Free Learning Resources During COVID-19

April 21, 2020 | Betsi Ashby

How is everyone doing?? The realities of quarantine are settling in for us in new ways this week, and we’ve found ourselves trying to stave off the doldrums.
Will we ever get to return to normal? What is normal exactly?
The ocean is calling, and I can’t go!
You want
another snack?
Making space for the ups and downs of each family member amidst all this can be A LOT for a parent. Well, if you haven’t heard it yet today: We see you. You are doing a great job. Keep it up.

While being home with your family can have its challenges, especially after a month (or longer!) of sheltering in place, there are some silver linings. Frequent video calls with friends and family, kindnesses from strangers, and family time we will (hopefully) look back on as precious and rare. Businesses and organizations all over are also making generous gifts of content available for free (including us!). Surely you were bombarded with loads of free COVID-19 resource lists already, but we thought we’d pop in to remind you of some really great ones! Below is a curated list of different online opportunities to take advantage of. We’ll keep updating this post as we find more gems, and please comment below with ones you’ve found!

Note: Wisdom Wonder Project is not affiliated with any of the above-mentioned websites, businesses or organizations. Please review all material and/or videos to ensure content is age-appropriate for your child(ren).

Photo from Harry Potter at Home

Audible

Audible is streaming hundreds of their stories (across six languages) for free during the COVID-19 pandemic. Audiobooks are great ways to access literature while libraries are closed. From literary classics, stories for even the littlest listeners, to the first Harry Potter book, there are options for all aged listeners.
START LISTENING

Ivy League Courses

Here are 450 Ivy League Massive Open Online courses you can take online right now. If you sign up for Coursera, access courses at no cost by choosing to “audit”. Time to brush up on your Greek and Roman Mythology!
START LEARNING

Harry Potter at Home

JK Rowling has done it again! Bringing the Wizarding World right into your living room, “You’ll find all the latest things to keep you occupied – from special activity kits from Bloomsbury to Scholastic, to nifty magical craft videos (teach your friends how to draw a Niffler!) fun articles, quizzes, puzzles and more.
TIME FOR SOME MAGIC

Legoland

Legoland is posting LEGO building challenges and free printables for kids every week. Get that block play going!
START BUILDING

 

Animals & Nature

Photo from San Diego Zoo

California State Parks PORTS Home Learning Programs

Register for K-12 classes exploring parks all over the state without having to travel.
SIGN UP FOR CLASSES

Conservation Training

“ConservationTraining is an open and free learning community that offers conservation-based training materials from The Nature Conservancy.” Learn about our precious planet and its wonders (for older teens/adults).
BROWSE COURSES

San Diego Zoo

The world-famous zoo has twelve different live animal cams for your viewing pleasure, including panda cam archives of Bai Yun and Xiao Liwu from early 2019. Giraffes, pandas, tigers, oh yay!
WATCH THE ANIMALS

 

Theater

Shakespeare’s Globe May 2018 Dress Rehearsal

The Globe Theater 

Streaming a different free Shakespeare play every 2 weeks! Shakespeare’s London Globe is releasing a different play every two weeks, available on Youtube. making some divine sense amidst the current madness.
Romeo and Juliet: April 20-May 3
The Two Noble Kinsmen: May 4-17
The Winter’s Tale: May 18-31
The Merry Wives of Windsor: June 1-14
A Midsummer Night’s Dream: June 15-28
TO WATCH OR NOT TO WATCH

National Theatre at Home

Another London theater is streaming a different play every Thursday on Youtube. Be sure to check out the comments below the video, they have study guides and activities for kids based on the play!
Treasure Island, April 16-23
Twelfth Night, April 23-30
GO TO THE THEATRE

The Shows Must Go On!

Every Friday, The Shows Must Go On! will be releasing a different musical by Andrew Lloyd Weber on Youtube. Be sure to watch when you can, they’ll only be available for 48 hours!
MUSICALS ARE MY JAM

 

Museums

The Metropolitan Museum of Art from NY Times

MET’s Timeline of Art History

The MET is pairing “essays and works of art with chronologies, telling the story of art and global culture through the Museum’s collection.”
EXPLORE THE MET

The Vatican

Take 360 degree, virtual tours of the Sistine Chapel and the rest of the Vatican with the whole family. Can you spot Michealangelo’s God and Adam on the ceiling?
TAKE A TOUR

The Louvre

Did you know that the Louvre was once a fortress built by the French king Philippe Auguste? Take a virtual walk around the moat, or explore Egyptian antiques together.
TAKE A TOUR

 

We hope you find space to take advantage of these resources without feeling pressured to get to them all. Maybe let each family member pick one from list to do on their own or together, and let the rest lie for now. They’ll still be here if/when you do.

Any other free amazing resources you’ve found during the pandemic? Share with us in the comments below!


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