Resources to help

Welcome! We know this is a stressful time for everyone, so to help we have created this resource to support our community.

We hope you find our collection of articles, activities and lessons helpful as you settle into working and teaching remotely or home schooling your kids. This is just the beginning, so check back regularly. Have an idea or great site to contribute? Contact us to tell us all about it!

Tips on Working Remotely Face Mask Patterns Outdoor Activities Indoor Activities Helpful Articles Staying Organized Sanitizer Products Downloadable Signs

Sanitizing tips for when schools reopen

WHO:
Get the facts, key actions for educators and parents.

CBC’s Markeplace:
Watch this short clip on how Taiwan keeps kids safe at school amid COVID-19.

Canadian Facility Management & Design
Read this article to learn more about cleaning schools in the age of COVID-19

From the CDC
How to clean and disinfect your facility.

Downloadable Hand Sanitizing Sign Templates

Save time making "How to Clean Your Hands" signage for your school by downloading these templates.
Color templates
Black & White templates

Tips on Working Remotely

For your mental health

Free Coursera Course:
Mind Control: Managing Your Mental Health During COVID-19.

From the CBC:
Simple techniques for relief from fear and anxiety.

EdCan Network:
Resources for K-12 staff teaching and working through the COVID-19 pandemic.

InsightTimer:
Free library of music, inspirational talks and more to help generate positive vibes.

How to Work 8-5 and Stay Sane:
Blogger, Modern Work-at-home Mom, shares 7 tips that help her parent and work from home.

From Forbes:
How to Stay Sane During Quarantine.

From the CDC:
Ways to take care of yourself and your loved ones during this stressful time.

From HBR:
A guide for juggling work and kids while working remotely.

Waves of freeze during Covid-19

Ways to keep your kids busy
while you work

Quiet Time Boxes:
Blogger, Teaching Mama, shares her approach to keeping kids busy independently by creating quiet time boxes for each day of week.

TED Talks:
35 Must-watch TED Talks for kids and teens.

CNN Health:
Tips on how parents can homeschool their kids.

Face Mask Patterns

Sew Can She:
Sew your own face masks using this easy photo tutorial for the Olson pattern (adult and kid sizes).

Joann.com:
Here’s another style of mask that uses fabric ties instead of elastics if all you have is fabric at home.

Outdoor Activities

Outdoor obstacle course:
Practice gross motor skills such as balance, coordination and concentration by creating a DIY balance beam course in your yard!

Make a COVID-19 Time Capsule
Loving Creations has created free downloadable sheets for children to create a record of how they are feeling, who they are, handprints and more.

Plan Discovery Lab
Go for a walk and then set this up on your kitchen table.

Jane Goodall's Roots and Shoots at Home
Jane Goodall Canada has compiled the best stay at home activities to support educators and students.

Getting your Hands Dirty:
3 Fun Garden Science Activities.

Homemade Moon Sand:
Blogger, Happiness is Homemade, shares her recipe for Moon Sand.

Learning through Landscapes:
Free online forum for outdoor learning.

Indoor Activities

Lessons and activities

Early Childhood Play:
Blogger, Adventures at home with Mum, offers all kinds of imaginative, messy, educational and fun activities.

Learning4Kids:
A resource with free activities and lessons by age.

Besquare:
A video library of all kinds of how-to and explainers from cooking Bolognese to politics.

Wide Open Schools:
A vast collection of activities by grade range and topics like science, social studies and life skills.

Education.com:
Register for a free basic account to access content, by grade level created by educators.

Canada’s Wonderland:
A blog that shares a variety of activities like games, writing prompts, virtual scavenger hunts.

Great Schools.org
Download worksheets by grade, listen to podcasts, parenting tips and more.

Planes and Balloons:
Download free printable worksheets for pre-school and kindergarten aged children.

Crafts, Maker and STEM activities

iHeart Arts n Crafts:
15 super fun cardboard box projects for kids.

Fabulessly Frugal:
7 beautiful stained glass art projects for kids.

Meraki Lane:
41 STEM projects for kids of all ages.

Activity related: Carnegie Science Center
Science lesson plans, activities and videos for PreK-12.

Lego Activities
Combine math, science, storytelling, reading and problem solving activities with Lego projects.

Virtual tours

Virtual tours:
A massive list of museums, zoos and theme parks.

Canada’s Wonderland Blog:
Take a virtual roller coaster ride.

Copernicus:
Tour our facility and learn about some of the jobs Copernicans do.

Free virtual books

Vooks: They are offering free virtual books to teachers for 1 year.

Are you talking about design thinking at your school?

Click here for a quick run-through the design, tooling, production and delivery of the Tech Tub2. Includes a bonus lesson plan as well!

Curious how durable the Tech Tub2 is? Click here.

Other online resources that are neat

ECK News:
Stay up-to-date by subscribing to this YouTube channel of student-produced newscasts.

TED Talks:
5 must-watch TED talks if your child hates math.

The Homeschool Scientist:
Links to home schooling organization ideas.

No-cost, no-equipment exercises:
See Fast Companies recommendations to keep active while at home.

Staying Organized