Here is a great list of resources that the Literacy Center at Cardinal Stritch University (Glendale, WI) shared.

Many people, companies, and organizations are offering free resources for families in order to help students continue learning while schools are closed.  Here is a list of just a few of the resources.

• Charter will be offering free Spectrum broadband and Wi-Fi access for 60 days to households with K-12 or college students who do not currently have service.  It will start Monday, March 16, and be available for 60 days.  You must call 1-844-488-8395 to enroll. It will also open its Wi-Fi hotspots for public use.
• Monday, March 16 – Dan Gutman (author) will read parts of his new book live on Facebook at 1:00 p.m. Central Time. https://www.facebook.com/Dan-Gutman-60020139122/
• Beginning March 16, the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden will live stream Home Safari once each day from its Facebook page.  Check the page for details. https://www.facebook.com/cincinnatizoo
• www.scholastic.com/learnathome has articles, stories, videos, and fun learning challenges free for up to 3 hours per day.
• www.storylineonline.net/ is a free literacy program where actors read to children.
• Rivet is a free app that families can download with thousands of leveled readers.  You can download the app at Google Play.
• www.getepic.com/ is a digital library of books aimed at children under 12.  It is free for educators, and you can join free for 30 days.
• www.learninga-z.com is offering free Raz-Kids and/or Headsprout through the end of the school year.  Make sure to subscribe to Raz-Kids for the trial.
• The Florida Center for Reading Research has many free activities to do with children. https://fcrr.org/resources/index.html
• Khan Academy schedules for school closures has preschool to grade 12 activities. https://bit.ly/2UaBq1F
• http://www.amazingeducationalresources.com/ has a Google form with a list of educational resources.  They also have a Facebook page.
• Adventures in Familyhood identified 20 virtual field trips that you can take with your family. https://adventuresinfamilyhood.com/20-virtual-field-trips-to-take-with-your-kids.html
• Here is a list of over Over 30 Virtual Field Trips. https://bit.ly/3aYGTiK
• http://booksoftheday.tumblebooks.com/default.aspx?U=INSL&P=books is the link for Tumble books.
• https://www.nicheacademy.com/ is the link for niche academy which is helpful for learning.
• Reference USA is https://www.referenceusa.com
• Art
  • ArtBar – activity guide for kids in quarantine

  Books

  • OverDrive – offering 244 titles for simultaneous use in schools through June
  • SEBCO Books – offering 450 FREE ebooks, offer good though 6-30-2020 / Password – keepreading / UN:  sebco / ID# – 1

  Chore guide

  • Age appropriate chores for children

  Cooking

  • Montessori Kids in the Kitchen 
  • Montessori food preparation cooking 
  • A  list of kitchen tools for children 1-4 years of age 

  COVID-19

  • Blog post from Bucks County Free Library, Pennsylvania. Their post includes a special section of information for kids that would be particularly helpful for caregivers and teachers about the Coronavirus.
  • BrainPOP video for kids. You can share this video with teachers and caregivers or play it at story times or children’s events to help educate kids and alleviate their fears. The site also has lots of other resources for kids including related reading, games, and lesson plans.
  • Comic for kids from NPR. Library social media managers are passing around this piece by NPR education reporter Cory Turner. He asked some experts what kids might want to know about the Coronavirus. You can print and fold the comic, which also comes in Chinese.
  • Coronoavirus how to talk with child 
  • Education.com is offering free worksheets for preschool through 5^th grade students and if you are looking for material about the coronavirus
  • What does “flatten the curve” mean?  Check this article out  for a great visual simulation.

  Facebook

  • Check your favorite author, performer or library to see what Facebook live activities they are offering

  Handwashing

  • COVID-19 Germs Experiment for Kids!  YouTube video

  Indiana Travel Advisory

  • Indiana Department of Homeland Security County Travel Status map

  Internet

  • Free Internet for Students during Corona Shutdown – 1-844-488-8398 Spectrum Internet

  Learning activities

  • ABDO Free Distance learning resources available free through June 2020.  Also 10 free titles.
  • Duolingo
  • Free online courses
  • Free Online Learning Resources for schools affected by Coronovirus/COVID-19 
  • Khan Academy
  • National Geographic Kids
  • Scholastic Learn at Home
  • Skype a Scientist is another interactive approach to learning. The service matches families to a scientist for a live video Q&A session.
  • ST Math
  • Stuck at hone?  Enriching activities to do with all ages from the Indiana Young Readers Center – Indiana State Library

  Miscellaneous ideas

  • 7 Things to do if you can’t leave the house
  • 51 Creative Ways to be Active Indoors
  • PBS KIDS’ new weekday newsletter with activities and tips
  • Resources/activities made available for free during COVID19
  • Resources for Families during the Coronavirus Pandemic
  • Typing Club is free & fun so kids can keep on top of typing skills

  Museum virtual tours

  • 19 Immersive museum exhibits you can visit from your couch
  • Children’s Museum of Indianapolis – check out their Facebook page for free Facebook Live Events
  • Guggenheim Museum 
  • Houston Zoo live animal cameras
  • The Louvre
  • Take a virtual tour of these 12 amazing museums
  • Van Gogh Museum 

  Music & Entertainment

  • 15 Broadway Plays and Musicals you can watch on stage from homes
  • Metropolitan Opera to Berlin Philharmonic:  free live streamed classical music concerts coming up

  Outdoor spaces

  • Outdoor spaces to enjoy in solitude

  Reading

  • Applying Montessori ideas when reading with your child
  • Creating a prepared environment for reading
  • Reading gives us somewhere to go when we have to stay where we are – sample schedule of author’s activities

  Social Distancing

  • Video from Marion Public Library demonstrating social distancing

  Story time 

  • The Facebook group Storytime Underground has compiled a list of authors and what they are offering here.  There are also other suggestions on tabs in this document—check it out!  It is being continuously updated.  Joining the group Storytime Underground or the Programming Librarian Interest Group on Facebook is another way to see the latest information being shared.
  • Here is another list with author permissions.
  • Kid Lit Authors Step up to help educators, students and parents
  • Another group is keeping track of live author readings and other streamed storytime events on this calendar.
  • Storyline Online offers books read by celebs which are free to share.  These could be posted on your library social media pages.
  • Tackling copyright concerns when taking storytime online

  Tumblebooks

  • Book of the Day

  Virtual field trips: 

  Explore the world without leaving your home with the help of virtual field trips:

  • 7 Great Video Options to Keep Kids Busy (and Learning) While Social Distancing
  • 40 Free Educational Websites Parents can access while schools are closed
  • ABCYa – educational games for kids
  • E-learning for kids
  • Fun Brain

  Virtual play dates

  • Virtual Play dates with Indy with Kids

  Virtual programming ideas for kids, teens, and adults

  • Here is a list of program ideas compiled by Storytime Underground members.
  • A list of streaming resources/activities, such as Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems.
  • Scholastic Learn at Home is providing lots of free activities you can share with your patrons.
  • A LibGuide that pulls a number of resources into one place.

  Video Conferencing

  • How to Use Google Hangouts YouTube video
  • How to Zoom – Free Video Conferencing & Virtual Meetings YouTube video
  • Zoom page