Below is a compiliation of resources that the Maple Street Community has put together to help families at home. Some of these you may already use, and some may be brand new to you. Please explore and feel free to share this page with others.
French and Spanish Resources
-
https://fs25.formsite.com/babbel/sfftrrk4jh/index.html
Free access to Babbel through July 1. Best for 7th +up -
https://www.duolingo.com
Always free language practice. Best for 3rd grade and up -
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/gus-on-the-go-french-for-kids/id578992727 - $3.99
Gus on the Go French app for iPhone and iPad. Also available in Spanish. The app store says it’s for ages 4 and up, but there is some reading so I usually use it with late 1st grade or 2nd grade and up. -
https://www.spanishplayground.net/spanish-number-games/
Host of the Buena Gente web series (also on YouTube), and many easy games and vocabulary activities. -
https://studyspanish.com
You can search by grammatical concept. Although there are some “pay” options, there are lots of free quizzes and practice activities. -
https://www.spanishdict.com
Easy online Spanish dictionary, but the grammar tab is also very useful. Lots of great practice quizzes on many grammatical concepts. -
https://www.youtube.com
We use the Spanish and Go channel and the Spanish Playground channel (above). -
https://www.newsinslowspanish.com
Listen to news in slower Spanish or French.
Art
- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMVzRQ6hIb2YdSBUIUjSVKg/
Draw Together - 30 minute draw along video with illustrator Wendy Mac. Live on Instagram 10-10:30am M-F, then posted to her Youtube channel. - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLg9gpgNtuVmFqtseQCKFWZml6dfdLugwt
Daily drawing experiences with author and illustrator Jarrett J. Krosoczka.
Physical Education
- http://www.pecchallenge.org/default.asp
P.E. Central’s Cooperative Skills Challenge. A program used by thousands of schools. Skill targets in six different activities, with incentives and awards. Best for grades 3-5 - https://openphysed.org/activeschools/activehome
The Online Physical Education Network. Entire curricula for elementary and middle school students for skills, fitness, and dance. - https://netgeneration.usta.com/us-en/tennis-at-home.html
The U.S. Tennis Association’s NetGeneration program for Tennis at Hom - https://www.shapeamerica.org/covid19-resources.aspx
Virtual Resources for Health and Physical Education from SHAPE, the National Association for Physical Educators. Extensive offerings in all subject areas for online or at-home learning - https://www.cosmickids.com
Cosmic Kids Yoga is the definitive resource for mindfulness and yoga activities for elementary school aged students. Hundreds of activities are available on a mobile app as well. Also available on Youtube. - https://www.fitnessblender.com
Fitness Blender’s workout and exercise videos are comprehensive, variable in their intensity, and they are free. Generally, they are geared for middle school students and older.
Literacy
- https://www.oliverjeffers.com/books#/abookaday/
K-2, daily read aloud from Oliver Jeffers - https://www.kennedy-center.org/education/mo-willems
K-2 daily studio visit with Mo Willems - https://www.instagram.com/macbarnett/
2-4 Mac Barnett reads one chapter a day on his instagram feed of Mac B., Kid Spy: Mac Undercover - https://kids.scholastic.com/kids/books/dav-pilkey-at-home/
1-3 Dav Pilkey is posting - https://kidlit.tv/
Shows, podcasts, activities, songs, and more with authors and artists. K- - https://storytimefromspace.com/
Stories read from space by astronauts. K-3 - https://www.storylineonline.net/
Picture books read by famous actors and performers. K-2 - https://stories.audible.com/start-listen
Free audio books available from Audible. No membership fees required. - https://gmlc.overdrive.com/
eBooks and audiobooks are available free of charge, using your public library membership card number. These can be accessed through either one of two apps: OverDrive: eBooks & audiobooks or Libby, by OverDrive, or through the Green Mountain Library Consortium. - http://www.scholastic.com/teacher/videos/teacher-videos.htm#3183923085001/2160346065001
Virtual author visits from Scholastic.
Kate Messner (author/illustrator) has compiled a collection of online resources to be used at home, organized by age. These resources include literacy but also STEAM resources:
- PK-2 https://www.katemessner.com/learning-at-home-resources-for-primary-grades-prek-2/
- 3-5 https://www.katemessner.com/learning-at-home-resources-for-intermediate-grades-3-5/
- 6-8 https://www.katemessner.com/learning-at-home-resources-for-middle-school-grades-6-8/
- 9-12 https://www.katemessner.com/learning-at-home-resources-for-high-school-grades-9-12/
Math
- YouCubed Online Course
A free online class for students from Jo Boaler. Concepts include: Knocking Down the Myths About Math, Math and Mindset, Mistakes and Speed, Number Flexibility, Mathematical Reasoning, and Connections, Number Patterns and Representations, and Math in Life, Nature and Work. - Solve Me Puzzles
A great way for students to build skills around finding unknown values. Each of the three activities allows students the option to “play” a game or to “build” their own related game. Both developing different understandings of the concepts. - Activities for Home Learning
A list of NO TECH math experiences for at home learning, separated by age (PK-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12) - Buzzmath
has opened up free use until July. This is a great, fun site with practice for students in grades 3 - 8. You can assign lessons to your students to practice and students can redo the same lesson with new problems. Grades 3-8 - Esti-Mysteries
A collection of estimation challenges for students. As you click through each Esti-Mystery, clues will appear that will allow the students to use math concepts to narrow the set of possibilities to a small set of numbers. - A+ Click
A variety of math and logic problems to help enhance problem-solving by grade level. - Greg Tang Math
Greg Tang’s website includes a games section for conceptually strong math building activities. Different games are for different ages and skill levels - https://www.khanacademy.org/
Science
- https://mysteryscience.com/
K-5 science lessons and experiences - https://www.noaa.gov/education/stories/staying-in-keep-learning-with-science-activities
K-8 Lessons that students can do at home, video explorations, virtual expeditions and Podcasts - https://phet.colorado.edu/
5-8 Interactive Simulations and models - https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/subjects/science/
K-8 Explore natural phenomena and scientific practices with videos, lesson plans, and interactive tools. - https://www.nasa.gov/nasa-at-home-for-kids-and-families
K-8 STEM activities, videos, activities, crafts. From formal lesson plans to amazing imagery and stories about how science and exploration are lifting our world. There will also be ongoing opportunities to chat and interact with scientists directly. - https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/
K-8 articles, games, explorations - https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/science/science-lab/
6-8 Science experiments you can do at home - http://www.changeissimple.org/
Do at home workshops & curriculum to inspire children to achieve academic success and become mindful participants in creating a healthier, more sustainable future. - https://www.generationgenius.com/science-videos-for-kids/
K-5 Digital library with engaging videos for all major science standards for grades K-5. - https://www.khanacademy.org/
- http://www.highrises.com/animal-conservation-the-san-diego-zoo.php
-
https://bootcamp.du.edu/blog/steam-resources-for-teachers
Resources for integrating art into STEM education
News Written for Students
- https://www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/
This award winning online publication provides topical science news aimed for learners age 9-14, as well as their parents and educators. It includes links to free resources for remote learning and current articles about COVID-19. - https://youngzine.org/
This online magazine offers articles written for students on a variety of current news and events. - https://newsela.com/
Online news publication. Some articles are also available in Spanish.
Research Database for Students
- https://vtonlinelib.org/k12.php
Available using your public library card number, Kids InfoBits meets the research needs of students in K-5, 6-8 and HS. It features a developmentally appropriate, visually graphic interface, a subject-based topic tree search and full-text, age-appropriate, curriculum-related magazine, newspaper and reference content for information on current events, the arts, science, health, people, government, history, sports and more. - https://www.dkfindout.com/us/
To accompany their popular nonfiction book series, DK also has an online database where students can further search for information on a wide variety of subjects, expanding and updating the information that is available in their books.
Virtual Field Trips - all ages
- https://www.neaq.org/visit/at-home-events-and-activities/
New England Aquarium offers live presentations, new videos and activities to try from home - https://www.metmuseum.org/art/online-features/metkids/
Explore the Metropolitan Museum - https://accessmars.withgoogle.com/
Explore the real surface of Mars, as photographed by NASA’s Curiosity Rover - https://zoo.sandiegozoo.org/live-cams
San Diego zoo’s live cams bring you to the animals. - https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/who-we-are/how-we-work/youth-engagement/
Designed for grades 5-8 but customizable for all ages, virtual field trips allow students to travel the world and explore natural environments without leaving the classroom. Each virtual field trip contains a video, teacher guide, and student activities - http://www.scholastic.com/teacher/videos/teacher-videos.htm#3183923085001/2160346065001
Scholastic hosts these virtual field trip to places such as Ellis Island, Plymouth Plantation, The Liberty Science Center and the American Museum of Natural History. - https://kids.nationalgeographic.com
- https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/photosmultimedia/yellowstone-indepth.htm
National Park Service Yellowstone In Depth video series - 12 great videos about Yellowstone National Park ranging
Technology
Technology
- https://www.tinkercad.com/
A free 3-D renderer. 7th & 8th graders have used it to create items for 3D printing. Grades 5-8 - https://www.sketchup.com/products/sketchup-for-schools
A free version of Sketchup. 3D modeling software as well, great for architectural and perspective drawings. Grades 5-8 - https://www.tynker.com/
Free coding games. Some parts of the site are behind a paywall, but there’s enough free content to teach the basics of coding. All grades. - https://www.scratchjr.org/
Another easy to use coding app for the iPad. Grades K-5. - https://scratch.mit.edu/
A more advanced version of Scratch Jr. for older kids.
Miscellaneous
- Documentary Between the Folds by Vanessa Gould “Depicts a cast of fine artists and eccentric scientists (from MIT and NASA) who have devoted their lives to the unlikely medium of modern origami.” (Art, Music, Science, Math)
- Documentary Watermark by Jennifer Baichwal, Edward Burtynsky “This documentary brings together diverse stories from around the globe and explores our relationship with water and how it shapes humanity.” (Science, Social Studies)
- Documentary Rivers and Tides: Andy Goldsworthy Working with Time by Thomas Riedelsheimer “Andy Goldsworthy's art is supposed to fall apart. He creates large-scale outdoor sculptures and artworks out of natural materials like mud, wood, ice and stone in an attempt to imbue the physical world with a spiritual, ephemeral element. Director Thomas Riedelsheimer follows Goldsworthy as he constructs his art everywhere from upstate New York to his home village in Scotland, and questions the solitary artist about his inspirations, frustrations and artistic goals.” (Art, Math, Science)
- https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/article/free-educational-content-minecraft-marketplace
Free Minecraft Educational Content - https://wideopenschool.org/programs/family/
A compilation of online resources put together by Common Sense Media of online resources in all subject areas including virtual field trips, mindfulness, and wellness. - https://www.commonsensemedia.org/blog/parents-ultimate-guide-to-google-classroom
A guide to Google Classroom for Parents
