Updated 16th April 2020
A non-exhaustive (but slightly exhausting if you attempted it all at once!) list of over 50 educational resources and fun things to do. Collected from around the internet for you to do at home with children and young people of all ages during lockdown. Also remember that there is always the option to just turn on the TV and no one will judge you for it!
Feel free to share and send your suggestions of things to add to info@adoptionsupportcentre.org
Arts, Crafts and Fun Things to Do
Play Hooray
https://playhooray.co.uk/blogs/new
Lots of play activity ideas for all ages.
The Artful Parent
https://www.facebook.com/artfulparent/
Good, free art activities linked to from this Facebook page
Red Ted Art
https://www.redtedart.com
Easy arts and crafts for little ones
The Imagination Tree
https://theimaginationtree.com
Creative art and craft activities for the very youngest.
Crash Course Kids
https://m.youtube.com/user/crashcoursekids
You Tube videos on many subjects for a young audience.
Paw Print Badges
https://www.pawprintbadges.co.uk
Free challenge packs and other downloads. Many activities can be completed indoors. Badges cost but are optional.
Cbeebies Radio
https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/radio
Listening activities for the younger ones.
Nature Detectives
https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2020/03/nature-detectives/
A lot of these can be done in a garden, or if you can get to a remote forest location!
Stop Motion Movie App
Make your own animations with the free Stop Motion Studio app on Google Play or Apple App Store and follow the instructions. “Action, cut, do it again but more awesome!”
Identify stars with a free stargazing app
The Star Walk 2 app is available on Apple or Android. Billing itself as a ‘free planetarium’, Point your mobile upwards to reveal the names of stars, constellations, galaxies, asteroids and more.
Enjoy 100s of free Audible kids’ audiobooks
https://stories.audible.com/start-listen
Audible has released a collection of audiobooks for free, which it says will be available “for as long as schools are closed”.
Beam a tiger (or shark, panda or pug) into your home
Thanks to Google’s augmented-reality search feature, you can beam a virtual tiger, shark or pug into your home. Just download Google Chrome to your phone, then search for an animal. Click the ‘view in 3D button’, then ‘view in your space’ and you should see the creature prowling your room on your device’s screen.
Easy origami for kids
Step by step tutorials on 20 origami projects for kids.
Visit a Museum or Art Gallery
You may be stuck at home but did you realise you can visit any number of famous museums around the world – without the crowds! The Louvre, the National Gallery, the British Museum.
The Great Indoors
https://www.scouts.org.uk/the-great-indoors/
The scouts have collected together a great list of 100 things to do inside for all ages.
For Harry Potter Fans
https://www.wizardingworld.com/collections/harry-potter-at-home
A hub of information and activities to discover the magic of Harry Potter. Explore the hub for a wealth of creative and craft activities, quizzes, puzzles and more. There will also be a weekly email newsletter bringing fresh ideas each Friday.
24 Best Free Podcasts for kids
https://www.timeout.com/new-york-kids/things-to-do/best-podcasts-for-kids-of-all-ages?
Ideas from Action for Children
https://www.actionforchildren.org.uk/support-for-parents/things-to-do-with-your-child/?
Things to do with young children if you are stuck at home.
Paint Bristol with Jenny Urquhart
CCS patron Jenny Urquhart shows you how to paint Bristol in easy peasy steps. Create your pictures and then share them at #jennyurquhart #paintwithjen
Buy a bundle of scraps and create
https://www.childrensscrapstore.co.uk/
Scrapstore in St Werburghs are selling and delivering craft bundles of scraps to get creative with.
Stories from David Walliams at Elevenses
Cooking
Jamie Oliver gets families cooking together
https://www.jamieoliver.com/features/category/get-kids-cooking/
From healthy snack ideas to making your own fish fingers together.
Get Baking
https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/collection/kids-baking
A collection of 66 recipes for kids to bake.
Cooking with Kids
https://www.kidspot.com.au/kitchen/recipes/collections/cooking-with-kids
Australian site with lots of ideas for cooking with children.
Physical
PE with Joe Wicks
The new PE teacher in town, every weekday morning at 9am for half an hour. Do it with your children.
Free Hula Hooping class for kids
https://learn.livelovehoop.com/courses/kids?
Yoga for kids
Home Learning – General
Toy Theater
https://toytheater.com/
US educational online games for
younger kids
DK Find Out
https://www.dkfindout.com/uk/…
A range of activities and quizzes for all ages. Allows your child to search, learn, and explore information on a safe and secure site with quizzes, videos and animations.
Ted Ed
https://ed.ted.com
All sorts of engaging educational videos and lessons for all ages. A newsletter is available with daily lesson suggestions tailored according to age.
The Kids Should See This
https://thekidshouldseethis.com
Wide range of cool educational videos
Twinkl
https://www.twinkl.co.uk
This site has a large range of print outs and resources and is usually at a fee, but they are offering a month of free access to parents at the moment.
BBC Bitesize
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize
Home learning for ages 3-11, 11-16 and 16+. BBC Bitesize are publishing daily online lessons for all ages. There is also a dedicated TV channel full of learning content, podcasts on BBC Sounds and loads of educational video on iPlayer.
BBC Learning
Home learning for ages 5-16. This website is home to thousands of free curriculum-mapped videos, arranged by age-group and subject. Includes curriculum mapped video resources and interactive lessons.
Futurelearn
https://www.futurelearn.com
Free to access 100s of courses, only pay to upgrade if you need a certificate in your name (own account from age 14+ but younger learners can use a parent account).
Home Learning – Maths
Khan Academy
https://www.khanacademy.org
Especially good for maths and computing for all ages but other subjects at Secondary level. Note this uses the U.S. grade system but it’s mostly common material.
Prodigy Maths
https://www.prodigygame.com
Is in U.S. grades, but good for UK Primary age.
Cool Maths Games
https://www.coolmathgames.com/
Does what it says!
Learn Maths with Carol Voderman
https://www.themathsfactor.com/
Sign up is free during lockdown for this maths teaching site from Carol Vorderman. Daily lessons and regular newsletter.
Home Learning – Language
Write your first novel in 30 days
https://ywp.nanowrimo.org/pages/for-writers
Use this platform to help you write a novel in 30 days as part of the Young Writers programme.
Oxford Owl for Home
https://www.oxfordowl.co.uk/for-home/
Lots of free resources for Primary age
Duolingo
https://www.duolingo.com
Learn languages for free. Web or app.
British Council
https://www.britishcouncil.org/school-resources/find
Resources for English language learning
Home Learning – Science and IT
Steve Backshall, Every Wednesday at 9.30am
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm-URP49TgSgyIU1rgh2m7A
Live wildlife Q&A with Steve Backshall. Post your questions.
National Geographic Kids
https://www.natgeokids.com/uk/
Activities and quizzes for younger kids.
Mystery Science
https://mysteryscience.com
Free science lessons
Cosmic Shambles Network – Family Science Club
The first in a new Saturday morning series based around Science for families on You Tube. Part of the Stay at Home festival.
Science shows with Professor Brian Cox, Robin Ince & Guests
https://cosmicshambles.com/stayathome/upcoming-schedule
Blockly
https://blockly.games
Learn computer programming skills – fun and free.
Scratch
https://scratch.mit.edu/explore/projects/games/
Creative computer programming
Tinkercad
https://www.tinkercad.com
All kinds of making. Tinkercad is an app for 3D design, electronics and coding, used to imagine, design and make anything.
Crest Awards
https://www.crestawards.org
Science awards you can complete from home.
iDEA Awards
https://idea.org.uk
Digital enterprise award scheme you can complete online.
RSBP – wildlife inspired online games
https://www.rspb.org.uk/fun-and-learning/for-kids/games-and-activities/online-games-for-kids/
Online games from the RSPB inspired by nature.
Home Learning – History and Geography
Big History Project
https://www.bighistoryproject.com/home
Aimed at Secondary age. Multi-disciplinary activities.
Geography Games
https://world-geography-games.com/world.html
Geography gaming!