GRPL Selects

Play, Learning, and Activities

• MSU Extension Educational Resources for School Closures –  Enjoy a collection of helpful educational resources for students of any age. 
• Khan Academy – Khan Academy is a nonprofit with the mission to provide a free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere. 
• Grand Rapids Children’s Museum Play at Home – Transform your living room, backyard, or bedroom into your very own GRCM with these ideas for engaging in open-ended play at home.
• CODE.org – Explore computer science and coding resources designed for kids.
• WGVU PBS At Home Learning – Daily free-over-the-air broadcasts feature public media science, history and other educational programming as well as learning activities by grade level. PreK – High School
• PBSkids.org – PBS’s fun activities and educational TV shows for kids. Check out the DIY activities on each show’s page. 
• PBS learning media – Explore activities and videos for learning with PBS. Videos are arranged by grade and subject and are available in Spanish (Español). 
• Van Andel Education Institute’s Keep Curiosity Alive Guide – Great science activities for kids in kindergarten and up from our Friends at the Van Andel Education Institute.
• Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems – Draw with creator of Pigeon and Elephant and Piggie through Kennedy Center 
• Playworks.org Play at home playbook Dav Pilkey At Home – Have fun with creator of Captain Underpants and Dog Man (through Scholastic and the Library of Congress) 
• Wimee the Robot and Kevin Kammeraad
• Success Starts Early – Explore literacy activities and parent tips around love, talk, count, play, and read; also includes links to family resources. Designed for kids 0-5 years old.
• Entertain Kids On A Dime – Enjoy over 100 activities for kids.
• Smithsonian Institute’s Fun Stuff for Kids and Teens
• WMTA Digital Puzzles – Explore West Michigan themed jigswa puzzles.

• 25 Ways to Get Moving at Home – Learn wellness tips from the American Heart Association 
• 4-H’s Heads In Hearts In: Early Childhood Activities 
• NatGeo@Home – Enjoy quizzes, videos, science experiments and at-home classroom resources.
• Wide Open School – Available in Spanish 
• Alo Yoga for Kids
• Cosmic Kids Yoga
• TinkerLab – Creative Experiments for Kids
• Library of Congress: Engage! – Engage with authors you love and the Library’s resources from anywhere in the world.
• TypingClub.com – Learn touch typing for free with paced lessons.

Read-a-Louds

• SAG-AFTRA Foundation Storyline Online – Stream videos featuring celebrated actors reading children’s books. Each story also comes with an activity guide! 
• KidLit TV – Enjoy storytimes with authors.
• Story Time from Space  – Watch astronauts read stories and conduct experiments from space! 
• Brightly Storytime – Enjoy videos of children’s books and activity pages!
• Scholastic Listen and Read
• World Book Day Storytime Online
• Barefoot Books Singalong
• Unite for Literacy – Nonfiction books available in multiple languages.
• American Sign Language (ASL) Storytelling
• Harper Kids Storytime Read Aloud 
• Penguin Books Stories Aloud
• Ladybird Books Storytime with Toddler fun learning 
• Brightly Flip- Along Storytime books 
• Read Along with PBS Kids!– PBS and Penguin Random House are livestreaming picture book readings by Michelle Obama Mondays at noon. Activity guides available. 
• Harry Potter At Home – Hear the Harry Potter books read chapter-by-chapter by actors and enjoy crafts and games for kids.
• James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl 
• Kids’ Food Basket Reads 
• PBS Books Storytime
• Goodnight with Dolly – Enjoy books read aloud by Dolly Parton.
• Storytime With the Met – Join the Metropolitan Museum of Art for storytime designed for kids 18 months to 6 years.

Virtual Field Trips

• Google Arts and Culture – Explore Museums around the world with Google’s arts and culture.
• Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History 
• Blandford Nature Center Moments Live  
• San Diego Zoo – Find various live-cam and pre-recorded videos of animals (and fun facts!). 
• Mars – Join NASA and Google for a tour of space. 
• FarmsFood360 – Explore various Canadian farms.
• Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts – Enjoy at home workshops and performances.
• Grand Rapids Civic Theater Midday Play 
• Monterey Bay Aquarium Live Cams
• National Park Service Webcams – Explore National Parks around the country virtually.

• The Hidden Worlds of the National Parks – Follow rangers on a journey to places most people never visit! From Google Arts and Culture and the US National Parks. 

• Virtual Dives from the National Marine Sanctuaries and NOAA Virtual Reality Tour of the Tomb of Queen Meresankh III – from the Ministry of Antiquities Egypt

• One Strange Rock from National Geographic 
  

Talking about COVID-19 with Kids

• Magination Press Family – Free resources to help children and teens cope with stress and anxiety, and the need for mindfulness brought on by COVID-19 and other life situations. Brought to you by the American Psychological Association.
• Talking with Your Children about COVID-19 – Concern about COVID-19 can make children and families nervous and upset. Here is a one page list of suggestions for ways to help your children feel secure and happy during this uncertain time from the Georgia Dept of Early Care and Learning. 
• Teaching Our World: The Coronavirus – Many children are worried about the new coronavirus. This collection of information is to help ease fears with age appropriate information. Arranged by grade level PreK-12th grade. From Scholastic Classroom Magazine. 
•  Just For Kids: A Comic Exploring The New Coronavirus – A comic based on an NPR interview asking experts what questions kids might have about the coronavirus. For kids about 10 and up. Available in a printed Zine format and also in Spanish . 
• Kids Want To Know: What is Covid 19? – Unite for Literacy’s free ebook talks about COVID-19 in simple terms that young children can understand. 
• Coronavirus PSA: How to Fight the New Bad Guy in Town – The Story Seeds Podcast by Jason Reynolds, National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, gives kids eight tips for fighting germs and staying healthy. Designed for kids 6-12 years old.  
• Coronavirus: A Book For Children – Free downloadable book from Nosy Crow (A UK based publisher) talking about COVID-19 and answering many questions children might have. Geared for 5-9 year olds. 
• COVID-19 Time Capsule – Download a free workbook to chronicle this historic time. Available in English, Spanish, and French. Find editions for kids and adults. 
• How to Talk to Your Kids About Coronavirus – An article for parents from PBS kids.
• Parenting During Coronavirus 
• Sesame Street in Communities Health Emergency guides
• First Aid For Feelings: A Workbook to Help Kids Cope During the Coronavirus Pandemic presented by Yale Child Study Center and Scholastic 
• COVIBOOK – Explore this short, free printable e-workbook to support and reassure children during the COVID-19 pandemic. Designed for kids under 7 years old. Available in 25 languages. 
• The Princess in Black and the Case of the Coronavirus
• My Hero Is You Storybook For Children on COVID-19 – Available in 78 languages!