Resources/Learning at Home
A list of resources for students who continue their learning after school and on the weekends.
-
Reusing Plastic Bottles: Crafts and Projects
https://www.bottlestore.com/reusingplasticbottlescraftsandprojectsInstead of buying an item new, you can use your imagination to make the item out of things you already have. The creative process of upcycling can be fun and exciting, and people of all ages often enjoy these projects. Plastic bottles are a perfect material to use for upcycling projects and science projects. They are a blank canvas, inviting creativity. They are also lightweight and versatile. Pass the time in new ways using plastic bottles for science and craft projects. Following science instructions is a beneficial exercise for kids because it requires them to read, follow instructions, and analyze. Most kids love watching science erupt in front of them. Make an exciting volcano using baking soda, white vinegar, and food coloring. A homemade lava lamp or rocket ship is another possibility for a home science lab.
-
Broward County Library learning resources
https://www.broward.org/Library/Pages/Youth.aspx -
Footsteps2Brilliance – Early Childhood Learning Resource
Footsteps2Brilliance is offering complimentary access to our full program to ALL families of children 0-8 years old for 90 days. This includes comprehensive digital preschool through 2nd grade curriculum in both English and Spanish; leverages the smartphones, tablets, and computers your parents already own, can be used on any device and any platform. Can be used both online and , Once downloaded the program if fully accessible without WIFI or cell service. Visit https://www.footsteps2brilliance.com/ for more information.
-
Top 20 Education Sites from www.learningliftoff.com
This site lets you build a lesson around any TED talk, TED-Ed resource, or YouTube video. You can also find and use existing lessons on a variety of topics. A great resource for any teacher, homeschooler, parent, or student.
A must-follow blog for homeschoolers who want to keep it simple, Jamie of Simple Homeschool shares reviews, giveaways, and articles on curriculum and other topics as well as inspiration and encouragement for homeschooling families.
This subscription site promises to make learning to read fun with games, songs, and engaging rewards as well as a series of mobile apps. It’s a favorite of many parents with kids aged three and up.
Khan Academy offers free online lessons and interactive exercises on just about every possible topic. These lessons can be a great resource for students and parents, whether you work through an entire subject, or just supplement with videos to get help with a tricky math challenge or other subject.
The website for this popular San Francisco children’s science center features an impressive selection of free activities, videos, printables, and interactive online resources on a variety of math and science topics.
The NASA website’s For Students section includes a great free catalog of articles, activities, videos, and games for students in grades K–12 on topics related to STEM, aeronautics, and space exploration.
With more than 45,000 free eBooks, including a large collection of classic children’s literature, Project Gutenberg is a fantastic resource for growing your home library on a budget.
This free language app is available for iPhone, Android, and the web and offers fun and engaging lessons for a variety of languages, including Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Italian, and English. Duolingo is a great option for homeschooling parents who want their kids to learn a new language but need a more affordable option than tutoring or language classes.
With engaging videos of experiments and science fair projects, as well as detailed printable instructions, and in some cases free lesson plans, this site is a great source of inspiration and instructions for cool science experiments to do at home or in the classroom.
Articles on getting started, curriculum reviews, printable lessons, and links to local support groups make this site a great resource, especially for families who are new to homeschooling.
A nonprofit organization dedicated to math achievement, XtraMath features free math videos, lessons, and activities as well as progress reports and resources for teachers and parents. The site is a valuable resource both for homework help and more in-depth lessons.
This blog from the New York Times (NYT) features free standards-aligned daily lessons on civics, social studies, history, and other topics related to current news and events. Quizzes, activities, and a student version of the NYT crossword offer more opportunities for learning in the classroom or at home.
With more than 3,000 science and math activities, How to Smile is an award-winning, free resource for teachers and parents. The high-quality, hands-on math and science activities are particularly intended for students in “out-of-school learning environments” such as after-school programs, zoos and museums, and homeschoolers.
The writers at The Activity Mom are all former classroom teachers who now focus their attention on teaching their own kids and sharing resources and educational activities with others. Their blog is a great resource for parents looking for fun and educational activities, especially for toddlers, preschoolers, and elementary age students.
This free web-based platform offers thousands of free, standards-aligned games, videos, and interactive activities in all K–12 subjects. Build classes and assignments and monitor progress, or use the site to encourage learning after school.
Discovery Education offers free resources for parents, teachers, and students, including lesson plans, homework help, videos, and more.
BrainPOP is a subscription site, but many families—both homeschooling and those with kids in traditional school—find the quality of the site to be worth the yearly fee. Engaging animated movies, quizzes, and educational games in every subject, as well as mobile access, are offered starting at $99 a year.
MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) such as those offered by Coursera and edX can be a great way for high school students and advanced learners to challenge themselves with college-level coursework. Courses from world-class universities such as Harvard, Yale, and MIT are open to anyone, anywhere, f0r free.
This site offers articles, curriculum reviews, and other learning resources for homeschooling kids with autism, ADHD, learning disorders, and other special needs.
K12 offers independent and teacher-led courses for homeschoolers, plus supplemental learning programs such as Embark for preschoolers, in addition to offering public and private online schooling options. For a closer look at K12, visit Learning Liftoff’s Learning Games section, which features sample lessons from K12’s curriculum and learning programs. And visit K12.com to learn about the differences between online learning and traditional homeschooling.
-
5 STEAM Activities To Do with Your Kids at Home
Are your favorite children’s museums temporarily closed? Have no fear—your kids can still get in their ever-so-valuable STEAM learning at home! Using household items like food coloring, pool noodles and highlighters, you and your children can conduct simple “experiments” that are part craft, part science and tons of fun! Here are mommynearest’s five favorite STEAM activities for families: https://www.mommynearest.com/article/5-steam-activities-to-do-with-your-kids-at-home.
-
Historic Stranahan House Museum & Other Live Streams
The Historic Stranahan House Museum in Fort Lauderdale is temporarily closed to the public to help stop the spread of COVID-19 (the coronavirus). In order to continue to share our story and engage the community, we will be presenting free family friendly programs via our Facebook page every weekday.
Join us Monday through Friday at 11:00am for a variety of complimentary museum programs including storytime, virtual tours, and history hours at facebook.com/StranahanHouse.
In addition, please visit this Google doc, which is being continuously updated with many live stream options and other activities: https://docs.google.com/document/u/0/d/1wyYWE7f8lj0ywauxrnmEl3CGj5_FQvdx-BkCK7AuKq4/mobilebasic?fbclid=IwAR2qHinBMyVsFVYw7LaF5wR0l5mpXVHPUvZ34dxC6HcLbM-ovdiynGTHPmA
-
Learning-at-Home Resources from weeLove
weeLove has compiled a list of some helpful resources that their team has been using (or just learned about!) to help you and the caregivers in your life stay sane, and keep your children entertained and engaged.
Guidance for Parents:
- How to Talk to Kids About Coronavirus
- How to Emotionally Prepare for Coronavirus Quarantine as a Family
- Tips to Stay Sane When Working from Home with Kids
For the Kids:
- Your day will probably be far from zen, but Cosmic Kids offers free yoga adventures for kids. Namaste.
- Go on a Home Safari and learn about incredible animals at the Cincinnati Zoo (it’s live on Facebook every weekday at 3pm EST or you can watch later).
- Head to beloved author Mo Willems’ studio for daily Lunch Doodles.
- Get the wiggles out with Go Noodle dance videos.
- Enjoy free daily art tutorials from McHarper Manor, a mom + pop art studio in Ohio.
- Help your child’s imagination run wild with a podcast from Story Pirates.
- Go on a learning journey with Out of Eden, a free online program for students 3-19, where students of similar ages from diverse geographical and socioeconomic settings come together to learn.
-
Learning-at-Home Resources from Brightly
Whether you’re a stay-at-home parent who suddenly can’t take your children out of the house or a working mother or father who is adjusting to doing their job from home, while also providing childcare and homeschooling, life is full of new and unexpected changes right now. To help you navigate your day-to-day, Brightly has put together educational resources and engaging activities so there’s always something to keep your kids occupied. Whether you’re looking to keep them focused on learning, just need some peace and quiet, or a little of both, we’re here for you. And together, we’ll get through this.
Visit https://www.readbrightly.com/educational-resources-activities/ for a wealth of educational resources and activities for the following ages:
- Baby & Toddler: Ages 0-2
- Pre-K: Ages 3-5
- Growing Reader: Ages 6-8
- Tween: Ages 9-12
- Teen: Ages 13+
-
Free Home Access to ABC Mouse
Redeem code AOFLUNICEF for FREE access to www.ABCmouse.com Early Learning Academy, Adventure Academy, and ReadingIQ during the period of school closure.
https://www.abcmouse.com/Redeem for Early Learning Academy (for children Preschool through 2nd Grade.
https://www.readingiq.com/redeem for ReadingIQ (for children in Preschool through 6th Grade.
https://www.adventureacademy.com/redeem for Adventure Academy (for Children in 3rd through 8th grade.
-
Access Scholastic’s Learn at Home Site for Pre-K to 6th Grade
https://classroommagazines.scholastic.com/support/learnathome.html
Even when schools are closed, you can keep the learning going with these special cross-curricular journeys. Every day includes four separate learning experiences, each built around a thrilling, meaningful story or video. Kids can do them on their own, with their families, or with their teachers. Just find your grade level and let the learning begin!
-The Editors of Scholastic Classroom Magazines.
-
Broward County Public Schools – Learning is Continuous
Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) is committed to supporting students and families in making sure that learning never closes. When the school buildings are closed for any reason (vacation, weekends, or even unexpected closures), BCPS encourages families and caregivers to have students engage in academic activities. As such, the following options ensure that in Broward County, learning is continuous.
Each student in BCPS has a suite of grade level appropriate academic tools available to them around the clock, every day of the year. Access to adopted textbooks, Canvas learning management system and dozens of other resources are available through this Clever portal. Students can access their suite of resources via the Single-Sign-On Clever LaunchPad. Some of the resources may require the teacher to provide access before the student can initiate the activities.
Please click here to learn how your at-home learner can continue their education while school is closed.
-
Audible Stories: Free Audiobooks for Kids
For as long as schools are closed, we’re open. Starting March 30th, kids everywhere can instantly stream an incredible collection of stories, including titles across six different languages, that will help them continue dreaming, learning, and just being kids.
All stories are free to stream on your desktop, laptop, phone or tablet.
Explore the collection, select a title and start listening.
It’s that easy. Click here to start listening.
-
Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation Offers Free Educational Videos & Live Facebook Instruction
To help families stay engaged, entertained and educated while they spend time at home during the COVID-19 pandemic, world-renowned artist, conservationist, scientist and entrepreneur Dr. Guy Harvey and his daughter Jessica, project manager for the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation (GHOF), have introduced more than 25 free educational videos at GuyHarvey.com as well as live marine-inspired art instruction sessions for all ages on Facebook Live from Monday through Friday at 11 a.m. (EST), beginning March 30 when Dr. Harvey shares his art techniques and what inspires him and answers questions from viewers.
The collection of short videos available online, known as Jessica Harvey’s Expedition Notebook, follow the father-daughter team as they travel the world to study and document the largest predators and most exotic wildlife in the sea and on land. There are exciting, fun and fascinating videos that give an up close and personal look at such sea creatures as the white shark, white marlin, shortfin mako shark, barracuda, oceanic whitetop shark, grouper, stingray and great hammerhead shark, among others. Shot in beautiful, natural habitats, the videos detail the life of these creatures, many of which are endangered. Viewers will learn more about what they are and where and how they live.
“As we spend more time at home during this difficult time, these videos can provide terrific educational moments for families,” said Dr. Harvey. “From an early age, we can nurture a love of the sea, marine science and marine life. As they better understand the habits and habitats of marine wildlife, we can foster the next generation of ocean conservationists,” said Dr. Harvey.
To view the videos, documentaries and additional educational resources visit guyharvey.com/pages/ghof-education.
-
NSU Alvin Sherman Library: Learn At Home! A Handy Resource Guide to Virtual Home Learning
We understand that you can’t always make it to the library, so here are some great resources to learn and enjoy books at home!
Visit https://nsufl.libguides.com/c.php?g=1012531&p=7334017 for Teacher Resources, STEM for Kids, DIY Storytimes, Tools for Teens, Fun Games, Author & Illustrator Visits and much more!
Internet Access at Home for Remote Learning:
If you need access to internet at home during this time of hardship, Comcast is providing a 60 Day Free trial of its Internet Essentials service to qualifying low-income families. This service is normally $9.95/month for all qualified households. Please check the Internet Essentials by Comcast website for more information on this service.Charter Communications and Spectrum have also offered a 60 day free trial to households with students in K-12 or college who do not already have internet at home. For more information you can check the Charter Communications website or call 1-844-488-8395.
-
Junior Achievement Resources for Students and Teachers
Junior Achievement of South Florida is here to support students, parents and teachers during this period of uncertainty. Learning can continue and JA is providing access to learning experiences that students can do on their own, with a parent or other caring adult, or with teachers via a digital/virtual environment.
Virtual Activities for All Ages Resources are organized by school level and can be used whether or not you’ve engaged in a JA program in the past. Teachers – Junior Achievement Offers Additional Resources Junior Achievement understands our educators are busy working remotely and providing online curriculum to their students. JA has additional activities students and their parents/guardians can do at home. -
Explore Noggin — the learning app from the experts at Nick Jr. — Free 60-Day Trial
For a limited time, get 60 days free! Noggin is the only subscription service where learning is led by the trusted characters your kids know and love – brought to you by the experts with over 30 years of preschool edutainment experience.
Noggin has a huge library of some of the most popular and beloved preschool shows of all time— including PAW Patrol, Peppa Pig, Bubble Guppies, Dora the Explorer, and lots more!
Visit https://www.noggin.com/ for more information.
-
Special Delivery on the Way to BCPS Youngest Learners to Support Reading
48,000 Books to Be Provided to Pre-K – Second Grade Students at Title I Schools
A special delivery will soon be on the way for thousands of Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) youngest students. As part of the District’s continued focus on ensuring learning never closes during the coronavirus pandemic, BCPS is providing nearly 48,000 books for pre-K through second grade students from Title I schools to enrich their home libraries.
“I’m happy to announce our District is sending a set of ‘Open the World of Possible’ books for our youngest learners,” BCPS Superintendent Robert W. Runcie said. “Each of the students will receive five age-and grade level-appropriate books to read and enjoy at home. Research shows access to and interactions with physical books at home has a direct impact on reading achievement. Through these books, we hope our students will continue to grow their skills and develop a love of reading.”
In addition to the set of books, students will receive a journal and family guide to share with their parents, which includes tips and strategies for supporting their child’s reading. Superintendent Runcie and community leaders from across Broward County are also creating videotaped book readings families can access online and watch at home.
The School Board of Broward County unanimously approved this initiative so that students will receive their books in the mail starting at the end of May 2020. Scholastic is also providing the books at a discounted price.
For more information, contact Dr. Lori Canning, executive director, Early Learning Language Acquisition, at 754-321-1953 or [email protected].
-
Broward County and Broward County Public Schools Present Together 4 Broward
As unemployment climbs and the COVID-19 pandemic continues to create unexpected challenges for families, Broward County and Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) are working with Broward service organizations to provide a comprehensive online resource for the community at Together4Broward.org.
Together4Broward.org lists entities throughout the county that are assisting Broward residents during these extraordinary times. Families can quickly locate those closest to their home through an interactive map.
Many in our community face unemployment, and food insecurity is of great concern. Together4Broward.org has as its first priority supporting access to nutritional foods. The website highlights dozens of locations across Broward County offering healthy meals, including food banks, 49 BCPS schools – serving “grab and go” meals once a week for children 18 years and younger and the adults who accompany them – as well as churches and local government agencies that provide a range of support services.
This community resource is a collaborative effort by a coalition of independent agencies and community supporters working together to ensure families have access to crucial services during the unprecedented health crisis and economic downturn.
In addition to Broward County and BCPS, those entities include Children’s Services Council of Broward County; Feeding South Florida; HOPE South Florida; Meals on Wheels South Florida; United Way of Broward County; Area Agency on Aging; Food for Health, the Environment, Economy & Democracy, LLC (FHEED); Florida Introduces Physical Activity and Nutrition to Youth (FLIPANY), Food Rescue US, No Kid Hungry, South Florida Hunger Coalition, 211, Jim Moran Foundation, Miami Dolphins and the Health Foundation of Broward County.
-
Broward Technical Colleges Now Offering Rapid Credentialing Courses
Rapid Credentialing courses are now being offered at Atlantic, McFatter & Sheridan Technical Colleges.
These programs are to help people get immediate short term training in a myriad of essential careers. While not full programs, they are designed to get people enough skills to become a valued employee who can then return to the workforce and build upon a career path. Please follow these links to learn more:
Atlantic: ATC_RapidCredentialingCourses_2020 (2)
McFatter: MTC Rapid Credentials_9.8.20
Sheridan: STC_RapidCredentialingCourses_2020 -
FAU launches new advising services for working professionals seeking to finish their degree
With the appointment of Sheena Orr, Advisor & Coordinator of Professional Studies FAU Broward Campuses, FAU is offering one-on-one tailored advising for prospective returning students wishing to complete their degree. This service is designed to help working professionals find the right pathway to graduation.
Returning students will be able to build their course schedule around their personal and professional commitments. For maximum flexibility, the FAU Davie campus provides course options that include evening, mini-terms, hybrid and online formats. Students can also take course work at the FAU main campus in Boca Raton as well as other partner campuses.
Working professionals will receive individualized advising that includes a comprehensive review of transcripts from previous institutions. Prospective students will be provided with the best program option for a timely graduation and to meet their professional goals. Advising services are currently being offered on virtual platforms including Microsoft Teams, Zoom and Google Meet. To schedule a consultation with Ms. Orr, please contact her at: [email protected] or 954-236-1466.
-
WATER SCIENCE PROJECTS AND EXPERIMENTS
https://www.siyachts.com/Water-Science-Projects-And-ExperimentsWater is everywhere! Water is in every part of our everyday lives, including inside our bodies. We drink water, we cook with it, and we swim and bathe in it. But how much do you actually know about water? There’s a lot of interesting science related to water, and you can explore and learn by doing fun water activities and experiments at home. Anyone can create, watch, and learn with these ideas, and many of them can be great fun for the entire family! These activities can teach you about measurement, how water changes from a solid to a liquid, how different substances interact with water, and more. Many of these experiments can be done inside, and some are perfect for taking outside on a hot summer day.
-
Important Information from Broward County Public Schools (3/3/21)
For important information from the District regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19), please visit:
https://www.browardschools.com/coronavirusDistrict News:
Supt. Runcie Shares Important Information Regarding Vaccinations for BCPS Employees (3/3/21)
Watch the video here: https://eduvision.tv/l?emRmgRRBCPS Expands FREE Grab-and-Go meals for students. (2/19/21)
Grab-And-Go meal bundle distributions will now include meals on Sundays — now providing students with breakfast and lunch for all seven days of the week.A child or parent providing identification for their child may pick up Sunday meals every Thursday. All students, regardless if they’re attending school in person or remotely, are eligible. The meals are distributed at all elementary, middle and high schools in the Broward County public school district.
Distribution times vary by school. Contact your nearest school for more information.
Visit www.browardschools.com/food-service for full details.
BCPS Grab-and-Go Meal Distribution Schedule for the 2020-21 School Year (As of 8/25/20)View Superintendent Runcie’s Latest Updates from the January 20th School Board Meeting (1/20/21)