Online Educational and Leisure Resources and Activities for Kids

Looking for online educational resources and fun activities for your kids that are also interesting? We’ve compiled a list and separated it by area of interest or subject. Let us know if you have any to add!

Animals and Nature

The San Diego Zoo has a website just for kids with amazing videos, activities, and games:  https://kids.sandiegozoo.org/

Tour Yellowstone National Park: https://www.nps.gov/…/lea…/photosmultimedia/virtualtours.htm

This Canadian site FarmFood 360 offers 11 Virtual Tours of farms from minks, pigs, and cows, to apples and eggs: https://www.farmfood360.ca/

Play games and learn all about animals: https://switchzoo.com/

National Geographic, geography and animals: https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/

Animal Cams list: https://www.adventure-journal.com/2020/03/if-youre-stuck-inside-might-as-well-enjoy-this-list-of-animal-cams/

Space 

Explore the surface of Mars on the Curiosity Rover: https://accessmars.withgoogle.com/

Television Characters

Play with favourite TV show characters and learn too: https://pbskids.org/

Around the world

This Virtual Tour of the Great Wall of China is beautiful and makes history come to life: https://www.thechinaguide.com/destinati…/great-wall-of-china

35,000 pages of online content on the cultures and countries of the world: https://www.countryreports.org/

Live WebCams, Virtual Tours, and Virtual Field Trips: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/u/1/d/1NGi3CzD0gY7Dq83dtX_Oa4LDVdU0qkew251N6LQk-Fw/htmlview?usp=sharing&fbclid=IwAR3clQcJcC-Mwyc8uylWUnuarob_OJFJN22KXqDYEhAwHNeZJqXBmv7MZaY&sle=true

Math and Science

Math and Reading games: https://www.funbrain.com/

Math practice from counting to algebra and geometry: http://www.mathscore.com/

High school chemistry topics: https://www.acs.org/…/hi…/chemmatters/articles-by-topic.html

Math and reading games: https://www.abcya.com/

Math and language games: https://www.arcademics.com/

Elem science videos: https://www.backpacksciences.com/science-simplified

Elem Math through 6th grade: https://boddlelearning.com/

Math as a fun part of your daily family routine: http://bedtimemath.org/

Biology: https://www.biologysimulations.com/

Geometry: https://www.canfigureit.com/

Science, Math, Social Studies: https://www.ck12.org/student/

Chemistry: https://www.playmadagames.com/

Kindergarten to Grade 5 Science lessons: https://mysteryscience.com/

A wide range of math content from middle school through AP Calculus: https://deltamath.com/overview 

Kindergarten to Grade 8 online math program: https://www.dreambox.com/at-home

Interactive video earth science-based curriculum supplement: https://www.everyday-earth.com/

80+ do at-home science activities: https://elementalscience.com/…/n…/80-free-science-activities

Science and math labs and simulations: https://phet.colorado.edu/

Learn all about earthquakes: https://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/kids/

Learn all about the periodic table: https://www.chemicool.com/

Space science: https://www.nasa.gov/kidsclub/index.html

Math Games, Logic Puzzles and Brain Builders: https://www.mathplayground.com/

Smithsonian Learning Lab: https://www.si.edu/kids

Science Mom fun science videos:  www.youtube.com/sciencemom 

Skype a Scientist - https://www.facebook.com/annfro/posts/10157039487963873

Languages, Literature and Spelling

Phonics skills: https://www.starfall.com/h/ 

Resources for Spanish practice: https://www.difusion.com/campus/

Chinese learning activities: https://chalkacademy.com/

Grammar practice for middle grades: https://www.classroomcereal.com/

Reading passages for grades 3-12: https://www.commonlit.org/

Vocabulary, grammar, listening activities and games in Spanish, French, Italian, German, Portuguese, Korean, and Latin: https://conjuguemos.com/

Multiple Foreign languages: https://www.duolingo.com/

Magic Spell is a carefully crafted spelling adventure: https://brainbox.games/

Spelling grades 1 to 4: https://www.spellingtraining.com/

Free stories online ages 3-12: https://www.freechildrenstories.com/

Read, play games, and hang out with Dr. Seuss: https://www.seussville.com/

Fave kids books read by famous people: https://www.storylineonline.net/

Free printables library with activities for children 0-6: https://www.littlesparkcompany.com/printables-library

Interactive games based on the book series: https://www.magictreehouse.com/

General education

Curio.ca is the educational platform of CBC/Radio-Canada, and gives students, from primary through to post-secondary levels, streaming access to educational content from CBC and Radio-Canada. This includes thousands of programs and resources, from television and radio, documentaries, to news reports, archival material, and more: https://curio.ca/en/

Educational games Kindergarten to 12: https://www.breakoutedu.com/funathome

Scholastic multi-interest projects: https://classroommagazines.scholastic.com/support/learnathome.html?

Three Free Weeks of Maker Stations to keep your children creating at home! Each challenge includes simple instructions using materials around the house, QR code video resources, and a student recording sheet. bit.ly/freemakerstations

Online homeschool platform & curriculum for Pre-K to 12th grade. All main subjects are covered, plus extra-curriculum courses. http://discoveryk12.com/dk12/

Farmer's almanac for kids... Date, weather, moon phase:  https://www.almanac.com/kids

PreK-12 digital media service with more than 30,000 learning materials: https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/ 

Music

Music is for everyone: https://musiclab.chromeexperiments.com/Experiments

Poetry and music: https://www.thewell.world/mindful-mu…/mindful-poetry-moments

Learn guitar or ukulele: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9cvVvlvr-qBssphm1EdYGQ

Learn piano: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpzgTNTgQsR9YYsyOm3k3KQ

QuaverMusic is offering free access to general music activities: https://www.quavermusic.com/info/at-home-resources/

Museums

Ottawa Museum Tours: https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/tour-ottawa-museums-from-the-comfort-of-your-living-room-1.4853809?fbclid=IwAR3-ca0Kdq0P7gUba6PfhB6qG40tEdmI-TNA02BKRcXpm-rSFNILQJcARg8

The Louvre: https://www.louvre.fr/en/visites-en-ligne

British Museum; discover the ancient Rosetta Stone and Egyptian mummies:. https://britishmuseum.withgoogle.com/

Arts, Crafts and Games!

This comprehensive guide from Common Sense Media will help you find the best teacher-approved apps, games, and websites to support your kid - broken down by grade! https://www.commonsensemedia.org/guide/essential-school-tools

Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems: https://www.kennedy-center.org/education/mo-willems/

Crafts, activities, mazes, dot to dot, etc.: https://www.allkidsnetwork.com/

Fun games, recipes, crafts, activities: https://www.highlightskids.com/

Printable board games, activities and more: https://dogonalogbooks.com/printables/

Online photograph jigsaw puzzles You can set the pieces from 6-1000+: https://www.jigsawexplorer.com/

Physical activity

Free at-home kids yoga lesson plans: https://littletwistersyoga.com/online-store/

Kid-friendly workouts: https://app.sworkit.com/collections/kids-workouts

Cosmic Kids Yoga: https://www.youtube.com/user/CosmicKidsYoga

Cooking with Kids

Illustrated recipes designed to help kids age 2-12 cook with their grown-ups: https://www.nomsterchef.com/nomster-recipe-library

Think Cottage Life: Ideas On How To Take Advantage Of A Slow Down

By Angèle Alain

This outbreak curve flattening strategy of social distancing is making many Ottawa families anxious and nervous about fighting off boredom. In my case, I’m revelling in the idea of a forced slowdown, a time to rest body and mind, build up immune systems and do so many things we never do because life is just too busy. This is how I suggest approaching the next few weeks. The odds are, we will remember this situation forever, why not create positive memories too.

Think cottage life. 

The cottage is usually where we naturally slow down. It’s where we play cards, dig out the yarn and knitting needles, crack open the Monopoly box (I prefer Cards Against Humanity, but that’s me) or bake something with wild raspberries. It’s where, on a rainy day, there’s nothing “usual” to do, so we give ourselves permission to help the kids build a fort with all those spare blankets. It’s where we watch old movies, read old magazines. 

So here is a list of things to do on your own or with your family:

• Play a board game or a video game as a group. Dig out the older ones for novelty;

• Finally get to sewing repairs;

• Marie Kondo the mess out of your house (declutter and donate);

• Pair down a collection and organise it: photos, books, records, etc.;

• Try knitting a scarf or neck warmer: it’s just a rectangle you sew both ends together;

• Dig out your childhood memory box and share with your kids;

• Colour in a colouring book: try with wood pencils, then with markers; 

• Find all that leftover cardboard and paper, or raid the recycling box to make crafts;

• Read that book you’ve been wanting to read or re-read;

• Play cards or build card castles;

• Organise your cupboards or your closets;

• Clean your windows and walls. It is almost spring, after all;

• Clean out the garage;

• Paint your walls or old furniture;

• Rearrange your furniture;

• Finally use those paints and canvases someone gave your kid;

• Bake creative cookies, muffins or bread with what’s in the cupboard or the freezer;

• Do a puzzle; 

• Make a model or a Lego-type kit;

• Cook with food that’s about to go bad and freeze it;

• Build a blanket and chair fort;

• Learn something new from a YouTube tutorial;

• Learn basic sentences in a new language (you will travel again!) or in sign language;

• Watch a film from your childhood with your children: The Breakfast Club, Gremlins, Close Encounter of the Third Kind, the original Ghostbusters, the list is endless;

• Finally put photos in the frames you bought and hang those frames;

• Write and mail someone a letter or make someone a handmade card;

• Try a science experiment, there are many easy instructions online;

• Play an instrument you have and you know how to play;

• Write a short story, a poem or a song;

• Dig out your favourite music from your teens and share it with your loved ones;

• Make music playlists on your platform of choice like you would mix-tapes (I showed my age there, didn’t I?)

• Try a new workout or yoga tutorial: there are some good ones on YouTube for small children like Cosmic Kids Star Wars;

• Follow nail, makeup and hair tutorials for fun;

• Play dress up and put on a fake Halloween party or fashion show;

• Go for walks with your animals. Try it with the cat too, it’s funny; 

• Go snowshoeing if there’s still snow.

I hope this list motivates you as much as it motivates me. I could have kept going but I think you get the idea.

Ottawa Biplane Adventures at the Canadian Museum of Aviation and Space

KITC would like to welcome back guest blogger, Stephen Johnson. Stephen Johnson is an Ottawa writer who loves to write about family travel. During the summer, you will most likely find him and his family at a local fair or festival. During the winter, a beach in Mexico is a likely bet.

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Riding in a biplane has been on our son, David’s, must-do list for about the past year. He first learned about the experience when we visited the Canadian Museum of Aviation and Space last summer. Towards the back of the museum there is an information desk for Ottawa Biplane Adventures.  David found out they offered biplane tours ranging from 6-8 minute intro flights to a 30-35 minute eco tour which takes you into the back-country of western Quebec.

Of course, David’s next question was, ‘Papa, can we go on a flight.’  I love my son more than anything in the world, but I also have an overwhelming fear of heights. Normal flight is difficult enough for me let alone an open-air seat.

My wife, Sandy, has been open to almost every adventure David has taken. She has gone on zip lines in the jungles of the Dominican Republic to snorkelling in Mexico. For her, however, a biplane ride was where she had reached her threshold.  

Luckily, my close friend, Frederic and his partner, are visiting us this summer.  I knew Frederic enjoyed an adrenaline rush and he quickly agreed to accompany David.

Since I was not on the biplane, I will let David describe the experience.  His words are in italics.

As soon as we got to the museum, I watched a biplane land. I would be next. We entered the museum where I was given goggles, headphones and a leather cap - I looked like a WWII pilot! I was briefed about how to take photos without my camera flying out of the aircraft and a few other important things and then was ready to go. As I entered the airplane, I remembered the reason it was called the vintage flight was because the plane was made in 1940! Me and my dad’s friend, Frederic were seated at the front of the airplane with the pilot right behind us as I waved goodbye. Take off was very calm and soon I was 1500 ft in the air. I took a look outwards and got an incredible view of the Ottawa river. From time to time the airplane would tilt so that we could see better. About 5 minutes in, the highlight of the tour came- we were directly over Parliament hill! Other places that I saw were the Chateau Laurier, the Rideau Canal, the Museum of History, Gatineau park in the distance and a large portion of downtown Ottawa. The majority of the flight was spent flying over the river and I could also see many scenic areas with a few boats. One of the best parts about it was I also got to see all the places the plane flew over on Google Maps. After about 15 minutes, we returned to the Aviation museum.  

I really enjoyed the flight because it makes going on an aircraft far more exciting with the clear view and strong wind. You also feel secure throughout the tour and you get an aerial view of Ottawa and Gatineau better than through a window or a computer screen. I can’t wait to brag to my friends about the experience!

I must admit, I was happy to see Frederic and David land safely.  The staff gave us full confidence from the moment we arrived. The day had extra importance to our family because my grandfather, Jonas,  had trained to be a flight navigator in World War II. He trained in various locations including Ottawa. David has researched our family history and I thought it was a very cool that he could experience what Great Grandpa Jonas had experienced eighty years earlier. 

Ottawa Biplane Adventures

Disclaimer: Stephen and Davis were compensated for this adventure, but all opinions are there own.

Fringe Activities: Try Them!

With the fall schedule just around the corner, you've probably scoured the City of Ottawa Fall-Winter Recreation Guide and stayed up late to secure those perfectly timed swimming classes (yes, the ones where your different aged children have class at the same time).  Given the intense competition for your extracurricular dollars, some organizations are using free Come Try Events to spread the word on their programs.

Come Try Ringette

Four years ago, I was surprised to find myself a ringette mom after enrolling my eldest daughter in the City of Ottawa Ringette Association's Bunnies - Learn to Skate program.  She loved it, and I admit it was pretty adorable to watch.  

M & K have a little photo booth fun at the Purple Penguins Christmas party

As she graduated from Bunnies to Novice, I suspected her enthusiasm would wane with early morning practices.  It didn't.  In fact, this past season was her best yet - both on the ice and off the ice!  The constant improvement in her skills and knowledge of the game coupled with some amazing friendships that have blossomed have made ringette #1 in her world.  

My husband (Coach Dave) has even been known to extoll it's virtues at the risk of being shunned by hockey dads :)  

New players are welcomed at all ages in ringette, and my daughter's fun-loving, silver medal-winning team boasted four girls who had never played before.  If you think ringette might appeal to your child, several associations (CORA, Nepean, GCRA) have joined forces to promote the sport and with a free Come Try Ringette event.  It takes place Saturday, September 13th from 4-6 PM at the Jim Durrell Arena (1265 Walkley Rd).  As an added incentive, some associations have also introduced a New-to-Ringette discount.

Come Try Synchro

My youngest has tactile sensitivities, so ringette, with all it's gear, was out.  On the other hand, she swims like a mermaid and considers herself quite the performer.  Synchronized swimming seems like it might be a shoo-in, so we've signed her up to Ottawa Synchro's Dolphin program this fall.  If you think synchronized swimming might appeal to your child, there are several upcoming Come Try Synchro events.

• Ottawa Synchro will host free Try Synchro events on Monday, August 24th and Monday, August 31st.  These both take place from 7:30-8:15 PM at the Carleton Pool.
• Gloucester Cumberland Synchro offers free Try Synchro times throughout the season with three next week Tuesday, August 25th, Thursday, August 27th, and Friday, August 28th.  These take place from 7-7:30 PM at the Splash Pool (2040 Ogilvie Rd).

...and Join the Circus

Alright, neither of my kids have joined the circus and there is no try-before-you-buy event for the circus but it's so cool - I had to mention it!  Mini Cirque offers Circus Prop Manipulation Skills and Acrobatics on Tuesdays, from September 15th to December 15th, at the Glebe Community Centre.  Sophie Latreille is an engaging performer (for kids and adults alike), so I suspect this translates well for the program, which uses props and focuses on juggling, poi, flower-stick, hula-hooping and acrobatics.

There are so many great activities in Ottawa, but I really love the option to check it out prior to outlaying serious cash.  Some other considerations,

• Capital Wave is hosting an Open House on Saturday, September 12th at Carleton Pool.  It's an opportunity to try water polo, and meet and talk with returning athletes and coaches.
• Gloucester Cumberland Basketball Association is hosting an Open House Wednesday, September 9th 7-9 PM at Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School.  
• Most martial arts studios around town offer some type of reasonably priced back-to-school or introductory offer.  In particular, Douvris and Ottawa Academy of Martial Arts seem focused on developing self-confident kids.

Do your kids participate in fringe activities?  Tell us about it in the comments below.

Review: Melissa and Doug Reusable Stickers

by Karen About a week before Brandon's birthday, I came across the Melissa and Doug reusable sticker book with various scenes for kids to fill in with plants, animals and objects. I completely missed the "reusable" on the cover when I bought it, though I'm not sure how:

As often sometimes happens, I forgot all about the stickers. They were "hidden" in the back of our car. So, Brandon's birthday came and went and the stickers remained in the car until one day a week or two later that he found them. He was excited and so were we. DISTRACTION! :)

Just think of all the laundry I can do if he's busy playing with the sticker book! (I had started with our bedding, apparently.)

All of the scenes are very appealing - farm, ocean, desert, etc. What child doesn't enjoy the immense variety of animals associated with those things?

Not to mention the animals are simple, cute and colourful. Because they're a sticky vinyl-ish substance, they don't tear easily like paper stickers and they're pretty easy for small, not-so-nimble fingers to pull off. Bonus!

Of course, it's equally fun when they get to share the fun with dad (or mom).

What are some activities you enjoy doing to spur your child(ren)'s imagination?

Karen Wilson is a wife to Matt and mom to Brandon (4), who blogs about her life at Karen’s Chronicles. She can be found at Wellman Wilson, helping business use social media more effectively. Lately, she's also busy planning a little conference and doing her part to keep the coffee industry alive.