Month: September 2020

Wide Open School is a free learning resource available through Common Sense Media. It’s marketed as a tool to ‘make distance learning more effective and engaging.’ Wide Open School allows you to filter the learning activities by age groups as well as type of resource (ex: video, article, ebook, lesson). Each day new lessons and activities are posted. Wide Open School can be used by students, parents and teachers. Subject areas offered include art, STEM, poetry, society and culture, writing, history and more.

If you are like most people with kids these days, the children in your life may be spending a lot of time with screens. One way to try to lure them away may be a podcast. Perhaps suggest they do some arts and crafts, play with the family pet, or go for a walk. All of these activities are enhanced by listening to a podcast. Julie’s Library (Julie Andrews) is a podcast to try that has stories read aloud, activities and music. The podcast offers older classics like ‘Ketzel the Cat who Composed’ along with newer titles like ‘Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress.’

Roald Dahl’s The Twits has a new digital performance version that will be live streamed for free through the end of November. Billed as a theatrical reading, the 40 year-old book is produced through London’s Unicorn Theater. The performance can be viewed on YouTube or by visiting The Guardian’s web site link. The unabridged reading is a must for all Roald Dahl fans and recommended for children ages 6-12. It’s a great idea to read the book first!