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Science Videos and Experiments you can do at home-featuring our Science Center Teachers!

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Science Videos and Experiments you can do at home-featuring our Science Center Teachers!

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E Learning Plan Created by the District 102 Kindergarten Staff also has useful educational links.

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A List of Fun At Home Activities

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Beginning Sound Sort (cut and sort the pictures)

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Beginning Sound Sort (cut and sort the pictures)

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Sort 1

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(Print Front to Back)

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number writing and counting practice.pdf

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I love playing games! Family game nights is one of my most favorite things to do. I thought it would be fun to use our UNO cards to create some games to practice our math so I'm sharing 5 math games to play with UNO cards today.

You most likely have a deck of UNO playing cards lying around. If I must confess, I have 6 different decks. I just can't pass them up when I see them at the thrift store, knowing that I could use them in the classroom somehow.

I came up with 5 different math games to play with your deck of UNO cards.

To Play

Separate out the all of the number cards, mix them up and put them in a stack. Using one card of each color, red, blue, green and yellow, start a pile that the child will match with. Have the child turn over a card and they will put it in the pile that the color matches with. You can have them say the color as they place it down as well. To take it one step further when they have sorted all of the colors, have them choose one pile and put all of the numbers in order, or there should be two of each of the numbers, you could have them match the color numbers, for example, the yellow 2 with the yellow 2.

To Play

Separate the number cards from the UNO deck. Find 8 or more sets of cards that match in color and number. Take those cards and mix them up. Place them all face down on the table. The child will turn over one card of their choice and then another trying to match the color and number on the card. If they do not match, turn them both back facedown. And try again. Keep going until all the cards have been matched.

To Play

Separate out numbers 0-9 in a certain color. Have the child our the numbers in the correct ascending order.

To Play

Separate out the number cards from the deck. Make two different piles of cards, one with numbers 5 and below, and the second pile can include all numbers 0-9. The pile of numbers 5 and below will be your cards for the "problem" and the pile that includes larger cards, will be the answer pile. Grab a small piece of paper or a post it note and a pen. Make an addition sign on one and an equal sign on the other. Have the child flip a card from the "problem" pile and place it down. Next place the addition sign and then choose another card from the "problem" pile and then place down the equal sign. Have the child figure out the addition problem and choose the correct answer from the answer pile of cards.

To Play

Separate out the number cards from the deck. Make two different piles of cards, one with numbers 9 and below, and the second pile can include all numbers 0-9. The pile of numbers 9 and below will be your cards for the "problem" that will be face down and the other will be the answer pile. Grab a small piece of paper or a post it note and a pen. Make a subtraction sign on one and an equal sign on the other. Have the child flip a card from the "problem" pile and place it down. Next place the subtraction sign and then choose another card from the "problem" pile and then place down the equal sign. Have the child figure out the subtraction problem and choose the correct answer from the answer pile of cards. On this game, you may have to guide the child for the first couple of problem, showing them that the highest number need o be on the left, or at least that the second card they flip over will have to be smaller than the first in order for the game to work. If they don't draw one that is smaller, have them just draw again.

I hope your kids enjoy these 5 math games to play with UNO cards. Do you have any other ideas of math games you could play with them?

See you next time!

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5 Math Games To Play with UNO Cards - Primary Playground

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I love playing games! Family game nights is one of my most favorite things to do. I thought it would be fun to use our UNO cards to create some games to practice our math so I'm sharing 5 math games to play with UNO cards today.

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Practice Math Facts with these games!

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Are you after some more fun math card games that you can use with your first-grade or fourth-grade students?

Maybe you’re teaching your kids about problem solving or you would like to develop their number work. I find math card games are a fantastic way for kids to practice and consolidate math skills but in a non-threatening and highly motivational way.

6 fun math card games

Whether you’re looking for some easy card games to provide consolidation of a concept you have already taught, or even as a way to emphasize number facts; I’m sharing my top 6 math games with cards.

I spy with my little eye

This card game is for two players. You will need one deck of cards with the picture cards removed (40 cards remaining).

Instructions

1. The cards are dealt face up in an array, either a 10 x 4 or 8 x 5 array.

2. The first player challenges the other one to find two cards next to each other that add to make a particular number. The first player says, “I spy with my little eye two cards that add to make ______.”

3. The second player then looks for 2 cards that add to make the number. The two cards to be added need to be next to each other either horizontally or vertically. The player then picks the cards up to add them to their pile. They do this with any other pairs that add to make the number as well.

4. If the second player misses any pairs that add to the number, then player one may claim them.

5. The players alternate taking turns and continue until all the cards are gone.

6. The winner is the player with the most cards at the end of the game.

7. As large gaps appear in the array, move the cards closer together to fill those gaps.

Variations

You could change the operation that students use, for example, multiplication or subtraction.

Allow your students to add three numbers together.

You could also allow students to add pairs of cards diagonally.

First to add it up

This card game is suitable for 2 – 4 players. You will need one deck of cards and pencil and paper to keep track of each player’s scores. In this game, picture cards = 10 and ace = 1.

Instructions

1. Shuffle the cards and have them in the center facing down.

2. One player draws 3 cards from the deck and lays them face up in the middle.

3. Players must add the 3 cards to find the total. The first player to call the total of the 3 cards is awarded that number of points.

4. No points are awarded for an incorrect answer.

5. Play continues with each player having a turn at revealing the 3 cards.

6. The winner is the player with the highest number of points when all cards have been turned over.

Variations

You could draw any number of cards, for example 2, 4 or even 5.

Use multiplication instead of addition.

Fast facts

This card game is suitable for 2 players. You will need one deck of cards with the picture cards removed. In this game aces = 1.

Instructions

1. Deal out half the cards to each player with the cards facing down in a pile.

2. Both players take the card on the top of their pile and lay it face up in the middle.

3. The first player to call out the product of the two cards wins both cards.

4. If it is a draw the cards are left on the table. Turn 2 more cards over and whichever player wins, picks up all the cards in the middle.

5. The winner is the player with the most cards once all the card have been used.

Variations

You could also use addition or subtraction.

If you are just introducing multiplication to your students you could remove the cards that are beyond their ability at the moment, such as 7, 8 or 9.

Card bingo

This card game is suitable for a small group. You will need two decks of cards. Remove the picture cards from both decks.

Instructions

1. Each player is dealt 16 cards. They must place the cards facing up in a 4 x 4 array.

2. The rest of the cards are face down in the middle.

3. One player takes on the role of the caller. That player flips a card over from the pile in the middle and calls out the number of the card, e.g. 6.

4. If the card called out matches one in the player’s array, that player turns that card over so it is facing down. It doesn’t matter what suit the card is.

5. The first player to turn 4 cards over in a row, either horizontally, vertically or diagonally, is the winner.

Counting on card game

This is a card game for 2 players. You will need a deck of cards with the picture cards removed (Jack, Queen, King, Joker). The ace can be used as a 1 in this game.

Instructions

1. Separate the cards into two piles, one with the cards: ace, 2, 3 and 4 and the other pile with the cards 5 – 10.

2. Shuffle each pile so they’re in a random order and place face down on the playing surface.

3. Players take turns turning over the top two cards. They add the two numbers using the counting on strategy: count on from the larger number, and count on the smaller number. For example, if the two cards turned over were 8 and 4. They would start with 8, count on 4: 9, 10, 11, 12.

4. If players have the correct answer, they get to keep both cards.

5. If the answer is incorrect the other player can have a go at answering the question to keep both the cards.

6. Continue play until one of the piles run out of cards.

7. The winner is the player with the most cards at the end of the game.

Place value cards

This is a card game for 2 players or a small group. You will need a deck of cards with the 10s and picture cards removed. The ace can be used as a 1 in this game. You will also need a sheet of paper split into 4 columns labeled thousands, hundreds, tens and ones.

Instructions

1. One student shuffles the deck of cards and places it in the middle face down.

2. Players take turns to pick a card from the top of the deck and turn it over.

3. The player must decide where to place the card, either in the ones, tens, hundreds or thousands place. They add the card to the column on their sheet of paper. The card is to be placed before another card is drawn from the deck.

4. Players keep adding cards to their sheet of paper until all columns are filled in. The winner is the player who produces the largest number.

5. In the example below 5 631 was produced using the cards, 5, 6, 3 and Ace. The best number that could have been formed was 6 5 31.

Variations

You could make larger or small numbers depending on the level of your students.

Use numbers with decimals.

Incorporate a scoring system.

More fun math games and activities

I hope you’ve enjoyed learning some new fun math card games. And if you’re after even more ideas, then check out my Bumper Book of Math Games and Activities. You’ll get more than 138 pages of math strategies, games and activities. It’s suitable for students in grades 1 – 4, contains easy to follow information and instructions and can be used with individuals, small groups, or your whole class.

Take a look at some of the great feedback for this resource

“Awesome resource, covers a huge amount of our maths curriculum. Thank you!”

“Such a great resource to use in my classroom – so many different ideas, thank you!x”

“Terrific resource.. all those great teaching points and understandings with activities and games to match. Thanks.”

“Everything sorted for maths rotations, thanks!”

Click here to grab your copy of the math eBook.

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Discover 6 Of The Best Math Card Games For Kids

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Are you after some more fun math games? Math card games are a fantastic way for kids to practice math skills, but in a non-threatening and motivational way.

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Build Math Fluency with Dice Games!

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Dice games are not just an excellent way to while away the time. The benefits of playing dice games for kids are many! Playing these games will expose kids to the wonders of probability, put math calculation skills to use, improve visual perception and manual dexterity,

Not only that, while playing dice games, your children will be improving their social skills. They will need to learn patience, turn taking and good sportsmanship! Below you will find a collection of all our favorite dice games. Most of them are for 2 or more players, and use anywhere from one to six dice. All of them are easy dice games.

Players of all ages can enjoy these games. Preschoolers may need the extra help of a kind adult and can still work on their number and quantity recognition skills. Handling the dice will work those fine motor and coordination skills.

Elementary school aged children will continue to practice basic math facts and can play independently with their peers, which gives them a great space to work on social and communication skills.

Parents and grandparents (and other adults) will enjoy the bonding time that comes with playing a game with their children. It offers a relatively relaxed opportunity to connect with your child, talk about the day, guide them in learning new skills and to just have fun without worrying about "getting something done!"

Which one will be your favorite?

NOTE: further down you will find instructions to get printable instructions!

How to Play Passage
What you need:
Objective: to be the first player to reach 11 points.
Instructions:
To set up the game each player rolls a die. The highest scoring roll will be the player who begins the game. The player who rolled the lowest number will now roll a second time and the number on the die becomes the "point number."

Starting with the first player, players take turns rolling two dice. If he rolls the point number, he gets one point. If he rolls doubles of the point number he gets two points. Each player gets only one roll per turn.

The first player to get 11 points wins.

Need help? Watch the video:

How to Play Run for It
What you need:
Objective: to be the first to reach 100
Instructions:
Alternating turns, each player rolls 6 dice. Looking at the dice, the player attempts to organize them into runs. A run is a sequence of numbers, such as 1-2-3-4-5-6. For each number used in a run, the player scores 5 points. Dice may only be used once when creating a run. Runs must begin with the number 1.

For example, a roll of 1-2-4-5-6-6 scores 10 points for the run 1-2.

For example, a roll of 1-2-1-2-3-4 scores 10 points for the run 1-2, and 20 points for the run 1-2-3-4 for a total of 30 points.

If there is no run, no score is recorded. For example, a roll of 1-3-4-4-5-6 scores zero points.

Play continues until one player has reached 100 points.

Watch the video to see how it's done.

How to Play Fifty

What you need:

Objective: be the first player to reach 50
Instructions:
Taking turns, players roll two dice, one roll per turn. If they do not roll doubles, they do not score for that turn.

If they roll doubles, they earn a score as follows:

Double 1s, 2s, 4s, 5s = 5 points

Double 6s = 25 points

If they roll double 3s, their score up to that point is wiped out and they must restart accumulating points.

The first player to reach 50 points wins.

Surprise! I even have a video for you:

How to Play Knock Out
What you need:
Objective: to be the first player to reach 100; or have the highest score at the end of a predetermined number of rounds. ( We prefer to play for 10 rounds.)
Instructions:
To set up the game decide if you will play to 100 or for a number of rounds. Chose 6, 7, or 8 as the "knock-out number." The knock out number can be the same for all players, or each player can have a different knock out number. We find the best way to play is with 7 as everyone's knock-out number. A round is complete when all players have had one turn.

Taking turns, players roll both dice, if they do not roll the knock-out number the total score is recorded for that turn and the pass the dice to the player on their left.

For example, if the roll is 2-3, the player earns 5 points.

If player rolls the knock-out number they receive no score for that round. But not only that, the player's accumulated score is "knocked-out" and the player must start again on their next turn.

Only one roll per turn. Play until one player has achieved the game objective.

Is there a video? Why yes, yes indeed there is!

How to Play Three or More
What you need:

5 dice

2 or more players, the more the better

Objective: to have the highest score at the end of a predetermined number of rounds. We prefer to play ten rounds.
Instructions:
Players take turns rolling all 5 dice. The goal is to roll at least 3 of a kind.

On a player's turn one of the following will happen:

1. If the roll contains no matches, the score is zero and the player's turn is over.

2. If the roll contains 3 or more of a kind the score is recorded and dice are passed to the next player.

3. If the roll contains 2 of a kind, the player may re-roll the remaining three dice. If, after the second roll, there is not at least 3 of a kind, the score is zero. If the roll has 3, 4 or 5 of a kind, record the score.

Whoever has the highest score at the end of the predetermined number of rounds, wins.

Rolls score as follows:

3 of a kind = 3 points

4 of a kind = 6 points

5 of a kind = 12 points

Here's a video to show the game in action!

More Easy Dice Games for Kids and Families

I have plenty more dice games for kids on the blog, for full written instructions, click on the links below, or watch a video if available!

Play the Hawaiian dice game of Lu-Lu for some fun math practice.

Aces in the Pot is related to the well known LCR game.

Learn how to play Sevens!

Find out how to play Drop Dead here, ( it's not as scary as the name!) or watch the video!

You definitely want to learn how to play Pig dice game (<<click on that link for more). This fun and easy dice game will teach kids how to take turns and be patient!

Read my post on how to play Martinetti. I also have the video, below if you prefer to watch.

Learn the rules of Sequences dice game here, and watch the video below!

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Best Dice Games for Kids: Have Fun and Learn New Skills!

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Dice games are not just an excellent way to while away the time. The benefits of playing dice games for kids are many! Playing these games will expose kids to the wonders of probability, put math calculation skills to use, improve visual perception and manual dexterity, Not only that, while playing dice games, your children will be improving their social skills.

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A card Game That Practices Fact Fluency

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Make Ten is an easy to play and fun math card game which teaches kids ways to make 10 with addition and subtraction. All you need is a deck of cards, which I bet you already have. Card games are a great, low stress way to practice math skills with your kids. You get a little quality family time as well as helping your kids learn their math facts.
How to play Make Ten:

1. Remove the face cards from a deck of playing cards and place the deck, face down on the table.

2. Each player chooses 5 cards and places the cards in front of him.

3. The first player uses the 5 cards to create as many equations as he can in which the sum equals ten. For example, If I have 9, 9, 3, 2, 4, I could make the following equations: 9+4-3=10 and
9+3-2=10

4. After making as many equations as possible, player sets aside the used cards and play passes to the next player.

5. Play continues with players refilling their hands to 5 cards at the start of each turn.

6. Whoever uses the most cards by the end of the deck wins.

MORE: see more of our favorite math games

Once I was able to use all five cards at once: 8+5+3-5-1=10. Kiddo thought that was terrific. You don't necessarily have to write the equations down but Kiddo enjoyed doing that as part of the exercise.

Keep a deck of cards stashed in your purse because this is a great travel/waiting/restaurant game.

I was able to entice my superhero-crazed younger son to play this game with a deck of Thor playing cards. (affiliate link) He made me laugh with his sound effects every time he made 10!
Alternatives:
It is easy to create fun variations of Make Ten. Here are two that we tried, but I bet your kids can come up with more possibilities.

Place 12 cards out on the table and players take turns making as many equations for the sum of 10 as possible!

Place 3 rows of of 5 cards face up on the table. With pen and pencil, each player writes down as many equations as they can.

See more of our favorite math games in action:

We got the idea for this math card game from the following book: (affiliate link)

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Make Ten is an easy to play and fun math card game which teaches kids ways to make 10 with addition and subtraction. All you need is a deck of cards, which I bet you already have. Card games are a great, low stress way to practice math skills with your kids.

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Try these fun and engaging science experiments with materials you have at home!

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Kids love experimenting, and these 50 simple science experiments for kids at home from Brigitte are perfect for all ages! Plus, you probably already have the basic supplies at home.

My daughters and I have had a lot of fun doing science experiments. Each year when we create our spring and summer list, we make sure to include "science days" which are days filled with science experiments.

Sometimes our science experiments don't work according to plan, but I have been told that all scientists have failures with experiments from time to time.

It's okay if they aren't all successes.

50 Simple Science Experiments with Supplies You Already Have

I love these 50 simple science experiments for you to try with your little scientists. They all use basic household supplies that you probably already have at home!

Most of these are experiments my daughters and I have done together. I hope you enjoy them as much as we have!

Get little ones involved with these easy toddler-friendly science experiment ideas!

Simple Science Experiments with Water

Not only can water be a blast to play in, but water plus a few basic supplies equals a lot of science fun!

Simple Science Experiments with Water

Simple Science Experiments with Baking Soda and Vinegar

Baking soda + vinegar = a great chemical reaction! This fizzy reaction can fuel a variety of simple science experiments at home.

First of all, we have tested and found out the absolute best combination of baking soda and vinegar to get the best reaction possible. It makes a difference if you add vinegar to baking soda or vice versa! And how much you use!

Simple Science Experiments with Baking Soda and Vinegar

Plant Themed Simple Science Experiments

Enjoy learning about seeds, plant parts, and how plants grow with these simple science experiments.

Learn about how plants soak up water through their stems with a flower experiment for kids from Growing A Jeweled Rose.

Watch seeds sprout as you grow seeds in a jar as seen on Teaching Mama.

Learn about the parts of the seed with a seed coat experiment as seen on Gift of Curiosity.

Build a house out of sponges and then watch it sprout with this sprout house as seen on The Stem Laboratory.

Learn what liquids allow seeds to grow the best with this seed experiment as seen on Gift of Curiosity.

Explore how plants grow towards the light with this shoe-box maze experiment from Plants for Kids.

Plant Themed Simple Science Experiments
Animal Themed Simple Science Experiments

Learning about animals can be even more fun with some simple hands-on simple science experiments.

Find out more about giraffes and create some giraffe spots as seen on Preschool Powol Packets.

Learn about how animals in the Arctic keep warm by making an arctic glove as seen on Steve Spangler Science.

Discover how penguins stay dry with a penguin feather experiment as seen on Raising Little Superheroes.

Learn about different bird beaks with a bird beak experiment as seen on Blessed Beyond a Doubt.

Explore how fish (and hermit crabs) breathe with this gill experiment as seen on Preschool Powol Packets.

Learn about sharks with ashark buoyancy experimentas seen on Little Bins for Little Hands.

Animal Themed Simple Science Experiments

Even More Simple Science Experiment for Kids at Home!

If you are still looking for more science fun, you may enjoy the following simple science experiments.

What scientific experiment will you try first?

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50 Simple Science Experiments with Supplies You Already Have

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Kids love experimenting, and these 50 simple science experiments for kids at home from Brigitte are perfect for all ages! Plus, you probably already have the basic supplies at home. My daughters and I have had a lot of fun doing science experiments.

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Learn about the past vs. present, traditions and holidays and historical figures with this website!

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Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum | PBS LearningMedia

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Support students' social-emotional, literacy, and social studies skills with these educator resources for Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum, the PBS KIDS series based on the Ordinary People Change the World books. Use video clips, teaching tips, and historical figure biosketches to engage students and build classroom character.

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A list of free websites that cover almost all subject areas!!

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A user friendly list that describes what your child will learn in Kindergarten

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Try These Activities to Practice Foundational Skills at Home

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Here is an example of a schedule you can use to help guide your E Learning at home (Create one with your child to tailor to their needs)

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Business offering Free Educational Resources

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Business offering Free Educational Resources

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91 Free Educational Websites for Kids + Companies Offering Free Lesson Plans for Kids

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Today we have an updated version of our massive resource of free educational websites and companies offering free learning opportunities for kids. Over

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by: Andrew Willis

Posted: / Updated:

This image released by Scholastic Entertainment shows a scene from the reboot of "Clifford the Big Red Dog." The new show offers more diversity among the human characters and puts Clifford's beloved 7-year-old owner, Emily Elizabeth, front and center in his Birdwell Island adventures. (Scholastic Entertainment via AP)

TAMPA (WFLA) - The public educational company Scholastic came up with a way to keep kids busy and learning while school closures keep them home during coronavirus pandemic.
RELATED: All Florida public schools closing for 2 weeks due to coronavirus
Scholastic set up a 'Learn From Home' website with four categories: PreK and Kindergarten, Grades 1 and 2, Grades 3-5, and Grades 6+. Each section is already equipped with one week of content for students with 15 additional days on the way.

Each day of content is filled with exciting articles and stories, videos, and fun learning challenges. The students can even go on virtual field trips or meet best-selling authors.
Click here to visit the website. LATEST STORIES:
The website provides up to three hours' worth of content each day and can be completed on any device.

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Scholastic releases free daily courses for kids stuck home amid coronavirus school closures

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by: Andrew Willis Posted: / Updated: TAMPA (WFLA) - The public educational company Scholastic came up with a way to keep kids busy and learning while school closures keep them home during coronavirus pandemic.

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Videos have their place in the classroom and at home, helping bring topics to life for students at any age. Teachers and parents have more options than ever before, including these terrific educational Netflix shows. History, science, animals, travel, early education-it's all here. Take a look at our top choices and choose some to watch with the kids in your life!

Note to teachers: Some schools block Netflix, which requires you to use Netflix's offline feature to download preferred shows and use them during class. When it comes to the legality of streaming Netflix in the classroom, the company notes which media are available for educational screenings. Also, grade recommendations were made by our editorial team, but of course, you are always the best judge of the appropriateness for your own children and students.

Best Educational Netflix Shows for Preschool and Kindergarten

The only thing more curious than the Bots are kids. Celebrity appearances and a music video at the end of each episode only add to the fun.

Against a background of beloved Beatles songs, this series follows five friendly bugs as they learn lessons about the world around them.

With kindness, curiosity, and childlike wonder, five best friends explore their colorful world and find the extraordinary in everyday things.

Charlie creates fun stories using different shapes, and he needs your help! Follow him on various adventures throughout the world ... and beyond.

This monkey mechanic tackles new challenges in each episode, coming up with clever solutions for all the people of Blunderburg.

Kids who love to sing will beg to watch CoComelon. It's perfect for the younger crowd still learning their numbers, letters, nursery rhymes, and more.

Special Agents Sam and Kit travel the world, solving mysteries for their animal pals. Along the way, they meet and learn about a wide array of creatures around the globe.

In the Mango Motel, Deepa and her color-changing elephant Anoop solve problems, explore friendship, and have fun adventures together.

If you're looking for educational Netflix shows for music lovers, check out this option. Kids learn songs about colors, animals, numbers, and vehicles.

These energetic performers put a new spin on classic nursery rhymes to teach toddlers about topics like animals and healthy living.

Follow these cheerful blocks as they work and sing in Numberland. This is one of the most popular educational Netflix shows among the pre-K crowd.

Follow the exploits of a fun-loving, curious little boy who loves to play and explore.

Ridley and her dads live in a tree house in the middle a museum. Each night, the exhibits come to life, creating new adventures for Ridley and her family.

Daisy and Cole use music and imagination to solve problems in a town filled with nursery rhyme characters.

Read along as these picture books come to life with songs, animation, and narration. Kids learn about numbers, science, letters, and more!

Meet Bailey, Franny, Kip, and Lulu, four adorable baby animals who want you to join in the fun and help them learn.

Best Educational Netflix Shows for Elementary School

Based on the books, Ada Twist and her two best friends are asking big questions-and working together to discover the truth about everything!

Celebrity readers share kids books by Black authors to spark kid-friendly conversations about empathy, equality, self-love, and anti-racism. The quick episodes (13 minutes or less) are perfect for the classroom.

This science-based show answers all sorts of questions kids tend to ask. The diverse cast tackles science in an engaging way that's sure to draw kids in.

That's right, gumshoes! The story of the legendary professional thief has been remixed into a cartoon series. But in this iteration, Carmen is trying to thwart evil. Those of us who grew up playing the computer game and watching the game show will love introducing the globe-trotting Carmen to a new generation of kids.

Emily Calandrelli shares science experiments to help make STEAM fun. She also offers ideas for at-home experiments kids can try (with adult supervision, of course).

As kids compete to be crowned Star Baker and ultimately the best junior baker in Great Britain, they also demonstrate cooperation, perseverance, and good sportsmanship.

Learn more about the animals we keep as pets, from dogs and cats to goldfish and beyond. These critters are full of surprises!

Explore the wild wonders of Vancouver Island and the surrounding waters, where a family of sea wolves fights for survival throughout the seasons.

Izzy Bee and her family rescue koalas in need and help them head back into the wild on Australia's Magnetic Island.

The inimitable Julie Andrews mentors a group of adorable puppets as they prepare to stage a musical, with help from celebrity guests like Idina Menzel and Josh Groban.

In Justin's dreams, he and his imaginary friends Olive and Squidgy travel around the world learning about nature and other cultures.

Beloved children's book character Llama Llama springs to life in this heartwarming series about family, friendship, and learning new things.

When a science concept just isn't clicking for your students ... Ms. Frizzle to the rescue! Stream episodes on the human body, gardening, weather, and more.

Join Meekah and her best friend Blippi as they head to new places and explore their passions: science and nature.

If you teach about the ocean, chances are there's an Octonauts episode related to your unit. Each episode covers two different creatures from the deep blue sea.

Inspire kids to take on new challenges and responsibilities with this reality show from Japan. It follows children as young as 2 as they tackle chores and errands.

A baby puffer fish travels through a wondrous microworld full of fantastical creatures as he searches for a home on the Great Barrier Reef. Think of this as a real-life Finding Nemo.

Welcome to Puffin Rock, where puffling Oona and her family and friends live. Their adventures teach us all about friendship and nature.

Six-year-old Hank and his best pal, a giant trash truck, explore the world around them on fantastical adventures with their animal friends.

Curious puppet pals Waffles and Mochi travel the world exploring the wonders of food and culture while learning how to cook with fresh ingredients.

Popular music artists sing songs about topics related to American citizenship, including the Bill of Rights, the First Amendment, and immigration.

Based on the popular book series, this live-action sketch-comedy show brings important historical figures, like King Tut, Marie Antoinette, and Pablo Picasso, to life in an entertaining and hilarious way.

Best Educational Netflix Shows for Middle School and High School

Discover 72 of the cutest animals on Earth and how their adorable features are actually evolutionary advantages. (TV-PG)

The world's most dangerous animals have a variety of weapons, from claws to venom to fangs and beyond. Learn more about 72 of them in this educational Netflix series. (TV-14)

One hundred people participate in conversations and experiments around a variety of topics, like implicit bias, happiness, the five senses, and more. (TV-14)

This documentary follows famed naturalist David Attenborough, who maps how steeply the planet's biodiversity has diminished over his lifetime. (PG)

Inspire the creatives in your classroom with this eight-episode documentary series on some of the world's foremost designers, including photographer Platon, graphic designer Paula Scher, and sneaker designer Tinker Hatfield. (TV-14)

This series blends science fact and fiction to imagine alien life on other planets, using the laws of science found here on Earth. (TV-PG)

Discover incredible facts and amazing footage of apes, birds of prey, bears, and dolphins in this short series narrated by popular celebrities like Bryan Cranston. (TV-PG)

Learning about World War II? This short series uses archival footage combined with survivor interviews to bring this historic event to life. (TV-14)

In this wacky talk show, the popular educator explores scientific topics in the everyday world, including climate change, video games, and space travel. (TV-14)

Scientists hope to understand and capture the first image of a black hole while exploring the limits of our knowledge of the universe. (TV-14)

Based on the book of the same name, this movie tells the real-life story of William Kamkwamba, who saved his village by inventing a windmill. (TV-PG)

Engineers, officials, and the crew members' families provide their perspective on the 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger disaster and its aftermath. (TV-14)

Divers, scientists, and photographers around the world mount an epic underwater campaign to document the disappearance of coral reefs. (TV-PG)

In a forest in Uganda, a huge community of chimps navigates issues very familiar to humans: politics, family dynamics, and territory disputes. (TV-PG)

Science journalist Latif Nasser investigates ways in which humans are connected to one another, the world, and the universe. (TV-14)

Travel the world with Zac Efron as he explores sustainable, healthy ways to live. In season one, he wanders the whole planet, while season two focuses on Australia and its cultures and habitats. (TV-PG)

In less than 20 minutes, the show tackles various topics, from the water crisis to the racial wealth gap, in an accessible way. Be sure to preview episodes, as some are not suitable for the classroom. (TV-MA)

The subtitle of this educational Netflix show is "How African American Cuisine Transformed America." It's a powerful look at traditional Black foods, culture, and more. (TV-MA)

This docuseries traces the history of classic video games, featuring insights from the innovators who brought these worlds and characters to life. (TV-14)

These quick episodes combine infographics with archival footage and are the perfect length to show during class. They cover the history of topics ranging from GPS and lasers to dating apps and bottled water. (TV-14)

Biology teachers, take note! These episodes delve deep into the inner workings our incredible bodies. (TV-PG)

Take a trip inside the mind of billionaire Bill Gates as he opens up about those who influenced him and the audacious goals he's still pursuing. (TV-14)

Comedian Kevin Hart uses his irreverent humor to teach about some of history's unsung Black heroes. (TV-PG)

Michael Jordan is one of the greatest basketball players of all time. This docuseries follows his career and the rise of the 1990s Chicago Bulls to dominance. (TV-MA)

Stunningly beautiful, this docuseries explores nature from a fresh perspective as animals use color to survive and thrive in the wild. (TV-PG)

Imagine a nature documentary filmed millions of years ago, when prehistoric creatures roamed the planet. Through incredible CGI, that's exactly what you'll find here. (TV-PG)

Teenagers at NASA's Space Camp dream of traveling to Mars, while experts reflect on the future and history of NASA. (TV-PG)

Ever wonder what's happening inside your head? From dreaming to anxiety disorders, discover how your brain works. (TV-14)

Follow filmmaker Craig Foster as he spends a year forging a relationship with a wild common octopus in a South African kelp forest. (TV-G)

Felipe Castanhari and his lab buddies explore science, history, mysteries, and marvels. (TV-PG)

New technology showcases the hidden lives of nocturnal creatures. See lions on the hunt, bats on the wing, and more nighttime marvels. (TV-PG)

President Barack Obama narrates this inspiring look at national parks around the globe, from Australia and Africa to our own Monterey Bay. (TV-PG)

This Netflix series is a lot like Planet Earth, except it urgently calls for viewers to think about the ways that human actions are putting the nature and animals the series covers in peril. (TV-PG)

Penguins in Africa? Yup! This series follows a colony of South African penguins as they form families, raise their young, and get help from local humans when things are rough. (TV-PG)

Take a closer look at our food supply chain, but be prepared to learn unpleasant truths about some of your favorite dishes. (TV-MA)

A filmmaker sets out to document the harm that humans do to marine species-and uncovers alarming global corruption. (TV-14)

After unearthing a tomb that had been untouched for 4,400 years, Egyptian archaeologists attempt to decipher the history of the extraordinary find. (TV-PG)

Explore the impacts of going pro at a young age in this documentary about three young golfers who haven't even hit middle school yet. (PG)

This documentary-drama follows a group of tech experts who sound the alarm on the dangerous human impact of social networking. (PG-13)

In this utterly charming docuseries, Phil Rosenthal travels the planet, looking for the best food everywhere he goes. Along the way, he explores culture and makes new friends, all with a sense of delightful enthusiasm. (TV-14)

Follow the lives of speed-cubing champions Max Park and Feliks Zemdegs, culminating with their attending the World Cube Association's World Championships 2019. (TV-PG)

This documentary explores the unbroken Indian-American dominance of the U.S. spelling bee arena, a truly fascinating story. (TV-G)

Many of the most popular taco styles have a rich cultural history. Learn more about this beloved food and the stories behind the dishes. (TV-MA)

This limited series explores the true story of the Thai soccer team trapped in a cave by rising water levels. Their rescue captured the world's attention and imagination. (TV-PG)

Small animals embark on big adventures in a dramatic nature series that explores their hidden worlds and epic survival stories. (TV-PG)

Who doesn't love baby animals? Follow the adventures of species like pangolins, penguins, elephants, and lions as they learn what it takes to survive. (TV-PG)

This movie tells the story of TV's beloved Mr. Rogers and his friendly neighborhood. Learn more about this inspiring man and his quest to bring kindness, empathy, and understanding to multiple generations. (PG-13)

What educational Netflix shows, movies, or documentaries do you use in your classroom? Come share in our We Are Teachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.

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85 Best Educational Netflix Shows for Kids and Teens

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These educational Netflix shows offer options for preschool, elementary, and middle and high school students, at home and in the classroom.

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Wonderful Online Read Alouds!

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

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Great Articles for Kids!

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Now students can follow the latest news. All tailored to their reading level. To explore the kids' website, select a grade and discover new stories each week.

View articles by grade level

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Now students can follow the latest news. All tailored to their reading level. To explore the kids' website, select a grade and discover new stories each week. View articles by grade level

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Fun Activities to do at home!

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Hi Everyone!

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

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

Enjoy the list!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Discover the World from the comfort of your home!

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Mo Willems shows you how to draw!

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Sign Up for free acess to great books online!
Here's a link for first grade too:https://classroommagazines.scholastic.com/support/learnathome/grades-1-2.html

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Raise a reader by getting the best book recommendations, reading tips, and discounts delivered straight to your inbox.

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Used in class and great practice for language arts and math!

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Lots of links to math and language arts games online!

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Math Games linked to Math Expressions

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Limited Time at home science lessons!

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To help educators during this time of coronavirus, we have pulled our most popular science lessons and are offering them for anyone to use for free. No account or login is needed. Copy and paste the links below into your documents and use them however they might be helpful! Mystery Science is the creator of the most popular science lessons in U.S. schools. We've curated this starter set of science lessons that you can use remotely or share with parents. If you need more lessons than what is listed below, you can sign up up for a free account:
Teacher Sign-up for Full Lessons | Parent Sign-up for Mini-Lessons

All of the lessons below are expertly designed to engage students, achieve learning outcomes, and be easy for teachers to use. We have short mini-lessons that are completely digital and full lessons that include an activity. All of the activities are designed to use simple supplies a parent will likely already have at home.

Jump to lessons for: Kindergarten | 1st Grade | 2nd Grade | 3rd Grade | 4th Grade | 5th Grade

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Open-and-go lessons that inspire kids to love science.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
To help educators during this time of coronavirus, we have pulled our most popular science lessons and are offering them for anyone to use for free. No account or login is needed. Copy and paste the links below into your documents and use them however they might be helpful!

# data[].attributes.body
Limited Time At Home Science Lessons!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
To help educators during this time of coronavirus, we have pulled our most popular science lessons and are offering them for anyone to use for free. No account or login is needed. Copy and paste the links below into your documents and use them however they might be helpful! Mystery Science is the creator of the most popular science lessons in U.S. schools. We've curated this starter set of science lessons that you can use remotely or share with parents. If you need more lessons than what is listed below, you can sign up up for a free account:
Teacher Sign-up for Full Lessons | Parent Sign-up for Mini-Lessons

All of the lessons below are expertly designed to engage students, achieve learning outcomes, and be easy for teachers to use. We have short mini-lessons that are completely digital and full lessons that include an activity. All of the activities are designed to use simple supplies a parent will likely already have at home.

Jump to lessons for: Kindergarten | 1st Grade | 2nd Grade | 3rd Grade | 4th Grade | 5th Grade

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Open-and-go lessons that inspire kids to love science.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
To help educators during this time of coronavirus, we have pulled our most popular science lessons and are offering them for anyone to use for free. No account or login is needed. Copy and paste the links below into your documents and use them however they might be helpful!

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Limited Time Offer- Get 3 free weeks at home!!!

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Fluency & Fitness+ - the #1 membership for teachers

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Fluency & Fitness+ has brain breaks, phonics videos, task cards and more for PreK-3rd grade. We combine learning and movement!

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STEM Activities to try at home!

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My children are in love with doing STEM activities (science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) these days! One moment you may find my daughter making magic potions in the bathtub, while another minute she is begging me to help her with her Magic School Bus Engineering Lab Kit.

I like to support my children in all of their efforts, especially when it comes to science and engineering. Therefore, these 25 STEM Activties for Homeschoolers are sure to keep your little scientist engaged, learning and well-prepared for the 21st century. Not only are these 25 easy STEM activities great for homeschoolers, but they are also useful for classroom science experiments and after school science clubs.

Happy STEM-inventing!

Jilleen

Simple Science: How to Make a Volcano with Kids - Happy Brown House

Can You Build the Fastest Wind Powered Car? - Handmade Kids Art

STEM Activities for Kids Using Household Items - Mama Smiles

Building Block STEM Challenge Cards - Life Over C's

Snack Time Engineering - Handmade Kids Art

Snow Dough Science - Raising Lifelong Learners

Gummy Bear Science | Exploring Osmosis with Preschoolers - Raising Lifelong Learners

STEM Activities for Kids: How strong is a piece of paper? - Creekside Learning

Foaming Dragon Science Experiment - The Joys of Boys

Building with Straws - Kids Activities Blog

Building with Playdough Engineering Kit - Lemon Lime Adventures

STEM Paper Airplane Challenge - Kids Activities Blog

Build a Battery Magnet - We Know...Stuff

A Gardening STEM Activity for Kids - Happy Strong Home

STEAM Challenge: Invitation to Create a Recycled Toy Bot - Artsy Momma

Learning Letters with a Rope Pulley Alphabet Activity - Mom Inspired Life

Nature Scavenger Hunt (with Free Printable) - Crystal & Co.

The Itsy Bitsy Rhyming Spider - Growing Book by Book

Building 2D & 3D Shapes with Craft Sticks - In the Playroom

Snowball Catapult Alphabet Activity - Mom Inspired Life

Fun Science Experiments for Preschool Kids - Northern Cheapskate

Oil & Water Science for Kids - Happiness is Homemade

Learning Letters with a Fall STEM Ramp Activity - Mom Inspired Life

Preschool Science: Hands-On Dinosaur Study - Raising Lifelong Learners

Simple Science Fun with Kids - Northern Cheapskate

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25 Creative STEM Projects For Homeschoolers

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My children are in love with doing STEM activities (science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) these days! One moment you may find my daughter making magic potions in the bathtub, while another minute she is begging me to help her with her Magic School Bus Engineering Lab Kit.

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When time is limited, and the budget is small, we have AWESOME, cheap, and quick STEM activities the kids will love testing out. Whether you have 30 mins or all day, these budget-friendly STEM challenges are sure to please everyone. Give them a spin in your classroom, at home, or with any group of kiddos. You will love all of our STEM projects with ease and budget in mind!

AWESOME STEM CHALLENGES FOR KIDS

STEM CHALLENGES FOR REAL-WORLD LEARNING

Scientists and engineers can use different ways to study the world around them. This is exactly what these quick STEM activities are intended to provide for your young scientists and engineers! Many valuable, real-world lessons come from working on simple STEM projects.

What's the difference between a scientist and an engineer? Click here to read more!

Don't let STEM intimidate you! Your kids will AMAZE you with their thinking power and creativity in problem-solving. Often they have much better answers than we do! These hands-on activities combine the right amount of play with critical thinking to truly engage any kid.

Not only are these STEM activities amazing for academic success, but they also provide a fantastic opportunity for social skills practice. Working together, problem-solving, and planning to come up with solutions are perfect for kids because it encourages interaction and cooperation with peers.

Even if you set up a junk maker space for free time projects, observe kids coming together to build creations. STEM builds confidence, cooperation, patience, and friendships!

STEM CHALLENGES

Some of the best STEM challenges are also the cheapest! When you are introducing STEM activities to kids, it's important to use familiar materials, keep it fun and playful, and not make it to complicated that it takes forever to complete!

You need STEM activities that can be set up quickly; kids will find engaging and provide plenty of opportunities for hands-on learning with the Engineering design process.

YOUR FREE STEM CHALLENGES PACK INCLUDES:

STEM Design Process: Steps To Success

5 Quick and Easy STEM Challenges

STEM Journal Pages

Materials Master List

How To Get Started Instructions

We have included 5 of our favorite easy-to-set-up and quick STEM challenges for you to share with your kids! Build their confidence with simple materials, fun themes, and easy-to-understand concepts.

Your kids will love using our Steps to Success STEM Design Process page during their activities. This will help reduce the need for your constant involvement because each step provides great information for the kids to think about! Build their STEM confidence!

The STEM journal pages include plenty of room for writing notes, drawing diagrams or plans, and collecting data! These are perfect for adding to projects for older kids to expand the lesson. Younger kids will love to draw their plans too.

You will also find my master list of cheap STEM materials and a quick how-to-get-started guide for using the STEM activities pack!

TIPS FOR EASY STEM ACTIVITIES

Do you want to explore more stem this year but don't know where to start? We want you to be able to share quick STEM activities with your kids effortlessly.

These ideas aren't high-tech, so no circuits or motors in sight, but they will get your kids thinking, planning, tinkering, and testing with easy-to-use STEM supplies. From kindergarteners to elementary through to middle school, there's something for everyone.

1. PLAN YOUR STEM LESSON TIME

If you are short on time, set time limits for each phase of the design process and make that part of the STEM challenge.

Or if you have multiple short sessions to work on these STEM challenges, choose one or two parts of the design process at a time so as not to rush the activity.

Having kids use the journal pages to keep detailed notes will help them from session to session. Maybe day 1 is planning, researching, and drawing designs.

2. CHOOSE MATERIALS FOR STEM ACTIVITIES

My best tip for these quick build challenges below is to always be collecting re-usable materials. Keep a bin handy for storing cool items that might come in packaging materials, your recyclables and non-recyclables, and all those other random bits and pieces.

Check out our dollar store engineering kit for ideas!

SIMPLE STEM ACTIVITIES

The first 5 STEM building activities below are included in the free printable pack above, but you will also find a few more fun ideas to add to your STEM time.

There are a variety of materials and methods you can use for building a catapult!
CHECK OUT THESE FUN VARIATIONS...
2. Build a Boat That Floats

Option 1

We have two ways you can go about this challenge! One is to dig into your recyclables (and non-recyclables) and build a boat that floats. Set up a tub of water to test them when everyone is finished.

You can take it further by testing their ability to float under weight! Try a soup can. Will your boat float while holding a soup can.

Option 2

Alternatively, you can give each kid a square of aluminum foil to build a strong boat that floats. Go ahead and test your boat with added weight too. Remember to pick one type of item like pennies to test the flotation of the boat. Otherwise you will have inaccurate results because you can't compare the results.
CHECK OUT: Penny Boat Challenge
This quick STEM challenge uses stacks of books, pennies, paper, and a couple pieces of tape. Challenge your kids to build a paper bridge that spans the gap between two stacks of books. Test the weight of the bridge with pennies.

Additionally, you can challenge the kids to make bridges out of similar-sized materials like aluminum foil, wax paper, cardstock, etc. This is a fun way to extend the STEM activity for older kids.
CHECK OUT: Paper Bridge Challenge
4. Egg Drop STEM Challenge

Another great STEM challenge that uses whatever you can find for materials. Here's one of our recent egg drop challenge designs! Where's the egg? Did it break?
CHECK OUT: Egg Drop Project
Can you build a tower out of noodles? Build the tallest spaghetti tower that can hold the weight of a jumbo marshmallow. Test out those design and engineering skills with a few simple materials. Which tower design will be the tallest and strongest?
CHECK OUT: Spaghetti Marshmallow Tower Challenge
There are a few ways you can go about this challenge with a group of kids, and it depends on the time available and the level of difficulty you want! If you have confident builders sending them to design their own cars, that move may be the way to go!

If you have less time or less confident builders, providing the means for the "go" might be more helpful. For example, building a balloon car might be a good choice.

Have the kids brainstorm how they want to make a car "go" as a group. It could be as easy as setting up a fan or building a rubber band car.

8. Balloon Rocket STEM Challenge

Challenge the kids to have balloon rocket races from one end of the room to the next. You can see how we set up a simple balloon rocket with a balloon and straw.
CHECK OUT: Balloon Rocket
9. Build A Pulley System

There are two ways you could do this, outdoors or indoors. The difference is in the size of the pulley you can create and the supplies you will need.

Fill a bucket with heavy material and see how easy it is for the kids to lift. Have them imagine trying to lift that bucket way then up high. How would they do it more efficiently? A pulley system, of course!

Challenge the kids to build a homemade pulley system to move objects like marbles from the ground to table level. Toilet paper tubes come in pretty handy. Add some string and plastic cups.

10. Rube Goldberg Machine

Combine some fun things you've learned about forces into a STEM challenge where a ball must travel a path to knock down items at the end (a very simplified Rube Goldberg Machine). You can incorporate ramps and even a mini pulley system!

11. Be an Architect for the Day

You can challenge your kids to design and build a creative structure that solves a problem such as a dog house to keep Fido cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Incorporate planning and design and build models using found materials from your stash.

Check out this fun architecture idea >>> Three Little Pigs STEM

Or design and build the Eiffel Tower or another famous landmark!

First, don't forget... your free printable STEM challenges.

Here's another quick and easy STEM challenge coming your way! This Cup Tower Challenge is another one of the most straightforward STEM challenges to set up and is great for elementary to middle schoolers. Grab some packs of cups and find out who can make the tallest tower.
CHECK OUT: Cup Tower Challenge
If the previous STEM challenge was quick and easy, this one might be even more simple. Make the longest paper chain from a single piece of paper. Sounds too easy! Or does it? Complete it in a short amount of time with younger kids, but also you can add in layers of complexity for older kids!
CHECK OUT: Paper Chain Challenge
Also check out more quick and easy STEM challenges with paper.

Get out the pasta and test your spaghetti bridge designs. Which one will hold the most weight?

CHECK OUT: Strong Spaghetti Challenge

Grab a bunch of paper clips and make a chain. Are paper clips strong enough to hold weight?
CHECK OUT: Paper Clip Challenge
16. Create a Paper Helicopter

See how to make a paper helicopter to explore physics, engineering, and math!
CHECK OUT: Paper Helicopter
Looking for even more STEM building challenges? Check out these engineering projects for kids.

17. Build a Simple Machine: Archimedes Screw

Learn more about a simple machine that has changed how we do many of our daily activities! Build your own Archimedes screw.

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Quick STEM Challenges | Little Bins for Little Hands

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In the classroom or at home, these quick STEM activities and challenges are fun and easy to set up when time and budget are factors.

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This site contains affiliate links to products. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure for more info.
In the warmer months, it seems to be easier to keep the kids entertained than in the winter where we're mostly limited to the indoors. (Because mama just doesn't do cold.) We're hoping these indoor activities for kids will be the cure-all for snow days this winter!

When I'm not forced to think about it, I can come up with lots of creative activity ideas for my kids.

When they're standing in the kitchen whining about being sooo bored, however, I tend to draw a blank!

And it's especially important for me to have an arsenal of "things to do when bored" for the kids, since I often work at home.

I'm sure that you have those times in the day that you just gotta get stuff done too.

So my plan this winter is to print out this list of indoor games, crafts and activities for my kids to keep them busy, while I mark some items off my to-do list.

You can receive a printable checklist version of this list (plus access to our entire freebie library) at the end of this post.

Creative Indoor Activities to Keep Kids Busy!

Here are 40 ideas for keeping kids on their toes, unplugged from technology (always a plus!) and stretching those creative muscles.

A few will require planning ahead of time, but most of these activities involve items you probably already have at home.

There are a variety of ideas for all ages listed below.

Or, make ice cream in a bag if you don't have snow 🙂

2| Make a fort with chairs and sheets.

Light it up with Christmas lights!

Create your favorite animals, a playdough family or even a playdough village.

4| Write a play

Work together with siblings, assign parts and have an after-dinner performance.

5| Make sock puppets

6| Bake cookies or a cake

You could also sign them up for online cooking classes! Check out this one: .

7| Write a story

Retell a famous fairytale or write about yourself in the future.

8| Stacking Cups

See how high you can stack the cups, or make a castle or "igloo" with them.

9| Make Penny Spinners

Hunt for pennies around the house (or car!) and make these penny spinners.

10| Movie Night

Make homemade hot chocolate , pop some popcorn and watch a movie together.

11| Paint a picture

Use craft paint or whatever paint you have on hand. For younger kids, place a piece of paper inside a gallon size ziplock bag, add some paint and let them "paint" through the plastic for less mess!

Look for a variety of things to stamp: copy paper, newspaper, an old t-shirt, etc.

13| Make instruments

Use rubberbands, wax paper and toilet paper rolls or other objects (baking pans, tin cans, wooden spoons etc).

Use a plastic shoebox with hidden objects in oats or rice for younger kids to find.

Let kids help plan the dinner menus with their results.

Use toilet paper rolls, paper cups and duct tape to construct it.

18| Cut out paper snowflakes to decorate the house.

Check out these free printable templates.

Now you can play at the beach indoors! Younger kids can play on top of a sheet on the kitchen floor for less mess.

20| Act out a scene from your favorite movie.

21| Make popcorn garland

Pop some microwave popcorn (we like making our own in one of these) and string onto thread with a plastic needle.

22| Make your own snowglobe

23| Play charades

24| Make macaroni necklaces

Color macaroni noodles with markers and string onto yarn.

25| Make "my favorites" collages

Cut out pictures from magazines of your favorite animals, items with all your favorite colors, or favorite foods, etc and paste on posterboard or a large piece of cardboard.

27| Lego hunt & build

Find all the Legos and/or blocks in the house and create the tallest structure possible.

28| Play card games together

Check out these 15 easy card game ideas for kids.

29| Write a letter

Think of an out-of-state relative or friend and practice your letter-writing skills.

30| Start a journal.

Check out our Free Printable Family Journal!

31| Make a zoo

Gather all the stuffed animals in the house. Use laundry baskets, cardboard, string, etc for cages and fences.

32| Make an indoor obstacle course.

33| Play dress-up in old Halloween costumes.

34| Indoor bowling

Make plastic bottle bowling pins and bowl down the hallway with a basketball or bouncy ball.

35| Make creative costumes

Use newspaper and tape - or cardboard boxes. Color with markers or crayons. (Ideas: dress up as pirates, princesses/knights or animals.)

36| Make a memory book

For older kids: organize schoolwork, pictures and artwork you've saved from previous years into a scrapbook or binder.

37| Have a tea party

Wear fancy outfits, make real tea and cookies.

Even better- use natural food coloring. We love .

39| Go fishing indoors

Use a fishing "pole" (or stick or dowel rod), paperclips and gummy worms. ( Instructions here.)

See if you can identify the birds these attract!

Free printable list of activities for kids

For the printable version of this list, simply click on the image below:

>>Need more resources? Try these subscription boxes for kids:

* - activities, crafts and a Bible storybook in each box For ages 5-10.

* Kids Reveal Book Box - receive a customized selection of books based on your child's age and preferences.

* - A prepared box of crafts that 2 children can enjoy together, for ages 3-9 years.

>>For access to all the free printables on our site (and more), see box below:
Originally published December 15, 2018; last updated 3/12/20.

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40 Creative Indoor Activities for Kids of All Ages

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This site contains affiliate links to products. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure for more info. In the warmer months, it seems to be easier to keep the kids entertained than in the winter where we're mostly limited to the indoors.

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Online tours - Enjoy the Louvre at home!

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Online tours - Enjoy the Louvre at home! Back to Home See all breadcrumbs Online tours Virtual tours Through materials and objects, this exhibition describes exchanges between distant worlds - exchanges often far more ancient than the explorations of the 16th century. From deepest antiquity, carnelian, lapis lazuli, ebony and ivory circulated along trade routes...

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