Free Online Resources to Help Families During COVID19 Outbreak

March 19, 2020educationcovid-19, education websites, homeschool, online resources Standard

Updated April 9, 2020

It’s true that people step up during trying times. It has been heartening to see how many people have come forward, offering free resources to help parents faced with an unexpected (and undetermined) period of homeschooling. I’ve been sharing many of these on social media, but thought it might be useful to get them all in one place. Here, I’ve compiled those I’ve come across, broken down by topic. I’ll be back to add more as I can. Note that some of these are always available for free, others are free during this health crisis.

I also suggest visiting your kids’ favorite authors’ websites and social media channels. Many authors are offering videos, read-alouds, craft ideas, mini lessons or opportunities to ask questions. Some are encouraging kids to write and submit poems, stories, jokes or book reviews, some of which may be selected to be shared by authors.

General educational resources

Check your local library’s website to see what ebooks they have available.

Education Companies offering free subscriptions (from KidsActivities.com)

Amazing Educational Resources (Facebook page)

Virtual School Activities (a crowd-sourced list)

Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration (core curriculum for grades K-6)

Smithsonian Learning Lab

Math

Resources from Bored Teachers

Math Activities from MathCoachCorner

Math Worksheets for all levels

Science

NASA’s collection of images, audio, and video

Access Mars (with NASA’s Curiosity Rover)

Kitchen Pantry Science

2 weeks of fun science experiments

Wildlife Livecams

Franklin Institute Interactive Activities

Wall of Birds (Cornell Lab of Ornithology)

eBird Essentials (Cornell Lab of Ornithology)

Bird Academy Videos (Cornell Lab of Ornithology)

Midwest Archeological Center – NPS

The Virtual Rainforest

Kennedy Space Center Educator Resources (also check their Facebook page for educational live streams)

Listening to Waves (Sound and Music)

Ocean Literacy Course from Ocean First Education

Smithsonian Air and Space Museum – podcasts, videos, and online activities

NatGeo@Home Activities, lessons and broadcasts from scientists in the field

ecoEXPLORE (Experiences Promoting Learning Outdoors for Research and Education) is an incentive-based citizen science program for children in grades K-8.

Weather Activities

Ranger Rick magazine

Zoo livestreams

Aquarium of the Pacific

Atlanta Zoo panda cam

Cincinnati Zoo Home Safari Facebook lives

Elmwood Park Zoo School Live (Facebook)

Bubby’s Club at Elmwood Park Zoo

Georgia Aquarium

Houston Zoo

Monterey Bay Aquarium

National Aquarium (Baltimore)