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Librarians' Guide to Staying Home & Sane: For the Kids

Online Entertainment

Suggested Children’s Websites and Apps

Looking for fun and safe ways to keep your children entertained online? Here is a list of apps and websites on a variety of subjects.


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SEBCO eBooks for Children

2020Census -- Statistics in Schools

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USCENSUS/bulletins/285bd69

At-home activities that showcase the country's diversity. Suitable for Kindergarten through 12th Grade.

#SaveWithStories

https://bookriot.com/2020/03/16/amy-adams-and-jennifer-garner-launch-savewithstories-in-response-to-covid-19-pandemic/

Save the Children and No Kid Hungry partner with Amy Adams and Jennifer Garner to present celebrities reading children's books aloud.

Arithmagic - Math Wizard Game. iOS/Android/Amazon. Elementary

http://www.gooblegames.com/

Use addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and other math skills to help a wizard cast math spells to defeat enemies. Available in English.

ART

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EVMQiHHKugF4RQ071DzimkSKn1AuiBNOJ-i6xs1mBts/mobilebasic

Bandimals. iOS. PreK

https://www.yatatoy.com/bandimal

This open-ended music composition app lets kids create drum loops, compose melodies, and add effects onto songs. Compositions can be saved to the collection. Available in English.

Cat in the Hat Builds That, The. iOS/Android/Amazon. PreK

https://pbskids.org/apps/cat-in-the-hat-builds-that.html

This companion to the PBS KIDS series The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That explores a variety of engaging STEM mini-games and activities. Includes supplemental materials and suggestions for caregiver/child interaction. Available in English and Spanish. 

 Drops. iOS/Android. Elementary, Middle School

https://languagedrops.com/

Using simple navigation rather than relying on native language, this app and website teaches over 30 languages through audio/visual cues and mini games. Available in multiple languages.

 Funexpected Math. iOS. PreK, Elementary

https://funexpectedapps.com/en

This app leads kids through a beautifully animated world using a wide variety of mathematical games and activities. Challenges increase noticeably in difficulty, and replay value is moderately high as users continue to build skills. Available in English.

GoNoodle - Kids Videos. iOS/Android/Amazon. PreK, Elementary

https://www.gonoodle.com/

This app and website is full of short videos that provide music, movement, dance, stretching, yoga and mindfulness. A simple way to get kids moving in a safe and fun environment. Available in English.

Growing Book by Book

https://growingbookbybook.com/online-literacy-resources/

A master list of free online resources to nurture young readers.

Hopster Coding Safari. iOS. PreK, Elementary

https://www.hopster.tv/coding-safari/

This drag-and-drop coding logic game teaches basic computational thinking. The controls are easy to use and the puzzles increase in difficulty to build skills. Available in English.

 Kahn Academy. Elementary, Middle School, High School

www.kahnacademy.com

Educator created content and tutorials on a variety of school subjects. Struggling with homework? This is a great resource! Available in English. 

Little Chickies / Los Pollitos. iOS/Android. PreK 

Listen to the traditional Spanish lullaby accompanied by cute animated chicks from the Canticos board book. Other interactive activities include chick-related art projects that can be saved in a digital scrapbook. Available in multiple languages.

 Little Mouse’s Encyclopedia. iOS/Android/Amazon. Elementary

https://littlemousesencyclopedia.circusatos.com/

Explore beautifully illustrated European habitats while learning details about various animal and plant species. Detailed biomes include forest, underground, and underwater. Available in multiple languages.

Me: A Kid’s Diary. iOS. Elementary, Middle School

https://tinybop.com/apps/me

This digital journal app provides a guided introduction to multimedia storytelling and encourages self-expression. Users of different ages can create pages about themselves with prompts for silly drawings, self-portraits, gifs, photos, and sound recordings. Available in multiple languages.

Middle School Distance Learning

https://sites.google.com/a/eufsdk12.org/eastchester-middle-high-school-library/middle-school-distance-learning

Resources for your teens & tweens! Created by Eastchester Middle School Librarian.

NAMOO - Wonders of Plant Life. iOS. Elementary, Middle School

https://www.commonsense.org/education/app/namoo-wonders-of-plant-life

Combining engaging and interactive 3D animation with enriching encyclopedic content, children can explore and discover the

New York Historical Society

https://www.nyhistory.org/education/history-home

Discover dynamic education programs and curriculum resources about the history of our city, state, and nation.

Novel Effect. iOS/Android. Parent/Caregiver

https://noveleffect.com/

Enhance storytime through voice-activated special effects. Choose from a comprehensive list of stories to read aloud and the app will do the rest. Available in English and Spanish.

OurStory Kids. Android. Elementary, Middle School, Parent/Caregiver

http://ourstory.diversebooks.org/kids/1.05/

Created by We Need Diverse Books, this website and app recommends diverse titles to readers based on an extensive number of customizable preferences. The site may be used to purchase titles from a variety of vendors. Available in English.

PEEP Family Science: Colors. iOS/Android. PreK

http://www.peepandthebigwideworld.com/en/educators/peep-family-science/

Featuring characters from the television show PEEP and the Big Wide World, this app uses an array of short videos and tutorials to introduce the science of colors. Users explore colors through hands-on activities that use the scientific method in a fun, challenging way. Available in English.

Puku: Learn New Words. iOS/Android. Elementary

Kids learn new words through digital flashcards with matching and fill-in-the-blank activities. As they master new words a worm-like creature grows. Word lists are customizable. Available in English.

 Sago Mini Village. iOS/Android/Amazon. PreK

https://sagomini.com/en/apps/detail/village/

Children build a gnome village by moving around various block pieces and accessories. No rules, instructions, or time limits are provided, so users can create their own parameters for play. Available in English.

Sebco eBooks for Kids

http://library.esebco.com/site/login?login=keepreading&password=sebco

Sebco is offering free access to ALL of their eBooks until mid-June!
Use the login information below:
Username: keepreading
Password: sebco

Storyline Online. iOS/Android. PreK, Elementary

https://www.storylineonline.net/

Developed with the SAG-AFTRA Foundation, this website and app contains a diverse and growing selection of picture books read by celebrity readers. Each book includes supplemental curriculum material developed by educators. Available in English.

Tami’s Tower. iOS/Android/Amazon. PreK, Elementary

https://ssec.si.edu/tamis-tower

Produced by the Smithsonian, this game asks users to use basic engineering design principles to help Tami the golden lion tamarin solve the problem of how to reach the best fruit. Available in English.

Thinkrolls: Space. iOS/Android/Amazon. Elementary

https://avokiddo.com/thinkrolls-space/

This app inspires children to use creative thinking and problem-solving strategies as they guide their alien character through a series of logic puzzles. Available in multiple languages.

Unite for Literacy
https://www.uniteforliteracy.com/

Access to an abundance of books that celebrate their languages and cultures and cultivate a lifelong love of reading...Our projects build home libraries and support families to develop a daily habit of reading, both of which are key factors in growing lifelong readers.

Who Was? Adventure. iOS. Elementary.

http://www.whowasbookseries.com/

Kids test their knowledge of famous historical figures from the popular Who HQ series by answering trivia questions in increasingly difficult arcade style games. Available in English.

Story Time From Space

https://storytimefromspace.com/

Great Podcasts for Kids

PBS Kids

OK Go Sandbox

RJ Bailey Library Choice Board

RJ Bailey Library Choice Board

Please select at least one of these (hopefully fun!) activities to complete.

 

Choice #1- Read a book!


 

Read your library book or any book you have in your house.  Reading is already awesome but to make it even more fun consider…

  • Calling/Facetime a friend or family member to surprise them with a story

  • Read to a pet (don’t be offended if your pet doesn’t seem too interested!

Choice #2- Explore an on-line read aloud video, or a read to yourself at GetEpic! with over 35 thousand books!

https://www.readbrightly.com/topics/brightly-storytime/

 

https://www.storylineonline.net/library/

 

https://www.indypl.org/blog/for-parents/free-video-read-alouds

 

https://kidlit.tv/?s=read+out+loud

 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBTeCHmWyv8ro1EkhbaXewg

 

https://www.getepic.com/

Choice #3- Library Skills Worksheet

Below are library-skills based worksheets that you can print and complete.

  1.   Parts of a Book Activity

  2.   Dewey Decimal Practice

Choice #4- Scholastic Learn at Home

 

~ Follow the directions to set up a free account

Scholastic has released a series of really interesting at-home lessons that are currently offered for free! They are sorted by grade level so, (just choose your grade then follow the instructions) link:

Scholastic Learn at Home 

Choice #5- Storytime with Ryan and Craig




 

Try the link to the right: It will answer any questions you may have about why kids play “rock, paper, scissors”!

I hope that you are enjoying your extra time at home, but I know this may feel a little scary and stressful.  If you need a laugh, check out some of the stories from these kid-friendly comedians, Ryan and Craig.

Ryan and Craig

 

https://www.ryanandcraig.com/blog/2019/5/30/the-legend-of-rock-paper-scissors-by-drew-daywalt?rq=the%20legend%20of%20rock%2C%20paper%2C