New this week
Looking for something to do over the bank holiday weekend?
Ask your Support Worker for a “distraction pack” filled with activities to keep you busy
Learning
Coursera – Online resource for skills building
Corbett Maths – Maths learning support
U3A – University of the third age; online courses for more mature students
MIT Open Courseware – Online courses from MIT
YouTube – CosmicKidsYoga – Yoga you can do with the kids to chill them out
Udemy – Free online courses
Exploration of the Day – Artistic exploration website
Language Jam – Learn new languages online
BBC Learning – This site is old and no longer updated and yet there’s so much still available, from language learning to BBC Bitesize for revision. No TV licence required except for content on BBC iPlayer.
FutureLearn – Free to access hundreds 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).
OpenLearn – Free taster courses aimed at those considering Open University, but everyone can access it. Adult level, but some courses (e.g. nature and environment) could well be of interest to young people.
Things for kids
How to make your own salt dough
Ingredients: 500g of plain flour, 250g of salt, 250ml of water (add slightly more water if necessary)
Instructions
1. Mix the flour and salt then add the water
2. Mix into a dough
3. Roll out on to a flat surface into the desired shape about 1 to 1.5cm thick (remember to sprinkle some flour down to prevent sticking)
4. Place on a baking tray
5. Make hand imprints (as deep/clear as possible)
6. Place in the oven on the lowest heat possible and bake for three to four hours or until completely solid top and bottom. (Alternatively, you can leave to air dry for a couple of days in a cool dry place – this is the best option if you only have self-raising flour)
7. Paint with your choice of paints/colours
8. Seal with any kind of varnish or sealer to preserve it. Varnish or PVA and water mix will work.
Make a memory piece of art work. While on daily exercise pick up some different size sticks, paint them in rainbow colours and stick on paper and add a frame.
Time Capsule – Make a time capsule about COVID- 19
TedEd – All sorts of engaging educational videos
National Geographic Kids – Activities and quizzes for younger kids
Duolingo – Learn languages for free. Web or app.
MysteryScience – Free science lessons
The Kids Should See This – Wide range of cool educational videos
Crash Course – You Tube videos on many subjects
Crash Course Kids – As above for a younger audience
Crest Awards – Science awards you can complete from home.
Paw Print Badges – Free challenge packs and other downloads. Many activities can be completed indoors. Badges cost but are optional.
Tinkercad – All kinds of making
Prodigy Maths – Is in U.S. grades, but good for UK primary school ago
Cbeebies Radio – Listening activities for the younger ones
Nature Detectives – A lot of these can be done in a garden, or if you can get to a remote forest location!
Geography Games – Geography gaming!
Blue Peter Badges – If you have a stamp and a nearby postbox
Twinkl – This is more for printouts, and usually at a fee, but they are offering a month of free access to parents in the event of school closures
Boat Load of Puzzles – Free online puzzles
Zooniverse projects – You can help make a difference and keep boredom at bay right here
StageIt – Online theatre productions
Drama Online Library – Online plays and theatrical performances
Complete Concerts– Complete online free music concerts
Open Culture – Free colouring books – Free colouring books to download an