Enrichment Activities

Fun at Home Enrichment Activities

Students PK-5

We are excited to provide you with ideas for enrichment activities to keep your student engaged and having fun during this break. The materials on the Topeka Public School’s Fun at Home page are intended to be fun and engaging and include items for students of all ages. Some of them are designed to be done over many days. Your child may also want to repeat some of the activities he or she finds enjoyable.

Family Resources

General Resources

Continuity of Learning at Home During COVID-19

Best Practices for Learning at Home

Dual Language Immersion

  • Salsa Georgia- Salsa is Georgia Public Broadcasting's award-winning Spanish language series for young learners in kindergarten through the third grade. Puppets in familiar stories, digital graphics and animation teach the language.

  • CASEL Resources - CASEL is committed to our vision of disseminating high-quality SEL research and best practices. We are more determined now than ever.

Early Learning

  • Storyline Online - The SAG-AFTRA Foundation's Online Library of Read Alouds by various actors and actresses

  • Kindergarten Readiness on IDOE Early Learning’s For Families Page

  • Vroom has activities to support your child’s brain development from birth-5.

  • Scholastic Learn at Home - Day-by-day projects to keep kids reading, thinking, and growing. The site will be updated weekly until 20 days of content is available.

  • The CDC’s “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” (LTSAE) - FREE research-based, parent-friendly resources on child development, developmental milestones, and activity ideas for young children and their families. On Facebook: Act Early Indiana.

Core Content Areas: English, Math, Science, Social Studies

Scholastic Classroom Magazines have opened up “Learn at Home” resources for Preschool through 6th grade students, plus additional lessons for above the 6th grade level. It includes “Day-by-day projects to keep kids reading, thinking, and growing.” This site would be a terrific place to extend your student’s learning experience in the comfort of your own home! https://classroommagazines.scholastic.com/support/learnathome.html

Storyline Online streams videos of celebrities reading popular books and includes links to curriculum aligned with each story. Reading aloud to children is essential for developing academically in many ways - from reading, writing, thinking, and developing effective communication skills. In addition to reading to your students at home, try out this resource as well! https://www.storylineonline.net/

Highlights Magazine for Kids online includes a wide variety of activities that can be done at home - from crafts to cooking! https://www.highlightskids.com/

The State Library of Kansas

  • For elementary students: The State Library of Kansas offers a wide variety of student friendly resources including Scholastic Bookflix (animated picture ebooks with a related non-fiction ebook ) and Britannica E-Stax (non-fiction ebooks). Other resources include Britannica School, Encyclopedia Britannica Escolar, World Almanac for Kids, Mango Languages etc. https://kslib.info/966/Research-for-Kids

  • For middle and high school students: The State Library of Kansas offers a wide variety of digital resources including sites for "general research", "skill builders", "social studies", and "literature and arts", and resources in Spanish. https://kslib.info/students

CommonLit is a website that has compiled a wide variety of fiction and nonfiction texts that can be accessed online for grades 3-12. This site also offers texts in Spanish. https://www.commonlit.org/en/texts

KidLit TV website provides you access to videos, crafts, and activities that will all foster a love of reading and academics. https://kidlit.tv/

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library - If you have a child 0-5 years of age, you can sign up to have a free book sent to your child monthly! Why not sign up today?! https://imaginationlibrary.com/

The Spanish Experiment offers access to stories read in Spanish - students can listen along, or follow along using the video format. This site also offers some free, simple lessons on learning Spanish. https://www.thespanishexperiment.com/

PBS Kids is a learning site for elementary students to access books, educational and fun videos, learning games, and enrichment activities like drawing or writing. If you sign up on their website, PBS will send parents daily activities and tips for keeping your student active at home. It can also be accessed through your cell phone service providers app system. PBS Kids also offers games in Spanish! Website: https://pbskids.org/

Games in Spanish: https://pbskids.org/games/spanish/

PBS Learning Media: Ken Burns in the Classroom - this website includes access to countless resources in history - from primary resources to riveting documentaries about historical events. https://kcpt.pbslearningmedia.org/

National Geographic Kids website includes a wide variety of resources - from interesting articles about history and science to experiments that can be done at home for fun and enrichment! There are both academic videos and games as well. https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/

BreakoutEDU Fun at Home website provides breakout games that involve academics for grades K-12. Have some fun with your students using these breakout games! https://www.breakoutedu.com/

Crash Course is a YouTube channel that provides educational videos for multiple content areas and subjects - history, science, psychology, etc. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX6b17PVsYBQ0ip5gyeme-Q

Khan Academy: “Khan Academy offers practice exercises, instructional videos, and a personalized learning dashboard that empower learners to study at their own pace in and outside of the classroom. We tackle math, science, computer programming, history, art history, economics, and more. Our math missions guide learners from kindergarten to calculus using state-of-the-art, adaptive technology that identifies strengths and learning gaps. We've also partnered with institutions like NASA, The Museum of Modern Art, The California Academy of Sciences, and MIT to offer specialized content.” If you choose to explore this website, you will have to create a log in as a parent to set up an account for your students - check with your student first as they may already have an account linked to a course at school. https://www.khanacademy.org/

Kansas Association of Teachers of Mathematics link provides resources for both teachers and guardians in case your student needs additional practice on skills. https://katm.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Math-Resources-by-Type-of-Learning.pdf

Wonderopolis is a fun site that explores interesting questions learners of any age might have - like What does a molecular biologist do? or Why do whales breach?. Check this site out with your student to explore some of these wonderings today! http://wonderopolis.org/

DK Find Out! Is a website where kids can learn about things that are interesting to them. There is a page for parents to learn more about their website, which can be easily found by using the main webpage: https://www.dkfindout.com/us/

NASA Kids Club is a site for students to learn about NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) and play virtual learning games. https://www.nasa.gov/kidsclub/index.html

Code website allows you to code with Star Wars or with any of their online projects. This easy to use website allows users to practice coding in a fun way - with characters from Star Wars. Star Wars: https://code.org/starwars or Full Site: https://code.org/ and https://studio.code.org/courses

Vivify STEM Education is a site with STEM projects that can be made at home. https://www.vivifystem.com/blog

Science Daily provides access to breaking news in science, health, environment, and technology research and current events. https://www.sciencedaily.com/

Interactive Science and Math Simulations (virtual labs): “PhET provides fun, free, interactive, research-based science and mathematics simulations.” https://phet.colorado.edu/

The Physics Classroom website offers insight into all things Physics! Check it out today for interactive experiences and lots of learning activities and reading! https://www.physicsclassroom.com/

Bozeman Science YouTube Channel has a ton of videos created by educational consultant Paul Anderson for teachers, students, and anyone interested in learning science content. ttps://www.youtube.com/user/bozemanbiology/featured

The Kids Should See This site provides videos on science phenomenon, technology, space, animals, music, art, etc. https://thekidshouldseethis.com/

Mystery Science is a website used by teachers to help students learn about science concepts. Those at Mystery Science created this link for use during school closures to allow families to try out some experiments and learn fun science information at home! https://mysteryscience.com/school-closure-planning

NEO K-12 provides links to educational videos and games for students. https://www.neok12.com/

Rockalingua - Music Based Spanish Learning is a fun website where students can learn Spanish using colorful animated videos. Most videos are free and do not require a subscription to access. https://rockalingua.com/

Exploratory Courses: Physical Education, Music, Art

Physical Education

Open Online Physical Education Network has an “active home” link with physical fitness activities designed to “make your home an active home.” https://openphysed.org/activeschools/activehome

GoNoodle is a site many teachers use in the classroom for brain breaks, academic enrichment, and movement in the classroom. GoNoodle has a family site as well! Check out some of the hundreds of fun videos with your student today! https://family.gonoodle.com/

Cosmic Yoga for Kids is a site for kids to start with Yoga in an adventorous and fun way. https://www.youtube.com/user/CosmicKidsYoga

Sworkit Kids: Customizable kid-friendly workouts (subscription required, kid’s workouts are free) https://sworkit.com/youth-initiative

Hip Hop Public Health: They create interactive, standards-based, multimedia resources that engage youth while equipping them with the knowledge and tools they need to make healthy choices. ://hhph.org/

Just Dance: Huge collection of dance videos pulled directly from the popular video game series. www.youtube.com/justdance

Music

Name That Note - Name That Note is a fun interactive game that tests your knowledge of note names in Treble and Bass Clef. https://www.teachingfiles.co.uk/namethatnote2.htm

Chrome Music Lab - Chrome Music Lab is a website that makes learning music more accessible through fun, hands-on experiments. https://musiclab.chromeexperiments.com/

BrainPOP Arts and Music - https://www.brainpop.com/artsandmusic/

BrainPOP Music Theoryhttps://www.brainpop.com/artsandmusic/learningmusic/

MusicTheory.net - Music Theory.net is a fun way to learn how music works from the basics of reading to how we write music. https://www.musictheory.net/

Khan Academy - Khan Academy offers practice exercises, instructional videos, and a personalized learning dashboard that empower learners to study at their own pace in and outside of the classroom. https://www.khanacademy.org/search?referer=%2F&page_search_query=music

Art

Art for Kids Hub is a YouTube Channel of a family that shares art tutorials for anyone! Check it out today! https://www.youtube.com/user/ArtforKidsHub

Google Arts and Culture is a site where you can virtually explore art collections from around the world. https://artsandculture.google.com/

BrainPop is a great site that includes games, movies, and activities that can accessed from your living room! https://www.brainpop.com/artsandmusic/ https://www.brainpop.com/artsandmusic/artconcepts/ https://www.brainpop.com/artsandmusic/

Khan Academy “offers practice exercises, instructional videos, and a personalized learning dashboard that empower learners to study at their own pace in and outside of the classroom.” https://www.khanacademy.org/search?search_again=1&page_search_query=art

Visit 12 Museums from Across the Globe through the following website: https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/75809/12-world-class-museums-you-can-visit-online

Digital Theater+ brings live performance into every classroom and library, accompanied by a range of invaluable educational resources for illustration, explanation, and critical reflection. https://www.digitaltheatreplus.com/

Theater

Thomas Downey High School Theater Program has created a website that includes resources for any theater student to access. https://sites.google.com/monet.k12.ca.us/tdhsperformingarts/drama-student-resources

Playbill is a website that offers access to Broadway plays and musicals for free! http://www.playbill.com/article/15-broadway-plays-and-musicals-you-can-watch-on-stage-from-home

Virtual Tours, Museums, and Zoos

Museums, Zoos, and National Parks Provide Virtual Tours and Activity Based Websites - Many museums and zoos are providing virtual tours of their exhibits and activity based websites - check out some of our favorites: