Amazing Online Learning Opportunities for Kids When School is Closed

If you’re like me and your school-aged kids are at home needing education and entertainment, this is a list of online educational resources and extracurricular activities that kids can participate in from your home computer or tablet!

There is a lot here, especially if you click through the links, which lead to more links, which lead to even more resources!

You will not be without help if you are helping to supplement your child’s education, home schooling or needing some educational opportunities for kids to use during screen time!

Online Reading and Educational Opportunities:

LUNCH DOODLES with Mo Williams!

“Mo Willems invites YOU into his studio every day for his LUNCH DOODLE. Learners worldwide can draw, doodle and explore new ways of writing by visiting Mo’s studio virtually once a day for the next few weeks. Grab some paper and pencils, pens, or crayons and join Mo to explore ways of writing and making together. New episodes will be posted each weekday at 1:00 p.m. ET and then remain online to be streamed afterwards.”

Scholastic Learn at Home

“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!”

Home Safari Facebook Live with the Cincinnati Zoo

“While the Cincinnati Zoo is closed and kids are home from school, let us help make your children’s hiatus from school fun and educational. Join us for a Home Safari Facebook Live each weekday at 3pm EDT where we will highlight one of our amazing animals and include an activity you can do from home. Join us starting Monday, March 16 at 3pm EDT for our first Home Safari- featuring Fiona!”

Virtual Field Trips

A Google Doc with “Over 30 Virtual Field Trips with Links”.

Mystery Science Online Lessons

“All of the lessons below are expertly designed to engage students, achieve learning outcomes, and be easy for teachers to use. We have short mini-lessons that are completely digital and full lessons that include an activity. All of the activities are designed to use simple supplies a parent will likely already have at home.”

Storyline Online

“The SAG-AFTRA Foundation’s award-winning children’s literacy website, Storyline Online, streams videos featuring celebrated actors reading children’s books alongside creatively produced illustrations. Readers include Viola Davis, Chris Pine, Lily Tomlin, Kevin Costner, Annette Bening, James Earl Jones, Betty White and dozens more.

Storyline Online is available 24 hours a day for children, parents, caregivers and educators worldwide. Each book includes supplemental curriculum developed by a credentialed elementary educator, aiming to strengthen comprehension and verbal and written skills for English-language learners.”

Online Arts and Culture Classes:

Art For Kids Hub

“Here you’ll find all kinds of art lessons for kids, including how to draw for kids, even painting and origami for kids.”

Wild, Free and Crafty Online Art Lessons

“Join us for FREE online art lessons for kids (and adults). Ease some anxiety with art therapy, learn how to create awesome projects, and enjoy getting creative.”

20 Virtual Field Trips to Take with Your Kids from Adventures in Familyhood

“Explore zoos, aquariums, museums and destinations around the world without leaving home. Here are 20 virtual field trips you can take with your kids.”

Online Art Classes with McHarper Manor

“Beginning next week, our studio will be going live daily Monday through Friday at 1pm Eastern Time, with free art & craft tutorials to create at home with your kids! We’ll have shopping lists (with links to the supplies you can order from Amazon) so you can have supplies on-hand to complete the projects with us!”

Tour Over 500+ Museums with Google Arts and Culture

Click on each Museum for virtual tours and online exhibits!

Step by Step Painting Tutorials

“This website/ painting blog is filled with easy beginner acrylic painting tutorials designed by Tracie Kiernan! Each tutorial has step by step pictures, written directions and videos to help you learn at home for FREE!”

Draw Everyday with JJK

“You won’t need anything fancy. Some paper, a pencil. Maybe a marker. As we go along—and I plan to keep this going as long as we need—I may work in color lessons. (Color pencils, watercolor.)”

‘Nightly Met Opera Streams from The Metropolitan Opera

“Beginning tonight and continuing each day for the duration of the Met’s closure, an encore presentation from the company’s Live in HD series will be made available from 7:30 p.m. EDT until 3:30 p.m. the following day.”

Online Ballet Instruction with Cleveland Inner City Ballet

“Cleveland Inner City Ballet be launching our first ever Virtual Online Ballet Instruction Program, FREE of charge. You will be able to access the program on our Facebook page at Cleveland Inner City Ballet Facebook and here on our website under the tab Virtual Ballet Instruction. We want to keep your little ones moving over the next three weeks as they are off from school. We will be offering fun and engaging ballet instruction and tutorials you can practice in the privacy of your own home. Remember to check back here or on Facebook for your first virtual ballet lesson Monday 3/16/20. See you Monday!”