Library Support for Shifting to Online Teaching

Librarians and educators have compiled guides to free resources for kids:

• ► Free K-12 Resources (Open Culture) lists 200+ resources, including Khan Academy, TED-Ed, and YouTube EDU. It also features free home schooling resources during COVID-19.
• Amazing Educational Resources is a spreadsheet with hundreds of free-to-access materials 
• The Parent Resource Hub (University of Florida Literacy Institute) organizes extensive online language and literacy resources by age group
• 37 Free Online Resources for Schools Shifting Online During Coronavirus (National School Choice Week)
• Free Resources for Children (University of Texas at San Antonio Libraries)

Other resources:

• Harry Potter At Home features special activity kits, craft videos, puzzles, and more.
• Scholastic Learn at Home offers "day-by-day projects to keep kids reading, thinking, and growing."
• While all Pima County Public Library locations are closed, PCPL cardholders have access to extensive online resources for kids. (If you don't have a PCPL card, you can now get one by email or phone.) Kanopy Kids currently offers unlimited video plays to PCPL cardholders. See other E-Library resources for kids, teens, and educators.
• According to the Arizona Daily Star, Tucson's Movement Culture is offering free fitness classes for kids (and adults) live on Instagram. And the Tucson Jewish Community Center is providing free access to 100+ Les Mills video workouts, including BORN TO MOVE children's workouts and "Move Like the Avengers."

Art

• Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems: The children's author/illustrator is teaching kids to draw in live videos every weekday at 10 a.m. Pacific time. Kids can submit questions to LUNCHDOODLES@kennedy-center.org and he'll answer some in his videos.
• Google Arts & Culture has partnered with thousands of museums and galleries around the world to provide free virtual tours. See other resources for art, music, dance, and theater.
• According to the Arizona Daily Star, Tucson's Creative Juice is offering free virtual paint classes. You can view a supply list and use your own materials or pick up a supply kit for $12 from the studio (curbside and touch-free). RSVP via Facebook for an event if you need a kit; if you have your own supplies, you can join the class on Facebook at the designated time and day.

Science

• "Virtual Tours You Can Take If You’re Stuck at Home" shares how to explore zoos, aquariums, national parks, Mars, and other sites from home. "Over 30 Virtual Field Trips" also lists webcams where you can watch animals plus a virtual farm tour.
• Virtual Marine Biology Camp is being offered on Mondays and Thursdays at 11 am Pacific time by the Oceans Initiative.
• The Wall of Birds from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology showcases 270 species of birds. Bird Academy  features videos, learning games, and open lectures.
• The Space Foundation is partnering with Snoopy and the Peanuts gang on STEM lesson plans.

Audiobooks & Virtual Storytimes

• As long as schools are closed, Audible is giving kids free access to audiobooks in six different languages. Stories can be streamed on a desktop, laptop, phone, or tablet.
• Free K-12 Resources (Open Culture) lists resources like the International Children's Digital Library (free ebooks in 40+ languages) and open educational resources (see the bottom of this page).
• Storyline Online features videos of celebrities reading children's books.
• Story Time From Space has astronauts reading children’s books from the International Space Station.
• The UA BookStores offer Storytime at Home with Paddington. Learn about upcoming storytimes on the BookStores' Facebook page.
• Virtual Storytime from New Orleans Public Library offers new videos every weekday morning. Facebook Live Storytimes happen Fridays at 7:30 am Pacific time.

Open educational resources (OER) are free to use, share, print, and customize:

• Free K-12 Resources (Open Culture) includes resources like CK-12 (CC BY license), Librivox (public domain audiobooks), The Harvard Classics (public domain books), and NASA for Students (generally in public domain).
• Resources to Get Started (New America)
• K-12 Blueprint
• OpenStax offers open textbooks for Advanced Placement courses. In response to COVID-19, technology partners are providing free courseware and online homework software this semester.
• OER Commons (can filter by subject, grade level, and material type)
• MERLOT (can filter by discipline, audience, material type, and more)