If you and your child would like a straightforward way into learning coding then the Code For Life program developed by Ocado will help you get started. It's totally free, just requires an email sign up. Through a series of challenges it takes the student on a learning journey from simple block coding using Blockly onto Python, the coding language used by large organisations like Google and Nasa. There are two ways to access the program - as a teacher or as an 'independent student'; the second one is what you want if you're a parent homeschooling.
...And to a website dedicated to helping you survive isolation with your kids.
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Quarantined With Kids is a hub of curated (free) resources to help you to help your children - from tots to teens.
We'll find our way together.
There are lots of great ideas out there and many of you are overwhelmed with the options. I'm going to select and summarise a limited number of sites covering a wide range of ages and subjects and provide my own printable resources when I can.
Check out the links in the menu. If you're feeling a bit lost in this new situation, try starting with the button below.
Welcome to quarantine folks!
Site of the day
Blutick is a great tool for supporting your secondary aged students with mathematical concepts. It uses technical analysis to give automatic feedback line-by-line and is really straight forward to use. There are videos to show how to work through problems step-by-step and tests at the end of each session to assess understanding. It can be used by parents at home or by schools to set work and is completely free to everyone until 1st September; but the most of the features that students and parents will find useful are free forever!
Links, tips and advice about activities, education and staying sane.
Quarantine for Kids Printables & Plans
These are printables and plans I've made myself. I hope they're useful, email me if there's anything specific you'd like me to make and I'll do my best!
Bubbles
This is one of my specialist subjects and I could go on about it for a long time, I even wrote a science show about them. This page explains the 3 simplest bubble mix recipes and includes a link to a site explaining how to make a giant bubble wand.
Photo Challenge
A chart of 15 words to stimulate your imagination. Try taking a photo to illustrate each one or ask your family and friends to join in and compare your results.
Origami Booklet
This is a little origami book that I put together for a birthday party. I have done my best to credit the original authors of the instructions, let me know if I missed any! It is only printable for personal use and may not be copied or printed for commercial purposes. (If you want to make it into a little booklet the cover is here.)