Inspiring San Diego
Weekly Newsletter with Karmen & Rachel
Week of March 30, 2020
In This Week's Edition
COVID-19 SCHOOL UPDATES
✦ School Letter - March 19, 2020
✦ San Diego Park Day/Spring Picture Day Postponed
INSPIRE EVENTS
✦ Inspiring Parents - Computer Literacy Webcast April 1
NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS
✦ Virtual Museum of Art
✦ Pen Pal Project
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
✦ Virtual Workshops
VIRTUAL FIELD TRIPS
✦ Zoos and Aquariums
✦ Museums
✦ World Wonders
✦ Space
FUN OPPORTUNITIES IN SAN DIEGO
✦ San Diego County Fair School Tour (Virtual)
✦ National Park Week
PARENT RESOURCES
✦ Free Parent Resource Site
✦ Inspiring Parents
✦ Lending Library Update
✦ Academic Video Library
✦ California Homeschool Parent Association
COVID-19 - SCHOOL UPDATES


INSPIRE EVENTS
Inspiring Parents - Computer Literacy Webcast April 1
Coming up the first Wednesday in April, our featured speaker is Maria Kirkbride, who is the Director of Teacher Training. Maria will focus on basic computer literacy. Learn how to organize the deluge of info you receive so you can find it when you need it. We will share more tips to help you work smarter, not harder. Parents and students are welcome to learn with us on April 1st, from 1-2 p.m. by clicking this link: http://bit.ly/InspiringLink
Don’t worry If you missed the Inspiring Parents webcast earlier this month which focused on writing. The first hour, we learned a simple to follow method to teach writing. The second hour zeroed in on middle and high school writing curriculum and toured a free website featuring a growing number of writing tutorials to support all grade levels through high school. Just sign up to request the recording at either of the links below.
Easy to Use Elementary Writing Strategy
http://bit.ly/Elementary_Writing_Strategy_Recording_Sign_Up
Middle to High School Writing Strategies
http://bit.ly/Middle_HighSchool_Writing_help_Recording_SignUp
NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS
Virtual Museum of Art
As we're all hunkered down, it's a great time to encourage our students with their creativity. We'd love to provide a place where we can all enjoy our Inspire student's artwork.
See the flyer below for all the details.
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
Upcoming CC Workshops: Please check out our CC Virtual Workshops Newsletter for descriptions of all of our Virtual Workshops!
RSVP’s are linked below:
March 31st: Virtual Workshop -- Mo Willems Draw and Share Out TK- 5th
10:30-11
April 1st: Virtual Pet Party! All Ages 10:30-11
April 2nd: Virtual Learn to Code! Grades 6-12 1-1:45
April 14th: Virtual Picture Books and Paper Bags Grades TK-3 10-10:30
April 16th: Virtual Google Slides: Get Creative! Grades 6-12 1-1:45
VIRTUAL FIELD TRIPS
Click on the pictures to view the site/tour.
Zoos and Aquariums
The San Diego Zoo The San Diego Zoo has a great site with all sorts of activities and videos for kids. They also have live cams of many of their animals. | The Georgia Aquarium Piranhas, puffins and beluga whales are among some of the animals that can be seen via the aquarium's live cams. Explore the Indo-Pacific Barrier Reef exhibit and try to spot each fish and coral listed below the live cam. | Monterey Bay Aquarium Choose from 10 live cams ranging from hypnotic jellyfish to playful penguins. There’s even a cam set up to view Monterey Bay itself and home viewers can spot various birds and sea mammals that call the bay home. |
The San Diego Zoo
The Georgia Aquarium
Museums
The Louvre Visit the museum's exhibition rooms and galleries, contemplate the façades of the Louvre... Come along on a virtual tour and enjoy the view, thanks to the sponsorship of Shiseido. | The British Museum This engaging and interactive tour is super cool. Check out hundreds of artifacts that can be searched by era, category or region of the world. | Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History The National Museum of Natural History’s virtual exerpeinces are self-guided, room-by-room tours of permanent, current, and past exhibits. Make sure to send kids to the second floor Bone Hall so they can take a look at all different kinds of skeletons. |
The Louvre
Come along on a virtual tour and enjoy the view, thanks to the sponsorship of Shiseido.
The British Museum
World Wonders
Easter Island One of the most remote islands in the world and check out the moai — the mysterious giant statues that the island is known for. It’s easy to get lost in researching all about the approximately 900 moai and 300 ahu (or the ceremonial platforms) that can be found along the island’s coast. | The Great Wall of China The Great Wall of China is commonly considered a wonder of the world. It boasts a history of over 2,000 years and stretches more than 3,000 miles across several provinces of northern China, making it one of the most impressive ancient structures on the planet. | Egyptian Pyramids Explore the pyramids of Egypt that were built as tombs for deceased Pharaohs and their consorts. For thousands of years they were the largest structures on earth. |
Easter Island
The Great Wall of China
Space
The Surface of Mars Explore the surface of Mars. While the team at NASA is currently updating the site, you can still take a peek at 360-mode and get a feel for what the Curiosity rover sees every day. | ISS Tour Check out the laboratories, observation deck, the crew’s sleep quarters and more. It’s fascinating to see our planet down below from the observation deck and to find out what life is really like on the International Space Station. | Space Shuttle Tour Space Shuttle Discovery: explore an icon of the shuttle era. |
The Surface of Mars
ISS Tour
FUN OPPORTUNITIES IN SAN DIEGO
San Diego County Fair School Tours
Please join us on our first digital School Tours adventure featuring the superpowers of our special friends:
- Jackson the Under Dog who will teach us his power of kindness
- George the Python who will teach us his power of strength and stealth
- Poppy the Super Sonic Hedgehog who will teach us his power
of protection, smell, and might
Use our Activity Book filled with fun puzzles, coloring activities, and brain teasers. You can find the Reading Certificate Program on the last page which gives kids 12 and under a free ticket to the Fair upon completion.
If your students are working on a craft - anything from drawing to a collage - we'd love to see their "at home" creations on display at the Fair so please consider entering their work for the community to enjoy!
Free Entry to National Parks Week 4/18/20-4/26/20
Click here for more information!
Celebrate National Park Week 2020 from April 18 to 26! Parks across the country hosted a variety of special programs and events. To kick off National Park Week, all entrance fees are waived on Saturday, April 18! There were also special days during the week to highlight the different ways everyone can enjoy national parks.
- Saturday, April 18: Junior Ranger Day/Fee Free Day
- Sunday, April 19: Volunteer Day
- Monday, April 20: Military Monday
- Tuesday, April 21: Transportation Tuesday
- Wednesday, April 22: Earth Day (Wild Wednesday)
- Thursday, April 23: Throwback Thursday
- Friday, April 24: Friendship Friday
- Saturday, April 25: Park Rx Day
- Sunday, April 26: Bark Ranger Day
PARENT RESOURCES
Free Parent Resource Site
Please feel free to share this resource with anyone who needs it!
Inspiring Parents
Coming up the first Wednesday in April, Inspiring Parents will focus on basic computer literacy. Learn how to organize the deluge of info you receive so you can find it when you need it. We will share more tips to help you work smarter, not harder. Parents and students are welcome to learn with us on April 1st, from 1-2 p.m. by clicking this link: http://bit.ly/InspiringLink
Don’t worry If you missed the Inspiring Parents webcast earlier this month which focused on writing. The first hour, we learned a simple to follow method to teach writing. The second hour zeroed in on middle and high school writing curriculum and toured a free website featuring a growing number of writing tutorials to support all grade levels through high school. Just sign up to request the recording at either of the links below.
Easy to Use Elementary Writing Strategy
http://bit.ly/Elementary_Writing_Strategy_Recording_Sign_Up
Middle to High School Writing Strategies
http://bit.ly/Middle_HighSchool_Writing_help_Recording_SignUp
Academic Video Library
Did you know you have access to Inspire's academic video library? These videos are available to support students in reading, math, and speech and can be accessed through the EOS!
Instructions to access Academic Video Library can be found here.
California Homeschool Parent Association
Here are ways to get connected -
The Facebook page link is here and the website is here.
Find your home group location and get connected to families in your community today!
Need ideas for seasonal or unit studies? Looking for just the right worksheet for a specific topic you're covering with your student? Hoping to find the most amazing hands on activity? Check out our Pinterest board! You just might find some amazing ideas. | San Diego Parent Resource SiteEverything you need to know to homeschool with Inspire! Including a master calendar to keep track of all the events going on in our area. | Connect with us on FacebookKeep up to date on local Inspire information and events and connect with your families in your area. |
Need ideas for seasonal or unit studies? Looking for just the right worksheet for a specific topic you're covering with your student? Hoping to find the most amazing hands on activity?
Check out our Pinterest board! You just might find some amazing ideas.
San Diego Parent Resource Site
Everything you need to know to homeschool with Inspire!
Including a master calendar to keep track of all the events going on in our area.

Karmen & Rachel
We are your San Diego Family Liaisons.
Please let us know how we can help you!