With schools closed, events canceled, and go-to activity spots on hiatus, it’s time to get creative when it comes to kids’ education this spring. Some school districts are implementing online learning, while others find it harder to instruct their student population remotely. If you’re in need of some inspiration for the week’s lessons, check out these options.
All Ages:
Harper At Home
Publisher HarperCollins presents Harper Kids from Home with daily storytimes at noon; Shelf Stuff, a video series for ages seven through 12 on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 2 p.m. EST; Epic Reads for young adult book enthusiasts, Wednesdays on Twitter and Fridays on Instagram at 4 p.m. EST. Adults can tune in to Harper Stacks every Monday at 3 p.m. EST for reading and programming resources.
Second Star to the Right
Virtual storytimes, online shopping, and curbside pickup/local delivery are available from this bookstore on Old South Pearl in Platte Park. They bring together children, young people, and adults for fun and learning.
Word Searches and Extra Activities
Denver-based doodler and designer Laura Kelly gathered 50 word search puzzles with links to extra activities, including recipes, crafts, and experiments for the whole family to enjoy.
Hopkins Education Services Mindful Storytelling
Hopkins, a tutoring, assessment, and transition planning service in the Denver metro area, offers interactive Zoom storytimes with Ms. Cynthia Kruse. Sign up for the daily 30 minute read and supplemental writing activity. 720-252-6189
Denver Museum of Nature & Science at Home
Take suggestions from the DMNS educator team on their favorite at-home activities in the kitchen, backyard, playroom, and online. Build with Legos and enter The Art of The Brick contest, or visit the DMNS Facebook page for archived live streams of scientists in action.
Children’s Museum of Denver Cooking Classes
Pick from the Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus’ Teaching Kitchen video archive and get kids cooking. Savor these simple yet delicious dishes after discovering new skills in your own kitchen.
Invertebrate Studies
Colorado’s Butterfly Pavilion published the first of their free livestream educational programs appropriate for all ages. Class topics include butterflies, arachnids, and other invertebrate sorts. Check out their social media pages for looks behind the scenes and animal spotlights.
New Cottage Arts Music and Art Lessons
Instrumental and aesthetic art students of all ages can join virtual lessons with world class instructors. New Cottage Arts is extending its reach beyond the Federal Boulevard studio to the screen near you. Register online and you will be contacted about remote learning options.
Rocky Ridge Music Center online
Families with kids at home can fill time with music lessons while helping instructors who are hit economically by the pandemic. Students and teachers will connect over a variety of video chat platforms.
Agents of Discovery Augmented Reality Tours
Hit the trails at one of the Colorado Parks and Wildlife state parks and complete your mission on this augmented reality gaming platform. As you move through the parks, the app will help you engage with the surroundings in fun, educational activities. Download before you go.
Kids Activities Picks
Peruse this massive list of online educational resources that are waiving subscription and lesson fees, including Backpack Sciences, CommonLit, and Minecraft: Education Edition.
Teach Empathy
Check in with your community—your places of worship and spiritual gathering, local nonprofits, and shelters. Safely provide for their needs with donations or virtual messages of encouragement. Make it a teaching moment to your kids about finding their strength to help others and witness the strength of community care.
Kindness 101 Live
CBS Evening News reporter and father of three Steve Hartman will host a week of 30-minute interactive Facebook live videos at 2 p.m. ET starting Monday March 23. Discuss the lessons behind Steve’s stories from his On The Road series with the journalist himself.
TIME for Kids Digital Library
Keep everyone up to date with trusted news stories digestible for readers of any age. TIME for Kids will upload a digital library of their grade-specific editions (K-1, 2, 3-4, and 5-6) to flip through alongside virtual learning plans corresponding to each issue.
Storyline Storytime
Stream children’s books read aloud by celebrated actors such as Oprah Winfrey, Rami Malek, Allison Janney, Betty White, and more. Storyline Online is part of a nonprofit organization that benefits children’s literacy.
Denver Virtual Zoo
Take a virtual safari through Denver Zoo’s new daily animal video live streams on Facebook at 1 p.m., hop on their social media channels for additional updates, and check out the Zoo to You: Virtual Safari webpage for family activity ideas.
Botanic Gardens Online
The Botanic Gardens offers multiple virtual ways to explore the natural world safely and creatively from YouTube videos about science and conservation to plant and bug digital collections.
Ocean First At-Home Learning
Dive into Boulder-based Ocean First Education free courses including ocean literacy, 360 video and lesson plans, coloring pages and more that teach kids how their lives relate to the deep blue. Courses available for purchase can be discounted 25% off with coupon code: OFE2020.
Imaginations Online
The Children’s Art School invites families to participate in virtual week-long art series. The first, COMICS, will be offered for free and help young artists create a cast of cartoon characters for their very own comic strips. Classes go live on Zoom 10 to 11 a.m. each day of each series. Recommended ages 7 and up. Register online.
Latino Cultural Arts Collection
Browse the Latino Cultural Arts Center’s virtual collection (privately held by the Abarca Family) that includes Mexican and Mexican-American fine artists, photographers, and folk artists. It’s the most extensive in the Rocky Mountain region. After being inspired, download the art center’s Hecho en Colorado Coloring Book, which includes drawings created by Colorado artists.
Littles:
Beanstalk Classes
Denver-based interactive education company Beanstalk is offering free membership to its live and on demand content during the coronavirus outbreak. Find preschool age-appropriate art activities, storytimes, STEM lessons, music, and more.
Denver Art Museum Guides
For early childhood learners, check out the DAM’s book recommendations, creative practices, and lesson plans online.
Backyard Inventories
Step outside with a pad and pen, ask your little one what they see and take note. Ask follow-up questions that get them to use their senses. What do you smell? What bird songs do you hear?
Better Baking
Learn how to perfect mile-high baking with resources from Colorado culinary artists. Keep children busy with the whisk and other tools to build their motor skills. Check out My Kitchen in the Rockies and Mile High Mitts for tips and tricks.
Goodnight with Dolly
“I think it is pretty clear that now is the time to share a story and to share some love,” said Dolly Parton, The Book Lady from Imagination Library. Join her reading a series of Imagination Library books all carefully chosen for their appropriate content at this moment in time. Thursdays April 2 through June 4 at 7 p.m. ET live on Imagination Library social channels, or on Youtube. imaginationlibrary.com/goodnight-with-dolly
Kiddos:
Hopkins Educational Services Morning Shows
Join Liz and Corey weekdays at 9 a.m. on Facebook Live for a mindful storytime, gratitude activity, and supportive educational community of kids and parents that will help you create a schedule for your day.
PBS Kids
PBS Kids offers 24/7 access to trusted educational series for kids ages two through eight (check local listings). Sign up for daily activity suggestions with their newsletter for parents.
Children’s Museum of Denver at Marisco Campus
Keep up with the learning and fun found at the Children’s Museum with their new Facebook group offering activities created by educators.
Fort Collins Museum of Discovery STEAM crafts
Take some common home goods and discover the science world with your kiddos. The Museum of Discovery offers hands-on crafts to entertain each day.
Cabin Fever Math
Check out the free Bedtime Math puzzlers for fun ideas to explore numbers and keep math skills sharp at home. Activities are best suited for ages three to nine. Surf options online or download the Bedtime Math app.
National Geographic Kids
Find fun facts, science experiments, photo galleries, and games on the National Geographic Kids website. They also have homework help tools and quizzes to keep your scholar sharp.
History Colorado Hands-On History online
History Colorado Center’s new digital learning resource includes daily (Monday through Friday) live activities hosted by museum professionals via Zoom. Go deeper with other offerings such as online exhibits, biographies of notable Coloradans, Hispanic history resources, links to documentaries, and more.
Tweens:
Do a STEM Lab
The Curiosity Science Program helps young women build self-confidence and explore their interests through hands-on lab activities. They have labs online using bubbles, toothpaste, balloons, and other common household items.
Little Library Excursion
Take a walk to a little library hutch in your neighborhood (use this map) to find books while the libraries are closed. Travel guides are a common find, so grab one and make an interactive escape using pictures and fun facts you find on the pages.
School of Rock Remote
School of Rock, a music education school with locations up and down the Front Range, is now offering online music lessons involving their Method App, free sheet music resources, and Zoom video calls to instructors. Links to signups are coming soon. For more information, follow them on Instagram and Facebook, or call 720-789-8866.
Pop Culture Virtual Classroom
Pop Culture Classroom, a Colorado nonprofit, has a digital trove of downloadable graphic novel teaching guides, educational comics, a lending library and more. Look into their two curricular units on graphic novels and games for grades 4-9.
Marvel Comics Free Access
The Marvel Unlimited digital comic subscription service is treating fans with a month’s worth of free access to iconic stories such as Avengers Vs. X-Men, Civil War, Amazing Spider-Man: Red Goblin, and more. Now through May 4, access these tales through the Marvel Unlimited app. Finish each comic’s series by contacting your local bookstore and arranging curbside pickup.
Teens:
Poem of the Day
Meditate on verse and rhythm each day, connecting with a world of writers. Sign up for the Poetry Foundation’s newsletter to receive daily poems.
Astronomy Picture of the Day
Take a mental exploration of space with NASA’s astronomy picture of the day. Learn about Earth’s atmosphere, novas, star constellations, and more through stunning photos and additional links to dive deeper.
Colorado Historic News
Read the papers, from the 1800s. Virtually flip through the Colorado Historic News Collection, read aloud and dramatize the stories you find to create your own home theater production.
Girls With Impact Online Entrepreneurship Academy
Young women ages 12 to 18 are invited to register for this “online mini-MBA.” The program, offered year-round with quarterly sessions, includes 10 weeks of coach-led classes, a start-up kit, training materials, and graduation with certificate. The fee, usually $395, is $20 for the duration of COVID-19-related education and economic complications.
New York Times free reading
From now until July 6, high school students and educators can access NYT reporting online for free. School administrator invitation required.
