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The Gilder Lehrman Institute is excited to announce a new program that features Hamilton cast members reading award-winning children's books followed by a discussion of the history behind the story led by Gilder Lehrman Education Fellow Keisha Rembert.

Join us for Read Alongs on Wednesday and Friday afternoons at 1 p.m. ET.

Upcoming Hamilton Cast Read Alongs

July 15, 2020 - Sabrina Sloan - Memphis, Martin, and the Mountaintop by Alice Faye Duncan (Boyd Mills & Kane)

July 17 - Renee Elise Goldsberry - Harlem's Little Blackbird: The Story of Florence Mills by Renee Watson (Penguin Random House)

July 22 - Euan Morton - Locomotive by Brian Floca (Simon & Schuster)

July 24- Aubin Wise - How Sweet the Sound: The Story of Amazing Grace by Carole Boston Weatherford (Simon & Schuster)

Keisha Rembert is the 2019 Illinois History Teacher of the Year. She's also a lifelong learner and Assistant Professor of Teacher Preparation at National Louis University. Prior to entering teacher education, Keisha spent over 15 years teaching middle school English and history in the Chicagoland area. In 2019, Keisha was also named the Outstanding Middle-Level English Educator by the National Council of Teachers of English. Her passion for equity, social justice, and youth literature and historical understanding and activism coalesce in her service on several boards and as an active member of numerous national organizations. Her work with the Institute has included her role as a master teacher and instructor for the History School course "The Paradox of Liberty."

The Gilder Lehrman Institute is proud to partner with the producers of Hamilton on the Hamilton Education Program. The Hamilton Education Program is part of the Gilder Lehrman Institute's broader mission to improve the teaching and learning of American history. Learn more and register for Eduham at Home.

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Hamilton Cast Read Alongs | Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History

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The Gilder Lehrman Institute is excited to announce a new program that features Hamilton cast members reading award-winning children's books followed by a discussion of the history behind the story led by Gilder Lehrman Education Fellow Keisha Rembert. Join us for Read Alongs on Wednesday and Friday afternoons at 1 p.m.

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Mental Health App from DMH

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There are a lot of unknowns in the world right now. But one thing is certain - Headspace is here for you. To help you, we're offering some meditations you can listen to anytime.

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Ramadan Kareem

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Lailah's Lunchbox - A Ramadan Story Read Aloud

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Math Games for all grades

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Students love to play games in math class. So we've curated (and created!) the best math games we know and put them in one place, to make sure that students will be learning math and engaged through play.

These games are notable for their:

1. Student Choice
2. Mathematics is the engine of the game
3. Easy to learn and quick to play - perfect for classroom use

Want more? Check out the Mathematical Games Minicourse. A 115-minute recording with accompanying 45 page booklet of favorite games for pre-K - 2nd grade.

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Students love to play games in math class. So we've curated (and created!) the best math games we know and put them in one place, to make sure that students will be learning math and engaged through play. These games are notable for their: 1. Student Choice 2.

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Paper folding, book binding, oragami, and more...

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Paper folding, book binding, oragami, and more...

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Every day is a new challenge!

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The #MathArtChallenge is just a fun, simple way to engage our brains during this time of unease. All tasks are low tech: paper, pencil, maybe string. Nothing fancy. I would LOVE to see what you come up with. Post on social media with the hashtag #MathArtChallenge!

THE CHALLENGE: Draw as many connected triangles as you can. Goal is to have as many vertices with 7 triangles as possible.

MATERIALS NEEDED: writing utensil, writing surface (paper, whiteboard, whatever!)

UPDATE (4/3) Here's a quick video tutorial after lots of requests for help in the comments: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ObGkAqoN-Q

Categories Posted on #mathartchallenge, Uncategorized

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#MathArtChallenge Day 1: Tons of triangles

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The #MathArtChallenge is just a fun, simple way to engage our brains during this time of unease. All tasks are low tech: paper, pencil, maybe string. Nothing fancy. I would LOVE to see what you come up with. Post on social media with the hashtag #MathArtChallenge!

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Resiliencia: Pasando juntos por COVID-19 (Sesiones en Español)

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Resiliencia: Pasando juntos por COVID-19 (Sesiones en Español)

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Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Resiliencia: Pasando juntos por COVID-19 (Sesiones en Español). After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.

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La siguiente serie de seminarios web se proporciona a través de una colaboración entre Edelman Child y SMMUSD Oficina de Participación Familiar. Esta serie de seminarios web en Español estará dirigida por los trabajadores sociales psiquiátricos infantiles de Edelman del Departamento de Salud Mental del Condado de Los Angeles y será facilitada por la Dra.

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Webinar through Edelman Children and SMMUSD Family Engagement: - Resilience: Getting through COVID 19 together with Dr. Rossi

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Webinar through Edelman Children and SMMUSD Family Engagement: - Resilience: Getting through COVID 19 together with Dr. Rossi

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5 part series - In English

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Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Resiliency: Getting through COVID-19 Together (English Sessions). After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.

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The following five-session webinar series is provided through a collaboration between Edelman Child and SMMUSD Family Engagement Office. This mental health and wellness webinar series will be led by Edelman Child Psychiatric Social Workers and facilitated by Dr. Freda Rossi (SMMUSD Family Engagement Coordinator) with opportunities for parents/guardians to participate during live scheduled webinars and future access to recorded webinars.

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check it out!

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Back

Wes Tank - YouTube

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Activities that support Social Emotional wellbeing without screen time! 

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Activities that support Social Emotional wellbeing without screen time! 

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Offers activity ideas to parents and caregivers whose families are sheltering in place, social distancing, and homeschooling due to school closures amidst the COVID-19 outbreak.

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Simple Activities for Children and Adolescents

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Offers activity ideas to parents and caregivers whose families are sheltering in place, social distancing, and homeschooling due to school closures amidst the COVID-19 outbreak.

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Children's Mental Health Awareness Month - COVID 19 Edition

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Children's Mental Health Awareness Month - COVID 19 Edition

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Ideas for how to support our children's mental health during these challenging times.

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Children's Mental Health Awareness in Times of COVID-19 - Starr Commonwealth

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Children's Mental Health Awareness Week is designated annually in May to bring national attention to the importance and needs of youth, mental health, and their psychological well-being. This year CMHA Week is May 3-9. Children's Mental Health Awareness Week 2020 is substantially unlike year's past as the result of the Coronavirus pandemic.

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ZOOM Live Weekly Class: Children's Creative Movement & Dance

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ZOOM Live Weekly Class: Children's Creative Movement & Dance

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UCSD

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ZOOM Live Weekly Class: Children's Creative Movement & Dance

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Dance event by UCSD Recreation on Wednesday, May 13 2020 with 585 people interested and 36 people going.

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Make something for your grownups!

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Mother's Day Archives - Art For Kids Hub

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Get your construction paper out again, today we're learning how to make a crown...an easy crown, perfect for young artists. And since Mother's Day is almost here, you could make this crown for your mom! She deserves to be queen for a day! For this art project you'll need: Yellow construction paper We also used [...]

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En español

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Information about Pandemic EBT, or P-EBT

P-EBT is a federal food program. The California Department of Social Services (CDSS), in partnership with the California Department of Education (CDE), received approval to operate the program in response to COVID-19 related school and child care closures. P-EBT provides food benefits to help families with young children (under age 6) who got CalFresh Food benefits between October 2020 and August 2021 and school age children who were eligible for free or reduced-price school meals through the federal School Breakfast or National School Lunch Program for School Year 2020-21, and assumed to have attended school via distance learning at least some of that time.

For additional information, visit the P-EBT website at https://ca.p-ebt.org/.

P-EBT 2.0 Eligibility

Young children are eligible for P-EBT 2.0 if between October 1, 2020, and August 31, 2021, they were:

Age 0-6 years old; and

Part of a household getting CalFresh food benefits; and

Living in a county where at least one school facility is closed or is limiting in-person instruction.

School aged children are eligible for P-EBT 2.0 if they were:

Enrolled at a school for school year 2020-21 that participated in the federal School Breakfast Program or National School Lunch Program; and

Eligible to get free or reduced-price meals for school year 2020-21; and

Assumed to have attended school via all distance learning or a hybrid of all distance learning and in-person learning at least some days of the week during school year 2020-21.

P-EBT 2.0 cards for eligible young children who got CalFresh between October 2020 and January 2021 were automatically mailed beginning early July 2021 through August 2021. P-EBT 2.0 cards for eligible school age children will be automatically mailed beginning early August 2021 through November 2021. P-EBT 2.0 cards for eligible young children who got CalFresh between February 2021 and May 2021 will be automatically mailed beginning in November 2021. All remaining cards for both age groups will be mailed in December 2021.

Cards will be mailed by age group in alphabetical order based on the first name of the eligible child. There is NO P-EBT 2.0 application.

Children eligible for free school meals based on their attendance at a school where all children can get free breakfast, lunch, or both, are also eligible for P-EBT. This is true even if the child did not individually apply for free or reduced-price school meals.

Families who feel they do not need P-EBT benefits can choose to not accept P-EBT benefits by destroying their card before using it.

Do not throw your card away as it will be reloaded with additional benefits. Each eligible child will receive their own P-EBT 2.0 card.

P-EBT 2.0 does not:

Require sign-up or an application;

Affect other benefits you may be receiving;

Impact immigration or make the recipient a public charge;

For more information, please visit the P-EBT website at https://ca.p-ebt.org/

Summer P-EBT

California's Summer P-EBT plan has been approved! All eligible children will receive a standard summer P-EBT benefit of $375, which will be reloaded on existing P-EBT 2.0 cards in December 2021. School children who were eligible to receive free or reduce price school meals at a school participating in the federal meal programs at the end of school year 2020-21 will be eligible to receive summer P-EBT benefits. California also allowed families to submit a free or reduce price meal application to become newly eligible for summer P-EBT during the summer. Young children who are getting CalFresh food benefits will also receive summer P-EBT benefits.

P-EBT Help

Families that have already received a P-EBT card and need assistance with PIN set-up, need to request a replacement card, or did not receive their card in the mail as expected, may contact the P-EBT Helpline at (877) 328-9677 (M-F, 6am to 8pm) for help.

Families that have not received a P-EBT card but have questions about their P-EBT eligibility can also contact the P-EBT Helpline at (877) 328-9677 (M-F, 6am to 8pm).

Program History

Before P-EBT 2.0, there was P-EBT 1.0 and the P-EBT extension.

P-EBT 1.0

P-EBT 1.0 benefits were provided to children who were eligible for free or reduced-price meals during the 2019-2020 school year at a school participating in the federal School Breakfast or National School Lunch Program. P-EBT 1.0 benefits have now been issued to all eligible children.

P-EBT Extension

California was also authorized to provide additional P-EBT food benefits for the months of August and September 2020. This is referred to as the "P-EBT Extension". Children were eligible for P-EBT extension benefits if they:

Previously received P-EBT benefits for the 2019-20 school year;

Were attending a California school participating in the federal School Breakfast and National School Lunch Programs for the 2020-21 school year; and

Were assumed to be attending school virtually or via a hybrid model of virtual and in-person instruction for the 2020-21 school year.

Under the P-EBT extension, each eligible child received a new P-EBT card with P-EBT benefits for the months of August and September 2020. These new P-EBT cards were mailed directly to families in late October through late December. Eligible families did not need to apply to receive P-EBT extension benefits.

Families who received P-EBT Extension benefits will get a small supplement for the months of August and September 2020 for parity with children newly eligible for P-EBT 2.0. Families who did not receive P-EBT extension benefits, but have recently been determined eligible for P-EBT 2.0, will get benefits for August and September 2020 with their P-EBT 2.0 benefits for the remainder of the 2020-21 school year.

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Information about Pandemic EBT, or P-EBT P-EBT is a federal food program. The California Department of Social Services (CDSS), in partnership with the California Department of Education (CDE), received approval to operate the program in response to COVID-19 related school and child care closures.

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Get help buying food while school is closed

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Click through for single page strategies K - 5

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click through to see and practice phonics - letter-sound correspondence patterns

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Here are some questions to ask your reader. (Non-Fiction)

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Here are questions to ask your reader about their book.  (Fiction)

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Recursos para padres (en Español)

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Architectural paper templates

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If you think you're bored being stuck at home all day, think about all the children that can't go to school or go outside to play with their friends. However, British architecture studio Foster + Partners found a way to keep children entertained during the lockdown. They have released a series of paper building templates that kids can print out, color and use to build their own paper cities to keep themselves busy. The studio even encourages children to share their own creations on social media using the #architecturefromhome hashtag!

"Over the next few weeks we will be sharing new activities for children whilst at home, away from school. We'll include drawing, making, playing, thinking, reading, watching and other activities to keep them entertained - for at least a few hours!" writes the studio.

More info: Foster + Partners | Instagram | Twitter | h/t: Dezeen

Architecture studio Foster + Partners came up with a creative way to keep children occupied during the lockdown

In an interview with Dezeen, Katy Harris, a senior partner at Foster + Partners, said that the recent lockdown offered the studio an opportunity to create a number of online initiatives that educate and entertain the children that cannot attend school as well as support their parents.

They released a series of templates that kids can print out, color, and fold to create paper cities

Katy says that the studio's initiative is a "chance for all of us to have some fun and learn at the same time".

The studio encourages children to share their creations using the #architecturefromhome hashtag

"How about drawing the future architect and the most fantastical skyscraper ever designed!" writes the studio in their latest Twitter post. "This is so much fun and the whole family can play."

Foster + Partners released templates for a skyscraper, houses and even a tutorial on how to draw trees like an architect.

So far the studio released templates for a skyscraper, some houses...

Katy says that the studio has tried to engage children in activities that are both practical and thought-provoking.

The studio's main aim was to get children to ask questions about their surroundings and start thinking about the environment they built.

Even though the activities are aimed at children up to 12 years of age, everyone can join in on the fun. "From the responses we are getting, even older children are taking something from these activities," said Katy. "The broad appeal means that anyone can develop them into something bigger and better."

...as well as a worksheet showing how to draw trees

Katy says that so far the response has been "absolutely fantastic" and "a bit overwhelming". The studio received emails from all over the world, including Canada, Spain, Italy, Australia and Cambodia. "We are glad to be able to brighten someone's day or kindle their creativity in some ways - stay tuned for many more fun activities!" concluded Katy.

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This Architecture Studio Released A Series Of Templates Children Can Use To Create Paper Cities During Lockdown | DeMilked

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If you think you're bored being stuck at home all day, think about all the children that can't go to school or go outside to play with their friends. However, British architecture studio Foster + Partners found a way to keep children entertained during the lockdown.

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Something to do on a walk!

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Letters in Nature; A Photography Scavenger Hunt - That After School Life

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Get kids outdoor and enjoying nature with this nature activity. Look for letters in nature with this photography scavenger hunt for school age kids.

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CREST programming

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programming for CREST

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Math Reference Sheet Primary Grades (TK -2)

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Math Reference Sheet Primary Grades (TK -2)

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Haga clic en las secciones que aparecen a continuación para ver los videotutoriales de Zoom. También puede registrarse para asistir a futuras sesiones de formación en vivo o acceder a grabaciones r...

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Complete this Survey to pick up chromebooks for distance learning.

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Will Rogers Elementary: 2401 14th St., Santa Monica, CA 90405

Chromebook PickUp will be available on Tuesday April 21. If you requested a chromebook and a hotspot please sign up for a Wednesday Timeslot as we hop to have hotspots ready by then. If you are pending a hotspot pickup please sign up for a Wednesday timeslot. Added Thursday April 23, 2020

This is a by appointment only pick up: Rogers pick up will be at the school cafeteria. Upon entering give your name and device will be available for you through a contactless pick up. Please arrive on time so that we keep adequate social distance.

Prior to visiting the school sites, you must self-assess your physical health condition:

If you are having trouble breathing or have you had flu-like symptoms within the past 48 hours, including fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, runny/stuffy nose, body aches, chills, or fatigue, DO NOT sign up for a technolpogy pick up time until:

At least three days (72-hours) have passed since recovery, which is defined as resolution of fever with the use of fever reducing medications

The improvement of respiratory symptoms, such as coughing and shortness of breath

At least seven days have passed since symptoms first appeared

If you or anyone in your family has been in contact with a person who has received a positive test for COVID-19. If symptoms are present, you may only return ONLY after the above conditions are met or if asymptomatic after a minimum 14-day self-quarantine.

If you are in the process of being tested for COVID-19 or tested positive.

Arrangements can be made to pick up technology above criteria is met.

Questions: Email Bertha Roman [email protected]

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stem science technology engineering mathematics brain learning thinking brainstorming student educational

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Technology PickUp Location: Rogers: April 21-23

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Will Rogers Elementary: 2401 14th St., Santa Monica, CA 90405 Chromebook PickUp will be available on Tuesday April 21. If you requested a chromebook and a hotspot please sign up for a Wednesday Timeslot as we hop to have hotspots ready by then. If you are pending a hotspot pickup please sign up for a Wednesday timeslot.

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Mondays at 9am West Coast time!

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Back

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A dozen writing projects - including journals, poems, comics and more - for students to try at home.

In Málaga, Spain, Marcos Moreno Maldonado makes drawings that weave around his words, keeping a diary that is botanical, beautiful and strange. Keeping a journal is just one of 12 writing projects we suggest for students. Related Article Credit... Marcos Moreno Maldonado

The coronavirus has transformed life as we know it. Schools are closed, we're confined to our homes and the future feels very uncertain. Why write at a time like this?

For one, we are living through history. Future historians may look back on the journals, essays and art that ordinary people are creating now to tell the story of life during the coronavirus.

But writing can also be deeply therapeutic. It can be a way to express our fears, hopes and joys. It can help us make sense of the world and our place in it.

Plus, even though school buildings are shuttered, that doesn't mean learning has stopped. Writing can help us reflect on what's happening in our lives and form new ideas.

We want to help inspire your writing about the coronavirus while you learn from home. Below, we offer 12 projects for students, all based on pieces from The New York Times, including personal narrative essays, editorials, comic strips and podcasts. Each project features a Times text and prompts to inspire your writing, as well as related resources from The Learning Network to help you develop your craft. Some also offer opportunities to get your work published in The Times, on The Learning Network or elsewhere.

We know this list isn't nearly complete. If you have ideas for other pandemic-related writing projects, please suggest them in the comments.

In the meantime, happy writing!

Journaling is well-known as a therapeutic practice, a tool for helping you organize your thoughts and vent your emotions, especially in anxiety-ridden times. But keeping a diary has an added benefit during a pandemic: It may help educate future generations.

In " The Quarantine Diaries," Amelia Nierenberg spoke to Ady, an 8-year-old in the Bay Area who is keeping a diary. Ms. Nierenberg writes:

As the coronavirus continues to spread and confine people largely to their homes, many are filling pages with their experiences of living through a pandemic. Their diaries are told in words and pictures: pantry inventories, window views, questions about the future, concerns about the present.

Taken together, the pages tell the story of an anxious, claustrophobic world on pause.

"You can say anything you want, no matter what, and nobody can judge you," Ady said in a phone interview earlier this month, speaking about her diary. "No one says, 'scaredy-cat.'"

When future historians look to write the story of life during coronavirus, these first-person accounts may prove useful.

"Diaries and correspondences are a gold standard," said Jane Kamensky, a professor of American History at Harvard University and the faculty director of the Schlesinger Library at the Radcliffe Institute. "They're among the best evidence we have of people's inner worlds."

You can keep your own journal, recording your thoughts, questions, concerns and experiences of living through the coronavirus pandemic.

Not sure what to write about? Read the rest of Ms. Nierenberg's article to find out what others around the world are recording. If you need more inspiration, here are a few writing prompts to get you started:

How has the virus disrupted your daily life? What are you missing? School, sports, competitions, extracurricular activities, social plans, vacations or anything else?

What effect has this crisis had on your own mental and emotional health?

What changes, big or small, are you noticing in the world around you?

For more ideas, see our writing prompts. We post a new one every school day, many of them now related to life during the coronavirus.

You can write in your journal every day or as often as you like. And if writing isn't working for you right now, try a visual, audio or video diary instead.

As you write in your journal, you'll probably find that your life during the pandemic is full of stories, whether serious or funny, angry or sad. If you're so inspired, try writing about one of your experiences in a personal narrative essay.

Here's how Mary Laura Philpott begins her essay, " This Togetherness Is Temporary, " about being quarantined with her teenage children:

Get this: A couple of months ago, I quit my job in order to be home more.

Go ahead and laugh at the timing. I know.

At the time, it was hitting me that my daughter starts high school in the fall, and my son will be a senior. Increasingly they were spending their time away from me at school, with friends, and in the many time-intensive activities that make up teenage lives. I could feel the clock ticking, and I wanted to spend the minutes I could - the minutes they were willing to give me, anyway - with them, instead of sitting in front of a computer at night and on weekends in order to juggle a job as a bookseller, a part-time gig as a television host, and a book deadline. I wanted more of them while they were still living in my house.

Now here we are, all together, every day. You're supposed to be careful what you wish for, but come on. None of us saw this coming.

Personal narratives are short, powerful stories about meaningful life experiences, big or small. Read the rest of Ms. Philpott's essay to see how she balances telling the story of a specific moment in time and reflecting on what it all means in the larger context of her life.

Video

Credit Credit... Graphic by Kaisha Murzamadiyeva

People have long turned to creative expression in times of crisis. During the coronavirus pandemic, artists are continuing to illustrate, play music, dance, perform - and write poetry.

That's what Dr. Elizabeth Mitchell, an emergency room doctor in Boston, did after a long shift treating coronavirus patients. Called " The Apocalypse," her poem begins like this:

This is the apocalypse
A daffodil has poked its head up
from the dirt and opened
sunny arms to bluer skies
yet I am filled with
dark and anxious dread
as theaters close as travel ends and
grocery stores display their empty rows
where toilet paper liquid bleach
and bags of flour stood in upright ranks.

Read the rest of Dr. Mitchell's poem and note the lines, images and metaphors that speak to you. Then, tap into your creative side by writing a poem inspired by your own experience of the pandemic.

Need inspiration? Try writing a poem in response to one of our Picture Prompts. Or, you can create a found poem using an article from The Times's coronavirus outbreak coverage. If you have access to the print paper, try making a blackout poem instead.
Related Resources:
24 Ways to Teach and Learn About Poetry With The New York Times
Reader Idea | How the Found Poem Can Inspire Teachers and Students Alike

Have you been keeping up with the news about the coronavirus? What is your reaction to it?

Make your voice heard by writing a letter to the editor about a recent Times article, editorial, column or Opinion essay related to the pandemic. You can find articles in The Times's free coronavirus coverage or The Learning Network's coronavirus resources for students. And, if you're a high school student, your school can get you free digital access to The New York Times from now until July 6.

To see examples, read the letters written by young people in response to recent headlines in " How the Young Deal With the Coronavirus." Here's what Addie Muller from San Jose, Calif., had to say about the Opinion essay " I'm 26. Coronavirus Sent Me to the Hospital ":

As a high school student and a part of Generation Z, I've been less concerned about getting Covid-19 and more concerned about spreading it to more vulnerable populations. While I've been staying at home and sheltering in place (as was ordered for the state of California), many of my friends haven't been doing the same.

I know people who continue going to restaurants and have been treating the change in education as an extended spring break and excuse to spend more time with friends. I fear for my grandparents and parents, but this article showed me that we should also fear for ourselves.

I appreciated seeing this article because many younger people seem to feel invincible. The fact that a healthy 26-year-old can be hospitalized means that we are all capable of getting the virus ourselves and spreading it to others. I hope that Ms. Lowenstein continues spreading her story and that she makes a full recovery soon.

As you read, note some of the defining features of a letter to the editor and what made these good enough to publish. For more advice, see these tips from Thomas Feyer, the letters editor at The Times, about how to write a compelling letter. They include:

Write briefly and to the point.

Be prepared to back up your facts with evidence.

Write about something off the beaten path.

Publishing Opportunity: When you're ready, submit your letter to The New York Times.

Maybe you have more to say than you can fit in a 150-word letter to the editor. If that's the case, try writing an editorial about something you have a strong opinion about related to the coronavirus. What have you seen that has made you upset? Proud? Appreciative? Scared?

In " Surviving Coronavirus as a Broke College Student," Sydney Goins, a senior English major at the University of Georgia, writes about the limited options for students whose colleges are now closed. Her essay begins:

College was supposed to be my ticket to financial security. My parents were the first ones to go to college in their family. My grandpa said to my mom, "You need to go to college, so you don't have to depend on a man for money." This same mentality was passed on to me as well.

I had enough money to last until May- $1,625 to be exact - until the coronavirus ruined my finances.

My mom works in human resources. My dad is a project manager for a mattress company. I worked part time at the university's most popular dining hall and lived in a cramped house with three other students. I don't have a car. I either walked or biked a mile to attend class. I have student debt and started paying the accrued interest last month.

I was making it work until the coronavirus shut down my college town. At first, spring break was extended by two weeks with the assumption that campus would open again in late March, but a few hours after that email, all 26 colleges in the University System of Georgia canceled in-person classes and closed integral parts of campus.

Read the rest of Ms. Goins's essay. What is her argument? How does she support it? How is it relevant to her life and the world?

Then, choose a topic related to the pandemic that you care about and write an editorial that asserts an opinion and backs it up with solid reasoning and evidence.

Not sure where to start? Try responding to some of our recent argumentative writing prompts and see what comes up for you. Here are a few we've asked students so far:

Or, consider essential questions about the pandemic and what they tell us about our world today: What weaknesses is the coronavirus exposing in our society? How can we best help our communities right now? What lessons can we learn from this crisis? See more here.

As an alternative to a written essay, you might try creating a video Op-Ed instead, like Katherine Oung's " Coronavirus Racism Infected My High School. "

Publishing Opportunity: Submit your final essay to our Student Editorial Contest, open to middle school and high school students ages 10-19, until April 21. Please be sure to read all the rules and guidelines before submitting.
Related Resource: An Argumentative-Writing Unit for Students Doing Remote Learning

Are games, television, music, books, art or movies providing you with a much-needed distraction during the pandemic? What has been working for you that you would recommend to others? Or, what would you caution others to stay away from right now?

Share your opinions by writing a review of a piece of art or culture for other teenagers who are stuck at home. You might suggest TV shows, novels, podcasts, video games, recipes or anything else. Or, try something made especially for the coronavirus era, like a virtual architecture tour, concert or safari.

As a mentor text, read Laura Cappelle's review of French theater companies that have rushed to put content online during the coronavirus outbreak, noting how she tailors her commentary to our current reality:

The 17th-century philosopher Blaise Pascal once wrote: "The sole cause of people's unhappiness is that they do not know how to stay quietly in their rooms." Yet at a time when much of the world has been forced to hunker down, French theater-makers are fighting to fill the void by making noise online.

She continues:

Under the circumstances, it would be churlish to complain about artists' desire to connect with audiences in some fashion. Theater, which depends on crowds gathering to watch performers at close quarters, is experiencing significant loss and upheaval, with many stagings either delayed indefinitely or canceled outright. But a sampling of stopgap offerings often left me underwhelmed.

To get inspired you might start by responding to our related Student Opinion prompt with your recommendations. Then turn one of them into a formal review.
Related Resource: Writing Curriculum | Unit 2: Analyzing Arts, Criticizing Culture: Writing Reviews With The New York Times

Being stuck at home with nowhere to go is the perfect time to learn a new skill. What are you an expert at that you can you teach someone?

The Times has created several guides that walk readers through how to do something step-by-step, for example, this eight-step tutorial on how to make a face mask. Read through the guide, noting how the author breaks down each step into an easily digestible action, as well as how the illustrations support comprehension.

Then, create your own how-to guide for something you could teach someone to do during the pandemic. Maybe it's a recipe you've perfected, a solo sport you've been practicing, or a FaceTime tutorial for someone who's never video chatted before.

Whatever you choose, make sure to write clearly so anyone anywhere could try out this new skill. As an added challenge, include an illustration, photo, or audio or video clip with each step to support the reader's understanding.
Related Resource: Writing Curriculum | Unit 4: Informational Writing

For nearly two decades, The Times has published a weekly 36 Hours column, giving readers suggestions for how to spend a weekend in cities all over the globe.

While traveling for fun is not an option now, the Travel section decided to create a special reader-generated column of how to spend a weekend in the midst of a global pandemic. The result? " 36 Hours in ... Wherever You Are." Here's how readers suggest spending a Sunday morning:

8 a.m. Changing routines
Make small discoveries. To stretch my legs during the lockdown, I've been walking around the block every day, and I've started to notice details that I'd never seen before. Like the fake, painted window on the building across the road, or the old candle holders that were once used as part of the street lighting. When the quarantine ends, I hope we don't forget to appreciate what's been on a doorstep all along.

- Camilla Capasso, Modena, Italy
10:30 a.m. Use your hands
Undertake the easiest and most fulfilling origami project of your life by folding 12 pieces of paper and building this lovely star. Modular origami has been my absolute favorite occupational therapy since I was a restless child: the process is enthralling and soothing.

- Laila Dib, Berlin, Germany
12 p.m. Be isolated, together
Check on neighbors on your block or floor with an email, text or phone call, or leave a card with your name and contact information. Are they OK? Do they need something from the store? Help with an errand? Food? Can you bring them a hot dish or home-baked bread? This simple act - done carefully and from a safe distance - palpably reduces our sense of fear and isolation. I've seen the faces of some neighbors for the first time. Now they wave.

- Jim Carrier, Burlington, Vt.

Read the entire article. As you read, consider: How would this be different if it were written by teenagers for teenagers?

Then, create your own 36 Hours itinerary for teenagers stuck at home during the pandemic with ideas for how to spend the weekend wherever they are.

The 36 Hours editors suggest thinking "within the spirit of travel, even if many of us are housebound." For example: an album or a song playlist; a book or movie that transports you; a particular recipe you love; or a clever way to virtually connect with family and friends. See more suggestions here.
Related Resources:
Reader Idea | 36 Hours in Your Hometown
36 Hours in Learning: Creating Travel Itineraries Across the Curriculum

Video

Daily life looks very different now. Unusual scenes are playing out in homes, parks, grocery stores and streets across the country.

In " New York Was Not Designed for Emptiness," New York Times photographers document what life in New York City looks like amid the pandemic. It begins:

The lights are still on in Times Square. Billboards blink and storefronts shine in neon. If only there were an audience for this spectacle.

But the thoroughfares have been abandoned. The energy that once crackled along the concrete has eased. The throngs of tourists, the briskly striding commuters, the honking drivers have mostly skittered away.

In their place is a wistful awareness that plays across all five boroughs: Look how eerie our brilliant landscape has become. Look how it no longer bustles.

This is not the New York City anyone signed up for.

Read the rest of the essay and view the photos. As you read, note the photos or lines in the text that grab your attention most. Why do they stand out to you?

What does the pandemic look like where you live? Create your own photo essay, accompanied by a written piece, that illustrates your life now. In your essay, consider how you can communicate a particular theme or message about life during the pandemic through both your photos and words, like in the article you read.

Publishing Opportunity: The International Center of Photography is collecting a virtual archive of images related to the coronavirus pandemic. Learn how to submit yours here.

Sometimes, words alone just won't do. Visual mediums, like comics, have the advantage of being able to express emotion, reveal inner monologues, and explain complex subjects in ways that words on their own seldom can.

If anything proves this point, it is the Opinion section's ongoing visual diary, " Art in Isolation." Scroll through this collection to see clever and poignant illustrations about life in these uncertain times. Read the comic " Finding Connection When Home Alone " by Gracey Zhang from this collection. As you read, note what stands out to you about the writing and illustrations. What lessons could they have for your own piece?

Then, create your own comic strip, modeled after the one you read, that explores some aspect of life during the pandemic. You can sketch and color your comic with paper and pen, or use an online tool like MakeBeliefsComix.com.

Need inspiration? If you're keeping a quarantine journal, as we suggested above, you might create a graphic story based on a week of your life, or just a small part of it - like the meals you ate, the video games you played, or the conversations you had with friends over text. For more ideas, check out our writing prompts related to the coronavirus.
Related Resource: From Superheroes to Syrian Refugees: Teaching Comics and Graphic Novels With Resources From The New York Times

Modern Love Podcast: In the Midst of the Coronavirus Pandemic, People Share Their Love Stories

How has coronavirus impacted relationships? People around the world answer.

Are you listening to any podcasts to help you get through the pandemic? Are they keeping you up-to-date on the news? Offering advice? Or just helping you escape from it all?

Create your own five-minute podcast segment that responds to the coronavirus in some way.

To get an idea of the different genres and formats your podcast could take, listen to one or more of these five-minute clips from three New York Times podcast episodes related to the coronavirus:

Use these as models for your own podcast. Consider the different narrative techniques they use to relate an experience of the pandemic - interviews, nonfiction storytelling and conversation - as well as how they create an engaging listening experience.

Need ideas for what to talk about? You might try translating any of the writing projects above into podcast form. Or turn to our coronavirus-related writing prompts for inspiration.

Publishing Opportunity: Submit your finished five-minute podcast to our Student Podcast Contest, which is open through May 19. Please read all the rules and guidelines before submitting.
Related Resource: Project Audio: Teaching Students How to Produce Their Own Podcasts

"It doesn't matter how good you think you are as a writer - the first words you put on the page are a first draft," Harry Guinness writes in " How to Edit Your Own Writing."

Editing your work may seem like something you do quickly - checking for spelling mistakes just before you turn in your essay - but Mr. Guinness argues it's a project in its own right:

The time you put into editing, reworking and refining turns your first draft into a second - and then into a third and, if you keep at it, eventually something great. The biggest mistake you can make as a writer is to assume that what you wrote the first time through was good enough.

Read the rest of the article for a step-by-step guide to editing your own work. Then, revise one of the pieces you have written, following Mr. Guinness's advice.

Publishing Opportunity: When you feel like your piece is "something great," consider submitting it to one of the publishing opportunities we've suggested above. Or, see our list of 70-plus places that publish teenage writing and art to find more.

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12 Ideas for Writing Through the Pandemic With The New York Times

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A dozen writing projects - including journals, poems, comics and more - for students to try at home. The coronavirus has transformed life as we know it. Schools are closed, we're confined to our homes and the future feels very uncertain. Why write at a time like this?

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Message to parents from Elmo's Dad. Be sure to take care of your self! 

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Message to parents from Elmo's Dad. Be sure to take care of your self! 

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<3We are doing the best we can<3

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Sesame Street: A Moment to Yourself | Parent PSA

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Interactive Science from our own Santa Monica Bay!

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"Knowledge Drops" Interactive Science Education Series - Heal the Bay

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Recent school closures mean many students are not getting the daily education they need. While we all should be practicing physical distancing at this time, we also need to put our brainpower and creative energy to good use and innovate ... Read More "

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What do YOU want to learn?

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You Get to Have Your Own Genius Hour (A Video for Students)

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Engineer your own chain reaction machine!

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Rube Goldberg Machines for Kids - ThatAfterSchoolLife.com

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Get kids thinking and inventing by building Rube Goldberg machines that takes simple tasks and complicates them in a humorous and amusing way.

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STEM Challenge - Make a RG machine!

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Rube Goldberg Bar of Soap Video Challenge

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The return of Gumby and Pokey?

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Here is a step by step guide to create your own claymation. I'll start out with a video I made my sophomore year as a photography project. It has around 2,000 frames in it and took around one month to finish.

I'm entering this instructable into the Play with Clay Contest because for my senior project I'll be making another one that's longer, more elaborate and will need lots more clay! Please vote for me and I'll post my final video up in the spring when it's finished!

Check out my creation below

As promised, I finished my second claymation below. Watch in HD!

Step 1: Write a Script!

The first step to making a claymation is to write a script. While your clay figures are unlikely to be very talkative, that doesn't mean you're not telling a story. Plan out what you want to happen in your short story, and find some appropriate music. It doesn't have to be long or complex, in fact if it's your first attempt it's best to start simple to get some practice so you won't be overwhelemed.

A note on the music:
Music can have a huge impact on the mood of your animation. If you want to create a sad or eerie mood, try using music with a lingering piano or a lone violin. Upbeat and cheery music would be appropriate if you wanted to create a blissful mood. Be aware of the mood your claymation is displaying so you can match music with it. You can't be showing a sad scene with benny hill playing, it just doesn't work.

Share

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Step 2: Gather Materials

Materials needed to get started
You will need:
- Clay (any brand will be fine, I personally like Sculpey clay)
- Lights/lamps
- Shaping tools (optional)
- Camera with tripod
- A table that will not be disturbed for many hours

It is important also to block any sunlight from entering the room. Sunlight can affect the claymation film in a negative way, it is much better to use artificial lighting to keep the picture lighting constant.

Step 3: Create Your Figures

Create a figure anyway you want. Note that is easier to create a figure with less detail. However, the more detail, the cooler and more engaging your figure will look.

Step 4: Create a Background (optional)

Background items add a cool affect to claymation films. I would suggest making the background items stationary, this way if you accidently bump it, it won't move around.

Step 5: Begin Shooting

With your figures and bakground made, set the tripod up in a stable place where you're unlikely to bump into it. A remote trigger or 2 second delay on the shutter is nice to avoid any shaking when taking the shot.

If your camera has the options, set it to manual control so the iso and apeture are locked. If they vary from shot to shot (i.e. camera chooses the "best" settings) the final movie will look like the lights are flickering on and off. It's not the end of the world, but can be annoying.

Another important thing to understand is what frame per second (fps) you want to use. A frame is the same thing as a single picture, so if you want to go ten fps, that means ten pictures for every second. Movies are typically shot at 24 fps, but I used a rate of 12 fps in mine. and I think it's a good compromise bettween workload and smoothness.

If you want timing to be perfect (say with a song), just make sure you are keeping up with how many frames per second you are using.

Step 6: Smooth Over Any Mistakes

As you work the figure you are using may begin to show cracks or thumbprints. An easy fix is just to use your thumb and smooth out the imperfections. It helps also to wet your thumb with water or saliva before smoothing the mistakes over.

Be patent! I know when I was working on my Claymation, a lot of things weren't working for me the way I wanted to. You'll find yourself messing up a lot, but that is OKAY! Be patient and don't get frustrated, everything works better and smoother when you're calm.

Step 7: Post Production

Once you have all your photos and you want to adjust the lighting or add a cool affect, use a batch process through photoshop. Photoshop has some cool affects that can really enhance the images of your claymation.

After adjusting your pictures, its time to string them together. I used a program called frame by frame, a simple, free program that is extremely easy to use. There are also other programs out there like Dragonframe or Stop Motion Pro that cost a little more money, but the quality is higher.

If using frame by frame, I suggest making the clips about 200-500 pictures long. You can then take those clips and order them in a movie maker such as imovie. There, you can add music and sound affects to make your claymation even more awesome.

Finally, once your Claymation is an official production, show your family and brag to your friends! You just created an awesome Claymation!

Thanks for looking and if you liked this don't forget to vote for me in the Play with Clay Contest so I can make another!

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How to Make an Awesome Claymation: Here is a step by step guide to create your own claymation. I'll start out with a video I made my sophomore year as a photography project. It has around 2,000 frames in it and took around one month to finish. I'm entering this instructable ...

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Museums - 19 exhibits to see (virtually of course)

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Museums - 19 exhibits to see (virtually of course)

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The novel coronavirus has disrupted public life.

Experts have called for "social distancing" - the broad, conscious effort to avoid close contact with other people or public places - amid the global novel coronavirus pandemic to limit the transmission of the virus. As communities scale back the size of their gatherings, or stop meeting all together, many museums are temporarily shut down as a precautionary measure. But that doesn't mean their collections and other online art exhibits can't be viewed from home.

You can rotate a 3D model of the skeleton of a woolly mammoth, or enjoy the ennui on display in Mary Cassatt's 1878 masterpiece "Little Girl in a Blue Armchair."(The little girl's face! The resting Brussels Griffon! The turquoise!)

Below are some exhibits and artwork collections you can view online, whether you're socially distancing at home, need a distraction, or just simply want to get lost in some art.

The Smithsonians have no shortage of options

Nearly all of the 20 museums and galleries of the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. and New York are temporarily closed, but there are many different types of collections to sift through online.

Here are some quick, noteworthy finds: There are online exhibits about jazz great Ella Fitzgerald, how art played a role in making everyday objects aesthetically pleasing (like this sleek 1940s electric toaster), and portraits that demonstrate how Americans have defined who's embodied "cool" over the years.
Did you find something interesting in any of these collections? Share what you found in the Canvas Facebook group here.
The Smithsonian Institute also recently made more than 2.8 million images public on an open-access platform online. These images are free to download. There's a centuries-old oil painting of Pocahontas. A Winslow Homer painting of waves slapping the side of a Maine cliff. And this creepy, patent model of a "creeping baby doll," if that's your thing.
READ MORE: I toured this exhibit on epidemics before the coronavirus pandemic shut it down
When in doubt, Google.

The Google Arts & Culture team has worked with hundreds of museums and galleries across the world to digitize some of their art collections - from Istanbul to New Delhi to Bogotá to Indianapolis, Indiana. More well-known museums, like the Guggenheim in New York and the Musée d'Orsay in Paris, also make appearances.

For a comprehensive map of all the collections, start here.

A few recommendations: From the Dolores Olmedo Museum in Mexico City, you can peek into Frida Kahlo's diary. (In a 1953 entry, after her right leg was amputated, she wrote, "Feet, what do I need you for, if I have wings to fly?")

The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam has a thorough breakdown of all the elements - and the use of light - in Rembrandt's "The Night Watch," arguably one of the most famous paintings in the world. You can also take a Google Street Tour of the museum itself here.

The Museu de Arte de São Paulo has a rare 1850 E. F. Schute painting of a waterfall that demonstrates the awe-inspiring power nature of nature.

Turquoise Mountain focuses on the enhancement of the Afghanistan craft industry. Online exhibits delve into the art of carpet making and intricacy of Nastaliq calligraphy.

Pakistan's Lahore Museum has online collections of Gandhara sculptures and the largest collection of rare and old coins in the Subcontinent.

There are also numerous 360 YouTube videos that explore different historic sites or ones that take a closer look at fashion milestones, like Coco Chanel's iconic LBD, or little black dress.

And last year, Google digitized hundreds of artworks made in Puerto Rico. In José Campeche y Jordán's "El Gobernador Don Miguel Antonio de Ustáriz," you can see the blue cobblestones being carried in the background.

Other digital exhibits from museums across the U.S.

The Whitney Museum in New York City is opening its digital doors to a collection of more than 25,000 works, including videos of public programs and performances. Go deeper into exhibits with audio guides made especially for kids between the ages of 6 and 10, along with tours in American Sign Language.

The Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience in Seattle provides a digital database of archives, photographs, artifacts, and access to online exhibits like the Cantonese Opera Collection.

The Walters Art Museum's collection in Baltimore, spanning more than seven millennia and encompassing 36,000 objects from around the world, can be explored online, including their manuscripts.

Explore the Jewish Museum from home, on any device with a mobile tour of audio recordings, featuring artists' voices and objects that span 4,000 years of art and global Jewish culture.

The New-York Historical Society offers digital media and collections ranging from 20th century watercolor drawings to bronze sculptures by John Rogers.

Search over 1.5 million assets in Yale's Digital Library of art, natural history, books, maps, photographs, audio and video, including those of the Yale University Art Gallery, Yale Peabody Museum, Lewis Walpole Library and Yale Library Map Collection.

The Yale Center for British Art has a specific online catalog of paintings, sculpture, prints, drawings, and reference library collections.

As a public facing cultural institution with roots in East Harlem, El Museo del Barrio has digital access to permanent and past exhibits.

View featured artworks from Henri Matisse and Frida Kahlo in the San Francisco's Museum of Modern Art digital collection. Delve into digital publications and videos of artist interviews on Japanese photography or learn about the intersection of avant-garde and experimental games.

From ancient jades and ceramics to contemporary video installations, the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco has more than 18,000 objects online. From Persia to the Himalayas, view collection galleries that feature more than 2,000 artworks from all the major cultures of Asia.

Comprising the de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park and the Legion of Honor in Lincoln Park, The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco have a digitized library of their collection:

Browse the digitized collection of Pierpont Morgan's immense holdings, ranging from Egyptian art to Renaissance paintings to Chinese porcelains. The Morgan Library and Museum's online exhibits include Indian and South Asian miniature paintings and recordings of selected poetry by Emily Dickinson.
READ MORE: Winslow Homer's long love affair with the sea

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19 immersive museum exhibits you can visit from your couch

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The novel coronavirus has disrupted public life. Experts have called for "social distancing" - the broad, conscious effort to avoid close contact with other people or public places - amid the global novel coronavirus pandemic to limit the transmission of the virus.

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Printmaking is one of my very favorite processes to explore with children. Seeing how a texture or pattern repeats itself is full of magic, and a delightful process to witness and experience with kids.

Here are 16 super easy, and very fun printmaking projects that are sure to inspire children (of all ages) to experiment with printing.

Dip nuts and bolts into paint and repeat these cool shapes all over paper: Picklebums

Another household tool to dip into paint is the potato masher: Play Based Learning

Blow a paint + soap mixture with a straw, and you have some gorgeous bubble printing: TinkerLab

Roll ink or paint over a piece of styrofoam from a meat or veggie tray: TinkerLab

Press okra into a stamp pad for beautiful flower prints: The Imagination Tree

Draw onto a paint-covered muffin tin with ear swabs for this fun printmaking exploration: The Artful Parent

Make a stamp wheel with a tape roll and foam stamps: Inner Child Fun

Cover a rolling pin with bubble wrap for this squishy experiment: Handmade Kids Art

Another take on bubble wrap printing: tape it to the end of a tube: Creative Connections for Kids

Make these amazing patterns with recycled container printing: Picklebums

Use a rubber sink mat with a pattern to make these cheerful printed cards: TinkerLab

So easy! Dip toys or blocks into paint for block printing: Kids Activities Blog Sink Mat Prints

Make these cool shapes with bubble wands. Laughing Kids Learn

Corks make for easy to hold handles for these foam sticker-topped stampers: Happy Hooligans

Got Lego? There are so many shapes and sizes to play with: Filth Wizardry

Cut up rubber bands to make plates that can be printed: Kristen's Blog Life

Get more ideas for raising young inventors and filling your life with creativity by signing up for the weekly TinkerLab newsletter. It's free and we often send exclusive content and opportunities that are only available to our subscribers.

In case you blinked and missed it, TinkerLab rounds up all the great stuff on the internets on keeping you and your critters creative and wraps it up for you in a tidy newsletter! (And throws in some secret giveaways for good measure!) - Yuliya P., San Francisco, CA

Join our community and you'll learn:

How to simplify your life and make more room for creativity

How to make hands-on making a part of your everyday life

Easy, actionable ways to raise creative kids

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16 Easy Printmaking Projects for Kids | TinkerLab

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Printmaking is one of my very favorite processes to explore with children. Seeing how a texture or pattern repeats itself is full of magic, and a delightful process to witness and experience with kids. Here are 16 super easy, and very fun printmaking projects that are sure to inspire children (of all ages) to experiment with printing.

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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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Poetry writing prompts and how-tos

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Poetry and lessons for children of all ages by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater for classrooms or homeschools to teach literacy and writing workshop instruction

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Blackout Poetry, Found Poetry... poetry projects for the poet in us all.

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Interactive Poetry Activities Your Students Will Love

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Do you want to make poetry so fun and engaging that your students will ask for more? Here are some simple activities to get you started. 1. Blackout Poetry There are so many reasons blackout poetry is great: kids love it, it's creative, and it forces you to clean the falling-apart books from your classroom library without the guilt of tossing them in the trash.

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70 ideas to beat boredom!

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COVID-19 is now in Indiana, and schools throughout Indianapolis are closed for the next three to four weeks (or more).
Not only that, but many Indy attractions are closed or limiting visitors, and the general recommendation is that everyone should just take this time to stay home and away from other people.
The thought of an unexpected, weeks-long isolation period at home with bored children will send chills down the spine of many parents. In fact, as soon as the schools around Indy started closing, I got panicked group texts from some of my mom friends. "What are we going to do all day if we can't leave the house?" was a common question.
RELATED PAGE: CORONAVIRUS UPDATES, ACTIVITIES & RESOURCES
If you are looking for some fun things to do with kids while you're stuck at home, here are some ideas. Do you have an idea that isn't on this list? Let us know and we'll add it! We will all need all the ideas we can get in these next several weeks.

70 Things to Do with Kids Now That We're All Stuck at Home

Play indoor hide and seek.

Make decorations, curate a playlist, and throw a family dance party.

Try a new cookie or cake recipe. Bonus idea: Set up a camera or smart phone and film a cooking show!

Play with blocks. We recommend the competitive STEM game Blocks Rock!

Make a mancala counting game with an egg carton. Instructions here.

Go camping in the living room.

Play board games.

Design and go on an indoor treasure hunt.

Plan a family garden.

Make ice cream in a bag. Recipe here.

Set up an in-home nail salon and try some nail art techniques. Ideas here.

Dress up in your best clothes and have a fancy dinner.

Make a piñata. Instructions here.

Make friendship bracelets.

Make and blow bubbles. Instructions here.

Teach your pet a new trick.

Make rock candy. Instructions here.

Have an indoor picnic.

Listen to an audiobook or podcast.

Make paper fidget spinners. Instructions here.

Create your own bingo cards and have a bingo tournament.

Create a family tree.

Let your kids write and direct a stop-motion movie. Learn how it works here.

Learn and play a new card game.

Teach yourself to juggle.

Practice origami, or the art of paper folding. Ideas here.

Play with magnets on a cookie sheet.

Make a maze on the floor with painter's tape.

Play with sidewalk chalk.

Play indoor volleyball or soccer with balloons.

Have a pizza party. DIY Pizza Bagels recipe here.

Make paper airplanes and see whose plane flies the farthest.

Play dress up with mom and dad's clothes.

Make your own popsicles.

Go in your backyard and look for four-leaf clovers.

Write a secret message in invisible ink. Recipe for lemon juice invisible ink here.

Play "I Spy" inside or out the window.

Clean out your closets.

Facetime or Skype with family or friends.

Have breakfast in bed.

Have a tea party.

Make a water sensory bag. Instructions here.

Make some play dough.

Create a nature scavenger hunt in your back yard.

Play "The Floor is Lava."

Snuggle on the couch and read your favorite books.

Rearrange or redecorate your room.

Play in a bubble bath.

Have a pillow fight.

Make an indoor obstacle course.

Have a family music night.

Build a giant fort out of blankets, chairs and pillows

Paint with Kool-Aid. Instructions here.

Put on a puppet show.

Make a scrapbook.

Play marbles on the floor.

Do a puzzle.

Fold clothes together.

Create a new dessert.

Put on your bathrobes and play spa day.

Play 20 Questions.

Create creatures out of pipe cleaners. Ideas here.

Make a treasure bottle. Instructions here.

Decorate a T-shirt.

Write letters to family and friends.

Build a bridge or building with toothpicks or Q-tips.

Play hangman or tic-tac-toe.

Make a time capsule! One day your kids can use it to tell their kids all about this craziness.

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70 Things to Do with Kids Now That We're All Stuck at Home

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COVID-19 is now in Indiana, and schools throughout Indianapolis are closed for the next three to four weeks (or more). Not only that, but many Indy attractions are closed or limiting visitors, and the general recommendation is that everyone should just take this time to stay home and away from other people.

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How to write a letter...

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Surprise someone with a message!

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DIY Pull Tab Origami Envelope Card | Letter Folding Origami | birthday Card | Greeting Card |

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Random Acts of Kindness Ideas

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Unique kindness ideas that you can do today.

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Yá'át'ééh

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Quizlet is a lightning fast way to learn vocabulary.

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Welcome to the Santa Monica-Malibu Family Resource page. The purpose of this site is to provide students and families with resources for continued learning, basic needs, and social emotional supports while school sites are closed. Please refer to colored boxes below to navigate this site.

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Guide to Stress Relief for families - CA Surgeon General

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Guide to Stress Relief for families - CA Surgeon General

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Stress busting strategies for kids, resources, hotlines.

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We don't expect you to be experts. In fact, we expect that most of you are putting a podcast together for the first time.

And even though this is a contest, it's also about learning new skills in a fun way. We want to make that learning easier - so we've put together a guide to help you along the way.
Getting Started Your Toolbox Podcast Examples Planning Your Podcast Getting Your Ideas Together Brainstorming Sounds Podcast Structure Podcast Production What Makes A Good Interview? Preparing For Field Recording Scripting Your Podcast Voicing The Podcast Production Tips Before we get started, we know you might have a few questions. Let's talk about a few basics. What's a podcast?
Podcasts come in all shapes and sizes. That's good news for you, because it means that you have lots of room to be creative and make something you're excited about. Some podcasts, like This American Life, are long - sometimes an hour or more. Others, like Kind World, a podcast from WBUR, are less than 10 minutes. Some podcasts, like NPR's Up First, are about news. Up First comes out every morning, and the hosts talk about the news and feature stories from guests reporting on the news. Other podcasts tell stories. Lots are funny. Some feature people having conversations. Many are educational: They teach listeners about a specific topic. NPR's Hidden Brain is about science and human behavior. And there's Planet Money, a podcast all about money and life.

Think about sound. We're challenging you to work with sounds - interviews, narration and recorded sounds from the world around you.
Don't I need fancy equipment to make a podcast?
Nope! There are ways to make a podcast without buying expensive microphones and recorders. We're writing this guide with the idea that you can make a podcast with two tools: a smartphone and a computer.
How many people do we need, and what roles are involved?
There isn't a set number of people needed to create a podcast, but it helps to have a team of people who work in different roles.

The role of producers frequently varies between podcasts and radio shows. Often, producers are in charge of the sound: They record the sound and edit it to put the podcast together. You'll also need writers to write out questions for interviews or the script. (Sometimes, producers or hosts pitch in to help write for podcasts.) Hosts also "voice" the podcast by acting as the narrator and conducting interviews with subjects. Depending on the size of your class or group, some team members may work as researchers or spend time organizing interviews. After you record the conversations or interviews, your team will want to make sure you talk about what you want to cut out and keep in - that's all part of the editing process. You might choose to have editors on your team or assign editing duties to teammates who have pitched in in other ways.

You can divide up these duties in a way that makes sense for the size of your team. You might decide to have multiple people host and multiple people work as producers.
What does it mean to mix audio?
Mixing is the process of editing and arranging audio clips in a way that sounds seamless and natural to a listener. After you and your team record sounds from interviews, events or other sources, you'll need to arrange them in a sound-editing software, like Audacity, which you can download online free of charge.
I've been reading lots of training guides that use tons of words I don't know. Help!
This glossary from NPR's training site has lots of words that you might come across if you're reading up on podcasting.

Your Toolbox

Before you think too much about your podcast, you're going to want to think about how, exactly, you'll record the sounds you need.

Here at NPR, we use lots of equipment when we leave the office to record interviews or sounds for our stories and podcasts. But we don't expect you to have all that equipment - and you can make a podcast with a few basic tools that you already have.
1. A phone
If you carry a cellphone with you, chances are, you've got a recording device in your pocket. And if you use it the right way, you can record high-quality sounds that work just fine for your podcast.

You can record sounds, conversations or interviews with sound recording apps on your smartphone.

You can also use your phone's built-in recording app. If you've got an iPhone, go to your "utilities" folder and click on "voice memos" to begin recording.

You'll want to make sure you have enough storage on your phone to do this and that you can either email the sound file to yourself or plug your phone into the computer to upload the recording.

If you're recording a person speaking, hold the phone a few inches from his or her mouth. Not too close, but not more than a few inches away, either.
2. A computer with sound editing software
Once you've recorded your interviews or the sounds you want to use, you'll need to put them all together into your podcast. To do this, you need to use audio editing software to "mix" the sound files together. The good news is that there are lots of software options out there.

If your school already provides editing software on the computers, feel free to use that. If not, we recommend Audacity, which is a free software download available online. You can download it here. As you learn to use it, lots of tutorials are available from Audacity.

If your school or podcasting team has other tools available to use, it's important that you use them correctly to create the best product that you can.

Listening

Have you ever listened to a podcast or radio show before?

If you've listened to podcasts before - take a minute to think about them. What keeps you listening? What bores you?

Let's take a few minutes to hear a few examples. As you listen, think about the different ways that these segments are structured. Is there a host? Is it an interview style - or is a narrator telling a story, with clips of interviews in between?
Morning Edition: Hidden Brain: Hidden Brain: How Labels Can Affect People's Personalities and Potential The Haunting Effects of Going Days Without Sleep Reporting Live From Miami: A Bunch Of Fourth-Graders Tell Their Teacher's Story
How I Built This: Instagram: Kevin Systrom & Mike Krieger

Getting Your Ideas Together

Now that you've listened to a few examples, start to gather ideas. We've given you a few prompts to get you thinking. They aren't required, but you may choose to use them.

Here they are again:
Before you settle on one idea for your podcast, ask yourself:

Tell us a story about your school or community: about something that happened there - recently or in the past - that your audience should know about.

What is a moment in history that all students should learn about?

Show us both sides of a debate about an issue that's important to you.

What do you want to change about the world? What's a big change that students today will make in the future?

Explain something to us that kids understand and grown-ups don't.

Before you settle on one idea, take a few minutes to brainstorm. Try to come up with an idea that might work for each of these prompts. Be sure to think about how you might structure your podcast.

Would it be an interview with someone? Would one host narrate the podcast, using clips of interviews to tell a story? What sound would you use to give listeners a full idea of the story you're telling?

Is this podcast idea realistic?

If the idea involves traveling somewhere far away or interviewing someone famous, it might be difficult. Make sure you can do it before you settle on one idea.

Our friends at YR Media have a handy list of sounds that all podcasters should consider recording while planning their podcast. Scroll down to "what sounds to gather" on this page to find that list.

Does the timeline work? Can you complete your interviews or record other sounds well before the podcasts are due - so that you have time to edit the audio and submit it?

Sounds Like You're Making a Podcast

OK, so you've settled on a topic or idea for your podcast.

Now it's time to start thinking about the sounds that you'll use. Regardless of how your project is structured, it helps to feature a variety of sounds.
Here are a couple of examples of radio pieces that use sounds to add to the story.
Try to record sounds relevant to your story. If I'm telling a story about the mayor of my town, I'll try to go record him leading a town hall meeting, talking to his constituents, and even doing day-to-day activities, that I can play during my podcast.

Let's say you're heading to a protest in front of my local town hall. You're heading into a "scene" that you might want to describe - and include sound from - in your podcast. What sounds should you include?

Compile a list of sounds you'd like to record - and bring that list with you when you go into the field.

Listen to this "Radio Field Trip" from New Hampshire Public Radio. What sounds do you hear? There's narration from the show's host, Rick Ganley - but there's a lot more than that.

And here's this one, from Radio Rookies, a series from WNYC. Listen to the sounds that Radio Rookie Edward uses and weaves between his narration.

Let's Talk Structure

Now that you know what your podcast is going to be about, and you've got an idea of the sounds you want to use, it's time to think about structure.

Before we start planning the podcast - before we get to scheduling interviews or scripting pieces - let's ask a few basic questions. Head to this link, from NPR's training site, and think about your answers.
Before you get there ...
Of course, the structure of your podcast will depend on the idea you've chosen. Will hosts from your class narrate the podcast? Then you'll start differently from the way you would have a conversation on tape.

What Makes A Good Interview?

There's a good chance that you're interviewing someone for your podcast. Maybe you're even talking to lots of different people. It's important to make the most out of the time you take to record them.

Do your research.

Make sure you understand why you're interviewing this person. Read up on who the person is, what he or she does, and the subject you're making a podcast about.

Prepare questions.
When you arrive ...

Come up with a list of open-ended questions you'd like to ask during your interview. It's OK to veer off course and good to ask follow-up questions that you haven't planned. But a list will help get things started.

Clarify the terms of the interview.
When you start recording ...

Make sure your interviewee knows you're talking to him or her for the NPR Student Podcast Challenge. The person should understand that you're recording audio.

Meet somewhere quiet (unless you want to record the noise!).

Don't choose to meet for an interview in a busy mall or a windy park. If you're indoors, head to a quiet room and close the door. If you're interviewing someone at an event, it's OK if there's some noise in the background - as long as it's the sound you want to have in the background. But try to avoid recording when there's music in the background - it's hard to edit around that sound.

Ask the interviewee to introduce himself or herself on tape.

The person should give his or her name and job title (what he or she does). A student should give his or her age and grade.

Record your own questions.

You'll want to hear these questions when you listen back to the tape later on.

Be curious.

You'll have some questions prepared - but that doesn't mean you're following a script. If the person says something you're interested in, ask questions. That's why you're there.

Remember: It's normal to be nervous. The person you're interviewing is probably nervous, too. It helps to be prepared. The better you know your questions and the better you know your equipment, the better you'll feel.

Before You Record Sound ...

Make sure you set aside time to:

Whether this is your first podcast or you're an audio pro, some basic tips can make your project a lot easier.

Test your equipment before you start.

Don't get stuck in an interview with a phone that doesn't have any storage or a microphone with no batteries.

Bring a teammate along to help when you're going to an interview or to record sounds.

Ask this person to time the interview and make a note of the interesting or compelling moments. Make a note of the time at these moments. This will help when you're cutting the audio and looking for these moments later.

Listen to the audio soon after you record it.

Save it somewhere you'll remember, and label it so you know exactly what your recording includes.

Checklist For Field Recording

Before you head out for an interview or sounds for your podcast, make sure you've got everything you need.

Download a checklist for field recording here to take with you when you're getting ready to head out to record.
Starting the story
Scripting Your Podcast

At NPR, some podcasts are scripted. That means that we plan the order that everything will be in before the host gets into the recording studio and records the narration. That can happen only after getting "tape" - sound from lots of interviews and audio from other recordings.

Let's take a look at the script of an audio segment. Here's one from the NPR Training team featuring a story from NPR's Ailsa Chang. There's not one correct way to write a script for a podcast - but it helps to indicate where your narrators will speak, and where you'll be using sounds or interview clips recorded beforehand, and how long these clips last.

First things first. So, you've figured out how you want your podcast to be structured and you've gathered the sound you need. Whether you're scripting the entire podcast or not, you probably need to write out at least one part: the very beginning.

Here's a post from NPR Training with some ideas about how to start, no matter how you're structuring your podcast.

Voicing The Podcast

After you've scripted the podcast, it's time to record the narration from the host or hosts from your group or class.

If you're hosting or narrating the podcast, you might be a little nervous about recording your voice. But here's something important to remember: Your voice is what makes you - and your podcast - sound unique. You want to sound natural, alert and energetic. You want to sound like you - the real you. Everyone stumbles over their words. And when that happens here at NPR, we often go back to the script and write shorter sentences that are easier to read and won't leave you feeling out of breathe. The key is to try to sound how you would if you were talking to a friend.
Some tips:
Here's another tip: Keep the frogs out of your throat by keeping a glass of water next to you while you're recording.

Production

Mixing is the process of editing and arranging audio clips in a way that sounds seamless and natural to a listener. After you and your podcasting team record sounds from interviews, events or other sources, you'll need to arrange them in sound-editing software, like Audacity, which is available online as a free download.

Don't leave audio mixing until the last minute. Mixing is time-consuming, especially if you're using new software or listening to long recordings. It can take many hours just to edit a few minutes of a podcast. Give yourself sufficient time to mix audio before you need to submit the podcast. Remember, the deadline for this contest is March 24.

Take the mixing process step by step. Prioritize things you need to do to make your podcast sound the best it can. Before you can do anything else, you need to cut your sound down to the clips you need, get them in order and adjust their volume levels so they're not too loud or too soft in a listener's ears. These are all things you can do in any audio editing software.

If you're already an audio mixing pro and you want some more guidance, check out this guide put together by Rob Byers of Minnesota Public Radio and NPR's training team.

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Starting Your Podcast: A Guide For Students

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yum!

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Rice balls like this are called Onigiri and are traditional "kid-food" in Japan and Hawaii. They are often stuffed with umeboshi, which are salted preserved plums. Our mom's family would sometimes substitute canned tuna for umeboshi.

Continue Reading...

This deliciously warm dishes really hits the spot on a brisk autumn day!

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These cutie pies are a fall favorite!

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Perfect soup to welcome in the Autumn season!

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Fall into autumn with a fun way to spice up your cupcakes!

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Here's a quick refreshing drink that will start your day off just right.

Continue Reading...

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Rice balls like this are called Onigiri and are traditional "kid-food" in Japan and Hawaii. They are often stuffed with umeboshi, which are salted preserved plums. Our mom's family would sometimes substitute canned tuna for umeboshi. Continue Reading... This deliciously warm dishes really hits the spot on a brisk autumn day!

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Recipes and how-tos

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Scroll down for our classroom-tested recipes and invite your kids into the kitchen!

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TED-Ed celebrates the ideas of teachers and students around the world. Discover hundreds of animated lessons, create customized lessons, and share your big ideas.

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crafts, science, and art

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27 Ridiculously Cool Projects For Kids That Adults Will Want To Try

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These projects are fun whether you're 5 or 35...or 105.

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ideas for the artists in your home!

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We are sharing an Easy Sidewalk Chalk Art project that anyone can do. This Mosaic Sidewalk Chalk Art is a great way for the kids and adults to play outside.

CHALK ART

A really simple and fun way to get outdoors and off of electronics is to create some chalk art on your driveway or sidewalks. There are so many creative ways to create art with sidewalk chalk. This is our favorite Sidewalk Chalk to use but you can pick some up almost anywhere nowadays.

HOW TO MAKE MOSAIC CHALK ART

Mosaic Chalk Art can be done a couple of different ways. We chose to do a rectangular shape chalk art, but you could do a heart, or a square...really any shape you want. Then you just make smaller sections inside the shape with the tape. Any shape will work. Just make sure you keep the tape even so that the lines will line up when you pull off the tape at the end.

We recently created this fun mosaic sidewalk chalk art using just the following two materials:

Directions:

To create your mosaic chalk art, sweep the area on your sidewalk that you will be using.

Take your painter's tape and tape off a square or rectangle if you don't have a natural separation like we did.

We wanted to make all of our spaces triangles, so just tape each section so that it forms a triangle. There is no rhyme or reason, just make them any size or shape you want.

Run your hand along the tape so that it is sealed to the concrete and will give you crisp chalk lines.

Color each section with a different color of chalk. We were pretty random with our colors but just made sure that we didn't have two of the same colors next to each other.

If you rub your fingers over the chalk, it will really smooth it out and fill in all the creases and bumps. This extra step was worth it for the overall look of the art at the end!

When all the squares are filled in pull up the tape and enjoy your beautiful mosaic chalk art.

MOSAIC CHALK ART

Chalk art is a fun way to spend a couple of hours out in the sunshine...or shade depending on the time of year and where you live. We are going to try our hand at a few different shapes to add to this one! I love that this keeps the kids busy and entertained...and it's actually a lot of fun that mom and dad and the older teenagers will want to join in the fun too!

Pretty satisfying right?! If you enjoyed this activity, you might be interested in checking out some of our other fun Activities for Kids. There are some great ideas for you and your family to enjoy while you have a little extra time at home together.

ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS

Here are a variety of ideas you can enjoy with the kids.

JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER

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We are sharing an Easy Sidewalk Chalk Art project that anyone can do. This Mosaic Sidewalk Chalk Art is a great way for the kids and adults to play outside. #sidewalkchalk #chalkart #kidsactivities #summer #stuckathome #kids #outdooractivities #chalk #art #artproject

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Instantly access and explore the world of Just Dance.

Play the world's favorite dance video game without a videogame console! All it takes to turn any room into a crazy dancefloor is an internet-connected screen and a smartphone to use as a controller!

Experiencing the fantastic world of Just Dance has never been so easy and fun!

Access an ever-growing catalog of more than 700 songs!

Whether you prefer today's hottest hits or golden oldies, you'll find something you like in Just Dance Now!

A host of amazing features!

Play with an unlimited number of friends! Anyone with a smartphone can join the party!
Play with an unlimited number of friends! Anyone with a smartphone can join the party!

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Play the world's favorite dance video game without a videogame console! All it takes to turn any room into a crazy dancefloor is an internet-connected screen and a smartphone to use as a controller! Experiencing the fantastic world of Just Dance has never been so easy and fun!

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Rapping this week's Current Events

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Teach Student News - Social Distancing - Summer Olympics - Flocabulary

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President Trump extends social distancing guidelines. The International Olympic Committee postpones the 2020 Summer Olympics. A federal judge orders and environmental review of the Dakota Access Pipeline. Scientists are developing an artificial intelligence to screen for lung cancer. A rare bird is photographed for the first time.

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Engineering and Snacks!

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Love Harry Potter? Try this!

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Try a new drawing activity each day with this famous children's writer/illustrator!

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

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Bookmaking from seed to publish

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For Kids! - Write Now! Make Books with Maya Gonzalez: free video series for kids - Reflection Press

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Welcome, Welcome Bookmakers! If you've come to make a book, you're in the right place! My name is Maya Gonzalez and I'm a children's book author and artist. Join me in my San Francisco Art Studio as we learn together what it takes to create a book!

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Mindful Minute

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Love sharks? Check this out!

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Starting Monday, March 16, 2020 - the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery will release a daily DIY Science Activity with easy to get materials, step by step instructions, and a basic science explanation for families to download available on our website! As well as virtual programming throughout the day:

Morning program - (9am) a Science Education program on a variety of topics in physics, chemistry and biology featuring our Science Theater and Do Lab. These programs will be followed by an activity or experiment that can be done at home to build upon the topic.

Afternoon program - (2pm) a virtual museum experience will highlight a behind the scene location, an animal ambassador from the zoo, or special rarely seen item from our collection vault.

Closing program - (6pm) an astronomy experience, from current topics, to notable items in the night sky. Special opportunities for a "chat with an expert" will be made available as well!

March 16, 2020 Programs

DIY Egg Float Activity

10:00am - Science Education video all about Matter Click here
2:00pm - Animal Ambassador video about our Black Rat Snake Click here
6:00pm - Cabin Fever Astronomy: Venus Click here

0:59 The Sky Tonight: How to find Venus in the sky

5:16 Tour The Universe: Is Venus Earth's Twin?

12:16 Astrophysics Lite: why does Venus have no water?

18:52 Space Robots!: Venera and Magellan

March 17, 2020 Programs

9:00am - Science Education video: Science in a Bag Click here

Click here to access Dayton Society of Natural History Teacher Pay Teachers page. For the time being all of our materials are free!

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Starting Monday, March 16, 2020 - the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery will release a daily DIY Science Activity with easy to get materials, step by step instructions, and a basic science explanation for families to download available on our website!

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Fun (new daily) exercise class for kids!

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You'll need to sign up with an email address to get the newsletter - but it's worth it!

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Are you an educator, parent, or caregiver looking to support students facing school closures? This email newsletter will include links to live-streams with authors, illustrators, scientists, and others looking to provide students with learning opportunities from home. Each newsletter will also feature organizations working to support children's basic needs during these unprecedented times. Resources are compiled by Lorraine Brontë Magee, a third grade teacher from New York. Thanks for signing up! 🌎📓📚

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Are you an educator, parent, or caregiver looking to support students facing school closures? This email newsletter will include links to live-streams with authors, illustrators, scientists, and others looking to provide students with learning opportunities from home. Each newsletter will also feature organizations working to support children's basic needs during these unprecedented times.

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News written by and for kids

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By Raya El-Hajjar, age 13 "It'll start getting cooler...you just watch," President Trump said as he sat in a news briefing in Sacramento, California. It was September 2020, at the height of the California wildfires. A picture of burning trees was displayed on his...

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COVID-19 Updates

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The City of Santa Monica places the highest value on the health and safety of our community. We are here to help you get through this unprecedented public health emergency. Here you'll find the latest information on the local response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Please check back often and if you don't find what you're looking for, reach out to the COVID-19 hotline at 310-458-8400 or info@santamonica.gov. Stay calm, stay informed, and stay healthy.

What's New?

On April 8, the Cityissued a revised supplemental orderthat strengthens the City's eviction moratorium in response to the deepening impacts of COVID-19. Learn more here.

The City wants to assess the needs of our community during the coronavirus public health emergency. Take the Community Survey ()

On April 6, the county's top public health official advised that this is the week to use delivery services for essential items in order to avoid going to the grocery store and pharmacies where you are at greatest risk of exposure.

Guidance from LA County Department of Public Health and CDC call for the general public to use non-medical grade face coverings when out for essential supplies and services. The most important measure is to stay home and when out for essential trips, maintain six feet of physical distance and frequently wash your hands. Please continue to leave medical grade face masks like N95 and surgical masks for healthcare workers and other essential workers. Here is a DIY face covering tutorial as well as helpful information from the CDC and CA Dept. of Public Health.

The City has received a lot of questions about construction during COVID-19. Construction sites need to be a responsible neighbor and comply with State, local, and health guidelines. We issued stronger that allow the City's Building Official to shut down work if these guidelines are not followed. More in local enforcement measures this resource and in FAQs.

Additional clarifications to Essential and Non-Essential Businesses have been added to the FAQ page.

New Translated Resources in Spanish, Russian and other Languages

Don't Forget

Safer at Home orders are in place in Santa Monica and throughout California. Stay at home unless you need food, a prescription, or a quick jaunt for fresh air (more). Our enforcement is focused on education.

LA County Temporarily Closed All County Beaches including Santa Monica Beach, Bike Path, Ocean Front Walk, and Beach Access Points through April 19, 2020. Palisades Park is also closed through April 19.

If you are a residential tenant and are concerned that you will not be able to pay April rent because of COVID-19 income loss, you cannot be evicted. The City Attorney's Office outlines the steps you need to take and has a form you can complete to share with your landlord.

Daily Video Updates (English)

Daily Video Updates (Spanish)
Watch Past Videos
Federal, State, and County Public Health Information

Los Angeles County, the State of California, and the U.S. Federal Government have declared emergencies to allow greater authority to take measures necessary to protect and preserve public health and safety, including seeking aid from state and federal authorities as necessary. Here are the best sources of official information on the coronavirus:
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Recent Santa Monica Press Releases

See all COVID-19 Press Releases

Recent Santa Monica Blog Posts

See all COVID-19 Blog Posts

Other Santa Monica Resources

Stay informed on what's happening in Santa Monica

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The City of Santa Monica places the highest value on the health and safety of our community. We are here to help you get through this unprecedented public health emergency. Here you'll find the latest information on the local response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

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Cosmic Kids Yoga            en En Espanol   

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Cosmic Kids Yoga            en En Espanol   

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El Pez Squish | ¡Una Aventura de Cosmic Kids Yoga!

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Sew & No Sew directions for making masks. 

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Sew & No Sew directions for making masks. 

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Stay healthy.

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Listen Along to this magical story in Vimeo

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Aimee Peterson is a member of Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

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Learn about Dinosaurs, fossils and minerals

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K - 12 PROGRAMS AVAILABLE. AGE APPROPRIATE EDUCATIONAL, EXCITING, AND ENTERTAINING DINOSAUR PROGRAMS.

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Use code: SCHOOL2020

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Virtual Tour of the Palace built for Marie Antoinette in France

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Discover the estate

The Palace of Versailles, whose origins date back to the seventeenth century, was successively a hunting lodge, a ​seat of power and​,​ from the nineteenth century​,​ a museum. With the gardens and the ​​Palaces of Trianon, the park of the Château de Versailles spreads over 800 hectares.

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The Palace of Versailles, whose origins date back to the seventeenth century, was successively a hunting lodge, a ​seat of power and​,​ from the nineteenth century​,​ a museum. With the gardens and the ​​Palaces of Trianon, the park of the Château de Versailles spreads over 800 hectares.

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Chilren's story about Staying Safe at Home - youtube video

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Time to Come In, Bear: A Children's Story About Social Distancing

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The activities below are available for free download, and are to be used in educational and/or private settings. They may not be used elsewhere or for other purposes (such as for profit) unless explicit permission is granted.
Below will find: Blank Comic Book Pages, Special Activities, "Finish This Story!" Story Starters, "How to Draw..." Instructions, "Finish This Comic!" Comics, and Drawing/Writing Prompts.
More activities are being added to this page regularly, so make sure to check back for more. And if you like the activities below, don't miss my activity books, GIVE THIS BOOK A TITLE and GIVE THIS BOOK A COVER, available wherever books are sold!
Click on the numbers below to find a variety of different blank comic book pages. Each number corresponds to a different arrangement of panels on the page. Print out a few of each, or a bunch of one kind, and make your own comic!

Special Activities

Click HERE to download the above activity sheet!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheet!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheet!

Click HERE to download the Introduction to Hand-Lettering sheets!

Click HERE to download the above Thank You activities!

Click HERE to download the above Haiku Diary activity!

Click HERE to download the above Thank You activities!

Click HERE to download the above Earth Day activities!

Click HERE to download the above Earth Day activities!

Click HERE to download the above Halloween activities!

Click HERE to download the above Halloween activities!

Click HERE to download the above Halloween activities!

Click HERE to download the above Halloween activities!

"Finish This Story!" Story Starters

Click HERE to download the above "Finish This Story!" activities!

Click HERE to download the above "Finish This Story!" activities!

"How to Draw..." Instructions

Click HERE to download the above "How to Draw..." activities!

Click HERE to download the above "How to Draw..." activities!

Click HERE to download the above "How to Draw..." activities!

Click HERE to download the above "How to Draw..." activities!

Click HERE to download the above "How to Draw..." activities!

Click HERE to download the above "How to Draw..." activities!

Click HERE to download the above "How to Draw..." activities!

Click HERE to download the above "How to Draw..." activities!

Click HERE to download the above "How to Draw..." activities!

Click HERE to download the above "How to Draw..." activities!

Click HERE to download the above "How to Draw..." activities!

Click HERE to download the above "How to Draw..." activities!

Click HERE to download the above "How to Draw..." activities!

Click HERE to download the above "How to Draw..." activities!

"Finish This Comic!" Comics

Below you will find a collection of comics that are incomplete. Look closely at the pictures, then figure out what you need to add to complete the comic!

Click HERE to download the above incomplete comics!

Click HERE to download the above incomplete comics!

Click HERE to download the above incomplete comics!

Click HERE to download the above incomplete comics!

Click HERE to download the above incomplete comics!

Click HERE to download the above incomplete comics!

Click HERE to download the above incomplete comics!

Click HERE to download the above incomplete comics!

Click HERE to download the above incomplete comics!

Click HERE to download the above incomplete comics!

Click HERE to download the above incomplete comics!

Click HERE to download the above incomplete comics!

Click HERE to download the above incomplete comics!

Drawing/Writing Prompts

Below you will find some drawing prompt activity sheets. Completed drawings can also be used as creative writing prompts.

Click HERE to download the above activity sheets!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheets!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheets!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheets!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheets!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheets!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheet!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheet!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheets!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheets!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheet!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheets!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheets!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheet!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheet!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheets!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheet!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheets!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheet!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheets!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheets!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheet!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheets!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheets!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheets!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheets!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheet!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheet!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheet!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheets!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheets!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheets!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheets!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheet!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheets!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheet!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheet!

Click HERE to download the above Spanish version activity sheets!

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The activities below are available for free download, and are to be used in educational and/or private settings. They may not be used elsewhere or for other purposes (such as for profit) unless explicit permission is granted. Below will find: Blank Comic Book Pages, Special Activities, "Finish This Story!"

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This moment in history is yours to record.

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Get inspired!

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The Writing gallery features pieces produced by students over the course of Lessons and Projects featured on the site, as well as from our collection of student publications. These may be used to help envision what your students will produce, or as representative, relatable example texts to use in class.

Level(s)

Writing Type

All

Informational

Narrative

Persuasive

Poetry

STEM

Social-Emotional Learning

Visual, Performing, and Media Arts

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The Writing gallery features pieces produced by students over the course of Lessons and Projects featured on the site, as well as from our collection of student publications. These may be used to help envision what your students will produce, or as representative, relatable example texts to use in class.

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Rewarding for teachers, easy for families, fun for kids- a love of reading is inside every Book Box.

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Free Digital Library - Books in other languages too!

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

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FREE Digital Library for Kids

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

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Its ok to not be ok!

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Comic: How To Turn Your Home Into A School Without Losing Your Sanity

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Be realistic; be forgiving; remember to shake your sillies out. Education experts share tips for home-schooling during the coronavirus school closures.

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Interactive Multimedia News Stories

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Everything you wanted to know about world events.

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BitesMedia - Interactive Multimedia News Stories  

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BitesMedia - Interactive Multimedia News Stories  

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Use Code: REMOTE3

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Everything you wanted to know about world events.

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Its ok to not be ok!

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Comic: How To Turn Your Home Into A School Without Losing Your Sanity

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Be realistic; be forgiving; remember to shake your sillies out. Education experts share tips for home-schooling during the coronavirus school closures.

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growth mindset sentence stems

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Resources for our undocumented community

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COVID-19 Resources for Undocumented Immigrants

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Ideas for reading and learning activities at home

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Elementary Math Learning sites

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Welcome to the Santa Monica-Malibu Family Resource page. The purpose of this site is to provide students and families with resources for continued learning, basic needs, and social emotional supports while school sites are closed. Please refer to colored boxes below to navigate this site.

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Project Based Learning At-Home Enrichment Activities - Elementary

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SMMUSD Recursos comunitarios y de salud mental

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SMMUSD Recursos comunitarios y de salud mental

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versión en español

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SMMUSD: COVID-19 Recursos para los estudiantes, las familias y el personal 

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SMMUSD Recursos comunitarios y de salud mental

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SMMUSD Recursos comunitarios y de salud mental

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versión en español

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SMMUSD: COVID-19 Recursos para los estudiantes, las familias y el personal 

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SMMUSD Community and Mental Health Resources

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SMMUSD Community and Mental Health Resources

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English version

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SMMUSD COVID-19 Resources for students, families and staff

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SMMUSD Community and Mental Health Resources

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SMMUSD Community and Mental Health Resources

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English version

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SMMUSD COVID-19 Resources for students, families and staff

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SMMUSD FAQ             about Distance Learning  

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SMMUSD FAQ             about Distance Learning  

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Distance Learning Frequently Asked Questions - English.docx

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Free 30 days for parents.

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