Scheduled (all times in Pacific Time) +3
Virtual Storytimes
- 9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m. (Mon.-Fri.): Peter Reynolds (Say Something) reads one of his picture books (Facebook @PeterHamiltonReynolds at 9:00 a.m., Instagram @peterhreynolds at 11:00 a.m.)
- 9:00 a.m. (Mon.): Reading Rainbow’s LeVar Burton reads a children’s story (Twitter @levarburton)
- 11:00 a.m. (Mon.-Fri.) — Stay at Home Story Time, a ~20 min. picture book read-aloud with Oliver Jeffers (Lost and Found author) (Instagram Live @oliverjeffers, uploaded to YouTube after)
- 11:00 a.m. (Mon.-Fri.) — Brightly Storytime, a 5–10 min. picture book read-aloud (YouTube @Brightly Storytime)
- 11:00 a.m. (Tues.–Thurs.): Snack & Read Live with Simon Kids, a 30-min. read-aloud from popular middle-grade authors like Emily Calendrelli (Ada Lace series) and Aaron Reynolds (Creepy Pair of Underwear!) (Facebook Live @SimonKIDS)
- 12:00 p.m. (Mon.-Fri.) — Mac Barnett (Triangle) reads one of his picture books (Instagram Live @MacBarnett)
- 12:00 p.m. (Wed.): Reading Rainbow’s LeVar Burton reads a YA story for tweens and teens (Twitter @levarburton)
- ~12:00 p.m. (Mon.-Fri.) — Jeff Norton reads a chapter (5–10 min.) of his sci-fi adventure novel Alienated (YouTube @Jeff Norton)
- 4:00 p.m. (Thurs.): GoodNight with Dolly, a weekly read-aloud from Dolly Parton (YouTube @Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library)
- ~6:00–9:00 p.m. (Mon.-Fri.) — Josh Gad (voice of Olaf from Frozen) will virtually read a picture book as a bedtime story (Twitter @JoshGad)
- Weekly (Fri.): I read YA Friday Reads: Popular young adult authors like Nic Stone and Sharon Cameron read a chapter from their novels (Instagram @ireadYA)
Virtual Drawing Lessons
- 8:00 a.m. (Fri.) — Drawing lessons from Dav Pilkey (creator of Captain Underpants, Dog-Man graphic novel series) (Library of Congress website and social media channels)
- 8:30 a.m. (Tues. and Thurs.) — Drawing with Toddlers, a short drawing lesson from E. B. Goodale (Under the Lilacs) (Instagram Live @ebgoodale)
- 10:00 a.m. (Mon.-Fri.)– Lunchtime Doodles, a ~30 min. art lesson with Mo Willems (Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus) (YouTube @The Kennedy Center)
- 10:00 a.m. (Mon.-Fri.) — Drawing lessons with Wendy Macnaughton (NYT bestselling illustrator) (Instagram Live @wendymac)
- 10:00 a.m. (Mon.-Fri.) — DC Kids Camp, interactive videos and art lessons from DC Comics middle grade artists and authors like Meg Cabot, Shannon Hale, and Gene Luen Yang (Twitter @dccomicskids, Instagram @dckids)
- 11:00 a.m. (Mon.-Fri.) — Draw Every Day with JJK, a ~20 min. drawing lesson with Jarrett J. Krosoczka (Lunch Lady graphic novel series) (YouTube @Jarrett J. Krosoczka)
- 12:00 p.m. (Tues.–Thurs.)—Crafting with Curious Jane (Instagram Live)
Music Classes & Performances
- 6:00 a.m. (Mon.-Fri.) — Music classes from Jam with Jamie (also uploaded for later viewing)
- 8:00 a.m. (Mon.-Fri.) — Daily music, movement, yoga classes, and more for pre-K/young kids from Union City Play in New York City
- 11:00 a.m. and 5 p.m. (Mon.-Fri.) — Stars in the House, a 60 min. performance and chat by various Broadway actors and other performers to raise money for out-of-work entertainers (YouTube @The Actors Fund)
- 12:00 p.m (Thurs.) — National Theatre at Home, a weekly streamed production from the National Theatre in London (YouTube @National Theatre, available for one week)
- 4:30 p.m. (Mon.-Fri.) — Every night a new recording from The Metropolitan Opera is available to stream
- Various — A full list of live concerts streaming, varying from pop stars to operas (curated by NPR)
Learning and Other Activities
- 9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m. (Mon.-Fri.) —#PlayAtHome recess and movement activities 3x/day (Facebook Live)
- 9:00 a.m., 3:00 p.m (every day).: 305 Live!, a 45-min. dance cardio fitness class from 305 Fitness (YouTube Live @305 Fitness)
- 11:00 a.m. (Mon.-Fri.)—Scientists, filmmakers, and adventurers discuss their work; learning guides included. (National Geographic)
- 12:00 p.m. (Wed.)—Daily Homeroom with Sal features Khan Academy’s founder in conversation with experts, including Bill Gates. (YouTube)
- 12:00 p.m. (Wed. and Fri.) — Cook-Along Classes with Raddish Kids, virtual cooking demos specifically for kids (Facebook Live)
- 2:00 p.m. (Tues. and Thurs.) — Virtual tour of Charlie’s Acres, a 30 min. tour of a 140-animal farm (Facebook Live)
- 3:00 p.m. (Mon.-Fri.) — Virtual cooking class with Michael Volpett (Facebook Live)
- 3:30 p.m. (Mon.-Fri.) — Talk About Real Things, a 15 min. daily livestream for teens around mental health (Well Being Teens)
- 4:00 p.m (every day).: Home Work-Ins, daily 30-min. guided exercise class from Planet Fitness (Facebook @PlanetFitness)
- 5 p.m. (Mon.): Focus Movie Mondays, a classic film from Focus Features livestreamed every Monday in April (Facebook @Focus Features)
- Daily—Live learning events from various Smithsonian experts including meditation, sci-fi talks, and art lectures. (Smithsonian)
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Educational Activities & Lesson Plans
- Scholastic Learn at Home: 20 days of education activities, broken up into four grade levels
- Amazing Educational Resources, a HUGE spreadsheet of tools/programs/services that usually cost money but are being offered for free, with info on subject and grade level (crowdsourced)
- Encantos Learning Hub (pre–K-1 resources available in English and Spanish)
- Learn@Home, educational YouTube channels curated by age group (YouTube)
- Sesame Street has videos, games, and activities for younger kids) (sesamo.com in Spanish)
- Tinkergarten has a week’s worth of outdoor education DIY activities (sign up for the email newsletter on Tinkergarten’s website)
- Newsicle, a daily news trivia game put on by the folks behind XYZA: News for Kids
- News-o-Matic suspends fees for daily news stories for kids K–8 (News-o-Matic app)
- Complexly, a series of video series on educational topics ranging from literature to biochemistry (YouTube)
- Story Pirates University, writing video lessons from the Story Pirates podcast team (YouTube)
- Two Whats and a Wow!, a daily science-based game show from the Wow in the World podcast team, including activity challenges (NPR)
- GoNoodle Good Energy at Home, entertaining videos and educational at-home activities that encourage movement (available in English and Spanish)
- Interactive American history games from Mission U.S.
- Art-infused, standards-based lesson plans from Crayola
- DIY STEM lessons from the Exploratorium in San Francisco
- Activity books, printable guides, and STEAM lessons featuring popular book characters like Big Nate and Phoebe and Her Unicorn (Andrew McMeel Publishing Kids)
- Free access to the Time for Kids digital library and related resources (Time for Kids)
- Bookshare, a free online library for qualifying students with dyslexia, blindness, cerebral palsy, and other reading barriers
- NASA at Home, a collection of science lessons, activities, and virtual tours for kids curated by NASA
- Food education lessons and kid-friendly recipes from the Food Literacy Center
- A Good Time to Write, a compilation of lesson plans, resources, and prompts focused on writing skills from 826 Valencia (registration required)
- SCWBI Connects, an extensive directory of activities, ebooks, podcasts, teaching guides, and workshops from members of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators
Arts, Film, and Music Lessons & Resources
- Rebel Girls providing 90+ writing/drawing/DIY prompts (sign up via email)
- Digital curriculum and lessons available to go along with The Representation Project’s films (lessons are free; films are available to rent or buy on streaming platforms)
- Keep Kids Smart with ART, art lesson plans run through the Boca Raton Museum
- CircleTime classes for age 0–6 including yoga, storytime, cooking, and music (registration required)
- Daily cartooning lessons from MazeToon’s Joe Wos (YouTube @HowtoToon)
- A downloadable coloring book from illustrator Liz Climo (PDF)
- Kanopy, a movie streaming service available with a library card
- Interactive pretend play challenges and activity sheets from the Bay Area Children’s Theater Creativity Corner (YouTube)
- Quarantine Art Club, a daily drawing challenge from illustrator Carson Ellis (Du Iz Tak?) (Instagram @carsonellis)
- Stop Motion Kids Camp enrollment from artist Trisha Zemp is being offered for free (redeem enrollment code by sharing one of Zemp’s posts on Instagram @trishazemp)
- Drawing and comic-creating prompts from Jarrett Lerner (Enginerds)
- Printable coloring pages from Latinx artists from Veoleo (donations encouraged)
- Printable coloring pages featuring Latinx trailblazers from Con Todo Press
- Educational music videos from Laurie Berkner (YouTube)
- Disney character drawing lessons from a theme park animator
- Imagineering in a Box, a virtual lesson from Pixar and Khan Academy on how to design a Disney theme park (Khan Academy)
- Star Wars-themed coding games (also available offline) (Hour of Code)
- Modern art-themed activities for kids from New York MoMA
- Cartooning lessons from Maria Scrivan (Nat Enough) (YouTube @Maria Scrivan)
- Full-length performances from the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
- Setting the Stage for Learning, a collection of free audio recordings of frequently taught plays from LA Theatre Works
Audiobooks & Virtual Storytime
- Audible Stories, an extensive streaming library of children’s and young adult audiobooks (Amazon Audible)
- Authors read their books aloud (curated on Kate Messner’s website) (YouTube)
- #OperationStorytime, a partnership with picture book authors and Romper to read their stories aloud (posted and curated on Twitter @romper, updated regularly)
- A long list of authors and celebrities reading picture books (curated by We Are Teachers)
- Storytime Online, a literacy initiative where actors and celebrities read popular children’s books
- National Emergency Library, over a million digitally scanned books, research papers, and collections scholarship use while universities and libraries are closed (Internet Archive)
Fun & Games
- Family Time Machine, ideas for activities for the whole family, available in Spanish
- Virtual rides on Disney attractions (YouTube, curated on PopSugar)
- Virtual “Dungeons & Dragons” trial adventure from Wizards of the Coast (Roll20)
- Mobile and console games, including Alto’s Adventure and The Sims 4, available for free or on sale (curated by The Verge)
- Amazon’s original kids’ series will be available for free (with or without a Prime account) (Amazon Video)
- StoryToys makes its educational preschool apps free to download
- Nomster Chef, a library of healthy, kid-friendly digital recipes
- A roundup of free streaming video platforms (curated by Wirecutter)
- Livestreamed fitness classes and workout guides for teens and adults (curated by Shape)
- Marvel Unlimited is making several subscription-only comics available for free