Ideally, we’d buy nothing. After all, our ginormous Mom brains can surely handle this… but we are freaked out, confined, and lacking vitamin D in a major way as quarantine sets in. Quite frankly, paper and pencils are not going to cut it when we are talking about 5 weeks. What we really want is a vile of C19 tests to be sure we don’t have it, a pre-tested available vax and treatment, endless shots of mezcal, and a massage on the beach.. but seeing how that’s not going to happen, we’ve had to get serious. Once we locked our door the first time, knowing we weren’t going back out this week (more likely weeks) to lessen the curve, the silence reverberated like a metal concert. We are in New York City, with no terrace or backyard.. what would we do next with no outdoor time at all for weeks? Sure, some people are risking exposure with the walk to Central Park, but many are saying even that is unsafe and irresponsible.
![5 Useful Things To Order On Amazon As You Learn To Homeschool During Covid19](https://girliegirlarmy.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/gga_5useful-covid.jpg)
Thus far, yes – it’s been one day, we are filling the time with a schedule (copy below, feel free to use) and crafting galore.
We are posting all our favorite homeschooling tips – this coming from parents really NOT interested in full time homeschooling – on our social media (@girliegirlarmy on all platforms.) There are printables galore that will guide you on your torturous (ooops.. we meant special) journey for the coming weeks, if your school hasn’t sent you any options. And we will be regularly updating this piece with what we’ve found helpful – so check back.
Here’s the schedule we’ve created for our squad which consists of a 4, 7, and 9 year old – feel free to print it out and heist it!
Wish us luck as we implement it tomorrow, and remember – most therapists will do phone sessions.
“And the people stayed home. And read books, and listened, and rested, and exercised, and made art, and played games, and learned new ways of being, and were still. And listened more deeply. Some meditated, some prayed, some danced. Some met their shadows. And the people began to think differently. And the people healed. And, in the absence of people living in ignorant, dangerous, mindless, and heartless ways, the earth began to heal. And when the danger passed, and the people joined together again, they grieved their losses, and made new choices, and dreamed new images, and created new ways to live and heal the earth fully, as they had been healed.” Kitty O’Meara
Here are a few things to order on amazon while you fill 5 weeks of days with your brood:
- A big-enough chalkboard, dry erase board, or large easel of paper. You’ll need to prove your points somehow.
- Baskets: To carry work, books, and supplies from room to room.
- Legos: Order a extra set of blank bricks that can be turned into anything – then watch Lego Brick Masters, and try to duplicate the challenges at home. Order new puzzles, board games, Jax, Cats Cradle, Shrinky dinks, indoor sporting goods like yoga mats, soft balls, mini bball hoop.
- Art Supplies: Magnets, Air Dry Clay, Playdough, Glue, Stickers, Paint, Paintbrushes, Pipe Cleaners, Stick on Jewels, Beading & Bracelets, Tie-Dye (in the bathtub with a big lawn & leaf bag covering the tub!), etc: We molded fun shapes out of clay, let them dry, painted them, and then hot glue gunned them onto magnets. Follow our Pinterest crafting page for tons of fun ideas! We are presuming you already have board games, markers, and magantiles – but if you don’t – these things would make the time go by far quicker!
- Globe and Wall Map
Though our heart aches for our small local businesses, we are so grateful that amazon is still delivering (and their CEO was the only one not to kiss Cheeto’s ass during that unfathomable press conference.)
Note: These are not wasteful purchases. As parents, you will likely always need and use the above items. Whatever you no longer have use for can easily be donated to your child’s classroom or a low-income children’s center once this time passes.
We made it easy for ya, here’s the links to each item – and yes, you can certainly buy the cheaper versions of our recommendations. We just went with links from our favorite full-time homeschooling friends:
Don’t forget to wash your hands after receiving and opening packages!
Here’s where you share your tips and favorite items! The comments section is ALL yours! Have an article you really want to share with us to help other parents in their time of homeschooling need? Email us at [email protected]
MORE IDEAS:
- Call Grandma/ Grandpa and ask them what they did during the Great Depression
- Bake/ cook meals together, use a cookbook or recipe and experiment
- Do an online yoga class
- Reward charts (and a stash of hidden YumEarth Lollipops on hand – don’t need them hyped on sugar with nowhere to go!)
- Organize their closet and help them try on clothes to decide what to donate, what to keep, and what to sell – make this part of a reduce, reuse, recycle lesson
GREAT APPS, WEBSITES, AND ONLINE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES:
- GetEpic.com
- Freckle.com
- GreatSchools.org
- Home Based Art Classes
- AdventureAcademy.com
- Perfect List of Quarantine Activites
- Free Online Chess
- Scholastic Learn At Home
- LUNCH DOODLES with Mo Willems
- Learn at Home
- GoNoodle.com
- ChoiceWorks.com (to create schedules)
- IXL.com
- Digital Educational Resources: Printable K12 lesson plans, classroom activities, games, templates, and more for teachers, parents, and homeschoolers.
- starfall.com
- abcya.com
- funbrain.com
- splashlearn.com
- storylineonline.
net - https://pbskids.org/
- https://www.highlightskids.
com/ - https://kids.
nationalgeographic.com/ - https://www.coolmath4kids.com/
- http://www.mathgametime.com/
- https://www.uniteforliteracy.
com/ - http://www.literactive.com/
Home/index.asp - http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/
- https://www.switchzoo.com/
- https://www.seussville.com/
- https://www.turtlediary.com/
- https://www.e-learningforkids.
org/ - BrainPop
- Curiosity Stream
- Tynker
- Outschool
- Udemy
- iReady
- Beast Academy (Math)
- Khan Academy
- Creative Bug
- Discovery Education
- https://classroommagazines.
scholastic.com/support/ learnathome.html - Free curriculum – from preschool activities to 12th grade: https://allinonehomeschool.
com/ - List of thinking games by grade: https://allinonehomeschool.
com/thinking/
VIRTUAL TOURS AND ACTIVIES
- Performing Arts
- The Met Opera HD performances (7:30pm ET, available until 3:30pm following day)
- https://www.metopera.org/about/press-releases/met-to-launch-nightly-met-opera-streams-a-free-series-of-encore-live-in-hd-presentations-streamed-on-the-company-website-during-the-coronavirus-closure/
- Musical Explorers (Carnegie Hall) https://www.carnegiehall.org/Education/Educators/Musical-Explorers/New-York-City
- Virtual Broadway Backwards Concerts https://www.playbill.com/article/enjoy-a-virtual-broadway-backwards-concert-on-youtube?fbclid=IwAR3jdN6p7ialxuPbCdv0ABoRvKwPZ-GRs3ZUeVClCUY9ADrI3gidZBDczEI
- Broadway Plays and Musicals you can watch from home https://www.playbill.com/article/15-broadway-plays-and-musicals-you-can-watch-on-stage-from-home?fbclid=IwAR0QmyTK-Z3zaHz8N8G5KwhuZ8TUIHVyb_qc7owybdPvg94yV_zUVVB281M
Visual Arts
- Art Lessons (1pm CT) https://m.facebook.com/makepaducah/
- Draw Every Day (2pm ET) https://www.youtube.com/StudioJJK?uid=ObbZ-lkhRQ203mtX9ZmgtA&app=desktop
- Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems (daily 1pm ET) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmzjCPQv3y8&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR3hpPKu698iG8dF1CdGW_OQf-xNJR6WlJp5VjS7K81AeVp0FnHUfPYj0-I
- Free coloring books from museums http://library.nyam.org/colorourcollections/
- Indoor Activities for Kids https://www.hellowonderful.co/post/easy-indoor-activities-for-kids/?fbclid=IwAR1Zzx5YhCJ_Qv3Tfit25UEcmrHWWos4POxsYd1oItZ7lKU87DzLFK6bEgw
- Coloring Pages https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1QOtMbZqMWnOAiXymJr7lqW0M-dCqDe6j
- Elementary Activity Books https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1WQbTKIMAwery0ZbgaB1vrv77eKu7icGt
- Black Lives Matter Coloring Pages https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1mloKOUtsprMTYLGsTiIKSTWjpXrqlmPg
- Kid On The Town (Culture for Kids) https://kidonthetown.com/?fbclid=IwAR1ouNtI1PuX_ZfUtAWtTqKE9DqJsqXeC2m1vdpmQoJ9pdD_oxWciS83-xE
Virtual Field Trips (zoos, museums, botanical gardens, etc.)
- Museum Tours https://adventuresinfamilyhood.com/20-virtual-field-trips-to-take-with-your-kids.html
- Home Safari Facebook Live w/Cincinnati Zoo (weekdays 3pm ET) https://www.facebook.com/cincinnatizoo/?__tn__=%2CdK-R-R-R&eid=ARBtjGOqKm6yXwTwdP0hgrNoEMtJRfwC_xhC0llZ8qjZ2RJxW8oR36OgyNaMUly5H0HScCRTpm3EA8t4&fref=mentions
- San Diego Zoo, Mars, Yellowstone, etc. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SvIdgTx9djKO6SjyvPDsoGlkgE3iExmi3qh2KRRku_w/mobilebasic?urp=gmail_link
- National Geographic Kids https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/
- The Ultimate Guide to Virtual Museum Resources + Online Collections http://mcn.edu/a-guide-to-virtual-museum-resources/?fbclid=IwAR1EHGoLfvmhba0sOvuSxst6zc7KMP-Yh5BKPrKTooAklERdGmTATdF8-vQ
- NASA Archives https://www.diyphotography.net/nasa-makes-entire-media-library-publicly-accessible-copyright-free/
- New England Aquarium live tours https://www.neaq.org/visit/at-home-events-and-activities/?fbclid=IwAR0_SigFvqL2bGRlFa2BTBB5IPCrzzfpnH7lWB1NaU9cOWc3wZseQUE0Tk0
- Tours of National Parks https://poly.google.com/view/ba3SGagEvs4?fbclid=IwAR2–jBTN13t1tvG3Yd7QfQlg2IhLDDknSlW3DR_IpDcEUOv43ufp0yRJiA
- Georgia Aquarium Live https://www.narcity.com/things-to-do/us/ga/atlanta/georgia-aquarium-has-live-cameras-that-let-you-explore-from-home
Literacy Resources
- Online read-alouds, storytelling, sing-alongs, etc. https://growingbookbybook.com/online-literacy-resources/?fbclid=IwAR24UJwkeT0KmFts0ET3f9bQ3Vdi4-bY5m4NejZxiWrVOTBnzWCRFNsW6XM
- Education Companies offering free subscriptions: https://kidsactivitiesblog.com/135609/list-of-education-companies-offering-free-subscriptions/
- Library Resources https://www.libraries2020.org/library_hacks_quarantine?fbclid=IwAR0W5gsEohjLB_LZWH257IotoTTGM8PaBagBPUmPnphLwdRgPfGrLARaI-4
- Early Childhood Booklists https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1mysSVNPbL9guR09K_7OsCgE0IwMgiZTS
Yoga & Meditation
- One OM at a time Yoga and Wellness Classes www.facebook.com/groups/oneOMatatime
- Cosmic Kids https://www.youtube.com/user/CosmicKidsYoga
- Bread & Yoga free daily meditation for adults 1-1:30pm https://www.breadandyoga.com/yoga/live-streamed-classes/
Read Alouds
- @macbarnett (Instagram) 3pm daily
- @oliverjeffers (Instagram) 2pm daily
- Storytime from Space https://storytimefromspace.com/
- Lauren Tarshis reads I Survived The Sinking of the Titanic, 1912
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxGJoKUR_OI&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR3Ijf0MCS5Y0Lva-0eCVrB5W2OFNqU0RLJMfX1etfDPIJpzBjfZZmNh6vE&app=desktop
- Storytelling (weekdays at 9:15am ET) https://www.facebook.com/rachael.harrington.9
YouTube Channels:
Photo by Jonathan Borba on Unsplash