Kids can still benefit from nature while practicing proper social distancing. Even babies and toddlers can join a family nature walk. if you’re in a public space, keep them in a carrier or a stroller. If you’re in your backyard, they can explore more freely.
Children who spend more time outdoors have improved motor development and lower obesity rates. Playing outside promotes more curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking — especially essential with schools closed and extra-curricular activities canceled.
On a nature walk, collect twigs, leaves or rocks. Then, build a nature sculpture by sticking these items in play dough. Help your child notice the patterns created by different items.
Go on a family bike ride, while keeping a safe distance from others.
Nature scavenger hunts can be fun for the whole family. How many different kinds of plants, flowers, animals or birds can you see?
Playing soccer or catch is fine, but don’t share equipment with people outside your household.
CHOC nutrition experts have curated some of their favorite recipes and offer tips for how to get kids involved in the kitchen. “Children as young as 2 years old can help out in the kitchen. You can have your child wash fruits and vegetables or stir ingredients,” Shonda Brown, CHOC clinical dietitian, says. “Children are more open to trying new foods if they have opportunities to explore and learn about the food before they eat it.”
Google Arts & Culture has partnered with thousands of museums around the world to offer virtual tours from the comfort of your home. Here’s the complete list.
The San Diego Zoo offers 10 different webcams so animal lovers can keep up with a variety of their favorite creatures.
The Monterey Bay Aquarium also offers 10 different webcams for families to experience underwater life from anywhere.
Celebrities are taking to social media to read children’s books to little ones staying home during this time. The Los Angeles Times curated this roundup of these posts.
Audible, which has the world’s largest collection of audio books, is offering free stories — in six different languages — for kids as long as schools are closed. Start listening here.
Here’s a list of authors doing read-aloud of their famous books, as well as books by their favorite authors.
Storyline Online, the SAG-AFTRA Foundation’s award-winning children’s literacy website, streams videos of celebrities reading aloud children’s books alongside creatively produced illustrations.
SoulPancake – in addition to the well-known Kid President shows, this channels offers content that explores and celebrates the ways humans seek connection.
Course Hero – study guides and videos for various subject matters.
Free Second Step and Committee for Children Resources for Educators and Families to Use During School Closures
Free Social-Emotional Learning Activities: There are a number of Second Step activities freely available online for children ages 5–13. Many of these are adaptable for remote learning or for families to do at home with their children.
Second Step Social-Emotional Passport: The Second Step SEL Passport is a great SEL reinforcement activity for students to do at home. Integrate this activity into your remote-learning plan or share it with families as a fun resource.
The Imagine Neighborhood: This new podcast for families is designed to help children and grown-ups practice their social-emotional skills. Each episode tells a story that’s amazing, fantastical, and maybe a little bananas, while it tackles the big feelings that come with growing up.
Mind Yeti®: Fifteen of our mindfulness program sessions are now available for anyone to use, no experience necessary! Designed for educators and families to do alongside children, or for older children to do on their own, Mind Yeti provides a great way for everyone to practice mindfulness during this difficult time.
Little Children, Big Challenges: Committee for Children and Sesame Street have partnered to create a collection of resources for young children facing significant challenges. These materials, aimed at building children’s resilience, may be useful for educators and families.
Captain Compassion®: Here, children can find games, comics, and activities they can do on their own, or with their families, to learn about how they can help stop bullying.
ParenTeen Connect: For families with older children, this resource provides an online experience they can share together. It’s loaded with videos, resources, and useful advice to help teens and the adults in their lives address hot-button topics.
SEL Posters: Put up a few visual reminders to help your kids name their feelings and learn how to manage them, too!
Today, Governor Whitmer announced that schools in Michigan will be closed for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year. We applaud the decision by the Governor to ensure the safety of all Michigan students as we continue to work toward slowing the spread of the COVID-19 virus. On behalf of the Board of Education and our entire staff, I want to take a moment to thank and express our appreciation to all of the health care professionals and first responders who have been working on the front lines to treat those affected by this virus.
To summarize the Governor’s official, seventeen page order, here are a few key points:
All public school buildings will be closed for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year.
All school districts must develop a plan for continued on-line/distance learning.
Seniors will be allowed to graduate and students will move to the next grade assuming they are on track to graduate, have met standards, and/or will show they have met standards over the next several weeks via online learning or other methods.
Assessments are waived (SAT, PSAT, M-Step). Students who were scheduled to take the SAT this spring will have an opportunity to take the SAT which may occur in the fall.
Food distribution programs will continue.
The state will continue to provide school aid payments allowing districts to pay staff regular wages/salary and benefits for the remainder of the school year.
We are still reviewing all of the details in the Governor’s order and awaiting further direction from the Michigan Department of Education. However, our administrative team has already started developing a distance learning plan that will be submitted to our local Intermediate School District (ISD) as required by the Governor’s order. Approval by the ISD will ensure the remainder of the school year will count for the District and that we will continue to receive our school aid budgetary payments. A key component in the Governor’s order is that students need to participate in distance learning or other forms of continued learning that is provided by the district. Items related to specific students or a specific grade level will be addressed at the school level in coordination with the direction taken by central office leadership. Principals and teachers will provide that information as it becomes available.
We understand that this order has created many more questions, especially for our seniors. We will continue to have discussions with regard to how we will honor our graduation class of 2020. I have a meeting scheduled with the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council on Friday and this will be part of the discussion. In addition, the Board of Education will provide direction and will appoint a committee to acquire student, parent, and community input.
We were hopeful that students would be able to return to the classroom, at least for a short time, to bring closure to the school year. Unfortunately, the number of COVID-19 cases is predicted to increase over the next few weeks which has eliminated that option in accordance with the Governor’s order. We will continue to be optimistic for the future while we make plans that address the realistic conditions we are currently facing.
Our state is still under a mandatory Shelter in Place order by the Governor. This means that in order to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus, and support the efforts of those who are on the front lines dealing with this serious situation, we must all do our part and remain in our homes. Our short-term sacrifices now will help to prevent an even longer shut down later; “Stay Home Stay Safe”.
I have witnessed the great work by our staff, parents, students, and community members as we deal with the COVID-19 crisis. I want to especially thank our outstanding Teachers and Administrators for the great work they are doing to support our students. In addition, I want to recognize the heroic effort of our Food Service staff, the PTA volunteers, and Operations staff for the distribution of thousands of meals over the past several weeks. We are a strong and resourceful community and I am so very proud to see how we have come together to support each other through this very difficult time. I want to close by saying that we all need to remain hopeful and know that we will get through this. Take care of your family and take care of yourself.
