Apr 29, 2020
Discovery Resources for Kids and Parents
Homeschool resources to keep kids close to science and discovery
Hi,
This document is all about keeping kids engaged and learning while school is out. It is for parents and caregivers who have to find a way to occupy everyone’s minds with good quality content.
Make your own Canadarm Grappler (NASA activity sheet)
A quick craft that I saw demonstrated at the Canadian Science and Technology Museum. Really neat to try:
https://www.nasa.gov/pdf/675573main_Technology%20Activity-SOS.pdf
Here is a video of how the real thing works: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqgxfFlQ3D0
Chris Hadfield’s tour of the Canadarm on the International Space Station: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7NvsxcoDKo
Anturus hands on experiments
Focused on climate and exploration, including your own physical and environmental health. Volcanos, glaciers, geology, climate, atmosphere, personal fitness, it’s an Earth explorer focus with videos and activity sheets great for full lessons:
https://www.anturus.org/experiment/
Ingenium Canada Museums: at-home experiments
A variety of try-at-home experiments using common craft supplies:
https://ingeniumcanada.org/channel/articles/ten-science-activities-you-can-do-at-home
Your name in Egyptian hieroglyphs
From the Royal Ontario Museum: write your name in Egyptian Hieroglyphs
https://www.rom.on.ca/en/learn/activities/classroom/hieroglyphs
Canon Creative Park
Printable, foldable paper crafts for all skill levels including animals, aircraft, cards, hats, masks, puzzles and games. Download and print the PDF on your printer and get to folding
https://creativepark.canon/en/contents/CNT-0024601/index.html
Scratch: An fun intro to programming using ‘blocks’
This is a well known, classic way of visually assembling a program like Lego™ with a big library of examples.
https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/editor/?tutorial=getStarted
There is also for ages 5–8ish, there is ScratchJr for mobile and chromeOS at https://www.scratchjr.org/
Worksheets (Caution, may contain work)
Grades preschool through 5 covering math ,science, reading, writing: https://www.greatschools.org/gk/worksheets
Ontario’s Learn from Home e-Learning portal for all grades:
Includes parent and caregiver guides for learning at home
https://www.ontario.ca/page/learn-at-home
All about Coral Reefs
The coral presentation: shorturl.at/fty03
Activity pack (to print): shorturl.at/awVX1
Online quiz: shorturl.at/cjmp2
NASA at Home
A collection of videos, activities, lesson plans, ebooks, podcasts
https://www.nasa.gov/specials/nasaathome/index.html
Nature of Things CBC : 10 family friendly docs:
An astronaut’s guide to life in space
A Canadian Classic: Chris Hadfield wonderful YouTube playlist of 49 experiment, questions and answers from on board the International Space Station:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPfak9ofGSn9vOEkIz328i4xQQq7e0kjc
How It’s Made
The original Canadian show that gives a view into the factory — big, small, all over the world. Mesmerising to watch from food to toys to machinery:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCELt4nocnWDEnYJmov4zqyA/videos
PBS Deeplook
Youtube channel zooming in on nature
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-3SbfTPJsL8fJAPKiVqBLg
Science Max
Like mythbusters but more education/kid oriented and still great production value:
https://www.tvokids.com/school-age/videos/season-3-science-max/hydraulics
And the channel on youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbprhISv-0ReKPPyhf7-Dtw
National Geographic Science Playlist
A part of their sprawling youtube presence that focuses on science, exploration, from big to small:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbMhR9JUPuI&list=PLivjPDlt6ApS90YoAu-T8VIj6awyflIym
The Magic of Chemistry
Old-school Royal Institution presentation by Andrew Szydlo like Dumbledore at Hogwarts. Really a captivating watch:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0g8lANs6zpQ
PBS EONS YouTube channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzR-rom72PHN9Zg7RML9EbA
All about the earth, and everyone and thing that lives on it — it is the big picture over millions and billions of years with a huge variety and library from giant sharks to when the Earth was a giant Iceball
Banff mountain Film Festival online
An annual short film festival that tours the world and attracts thousands of viewers is now online for 2020. It’s all about travel and adventure and lives lived in concert with nature from outdoor sports to magnetic cultures and people:
https://civictheatre.ca/blog/banff-mountain-film-festival-online/
Listening
CBC podcasts for kids
Including Thai Asks Why and The Secret Life of Canada
