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What to Watch, Read, and Play While Your Kids Are Stuck Indoors

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What to Watch, Read, and Play While Your Kids Are Stuck Indoors

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Whether it's a snow day or a pandemic, these great media picks can help ease stress of families stuck at home. By Caroline Knorr 3/12/2020

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What to Watch, Read, and Play While Your Kids Are Stuck Indoors

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Whether it's a snow day or a pandemic, these great media picks can help ease stress of families stuck at home. Advice from Common Sense Media editors.

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Free Online Events and Activities for Kids at Home

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Free Online Events and Activities for Kids at Home

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Compiled list of a variety of lessons and activities to keep your little ones engaged.
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/blog/free-online-events-activities-kids-at-home-coronavirus?j=7711684&sfmc_sub=173861404&l=2048712_HTML&u=143747070&mid=6409703&jb=2091&utm_source=covid19_freeactivities_20200323&utm_medium=email

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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

Getting Online

Educational Activities & Lesson Plans

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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An extensive library of age appropriate books for elementary students read by various authors and actors. FREE

https://www.storylineonline.net/library/

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Follow the link below to virtually travel to loved places while you stay healthy. FREE

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Each challenge includes simpple instructions using materials around the house, QR code video resources, and a student recording sheet. FREE

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Your child can access books from our local, public library in Brevard. They just use their 10 digit student ID as their username and the last four digits of the same number as their password to search online.  This 10 digit number will allow them book checkout access as well when they visit the library. The TCPL is currently open for book check out. You can also search book titles and avaliability online. Also, check out the Kids Stuff link located on the TCPL homepage. Tumblebooks offers read alouds for various ages. FREE
UPDATE: You may use the TCPL homepage to login to your student's account (top right corner: my account). Use directions listed above for username and password to access their account. You can place books on hold and pick them up curbside. There is more information on the homepage about the curbside service!

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Check out this comprehensive list of online resources compliled by our very own TCS technology facilitatior, Rae Parker (RES).

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Vooks: A kid-safe, ad-free streaming library of read-aloud animated storybooks. Currently one month free.

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Vooks: A kid-safe, ad-free streaming library of read-aloud animated storybooks. Currently one month free.

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Vooks - Storybooks brought to life with beautiful animation!

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Vooks is an entire library of kids storybooks brought to life with beautiful animation, read-aloud narration, engaging music and sound, and read-along text.

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100 activities to do at home during school closures

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100 activities to do at home during school closures

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Many of the activities listed do require some suppplies which can mostly be found at the Dollar store. FREE

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Hi Everyone!

I have created a helpful guide for all of you to survive the upcoming school closures.

Many of these activities listed below will require some supplies. Most items you could find at the Dollar Store.

Enjoy the list!

4) COLOURING CONTEST
Put out paper and markers. For each "round" give your children a theme like an amusement park or their dream house.

7) GLOW STICKS DANCE PARTY
Go to the Dollarstore and buy some fun glow sticks, turn off the lights, and blast some music!

12) MAKE PLAYDOUGH MATS
This will keep the little ones busy for a long time!
http://picklebums.com/2014/07/22/fun-food-play-dough-mats/#_a5y_p=2110571

17) MAKE A RETRO THEME DAY
https://entertainkidsonadime.com/2015/06/04/80s-retro-day-at-home/

22) PUT ON A MAGIC SHOW
Learn magic tricks and show family and friends.
http://www.funology.com/magic-tricks

23) BALLOON POP ROCKS EXPERIMENT
Do the Balloon Fizz Science Experiment
https://entertainkidsonadime.com/2014/07/22/balloon-pop-rocks-experiment/

23) MAKE CUPCAKES
24) HIDE AND GO SEEK IN THE DARK
Play Hide & Seek with the lights off using glow bracelets.

25) MOCK CAMPING TRIP
Make a mock camping trip
Use a play tent, sleeping bags or blankets, and flash lights. You can eat dinner in your tent and sing camp songs.

26) MAKE A "RESTAURANT" DINNER
Have your kids help you make dinner. Create menus with them to decorate and serve your spouse or neighbours.

28) MAKE A COLLAGE
Make a collage with magazine pages or family photos.

29) MAKE MUSICAL INSTRUMEMTS
Find items around the house and construct different instruments. This teaches kids how to recycle waste into something useful and fun.
https://makingmulticulturalmusic.wordpress.com/2012/04/10/14-world-music-instruments-that-can-be-made-from-recycled-materials/

31) SALAD SPINNER ART
You can purchase a salad spinner at The Dollarama.
http://theimaginationtree.com/2010/09/salad-spinner-art.html

34) DO A JIGSAW PUZZLES
You can purchase puzzles at Dollarama for $2-$3
36) WATCH HOME MOVIES (ie. Mom & Dad's Wedding, Baby Videos)
37) DECORATE WITH PUFFY PAINT
The Dollarama sells Puffy Paint in the art section and you can purchase a top or a hat to decorate.
Make sure you let it completely dry before wearing it.
42) BUILD A VILLAGE OUT OF BLOCKS OR LEGO
43) MAKE A DEEJAY DANCE PARTY
Go to the dollar store and get glow sticks! Dress your kids in light colours. Close the blinds and the lights and activate their glow sticks. Put on their favourite songs and have them dance.
61) BOARD GAME NIGHT
68) MAKE A VIDEO
Bust out your cell phone or ipad, get your children to make a play.
Have them practice it a bunch of times. Find or make some costumes and have them perform their play on the video.
You can put it on the computer for them to watch.

69) CARD BOARD BOX CREATIONS
Take your children to the grocery or drug store and ask for extra used boxes.
Here are some cool ideas your can do with coard board boxes:
http://www.designdazzle.com/2013/09/15-cardboard-creations-to-make-for-kids/

71) NATURE ART
Let your kids run around your front or back yard and collect items in nature (ie. leaves, sticks, rocks, flowers)/
Give them bristol board and glue and have them make abstract art using their findings.

72) MAKE SMORES
Safely microwave your marshmellows.
73) MAKE A PLAYING CARD CASTLE 74) MAKE PIZZA
76) RELAY RACES
You can create some games to play:
* Potato Sack Races (using garbage bags or pillow cases)
* 3 Legged Race using Socks or Shoe Laces
* Spoon Race (holding a ping pong ball or egg)

77) MAKE EDIBLE PLAYDOUGH
https://entertainkidsonadime.com/2014/03/26/easy-play-dough-recipes/

79) MAKE AN AQUARIUM
All you need is two paper plates (cut out the middle of one), glue, googly eyes, foam, blue paint, saran wrap and rocks from outside.

80) HOME MADE TAP SHOES
Tape nickels to the bottom of your kid's running shoes and you've got a pair of tap shoes.

89) PLAY SHARK
All you need is a folded ironing board to be your boat. Keep the kids on the boat. If they fall off, they get "eaten" by the Shark, which Mom or Dad can play!

97) EXPLODING BAGS EXPERIMENT
This one is messy but a lot of fun!
https://entertainkidsonadime.com/2014/05/21/exploding-bags-fun-science-experiment/

98) MAKE A PET ROCK
Pick a rock outside. Let the kids paint them, decorate them

99) SUMO WRESTLING MATCH
Make the kids are supervised during this one.
http://allfortheboys.com/home/2012/2/2/sumo-boys.html

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100 Activities To Do At Home During School Closures | Entertain Kids on a Dime Blog

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Hi Everyone! I have created a helpful guide for all of you to survive the upcoming school closures. Many of these activities listed below will require some supplies. Most items you could find at the Dollar Store. Enjoy the list! 100 KIDS ACTIVITIES TO DO AT HOME 1) LAUNDRY BASKET SKI BALL www.frugalfun4boys.com/laundry-basket-skee-ball-with-ball-pit-balls 2) MAKE [...]

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Many of our elementary schools have Little Free Libraries located outside the school buildings.  This is a take one, leave one approach.  You may find various books left from other community members. A great way to share our resources during this time!
Pisgah Forest Elementary will also be sharing snacks for families who need them located inside their Little Free Library. PFE has one located outside the school library doors near the playground & track area. FREE

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While in space, astronauts are videotaping themselves reading these books to the children of Earth. These videos are being edited and placed on this Story Time From Space website- look under the heading ” Story Time Videos”. FREE

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Story Time From Space | T2 Science & Math Education Consultants

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20 Virtual Field Trips to Take with Your Kids

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20 Virtual Field Trips to Take with Your Kids

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Included are 20 virtual field trips that you can take with your kids. There are also lesson ideas, activities and book suggestions to extend the learning for each type of destination. FREE

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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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Hands-on, minds-on learning! FREE

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Let's make something! Structures, connections, memories . . . make them all! Our 2019-2020 Elementary STEM catalog shares some great STEM activity ideas, many of which can be slightly modified to use readily available household items. We've got five activities of varying complexity and direction to get you started.
And, what about a little STEAM to that STEM? We've got art connections throughout the catalog, in these activities, and in a series of downloadable color pages.

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STEM at Home - Hands-on learning anywhere and everywhere

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Let's make something! Structures, connections, memories . . . make them all! Our 2019-2020 Elementary STEM catalog shares some great STEM activity ideas, many of which can be slightly modified to use readily available household items. We've got five activities of varying complexity and direction to get you started.And, what about a little STEAM to that STEM?

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Follow Transylvania County Schools @ tcsnc.org/covid19 to stay up to date with school information regarding Covid19. Our administration at the education center as well as those within our schools are working hard to keep up with all the changes and provide the best care for each student and staff memeber. FREE

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Well-known children's stories translated into Spanish and spoken by a native Spanish speaker. Great for kids... and adults too! Read along in Spanish or English. FREE

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Chicken Little

A modern adaptation of the classic tale: What happens when a completely normal chicken believes everything he reads on the internet? This story is written in the present tense, because it's a good thing to learn.

The Bird and the Whale

Our first ever original story, about a bird and a whale and their shared love of little fish. Inspired by a song by Tom Waits, and an episode of Adventure Time.

The Three Little Pigs

The classic tale of shoddy building materials, DIY folly, and the perils of emparedados de tocino (a.k.a bacon sandwiches). No pigs or wolves were harmed in the making of this story.

Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Why you should probably lock your door when you go out for a walk, even if you live en medio de un gran bosque. Why are the three bowls of sopa different temperatures when they were poured at the same time? Science, is why.

Little Red Riding Hood

A deeply troubling investigation into what happens when you let your children walk somewhere alone: Caperucita Roja eats fresas, picks margaritas and talks to el Gran Lobo Feroz on the way to Grandma's house. (Warning: Contains highly improbable medical scenes.)

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Spanish Children's Stories - The Spanish Experiment

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Well-known childrens stories translated into Spanish and spoken by a native Spanish speaker. Read along in Spanish or English. Great for adults too!

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Using just a few household items.

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Geodes are small rock cavities lined with crystals or minerals. They form through sedimentation, a process in which particles (solute) are suspended in fluid (solvent) and then accumulate. (Here, the Epsom salt is the solute, and the water is the solvent.) The salt particles fuse together because the water is so saturated, forming crystals as the water evaporates.
What You'll Need:
1. Help kids crack an egg at the narrow end and carefully widen the opening to the size of a quarter. Empty into a bowl; repeat with more eggs. (Save the yolks and make a scramble or frittata for lunch!)

2. Set shells in a bowl of hot water to rinse. Then show kids how to gently rub their thumb on the inside to loosen and remove the membrane (there may be two layers). Turn the shells over on a towel to dry. If desired, dye them before the next step (follow instructions on the box); let dry.

3. Set the shells inside the carton. Brush the entire inside with a thin layer of glue and dust with Epsom salt (this will act as a starter crystal). Let dry completely (a few hours).

4. Boil 1 cup water and remove from heat (an adult's job). Slowly add ½ cup Epsom salt and stir until it's dissolved. Continue stirring in small amounts of salt (a tablespoon or two at a time but no more than ½ cup) until it no longer dissolves, then STOP. You've made a super-saturated solution! It should be thick but not slushy.

5. Carefully pour the solution into your shells with a small ladle, filling to the top. Add a drop of food coloring to each egg, and stir gently with a toothpick. Place your shells somewhere safe and at room temperature.

6. Check your eggs daily. If you find a thin, hard, jagged layer forming on the surface, gently break it up with a toothpick (allowing the water to evaporate). After a few days, all the water will evaporate, leaving colorful geodes behind!

Bonus Fun: Have your child experiment with other soluble solids, like sugar, baking soda, or table salt-does she get the same result?

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Geodes are small rock cavities lined with crystals or minerals. They form through sedimentation, a process in which particles (solute) are suspended in fluid (solvent) and then accumulate. (Here, the Epsom salt is the solute, and the water is the solvent.) The salt particles fuse together because the water is so saturated, forming crystals as the water evaporates.

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RES Teacher, Mrs. Stephanie Bell, plans to read aloud nigthly.

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RES Teacher, Mrs. Stephanie Bell, plans to read aloud nigthly.

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Join a local Transylvania County School teacher as she reads books aloud nightly to keep students engaged!

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Log into Facebook to start sharing and connecting with your friends, family, and people you know.

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Interactive, live read alouds. Use the link to view who, when, & where these read alouds will take place. FREE

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Youtube Channel created and run by children's book writers and illustrators. FREE

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Hi friends! This is a Youtube Channel created and run by children's book writers and illustrators. With all this talk of potential quarantines and school clo...

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Learning computer science at home when schools are closed.

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Whether you're a parent/guardian or a student learning independently, the options below are engaging, easy-to-try ways to begin your exploration of computer science.

Try an Hour of Code with these fun introductory tutorial

Try a one-hour tutorial featuring popular games and movies like Minecraft, Frozen, and Star Wars. Many tutorials are structured like games, designed to teach basic computer science concepts in fun, engaging ways.

Minecraft Hour of Code

Minecraft is back for the Hour of Code with a brand new activity! Journey through Minecraft with code.

Try activity

AI for Oceans

Help A.I. clean the oceans by training it to detect trash! Learn about training data and bias, and how AI can address world problems. View lesson plan.

Try activity

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Watch an engaging series of short videos to learn how computers, the internet, and AI work

Learn the basics of computer science with videos featuring famous technologists like Bill Gates and Satya Nadella, as well as a diverse cast of presenters from a number of industries and organizations.

How Computers Work

With an introduction by Bill Gates, this series of six short videos explains what makes a computer a computer and how computer circuits work.

Watch the video series

How the Internet Works

In this series of eight short videos, you'll learn how the internet was invented, what HTML is, and how search engines like Google work.

Watch the video series

How AI Works

Learn about how AI works and why it matters with this series of short videos. Featuring Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and a diverse cast of experts.

Watch the video series

View more videos, including short inspirational videos featuring celebrities like Steph Curry and Shakira, here.
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Learn the fundamentals with our self-paced courses

Self-paced introductory courses

A great option for students getting started on their own. You'll learn the fundamentals of computer science with drag & drop blocks. Create your own drawings and games. Note: Express courses are currently available in English, Hindi, Italian, and Spanish. For other languages, we recommend our 20-hour Accelerated Course. To see what's available in your language, visit our course catalog.

Self-paced introductions to Game Lab and App Lab

Adapted from our CS Discoveries and CS Principles courses, these short, self-paced modules are a great way to learn concepts that span all programming languages and tools. Requires Code.org account to access.
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Create something!

First, get inspired! View our project gallery - play some of the games or try out some of the apps that students have created. You can "remix" the project to make it your own, or build something new in App Lab, Game Lab, or Web Lab.

App Lab

App Lab is a programming environment where you can make simple apps. Design an app, code with blocks or JavaScript to make it work, then share your app in seconds.

Build an app

Game Lab

Game Lab is a programming environment where you can make simple animations and games with objects and characters that interact with each other.

Create a game

Web Lab

Web Lab is a programming environment where you can make simple web pages using HTML and CSS. Design your web pages and share your site in seconds.

Make a web page

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'Unplugged' activities: Computer Science without the computer

Click image to view as PDF

No screen, no problem! We've put together a 'sampler' of quick, fun CS activities you can do without a device. Have a family Dance Party party while learning about events, or 'program' each other to draw pictures!

View unplugged activities

Or view these unplugged options from other organizations:

Hello Ruby - The world's most whimsical way to learn about computers, technology and programming. Activities on a range of CS topics, like the ability to decompose a problem, spot patterns, think algorithmically, debug problems and work together. (for ages 4-10)

CS Unplugged - A collection of free teaching material that teaches computer science through engaging games and puzzles that use cards, string, crayons and lots of running around. (for ages 5-14)

No computer at home? Try CS on your phone with these apps from our partners

Box Island
A charming mobile coding game that takes learners on an exciting adventure, while teaching the fundamentals of coding, like algorithms, pattern recognition, sequences, loops and conditionals. (for all ages)

codeSpark
Award-winning learn-to-code platform for kids ages 5-9. Solve puzzles and create games with The Foos while learning to code. Note: codeSpark is offering a free 3-month trial. Parent's email address and credit card information are required at signup. (for pre-readers through Grade 5)

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Learn from the Code.org team and special guests!

CodeBytes

CodeBytes are easy-to-digest, 20 minute interactive lessons blending computer science with real-world topics. Train an AI to read sign language, design an app for good, explore the world of Minecraft, and more!

View episodes

Code Break

Keep computer science fun by taking a Code Break! You can create a cypher with Ashton Kutcher, learn about variables with Yara Shahidi, and even explore how the Internet works with the actual inventor of the Internet, Vint Cerf!

Get connected

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Whether you're a parent/guardian or a student learning independently, the options below are engaging, easy-to-try ways to begin your exploration of computer science. Try a one-hour tutorial featuring popular games and movies like Minecraft, Frozen, and Star Wars. Many tutorials are structured like games, designed to teach basic computer science concepts in fun, engaging ways.

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Choose among many Titles filtered through various interests, reading levels and Enghlish/Spanish.
Login with Captstone Interactive.
username- continue
password- reading
FREE

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Texas Elementary Principals & Supervisors Association

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Texas Elementary Principals & Supervisors Association

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Nightly Facebook live book readings. You will need to go to their Facebook page in order to view these nightly readings.  They will go LIVE at 8:30pm EST!
Just go into your facebook account and type in Texas Elementary Principals & Supervisors Association to go to their page. FREE

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Texas Elementary Principals & Supervisors Association

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Texas Elementary Principals & Supervisors Association

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Here at TEPSA, with approval from authors and/or publishers, we'll be doing a LIVE Facebook Reading each night for the next few weeks of some of our favorite picture books!

Tomorrow (Monday) will be...

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Take a nature scavenger hunt with a twist of BINGO! FREE

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North Carolina State Parks and Recreation

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North Carolina State Parks and Recreation

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North Carolina State Parks and Recreation added a new photo.

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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 Chirp. I’m happy that you found your way here!

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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.

Wash your hands, stay healthy, and enjoy these resources as we take care of one another this spring!

Author Kate Messner shares a read-aloud of THE BRILLIANT DEEP: REBUILDING THE WORLD'S CORAL REEFS. 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!

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!

Author & illustrator Grace Lin teaches viewers how to draw a Chinese Dragon and shares some tidbits about Chinese culture!

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!

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!"

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.

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.

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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An endless library of free children's books. FREE...just sign up.

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Join the "Wild & Crazy Kids" Reading Club and get your child's reading adventure started without delay!

We need grandmas and grandpas, moms and dads, sisters and brothers, oh the mayhem we'll have! Teachers and preachers and librarians too. Cousins and zoo keepers just to name a few.

Get everyone reading! The little ones, the old ones, the short and the tall... this is a "READING CELEBRATION" we need one and ALL!

It's FREE, it's FREE, oh good golly, this just can't be! We're all joining the "Wild & Crazy Kids" Reading Club as quick as can be!

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Loving2Read - An endless library of children's books

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Join the "Wild & Crazy Kids" Reading Club and get your child's reading adventure started without delay! We need grandmas and grandpas, moms and dads, sisters and brothers, oh the mayhem we'll have! Teachers and preachers and librarians too. Cousins and zoo keepers just to name a few. Get everyone reading!

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AMAZING PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER TO PROVIDE ONLINE LITERACY RESOURCES. FREE

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Most of us find ourselves at home right now. Whether we are a teacher or librarian and our places of work have been closed and we have to share learning ideas electronically to families who are home with children in charge of their education during this time. And the ripple effect keeps going and going. Independent bookstores have canceled storytimes. Authors have had to cancel author visits. And on and on... BUT, so many amazing people are taking their resources online and offering them free to all of us. Plus, there are some resources that have always been free or low cost that can be accessed digitally.

So, I'm helping out by creating a master list for you to access and making it easy for you to share this post with other teachers, librarians, and families around the world. See those social share icons at the top and bottom of this article? Click on one and share it with others. Let's spread the word about this list!

Online Literacy Resources

Storytimes

I'm currently working with a colleague to bring you storytime. Stay tuned for more information about this.

Storyline Online is a wonderful read-aloud free resource. Professional actors read some great pictures. One of our favorites is Betty White reading Harry the Dirty Dog.-> Storyline Online

KidLit TV also has lots of storytimes available to access for free. Listen to authors read their books. You'll find The Crayon Man, I Am Peace, and more.-> KidLit TV (Be sure to browse around the KidLit TV site because there are many more awesome videos to check out too.)

Publishers also have several read-alouds of their titles.

HarperKids-> Read-Aloud Videos on YouTube

Little, Brown Young Readers has someone read aloud titles such as Thank You, Omu, Bear Came Along, And the Adventures of Beekle.-> Read Aloud Videos on YouTube

Penguin Random House-> Read Brightly Storytime

Authors Who Read Their Books Aloud

Mac Barnett will be reading aloud his books each day on Instagram Stories starting March 16th at 3pm EST. Videos will remain up for 24 hours.-> Follow Mac Barnett's account here.

Jerry Pallotta will also be reading some of his books aloud on his YouTube channel.-> Jerry Pallotta's YouTube Channel

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

The Don't Worry Book by Todd Parr (so needed right now)

We Are the Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom

Where's My Teddy? by Jez Alborough

Llama Llama Mad at Mama by Anna Dewdney

The Book with No Pictures by B.J. Novak

Check the YouTube channel of your favorite authors to see if they have read any of their books too. I've heard that Lauren Tarshis and Mo Willems will be planning things soon too.

Sing-Alongs

One of my favorite singers for children, Emily Arrow, is temporarily doing a sing-along on Mondays and Fridays at 1pm EST.-> Emily Arrow's YouTube Channel

JBrary has oodles of sing-alongs, rhymes, and storytime songs.-> JBrary YouTube Channel

Sing-along with Julia Donaldson in The Breathing Song.

And, of course, don't forget Dr. Jean songs.-> Dr. Jean's YouTube Channel

Drawing with Illustrators

Author and illustrator, Jarrett J. Krosoczka, will be doing drawing tutorials on his YouTube Channel each weekday at 2pm EST beginning on 3/16. Jarrett will do this for the next few weeks. He is the creator of Hey, Kiddo, Lunch Lady, Star Wars Jedi Academy, and more.-> Jarrett J. Krosoczka YouTube Channel

Ben Clanton is doing a Facebook Live on 3/18 at 2pm EST and 3/20 at 5pm EST.-> Ben Clanton Facebook Event

Other Author, Illustrator, and Publisher Resources

Author, Grace Lin, has created a new podcast. If your child has a question for an author or illustrator she will take it to them and get it answered. She is also sharing book reviews by kids. The podcast is called Kids Ask Authors. Have the kids submit a question or review.-> Kids Ask Authors

Scholastic has put together a 20-day learning resource room. There is a category for Pre-K, Grades 1st-2nd, Grades 3rd-5th, and Grades 6+. There are online stories to read and corresponding activities.-> Scholastic Learn at Home

Other Technology Resources on Growing Book by Book

Did you know that your public library most likely has a digital download service that allows you to check out audiobooks? Perhaps it is Hoopla, Libby, and Cloud Library. For more information about how to listen to audiobooks check out our Everything You Need for Getting Started with Audiobooks.
Audiobooks for Young Listeners Podcasts of Children's Books and Other Great Listening Best Apps that Build Literacy Skills YouTube Channels That are Worth Watching to Build Literacy Skills Songs That Build Literacy Skills
Books, Books, and More Books

Many libraries are decreasing services or closing. Our local library is not allowing browsing. You can request books and pick them up. Luckily, I have almost 200 booklists to help you with that book selection. And, if you would rather buy books, all of our books are linked to Amazon. But, please don't forget about your local independent bookshops. They really need the business and many of them are offering curbside pick-up.
Click here to see our organized list of booklists to help you find what you need.->Books for Kids
If you need further book recommendations, my friends Happily Ever Elephants, Fantastic Fun and Learning, and What Do We Do All Day? also have many to choose from too.

Also, follow the hashtag #PictureBookoftheDay on Instagram. And, follow me on Instagram for daily book recommendations. -> Follow Jodie on Instagram.

Now, is also a great time to start a Family Dinner Book Club. Growing Book by Book has over 50 free ones to chose from.-> Start a Family Dinner Book Club.

Reading Challenges

Now is a great time for reading challenges too.
Week of 3/16/20
#ReadtheRainbowChallenge-> See the Read the Rainbow Challenge

#5x5ReadingChallenge--> See the easy 5×5 Challenge

Did I miss something? Please leave a comment below.

Stay safe and healthy!

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Stay at home read-alouds, storytimes, sing-alongs and more!

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Most of us find ourselves at home right now. Whether we are a teacher or librarian and our places of work have been closed and we have to share learning ideas electronically to families who are home with children in charge of their education during this time.

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Join us for a Home Safari Facebook Live each weekday at 3pm EDT where we will highlight one of our amazing animals and include an activity you can do from home.

Don’t have access to social media? No worries! All videos will be posted to this webpage and to our YouTube channel shortly after the Facebook Live ends. FREE

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While the Cincinnati Zoo is closed and kids are home from school, let us help make your children's hiatus from school fun and educational.

Join us for a Home Safari Facebook Live each weekday at 3pm EDT where we will highlight one of our amazing animals and include an activity you can do from home.

Don't have access to social media? No worries! All videos will be posted to this webpage and to our YouTube channel shortly after the Facebook Live ends.

Tips

Collect some leaves for an activity on Thursday!

And, vote for us for Best Zoo in USA Today's 10Best poll

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Home Safari Resources - Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden®

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While the Cincinnati Zoo is closed and kids are home from school, let us help make your children's hiatus from school fun and educational. Join us for a Home Safari Facebook Live each weekday at 3pm EDT where we will highlight one of our amazing animals and include an activity you can do from home.

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Ranger In Time by Kate Messner- Stay tuned...

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Ranger In Time by Kate Messner- Stay tuned...

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Who's up for an online #RangerInTimeBookClub starting later this week?
It'll be YouTube videos embedded in her blog (http://katemessner.com/blog) and kids will be able to ask questions in the comments after each chapter - She'll answer selected questions in the next video.

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Videos, games, stories, and more. FREE

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Kate Messner Read Aloud of her newest book

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Kate Messner Read Aloud of her newest book

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An author read-aloud of OVER AND UNDER THE RAINFOREST.
After the read-aloud, choose your favorite rainforest animal, do some research, and write up a short article to share!

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A sneak preview read-aloud of OVER AND UNDER THE RAINFOREST

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A sneak preview read-aloud of OVER AND UNDER THE RAINFOREST (coming this August from author Kate Messner, illustrator Christopher Silas Neal, and Chronicle B...

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Bad Kitty make comics (youtube) FREE

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Schedule of author, illustrators, and celebrity read alouds. FREE

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We've put together a "digital fridge magnet" to help you keep track of the AWESOME author & illustrator LIVE events happening across different social media platforms this week!  SHARE AWAY, and look for next week's list coming soon!  @taralazar  @jeffreykubiak #OperationStorytime

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We've put together a "digital fridge magnet" to help you keep track of the AWESOME author & illustrator LIVE events happening across different social media platforms this week!  SHARE AWAY, and look for next week's list coming soon!  @taralazar  @jeffreykubiak #OperationStorytime https://t.co/wOv6bCycUg

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We've put together a "digital fridge magnet" to help you keep track of the AWESOME author & illustrator LIVE events happening across different social media platforms this week! SHARE AWAY, and look for next week's list coming soon! @taralazar @jeffreykubiak #OperationStorytime pic.twitter.com/wOv6bCycUg
— LibrarianBookends (Steph 💛& Mary❤️) (@LBookends) March 17, 2020

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We've put together a "digital fridge magnet" to help you keep track of the AWESOME author & illustrator LIVE events happening across different social media platforms this week!  SHARE AWAY, and look for next week's list coming soon!  @taralazar  @jeffreykubiak #OperationStorytime https://t.co/wOv6bCycUg

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.metadata.attachment_props.original_text
We've put together a "digital fridge magnet" to help you keep track of the AWESOME author & illustrator LIVE events happening across different social media platforms this week!  SHARE AWAY, and look for next week's list coming soon!  @taralazar  @jeffreykubiak #OperationStorytime https://t.co/wOv6bCycUg

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We've put together a "digital fridge magnet" to help you keep track of the AWESOME author & illustrator LIVE events happening across different social media platforms this week!  SHARE AWAY, and look for next week's list coming soon!  @taralazar  @jeffreykubiak #OperationStorytime

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The Hidden Worlds of the National Parks | 113 museum views

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Google Arts & Culture features content from over 2000 leading museums and archives who have partnered with the Google Cultural Institute to bring the world's treasures online.

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Author of popular children's book series reads aloud his new book,  Miss Blake is A Fake".
Scroll down his Facebook feed to catch up on previous chapters.

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Dan Gutman. 43K likes. Get a My Weird School T-shirt! Go to: http://www.cafepress.com/theofficialmyweirdschoolshop

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Animal Games

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Animal Profiles
Read interesting facts about the behavior and characteristics of the 142 animal species in Switch Zoo.

Field Trips
Take a tour to learn how to make new animals, go on a creative writing field trip, or explore music 'performed' by animals.

Switch Zoo News and Reviews

Visitors' Pages
Switch Zoo visitors share funny and creative animal names, drawings, stories and poems about the animals, and comments about the zoo. Don't miss the fantastic drawings of combination animals created by 5th grade students.

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Animal Profiles Read interesting facts about the behavior and characteristics of the 142 animal species in Switch Zoo. Field Trips Take a tour to learn how to make new animals, go on a creative writing field trip, or explore music 'performed' by animals.

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The Big List of Children’s Authors Doing Online Read Alouds & Activities

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The Big List of Children’s Authors Doing Online Read Alouds & Activities

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Many of our favorite authors are offering online read alouds and activities on social media. Check them out by following the link below. FREE

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With kids at home and parents looking for educational activities, many of our favorite authors are offering online read alouds and activities on social media. We've rounded up some of the best virtual author activities below!

Read-Alouds for Elementary School Kids

These authors are offering read-alouds of their books and books by their favorite authors.

The author will be doing read-alouds on Instagram Live of her book Mae Among the Stars.

The author will be reading a book a day on Instagram Live. It does not appear that he will be adding the videos to his website at this time.

Enjoy a reading of Falatko's book, Snappsy the Alligator (Did Not Ask to Be in This Book), by Stranger Things actor, David Harbour. This read-aloud comes with a teacher's guide.

Oprah Winfrey reads Godin's book, The Hula-Hoopin' Queen, which is accompanied by a handy teacher's guide.

The author has added a collection of videos of herself reading from her picture books on Instagram. You may also learn more about her books on her website.

The author will be reading one book every day on Instagram Live. Can't make it? He'll also be posting the videos to his website.

A former classroom teacher, Messner has written more than three dozen books for kids. She's put together a library of distance learning resources for students, families, teachers, and librarians.

Young kids will enjoy this great read-aloud of Where Are My Books? The author also provides a teacher's guide, drawing demos and shares a crowd-sourced music video based on the book.

Follow the story of A Bad Case of Stripes as read by Lord of the Rings actor, Sean Astin. Then, work through the helpful teacher's guide.

Learn the story of The House That Jane Built as read by The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina actress, Kiernan Shipka. You may access activity guides for teachers or for parents.

Virtual Author Activities for Middle School

Read-alouds and reading activities from favorite authors.

The author has put together reading activities around his Cogheart Adventures. He's even created Q&A videos on YouTube.

Listen to a read-aloud of Henderson's The Magic in Changing Your Stars and then work through the writing challenge (with hints!) listed on author Kate Messner's site: Who is Ailey Benjamin Lane named after?

This official PDF teaching guide is a great learning resource for your middle schooler to think about and discuss the beloved Diary of a Wimpy Kid series!

Watch Knowles read the first chapter of her middle grade novel, Where the Heart Is, while giving students a fun writing exercise. She's also created guides for teachers and book groups on her website.

Author of the Lunch Lady graphic novel series, Krosoczka will be hosting a daily drawing webcast on YouTube at 2 PM EDT. You can also find videos on his website. Be sure to also check out his National Book Award Finalist, Hey Kiddo.

The author behind Enginerds has created some cool worksheets that will be updated every few days to keep kids entertained and engaged. These activities may be a good addition to your distance learning resources.

The author and illustrator has taken to YouTube to provide a glimpse into Chinese culture and a guide for drawing Chinese dragons.

You may have to change the season or specific circumstances, but this collection of writing prompts is a great way to help your student build literacy skills, while giving them a chance to express themselves.

What better series for middle schoolers than the famous Harry Potter books? You probably loved them, and now you have the chance to introduce your children into the Wizarding World. Use this handy discussion guide that covers the first four books to bring an academic approach to your own little wizards' education.

The nonfiction science book author has created engaging video mini-lessons including a similes worksheet, researching skills, and more.

Mo Willems invites you into his studio every day for his lunch doodle! Grab some paper and pencils, pens, or crayons and join Mo to explore ways of writing and making together while he chats about his characters Pigeon, Piggie, and Elephant.

Virtual Author Activities for High School & Young Adults

Even more resources for tweens and teens.

The author of The Jumbies series has created videos of mini-lessons on comparative mythology and has added valuable distance learning resources, including downloadables for teachers and parents, to her website.

While there are thrill books, The Maze Runner is the first book in Dashner's YA novel series. This guide is useful for turning the adventurous themes into meaningful learning experiences.

Emily Dickenson

High school students may have discovered the timeless magic of Emily Dickinson. This teaching guide includes multimedia and discussion questions for The Essential Emily Dickinson collection.

Fans of the author of The Fault in Our Stars and Paper Towns? Here's a link to some discussion questions surrounding his works. Green has also co-created Crash Course, a website that provides high-quality educational videos for high school and college-level classes. Students, parents, and teachers alike could be entertained for hours without ever leaving the site!

Looking for writing prompts? This author has put together a list of prompts to get students thinking outside of the box.

To go along with his collection of youth novels, Hobbs has created resources and activities for teachers and librarians.

Check out the National Endowment for the Arts Big Read Learning Guide for Silver Sparrow by this NEA creative writing fellow.

Want to learn more about writing an etheree (a ten-line poem in which writers add an additional syllable with each line)? Scanlon has a video lesson all about them!

Ready to work on some poetry? It can be tough to know where to start, but Sidman has created a poem starters for teachers and students, and even has categories for Younger Writers or Older Writers.

Students or kids reading Thomas' The Hate U Give? You'll find some good distance learning resources for discussion questions and projects on this website.
Looking for more online resources for learning at home? We've built a list with over 80 options here. Have other virtual author activities to share? Email us at resources@weareteachers.com with your additions and we will regularly update.

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The Big List of Children's Authors Doing Online Read Alouds & Activities

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With kids at home and parents looking for educational activities, many of our favorite authors are offering online read alouds and activities on social media. We've rounded up some of the best virtual author activities below! These authors are offering read-alouds of their books and books by their favorite authors.

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*Most of the books are read by the author, and we have a couple of amazing teacher readers as well. All videos are under 10 minutes and come with a bonus Q&A at the end. The Storytime videos are a great way to expose your students to authors and open up valuable book discussions. Enjoy!

*Planting Stories, read in English and Spanish by author Anika Denise

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Looking for a new way to engage your readers? Storytime videos to the rescue! At WeAreTeachers, we believe that reading aloud is powerful when it comes to building strong readers, encouraging literacy, and developing lifelong learners.

And it's not just for kindergarteners either. There are so many benefits to reading aloud in older grades-even in middle school. That's why we created our Storytime video series, featuring some of our favorite children's books, authors, and creators. Subscribe to our WeAreTeachers YouTube channel so you don't miss any!

Most of the books are read by the author, and we have a couple of amazing teacher readers as well. All videos are under 10 minutes and come with a bonus Q&A at the end. The Storytime videos are a great way to expose your students to authors and open up valuable book discussions. Enjoy!
Just a heads up, WeAreTeachers may collect a share of sales from the links on this page. We only recommend items our team loves!
A Hundred Billion Trillion Stars , read by author Seth Fishman

A Hundred Billion Trillion Stars won the 2018 Mathical Book Prize. It was also named a Best Book of the Year by Space.com, The Horn Book, and the Planetary Society. It takes on some of the biggest numbers in the universe, and it'll really get your students thinking about math and numbers in a new way. Learn more about Seth on his website.
GET THE BOOK >>
Watch Seth's Storytime

Planting Stories, read in English and Spanish by author Anika Denise

This story is about New York City's first Puerto Rican librarian, who had a huge influence in bilingual literature in the 1920s and beyond. Anika loved researching this story, and now she's excited to share it with others. We have both an English and Spanish read-aloud option. You could even do both as an added learning opportunity for your students. Learn more about Anika here.
GET THE BOOK >>
Watch Anika's Storytime

, read by author and illustrator Arree Chung

Arree Chung is the author of many great picture books, including Ninja, and Mixed is one of his latest. This book brings a sweet message about how to get along with others and embrace differences. Arree both writes and illustrates his books, and your students will really enjoy the Q&A with him after the reading. You should also check out his activity guide, perfect to use in your classroom.
GET THE BOOK >>
Watch Arree's Storytime

Sparky the Fire Dog , read by teacher Nichole Watson

Sparky the Fire Dog is a staple when it comes to learning about fire safety. He's such a cute and lovable pup, and Sparky the Fire Dog tells how it all began. We are excited to partner with Sparky Schoolhouse for this reading, and we thank teacher Nichole Watson (and her class) for sharing their read aloud with us! (For those of you interested in buying the book for your class, you can use the coupon code "Sparky19" for $9.95 in savings!)
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Watch Nicole's Storytime

Me and My Fear, read by teacher Kayla Dessert

Our teacher friend Kayla Dessert with Sweetest Teacher did this read aloud for us. This book tackles the topic of fear from the perspective of a young girl from another country who starts a new school. Kids (and adults) will be able to relate to this book. Plus, there are some amazing teacher resources available from the publisher to help encourage conversation in your classroom.
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Watch Kayla's Storytime

The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors, read by author by Drew Daywalt

While Drew Daywalt is loved by many for his book The Day the Crayons Quit, this book tackles the unknown (and totally awesome) tale of Rock, Paper, and Scissors. Your students will love hearing Drew read this book himself, and his bonus Q&A sessions are entertaining, too. You can learn more about Drew here.
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Watch Drew's Storytime

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Plus, see some of our other favorite book readings available on YouTube.

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Check out Our New Storytime Video Series Featuring Children's Book Authors

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Looking for a new way to engage your readers? Storytime videos to the rescue! At WeAreTeachers, we believe that reading aloud is powerful when it comes to building strong readers, encouraging literacy, and developing lifelong learners. And it's not just for kindergarteners either. There are so many benefits to reading aloud in older grades-even in middle school.

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Read aloud by Meryl Streep & a full cast. FREE

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Solid collection of the best online E-Book Resources. FREE

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Username: linkearth
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*Free until April 20th

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Password: Clifford
*Free until April 20th

Username: Learning20
Password: Clifford
*Free until April 20th

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Password: lovetoread

Educators - Sign up for free account during school closures

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Username: linkearthPassword: lovetoread ​Username: Learning20 Password: Clifford*Free until April 20th ​Username: Learning20 Password: Clifford*Free until April 20th Username: Learning20 Password: Clifford*Free until April 20th Username: linkearthPassword: lovetoread Educators - Sign up for free account during school closures

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Faith Ringgold reads her 1991 children's book Tar Beach. FREE

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Faith Ringgold reads her 1991 children's book Tar Beach

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Enjoy the hilarious read aloud by a Scottish laughing grandma!

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The Wonky Donkey - Scottish laughing Grandma! (from UNILAD)

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Watch author Lauren Tarshis read aloud from I Survived books and tell you more about how she wrote them.

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Selected videos supporting New York Times bestselling author Lauren Tarshis, for her "I Survived," series. Each of these historical fiction books focuses on ...