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Lindsay Wildlife Experience: Virtual Summer Camps!  Sessions begin July 20

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Lindsay Wildlife Experience: Virtual Summer Camps!  Sessions begin July 20

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Calling all budding nature lovers! Our new e-camps are the perfect way to learn about wildlife in a fun, educational and interactive online environment!
Crafted by our team of wildlife education specialists, these nature-themed online camps will keep kids busy with challenging projects ranging from bee hotels to desert habitats. Each camper will be provided with a kit in advance of the camp session. A computer with an internet connection, web camera and microphone is required.
Choose from these hands-on camps:
July 20: Build a Bee Hotel. For ages 4-6
July 22: Eggs — One Size Does Not Fill All! For ages 5-10
July 27: Build a Solar Powered Car. For ages 10-14
July 29: Desert Dwellers. For ages 7-10
August 3: Build a Bat House. For ages 7-10
August 5: Slithering Snakes. For ages 7-10
Camp sessions run from 1 p.m.-2 p.m. with the exception of the solar powered car camp, which runs from 1 p.m.-2:30 p.m.
Join us for some virtual summer fun!

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Planet Protectors Camp 2020
Planet Protectors Camp (Ages 4-10) Get excited about wildlife conservation! Member Discount of $25 off This camp will be held entirely outdoors in the Lindsay Wildlife Experience open-air classroom. Camps will have no more than 10 students per session. Each session runs Tuesday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Session 1: July 7th (more...)

E-Camp: Build a Bee Hotel
Part of Lindsay's E-camp series Learn about our native bees in this one-hour online workshop. They don't all live in a hive, make honey or even have stingers. Bees come in all shapes and sizes. Learn about the diversity of bees and their homes in our backyards. Build a home for bees to hang up (more...)

E-Camp: Eggs-One Size Does Not Fit All!
Part of Lindsay's E-camp series Birds, reptiles, amphibians and even insects lay eggs! Learn about different kinds of eggs and explore the eggs of many California birds in this one-hour online workshop. Design and build your own nest to protect your eggs with the provided kit! An internet connected computer with a webcam and a (more...)

E-Camp: Build a Solar Powered Car
Part of Lindsay's E-camp series Build a mini solar powered car right at home in this one and half hour online workshop. Learn how solar panels work and why this alternative energy source is so important for our future. We'll deliver everything you need and guide you through the process virtually! An internet connected computer (more...)

E-Camp: Desert Dwellers
Part of Lindsay's E-camp series California's deserts are home to many different kinds of life from tiny insects to towering Joshua trees. Build a desert habitat in this one hour online workshop while you learn about the many plants and animals of the Mohave. An internet connected computer with a webcam and a microphone are (more...)

E-Camp: Build a Bat House
Part of Lindsay's E-camp series Learn about our local bats in this one-hour online workshop. Meet some of our rescues and what kind of habitats we have to build for them. Build a bat house and learn how and where to put it up to encourage bats to roost and thrive near you! Kits for (more...)

E-Camp: Slithering Snakes
Part of Lindsay's E-camp series Slither, slink, and slide-snakes are simply sensational! Learn about snakes and their important place in the environment in this one hour online workshop. Make your own snake model with the kit provided with the class. An internet connected computer with a webcam and a microphone are required for this workshop. (more...)

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Children's Classes and Camps Archives - Lindsay Wildlife Experience

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Planet Protectors Camp 2020 Planet Protectors Camp (Ages 4-10) Get excited about wildlife conservation! Member Discount of $25 off This camp will be held entirely outdoors in the Lindsay Wildlife Experience open-air classroom. Camps will have no more than 10 students per session. Each session runs Tuesday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m.

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Elementary Enrichment with East Bay Students in Service

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Elementary Enrichment with East Bay Students in Service

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Hello everyone! We are East Bay Students in Service, an organization of high school and college students in San Ramon working to assist our community during the COVID-19 pandemic. We understand that kids at home can feel isolated from their friends and support systems. So, starting the week of June 29, we are offering an elementary enrichment program! These are totally FREE, virtual weekly sessions led by our team via Google Meet, where your student can participate in fun and educational activities with friends. If your child is interested in joining us, sign up at tinyurl.com/yap6lzqm! If you are interested in Students in Service, you can find more information at https://sites.google.com/view/studentsinservice/home.

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Turn data collection into an experience with Typeform. Create beautiful online forms, surveys, quizzes, and so much more. Try it for FREE.

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Common Sense Media - Wide Open School Virtual Summer Camp

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Common Sense Media - Wide Open School Virtual Summer Camp

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Our new site, Wide Open School, offers a huge range of free, grade-based activities to keep kids busy and learning all day. At Virtual Summer Camp, kids can explore lessons in STEM, music appreciation, language arts, art and creativity, and more—all designed to stimulate curiosity, deep thinking, self-awareness, and joy. Summer themes include Animals, Plants and the Planet, Self-Expression and Story-Telling, and Space, Exploring, and Experiments—start now.

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J.K. Rowling Releases New Children's Book Online, and Announces Illustration Competition

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J.K. Rowling Releases New Children's Book Online, and Announces Illustration Competition

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Beginning May 26th, J.K. Rowling is releasing an unpublished manuscript online, chapter by chapter, every weekday through July 10. The Ickabog (a standalone fairy tale that has nothing to do with the Harry Potter universe) will be published in November, and Rowling is conducting an international competition for children to illustrate it.  Find out more by clicking below.

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The idea for The Ickabog came to me while I was still writing Harry Potter. I wrote most of a first draft in fits and starts between Potter books, intending to publish it after Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

However, after the last Potter book I wanted to take a break from publishing, which ended up lasting five years. In that time I wrote The Casual Vacancy and Robert Galbraith wrote The Cuckoo's Calling. After some dithering (and also after my long-suffering agent had trademarked The Ickabog - sorry, Neil) I decided I wanted to step away from children's books for a while. At that point, the first draft of The Ickabog went up into the attic, where it's remained for nearly a decade. Over time I came to think of it as a story that belonged to my two younger children, because I'd read it to them in the evenings when they were little, which has always been a happy family memory.

A few weeks ago at dinner, I tentatively mooted the idea of getting The Ickabog down from the attic and publishing it for free, for children in lockdown. My now teenagers were touchingly enthusiastic, so downstairs came the very dusty box, and for the last few weeks I've been immersed in a fictional world I thought I'd never enter again. As I worked to finish the book, I started reading chapters nightly to the family again. This was one of the most extraordinary experiences of my writing life, as The Ickabog's first two readers told me what they remember from when they were tiny, and demanded the reinstatement of bits they'd particularly liked (I obeyed).

I think The Ickabog lends itself well to serialisation because it was written as a read-aloud book (unconsciously shaped, I think, by the way I read it to my own children), but it's suitable for 7-9 year olds to read to themselves.

I'll be posting a chapter (or two, or three) every weekday between 26th May and 10th July on The Ickabog website. The Ickabog is available to read in English (UK/US), French, Italian, German, Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese, check the website for updates on additional languages.

The Ickabog is a story about truth and the abuse of power. To forestall one obvious question: the idea came to me well over a decade ago, so it isn't intended to be read as a response to anything that's happening in the world right now. The themes are timeless and could apply to any era or any country.
The Illustration Competition
Having decided to publish, I thought how wonderful it would be if children in lockdown, or otherwise needing distraction during the strange and difficult time we're passing through, illustrated the story for me. There will be suggestions about the illustrations we might need for each chapter on The Ickabog website, but nobody should feel constrained by these ideas. I want to see imaginations run wild! Creativity, inventiveness and effort are the most important things: we aren't necessarily looking for the most technical skill!

In November 2020, The Ickabog will be published in English in print, eBook and audiobook formats, shortly followed by other languages. The best drawings in each territory will be included in the finished books. As publishers in each territory will need to decide which pictures work best for their own editions, I won't be personally judging the entries. However, if parents and guardians post their children's drawing on Twitter using the hashtag #TheIckabog, I'll be able to share and comment! To find out more about the Illustration Competition, go to The Ickabog website.
Covid-19 Donation
I'm pledging all author royalties from The Ickabog, when published, to help groups who've been particularly impacted by the pandemic. Further details will be available later in the year.
Huge thanks are due...
... to my dear friend and editor Arthur Levine; to the phenomenal James McKnight of the Blair Partnership, who's worked tirelessly to make this project a reality in a very short space of time; to Ruth Alltimes at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, whose help has been invaluable; to my peerless management team, Rebecca Salt, Nicky Stonehill and Mark Hutchinson and to my wonderful agent Neil Blair. I promise all of you not to have any more bright ideas for a few months at least.

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J.K. Rowling Introduces The Ickabog - J.K. Rowling

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About The Ickabog The idea for The Ickabog came to me while I was still writing Harry Potter. I wrote most of a first draft in fits and starts between Potter books, intending to publish it after Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. However, after the last Potter book I wanted to take a break [...]

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Contra Costa County Public Library: Summer Reading, Story Times, E-cards, etc.

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Contra Costa County Public Library: Summer Reading, Story Times, E-cards, etc.

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The Library is currently only offering "front-door service" (you can place books on hold and pick them up later), but visit their website to get information about library cards, overdue books, digital resources and much more, including Online Story Times every Tuesday and Thursday at 10:00 a.m.

Sign up for an eCard anytime for access to many online resources at http://ccclib.org/get-a-library-card/

Access eBooks/eAudiobooks through OverDrive/Libby with an Instant Digital Card. Visit http://ccc.overdrive.com/ to sign up.
Learning resources available for families include Brainfuse, Explora, Learning Express, ABC Mouse, and others. Find the full list here: http://ccclib.org/resource/
And don't forget the "Dive Deep" Summer Reading program running until August 6th (click below).

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Summer Reading: Dive Deep Dive Deep into Summer Reading, beginning June 6, 2020. Sign up to keep track of your reading and learning....

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TamingGaming.com: Family Video Game Database

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TamingGaming.com: Family Video Game Database

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A unique way to find games for children, teenagers and young adults. Every game is presented for parents and carers to empower informed choice.
The database is supported by the Get Smart About PLAY campaign, that provides parents, carers and guardians with the information they need to get the most out of the games they play.

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Welcome to our video game database to help parents and carers find unusual, creative and inspiring games for children and teenagers. These may be new games to broaden your children's experience, video games you want to play together as a family or even games you want to play yourself. We only include games that pass our high recommendation standard as tested by real families.

The database is supported by the Get Smart About PLAY campaign, that provides parents, carers and guardians with the information they need to get the most out of the games they play. For more on guiding children to healthy gaming, and advice on family settings, visit AskAboutGames.com .

This information here is designed to complement and expand on my video game advice book for parents, Taming Gaming . Along with that publication, it is the result of 15 years writing about video games for families online, in newspapers and magazines, and broadcast appearances. As with that work, it reflects my desire to offer parents practical advice and insight, rather than to critique or defend video games.
Note: The database is still in beta. We are a small dedicated team of parents and carers and will continue to improve and update it over the coming weeks. In particular, we will be adding advice on the costs of each game and details about in-app purchases. In the meantime this list of games without in-app purchases can offer guidance. You can a email any questions or request new lists or games.
What We're Playing

We have 299 games in our suggestions library to date. Each one has been hand-picked and tested with multiple families over long periods of time. We add and update games in the library through our continued testing with families. Here is what we've been testing recently:

Corona Virus Help

With families staying at home, and the strange days we are living in, parents and carers have asked us to put together some lists of games that would be useful. These lists offer games that can enrich education, instil joy, connect with friends instil fresh curiosity and find hope:

Games that embed a sense of hope by playing them. Sometimes a hopeful story, sometimes a hopeful interaction, and sometimes just an uplifting aesthetic to spend time in. These are games that leave you with an uplifted spirit, maybe not immediately (like Horizon Zero Dawn) but by the time you have finished them.

There is something innocent and childlike in play, and video games each have a slice of that in different ways. Sometimes simple and sometimes complex, games can help us return to the hope we had as children, or call us on to the wisdom and perspective of older years.

In this list, provided by the LTN (Love Thy Nerd) editors, we bring together video games that have the potential to offer more than entertainment. It starts with 12 with a challenge us to be a good neighbour, and follows with others added over time. LTN exists to be the love of Jesus to nerds and nerd culture, you can read more about them on their website.

"What if video games have more to offer than just an exciting diversion into a digital battlefield, fantasy war, or alien invasion? While these types of games are certainly the loudest and most financially successful, there are a growing number of games asking important questions about life, the human condition, and even God."

"Our list is not 'Christian' games, but rather a list of games that pose important spiritual questions to those who play them. These are games that provide us with the opportunity to consider what a truly 'spiritual' life looks like by encouraging us to have empathy for the suffering, love for our neighbours and our enemies, and an imagination vivid enough to contemplate a better world."

Journey's understated yet deep mythology, lack of guidance and mysterious ways it brings players together will have players thinking about the course of their own lives.

Dropsy is, on the surface, a silly point-and-click adventure game about a creepy but misunderstood clown, dig deeper and you'll see this a game that challenges players to love everyone, even their enemies.

Kentucky Route Zero is at its core, about rediscovery, of adventure-game mechanics and modernist aesthetics, of a more spiritual outlook on the physical world.

Gris is a platformer about the stages of grief that highlights the indelible impact of our most sacred relationships.

That Dragon, Cancer is a game where Ryan and Amy Green share their grief and their hope by drawing us not only into their lives but into the common grace of the Christian faith.

Myst, one of the best selling titles of all time, is a puzzle game about the beauty and mystery of creation.

Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons is a game about the spiritual impact our most precious relationships have on us.

Wandersong is a game about transforming the world with music. Heroism isn't measured in bulk or recognition but in the melodic tones of compassion and kindness.

The Last Guardian confronts us with our own self-centeredness and challenges us to give rather than merely take.

Pyre is a game about mercy that deconstructs player's perceptions of winning and losing, encouraging them to see and meet the needs of those who are oppressed.

My Child Lebensborn is a game that challenges players to care for a child born into a fascist regime--this is a game about the power of empathy.

Celeste strikes at the centre of what it means to be a person in all of our messy humanity a wonderful reminder that even when we fall, we are lifted up again through redemptive love, forgiveness, and grace-both for ourselves and for one another.

These games offer ways to consciously step outside the day's stresses and pressures to create space for self-care. This may be to distract yourself with calming unpressured tasks or to visit a world that is tranquil and relaxing or maybe just spend time reflecting on your emotions in a safe space.

These games have an educational element to them, but also offer experiences that are good games in their own right. This isn't busywork to trick you into learning, but clever and innovative ways to encounter history, physics, engineering, maths, geography and language subjects without feeling like you are in school. They also teach softer, deeper skills like long term strategy, planning, balancing systems, emotional intelligence, compassion, team-work and self-care.

Some of these games are aimed at younger players to play on their own, but others (as indicated by their PEGI ratings) are better for teenagers or played together in a family. Find some games that pique your interest, read through the details and decide how your child might benefit from playing them.

There are lots of games that help you exercise and stay fit. We've pulled together a list of the best of these; games that don't just incentivise activity with on-screen rewards but that integrated the workout into the gameplay. We all know about Wii Sports but there are so many other ways that video games can help you stay healthy and active while you can't get out as much.

Find Amazing Games

This video game library is organised around a huge long list of lists. These are the different types of games that families or groups have asked me for over the years. You can browse through the current lists below, or search for a specific game, or check through all the games in the library arranged by PEGI rating.

The British Academy Games Awards are presented annually to recognise, honour and reward outstanding creative achievement in Games. The awards categories reflect the wealth and diversity of the games sector.

The awards started in 2004 and are presented by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). For parents, they are a great way of discovering brilliant games to play in their family. The games included here are from the:

The Family Games award highlights games that will work really well for parents and children. These often include multiplayer features and feature a cast of family-friendly characters.

The Games Beyond Entertainment award is also of interest as this highlights more unusual games with an emphasis on storytelling that addresses topics that parents may find appealing themselves.

In this list, provided by the LTN (Love Thy Nerd) editors, we bring together video games that have the potential to offer more than entertainment. It starts with 12 with a challenge us to be a good neighbour, and follows with others added over time. LTN exists to be the love of Jesus to nerds and nerd culture, you can read more about them on their website.

"What if video games have more to offer than just an exciting diversion into a digital battlefield, fantasy war, or alien invasion? While these types of games are certainly the loudest and most financially successful, there are a growing number of games asking important questions about life, the human condition, and even God."

"Our list is not 'Christian' games, but rather a list of games that pose important spiritual questions to those who play them. These are games that provide us with the opportunity to consider what a truly 'spiritual' life looks like by encouraging us to have empathy for the suffering, love for our neighbours and our enemies, and an imagination vivid enough to contemplate a better world."

Journey's understated yet deep mythology, lack of guidance and mysterious ways it brings players together will have players thinking about the course of their own lives.

Dropsy is, on the surface, a silly point-and-click adventure game about a creepy but misunderstood clown, dig deeper and you'll see this a game that challenges players to love everyone, even their enemies.

Kentucky Route Zero is at its core, about rediscovery, of adventure-game mechanics and modernist aesthetics, of a more spiritual outlook on the physical world.

Gris is a platformer about the stages of grief that highlights the indelible impact of our most sacred relationships.

That Dragon, Cancer is a game where Ryan and Amy Green share their grief and their hope by drawing us not only into their lives but into the common grace of the Christian faith.

Myst, one of the best selling titles of all time, is a puzzle game about the beauty and mystery of creation.

Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons is a game about the spiritual impact our most precious relationships have on us.

Wandersong is a game about transforming the world with music. Heroism isn't measured in bulk or recognition but in the melodic tones of compassion and kindness.

The Last Guardian confronts us with our own self-centeredness and challenges us to give rather than merely take.

Pyre is a game about mercy that deconstructs player's perceptions of winning and losing, encouraging them to see and meet the needs of those who are oppressed.

My Child Lebensborn is a game that challenges players to care for a child born into a fascist regime--this is a game about the power of empathy.

Celeste strikes at the centre of what it means to be a person in all of our messy humanity a wonderful reminder that even when we fall, we are lifted up again through redemptive love, forgiveness, and grace-both for ourselves and for one another.

These games are big, brash and popular. They have big budgets which means the visual and interactive quality is particularly high. They also have strong and wide ranging player communities.

Raucous, unbounded, exuberant, all-age competitive fun is something video games are known for. Find the right games for your family and you can create important and healthy ways to let off steam, excel and persevere as you sit next to each other on the sofa. These games can play a big part in raising children to be magnanimous in victory and generous in defeat. Kids love competing online, but the games here focus on battling in the same room. Played with multiple controllers and a shared screen, they offer challenges that require real skill and give everyone a chance to rise to the top of the family pile.

These games have an educational element to them, but also offer experiences that are good games in their own right. This isn't busywork to trick you into learning, but clever and innovative ways to encounter history, physics, engineering, maths, geography and language subjects without feeling like you are in school. They also teach softer, deeper skills like long term strategy, planning, balancing systems, emotional intelligence, compassion, team-work and self-care.

Some of these games are aimed at younger players to play on their own, but others (as indicated by their PEGI ratings) are better for teenagers or played together in a family. Find some games that pique your interest, read through the details and decide how your child might benefit from playing them.

The games in this section have been selected because they get players doing absurd activities and chuckling together. It's tongue-in-cheek entertainment with challenges that don't take themselves too seriously - not seriously at all, in fact. Video games have their roots in fun and play. This makes them an excellent way to forget the worries of the day and dive into some silly fun together.

Whether it's the crazy puzzles in Baba is You or Twister-like contorsions of Fru or stomach churningly difficulty of walking in Octodad Deadliest Catch, these are games that will make you shreek and laugh together. Then there are silly multiplayer games like Super Pole Riders, Heave Ho or Wii Party where parents, carers and children take on bizarre or precarious challenges. The play often descends into giggling and laughter.

These are games that involve actual Lego bricks or offer an experience that has the same plug and play building and creating as the classic toy.

There's a gap when children are starting to outgrow PEGI 12 rated games but aren't necessarily ready for PEGI 16 rated shooting and fighting experiences. The games in this list offer some options that are genuinely exuberant and exhilarating but with lower levels of violence.

We go through some really good examples of these exciting, fast-action game for a range of ages. They are all PEGI 12 or under, apart from Halo, which we have included as this is a lower ESRB TEEN rating in the US for the latest release and mostly features space-themed rather than realistic violence.

Games create virtual worlds where you can experience life from other perspectives. This can be entertaining and light-hearted, but also presents ethical scenarios that require you to think carefully about consequences.

The games selected here each place you in a challenging situation to give you a first-hand experience of what it's like. It may be nail-biting, heart-breaking or desperate, but often, through all the trials and tribulations, there is still hope. Either way, unlike reading books or watching films about these subjects, here you are emotionally implicated in the choices you are faced with.

These games offer ways to consciously step outside the day's stresses and pressures to create space for self-care. This may be to distract yourself with calming unpressured tasks or to visit a world that is tranquil and relaxing or maybe just spend time reflecting on your emotions in a safe space.

PlayStation Now is a subscription service that provides hundreds of PS2, PS3 and PS4 games to play on demand. The games are streamed to your PS4, or Windows PC like a Netflix film but with interactions. Because of this you need a fast internet connection of about 5Mbps. Additionally, PlayStation Now also lets you download some PlayStation 4 games to play locally on your system without streaming.

PlayStation Now costs £8.99/month

PlayStation Plus is the other subscription service and is required for most online games. It also offers discounted and a two free games each month. It also grants discounts on games, add-ons and pre-orders. PlayStation Plus also enables you to backup your progress to the cloud.

PlayStation Plus costs £6.99/month

With PlayStation Plus you can also share your games in more ways with friends and family:

Screen Share - Let's someone in another place watch your game on their PlayStation. PlayStation Plus is not required for either party

Pass the Controller - Let's someone in another place take turns on a game you own, without owning the game themselves. PlayStation Plus is required for the host, but not for the guest

Playing Together - Let's you play local co-op or split screen games with someone in another place who has a PlayStation. PlayStation Plus is required for both players

Xbox Game Pass is a subscription service that provides 100 top-tier games. Once subscribed you can download the game at no extra cost. Of the 100 games available the ones in our recommended database are listed below.

You cannot play games you install when your Xbox Game Pass expires, although you do keep any games you have purchased at a discount with your membership. You will need to purchase any in-game extra content in addition to the subscription, although some games include this content for free.

Xbox Game Pass £7.99/month

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate including Xbox Live Gold for online play £10.99/month

Xbox Game Pass PC £7.99/month

Xbox Live Gold usually costs £6.99/month and is the Xbox service that lets you play with others online. It also offers a few free games each month and substantial discounts.
There are lots of games that help you exercise and stay fit. We've pulled together a list of the best of these; games that don't just incentivise activity with on-screen rewards but that integrated the workout into the gameplay. We all know about Wii Sports but there are so many other ways that video games can help you stay healthy and active while you can't get out as much.

In-app purchases are small items that you can spend real money on in games. These often add levels, a new character or different attire. Games that are either free to start playing, like Fortnite or Roblox often make money via the in-app purchase route.

The games in this list are really good for families but have all been selected because they don't include any in-app purchase costs. You either pay a single up-front cost or they enable you to play them for free.

Games that embed a sense of hope by playing them. Sometimes a hopeful story, sometimes a hopeful interaction, and sometimes just an uplifting aesthetic to spend time in. These are games that leave you with an uplifted spirit, maybe not immediately (like Horizon Zero Dawn) but by the time you have finished them.

There is something innocent and childlike in play, and video games each have a slice of that in different ways. Sometimes simple and sometimes complex, games can help us return to the hope we had as children, or call us on to the wisdom and perspective of older years.

Whether it's a simple puzzle grid, a battlefield or a universe of planets to visit, all games create virtual spaces in which to play. Some of these are simply the background to a campaign - the game's unfolding drama, missions or challenge. But others invite you to invest in the worlds they create, move in, tend to and inhabit in fantastical ways.

The games in this section invite you to spend time in spaces that have a sense of place, life and character. Worlds that hold history and lore in their landscapes, flora, fauna and inhabitants; environments that respond to your presence and invite you to restore them to their former glory.

Sometimes you just want to play the hero. These games are violent and include shooting but, as with B-movies and 1980s TV series, it's as much about the quips, characters and fantasy settings as it is about killing. The drama may be peppered with cinematic gunfire but, like those TV series, the real draw is spending time with the heroes every week.

As children get older, they develop stronger ideas of what they want to play. Friends at school and YouTube stars create popular gaming fads for the latest titles. These are a lot of fun, but children's choices can end up being narrowed down to big-budget or on-trend games. The games suggested here go beyond the usual suspects. While offering age-appropriate alternatives to older-rated games, they are still exuberant, intriguing and create raucous gaming fun that fires the imagination of children aged 7 to 13 years old.

These games are for children under seven years old, who will, with some help, discover activities they want to try that will expand their imaginations while establishing the role of your guidance and engagement as part of the gaming world as they grow up. The more open imagination of young children lends itself to games that offer an open world. Rather than forcing the player in a particular direction open world games let players explore wherever they want. The games here offer unusual and age-appropriate experiences that are often educational but keep the emphasis on the sheer joy of interactive play rather than hard learning.

Most online games only work if the person you are wanting to play against has the same system that you have, console, PC or smartphone. There are, however, a growing library of games that offer what is often called cross-play. This lets you play with people on different systems.

These games are a good way to extend the list of friends and family that you can play with. It also makes it less critical which system you have in your home, even if your friends have a different one.

Like a good crime drama or whodunnit novel, solving mysteries and puzzles is a good way to engage in a story. However, rather than just watching these mysteries while someone else does the heavy lifting, these video games place you firmly in the role of the detective. Gathering statements, sifting evidence and making intelligent leaps of deduction requires care and attention. These investigations makes these games slower than others, but it's worth the effort each time you find the correct conclusion and move the story on.

These games present you with a mysterious scenario to be solved. Whether with direct puzzles, locations to investigate or crime scenarios to deduce, they offer a unique, first-hand sleuthing challenge.

These games offer worlds you explore in unusual ways. Maybe it's hard to put one foot in front of the other, or maybe you get a chance to climb and jump athletically. These games put you in touch what it's like to move more easily or more difficulty than real life.

These games are not yet out but are on our radar as interesting or unusual. We'll keep the library updated as we get information on them. Most games don't get ESRB or PEGI ratings until they are released. And we won't know how long they take to complete before playing through them ourselves.

These are games featured in Checkpoint Kids magazine, where there are creative and learning projects that expand the play in educational directions.

Checkpoint Kids is a magazine about video games for kids by kids. In each issue you'll find activities, challenges and tasks to complete to help you and your kids understand the importance of gaming.

Checkpoint Kids has teamed up with schools across the country to help them identify gaming as a tool for literacy, creativity and social connection. Working with these schools the magazine is in a unique position provide informative supported by teachers teaching core subjects.

To access Checkpoint Kids activities download the magazine on any mobile device, tablet or access it through your browser, create a free log-in for PocketMags:

Video games are known for high-octane, adrenaline-fuelled entertainment, but there are many that address the player's emotions as much as their dexterity. Often overlooked by younger or more competitive players, these experiences can provide a helpful variety in the diet of games your family enjoys.
The games selected below create emotionally rich spaces in which to explore scenarios with feelings rather than facts. In some games this is achieved with beautiful or soothing interactive visuals; others create charged relationships and settings that invite players to take a role in processing these emotions.

While many games include characters to interact with, some are specifically designed to make relationships a central element. Whether this is during the rounds of a puzzle game amidst a zombie outbreak or as we race cars around a circuit, they can offer a unique way to think deeply about how we relate to each other and to the games people play.
In contrast to films or books, characters and relationships in video games need to be discovered by the player. Some of my favourite relational moments in games happen amidst other action. Often these other actions - whether shooting, puzzle-solving, or fetching and carrying - serve to underline the difficult, awkward and snatched nature of interpersonal interactions.

Things don't stay put. You're the only one keeping the ship afloat. You can't get people to do what you tell them. The effort you spend doesn't produce the results it deserves. Well, in these video games you get to wield complete control over people, things, situations or even whole worlds.

If games offer an escape from chaos, these games are particularly good at granting a sense of satisfying agency and power as they do that. Whether it's ordering the perfect stock room in Wilmot's Warehouse, organising your island in Animal Crossing, perfectly controlling the flow of traffic in Mini Motorways or even build civilisation just the way you want it in Civilization the sense of satisfaction and calm from the achievement is second to none.

Play is more fun when it's shared. This is as true about video games as it is when building a massive sandcastle on the beach or playing hopscotch in the playground. Finding brilliant team games is a great way to involve more people in the fun and share the experience together as a family. More experienced players naturally help novices contribute to the team.
Along with teamwork, the games I've selected here use the fact that players are all sitting next to each other.

These are games where players take on different roles in order to complete unusual tasks. The fun is often as much about the conversations (and arguments) that happen in the room as what's happening on the screen.

These games are perfect if you've never played one before, opening the door to the gaming world for non-gaming parents and carers. They are short, straightforward and easy to understand, so you don't need to commit hours to learn to play them, and they are played on technology you probably already have in your pocket or in your home. They address mature themes such as love, hope, power, homelessness and even traffic planning by inviting you to interact and play a part in these worlds and stories.

We've found that it's not just parents who have enjoyed the way these games let them in on the world of gaming, but grandparents, uncles and aunts. In fact it's a great list for anyone who's never played a game and wants to know what all the fuss is about.

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Taming Gaming - Family Video Game Database

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Welcome to our video game database to help parents and carers find unusual, creative and inspiring games for children and teenagers. These may be new games to broaden your children's experience, video games you want to play together as a family or even games you want to play yourself.

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There are a lot of great podcasts out there for curious, young listeners and they’re a great way to keep kids entertained and engaged, while limiting screen time. Here are some favorite choices from Staples  — plenty of options for all ages on a variety of topics, from science to storytelling to just plain fun!

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Did you know there are a lot of great podcasts out there for curious, young listeners? They're a great way to keep kids entertained and engaged, while limiting their screen time. And there are plenty of options for all ages on a variety of topics - from science to storytelling to just plain fun.

Next time you're looking for a "set it and forget it" solution for entertaining kids, try out some of these podcasts on your favorite streaming services.

Story Pirates - See how any story can be taken to the next level. This podcast features a group of world-class actors, comedians, improvisers and musicians who adapt stories written by kids into sketch comedy and musical theater. Best for: Kids and tweens

Brains On - Experts and kid cohosts tackle the scientific questions that everyone wants to know the answer to, like "What makes us sneeze?" and "Why do cats purr?" And the podcast goes wherever the answers lead. Best for: Kids and tweens

Circle Round - Listen and explore folktales from around the world and important issues like kindness, persistence and generosity. Each episode ends with an activity that inspires deeper conversations. Best for: Preschoolers and little kids

Smash, Boom, Best - This family-friendly debate podcast matches up two cool things, like unicorns vs. dragons and tacos vs. pizza. Hosts use facts and passion to make their case, teaching listeners how to defend their own opinions along the way. Best for: Big kids

But Why - Follow the experts as they try and track down the answers to some pretty intriguing kid-submitted questions. Listen as they tackle topics large and small about nature, words and even the end of the world. Best for: All ages

Eleanor Amplified - This fictional storytelling podcast follows the adventures of world-famous radio reporter, Eleanor Amplified. In every episode, she foils devious plots and outwits crafty villains, all in pursuit of the big story. Best for: Tweens

ExtraBLURT - Every episode of this interactive audio game show immerses listeners in a different theme, from outer space to pirates. Play along with family, friends or even solo. You'll be surprised what you blurt out! Best for: All ages

Grimm, Grimmer, Grimmest - Weaving in and out of a classroom full of witty grade-schoolers and a weird world full of curious creatures and mischievous foes, each episode features a Grimm fairy tale retold with a fresh take. Listen as fairy tales come alive! Best for: Kids and tweens

Peace Out - These short stories are designed to help children calm down and relax by guiding them through visualization and breathing exercises. Perfect for parents or teachers who want to teach mindfulness and self-regulation. Best for: All ages

Stories Podcast - Dive into kid-friendly versions of fairy tales, classic stories and even completely original works. With a slightly longer format and a richer vocabulary, it's perfect for kids who have a longer attention span and love stories. Best for: Big kids

The Radio Adventures of Dr. Floyd - This family-friendly twist on "old-time radio" features the adventures of the world's most brilliant scientist, Dr. Floyd. Join him as he tries to thwart the plans of his arch nemesis, Dr. Steve. All while learning about the people and events that shaped our history. Best for: Big kids

The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel - This mystery series podcast is performed by actual middle-schoolers. Listen along as 11-year-old Mars Patel and his pals set out on an amazing adventure in search of two missing friends. Best for: Tweens

What if World - This podcast series takes silly "what if" questions and spins them into wacky tales. Listen as questions such as: "What if a tiny dragon lived in my closet?" and "What if there were a never-ending bowl of ice cream?" inspire stories that capture the imagination. Best for: All ages

Wow in the World - NPR hosts Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz guide curious kids and grown-ups on a journey into the wonders of the world around them. They'll explore the coolest new stories in science and technology. Best for: All ages
A few tips when picking a podcast for your kids:

1. Test it out - Listen to a few episodes yourself. You don't have to love it, but make sure you're comfortable with the content and the message being delivered.

2. Go with the flow - As podcast listeners know, every show has its own flow. It might be loaded with ads up front or have a tedious introduction. Figure out how to set your child up with the content as quickly as possible to keep them interested.

3. Beware of ads - See what types of products are being advertised. It's unlikely to be concerning, but it's an easy step to ensure your kids aren't being advertised to inappropriately.

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Did you know there are a lot of great podcasts out there for curious, young listeners? They're a great way to keep kids entertained and engaged, while limiting their screen time. And there are plenty of options for all ages on a variety of topics - from science to storytelling to just plain fun.

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New Episode: Temple Grandin
Listen to discover more about the girl who thought in pictures instead of words. When Temple was a girl, her parents realized she was different. Her mind was full of pictures of everything she’d ever seen or experienced. Temple was then diagnosed with autism. In the 1950s, doctors didn't know much about her condition, so they recommended that Temple be sent away. Temple’s mother insisted that she would thrive at home with the right support and the right education. Because of that courageous act, Temple grew up to change the world for millions of animals. Tune in to find out how she did it.

Previous episodes include Greta Thunberg (narrated by actress and activist Jameela Jamil), Julia Child (narrated by food critic Ruth Reichl) and Hedy Lamarr (narrated by actress Tatiana Maslany).

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Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: The Podcast is a fairy tale podcast about the extraordinary women who inspire us.

The show is based on Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls, the global best-selling book series inspiring millions of girls and women around the world to dream bigger, aim higher, and fight harder.

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Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls - The Podcast

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Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: The Podcast is a fairy tale podcast about the extraordinary women who inspire us. The show is based on Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls, the global best-selling book series inspiring millions of girls and women around the world to dream bigger, aim higher, and fight harder.

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All sorts of digital resources including art-infused lesson plans, parent resources and free family projects every Monday.

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The Marine Mammal Center, Sausalito: Online Learning Resources 

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The Marine Mammal Center, Sausalito: Online Learning Resources 

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Online learning resources intended to aid families and teachers in guiding children of all ages to learn more about marine mammal health, science and conservation.

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The Marine Mammal Center's award-winning educators are providing new online learning resources on a weekly basis intended to aid families and teachers in guiding youth of all ages to learn more about marine mammal health, science and conservation.

Curriculum for Teachers

Life By a Whisker Education Guides
These in-depth teacher guides for upper elementary and middle school students were created to accompany the "Sea Lions: Life by a Whisker" IMAX film. This feature-length film documents the story of Australian sea lions and Dirk Holman - a marine scientist who monitors the native sea lion population along Australia's southern coast. The film highlights the mission of The Marine Mammal Center as a model for global marine mammal conservation in which Holman seeks to acquire new skillsets and knowledge to bring back home. Download teacher guides for grades 3-5 and grades 6-8

Learning Activities

Dr. Whizzlepuff Bingo
Families of all ages can watch our animated short on climate change and marine mammals while playing bingo together to see how they are already taking action on climate change and what more they can do to protect our ocean for humans and marine mammals alike. Download Dr. Whizzlepuff Bingo Activity.

Snapper's Story
Read Snapper's story as a family to "paint the picture" of how The Marine Mammal Center rescues marine mammals in need. Adults can use this guide to learn together and connect the story of Snapper to an interactive coloring sheet for children ages 4-8 years old. Download Snapper's Story activity guide for ages 4-8

SOS: Save Our Seals
Youth ages 9-13 years old discover the ways marine mammals can be harmed by human actions in this short investigation around the home. After completing the investigation, youth are encouraged to discuss with their families and friends, and create a campaign to spread the word and make a difference in their own actions and their community. Download Save Our Seals activity guide for ages 9-13

NOAA permit #18786
Learning Experiences

A Word with Dr. Whizzlepuff: Climate Change
This animated short highlights the science of climate change, its effects on marine mammals and actions we can take to reduce our global footprint. The film was directed and written by Pixar animator Bret Parker, with animation and production completed by students at the California College of the Arts in collaboration with The Marine Mammal Center. This animation was generously funded by the California Coastal Commission Whale Tail Grant Program as part of the Center's Climate Change Education Initiative. Take your learning to the next level by playing Dr. Whizzlepuff Bingo as a family while you watch.

Domoic Acid Attack
This animated short highlights the impacts of domoic acid, a neurotoxin produced by harmful algal blooms that affects both marine mammals and humans. The film was directed and written by Pixar animator Bret Parker, with animation and production completed by students at the California College of the Arts in collaboration with The Marine Mammal Center.

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The Marine Mammal Center's award-winning educators are providing new online learning resources on a weekly basis intended to aid families and teachers in guiding youth of all ages to learn more about marine mammal health, science and conservation.

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A chance to hang out with Mo Willems in his studio. Lots of fun, doodling and chatting with the famous author/illustrator of the Pigeon books (and Elephant and Piggie books, and Knuffle Bunny books, and... lots more). The link below takes you to Episode 1 recorded on 3/16/20 (where Mo shares the original artwork for Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! and shows you how to draw the Pigeon); you can easily search for other episodes on YouTube.)

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LUNCH DOODLES with Mo Willems! Episode 01

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Laughs & Live Drawing with Ben Clanton, author/ illustrator of the Narwhal & Jelly series

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Laughs & Live Drawing with Ben Clanton, author/ illustrator of the Narwhal & Jelly series

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Recorded Thursday, May 07, 2020 at 12:00 noon
Author/illustrator Ben Clanton brings his beloved deep-sea duo Narwhal (the happy-go-lucky Unicorn of the Sea) and his pal Jelly (the blue worry-wart jellyfish) straight to you in this exclusive webcast. Learn the story behind these underwater besties and their aquatic adventures, plus meet Otty the Otter, whose adventurous spirit wows Narwhal but leaves Jelly feeling a little iffy. Join us as Ben reads from the latest book in the series, Narwhal's Otter Friend, and sketches his famous characters!
Target audience grades K-2 but all are welcome! Visit juniorlibraryguild.com/virtual-visits

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Field Trip to the Monterey Bay Aquarium!

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Field Trip to the Monterey Bay Aquarium!

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Though they have closed their doors to the public for now so you can't visit in person, the Monterey Bay Aquarium continue to care for our ocean, and are still providing educational fun online for all to enjoy at no charge.
Dive into an underwater experience with a live webcam everyday from 7am to 7pm. Enjoy a variety of different ocean life right at your fingertips. Learn about different marine animals and our ocean. Discover free online and printable games and activities to do at home.
Click here or below to get started on their website.

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Located at the ocean's edge on historic Cannery Row, the Monterey Bay Aquarium is your window to marine life. Visit sea otters, penguins, sharks, jellies and thousands of other marine animals and plants.

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UK fitness guru, Joe Wicks, is something of a "PE teacher for the nation" but his workouts are going global!  The link below will take you to his first YouTube PE class for kids and students (and teachers!).  If you like it, you can easily find his other workouts on YouTube too  :)
Stay home and healthy!
P.S. Mrs. Sharrock is doing this every day - see if she looks fitter when you see her again!

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Lee & Low Virtual Read Alouds and Activities

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Lee & Low Virtual Read Alouds and Activities

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Publisher Lee & Low are building a growing library of authors reading their books aloud. Visit their YouTube Read Aloud Playlist to see them all.
You can also follow Lee & Low on Instagram and/or Facebook to see an easy, fuss-free Activity of the Day inspired by (but not requiring) one of their books. For example, you could make a Bad Day Toolkit, inspired by Sally J. Pla's book,
Benji, the Bad Day, and Me. (Watch the virtual read aloud here.)

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Lee & Low Books. 12K likes. An award-winning children's book publisher focusing on diversity. Our books are about everyone, for everyone.

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Bay Area Children's Theatre "Creativity Corner" 

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Bay Area Children's Theatre "Creativity Corner" 

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Explore BACT's Creativity Corner, with interactive adventures for kids who like to exercise their minds while having fun.  Click here to visit the Playborhood!

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At the start of the New Year, we were poised to finish up our 2019-2020 season with the shows and classes your family love and enjoy. Almost overnight, everything changed and all of our plans came to a screeching halt.

Our response to this crisis is the Creativity Corner, an online playborhood, connecting kids with their imaginations. Because now, more than ever before, we must look to the arts to create community, to dispel fear, build confidence, stimulate imagination and inspire joy and optimism.

We all are facing extraordinary challenges as we fight COVID-19. We urgently need your help to continue serving the community right now and to rebound as a source of delight for your children once it's safe again.

Bay Area Children's Theatre is committed to staying in your corner. We hope you'll stay in ours.

Please donate today!

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At the start of the New Year, we were poised to finish up our 2019-2020 season with the shows and classes your family love and enjoy. Almost overnight, everything changed and all of our plans came to a screeching halt. Our response to this crisis is the Creativity Corner , an online playborhood, connecting kids with their imaginations.

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Fun to Watch; Try Creating Your Own Version!

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Fun to Watch; Try Creating Your Own Version!

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If you're feeling really bored, here's a fun video clip to watch. It might give you some ideas for construction projects of your own (but make sure you ask for permission to use any toilet rolls first!)

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Candlewick Press - "Stay at Home" Resources

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Candlewick Press - "Stay at Home" Resources

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including a downloadable Coronavirus book for children
Activities, videos, book clubs, podcasts and more, featuring authors and book characters you'll all know -- Kate DiCamillo, Mercy Watson, Timmy Failure, Waldo...
You can also download an informative and accessible guide for young readers, Coronavirus: A Book for Children, which defines the coronavirus, explains why everyday routines have been disrupted, addresses key questions with child-appropriate answers and explanations, and details how everyone can do their part to help.

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This informative and accessible guide for young readers defines the coronavirus, explains why everyday routines have been disrupted, and lays out how everyone can do their part to help. With child-appropriate answers and explanations, the book addresses several key questions.

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At-Home Learning Resources During the COVID-19 Pandemic

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At-Home Learning Resources During the COVID-19 Pandemic

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KQED is offering an at-home learning response to school closures for all children and youth in California. This response includes a new educational schedule for broadcast on KQED Plus in the Bay Area as well as free corresponding digital learning media and activities for at-home learning. KQED is also providing support for teachers and parents in navigating this new learning landscape throughout the state.

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At-Home Learning Resources During the COVID-19 Pandemic | KQED Education

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Free educational resources from public media for California students, teachers and families.

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Readers of all ages and their families can access Harry Potter-related activities and free downloads. Through April, users can get free audiobook and e-book versions of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, through partnerships with Audible and OverDrive.  Crafts, quizzes and other activities will be available on the hub and through an associated newsletter, all to be updated weekly on “Wizarding Wednesdays.”

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Join Harry Potter and journey into the wizarding world with our new site! Discover puzzles, quizzes, crafts and more to guide you through the very first book.

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Printable worksheets, writing prompts, crafts and more.

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Free Resources for Teachers, Parents & Students | Lakeshore®

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Explore 1,000+ free resources for teachers, parents & students! You'll find everything from writing prompt calendars to at-home learning videos & more!

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E-mail Mrs. Sharrock (csharrock@srvusd.net) if you would like access to Epic's library of 35,000 books, audiobooks and learning videos from now until June 30th.  Parents can also sign up for a free 30 day trial at https://www.getepic.com/

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Instantly access over 40,000 of the best books & videos for kids on Epic

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Common Sense Media: Parents' Ultimate Guide to Google Classroom

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Common Sense Media: Parents' Ultimate Guide to Google Classroom

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Learn how to set up Google Classroom -- from using privacy settings to preventing cheating -- to maximize your student's learning experience at home.  The link at the end of this panel will take you to the Guide specifically but there are lots of other resources available for parents and teachers at CommonSenseMedia.org.

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By Caroline Knorr | March 17, 2021

In addition to textbooks and binders, kids consider Gmail, Google Docs, and even YouTube essential for school. So it's an easy transition to Google Classroom, the classroom-management tool integrated into Google's Workspace for Education Fundamentals, which Google provides free to schools. Classroom allows students to see what's due, complete assignments, post messages, and more in virtual classes set up by their teachers. The fact that it's paperless and offers built-in opportunities for kids to practice responsible digital skills are great bonuses. Your kid may use it for one class, or all of them. In fact, tens of millions of teachers and students use Google Classroom in thousands of schools around the world, making it one of the most popular edtech tools around.

But Google Classroom does invite some risks, including data tracking, potential contact with strangers, and even cyberbullying. While Google has stricter privacy practices for its educational apps, it can collect student data from some of the Classroom tools, such as YouTube, if they're enabled. Google pitches the platform to teachers as "mission control for your classroom" -- and it definitely streamlines homework, remote learning, and organization. But as more schools move toward using Google Classroom, it's a good idea to familiarize yourself with its capabilities so you can best support your kid's online learning.
What is Google Classroom?

Do teachers use Google Classroom to teach live, like with Zoom?

How do you set up Google Classroom?

Can you use Google Classroom at home?

Can I communicate with my child's teacher through Google Classroom?

Can Google Classroom be used for cheating or chatting?

Which other apps and websites can be used with Google Classroom?

What are the safest settings to enable on my kid's Google account?

How does my kid find out about new stuff posted in Google Classroom?

Is my kid supposed to be chatting with their classmates during class time via Google Classroom?

Who has control over the options in Google Classroom: the teacher, students, the principal, the tech coordinator?

If my kid is using Google Classroom, how can I make sure they're not goofing around?

How tech savvy do I need to be to help my kid with Google Classroom?

Does Google Classroom track and collect kids' data?
Do teachers use Google Classroom to teach live, like with Zoom?

Not usually. However, Google is offering the premium features of Hangout Meet for free to teachers and students who are at home during the coronavirus pandemic, so it'll be easier to use Classroom for live, remote teaching.

If your school has registered for a Google Workspace for Education account (which they should if they're using Classroom), your kid will have a school account or a Google Workspace account. In some settings, your kid may use their personal Google account to access Classroom -- but they're not supposed to use it for school. In Classroom, each class is private to the people the teacher has personally invited, including the students enrolled in that class and other teachers

Once your kid has joined a class, they can use all the features the teacher has enabled for that class, including class schedules, assignments, announcements, and even teacher "office hours."

Can I communicate with my child's teacher through Google Classroom?

It's possible, though teachers may use another tool, such as Aeries or School Loop, for parent communication. If your kid's teacher wants to use Google Classroom for communication, they will send you an invitation, and after accepting, you will receive updates directly from them, which may include information on upcoming or missing work and announcements.

As for chatting, yes. Kids can interact with other students and even teachers by text and video using Hangouts or the chat function in Meet. Chatting can be a distraction, but there have also been some reports of kids cyberbullying other students in Google Docs shared for group projects -- partly because it's a place no one would think to look for that kind of behavior. If the chatting is getting out of control, your kid can shut off Hangouts and remove people from a shared document. (To do this, click the Share button and then click the arrow next to the name of the person and select Remove.) If the document was created by someone else and you don't control it, have your kid make a copy and not share it.

What other apps and websites can be used with Google Classroom?Google Classroom connects with hundreds of apps and websites -- called add-ons -- including popular tools like Pear Deck, Actively Learn, Newsela, and many more. Apps integrated into Classroom can provide content, improve accessibility, and give students and teachers additional interactive tools.

Although Google doesn't share or sell student data to partners, and it vets the developers it uses for Classroom, those third parties could collect information from your kid, then profile and target them using that data.

Still, Google Classroom gets a "pass" rating from its Common Sense privacy evaluation, which means it meets our minimum requirements for protecting students' privacy.

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Parents' Ultimate Guide to Google Classroom

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By Caroline Knorr | March 17, 2021 In addition to textbooks and binders, kids consider Gmail, Google Docs, and even YouTube essential for school. So it's an easy transition to Google Classroom, the classroom-management tool integrated into Google's Workspace for Education Fundamentals, which Google provides free to schools.

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Using Bubbles for STEAM Lessons (Kids Discover)

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Using Bubbles for STEAM Lessons (Kids Discover)

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Education Consultant Kristine Scharaldi shares some tried-and-true methods of teaching STEAM lessons while playing with bubbles.

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Blowing bubbles is such a classic outdoor activity that can be enjoyed just about anywhere! Not only is it fun to do, but there are lots of ways that exploring bubbles can engage kids in concepts related to math, science, and engineering. It is also very easy to encourage creative expression and wonder through playful experiences with bubbles. Here are simple and inexpensive ideas that can be done with limited time and supplies that provide opportunities for students to inquire, discover, and create with bubbles.

A trip to the dollar, discount, or toy store in the summertime will likely offer plenty of options for ready-to-use bubble play items. This is also a good place to purchase drinking straws, pipe cleaners, liquid soap, small buckets, and inexpensive items such as flyswatters and funnels that can be used in bubble-making activities. There are lots of materials found around your house or classroom, too, that can be incorporated into bubble activities.

Store-bought bubble solutions and wands are one way to get started. But to help kids develop an understanding of the science of bubbles it is ideal to also experiment with water and homemade bubble solutions. The popular article The Science of Bubbles shares a bubble recipe and explains why bubbles are round, why they pop, and why they stick together, and is an excellent read before leading a bubble activity.

1. If kids try to blow bubbles with plain water they'll see that the bubbles do not come together and float in the air like they do with the bottled bubble solution. Then they'll determine that there must be an ingredient or something more than just water that allows the bubbles to form. The kids can think about their past experiences with bubbles, such as taking a bath or washing dishes, and then identify some household items that are used for cleaning, including shampoo, soap, dishwashing liquid, etc. Create lists and see what ingredients they may have in common.

2. Another fun bubble activity is trying to make your own bubbles. Kids can come up with their own "formulas" to test and compare. They can experiment with varying amounts of a soap product and water types (hot, cold, distilled, etc.) to determine what helps creates the longest-lasting bubbles. Then print out a few bubble recipes and see how they compare.

3. Kids can also experiment with different objects to make bubbles and make predictions about what might happen when they wave or blow into each item. Will using wands of varying sizes and shapes have an effect on the bubble created? Does it make a difference if you blow into or wave the object fast or slow? The kids can have fun while making observing and thinking critically, and coming up with their own questions and things to try. For example, a child might want to build a custom bubble wand using straws, pipe cleaners, or other materials and see what happens.

4. If the technology is accessible, older kids can design and fabricate wands, and even bubble machines, using 3D printing pens and robotics kits. Kids might want to engage in challenges such as making the biggest bubble or tallest bubble "tower." Using the engineering design process, they can plan, build, test, evaluate and redesign their bubble-makers, or perhaps an obstacle course for their bubbles to travel through.

5. There are natural connections to math concepts as the kids inquire and play. Opportunities to count, explore geometry and shapes, and measure distance and time are easily incorporated. They might want use a timer to find out the duration in seconds that they can blow one bubble, or how many seconds until a bubble pops. Perhaps they want to invent a game to play with the bubbles, such as, who can pop the most bubbles in a minute? With a group of kids, they can pair off to play in partners and work together to blow up and pop the most bubbles in competition with the other teams. Kids can work together to measure the diameters of their bubbles while being blown up and how far their bubbles travel. Using pipe cleaners and straws, kids can build three-dimensional shapes, such as cubes, and dip them in bubble solution, creating multi-sided bubbles inside the structures (also tying in engineering concepts as they as they form inverted "tensile" bubbles).

6. As students create and discover, arts and technology can enrich the experience. Kids can play music while waving bubble wands and free dance as expression, or even perform dance routines. Kids can create or use musical instruments to play their own music while also blowing bubbles, such as inexpensive plastic harmonicas and flutes.

7. By mixing a couple of spoonfuls of tempera paint with water and a little bit of dish liquid in a cup, kids can make colored bubble solution that they can blow and "catch" onto paper to create bubble paintings. Mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets, can be used to take pictures and videos of the activities to view and share. Time lapse photography of the bubbles, and original movie-making of the bubble performances, are some ways kids can produce digital creations from the activities.

No kids this summer? Save these ideas for the school year and bring memories of summer back while engaging your students in STEAM fun!
7 Ways to Use Bubbles for Teaching STEAM | Kristine Scharaldi

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7 Ways to Use Bubbles for STEAM Lessons - Kids Discover

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Blowing bubbles is such a classic outdoor activity that can be enjoyed just about anywhere! Not only is it fun to do, but there are lots of ways that exploring bubbles can engage kids in concepts related to math, science, and engineering. It is also very easy to encourage creative expression and wonder through playful experiences with bubbles.

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At-home resources for kids (and their grown-ups!).  A resource hub for parents to help support learning at home, with loads of stay-at-home educational activities for every age, tips from teachers on effective remote learning, and kid-friendly content that connects science with their daily lives. Includes an explanation of the science of handwashing, to help kids understand why it’s so important.
https://www.kiwico.com/kids-at-home

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3 Months of Free Digital Access with code: FREETHREE

GAIN ACCESS NOW or click below.

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free subscriptions online digital resources teaching curriculum schools districts have closed because covid-19 / coronavirus quarantine quarantined

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COVID-19 / Coronavirus Access | Kids Discover Online

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Free subscriptions for educators, schools, and districts who have closed because of COVID-19 / Coronavirus.

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Rosetta Stone UK is giving free access for schoolchildren to use its language courses for the next three months.  Click below (rosettastone.co.uk/lp/freeforkids/)

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Social distancing is more important than ever in times of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are here for you in this exceptional situation and allow students to use Rosetta Stone free of charge for three months. Children can continue to expand their horizon by learning a new language, and parents can ensure that the kids are using their time wisely.

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Rosetta Stone FREE for school children - #StayAtHome

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Social distancing is more important than ever in times of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are here for you in this exceptional situation and allow students to use Rosetta Stone free of charge for three months. Children can continue to expand their horizon by learning a new language, and parents can ensure that the kids are using their time wisely.

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The SAG-AFTRA Foundation’s award-winning children’s literacy website, Storyline Online, streams videos featuring celebrated actors reading children’s books alongside creatively produced illustrations.  Each book includes supplemental curriculum developed by a credentialed elementary educator, aiming to strengthen comprehension and verbal and written skills for English-language learners.  https://www.storylineonline.net/

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The SAG-AFTRA Foundation's Daytime Emmy-nominated, Storyline Online, features celebrated actors reading children's books to inspire a love of reading in millions of children worldwide.

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Go to Junior Library Guild for activities and resources to keep students engaged.  Look for the link to the Digital Elementary Stream (5th graders could check out the Middle School Stream too).  Also find details of upcoming Live Virtual Author Visits -- perfect for sharing with homebound students!

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Marcus Pfister Reads The Rainbow Fish, courtesy of NorthSouth Books

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Marcus Pfister Reads The Rainbow Fish, courtesy of NorthSouth Books

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Follow the link below for a special read aloud video of the classic story of The Rainbow Fish from author Marcus Pfister:

https://youtu.be/2jQTjTe42-0
For more Rainbow Fish activities and information, visit:
https://rainbowfish.us
https://northsouth.com
http://www.marcuspfister.ch/

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Children's Book Council One Stop Shop for Online Publishers' Resources

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Children's Book Council One Stop Shop for Online Publishers' Resources

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Children's book publishers have a wealth of online content that can be used year-round to help connect kids with books. To make these resources easier to discover and use, the Children's Book Council have collected many in one place. This resource page contains direct links to publisher websites so you can easily access and learn more about the amazing children's and young adult books and activities they have to offer.

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State Library Databases: Quick Access to ProQuest, TeachingBooks and Encyclopaedia Britannica 

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State Library Databases: Quick Access to ProQuest, TeachingBooks and Encyclopaedia Britannica 

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I will post a complete guide to accessing the above databases as soon as I can but, in a pinch, use the quick access page to start using them. You won't have access to all features but hopefully they'll still be useful.  This quick access is currently set up for teachers, parents, students, anyone to use until May 31st.

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ProQuest research databases, the TeachingBooks literacy service and online content from Encyclopaedia Britannica are available to every Californian from this website until August to support educator training and planning.

Information and materials from ProQuest, TeachingBooks and Britannica are normally available to public school students through their local districts. If you are a district or charter administrator looking to set up access for your students, see the main K-12 Online Content page, for instructions, or email Marybeth.barber@library.ca.gov. Contact information for ProQuest, TeachingBooks and Britannica is listed below.
If you are a California student or educator who needs access to content right away, just click on the buttons below to access these resources.
Note: Open access to these resources is available only through this specific webpage but you're welcome to share the web address with anyone in California, or copy www.library.ca.gov/k12-covid-19/

Recorded trainings during COVID-19 school closures

Thank you to the San Bernardino County Office of Education for hosting the training and recording the webinar for future reference.

Want a quick look at these resources? The State Library has a 20-minute overview.

ProQuest Platform Quick Access

Students may access resources centrally through the ProQuest Academic Platform. This is the main search tool for advanced researchers to directly access articles.

ProQuest offers a variety of research solutions. Quick Access is available for the following ProQuest resources:

For more information, visit our California K-12 LibGuide, or contact Support at 800-521-0600 ext. 72971.

Children's and young adult books brought to life with movies with authors, audiobook performances, activities and lessons.

Resources about children's and young adult books focusing on the authors.

A cross-cultural range of fiction and nonfiction books.

Content to enrich children's books, including Meet-the-Author videos, read-along audio, complete book readings and book trailers.

Resources about books for teens including author interviews, discussion questions, and a Reader's Advisory Tool to find related books.

A one-stop shop for reading and literacy instruction at home for students, families, teachers, librarians and educators.

Need help from TeachingBooks.net? See our support page. (800) 596-0710 | accounts@TeachingBooks.net

Britannica School offers up-to-date, curated, and curriculum-relevant articles, images, videos, audio clips, primary sources, maps, and other research tools that allow you to easily adjust reading levels, auto-translate in 80 languages, and use the read-aloud tool. Britannica Escolar is PreK-8th grade content that is similar to Britannica School but in native Spanish.

Need help from Britannica? See our support page. (800) 621-3900 x 7160 | edsupport@eb.com

Additional Resources

For additional educational website suggestions, please visit the resources that support distance learning page from the California Department of Education's COVID-19 Guidance for Schools. Also consider joining the State Library's email list for K-12 education supports. Questions may be directed to Marybeth.barber@library.ca.gov.

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Quick Access to California K-12 Online Content during the COVID-19 Crisis - California State Library

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ProQuest research databases, the TeachingBooks literacy service and online content from Encyclopaedia Britannica are available to every Californian from this website until August to support educator training and planning. Information and materials from ProQuest, TeachingBooks and Britannica are normally available to public school students through their local districts.

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Audible - Free Digital Books and Magazines

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Audible - Free Digital Books and Magazines

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Audible, part of Amazon.com, has released a collection of free audiobooks for children kept home from school. Click below (stories.audible.com/start-listen)

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I highly recommend you take advantage of Lightbox's offer of temporary unlimited access to their 788 Interactive eBooks, even if it's just to have a quick look to see for yourself the amazing features these books offer!  (We have a few in the library and love the engaging online resources!)
Click the link below to request  unlimited access to the full digital library of Lightbox Interactive eBooks until August 1st, 2020.
Submit Request

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Free activity packets for grades K-8. Students will work on phonics, reading, and comprehension.

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Resources for preschool, kindergarten, & 1st grade students including daily schedules for home learning, printable activities for teachers and parents, e-books, etc. The app is free for everyone and available for iOS and Android.

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We know many schools and families are making plans to be prepared for adjustments in their daily routine due to concerns about the coronavirus (COVID-19). If you are seeking options for remote learning during a school closure for your preschooler, kindergartener, or 1st grader, please read our tips below. We've included free supplemental, printable resources - plus how to get started with the Khan Academy Kids educational app.
Supplemental resources for parents

How to create a free account on Khan Academy Kids

Khan Academy Kids is a free, fun, educational app with thousands of activities and books for young children ages 2-7.

1. To get started, download the app onto your mobile device:

2. Open the app and click "Sign Up" to add a grown-up's email address.

3. Check your email account for a message from welcome@khanacademykids.org . Tap the blue button on the verification email to activate your Khan Academy Kids account.

4. Input the child's name, age, and avatar to create a user profile. If you have more than one child, multiple user profiles can be added for each child.

Start learning

Head to the Home screen inside the app to get started. There, you will see multiple options for learning:

Press the green play button on the house to start a personalized learning journey.

Press the library book in the upper left to self-select activities for skills practice.

Press the characters along the bottom to explore the Kids' Club.

Tips to make learning from home easy and fun

📲Prep your device for learning

Ensure the device is charged and connected to the internet to access all of the activities in the app. In the event there is no internet, offline activities are available in the "Suitcase" and "Create" tabs of the app's Library. On some devices, Guided Access can be enabled to encourage focus and minimize distractions.

⏰Set time aside for independent learning

From the Home screen, tap the big green arrow to begin a personalized learning path. The Learning Path automatically cycles through topics like math, language arts, and social-emotional learning according to your child's progress. After completing the lessons, kids can choose a reward from the delivery truck. [Don't miss Sal Khan's suggestions for daily schedules while learning at home.]

🔢Practice specific skills (academic, social-emotional, & physical development)

From the Library, select an area of focus. Choose from topics like letters, numbers, reading, or logic. Scroll down through subcategories to identify specific skill sets. For example, the 123 topic includes subcategories for counting, comparing numbers, addition, subtraction, and place value depending on grade level. Or, visit the Books tab to find stories with social-emotional themes based on friendships, emotions, patience, self-confidence, persistence, and mindfulness. Don't miss the Logic+ tab with activities to encourage movement, motor skills, and healthy habits.

📚Choose books for reading time

Hundreds of books in the app's Library cover a range of content, including early readers, nonfiction nature books, interactive number books, and stories with social-emotional themes. All books are available in "Read to me" or "Read by myself" modes.

😄Practice healthy habits

Learning about saying hello, making friends, reading facial expressions, and getting dressed are all part of a healthy routine. During times of uncertainty, these lessons can be a great way to reinforce good daily habits. Access this content in the Logic+ section of the app's library for the preschool and kindergarten levels.

🎨Create artwork for a project or a friend

Create artwork in the app's library to engage in open-ended play and creative expression. Choose a coloring page or create a drawing. Enhance with colors, stickers, or even a voice!

👀Take a closer look inside Khan Academy Kids! ⤵️

✅ View Progress

In the app's Library, you can see which activities a child has completed. Colored checkmarks indicate a child's progress on a topic. Green, yellow, and red checkmarks indicate whether a topic is mastered, in progress, or still developing.

🧑‍🏫 Teacher Guide

Are you a teacher looking for learning options for your students? Please refer to our Teacher Guide with tips on how to set up the app for a classroom. Please note that we are still in the process of building remote learning options for teachers and students. If you have questions, please email our team for personal assistance at khankids@khanacademy.org.

✉️Get in touch

For questions or suggestions about Khan Academy Kids, please reach out to our support team via email at khankids@khanacademy.org. Plus, keep in touch on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook for news and kid-friendly activity ideas from the Khan Academy Kids team.

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How to use Khan Academy Kids for remote learning

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We know many schools and families are making plans to be prepared for adjustments in their daily routine due to concerns about the coronavirus (COVID-19). If you are seeking options for remote learning during a school closure for your preschooler, kindergartener, or 1st grader, please read our tips below.

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Newsela’s entire product suite is available to all teachers, free of charge, through the end of the school year.

Visit Newsela's COVID-19 resource center, click “Get instant access”, and you’ll immediately see Newsela ELA, Newsela Science, Newsela Social Studies, and The Newsela Social-Emotional Learning Collection in your Newsela account. If you don’t have a Newsela account, you’ll be able to set one up in minutes.