• Online Instructional Resources for Families

    1. ABCya Free Games: Educational games for Pre-K through 6th grade, covering math, reading, and more.
    2. Code.org Hour of Code: Free, fun coding activities for all ages to introduce students to programming concepts.
    3. Cool Math Games: A collection of engaging math-based games that promote logical thinking and problem-solving.
    4. Cosmic Kids Yoga: Fun yoga videos to encourage movement, mindfulness, and relaxation.
    5. Ducksters Education Site: Activities, quizzes, and kid-friendly articles on history, science, and geography.
    6. Education.com Games: A variety of educational games for all grade levels, focusing on math, reading, and more.
    7. FunBrain: Reading activities, books, and games that challenge and entertain elementary students.
    8. GoNoodle: Videos for movement and mindfulness that kids can enjoy at home or school.
    9. Hooda Math: Free online math games that focus on problem-solving and basic math skills.
    10. Math Chimp: Free math games and videos aligned with Common Core standards for grades 1-8.
    11. Math Game Time: Interactive math games and worksheets for Pre-K through 7th grade.
    12. Math Playground: Creative math games and logic puzzles to practice problem-solving skills.
    13. MathGames: Interactive math activities and quizzes for students from kindergarten to eighth grade.
    14. National Geographic Kids: Videos, articles, and games focused on animals, science, and the world.
    15. NASA Kids' Club: Space-themed games, puzzles, and activities for students curious about astronomy and space exploration.
    16. PBS Kids Games: Interactive, educational games for young learners that focus on math, science, and literacy.
    17. San Diego Zoo Kids: Live animal cams, fun facts, and activities about wildlife and conservation.
    18. Sheppard Software Food Chain Game: A fun and educational game teaching kids about food chains and ecosystems.
    19. SplashLearn: Personalized math practice through engaging games and activities.
    20. Spelling Training: Customizable platform for practicing spelling words through interactive games.
    21. Starfall: Phonics-based activities and interactive reading games to build foundational skills.
    22. Storyline Online: Free storytime videos read by celebrities, promoting literacy and a love for storytelling.
    23. Time for Kids: Current events and informational articles for students.

  • Music, Art, and Physical Education: Online Resources for Families

    These websites offer a wide range of activities and lessons to keep students engaged in music, art, and physical education at home. 

    Music Websites

    1. Chrome Music Lab

      • A fun and interactive platform where students can explore music through experiments and create their own compositions.

    2. Classics for Kids

      • Introduces students to classical music, composers, and musical concepts with games, videos, and interactive lessons.

    3. QuaverEd

      • A digital platform with engaging music activities, including lessons on rhythm, melody, and instruments.

    4. PBS Kids Music Games

      • Fun and interactive music games featuring PBS characters that teach rhythm, instruments, and melodies.

    5. The New York Philharmonic Kidzone

      • Explore instruments, composers, and fun musical games created by the New York Philharmonic Orchestra.

    Art Websites

    1. Art for Kids Hub

      • Step-by-step drawing and art tutorials for children, featuring easy and creative projects.

    2. The Kennedy Center - ArtsEdge

      • A resource for students to explore visual arts, music, and theater, offering activities and videos.

    3. Google Arts & Culture

      • Explore famous artworks, virtual museum tours, and creative projects to learn about art and history.

    4. KinderArt

      • A variety of art lesson plans and ideas for kids of all ages, covering painting, drawing, and crafts.

    5. Drawing Now

      • Free, step-by-step drawing tutorials that guide students through creating their own art.

    Physical Education Websites

    1. GoNoodle

      • Movement and mindfulness videos to keep kids active and engaged, perfect for short indoor workouts.

    2. Cosmic Kids Yoga

      • Yoga and mindfulness videos designed for children, featuring fun storytelling themes.

    3. PE Central

      • A resource with physical activity ideas, lesson plans, and fitness challenges for kids.

    4. OPEN Phys Ed

      • Free PE activities and resources designed for at-home physical education and fitness.

    5. NFL Play 60

      • A website with videos, games, and activities to encourage 60 minutes of daily physical activity.

    6. Fitness Blender for Kids

      • Free workout videos tailored for kids, focusing on fun and fitness.

    7. Adventure to Fitness

      • Engaging videos that combine storytelling and physical activity to keep kids moving.

     

  • Offline Activities for Literacy, Math, Science, and Social Studies 

    Literacy Activities

    1. Storytime:

      • Read a favorite book together. After reading, ask your child to retell the story in their own words or draw a picture of their favorite part.
      • For older students, have them write an alternate ending to the story.

    2. Winter Word Search:

      • Create a word search using winter-themed words like "snowflake," "sled," "frost," and "scarf."

    3. Write a Snow Day Poem:

      • Encourage students to write an acrostic poem using the word SNOW or WINTER.
      • Example:
        Soft and white,
        Never-ending fun,
        Outside we play,
        Winter's just begun!

    4. Letter Hunt:

      • For younger children, search around the house for items that start with different letters of the alphabet.
      • Example: "Find something that starts with B – Blanket!"

    5. Snowy Word Building:

      • Use letter magnets, blocks, or paper cutouts to build winter-themed words like "cold," "snow," "sled," and "flake."

    Math Activities

    1. Snowball Counting:

      • Roll up socks or small pieces of paper into "snowballs." Count them, sort them by size, or use them for simple addition and subtraction problems.

    2. Shape Snowflakes:

      • Cut out paper snowflakes and identify the shapes within them (triangles, squares, etc.). For older students, discuss symmetry.

    3. Hot Cocoa Fractions:

      • Use marshmallows in hot cocoa to practice fractions. Example: "If you have 8 marshmallows and eat 4, what fraction is left?"

    4. Winter Pattern Practice:

      • Create patterns using household items (e.g., spoon, fork, spoon, fork). For older students, make more complex patterns.

    5. Measuring Snow:

      • If snow is accessible, measure its depth with a ruler. Record observations and compare amounts in different areas (e.g., driveway vs. backyard).

    Science Activities

    1. Melting Snow Experiment:

      • Bring some snow indoors in a bowl. Predict how long it will take to melt. Use warm and cold water to observe which melts snow faster.

    2. Sink or Float Winter Edition:

      • Fill a bowl with water and test if winter items (e.g., a mitten, a small ornament, a snowball) sink or float.

    3. Ice Observation:

      • Freeze water in different containers (e.g., cups, bowls) and compare how fast they melt in different parts of the house.

    4. Winter Animal Habitats:

      • Discuss how animals adapt to winter. Draw pictures of animals (e.g., bears, penguins) and their habitats.

    5. Snowflake Structure:

      • Use toothpicks and marshmallows to build a "snowflake." Discuss symmetry and why no two snowflakes are alike.

    Social Studies Activities

    1. Map Your Neighborhood:

      • Draw a simple map of your neighborhood or town, marking key places like your home, school, or parks.

    2. Winter Traditions Around the World:

      • Research or discuss how different cultures celebrate winter. Draw a picture or write a fact about one tradition (e.g., Chinese New Year, Hanukkah).

    3. Weather Reporter:

      • Pretend to be a weather reporter! Observe the weather outside and write or say a short report about the snow day.

    4. Build a Snow Day Timeline:

      • For older students, research a famous snowstorm in history (e.g., The Blizzard of 1888) and create a timeline of events.

    5. Helping the Community:

      • Discuss how people help each other during winter (e.g., shoveling snow for neighbors, donating warm clothes). Write about or draw a way to help others.

  • Offline Activities for Music, Art, and Physical Education 

    Music Offline Activities

    • Homemade Instruments: Create shakers with rice and plastic containers, or use pots and pans as drums.
    • Freeze Dance: Play your child’s favorite songs and dance. Pause the music and freeze in funny poses.
    • Clap and Tap Rhythms: Clap out rhythms and have your child repeat them. You can also tap rhythms on a table or floor.
    • Sing Along: Sing classics like “Jingle Bells,” “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star,” or “If You’re Happy and You Know It.”

    Art Offline Activities

    • Snowy Day Art: Use cotton balls, paper, and glue to make a snowy day scene. Add crayons for details.
    • Homemade Snowflakes: Fold paper and cut shapes to create unique snowflakes.
    • Winter Collage: Use old magazines or newspapers to find wintery pictures and glue them onto a piece of paper.
    • Paint with Ice: Freeze water with food coloring in small containers. Use the colored ice cubes to "paint" on paper.
    • Handprint Snowman: Use white paint to make a handprint snowman and decorate it with markers or crayons.

    Physical Education Offline Activities

    • Snowball Throw: Roll up socks into balls and practice throwing them into baskets or buckets.
    • Snow Dance Party: Put on energetic music and dance like snowflakes, stomping through snow, or building snow forts.
    • Indoor Hopscotch: Use tape to make hopscotch squares on the floor and hop through the course.
    • Animal Walks: Pretend to walk like a bear, hop like a bunny, or waddle like a penguin.
    • Snow Angels Indoors: Lay on a soft surface like carpet or a blanket and pretend to make snow angels.