SYCAMORE
SCHOOL
elementary education for
a connected and evolving world
At-HOME learning resources
It's a challenging time. We are not sure when schools will reopen and parents are finding themselves in a new role...educator. Working with students at home, while certainly challenging, can provide amazing opportunities for exploration and growth. In an attempt to provide some level of support for those struggling to fill the time with meaningful activities, we've vetted a list of resources that you may find interesting and useful.
COMMUNICATION
Literacy
reading, writing, literature, film, graphic design, story telling
SCHOLASTIC
classroommagazines.scholastic.com/support/learnathome.html?caching
Each day provides a number of things to do including readings, videos, and activities
Level: All levels
PBS LEARNING
Videos and readings on a variety of subjects.
Level: All levels
BEST PODCASTS FOR KIDS
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/blog/the-best-podcasts-for-kids
Common Sense Media has compiled a list of the 25 best podcasts for kids.
Level: All levels
STORY ONLINE
https://www.storylineonline.net/library/
This is a great resource with videos and prompts for discussing stories! You can choose a story to have your child watch. When they are finished watching the video, you can discuss the book together. They are encouraged to illustrate/write a response in their journals.
Level: Elementary
TEACH YOUR MONSTER
TO READ
https://www.teachyourmonstertoread.com/
There are three games in this app. If you click on the blue button that says “More” underneath each game, you will find details to help you make the best choice for your child. Once you open the app, your child designs a monster avatar and completes phonics challenges that require sound. Make sure the volume is on!
Level: Lower Elementary
MONKEY WORD
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/monkey-word-school-adventure/id565951597
This app has short engaging phonics activities that keep up the pace. The benefit from this app is that it moves players through challenges based on their prior performance. The six activities repeat, but the level of increasing challenge keeps it fun for kids.
Level: Lower Elementary
MONTESSORI LETTER SOUNDS
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/montessori-letter-sounds-phonics-in-english-spanish/id479243891
This app gives you practice shaping letters in addition to simple letter sound practice.
Level: Lower Elementary
GAMES
games, games, games
LITTLE ALCHEMY
Combine basic elements to create hundreds of new things. Challenge yourself to create LIFE, SURFERS, ENERGY, or even the GRIM REAPER?
Level: All levels
GEO GUESSR
Engaging exploration using Google Maps. You're dropped in the middle of nowhere...how can you use observation and critical thinking to find out where you are?
Level: Upper elementary - high school
ABCYa
Tons of games sorted by grade level and topic
Level: All levels
museums, farms, zoos, etc...
MEET OUR ANCESTORS
https://go.cloudplatformonline.com/NJ004Gvo0004LtW2Whc0u3k
Chauvet Cave in Ardèche (France) has 36,000-year-old prehistoric cave paintings. Closed to the public since its discovery in 1994, but now with Google Arts & Culture you can explore this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Level: All levels
HERITAGE ON THE EDGE
https://go.cloudplatformonline.com/g50uchk0v304JW0oG002XtL
‘Heritage on the Edge’ looks at the impact of climate change on cultural sites. This Google Arts & Culture project has overviews of the sites, issues, and preservation steps. A resource for history, culture and environmental awareness.
Level: All levels
VIRTUAL MUSEUM TOURS
https://www.travelandleisure.com/attractions/museums-galleries/museums-with-virtual-tours
Twelve famous museums are offering virtual tours of their exhibits
Level: All levels
THE CINCINNATI ZOO
https://www.facebook.com/events/2915534028492292/
The Cincinnati Zoo posts a live Facebook stream “Home Safari” every day at noon (PT).
Level: All levels
APRICOT LANE FARMS
https://www.instagram.com/apricotlanefarms/channel/
Apricot Lane Farms (which is in California, and was the subject of the documentary, The Biggest Little Farm, is doing live farm tours every Friday at 10am.
Level: Elementary
SO CAL VIRTUAL FIELD TRIPS
Virtual field trips of Southern California's most interesting attractions.
Level: All levels
AWESOME THINGS TO SEE & DO IN DUBAI
https://www.bayut.com/mybayut/things-you-will-only-see-dubai/
Unable to meet in person, our resources page was discovered and used by a local youth ministry group. One of their members sent us an interesting page she discovered in her search for cool resources. Here is a round-up of some cool and crazy things you will only see in Dubai. Thanks, Aubree!
Level: All levels
VIRTUAL TOURS
Patterns and
modeling
mathematics, numeracy, number sense, patterns, problem solving
PRODIGY
Prodigy is a fun way to get your child engaged in math! It uses quest-based gaming so kids can level up and earn badges while practicing age-appropriate math skills.
Level: Elementary - Middle School
MATH BEFORE BED
This website is run by a Canadian math teacher, Jon Orr. There are many great “What do you notice, What do you wonder?" kinds of problems here. There is a free e-book, and right now (due to the virus), Jon is offering many other digital resources for free in the “shop” area. This is a wealth of resources.
Level: Elementary
NRICH MATH
Interactive games and activities at all levels.
Level: Elementary
IXL
Allows students to answer 10 total questions a day for free. (After that you must buy a membership) Covers many subject areas and has a wide variety of activities.
Level: Pre K-Calculus
DIDAX - VIRTUAL MANIPULATIVES
https://www.didax.com/math/virtual-manipulatives.html
Virtual Manipulatives are a great way to enhance at-home learning. Simply drag the manipulatives into position to see math concepts come alive! These are always free to you and will continue to be available throughout the 2020/21 school year.
BEYOND
integrated sites that allow for a variety of skill and knowledge-based inquiry
SCRATCH
Scratch is a great way to get into programming. Students can try out games others have produced and post their own projects. Scratch can be used to teach math, control technology, creativity, and instructional writing. Very simple to use and intuitive for kids.
Level: All levels
HOUR OF CODE
Learn to code in an engaging and scafolded format. Try a one-hour tutorial designed for all ages in over 45 languages. Join millions of students and teachers in over 180 countries starting with an Hour of Code.
Level: All levels
BRAIN POP
BrainPop contains fun videos and games for a variety of subjects.
Example: https://www.brainpop.com/science/cellularlifeandgenetics/bacteria/
Level: All levels
KHAN ACADEMY
Students practice at their own pace, first filling in gaps in their understanding and then accelerating their learning.
Level: All levels
D!NG
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClq42foiSgl7sSpLupnugGA
YouTube series with interesting, educational, and just plain odd and wonderful content. DIY projects and things explained.
Level: Upper elementary - high school
PRIMER
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKzJFdi57J53Vr_BkTfN3uQ
YouTube channel on evolution, natural selection, economics, calculus with fun blobbies!
Level: All levels
STEM INVENTIONS
https://www.stem-inventions.com/
Fun and easy DIY STEM projects for kids.
Level: All levels
GRAPH ANALYSIS
A collection of graphs, maps and charts organized by topic and graph type from three years of “What’s Going On in This Graph?” at the New York Times
Level: Upper Elementary and up
WIDE OPEN SCHOOL
https://wideopenschool.org/#grades-k-2/
From math to emotional well-being, free activities for students of all grades.
Level: All levels