Andersen Elementary Newsletter
March Edition
From The Desk of Mrs. Kinghorn
With the information changing constantly we encourage you to stay up to date by visiting the district website https://www.cusd80.com/COVID19
In order to assist our Andersen Astronauts at home we will send out fun challenges via Twitter. I encourage you to follow us at @AndersenElemen1
Our staff will be checking in to answer any questions and to keep you updated as we receive more information. We hope to see all of our students back at school soon happy and healthy!
Online Resources and Ideas to Do at Home
Miscellaneous Resources:
https://www.abcmouse.com/abt/homepage?8a08850bc2=T3487609117.1584467430.6518 free with the code SCHOOL7771
Superteacher
https://www.superteacherworksheets.com/
Free games and activites on a variety of topics
Link to a variety of resources and online books:
https://www.abcmouse.com/abt/homepage?8a08850bc2=T3487609117.1584467430.6518
Lunch Doodles with author Mo Williams:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjaYnyCJDdU
MATH:
https://www.prodigygame.com/
Motivate 1st to 8th grade students to learn and practice math. Accessible at home or in class! You can play for FREE or upgrade for an additional $4.99 a month to earn bonus in-game prizes.
https://www.splashlearn.com/
Math practice for kids in kindergarten through 5th grade in enrichment or catching up skills. Like Prodigy there are two platforms, FREE and a paid membership.
READING:
https://fcrr.org/resources/resources_sca.html
This is a list of reading "center" resources. It is grouped into grade level when you click on this link (K-1/2-3/4-5). It says on the site that the resources may be linked to and used for non-profit educational purposes. Please uphold copyright laws.
https://www.storylineonline.net/
Have books read to your child by members of the screen actors guild! Great titles like "A Bad Case of Stripes" read by Sean Astin... you might know him as a hobbit from Lord of the Rings!!!
https://www.amazon.com/Best-Sellers-Kindle-Store-Childrens-eBooks/zgbs/digital-text/155009011
Did you know Amazon had free books? Me neither! Just be sure when you get to the site, you select the TOP 100 FREE tab at the top. If you or your little has a Kindle, you are in luck.
https://m.barnesandnoble.com/b/free-ebooks/nook-books/kids/_/N-ry0Z8qaZtu1
Pile on the e-books because Barnes and Noble has free books too! More than 5000 of them in fact! Filter your results in the link I provided by title (top right) and age (left).
Just read. Plain and simple. Read anything and everything your child can get their hands on 30 minutes a day.
WRITING and SPELLING
https://www.dailyteachingtools.com/journal-writing-prompts.html
Writing is hard to "teach" if you don't have experience with the finer points in grammar instruction, but even sitting your kid down with a prompt and having them put their pencil to the paper for 20 minutes of writing every day will be a HUGE benefit to their skills and their stamina! Here is a list of journal prompts... do them in order or choose some that you know your kids will love!
https://www.spellingcity.com/grade-level-lists.html
Give a weekly spelling list! You can even have them study for 15 minutes a day while you make a phone call, get dinner ready, or take a shower!!! If they get 100% on Friday, they get a special treat... talk to your kids about what they want that to be! Did you know that spelling city will even give the test TO your kid??? (I think a membership might cost money).
https://www.readingrockets.org/article/basic-spelling-vocabulary-list
Another site for age-appropriate spelling lists for vocabulary and spelling words.
COMPUTER SCIENCE
https://code.org/student/elementary
Choose a course in computer science - learn to code! Anyone can learn! My suggestion is to (1) scroll down to the section that says "For older students in elementary school classrooms" and choose the AGE RANGE your child falls under, which will be C/D/E/F (2) start with the ORANGE "try now" button (3) the ORANGE button - usually "continue" - is their new BFF after completing an activity
***if you want to save progress, Code.org offers free accounts and can be linked to a variety of accounts - Microsoft, Google or Facebook***
https://beinternetawesome.withgoogle.com/en_us/interland
Digital citizenship and technology social skills in a gaming platform! Let Interland's adorable robots teach your kids digital citizenship skills such as Don't Fall for Fake (staying away from fake news and posts), Keeping Personal Information to Yourself (not oversharing), Secure Passwords and Kindness Online! BE INTERNET AWESOME! My personal opinion is this game is best for 3rd-6th grade students.
SCIENCE
https://www.generationgenius.com/
Science lessons. Divided by grade level. Try it for free! Get instant access to hours of fun, standards-based learning videos, lesson plans, activities, quizzes & more!!! You guys... this dude is the next Bill Nye. Check him out. For reals.
https://mommypoppins.com/content/weework-kids-activities-marshmallow-catapults
Make a marshmallow catapult and see who can catch the most in their mouth.
Build a bridge
This one is NOT a link intentionally. Build a bridge out of ANYTHING. Adults OR kids decide on the parameters. You can set the time, the materials, the size... put your recycling bin to use. Make it a competition! Whose bridge can hold the most weight?
Build a tower
This one is NOT a link intentionally. Build a tower out of ANYTHING. Adults OR kids decide on the parameters. You can set the time, the materials, the goal height... got spaghetti and marshmallows??? GREAT!!! Make it a competition! Whose tower is the tallest in 20 minutes and can mom shower in the same amount of time???
COMPUTER GAMES that GROW YOUR BRAIN
https://www.nitrotype.com/
You will need a log in. Game is free. Best for 3rd-6th grade students.
From Clifford to my NEW favorites SciGirls and Scribbles and Ink... you cannot run out of fun and games on this website for kids in grades kindergarten through second!
https://www.starfall.com
Just.Plain.Awesome. Choose between kindergarten and Grade1/2/3 on the main page to tailor your content and have fun learning math and reading skills!
https://www.lego.com/en-us/kids
(1) click "no" you don't wan to take the survey
(2) accept the cookies by clicking OK
(3) click the GREEN gaming controller icon at the bottom
(4) choose ONLY games that have a computer icon on them if you are playing on a PC or you can choose a tablet/phone icon if you are on a device that supports other options
https://www.discoverymindblown.com/
Scroll down for snippets. Best viewed on a computer. You can download an app.
https://go.brainpop.com/access-free-stuff/family
THIRTY DAYS of free content when you sign the form for third - sixth grade kids
https://jr.brainpop.com/free-stuff/
Some free stuff for little kids (kindergarten - second grade)
https://musiclab.chromeexperiments.com/Song-Maker/
This is so much FUN, especially if you have a touch screen PC or are playing on a device like a tablet. It's like GarageBand where you can mix sounds, change tempo and add your voice if you have a mic!
INSIDE ACTIVITIES TO GET THE CRAZY OUT
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.commonsense.org/blog/6016cebb-52c7-41b5-96c1-5cdd64efbd60
25 best podcasts for kids. Entertaining, informative, and kid-friendly podcasts for bedtime, road trips, and more. Best part? They're screen-free. Also, if you don’t use common sense media to filter your child’s apps, movies, books and games already... you should start! Best site ever. Co;or while you listen, it's hitting TWO modalities.
Scavenger hunt: Write up clues and hide them around the house. Kids can race to find each clue for a small prize at the end.
Scavenger hunt: a *better* idea if your kids are writing!!! THEY make the scavenger hunt for YOU!!! At the end you ALL split the GIANT Hershey Bar if they can give 15 steps for you to find it. They could be very busy writing and hiding those clues around the house...
Build a fort
https://www.cosmickids.com/
I am not good at Yoga, but COSMIC kids are professionals! Get two weeks free when you sign up at this website. Crush the crazy with a little Yoga Flow.
Play Hide and Seek
Put on a Play... Post to Facebook. Kids love becoming InstaFamous. Tell them they are InstaFamous.
Take a walk. Do a family squat and lunge challenge. Be active while maintaining social distancing.