With the closure of schools around the world, many parents are scrambling to fill the learning gap at home. Look to our online free resources for activities to enliven your homeschooling curriculum.
For general reference and an abundance of fun facts and readings, access research databases specifically designed for elementary, opens a new window and middle school students, opens a new window. You can also check out an ABC Mouse 4-week license,, opens a new window allowing kids aged 2-8 to access online learning activities, opens a new window on a variety of topics.
Step Into History
With the History Reference Center, discover the changing histories and cultures of the United States and Canada from prehistory to the present. There are hundreds of full-text journals and books in the database for learning more about historical events and figures from around the world.
Choose from a number of eBooks in the "Who Was" , opens a new windowillustrated biography series, featuring significant historical figures from Harriet Tubman to Dolly Parton. For information on California history, check out our state's Social Studies fact cards., opens a new window You can also read about California Missions in these eBooks, opens a new window (use username/password: missions/missions).
Learn to Love Language Arts
With the Peninsula Library System Digital Book Library, younger kids can read along with downloadable read-along and picture books, opens a new window, and older children can select from hundreds of fiction eBooks and eAudio, opens a new window titles. Or visit Axis360 to choose from even more exciting stories, opens a new window. With TeachingBooks.net, opens a new window, you can also access multimedia content, including audiobook readings, author videos, book discussion guides, and lesson plans to complement readings.
For some fun with grammar, choose from a number of sentence games, opens a new window geared toward young children. You might also consider literature-based vocabulary lists, opens a new window to build a strong language arts foundation using the books you're kids are reading.
Broaden Connections With Foreign Language Learning
Master the basics of learning a new foreign language with online videos, opens a new window that include languages like Spanish, Chinese, and French. Practice Spanish and get to know new characters with a collection of Spanish eBooks, opens a new window. Older children and adults can dive into learning a language online, opens a new window and get assistance with learning English.
See Science in a New Light
In the Tumble Book Library, you can watch National Geographic videos about animals, opens a new window, astronomy, opens a new window, the human body, opens a new window, and other wonders of our world. Or, browse the many short videos on science, math, and nature, opens a new window to satisfy your scientific curiosity through Kanopy.
More Resources
For more, check out our complete list of online resources, opens a new window, including many short how-to videos, opens a new window to help you dive in.
If you're looking for book titles to borrow from our collection, visit our staff list for available titles you can check out at Curbside Pickup.
For parents exploring the world of homeschooling, here are a few resources to get you started.
How are you homeschooling during shelter in place? Share your ideas and resources in the comments.
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