Although some schools are returning to in-person instruction, many families continue to tackle the challenging but important work of educating their students at home for at least some of the week. As you plan for the school year, consider how you might incorporate a few of the resources below.
We have created or compiled a number of resources across grade levels and content areas, including sample schedules that might help your family find some predictability during these uncertain times.
Of course, the ultimate goal is keeping you, your kids and the community safe. Please practice physical distancing, and don’t do anything that puts anyone at risk.
For more information on talking to young people about the coronavirus, check out this guidance from the National Association of School Psychologists.
Teaching resources
We’ve created schedule templates and example schedules for younger and older students, based on what some of us at Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College are using with our own kids. Each template recommends blocks of time in which learners can do activities from the tables that follow. These are just a starting place and are hopefully inspirational as you create a schedule that works for your family. If possible, involve your kids in the creation of the schedule.
|
Schedule template for younger students |
Schedule template for older students |
|
Example schedules for three families |
As you build daily schedules for your kids, what activities should you put into the learning blocks? There are thousands of resources flying around the internet right now, but it can be hard to know which ones are good. With that in mind, we have gathered what we have found to be the best-of-the-best (so far!) and put them all in one place below.
Pressed for time? Here are our top (free) picks:
- Khan Academy (all subjects)
- Prodigy (K-8 math) or Zearn (K-5 math)
- Scholastic Learn at Home
- Reading for pleasure / reading with your kid (and Lexia if you can get it for free)
All subject areas
|
Resource |
Device required? |
Description |
Price |
|
✔ |
Ages 2-8. Step-by-step curriculum in a program of more than 850 lessons in ten levels. |
1-month free trial |
|
|
✔ |
Ages 8-13. Multiplayer online game with thousands of learning activities in a fun and safe virtual world. |
1-month free trial |
|
|
✔ |
Range of K-12 videos and activities about varied topics. Kids love Tim and Moby. |
1-month free trial |
|
|
✔ |
For ages PK-12. Helps students master essential skills at their own pace through fun and interactive questions, built in support, and motivating awards. |
Varies, all subjects = $19.95/ month |
|
|
✔ |
For ages PK-12+. Practice exercises, instructional videos, and a personalized learning dashboard that empower learners to study at their own pace. Includes all major subjects and other things like computer programming, art history and economics. There is also a mobile app for young learners. |
Free |
|
|
✔ |
Ages 5-14. Award-winning e-curriculum in all subjects. Widely used in U.S. schools. |
Free |
|
|
✔ |
Ages 3-18+. Spark your learner’s curiosity with access to 10,000 small-group, live video classes—created and taught by inspiring teachers. |
Varies; as low as $5/class. |
|
|
✔ |
Ages 3-18+. Spark your learner’s curiosity with access to 10,000 small-group, live video chat classes—created and taught by inspiring teachers. |
Varies; as low as $5/class. |
|
|
✔ |
Ages 3-8. Great videos and games. |
Free |
|
|
✔ |
Digital library and literacy platform with picture books, graphic novels, chapter books and more. Offering free full access for schools. |
1-month free trial |
|
|
✔ |
Articles, stories, videos and challenges in one-day chunks for twenty days. Organized by grade level. |
Free |
There are LOTS of exciting things that kids can do at home that don’t involve the internet or devices. Find inspiration from a few sites here and here and here.
Literacy
|
Resource |
Device required? |
Description |
Price |
|
Comics |
Learners can create comics about their own lives, video games or book characters. Great way to encourage high-interest, low-pressure writing. Printable paper here. |
Free |
|
|
Hundreds of downloadable worksheets to practice grammar and spelling |
Free |
||
|
✔ |
An excellent (and expensive!) phonics-based reading program for students in grades PK-5. Lexia is now offering free licenses through June 30, 2020, but schools must request them. |
$175/year for one child, $110/year for each additional |
|
|
✔ |
Ages 2-13. Supports each child’s learning by offering individual, online lessons that allow the learner to progress at their own rate, gradually building their reading confidence and rewarding them at every step of the way. |
Free 2 weeks, no Credit Card |
|
|
✔ |
Grade-leveled reading passages with comprehension questions. |
Free |
|
|
✔ |
Check out the Book Cover Creator, Comic Creator and all-time student favorite Trading Card Creator tools. |
Free |
|
|
Great way to have learners practice reading fluency in a purposeful, engaging way. Students read from the script as they perform. You can add a maker component by making it a puppet show. Scholastic has free and low-cost options. |
Free or low cost |
||
|
Reading Rockets: Top 10 Resources for Reading Aloud |
Reading aloud to your child for 20-30 minutes DAILY is the best long-term investment you can make in your child’s learning. Choose the book together. |
Free |
Math
|
Resource |
Device required? |
Description |
Price |
|
Printable, engaging games and materials. Also available as an app. |
Free |
||
|
✔ |
Adaptive, online K-8 math program Sign up by April 30, 2020 for free 90-day trial |
Free 90-day trial |
|
|
✔ |
Engaging, curriculum-aligned math platform for 1st–8th grade. Designed as a game, learners can work through topics based on their levels, or you can assign specific skills for them to complete. |
Free |
|
|
✔ |
Game-based format builds deep foundational understanding visually. JiJi the penguin leads the way. |
Free until June 30 |
|
|
✔ |
Top-rated K-5 curriculum builds deep understanding and a love of learning math for all students. |
Free |
Science and social studies
|
Resource |
Device required? |
Description |
Price |
|
✔ |
K-8 easy experiments to do at home and online games. |
Free |
|
|
ASU’s Ask-a-Biologist |
✔ |
Simulations, activities, experiments and coloring pages about biology-related topics. Virtual reality tours here. |
Free |
|
✔ |
Echo gave birth to four cubs on April 8. Peek into their first weeks of life with this livestream. Adorable! |
Free |
|
|
✔ |
Thousands of on-demand documentaries. Read about an animal, part of the world, or moment in history and then watch a related documentary. |
$2.99/month or $19.00/year |
|
|
✔ |
K-12 science-related interactive activities like designing a cell phone and investigating a crash site. |
Free limited access; full access $20/year |
|
|
✔ |
The website of The San Francisco Exploratorium, this site offers hands-on experiences of complex, scientific principles. |
Free |
|
|
✔ |
Learn about the American Revolution over the course of 40 YouTube videos. |
Free |
|
|
✔ |
Explore science & engineering concepts with a former NASA engineer in this YouTube series. |
Free |
|
|
✔ |
Science lessons with exploration and activity components. Mini-lesson and full-lesson options. |
Free for limited access |
|
|
✔ |
Games, videos and short slide shows about animals and places around the world. Beautiful images. |
Free |
|
|
Article: Virtual field trip via zoo websites |
✔ |
Webcams broadcast kid favorites like Fiona the hippo (Cincinnati Zoo) and the jellyfish cam (Monterey Bay Aquarium). |
Free |
|
✔ |
NPR podcasts exploring “the wonders of the world.” |
Free |
Foreign language
|
Resource |
Device required? |
Description / Subject(s) |
Price |
|
✔ |
Learn 30+ languages online with bite-size lessons based on science. |
Free |
Maker activities
|
Resource / Activity |
Device required? |
Description |
Material(s) |
Price |
|
Easy to learn, and kids love it. |
Yarn |
$2-4 |
||
|
Ten easy projects that kids can create; some require specialized materials. |
Varied |
Varied |
||
|
✔ |
Coding app for ages 5-7. Learners program their own interactive stories and games. |
Device w/ app |
Free |
|
|
✔ |
Coding app for ages 8-16. |
Device w/ app |
Free |
Physical movement
|
Resource |
Device required? |
Description |
Price |
|
Article: 30 Classic Outdoor Games for Kids |
Remember Kick the Can and Capture the Flag? Great games that require few, if any, materials. |
Free |
|
|
✔ |
Yoga, stories and fun. |
Free |
Games, play, art
|
Resource |
Device required? |
Description / Subject(s) |
Price |
|
Recommendations for great board games to play as a family. |
Varies |
||
|
✔ |
First month of access to the online Drawing Program is free (code: Corona2020). |
Free with code |
|
|
Fun printable activities. |
Free |
As you build daily schedules for your kids, what activities should you put into the learning blocks? There are thousands of resources flying around the internet right now, but it can be hard to know which ones are good. With that in mind, we have gathered
what we have found to be the best-of-the-best (so far!) and put them all in one place below.
Pressed for time? Here are our top (free) picks:
- Khan Academy (all subjects)
- TEDEd (all subjects)
- Duolingo (learn a new language!)
All subject areas
|
Resource |
Device required? |
Description |
Price |
|
✔ |
Online materials for 15 high school courses broken down into digestible units. |
Free |
|
|
✔ |
Range of K-12 videos and activities about varied topics. Kids love Tim and Moby. |
1-month free trial |
|
|
✔ |
Chegg Prep is a free service students can use to find, create, share and study flashcards for any subject. |
Free |
|
|
✔ |
For ages PK-12. Helps students master essential skills at their own pace through fun and interactive questions, built in support, and motivating awards. |
Varies, all subjects = $19.95/ month |
|
|
✔ |
For ages PK-12+. Practice exercises, instructional videos, and a personalized learning dashboard that empower learners to study at their own pace. Includes all major subjects and other things like computer programming, art history and |
Free |
|
|
✔ |
Ages 3-18+. Spark your learner’s curiosity with access to 10,000 small-group, live video chat classes—created and taught by inspiring teachers. |
Varies; as low as $5/class. |
|
|
✔ |
25,000+ videos, interactive lesson plans, media galleries and more. |
Free |
|
|
✔ |
Digital library and literacy platform with picture books, graphic novels, chapter books and more. Offering free full access for schools. |
1-month free trial |
|
|
Scholastic Learn at Home, grades 6+ |
✔ |
Articles, stories, videos and challenges in one-day chunks for twenty days. Organized by grade level. |
Free |
|
✔ |
TED-Ed is a library of 1,000+ educational videos on a wide range of topics. Use the search feature and start exploring a topic. |
Free |
Literacy and English language arts
|
Resource |
Device required? |
Description |
Price |
|
100’s of downloadable worksheets to practice grammar and spelling. |
Free |
||
|
Read |
Finding a great book goes a long way. Check out your local digital library for these 100 outstanding young adult books. |
Free |
|
|
✔ |
Grade-leveled reading passages with comprehension questions. |
Free |
|
|
✔ |
Check out the Book Cover Creator, Comic Creator and all-time student favorite Trading Card Creator tools. |
Free |
|
|
Free |
|||
|
✔ |
Empower students to document this pivotal time in our history. The StoryCorps app guides students from start to finish as they record high-quality conversations and upload them to the Library of Congress. Listen. Honor. Share. |
Free |
Math
|
Resource |
Device required? |
Description |
Price |
|
✔ |
Simple, engaging mathematics activities for K-12 organized by grade level or domain for easy access. High school content includes algebra, geometry, functions, and more. |
Free |
Science and social studies
|
Resource |
Device required? |
Description |
Price |
|
ASU’s Ask-a-Biologist |
✔ |
Simulations, activities and experiments about biology-related topics. Virtual reality tours here. |
Free |
|
ASU’s Ask an Anthropologist |
✔ |
Lifelong learners of any age can get answers from ASU anthropologists. |
Free |
|
✔ |
Experts from the School of Earth and Space Exploration are on call for questions. |
Free |
|
|
✔ |
Free, online course that combines social studies and science learning. Students draw mind-blowing connections between past, present and future through a big picture look at the world. |
Free |
|
|
✔ |
Short videos describing chemistry content with additional articles for reading. |
Free |
|
|
✔ |
K-12 science-related interactive activities like designing a cell phone and investigating a crash site. |
Free limited; full access $20/year |
|
|
✔ |
The website of The San Francisco Exploratorium, this site offers hands-on experiences of complex, scientific principles. |
Free |
|
|
✔ |
One-hour podcasts hosted by two mothers, each telling the story of a famous woman. |
Free |
|
|
✔ |
Objects, stories, videos and resources that tell American history through the African American lens. Includes well-known and lesser-known moments of history. |
Free |
|
|
✔ |
Articles and videos about our planet and cultures. Beautiful images. |
Free |
|
|
✔ |
Stream short and long videos ranging from “Ancient Arctic Animals” to “What It Is Like to Live in Antarctica.” Other science-related topics also available. |
Free |
Foreign language
|
Resource |
Device required? |
Description / Subject(s) |
Price |
|
✔ |
Online learning program for all levels. |
Free for 30 days |
|
|
✔ |
Activities, games and quizzes for Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Korean and Latin. |
Free |
|
|
✔ |
Learn 30+ languages online with bite-size lessons based on science. |
Free |
Maker and STEM
|
Resource / Activity |
Device required? |
Description |
Price |
|
✔ |
Explore, play, and build with artificial intelligence as a family. Free, hands-on artificial intelligence education competition. Parental consent required. |
Free |
|
|
✔ |
Project-based learning units such as Entrepreneur (grades 6-8) and Architect (grades 9-12). |
Free for 60 days |
|
|
✔ |
Free computer science coding education. Make games, apps and art with code. No experience required; can run on any device. |
Free |
|
|
✔ |
Earn certification for technical job roles. Offerings include Data Scientist and AI Engineer. |
Free online; instructor led requires fee |
|
|
Ten easy maker projects that learners can create; some require specialized materials. |
Varied |
||
|
✔ |
Engaging coding app for ages 8-16. |
Free |
Music and other arts
|
Resource |
Device required? |
Description / Subject(s) |
Price |
|
✔ |
Innovative music lab with interactive activities |
Free |
|
|
✔ |
First month of access to the online Drawing Program is free (code: Corona2020). |
Free with code |
|
|
✔ |
Twelve famous museums offer virtual tours that learners can take from home. Destinations include the National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C., and the Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam. |
Free |
College preparation
|
Resource |
Device required? |
Description |
Price |
|
✔ |
Online support to prepare for college admissions steps including sample essays, ACT/SAT test practice. |
Free |
Whether it’s because you don’t have enough technology to go around or you want your learners to have a break from screens, there are lots of ways to learn that don’t involve devices. Learning happens in lots of ways, and we have collected some of our favorite ways for learners to explore their passions, stay entertained, and practice some skills that will serve them well for years to come.
Perhaps the hardest part of device-free learning is getting kids started. Our secret tip: Start doing the activity yourself. If a child sees you making it or doing something, they will want to join in.
Above all: Try new things. Have fun.
Pressed for time? Here are our top (free) picks:
- Reading (we especially like graphic novels)
- Math games with cards
- Treasure hunts
- Gardening
Math
|
Activity |
Description |
Resource(s) |
|
Geometric nets |
Students love creating 3D solids by cutting out and folding geometric nets. Bonus: Decorating the nets before folding becomes an art project. |
Try Maths Mentality free printables. |
|
Krypto |
Combine five number cards using the four arithmetic operations (+, –, ×, ÷) to arrive at a "target" number selected at random. The chance of being dealt a hand without a solution is about 1 in 3,000...so keep trying!
|
Krypto instructions from NCTM (National Council for Teachers of Mathematics), or you can purchase Krypto cards. |
|
Math games with a deck of cards |
Did you know “Speed” helps younger students develop fluency with counting forward and backward? Play games. It’s hidden math. |
Eureka Math offers instructions for 12 games using a regular deck of cards; English pdf or Spanish pdf here. |
|
Math games with two dice |
More games = more hidden math. That’s a good equation for learning. These games require two dice, paper and a pencil. |
Newark Schools provides instructions for Pig, Dice War, Block Out, and more. |
|
Math Dice Operations |
Roll the 12-sided dice and multiply them to get a target number. Roll the three scoring dice and combine these numbers using +, -, x, / (or exponents!) to build an equation that gets closest, or equal to, the target. Mentally challenging dice game that sharpens math skills in a fun way. |
Purchase the game at ThinkFun Math Dice, or make your own six-sided dice and twelve-sided dice (aka dodecahedrons) from Tim’s Printables. |
Literacy
|
Activity |
Description |
Resource(s) |
|
Audiobooks |
Audiobooks allow students to hear fluent reading, which is important modeling, and students can focus on listening to the story, which helps them build comprehension skills. Technically, this requires a device, but since kids aren’t looking at a screen, we consider it device-lite. Pull out the Lego bricks, turn on the audiobook, and you’re all set. For a while, at least. |
Scholastic’s Free Audiobooks and Why You Should Try Them includes links to four free sites for audiobooks. Audible is more expensive, but you can get one month free. |
|
Comic creation |
Learners can bring their imaginations to life through comic strips. Less intimidating than “regular” writing, students can make comics about their own lives, video games, books or movies. Great way to encourage high-interest, low-pressure writing. |
Download Printable Paper’s comics pages in varied formats here. |
|
Concrete poems |
Also called shape poems, students create concrete poems by arranging words on the page to convey the meaning of the poem. |
Find inspiration in Wet Cement: A Mix of Concrete Poems by Bob Raczka |
|
Graphic novels |
Okay, this is technically the same as reading -- but graphic novels really do deserve their own category. Yes, parents, it’s okay for your students to read graphic novels. It’s a gateway experience that will get them hooked on reading and coming back for more. Try it. You’ll see. |
Our favorite authors: Cece Bell, Svetlana Chmakova, Ben Clanton, Ben Hatke, Victoria Jamieson, Kazu Kibuishi, Jeff Smith, Raina Telgemeier...and so many more! |
|
READ! |
If we could choose just ONE activity for students to do at home, it’s reading.
How: Self-selected independent reading, adults reading aloud, or both.
Why: Supporting vocabulary, background knowledge, comprehension, critical thinking, cognitive development and social-emotional awareness...to name just a few.
Tip: Let learners choose the book. Ninety-one percent of children ages 6–17 report that “my favorite books are the ones that I have picked out myself” (International Literacy Association 2018). |
Find outstanding, high-interest titles from the International Literacy Association: 100 children’s books |
|
Secret codes |
If you’ve never written in secret code, now is the time to try it. This is an amazing way to get kids writing. Write a letter in secret code and send it via email (or snail mail!) to a relative or friend. |
Start with these simple 5 Secret Codes for Kids from KidsActivities.com, or try more sophisticated substitution cipher wheels from Exploratorium. |
|
Word games |
You can play the 3-letter word game while making dinner or taking a walk.
|
Great family word games: Bananagrams Boggle Scrabble |
Arts and making
|
Activity |
Description |
Resource(s) |
|
Cardboard arcade |
We suspect you may have cardboard laying around your house. Get inspired watching Caine’s Arcade on YouTube together, then make a plan, build, and test, test, test. |
Check out The Weird Teacher’s cardboard arcade examples for ideas and materials. |
|
Design squad |
Design a building that can survive an earthquake, build an instrument, or create a confetti launcher (and then learn how to vacuum). Clear instructions and lists of materials for hours of designing. |
PBS Design Squad activities are printable and free. |
|
Finger knitting |
With just your fingers, yarn, and a pencil, even young children (5+ years) can make simple bracelets and scarves. Kids love this quiet activity that helps develop fine motor skills. |
The Spruce provides clear beginner instructions with photos. |
|
Origami |
Origami helps students develop 3D perception, spatial visualization and fraction sense. Younger students (ages 6+) can make simple origami, and older students can make complicated pieces of paper art. A warning: It’s addictive, and you may find your home buried in paper cranes. |
Try Origami Way’s instructions for beginners, and read Edutopia’s article about why origami is great for your child’s brain. |
|
Puppets |
Puppets inspire imaginary play and storytelling. Use paper bags (or envelopes cut in half) for the puppet’s body. Decorate with construction paper and markers. |
Visit DLTK's for paper bag puppet examples. Older kids love Make and Take’s envelope hand puppets. |
|
Paper quilling |
Great for older students (ages 10+), quilling is a finely-detailed papercraft that has been around for hundreds of years. Although it requires specialized materials, quilling will provide your child with hours of peaceful creating. |
Check out The Spruce’s Tips for Beginners. Basic quilling kits like this have everything kids need to get started. |
|
Watercolors |
Give your young artist watercolor paints, paper and paintbrush. Done. If you want to get fancy, you can use salt, glue, straws and more...but not required. |
Visit The Artful Parent for the fancy stuff, like pointillism for kids and bubble printing. |
|
Zentangle |
Zentangle is a great place to start for people who do not see themselves as artists. Accessible and easy, it’s like a combination of art and meditation. Give it a go, and maybe the kids will join you. |
Zentangle.com offers easy-to-understand steps for getting started. My Modern Met extends Zentangle as coloring pages. |
Music and movement
|
Activity |
Description |
Resource(s) |
|
Dance party |
Turn on the tunes and shake it like a Polaroid picture. Go on...you’ll feel so much better, and you’ll all get some exercise, too. |
Feet Hips Your favorite playlist |
|
Play an instrument |
Whether it’s the ukulele, recorder or bongos, playing an instrument is good for your soul. What’s that you say? You’ve always wanted to learn an instrument but never had the time? Now is your chance! Play with the kids. |
Homemade instruments? Try Red Tricycle’s Cereal Box Guitar or an old-fashioned Kazoo…a great way to use the empty toilet paper rolls. |
|
Scavenger hunt |
Grab a pillowcase for kids to collect their finds, or have them check off items on a list. Gets kids moving indoors or outdoors, and after a few rounds, kids will love making scavenger hunts for their favorite adults. (Literacy in disguise.) |
Find free printables for younger kids at Buggy & Buddy’s; all ages at Hands On As We Grow. |
|
Treasure hunt |
With a treasure hunt, one clue leads to another (more literacy in disguise) until a hidden “treasure” is discovered at the end. Ask a long-distance tween or teen to help you create clues. Example: I have four legs, but I don't have feet. |
Check out these ready-made clues at The Spruce for inspiration. |
Life skills
|
Activity |
Description |
Resource(s) |
|
Cook or bake |
It’s a life skill. It’s math. It’s an invitation to learn about other places and cultures. (And you have to put dinner on the table anyway, right?) Younger kids will love prepping fruit and veggies with a wavy chopper knife -- supervised, of course. |
For ideas, check out Baking with Children from The Spruce Eats, Food Network’s Cooking with Kids, and BBC good food’s Recipes for Teenagers. |
|
Laundry |
Pre-K kids love to help move the laundry from machine to machine, press buttons, and match socks. And children of any age can find satisfaction in a careful fold (just ask Marie Kondo). |
See The Spruce’s How to Teach Your Teen to Do Laundry for ideas for toddlers on up. |
Mindfulness
|
Activity |
Description |
Resource(s) |
|
Breathing exercises |
For young children, the instruction "pay attention to the breath" can be hard to follow. In this Edutopia video, Daniel Goleman describes a second grade "breathing buddy" exercise: Each student grabs a stuffed animal and lies down on their back with their buddy on their belly. Students focus their attention on the rise and fall of the stuffed animal as they breathe in and out. |
Parent Co’s article describes three strategies for breathing with young kids. (Equally helpful for we parents who need to breathe deeply.) Older kids may prefer Childhood 101’s free printable cards. |
|
Walks |
Take mindful walks. As you stroll through your neighborhood, designate one minute for only listening to the sounds around you. Then share with each other what you hear. |
Check out additional tips from Omega. |
|
Yoga |
Mindfulness, movement and breathing. We could all use more of that these days. |
Childhood 101 offers free printable yoga pages, or purchase Yoga Pretzels for ideas. |
Outdoor adventures
|
Activity |
Description |
Resource(s) |
|
Camping |
Pitch a tent in a local park (provided it’s open) or your backyard. Cook over a campfire or grill. Don’t forget your hiking shoes or bikes! |
Check out REI’s guidance in Camping for Beginners or see Taste of Home’s The Ultimate Guide to Backyard Camping. |
|
Gardening |
Invite your children to help you plan, plant, tend and harvest from a container or a garden bed. You might do it...
|
Required resources will vary, but at minimum, you’ll need a trowel, seeds or plants, and a pot or patch of soil. |
|
Hiking |
If you’re new to hiking, start small and focus on making it fun. (Tip: Don’t forget the trail mix!) Whether it’s the park down the street or a new trail outside your local environs, lace up your sneakers or boots, and get walking. |
Check out AllTrails for trails near you, including reviews and photos sourced from fellow hikers. |
Updates and inspiration
We will continue to add to and refine this set of resources in the coming days and weeks.
We’d like to thank the following individuals / organizations who provided inspiration to us as we created this set of resources (linking to their specific resources/sites, when possible). In no particular order: MLFTC staff & faculty, Mike Goldstein, Instruction Partners, Liz Faria, The Together Group, Altura Prep, and Khan Academy.