Week 1

Week 2

Week 2 supplemental pages (requires an HPISD Google login)

Week 3

Week 4

Week 5

Week 6

Week 7

Week 8

Week 1: March 30--Connect

Take time this week to virtually connect with family members who do not live in your home. Try these fun ideas:

• Connect virtually (or on the telephone) with older family members and ask them to share fun stories. Ask them what life was like when they were your age--activities, music, clothing, school, etc. Consider documenting these stories in writing or on video to treasure forever; a story or two a week could become a collection very quickly!

• Connect virtually with younger family members and friends by offering to read a book to them or tell them a story.

• Record yourself singing or playing an instrument and share it with family members who are also sheltering in place. They will love hearing your talents!

• Hand write a letter or draw something to share with a loved one.

Week 2: April 6--Explore

Explore some of these resources for families:

1. Nature at your fingertips: Ranger Rick, the award-winning children’s nature magazine, is offering all its content for free online, including outdoor activities, guides for educators and parents, and all the digital issues of the magazine.

2. Daily Journeys: Scholastic is offering cross-curricular reading and learning projects that your kids can use every day. Each one is built around a thrilling and meaningful story or video.

3. Doodling live: Mo Willems, author of the award-winning Pigeon and Elephant and Piggie children’s books, is doodling on a livestream every weekday at 1 pm EST. Help kids learn to write and draw alongside one of the best in the business!

4. Explore the world: National Geographic lets you use an incredible library of educational content. Get reading materials on everything from ancient history to the future of space travel.

5. Famous actors read to kids: Storyline Online is an Emmy-nominated children’s literacy program featuring imaginatively produced videos featuring celebrated actors.

6. Free Library: Learning A–Z is offering its Raz-Kids online library and Headsprout reading courses free for the next 90 days.

Week 3: April 13--Plan a Vacation

Although we are all at home right now, spend some time exploring the world through research. Make it even more fun by making plans for a possible vacation.

Students can practice research, reading, and budgeting skills by planning for a possible adventure. Being involved with the planning process can get kids excited about trips involving nature, history, art, music, exploring, or whatever your family enjoys.

Select a few possible destinations that would be reasonable for your family. Ask your children to explore each destination by conducting research. Items could include:

• Travel options with pros/cons for each (car, plane, train, etc.)

• Best time to visit

• Potential activities for families:

  • What is available in each location?

  • Which activities would your family most enjoy? Why?

  • What historical landmarks are there? What can you learn about them?

  • What cultural events occur there? What time of year?

• Lodging options with pros/cons for each

• Reviews from others about these places

• Items/preparation your family would need for a successful visit

• Cost for the visit (depending on the age of the child, ask him/her to develop a budget)

Ask your child to create a travel brochure or presentation to entice others to visit Include possible schedules for each day of the vacation. Sneak a peek at the destination using tools like Google Earth.

Save these ideas! You may get to add some vacation photos to the plans in the future!

Week 4: April 20--Family Challenges

• Host a family cooking challenge. Have each member select a recipe and “compete” for the best flavor and presentation like they do on the cooking shows. Make sure an adult is present when a minor is using sharp utensils or kitchen equipment that could pose a danger. Think about how each ingredient makes a difference in each recipe. What would happen if you changed ingredients?

• Host a mini ninja warrior challenge. Create your own obstacle course in your yard or house. For extra fun, give the obstacle course a theme by giving each challenge a name. Make sure an adult approves it for safety before it is put to use for the first time. Time yourself going through the obstacle course and see if you can beat your own best time. What changes did you make to improve your time?

• Host a read-a-thon for your family. Have each member select a number of books to read over a period of time. Make a chart for each family member to track his/her progress. Find times to read in the same room at the same time; consider making treats for the occasion. Take time for each person to share a bit about what he/she is reading. Celebrate together when everyone hits his/her reading goals.

Week 5: April 27--Fun Walks

Go on a walk around the neighborhood with your family members. Instead of just walking, try one of these challenges:

• Storytelling Walk: Find one of the teddy bears or other items that have been displayed in the window by families (and consider adding one in your own window). Create the "story" of the animal as you walk. What does he/she like to do for fun? Tell about the animal's family. What grade is he/she in? What has he/she seen from the window?

• Nature Walk: Try to find 10-20 different types of trees or plants as you walk. Can you identify each? If not, snap a picture and research it after your walk. Will the tree look the same all year? Why or why not?

• Math Walk: Select multiple items to count as you walk. Each person can tally a different item. (Examples, trees with colored blooms, white cars, dogs). Predict before you walk how many of each you might see. Were you accurate? Talk about the total number of the different items using ratios.

• Word Walk: Make a list of words that you and your family will spell as you walk. Find the letters one at a time in the neighborhood on license plates, signs, decals on cars and more! Or, make it a contest to see who can spell the longest word or the most words; make it more challenging by limiting the words to verbs, adverbs, adjectives, etc.

Week 6: May 4th--Explore, Get Up and Move, and Celebrate Mom

Explore:

• Pick from this list of virtual museum, zoo, aquarium, and theme park tours collected by Good Housekeeping

• Play the GeoGuessr Game (there is a free version) and see if you can identify different locations based on the pictures

Get Up and Move:

• Get the family moving with Go Noodle

• Pick a song and choreograph a family dance

Celebrate Mom: Mother's Day is May 10!

• Write a poem for your mother or grandmother; video yourself reading it to her or include it in a special homemade card.

• Make breakfast in bed for your mom, with help from an adult. Choose her favorite menu and make a special menu card for decoration on the tray.

• Create a family skit to honor your mom. Use household items for props or costumes. Get everyone involved.

Week 7: May 11--Fun and Games

• Organize a karaoke party for your family at home (or virtually with friends and family using Google Meet).

• Go shopping (online) together and fill a basket of items to make a fun, entertaining care package for a grandparent or elderly relative. Who doesn’t love surprises in the mail?

• Create your own “silly walk” signs for your sidewalk as a challenge for people who walk past your house. See the videos here: https://www.instagram.com/p/B_bbXckJDsh/

• Create part of the monopoly board on the sidewalk outside your house (or another game of choice). Example here: https://detroit.cbslocal.com/2020/04/28/family-turns-neighborhood-sidewalks-into-giant-monopoly-board-coronavirus-lockdown/

• Play charades; choose words around a theme or that show the things you have learned this week.

• Go through a junk drawer and see how many things you can find that you didn’t realize were there.

• Explore a new type of cuisine and research the country it’s from. Prepare (or order) as a family.

• Make a family tree. Ask family members to text you a picture of themselves to print out.

Week 8: May 18--Family Dinner Conversations

During dinner each night this week, pose a fun question for everyone to answer. Try the school-related questions below or ask some of our own. What can you learn about your family members that you didn't know?

Monday: If you could visit with any person in history, who would it be? Why did you choose that person? What would you ask? What would you want to tell them? (History)

Tuesday: If you could interview an inventor or scientist, which one would you choose? What would you ask? Why did this inventor or scientist capture your interest? (Science)

Wednesday: If you could choose another language to learn, which one would you choose? Why? How would you put your new language skills to use? (World Languages)

Thursday: If you could be any character from a work of fiction, who would it be? Why did you choose this character? What adventures did he/she encounter that you wish you could have experienced? What other adventures would you expect from this character? (English/Language Arts)

Friday: If you had extra money you wanted to give to charities, which one(s) would you choose? Why did you choose those? How do those charities align with your core values? What other ways could you support those charities besides donations? ("Enter to Learn, Go Forth to Serve")