COVID-19 AND HOME LEARNING - RESOURCES AND ACTIVITIES TO HELP CHILDREN AND FAMILIES - Community Services Directorate

COVID-19 AND HOME LEARNING
RESOURCES AND ACTIVITIES TO HELP CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

In this document: Information to support parents and carers with home learning, including numerous links to
resources to keep children engaged and happy during this time of change.

There is a lot of uncertainty in our current environment due to the challenges and risks
posed by COVID-19. This is creating an environment of stress, anxiety and concern for
many of us, and limiting our ability to go about our lives as usual. With government-
imposed restrictions and schools changing how they delivery education, there has been a
rush to ‘home school’ children.

Education is important, and it is understandable you want to ensure your children’s academic progress is not
impacted. However, stressed adults can not engage stressed children, and this can create an unhealthy dynamic
for everyone involved. At this time, children need connectedness, not lesson plans. Consider activities that bring
about ‘teachable moments’, rather than focusing on rigid schooling. It remains important you keep to some sort
of routine and structure throughout the day, exercise, practice self-care, set goals and take brain-breaks – all of
these can be done collaboratively with your children.
This handout includes a range of information, resources, blogs and links that can be used at home to keep you
and your family entertained, informed and connected. Remember, your child may need your encouragement
(and participation) to get the most out of these activities.

HOME LEARNING RESOURCES AND ACTIVITIES

Caregiver and Family Information:
   > Free Book explaining COVID-19 to children – https://660919d3-b85b-43c3-a3ad-
     3de6a9d37099.filesusr.com/ugd/64c685_319c5acf38d34604b537ac9fae37fc80.pdf
   > Coping during COVID-19: Resources for Parents – https://childmind.org/coping-during-covid-19-
     resources-for-parents
   > Staying Emotionally Close in the Time of COVID-19 –
     https://www.thetraumatherapistproject.com/podcast/bruce-perry-md-phd-staying-emotionally-close-in-
     the-time-of-covid-19
   > COVID-19 Simple Activities for Children and Adolescents – https://www.phoenixaustralia.org/wp-
     content/uploads/2020/03/Coronavirus-Evacuation-activities-for-children-and-adolescents.pdf
   > COVID, Anxiety and Stress: Resources and links by Dr Karen Treisman, including podcasts, videos and child
     friendly downloadable information – http://www.safehandsthinkingminds.co.uk/covid-anxiety-stress-
     resources-links
   > COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions for School Communities –
     https://www.education.act.gov.au/public-school-life/information-on-novel-coronavirus-covid-19/covid-
     19-frequently-asked-questions-for-school-communities
   > Tips for Coping with Coronavirus Anxiety – https://www.psychology.org.au/getmedia/5a4f6500-b5af-
     4482-9157-5392265d53ce/20APS-IS-COVID-19-Public-P2_1.pdf

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> Australian Childhood Foundation: Staying Connected with our Children –
    https://professionals.childhood.org.au/app/uploads/2020/03/Covid.pdf?fbclid=IwAR1Z2fm5EB9R8JBdVM
    -yE-hHKHDu5sNQ4BzmCSWGCDCLlruH4xzAOHd6mKk
  > Children’s book: The story of the Oyster and the Butterfly – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBHba-
    EBoM8

Education ACT
  > Resources to Support Home Learning – https://sites.google.com/ed.act.edu.au/act-home-
    learning/resources-to-support-home-learning

Live Streams
  > Melbourne Zoo – https://www.zoo.org.au/animal-house
  > Sea Life Sydney – https://www.sydneyaquarium.com.au/explore/live-stream
  > 13 Zoos around the World – https://www.holidaypirates.com/travel-magazine/13-zoos-that-offer-live-
    streams-see-giraffes-koalas-pandas-tigers-penguins-more_35765?c=15

Zoo Education Online
  > Melbourne Zoo – https://www.zoo.org.au/education/zoo-education-online. Mogo Zoo is closed.
    However, Zookeeper Chad will answer children’s questions using the hashtag #AskAZookeeper

Libraries ACT & Online Books
  > Online Resources, including online story time and e-resources! – https://librariesact.spydus.com/cgi-
    bin/spydus.exe/MSGTRN/WPAC/ERESOURCES?HOMEPRMS=EVPARAMS
  > Audible – Offering free stories for children whilst schools are closed. All stories can be streamed via
    laptop, phone, tablet or desktop computer.
     •    Whatcha Building read by Mrs Hissink – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2KDFn_7dQc
     •    The Very Hungry Caterpillar: Animated Film – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75NQK-Sm1YY
     •    The Very Brave Bear – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVPLXPrYGDA
     •    The Wonky Donkey – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InuQD8-as1w
     •    The Gruffalo – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8sUPpPc8Ws
     •    The Bravest Fish – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9qCa0wntIY
     •    Rabbit Ears – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42j__i-owjs
     •    I am the Dog – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-SLIXNjPq0
     •    Other books available online at https://www.freechildrenstories.com.

CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES

Mathematics
  > Using the numbers found on a device in the house (e.g. television remote), identify numbers and solve
    problems, such as ‘What is 5 more/less than this number?’.
  > Mathletics App/website. This program requires a small subscription, however, some ACT Public and
    Private Schools provide this for free for every enrolment.
  > Use grocery packaging to set up a shop at home. Children can set a price for each item and trade groceries
    for play-money, toys, cereal, sticks, stones etc.

History
  > Interview a family member or friend over the phone, about their life. Ask questions such as “How many
    brothers and sisters do you have?”, “Who lives in your house?”, “What hobbies do you have?”.

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> Create a project on a topic that interests you: Ancient Egypt, Australian Prime Ministers etc. Depending on
    the child’s age, you can set a word limit, or include creative elements such as a PowerPoint presentation,
    video, comic strips etc.

Science
  > Bake a cake or cookies together. Weigh ingredients using a kitchen scale and follow a recipe, discuss how
    ingredients change at each step of the process, discuss the taste of each ingredient and their properties
    (e.g. “butter and oil will make the cookies more chewy, sugar will make it more sweet”) etc.
  > Use some old clothing (or clothes your child has grown out of) to sew some clothes for a teddy bear or
    stuffed animal. Use fabric glue, or a needle (depending on your child/young person’s age and abilities).
  > Observe the weather each day and create a weather journal to record your findings. Include the type of
    weather and its corresponding symbol. Draw pictures to show the clothes you wear and activities you do
    during this type of weather.
  > Make some bath bombs:
    https://www.honestlymodern.com/how-to-make-homemade-bath-bombs-with-kids
  > Plant some Autumn Vegetables – baby spinach, snow peas, radishes, garlic, kale, broccoli, cauliflower and
    beetroot!

Movement and Physical Activity
  > Play your child’s favourite song and choregraph a dance routine. Practice this and then preform for a
    family member.
  > Cosmic Kids Yoga You Tube Channel. Yoga, mindfulness and relaxation designed especially for kids aged
    3+, used in schools and homes all over the world.
  > GoNoodle App helps children stay active, focused and calm whilst infusing good energy into the home.
    This is a free online resource and provides ways for children and families to move and learn together. It
    includes movement, yoga, mindfulness videos, downloadable curricular activities and recommended off-
    screen home activities.
  > Use side-walk chalk to draw a hopscotch stencil in your backyard or on your driveway.
  > Create a circuit of different exercises (e.g. star jumps, step ups, running on the spot and frog jumps). Do
    each exercise for two minutes, then challenge someone in your family to do it with you. Remember to be
    creative and use whatever items, furniture and equipment is at your disposal. Have a look at these short
    videos:
     • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vLvoEXLApA&feature=youtu.be
     • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-D_xK1eQCc
  > Outdoor Scavenger Hunt. Create a list of things for children to collect (or take a photo of) during an
    outdoor walk. This scavenger hunt could be adapted for the backyard also. See example below.
  > Give your child a bucket full of water and some paint brushes to paint the fence or a brick wall.
  > ‘We’re Going on a Bear Hunt’. Many families around Canberra have begun placing bears in their front
    windows to encourage children to go on a bear hunt. Walk or ride around your neighbourhood and see
    how many bears you can spot.
  > What’s your name? See example below. This activity can be adapted, such as ‘Move through the ABC’. A =
    Aerobics. B = Ballet and so on.

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Writing/English
  > Write and draw for 15 minutes every day. Not sure what to write about? Maybe write letters to your
    school friends, or family or neighbours.
  > Write a book report. Read a book and write down the title, author, plot, and what your favourite part of
    the book was!
  > Reading Eggs website/app. This program requires a small subscription, however, some ACT Public and
    Private Schools provide this for free for every enrolment.
  > Soundwaves website/app. This program requires a small subscription, however, some ACT Public and
    Private Schools provide this for free for every enrolment.
  > Play ’20 Questions’ and adapt the game (almost like ‘Guess Who?) to use characters from books. Let
    children take turns giving yes and no answers about the characters they’ve chosen.
  > Interview a caregiver or family friend (via video call) about their job. Ask them what they do, why they
    were interested in this job, what is their favourite part of their job etc. The questions can become more
    complex if the young person is a little older.

Art and craft
  > Make your own Bluey and Bingo figures: www.bluey.tv/make/3d-bluey-and-bingo-paper-tube-figures
  > Outdoor chalk mosaic. Using masking tape, outline a square or rectangle and then divide it into small
    pieces (like a mosaic). This will become a stencil and children can colour each piece of the mosaic using a
    different colour of side-walk chalk.
  > Make paper planes. Get creative and look for different styles online
  > Make your own paint, playdough and slime. See recipes below
  > Create homemade greeting cards for various events like Valentine’s Day, New Year’s Day, April Fools’,
    Easter, Christmas, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day etc.
  > Make a house out of paddle pop sticks, or any other craft material you may have at home.

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Recipes

          COVID-19 and home learning: Resources and activities | April 2020 | 5

Recipes from mothercould.com

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