For children in grades K-12
This page is being updated. Most recent entries will be at the top of the page.
Art and Poetry contest for children in grades 2-12. Theme: Water is Life. End date March 3 2023. Read about it here:
Rise, an extraordinary opportunity for teenagers. The program starts at ages 15–17 and offers those chosen access to need-based scholarships, a fully-funded residential summit, mentorship, career development, and potential funding. Learn more at https://www.risefortheworld.
- The Coronavirus COVID-19 comic book created by an NPR science reporter is a good way to explain what’s happening to a younger audience. This resource probably best for school age and older children. You be the judge.
This is the link to the comic directly. It is on the NPR Instagram but I couldn’t view it there. Will also post that link below. The author is Malaka Gharib malakagharib on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/p/B9pVD2LBl1U/
Instagram link to the comic on NPR https://www.instagram.com/p/B9HZ1snjjO9/
2. Dozens of museums and libraries offer free downloadable coloring books:
https://hyperallergic.com/548006/free-downloadable-coloring-books/
3. Scholastic is offering free 20 daily book and activity sets FREE online, by grade level:
https://classroommagazines.scholastic.com/support/learnathome.html
4. From our friends at the American Museum of Natural History
The OLogy science website, where kids and families can find fun activities and games to learn about the natural world around them: https://www.amnh.org/explore/ology
Online curriculum collections for teachers, parents, and students on topics ranging from dinosaurs to river ecology: https://www.amnh.org/learn-teach/curriculum-collections
5. Vast list of activities for children compiled by Common Sense Media
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/blog/free-online-events-activities-kids-at-home-coronavirus
6. From Common Sense Media:
Streaming movies:
Netflix: Here are all the best movies for kids streaming right now
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/lists/best-kids-movies-on-netflix
7. TV to watch with all ages: Shows that are good for kids of different ages to watch together
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/lists/sibling-watch-together-tv
8. A Newsletter from Common Sense Media March 2020 for the school at home day.There are a number of links and suggestions in the newsletter.
9. For all ages, children and adults:
Virtual School Activities
https://virtualschoolactivities.com/
Many, many resources and links here
10. Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI)
Directory for remote learning resources. Some in Spanish but not much.
https://www.scbwi.org/digital-directory-for-remote-learning-resources/
11. MoMa Resources List (this is a little dense you will have to explore it to see if anything is useful)
https://www.moma.org/magazine/articles/255
12. For families with middle and high school students:
During school closures, Youth Communication will offer a free, weekly email newsletter with standards-based curricula designed to support remote ELA Learning (in middle and high schools). Sign up: https://mailchi.mp/youthcomm/ela-remote-learning-curriculum
13. Free online tutoring for NYC school children grades K-12 through a partnership between the New York Public Library and Brain Fuse:
https://www.nypl.org/about/remote-resources/kids-and-teens/homework-help-brainfuse
14. Remote learning resources for children and teens from the New York Public Library:
https://www.nypl.org/about/remote-resources/kids-and-teens
15. K-8 book recommendations, fiction and non-fiction from the New York Public Library:
https://nypl.org/collections/articles-databases/novelist-k8
16. Draw with children’s book author Mo Willems on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=mo+williems
17. Web calendar for Lincoln Center features short performances, live and recorded pop-up activities on their FaceBook page @LincolnCenterNYC and events for children including live story times: https://lincolncenter.org/calendar
18. New York City Department of Education learn-at-home activities for students page, by grade level:
https://www.schools.nyc.gov/learn-at-home/activities-for-students
19. New York City Department of Education additional resources for students including magazines, websites, free or discounted books, learning about Coronavirus, and more:
https://www.schools.nyc.gov/learn-at-home/activities-for-students/additional-resources
20. For information on free internet and cable access, and free laptops or iPads for NYC students visit this page on our website: https://bloomingdalefamilyprogram.org/free-cable-and-internet-access/
21. Fun experiment on the spread of germs: https://youtu.be/I5-dI74zxPg
- The Children’s Museum of Manhattan is posting daily activities:
https://cmom.org/learn/cmom-at-home/
23. Audible is now free for children: https://stories.audible.com/start-listen
24.) Coloring book from innovative design company Kikkerland: https://viewer.ipaper.io/kikkerland/kikkerland-coloring-book-free-download/?page=1
25.) Exercise and Dance!
PE with Joe Daily 9 am: https://youtu.be/qGKGNzNbWjU
Urban Dance Camp: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKG0lVFSJAM
Cosmic Kids Yoga: https://youtu.be/40SZl84Lr7A
Yoga for When You are Angry: https://youtu.be/ie5yjNGLxfQ
26.) Great pictorial description of the coronavirus from Gigi’s Playhouse
https://gigisplayhouse.org/Gigisathome/schoolagers/COVID-19%20Social%20Story%20for%20schoolage%20learners.pdf
27.) Free resources in English and Spanish for PreK-Grade 8 from FirstBook.org
https://www.fbmarketplace.org/free-resources/
28.) The Brooklyn Public Library has a calendar of virtual events, from story time for young children, to art activities, to events for teens. You can sort by age: https://www.bklynlibrary.org/calendar/list
29.) Experience New York City from home. Many online suggestions here: https://www.nycgo.com/articles/social-distancing-things-to-do-nyc
30.) Crayola has 52 ideas for crayon fun at home:
https://created.crayola.com/HigherLogic/System/DownloadDocumentFile.ashx?DocumentFileKey=76b721bf-10a1-b59e-653f-0815c2ac146c&forceDialog=0
31.) Common Sense Media has a fantastic new site called Wide Open School bringing together leading publishers, nonprofits, and education and technology companies to offer families and educators free learning experiences and activities. It is a fantastic collection of easily navigated links done by topic. Take a look:
https://wideopenschool.org/
32.) Brains On! has great science episodes for kids, from Minnesota Public Radio
https://www.brainson.org/shows/2020/03/10/understanding-coronavirus-and-how-germs-spread-for-kids
33.) NYC Department of Education Resources list including free books, magazines, websites, and coronavirus information for children:
https://www.schools.nyc.gov/learn-at-home/activities-for-students/additional-resources
34.) A short animation on how animations are made: https://vimeo.com/401140696
35.) Landmark West uses NYC architecture to deliver online activities and workshops for school age children. This one, Shape Detectives at Home, focuses on shapes – scroll down for more topics: https://www.landmarkwest.org/shape-detectives-at-home/
36.) Strategies for home learning from HighScope. Some are in Spanish
https://highscope.org/active-learning-at-home/
37.) Time for Kids is now available free for all grade levels for the rest of the school year. Register here: https://time.com/tfk-free/
38.) New art activity: Draw with Drew and Rosie, another free Time for Kids resource: https://time.com/5820518/draw-with-us/
39.) Origami tutorials, great for all ages: https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/origami-4162885
40.) Hands-on activities for free time, from Commonsensemedia.org https://www.commonsensemedia.org/activity-books-for-creative-kids-and-teens
41.) Ranger Rick is offering free access for 3 months to its entire site. You need to register for a free account.
Main website: https://rangerrick.org/
To sign up for digital edition of Ranger Rick Cub (ages 0-4): https://rangerrick.org/freedigital/
Educator guides: https://rangerrick.org/magazines/ranger-rick/classroom-resources/educators-guide/
Parent reading guides: https://rangerrick.org/magazines/ranger-rick-jr/parent-reading-guides/
42.) Recipes for At Home Play Activities from the New York Public Library Grades PreK-2
https://www.nypl.org/blog/2020/04/24/recipes-at-home-play
43.) The New York Botanical Garden At Home for Kids and Families: Keep kids growing at home with lessons plans, recipes, videos and more: https://www.nybg.org/nybg-at-home-for-kids-families/
44.) Visit Virtual New York to explore all over the city: https://www.nycgo.com/virtual-nyc/
45.) Monumental Women has released an online version of their art and suffrage history project “Put Her on a Pedestal,” which helps prepare and share commemorations of the diverse figures of the suffragist movement. Aimed primarily at middle schoolers, it is a perfect and engaging online project for parents and kids. Learn more here: https://monumentalwomen.org/put-her-on-a-pedestal/
46.) From MoMA: Art Making Activities Families Can Do at Home, for children age 6 and up: We rounded up some of our favorite drawing, collage, audio, and movement activities inspired by artworks in MoMA’s collection. https://www.moma.org/magazine/articles/254
47.) Short movies to enjoy with children that spark creativity, from MoMA: https://www.moma.org/magazine/articles/285
48.) Visit https://www.wonderopolis.org/wonders for answers to all kinds of interesting and amazing questions.
49.) Free puzzle book download from Kikkerland Design: https://viewer.ipaper.io/kikkerland/kikkerland-puzzle-book-free-download/?page=1
50.) Girls Who Code offers free computer science activities for students, educators, and parents. Sign up here.
51.) The Fortune Society has compiled an extensive list of activities and opportunities
52.) KidLit at Home: list of best video resources including picture book resources: https://kidlit.tv/kidlit-at-home/
53.) Visit the National Dance Institute for a variety of online, free classes and dance events: https://nationaldance.org/ndilive/
54.) Science at home: activities with videos from the Bronx Zoo: https://bronxzoo.com/learn/educators/digital-resources/stay-at-home-science
55.) Tips on setting up home learning: https://www.mymove.com/home-inspiration/covid-19/online-school-set-up/