WPR’s Capitol Bureau Chief joins us to discuss the opposition to the governor’s “Safer-At-Home” order. We learn about the state GOP’s attempt to block the extension of the coronavirus restrictions. Then, we’ll share resources for students learning from home and advice for parents and teachers on how to manage expectations.
Featured in this Show
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Protesting The Coronavirus Pandemic Restrictions In Wisconsin
Protesters vowed to march on the Capitol in Madison on Friday calling for an end to the state’s stay-at-home order. Meanwhile, Republican lawmakers are asking the state Supreme Court to overturn the one-month extension of the lockdown. We talk to WPR’s capitol bureau chief about the unrest over pandemic restrictions.
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At-Home Learning Resources And Advice
Wisconsin schools are closed to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Parents, students and teachers are conducting distance and online learning on an unprecedented scale. We’re joined by two educators who have advice on how to manage expectations and get the most out of at home learning resources.
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At-Home Learning Resource List
Wisconsin schools are closed to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Parents, students and teachers are conducting distance and online learning on an unprecedented scale. Wisconsin educators Caroline Akervik and Becky Wojhan joined us to share the following resources and advice.
Screen-Free Activities or Resources
It’s okay to take the time to let kids pursue an interest.
Cooking as a math lesson – make bread
Board games
Make videos – stop motion, retell a story
Crafts – crocheting, knitting
Explore the outdoors and keep a journal of observations, called nature journaling – How To Nature Journal
Creative play – pretend, build forts
Word play – riddles
Nonscreen Learning Activities
Digital Books from Your School or Public Library
Sign up for an electronic library card. Available on most public libraries’ websites while they are closed.
Overdrive/Sora/Libby – check out popular ebooks and audiobooks to read/listen on your phone, tablet, or computer
Freading – ebooks from your public library
Hoopla – library media streaming platform for audiobooks, comics, e-books, movies, music, and TV
Tumblebooks – Over 1100 titles for grades K-6, with animated, talking picture books, read-along chapter books, National Geographic videos, non-fiction books, playlists, as well as books in Spanish and French. Plus, the collection features graphic novels.
Teen Book Cloud – collection of eBooks and educator resources perfect for your middle school, high school, or public library. Find a robust selection of Graphic Novels, Enhanced Novels, eBooks, classic literature, National Geographic videos, educator resources, and audiobooks.
Read Aloud Resources
Author & Celebrity Read Alouds – A spreadsheet of authors/publishers/celebrities that are reading PK-12 books aloud and where you can find these videos and live stream events.
Storyline Online – streams videos featuring celebrated actors reading children’s books alongside creatively produced illustrations. Storyline Online is available 24 hours a day for children, parents, caregivers and educators worldwide. Each book includes supplemental curriculum developed by a credentialed elementary educator, aiming to strengthen comprehension and verbal and written skills for English-language learners.
Harry Potter – the entire series is available for free unlimited checkouts in ebook and audiobook formats and many languages on Overdrive/Sora/Libby and on Audible.com
Free Streaming/Video Content
Science Museum of Minnesota Omnifest at Home – Dinosaurs Alive! – Wild Ocean – Mummies: Secrets of the Pharaohs
PBS At Home Learning – PBS Wisconsin and Milwaukee PBS, in partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI), announce an ambitious new tv broadcast schedule to support At-Home Learning, accompanied by curriculum-aligned digital resources.
Listen
Audible Audiobooks – Right now, kids everywhere can instantly stream a collection of stories, including titles across six different languages, for free.
Audiobook Sync for Teens – Starting April 30 two free audiobooks available for teens each week.
Podcasts
Common Sense Media: Best Podcasts For Kids
Common Sense Media: Podcasts For Tweens And Teens
Stuff You Missed in History Class – features little known stories from history for teen audience.
Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls – based on the book, featuring biographies of little-known women, read by famous current women.
Book Club for Kids – tweens discuss a middle grade book twice a week.
Brains On – kid hosts tackling science questions.
Virtual Field Trips
Discovery Education Virtual Field Trips: Polar Bears & The Tundra
STEM – Boeing
Google Arts & Culture – Artists | Google Arts & Culture – Collections | Artists and collections from around the world
Smithsonian – National Museum of Natural History – Virtual Tour
Animal Cams
Eagle Cams
Georgia Aquarium – Beluga Whale Cam
San Diego Zoo – penguins, polar bears, baboons, apes, koalas, giraffes, elephants and more.
Monterey Bay Aquarium – aviary, coral reef, Jelly Cam and more.
PE & Movement
Youtube workout videos
Walk the dog
Dance party
Shoot some hoops with family members
Badger Jump Around
Netiquette: Online Etiquette
Be safe. Be respectful. Be focused. Be productive. Be responsible.
Privacy considerations for parents
Know what you are signing up for – what information are you giving away?
Commonsense Media – a resource to check reviews of shows, podcasts, websites, and more.
Additional Resources
Scholastic Learn-at-Home – day-by-day projects to keep kids reading, thinking and growing.
Jarret J. Krosoczka – author of the “Lunch Lady” graphic novel series and National Book Award finalist, hosts daily drawing webcasts on YouTube at 2 p.m. EDT for all ages.
The History Channel is starting History at Home lessons on its Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and on History.com every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 11 a.m. EDT with lessons and activities on https://www.history.com/.
Khan Academy – Free resource for instructional videos on many topics.
Mystery Science – Free science lessons during school shutdowns.
TED-Ed – https://ed.ted.com/ Video lessons and series by top educators, made into animated videos for kids.
The Kennedy Space Center is having live presentations on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays on Facebook Live at 9:30 a.m. EDT for younger children, and 1 p.m. for young adults.
NPR’s Ari Shapiro is hosting “Current Events Class”
Illustrator Carson Ellis is providing illustration prompts on Instagram.
Author Kate DiCamillo is providing weekly writing prompts on YouTube.
Episode Credits
- Kate Archer Kent Host
- Joe Tarr Producer
- Molly Stentz Producer
- Jana Rose Schleis Producer
- Lee Rayburn Technical Director
- Shawn Johnson Guest
- Caroline Akervik Guest
- Becky Wojahn Guest
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