- Bookshare is an ebook library that makes reading easier for people with barriers such as dyslexia, blindness, and physical disabilities.
- Khan Academy offers free exercises, quizzes, and tests so students can practice and master skills, as well as instructional videos to help students learn.
- Michigan Virtual free online courses to supplement student learning.
- PBS Learn at Home educational programming on TV with corresponding online resources.
- Scholastic has launched a free “Learn at Home” website that has daily courses for students during this school shutdown.
- Wide Open School Virtual Summer Camp prek-grade 5 and grade 6-12
Educational Activities
- Amazing Educational Resources, a HUGE spreadsheet of tools/programs/services that usually cost money but are being offered for free, with info on subject and grade level (crowdsourced)
- Andrew McMeel Publishing Kids, at-home learning resources featuring popular book characters like Big Nate and Phoebe and Her Unicorn
- Audubon for Kids, bird-themed learning resources from the Audubon Society
- Beanstalk, interactive video lessons based on offline activities and experiments
- Bookshare, a free online library for qualifying students with dyslexia, blindness, cerebral palsy, and other reading barriers
- Brainfuse tutoring, live one-on-one sessions and video resources in all academic subjects accessible through the New York Public Library
- Carson Dellosa Education, free printable materials and activities by grade level
- Complexly, a series of video series on educational topics ranging from literature to biochemistry (YouTube)
- Crayola lesson plans, art-infused, standards-based activities and lessons
- Descanso at Home, virtual botanical garden tours, coloring pages, and gardening tutorials from the Descanso Gardens
- EduHam at Home, American history lessons and guides inspired by the musical Hamilton (registration required)
- Encantos Learning Hub (pre–K-1 resources available in English and Spanish)
- Exploratorium in San Francisco, DIY STEM lessons
- Fiveable, study plans and tips for taking the 2020 online AP tests
- Food Literacy Center education lessons, including kid-friendly recipes
- Garden School Foundation At-Home Learning Guide, a collection of healthy recipes and gardening lessons for kids
- GoNoodle Good Energy at Home, entertaining videos and educational at-home activities that encourage movement (available in English and Spanish)
- A Good Time to Write, a compilation of lesson plans, resources, and prompts focused on writing skills from 826 Valencia (registration required)
- Hammertime education activities, tours, coloring, and building activities from the Petersen Automotive Museum
- Interactive Constitution, live, open-source civics and constitutional classes for middle and high schoolers
- KidLit.tv, a collection of webseries, podcasts, tutorials, and other reading resources from popular children’s authors and illustrators
- Kind World Explorers, a downloadable guidebook from Camp Kindness Counts, providing activities and lessons to support social-emotional learning, character strengths, and emotional well-being
- Learn@Home, educational YouTube channels curated by age group (YouTube)
- Mission U.S., interactive American history games
- NASA at Home, a collection of science lessons, activities, and virtual tours for kids curated by NASA
- Nature Lab at Home, downloadable curriculum about nature and science from The Nature Conservatory
- Newsicle, a daily (M-F) news trivia game put on by the folks behind XYZA: News for Kids
- News-o-Matic suspends fees for daily (M-F) news stories for kids K–8 (News-o-Matic app)
- PBS history documentaries, educational films and docu-series available for free
- San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum, hands-on “STREAM” activities focused on science, technology, reading, engineering, art, and math
- Scholastic Learn at Home: 20 days of education activities, broken up into four grade levels
- SCWBI Connects, an extensive directory of activities, ebooks, podcasts, teaching guides, and workshops from members of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators
- Sesame Street’s Caring for Each Other, a collection of games, videos, and wellness tips from the popular characters (Spanish-language activities at sesamo.com)
- TIME for Kids, free access to their digital library and related resources (Time for Kids)
- The World at Home, travel-centric virtual tours and activities from Get Your Guide
Arts, Film, and Music Lessons & Resources
- Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, full-length performances
- Bay Area Children’s Theater Creativity Corner, interactive pretend play challenges and activity sheets (YouTube)
- Camp Hello Bello, scheduled arts, music, and cooking activities curated by Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard (Instagram Live @hellobello, YouTube @Hello Bello)
- CircleTime classes for age 0–6 including yoga, storytime, cooking, and music (registration required)
- Con Todo Press printable coloring pages featuring Latinx trailblazerss
- Disney Magic Moments, a hub of Disney-themed videos, drawing lessons, video-call backgrounds, and even a Mickey Mouse bedtime hotline
- Disney Onstage, at-home activities related to Disney stage musicals like The Lion King and Aladdin
- Draw with Drew (and Rosie!), a collaborative drawing lesson every Thursday from the Time for Kids creative director and a 10-year-old artist
- Home with Olympus, free group photography lessons geared toward those with Olympus equipment
- Hour of Code’s Star Wars-themed coding games (also available offline)
- Imagineering in a Box, a virtual lesson from Pixar and Khan Academy on how to design a Disney theme park (Khan Academy)
- Jarrett Lerner (Enginerds) leads drawing and provides comic-creating prompts
- Kanopy, a movie streaming service available with a library card
- Keep Kids Smart with ART, art lesson plans run through the Boca Raton Museum
- LACO at Home Meet the Music, an on-demand recording of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra’s interactive educational concert for kids
- La Mama Kids Online, virtual workshops focused on performing arts
- Laurie Berkner provides educational music videos (YouTube)
- Little Kids Rock, daily lessons and music resources teaching kids how to play instruments and write songs
- Lunchtime Doodles, a ~30 min. art lesson with Mo Willems (Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus)
- Maria Scrivan (Nat Enough) leads cartooning lessons (YouTube @Maria Scrivan)
- MazeToon’s Joe Wos, daily cartooning lessons (YouTube @HowtoToon)
- Michael’s Community Classroom, crafting and art lessons on topics from painting to cake decorating (registration required)
- New York MoMA art-making activities for families inspired by modern art
- New Victory Arts Break, a weekly schedule of videos and activities focused on a different art form from the New Victory Theater
- Quarantine Art Club, a daily (M-F) drawing challenge from illustrator Carson Ellis (Du Iz Tak?) (Instagram @carsonellis)
- Rebel Girls providing 90+ writing/drawing/DIY prompts (sign up via email)
- Setting the Stage for Learning, a collection of free audio recordings of frequently taught plays from LA Theatre Works
- Stop Motion Kids Camp enrollment from artist Trisha Zemp is being offered for free (redeem enrollment code by sharing one of Zemp’s posts on Instagram @trishazemp)
- Veoleo, printable coloring pages from Latinx artists (donations encouraged)
- Virtual MOCA, a daily (M-F) series of activities for families from the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles
- Walt Disney Family Museum, drawing and animation resources for families
Guides for grades K-High School are available in both English and Spanish .
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Notes from the Backpack Podcasts features real conversations with real parents, experts and educators who offer real-life advice, ideas and strategies parents can use to help their children succeed in and out of school.