COVID-19 and home learning



COVID-19 and home learningResources and activities to help children and familiesIn this document: Information to support parents and carers with home learning, including numerous links to resources to keep children engaged and happy during this time of change.There is a lot of uncertainty in our current environment due to the challenges and risks posed by COVID-19. This is creating an environment of stress, anxiety and concern for many of us, and limiting our ability to go about our lives as usual with government imposing restrictions and schools changing how they deliver education to keep us safe. Education is important, and it is understandable you want to ensure your children’s academic progress is not impacted. However, at this time, children need connectedness. Consider activities that bring about ‘teachable moments’, rather than focusing on rigid schooling. It remains important you keep to some sort of routine and structure throughout the day, exercise, practice self-care, set goals and take brain-breaks – all of these can be done collaboratively with your children.This handout includes a range of information, resources, blogs and links that can be used at home to keep you and your family entertained, informed and connected. Remember, your child may need your encouragement (and participation) to get the most out of these activities. Home Learning Resources and ActivitiesCaregiver and Family Information:Free Book explaining COVID-19 to children – during COVID-19: Resources for Parents – Staying Emotionally Close in the Time of COVID-19 – Simple Activities for Children and Adolescents – COVID, Anxiety and Stress: Resources and links by Dr Karen Treisman, including podcasts, videos and child friendly downloadable information – Tips for Coping with Coronavirus Anxiety – Australian Childhood Foundation: Staying Connected with our Children – Children’s book: The story of the Oyster and the Butterfly – Education ACTResources to Support Home Learning – Live StreamsMelbourne Zoo – Life Sydney – Watch African animals online Education OnlineMelbourne Zoo – . Mogo Zoo is closed. However, Zookeeper Chad will answer children’s questions using the hashtag #AskAZookeeperLibraries ACT & Online BooksOnline Resources, including online story time and e-resources! – Audible – Offering free stories for children whilst schools are closed. All stories can be streamed via laptop, phone, tablet or desktop computer. Whatcha Building read by Mrs Hissink – The Very Hungry Caterpillar: Animated Film – The Wonky Donkey – The Bravest Fish – I am the Dog – Other books available online at ’s activitiesMathematicsUsing the numbers found on a device in the house (e.g. television remote), identify numbers and solve problems, such as ‘What is 5 more/less than this number?’.Mathletics App/website. This program requires a small subscription, however, some ACT Public and Private Schools provide this for free for every enrolment. Use grocery packaging to set up a shop at home. Children can set a price for each item and trade groceries for play-money, toys, cereal, sticks, stones etc.HistoryInterview a family member or friend over the phone, about their life. Ask questions such as “How many brothers and sisters do you have?”, “Who lives in your house?”, “What hobbies do you have?”.Create a project on a topic that interests you: Ancient Egypt, Australian Prime Ministers etc. Depending on the child’s age, you can set a word limit, or include creative elements such as a PowerPoint presentation, video, comic strips etc.ScienceBake a cake or cookies together. Weigh ingredients using a kitchen scale and follow a recipe, discuss how ingredients change at each step of the process, discuss the taste of each ingredient and their properties (e.g., “butter and oil will make the biscuits more chewy, sugar will make it more sweet”) etc.Use some old clothing (or clothes your child has grown out of) to sew some clothes for a teddy bear or stuffed animal. Use fabric glue, or a needle (depending on your child/young person’s age and abilities).Observe the weather each day and create a weather journal to record your findings. Include the type of weather and its corresponding symbol. Draw pictures to show the clothes you wear and activities you do during this type of weather.Make some bath bombs: Plant some Vegetables – baby spinach, snow peas, radishes, garlic, kale, broccoli, cauliflower and beetroot!Movement and Physical ActivityPlay your child’s favourite song and choregraph a dance routine. Practice this and then perform for a family member. Cosmic Kids Yoga You Tube Channel. Yoga, mindfulness and relaxation designed especially for kids aged 3+, used in schools and homes all over the world.GoNoodle App helps children stay active, calm and focused whilst infusing good energy into the home. This is a free online resource and provides ways for children and families to move and learn together. It includes movement, yoga, mindfulness videos, downloadable curricular activities and recommended off-screen home activities.Use chalk to draw a hopscotch stencil in your backyard or on your driveway. Create a circuit of different exercises (e.g., star jumps, step ups, running on the spot and frog jumps). Do each exercise for two minutes, then challenge someone in your family to do it with you. Remember to be creative and use whatever items, furniture and equipment is at your disposal. Outdoor Scavenger Hunt. Create a list of things for children to collect (or take a photo of) during an outdoor walk. This scavenger hunt could be adapted for the backyard also. See example below.Give your child a bucket full of water and some paint brushes to paint the fence or a brick wall.‘We’re Going on a Bear Hunt’. Many families around Canberra have begun placing bears in their front windows to encourage children to go on a bear hunt. Walk or ride around your neighbourhood and see how many bears you can spot.What’s your name? See example below. This activity can be adapted, such as ‘Move through the ABC’. A = Aerobics. B = Ballet and so on. Writing/EnglishWrite and draw for 15 minutes every day. Not sure what to write about? Maybe write letters to your school friends, or family or neighbours.Write a book report. Read a book and write down the title, author, plot, and what your favourite part of the book was!Reading Eggs website/app. This program requires a small subscription, however, some ACT Public and Private Schools provide this for free for every enrolment.Soundwaves website/app. This program requires a small subscription, however, some ACT Public and Private Schools provide this for free for every enrolment.Play ’20 Questions’ and adapt the game (almost like ‘Guess Who?) to use characters from books. Let children take turns giving yes and no answers about the characters they’ve chosen.Interview a caregiver or family friend (via video call) about their job. Ask them what they do, why they were interested in this job, what is their favourite part of their job etc. The questions can become more complex if the young person is a little older. Art and craftMake your own Bluey and Bingo figures – Outdoor chalk mosaic. Using masking tape, outline a square or rectangle and then divide it into small pieces (like a mosaic). This will become a stencil and children can colour each piece of the mosaic using a different colour of side-walk chalk.Make paper planes. Get creative and look for different styles onlineMake your own paint, playdough and slime. See recipes belowCreate homemade greeting cards for various events like Valentine’s Day, New Year’s Day, April Fools’, Easter, Christmas, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day etc.Make a house out of paddle pop sticks, or any other craft material you may have at home.Recipes Recipes from ................
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