So your kids are home because schools are closed but you want them to keep learning. Besides the online learning items you’ve received from their school, here are a few ideas that may help.
Reading and Vocabulary
Keep them reading by letting them read what they want, even if it’s comic books or magazines. Maybe find a biography about a favorite athlete, music star or movie/TV actor. Also, you could have them read the book before watching a movie and having them talk about the differences. Check the local Little Free Libraries (LFLs) to find some fun reading materials. Have your child help with meals by reading recipes to you (and you can slip in some math while they help with measuring ingredients). Playing games with your kids like Scrabble, Boggle or Apples to Apples Jr will help with vocabulary. For younger students, pick a letter of the day and have them think up words that start with that letter or find objects around the house that start with that letter. For older students pick a new interesting word a day and have them use it in sentences during the day.
Math
You can have your kids help figure out the cost of the foods on your grocery list by looking at grocery store ads. Pick up a cheap deck of cards and play War, Black Jack or Cribbage with your kids, or you can pull out two cards of each number and play “memory” with the younger ones. If you happen to stop by the dollar store, buy a pair of those larger foam dice. Let the kids roll them and count the dots or add up the dots. And, of course you can always pull out a Monopoly or other game that requires counting or math. Your kids will like spending time with you and may not even realize they’re actually learning.
Writing
Have your kids get in some writing skills by writing letters to grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. Older youth could write to government officials at all levels to let them know their ideas on various topics. They could also write a letter to the editor to local newspapers or to local newscasters. Younger children often like “writing” their own books. Encourage your kids to write their own poetry, plays or music lyrics.
Science
Spring is here, even though Minnesota weather doesn’t always feel like it, and it’s a great time to get in some science and nature learning. The Northside has an abundance of great nature places – North Mississippi Regional Park, Ryan Lake, Wirth Lake, Shingle Creek, Bassett’s Creek, Eloise Butler Flower Garden and the Quaking Bog. These places are big enough to be able to go explore and still practice “social distancing.” Or start some seeds indoors to plant outside later. Some good seeds to use with kids are pole beans, snap peas and sunflowers but any seeds will do. If you have plants with seed heads in your yard, you could try planting those too. Also, try creating simple plants from household foods. For example, suspend an avocado pit in water (use tooth picks etc.) and watch it grow roots. Cut off the top of a pineapple and put it in a shallow tray for a crazy spiky plant.
* How those without school age children can help. Put children’s and young adult/teen books in the Little Free Libraries (LFLs) in your neighborhood. Also, consider putting boxes of crayons, pencils, etc. in the LFL’s for those students who may not have them at home.