Over the past month, we’ve all been watching as coronavirus (COVID-19) quickly spreads across state lines and borders. So far, 14 individuals have tested positive in Kentucky, and Governor Andy Beshear’s recommendation to close all schools for two weeks was intended to keep that number low.
As a result, school districts are rapidly applying for “non-traditional instruction days” to keep students learning throughout the two-week hiatus. These days, which are already used in several districts throughout the state, will effectively require students to complete assignments online during the extended break.
This is uncharted territory for parents, teachers, and students alike, but thankfully, there are a lot of great organizations out there working to make the virtual jump as easy as possible during the COVID-19 outbreak. Whether you’re a teacher seeking virtual lesson plans for the next two weeks or a parent looking to enhance your student’s time at home, we’ve put together a great list of resources that are easy and effective.
Resources for Virtual/Distance Learning
All Subjects
History/Social Studies
- Kids Discover Online
- Library of Congress
- National Geographic Classroom Resources
- Stanford History Education Group
- Smithsonian Education
- Teaching Tolerance
- Zinn Education Project
Math
- DeltaMath
- Edulastic
- Free Math App
- Mangahigh
- National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
- National Association for the Education of Young Children
- The Math Learning Center
- Prodigy
- Zearn
Reading/Language Arts
- Accelerated Reader
- BookCreator
- CommonLit
- Epic
- Independent Reading Response Ideas
- Myon
- NewsELA
- ReadWorks
- Scholastic Story Starters
- Starfall Reading
- StoryKit
Science
- Anatomy Games
- ChemMattersOnline
- ChemReference
- Mystery Science
- National Science Teaching Association
- PhET Interactive Simulations
- Rozzy
But that’s not all. While it’s crucial to keep students engaged and learning throughout these next couple of weeks away from school, it’s just as important to keep less fortunate families and children in mind as well. That goes beyond simply washing your hands and social distancing.
Our friends at brightbeam have compiled a list of simple actions that anyone can take to be a beacon of light for their community during these challenging times. If you have other suggestions, please let us know.
- Meals on Wheels America delivers nutritious meals, friendly visits and safety checks to seniors so that no one is left hungry or isolated. You can make a donation or see if there are opportunities for you to (safely) volunteer to make an impact in your community.
- Save the Children has set up a Coronavirus Response Fund to reach children in coronavirus-affected areas and other countries at great risk. Your donations will help keep children healthy and safe, train health workers worldwide, and supply the protective equipment and other supplies frontline health staff desperately need.
- RIP Medical Debt will take your monetary donations and eradicate the medical debt of those most in need. This helps people who are uninsured or inadequately insured to get the medical assistance they need sooner rather than later.
- The Red Cross is in urgent need of blood, platelet or plasma donations to avoid shortages as they respond to the coronavirus outbreak. Donating blood is a safe process and you should not hesitate to give or receive blood (while paying careful attention to social distancing recommendations).