards Leyland, taking a closer look at Japanese artist Tawaraya Sōtatsu's Waves at Matsushima, or investigating the relationship between works of art and religious beliefs.

"STEM in 30"

The National Air and Space Museum's " STEM in 30" show is released online monthly. The 30-minute interactive webcast features discussions with curators, astronauts and scholars on topics including bees and aerospace, spy planes, World War II, and air traffic control. Students can engage with the program by participating in live polls and submitting questions for "mission debrief" question-and answer-sessions. An archive of more than 50 episodes-from " Your Ticket to Space: Commercial Spaceflight" to " The Science of Safety " -is available for streaming at any time.

Alternative Air and Space Museum educational resources include How Things Fly, a website that examines the four forces of flight; a geography quiz; and a lecture archive.

History Explorer

The National Museum of American History's History Explorer tool allows educators to search a broad database of resources, including lessons and activities, museum artifacts, books and interactive experiences. Those interested in World War II can peruse " Japanese American Incarceration: The Diary of Stanley Hayami" or " Women in World War II," while those searching for more high-tech options can explore the multimedia-heavy " American Enterprise: Market Revolution 1820s-1850s" and " American Enterprise: Tough Business Decisions" modules. The museum also has two original podcast series-" History Explorer" and " Prototype Online: Inventive Voices "-both of which offer accompanying activity or teacher guides.

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Eight Digital Education Resources From Around the Smithsonian

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As efforts to mitigate the effects of the coronavirus crisis ramp up, schools across the United States-including those in New York City, Washington, D.C., and dozens of states-have closed their doors, leading students, teachers and caregivers alike to seek out online educational tools.

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Hi, everyone!

I'm going to forgo answering a question today to wrap up this crazy week. At this point, I imagine that many of you are sheltering at home by mandate or recommendation. Others, like me, are wrapping up spring break and discovering they will have a second week or more of spring break.

Like many of you, I tried my best to support people online this week. Our librarian skillset is very important and useful right now. As well, our digital resources will really come in handy since most libraries are closed.

Many of our teachers are faced with figuring out how they will begin to teach remotely in the coming days. I have used Zoom for video conferencing for several years and was happy to see that they are opening their arms widely to schools who are closed due to COVID-19. Free accounts with a limited number of minutes were already available. But, now they are going above and beyond. https://zoom.us/docs/en-us/covid19.html

I made a 3 part playlist on Youtube to model:

How to Create a Zoom Meeting - Steps to set up a meeting. Things to think about.

How to Host a Zoom Meeting - What do all the buttons mean? How can I share my presentation so the audience can see it live? How to get a recording to use for those who didn't attend in person.

What Do I Do with a Zoom Link? - Where can I put the link to make it available to others to watch later?

This brief playlist will be helpful to anyone who wants to teach online or even host a meeting online.

Storytime is another thing librarians are trying to do online. Be sure to read this article from SLJ. Publishers Adapt Policies To Help Educators (regarding reading stories online) https://www.slj.com/?detailStory=publishers-adapt-policies-to-help-educators-coronavirus-covid19

I also made some extra podcasts this week. I wanted to explore 4 different education voices of people affected by COVID-19. Each one offers tips to help you gain a different perspective of things we can do to support others around us. When you have some downtime, take a few minutes to listen to these stories.

Day 1- shows us how to help support parents transitioning to teaching their own children at home.

Day 2 - Amanda Jones is a librarian preparing to support her students and campus during their COVID19 closure.

Day 3 - Student Liv Van Ledtje and her mother, Cynthia Merrill discuss the students' take on remote learning.

Day 4 - a school counselor and Licensed Professional Counselor, discusses self-care ideas and relaxation techniques for students and adults to use during this time.

Take care of yourself! Schedule some quiet time. Take a walk. Do something to offer your mind and body a little break from all of the stress in our world right now.

Keep making a difference every day. You are the librarian and you have GREAT influence on your campus. whether that is face to face or remote. You are the Librarian Influencer. And my prayer will be that someone will return the favor and make a difference in your life.

Feel free to reach out to me if you want to brainstorm any ideas you're working on. Dr. Laura

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Hi, everyone! I'm going to forgo answering a question today to wrap up this crazy week. At this point, I imagine that many of you are sheltering at home by mandate or recommendation. Others, like me, are wrapping up spring break and discovering they will have a second week or so of spring break.

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Amazing library resources/ideas for COVID-19

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Q: What's the very first thing our kids should be doing daily to keep learning during Social Distancing??? A: READING!
It's an easy way to give them skills they need for all subject areas, and to keep them engaged for an hour or more. If you don't happen to have those kid who bury their noses in books, then look what I have for you today! Below is an extensive list of what I've seen on Social Media as well as what I found myself online. You don't have to pay to have your kiddos reading online either. Almost all of these resources are FREE.
Check 'em out. Or better yet ..... have your little or big kiddo check 'em out!!! (And go ahead and comment or email me with more links. I'll add it to this one!)
UPDATED Reading RESOURCES ... 3.21.20
* Junior Library Guild - FREE digital books right now to all grade levels https://www.juniorlibraryguild.com/at-home * Gutenberg Online Resources http://www.gutenberg.org/?fbclid=IwAR29ayYo6ZvYKjs0xgPR2UfeEnooHA8SKURNFsOcqu2eED7PceO-4cJqWts * Audible is offering free services at this time https://stories.audible.com/start-listen * A Librarian's Padlet of Resources https://padlet.com/debra_lockwood1/tqi5nynw92gq?fbclid=IwAR2a4C4IUOh9h93GsWNOlaWX2HDo6RcibmBofDBf7rzCX2SkgAM9raqtjyw * Abdo Free Digital Books https://abdobooks.com/our-products/free-abdo-digital-bookshelves?fbclid=IwAR1ihde1gMMRFxs4xxhoib7a4y8mjw96HT7wwN1v6eS3C7ikW4tzAM8Ki1w * Kids Read to Kids https://kidsread2kids.com/?fbclid=IwAR2jHYfj1yRKKMYxjbbh2jgGe75RpK1IoVlDJklej74t7qmd5Duw4-y5kU4
Resources Originally Posted 3.19.20
LOCAL Grand Junction Online Story time
Mesa County Libraries Online Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday at 10AM on Facebook
For TEENS - Sync Audiobooks (SYNC is a free summer audiobook program for teens 13+. Returning April 30th and continuing 13 weeks until July 29, SYNC gives participants two thematically paired audiobooks a week. In 2019, 28 titles were given away over 14 weeks.) https://www.audiobooksync.com Big List of Children's Authors Doing Read Alouds https://www.weareteachers.com/virtual-author-activities/ Best YouTube Author Read Alouds
The Best Read Alouds on YouTube
Epic - It's free for 30 days. https://www.getepic.com/?utm_channel=search&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIrOfunJGn6AIVLP7jBx0UegA7EAAYASAAEgICiPD_BwE Storynory - Great for Tween and Teens with Fairytales and Fables as well! https://www.storynory.com 100 Free Read Alouds - From the Indianapolis Library https://www.indypl.org/blog/for-parents/free-video-read-alouds For TEENS: Rivetedlit https://rivetedlit.com/free-reads/ Hoopla Read Alongs https://www.hoopladigital.com/search?page=1&q=read+alongs&scope=everything&type=direct Flip-Along Unite - Free Picture Books that Include Narration https://www.uniteforliteracy.com Brightly Storytime - Tons of Free Read Alouds https://www.readbrightly.com/topics/brightly-storytime/
KidLit - Free Read Alouds
https://kidlit.tv/category/read-out-loud/ Story time from Space storytimefromspace.com Storyline: Actors Reading www.storylineonline.net American Sign Language (ASL) Storytelling Harper Kids - Great one! https://www.youtube.com/user/HarperKids Scholastic Read Alouds http://teacher.scholastic.com/commclub/index.htm Nook Storytime https://www.youtube.com/user/nookBN/search?query=nook+storytime Jan Brett Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC99y27OrvxzN6NNFyjaNk_w Speakaboos https://www.youtube.com/user/Speakaboos/playlists World Book Day Read Alouds https://www.worldbookday.com/storytime-online/ Singalongs Barefoot Books Picture Book Singalongs COOL Non-Fiction Articles and Videos - Particularly wonderful for the CLASSROOM Setting Newslea https://newsela.com Actively Learn https://www.activelylearn.com

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Extensive Online Reading Resources for all grade levels - Let's get 'em reading!

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Q: What's the very first thing our kids should be doing daily to keep learning during Social Distancing??? A: READING! It's an easy way to give them skills they need for all subject areas, and to keep them engaged for an hour or more.

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Music is for everyone. Play with simple experiments that let anyone, of any age, explore how music works.

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20 Virtual Field Trips to Take with Your Kids - Adventures in Familyhood

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Explore zoos, aquariums, museums and destinations around the world without leaving home. Here are 20 virtual field trips you can take with your kids.

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Hi lovely Makey Makey Community,

I'm our head of curriculum and digital content (also known as our instigator of fun.)

This last week, I've seen that the progression of COVID-19 here in the US (and around the world!) Everyday, I've heard about schools closing and folks starting to self-quarantine to help flatten the curve of COVID-19. In fact, I've got my kids at home with me for the next three weeks! I work from home and most of my job is coming up with fun stuff to do! So Tom Heck ( Our VP of Education Initiatives) and I want to share some ideas here on the blog to do with your kids and loved ones while you are stuck at home the next couple of weeks.

We find making and playing to be great mood boosters! Today, I challenged my family to this Chain Reaction challenge from the Tinkering Studio and I'm feeling more positive than I have in a week!

So, first why chain reactions? Well, these weird and wacky chain reactions stem from Rube Goldberg machines. Personally, I've been obsessed with Rube Goldberg like chain reactions since I was a kid! I've always felt inspired to make weird gadgets out of everyday stuff because of folks like Rube Goldberg, Inspector Gadget, Wallace and Gromit, The Goonies, and even Max Fleischer cartoons!

Rube Goldberg made comics in the early 1900s featuring chain reaction contraptions with everyday objects that completed simple tasks in often inefficient ways. In fact, "Rube Goldberg appeared in the Random House Dictionary of the English Language in 1966 meaning "having a fantastically complicated improvised appearance", or "deviously complex and impractical."- From Wikipedia

Read more about Rube Goldberg and his comics on this site.

If you would like to combine some chain reactions with some Literacy Connections, here are a couple of great books that connect:

Biographies:

Perseverance (making a chain reaction takes a lot of this combined with tinkering!)

Here at Makey Makey, we just love The Tinkering Studio in San Francisco. They were even some of the first people to play with our little invention kit. They've posted an "Around the World Chain Reaction" tinkering idea that is simple and fun and can be done with anything you have at your house! Here's the warm-up...

Okay, here's a warm up challenge 1.0 ~ 🎬 #RoundTheWorld_ChainReaction

Create a chain reaction element using a (cup) to trigger something else - RT your idea with a video

It can be physical, digital or a combo / outrageous examples & simple solutions are equally awesome! pic.twitter.com/7xDEdd0O0u
- The Tinkering Studio (@TinkeringStudio) March 13, 2020

We've created an Instructables for including Makey Makey in your Rube Goldberg Chain Reaction Creations.

Here are some examples so far we've seen for this challenge! Plus, if you'd like to use Scratch Cloud variables, check out this post by Josh Burker.

From Bethany Jones:

Kid toy edition🤣so much fun. Kids are working on another one as we speak. pic.twitter.com/xTRJ1uOfk1
- Bethany Jones (@bethany_jones4) March 14, 2020

From Peter Kirschmann:

#RoundTheWorld_ChainReaction from Somerville, MA pic.twitter.com/T17Lu3iFGW
- Peter Kirschmann (@cubiclecafe) March 13, 2020

From Josie Maitland:

My son's first attempt at a chain reaction from today- it's not strictly a cup- but we made it before I saw this tweet! pic.twitter.com/QcXzzoyKoM
- Josie Maitland (@DrJosieMaitland) March 15, 2020

From Patrick Benfeild:

Tried out the @scratch cloud variables that @joshburker shared. My input variable is "patrick" and outputs to @gravescolleen with "colleen" https://t.co/z49oZOZodu pic.twitter.com/L2yT3qye4i
- Patrick Benfield (@McLemoreAve) March 14, 2020

My Response to Patrick:

Challenged by ⁦@TinkeringStudio⁩ ⁦@McLemoreAve⁩ to bring ⁦@makeymakey⁩ to this #roundtheworld #chainreaction ! @rubegoldberg ⁦@microbit_edu⁩ @scratch #RoundTheWorld_ChainReaction pic.twitter.com/2HtNYnYAA6
- Colleen Graves (@gravescolleen) March 16, 2020

Angela Sofia Lombardo's response to Patrick:

🌍🇮🇹😍Here's our (@g_menegoz
and me) #RoundTheWorld_ChainReaction ! Input variable is 5 (@gravescolleen =4) output variable is 6. We used the radio function of the @microbit_edu to trigger the start! There's a Micro:bit in the final cylinder too! 🇮🇹😍🌎 https://t.co/rpUKiCQHhI pic.twitter.com/zGcJftroDg
- AngelaSofia Lombardo (@TechnoAngela) March 15, 2020

Chris Colley's Response:

The start of something... gonna get @microbit_edu involved #RoundTheWorld_ChainReaction pic.twitter.com/OJbgViFxBB
- Chris Colley (@chriscolleydog) March 15, 2020

Lindsey Balfour from Strawbees :

Finetuned my #RoundTheWorld_ChainReaction w/ more #strawbees ramps, added #microbit and @joshburker 's @scratch project using cloud data. Using input 5, ready to extend to next users. #creativitymatters https://t.co/vNU2tVRZwH pic.twitter.com/16Vchzizom
- Lindsay Balfour (@MaKeyLindsay) March 15, 2020

Josh Burker's Chain Reaction:

My #RoundTheWorld_ChainReaction dumps the duck when the @scratch cloud data input variable is set to 'josh' and outputs to @sleggss via the variable 'saskia.' https://t.co/Z2SSzw49pv pic.twitter.com/E4CoPHyMyC
- Josh Burker (@joshburker) March 14, 2020

Liam Nilsen Tinkering with Beach Materials (Check the full thread!):

It was a sunny day (and we're still aloud to go outside) so Fie and I decided to go to the beach and make some marble runs.

We started by making a little mound and putting a track on it. pic.twitter.com/80MljXUmPX
- Liam Nilsen (@nilsenmuseum) March 14, 2020

@TinkeringStudio @makeymakey @TuringTumble
eine Tasse + ein Ball + Alufolie => #RoundTheWorld_ChainReaction
leider nur die TuringTumble Simulation ... mit dem Board kann man sicherlich noch viel mehr machen.
Hat ein Berliner ein Board zu verleihen? 🙈 pic.twitter.com/5l7IgKZPDU
- DIGIdags (@DigidagsOrg) March 22, 2020

Anyone else want to play with us? Here is our first 3 part chain reaction. @Explora_Roma
#ExploraPerTe. @TinkeringStudio @makeymakey @MonktonHead
#RoundTheWorld_ChainReaction pic.twitter.com/tX9M4etW6y
- Reception | Monkton (@MonktonRecep) March 21, 2020

"For best results, use other side" - A little @makeymakey + @scratch + @HEXBUG fun #RoundTheWorld_ChainReaction pic.twitter.com/IEX5Yi8XGU
- Kathleen Fugle (@kathleenfugle) March 14, 2020

Hah 🤪we know what you mean about them performing well when no one is looking! We also don't mind a little push from a 👉"magic finger" every now & then.

Nice to have collaborators from Amsterdam🇳🇱using a swinging 🍔 & @makeymakey! ...but why not a frikandel? https://t.co/LXceMOaYCK
- The Tinkering Studio (@TinkeringStudio) March 24, 2020

We will add more examples as they come through on social! Share your own creations with the # RoundTheWorld_ChainReaction hashtag.

Some projects can take months to dream up and create! This Lemonade Machine video is epic! Maybe you can take some ideas from this video for your own epic homemade chain reactions and rube goldberg machines.

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Creativity Matters- Around the World Chain Reaction

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Guest Post by Colleen Graves Hi lovely Makey Makey Community, I'm our head of curriculum and digital content (also known as our instigator of fun.) This last week, I've seen that the progression of COVID-19 here in the US (and around the world!)

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7 cool-and slightly funky-TED-Ed Lessons to watch at home

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Many schools across country are closed for two weeks-or longer-due to the COVID-19 outbreak, and a great number of districts have moved online to help students stay current with their l...

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Unicorn Jazz: Beyond the Book Curriculum, Coloring Pages Activities & Printables If you are a school librarian, teacher, or educator, take advantage of our complimentary resources that go beyond the book(s). We accept purchase orders and offer discounts on books when contacting us directly!

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UPDATE: Lauren reports (4/10/20) on how her students are faring and what they've been writing in their "living history" assignments at the end of this post. "They give me a glimpse of how quickly some of them are growing up." By Lauren S. Brown
Several weeks ago - what is starting to feel like a lifetime ago - I finished grading 100 plus family history projects. Some were videos, but most were illustrated stories my students had written about someone they interviewed in their family.

Some kids interviewed parents or grandparents about their parents or grandparents. Some, who swore to me they had no interesting stories in their families' past, wrote about a parent's experience during 9/11 or how they felt during the last 2-3 presidential elections.

Now all of us, including my students, are living through a historical moment. If you are looking for a meaningful assignment that you can give students while we are all stuck at home, consider doing a "living through history" assignment.

Just a few days ago (which now seems like much longer ago, doesn't it?), I saw a couple of dozen students. Our district had quickly rescheduled an institute day; teachers prepared for e-learning and students were able to get into the building one last time to pick up any belongings.
As students came by, they were eager to share their observations, questions and concerns.

Hey, Ms. Brown, do you think we'll be out of school for longer than 2 weeks?

Do you think we'll still have the Great American field trip at the end of the year? Will we still have graduation? ( I teach 8th graders).

My sister is a senior in high school. She heard there won't be prom this year.

We going to pick up my brother at the airport today because his college closed.

We went to Costco this morning and the line was all the way to the back of the store.

My dad is worried that he will lose his job.

My mom told me a few days ago to stop putting the rubber bands on my braces so I don't have to put my fingers in my mouth.

I think I'm going to go nuts at home.

Ms. Brown, have you ever lived through anything like this? This will be in the history books, won't it?

Students can create "primary sources" for future historians

There are so many unanswered questions right now, but the answer to that last question is yes. So consider a simple assignment in which your students jot down their thoughts, questions, concerns and observations about what is going on. I suggested that they could do this as a letter, a diary/journal entry or just write.

Here are a few suggestions to get them started:

your family's trip to the grocery store and "stocking up"

cancelled family vacations, cancelled field trips, cancelled school

how weird it is to have to "e-learn"?

how are you occupying your time?

how do you feel about this? psyched that you don't have to come to school? bored? worried? bummed that you won't get to see your friends?

what is changing for you because of this?

what kinds of things are your families thinking/saying/doing?

Or have them post short videos about what they are thinking. Flipgrid is great for this. One of my colleagues is posting a question each day for students to reflect on. I know I have enjoyed this glimpse into my students' worlds, seeing the posters on the walls of their bedrooms, or their dog on the couch in the living room. You can come up with some fun questions to get the ball rolling:

What is your "must have" if you are going to be cooped up inside for awhile?

What are your "binge watch" recommendations?

Where is your new "desk"?

And then you can get into deeper questions, as long as you let students know that they don't have to share anything they don't wish to.

What is the #1 concern you have about what is going on right now?

What is a small way in which your life has changed right now?

What mattered to you a few days or a week ago that now seems irrelevant? Vice versa?

Things are changing very quickly now. This seems to be an assignment you could keep adapting as time passes. It doesn't necessarily require the internet, should that availability become restricted in some way.

Remind your students that they are creating a primary source - documentation of what one student was thinking in March of 2020 during the global pandemic. Now we are all a part of history.

Stay well!

Click here to see a recent week of Lauren's Google Slides for this assignment, with a note to teachers and a writing prompt for each day.

UPDATE (4/10/20) - "A Glimpse of How Quickly Some Are Growing Up"

Since writing this post, I have given this assignment to students. Their answers were, as I told them, the most interesting things I have EVER graded as a teacher. Some made me laugh, and more than a few made me cry. There is a poignancy to them, and a wonderful insight as to how middle schoolers see their world.

Students who are quiet in class have opened up. Some of the class clowns got serious on me. Some of the serious students were able to see the humorous side of things. One student wrote that her dog has never been happier-everyone is home and taking her on walks multiple times a day! They reveal sides of my students I did not always see. And they give me a glimpse of how quickly some of them are growing up.

Here are a few of the many responses I have gotten:
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1rEmgPYSgcp6XMeTSoAo5VFIleBsonAr8U8uoAzs9ptk/edit?usp=sharing
Visit a century-old pandemic here: What We Can Learn from the 1918 Influenza Diaries by Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, April 12, 2020

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Students' Pandemic Journals Could Become Primary Sources

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Remind your students that they are creating a primary source documentation of what one young person was thinking in the spring of 2020 during a global pandemic.

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© Copyright 1997 - 2023 Audible, Inc Conditions of Use…

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FETCH! . Games . WHOAHlercoaster | PBS KIDS GO!

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The Cat in the Hat . Marbleous Marvel Coaster | PBS KIDS

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The project is funded by a Ready To Learn grant (PR/AWARD NUMBER U295A150003, CFDA No. 84.295A) provided by the Department of Education to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

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The general goal of the games is to create a series of Rube Goldberg devices: arrange a given collection of objects in a needlessly complex fashion so as to perform some simple task (e.g., "put the ball into a box" or "start a mixer & turn on a fan"). Available objects ranged from simple ropes and pulleys to electrical generators, bowling balls, and even cats and mice to humans, most of which had specific interactions with or reactions to other objects (for example, mice will run towards nearby cheese). The levels usually have some fixed objects that cannot be moved by the player, and so the only way to solve the puzzle is carefully arrange the given objects around the fixed items. There is also a "freeform" option that allows the user to "play" with all the objects with no set goal or to also build their own puzzles with goals for other players to attempt to solve.

Notably, the games simulated not only the physical interactions between objects, but also ambient effects like varying air pressure and gravity. The engine does not use a random number generator in its simulation of physics, assuring that the results for any given "machine" are reproducible. There are also hints. (For example "Place the toaster here" or "We need to move that cat with a conveyor belt")

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The general goal of the games is to create a series of Rube Goldberg devices: arrange a given collection of objects in a needlessly complex fashion so as to perform some simple task (e.g., "put the ball into a box" or "start a mixer & turn on a fan").

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Creativity STEAM Activity - Carly and Adam

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Welcome to Crash Course Kids! This bi-weekly show from the producers of Crash Course is all about gradeschool science. We'll look at Earth, Habitats, Space, ...

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SciShow Kids explores all those curious topics that make us ask "why?" Every Tuesday and Thursday, Jessi and her robot rat Squeaks answer your questions and ...

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Our goal is to stay connected digitally during this period of distance learning. We are excited to continue communication and collaboration with our classrooms, while providing opportunities for continued teaching and learning.

Each day, you will have the opportunity to engage and stay connected to your teacher and the students in your classroom!
Click on the learning hubs to the right to get started!

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Our goal is to stay connected digitally during this period of distance learning. We are excited to continue communication and collaboration with our classrooms, while providing opportunities for continued teaching and learning. Each day, you will have the opportunity to engage and stay connected to your teacher and the students in your classroom!

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Reading to kids is wonderful and everything, but reading to kids from space is super awesome

If you need to mix up your bedtime story routine a little bit, the Global Space Education Foundation has just the thing for you: Story Time in Space. It's exactly what it sounds like - astronauts on various missions in space read popular children's books while floating about, and the videos are edited and shared with kids way down on Earth.

The results are adorable as well as educational and inspiring. Check out astronaut Kathleen Rubins reading Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty and try not to get choked up at how amazing this all is.

The concept was developed by Patricia Tribe, the former director of education at Space Center Houston, and Alvin Drew, the first NASA astronaut to read a story in space for the program, during the final mission of the space shuttle Discovery. The pair were looking to find a way to encourage reading among kids while also promoting STEM education, and landed on the idea of having on-duty astronauts reading science-based kids' books, gravity-free.

Since the initial reading, all of the story times have taken place on the International Space Station, as it hurtles through nothingness at 17,500 miles per hour around the planet. It's only a guess, but this may be slightly more interesting than your kids listening to you feign excitement while reading The Mitten again.

"What better role models to engage kids in science and to engage them in reading?" Tribe told the Huffington Post. "You're not only looking and listening to the books, you're looking around the International Space Station."

Not only are does Story Time in Space aim to make reading out of this world, it also stresses the importance of diversity. Tribe and her team select books for a wide range of reading levels (though all can be read in 15 minutes or less) and from a wide range of STEM topics, from physics to engineering to biology. The group also selects a diverse set of astronauts to read the books, so that kids can see that people who look just like them can reach for the next frontier. For example, Japanese engineer and JAXA astronaut Koichi Wakata read Max Goes to the International Space Station in Japanese for the program this summer.

The Story Time from Space program is also expanding. The group is working on adding a set of nine simple science experiments for kids that were conducted from the space station, involving concepts like energy transfer and surface tension. In addition, more books are on the way, including A Moon of My Own by Jennifer Rustgi, The Rhino Who Swallowed A Storm by LeVar Burton and Susan Schaefer Bernardo, and Moustronaut by Astronaut Mark Kelly.

While those projects are being completed, Earthlings can enjoy the rest of the collection, which includes Max Goes to Mars, by Jeffrey Bennet, as read by astronaut Mike Hopkins.

Let's just hope that these awesome videos don't ruin regular books read in gravity, from the ground, by plain old mom who probably isn't even an astronaut.

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Your Kids Can Now Watch Astronauts Reading Stories From Space

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If you need to mix up your bedtime story routine a little bit, the Global Space Education Foundation has just the thing for you: Story Time in Space. It's exactly what it sounds like - astronauts on various missions in space read popular children's books while floating about, and the videos are edited and shared with kids way down on Earth.

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Stress-free science lessons for K-5 distance learning

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Hands-on engineering activities featuring easy-to-find materials and step-by-step instructions. Try an activity and upload a photo of what you've built.

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We've got you covered with virtual learning materials for in school and at home.

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A list of free, online, boredom-busting resources!

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Click on any of the underlined headings/links below to find out more. Hello everyone. I just wanted to say THANK YOU for all of your messages, emails, and comments. It means the world to me to know how many people from all over the world are benefitting from this resource list.

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(Image credit: Rob Biddulph)

With children now stuck at home across the world, parents will be wondering how to keep them busy over the coming weeks. That's why illustrator Rob Biddulph has taken to Twitter to offer a series of draw-along videos for kids.

Using the hashtag #DrawWithRob, budding young artists can share their responses to Biddulph's tutorials, which he plans to share every Tuesday and Thursday at 10am GMT on Twitter. We love a good drawing lesson (check out our list of the best how to draw tutorials), and Biddulph's animal designs are a super fun example.

(Image credit: Rob Biddulph)

"[Draw-alongs] are something I have been doing for years at my live events," Biddulph told BBC Breakfast, but with so many kids now stuck at home, "this is something I can do for those parents and those kids." As well as being posted to Twitter, the videos will have a permanent home on the illustrator's website. Below is the first tutorial, 'Gregosaurus'.

Biddulph is quick to point at that the draw-along is not a competition. "I've seen thousands [of entries] now, and every single picture is different and charming in its own way." We completely agree - here are some delightful #DrawWithRob examples from Twitter:

My little lad (age 5) *loved* your video @RobBiddulph, thank you!! Zach says "I tried really hard". #DrawWithRob pic.twitter.com/UFtnjwDblV March 17, 2020

Gregosaurus by Gil, keeping us going on day 3 of our isolation. Thanks @RobBiddulph #DrawWithRob pic.twitter.com/t8Bu4kJWQk March 20, 2020

So proud of my 9 yr old daughter, Daisy, after doing #DrawWithRob on Tuesday she has taken requests from all her school friends and has drawn lots to take in on her last day! @RobBiddulph pic.twitter.com/ciJlxxETBo March 20, 2020

Had a brilliant time taking part in #DrawWithRob as part of our first school day at home. I think Greg might have acquired a love interest @RobBiddulph. pic.twitter.com/XHgKi75G3r March 17, 2020

While the world is a strange place right now, we're seeing lots of heartening examples of community in the world of art online. These include Noel Fielding's online art club and French artists creating a giant collaborative artwork.

Visit Biddulph's Twitter page on Tuesday and Thursday mornings for the latest draw-alongs. "All you need," he says, "is a piece of paper and a pencil, and maybe some colouring pencils". And with that, we're off to draw Gregosaurus.
Related articles:

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Illustrator gives free drawing lessons to inspire kids stuck at home

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(Image credit: Rob Biddulph) With children now stuck at home across the world, parents will be wondering how to keep them busy over the coming weeks. That's why illustrator Rob Biddulph has taken to Twitter to offer a series of draw-along videos for kids.

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These Paper Plate Snails are simply adorable and super easy to make. What a great rainy day craft, or one as you gear up for a season change.

This Dalmation Slime, New Year Slime and Essential Oil Shampoo Bars are other easy and fun DIY ideas for the whole family.

Aren't the snails above adorable? You can make these at home with your children and have a blast doing it. This craft uses some materials that you may have laying around and takes just a few steps and additional materials.

For complete directions scroll to the bottom of the post where the tutorial card is! You can also print the tutorial there!

With the summer here, it is great to have some indoor projects to do as it gets warmer and the summer storms come in the forecast. Crafts are great to do as a family and these snails are perfect.

Materials Needed to make Paper Plate Snails

Pin this adorable craft for later HERE!

How to Make Paper Plate Snails

1. Draw a snail head onto your colored cardstock.

2. Cut a piece pipe cleaner, fold it in half, and glue the center to the top of the snails head.

3. Glue a googly eye onto each pipe cleaner top.
4. Draw a smiley face slightly below the eyes.
5. Draw a swirl onto your paper plate with the hot glue gun starting in the center and only a small section at a time.6. Immediately stick your beads onto the hot glue, apply more glue continuing the swirl, stick on more beads, and repeat until your bead swirl is complete. 6. Glue the snail head onto one side of the plate and your snail is complete.

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These Paper Plate Snails are simply adorable and super easy to make. What a great rainy day craft, or one as you gear up for a season change. This Dalmation Slime , New Year Slime and Essential Oil Shampoo Bars are other easy and fun DIY ideas for the whole family.

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We, along with the rest of the world, feel the impact of all that's going on in our communities right now. We are in this together and are here to support you and your students through the Covid-19 pandemic. The coronavirus outbreak is especially difficult for parents with young children that may be balancing working from home and homeschooling at the same time. As schools look for ways to extend online learning due to school closures nationwide, we are committed to bringing educators and parents the best learning resources and kid-friendly activities from home.

Along with offering free access to our digital learning products PebbleGo and Capstone Interactive eBooks, we have curated a collection of free printables and educational activities for kids' exploratory learning while practicing social distancing. From fun activities with kids' favorite book characters to inspiring STEAM activities to get them excited about science and easy crafting ideas they can make at home, we hope our resources will not only help keep kids busy in a constructive way, but also support their ongoing learning.

Bookmark this page! We will be adding more free resources continuously, so check back often for new projects for helping teach kids at home.

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Free Remote Learning Activities Coronavirus | Reading is for Everyone

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We, along with the rest of the world, feel the impact of all that's going on in our communities right now. We are in this together and are here to support you and your students through the Covid-19 pandemic.