Here are some of the best at-home learning and fun activities we’ve found that you can use while self-isolating due to COVID-19. Bonus: Many of these are Toronto/GTA-based, so it’s a great way to support local businesses and organizations that may be struggling during this time.
Stay safe, everyone!
Scholastic Canada has created Scholastic Learn At Home for teachers and families: 21 days of “learning journeys” into science, math, literature, and more that includes games, videos, stories, and virtual field trips for different grade levels, available on any device.
Toronto-based kids’ theatre company Electric Moon Theatre Company is offering a YouTube-based program called Keep Calm and Theatre On, with “songs, theatre games, dance instruction, wackiness, and more”. They’ll upload a new video each day.
Access TPL Kids from the Toronto Public Library to take part in polls (Who is your favourite superhero?), read the answers to kids “wonders” on the Wonder Wall (Why are flamingos pink? How does a hot air balloon float?)—or submit your own—and check out an e-book or audiobook.
Canadian non-profit organization STEM Camp is offering STEM Camp @ Home: free daily downloads with activities, puzzles, videos, coronavirus info for kids, positive message of the day and daily contests—including one for a free week of summer camp!
Purple Mash contains thousands of opportunities for learning. You’ll find these in the forms of open-ended tools, such as story creation, game design, and concept mapping; spelling and grammar; math; and cross-curricular project work. They are offering a free subscription during the school closures.
Head to YouTube for Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems, posted each day at 1 pm. If you don’t know Willems, no doubt you know his books featuring Elephant and Piggie or Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!
Need to get the kids moving? Adventure Valley Day Camp in Vaughan is doing daily Camp At Home activities via Facebook and Instagram, including Lego challenges and Facebook Live video fitness classes for kids.
Focusing on pre-K to grade 6, abcdya.com has lots of educational games that are available on desktop with their free membership.
If your kids are missing out on some field trip fun, this list of 30+ virtual field trips that your kids can enjoy from the comfort of your home.
Raz-Kids, a digital resource that provides a library of differentiated books students can use to practice reading whenever they are, is offering a free subscription until the end of the school year.
Fuel The Brain is a website dedicated to bringing you high-quality educational games, guides and printables that relate to core standards in elementary education.
Headsprout is an online K-5 reading program that adapts to the needs of the individual It is self-paced which makes it perfect for at-home learning. They are also offering a free subscription until the end of the year.
Little Rebels is offering free online Instagram Live music classes for young kids at 11:30 am Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
OwlKids, Canadian publisher of the kids’ magazines Chirp, Chickadee, and Owl, has a YouTube channel filled with craft activities, science experiments, recipes, and “general knOWLedge” videos.
From the makers of the famed children’s magazine, Highlights Kids has activities, games, and podcasts to help get you through school closures.
If your kids have every wanted to create their own book, BookCreator is making it easy with a free upgrade to their premium plan for 90 days. This means that your kids will be able to collaborate with classmates and teachers on their book. They’ve also pulled together a list of ways that BookCreator can be used to help keep kids engaged whilst unable to attend school.
National Geographic Kids is always free and is a great resource. With fun and educational quizzes, videos, and articles, there is lots to keep kids busy while helping them learn.
For games, reading, math, and more, Funbrain offers free activities for pre-K to grade 8.
BrainPOP is here to help you and your curious learners stay informed and on-track with free access during school closures.
If you want to get your kids (pre-K to grade 5) working on their math, SplashLearn can help make it fun! And if your kids are in grades 1 to 8, Prodigy is a free math app/game many kids love.
PBS Kids is full of fun games and videos that you can trust and your kids will love.
At Cookie, child experts and educators design interactive online games for kids. Their learning games for kids help in building skills needed for success in school, like reading, math, and science.
The source for childhood learning on the internet available from anywhere and without charge, E-Learning for Kids is a great option for math, science, environmental issues, and more.
For a musical interlude, head to Music Together‘s YouTube channel for sing-along storybooks, family music videos with real kids, and live concerts. Best for ages 6 and under.
Because it’s a Toronto District School Board approved movement resource, many kids will already be familiar with GoNoodle. It’s a great way for kids of all ages to get active and rock out to catchy tunes. They offer more than 100 free videos on their YouTube channel.
The blog is really good to read. This is a difficult phase for kids and for everyone. But we have to utilize this time as opportunity to teach kids something which is fun & also interesting for them. I am sure the activities which you have shared will be helpful for all young ones. Thanks for sharing this with us.