User talk:Wilberforce-B

The Lock down Kids

The shutdown of many schools around the globe due to the lock down has left many parents in a dilemma. Folks who would usually leave professional educators to the mercy of their rampaging rascals for the better part of a day, are now left with no choice than to face the music themselves. Many of whom still have to deal with the challenge of working from home, also have to find ways to keep their little nuggets occupied and engaged, and thus the question, “How do I keep my kids educated and engaged while at home?” pops up from time to time across the internet. This article however answers that with a few easy suggestions.

1. Scholastic Home Learning packs Price: Free Age range: All

Scholastic has been in the business of textbooks for decades and, in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, the company’s Resource Bank has put together a range of free home learning packs to help parents and teachers keep their kids up-to-date with their schooling and development. The packs are divided by learning age – Early Years, Key Stage 1, Lower Key Stage 2 and Upper Key Stage 2 – and can be downloaded from Scholastic’s Home Learning site.

2. Twinkl activity packs and planners Price: Free Age range: All

Twinkl – one of the country’s largest education platforms – has made 630,000 home learning packs available to parents for free to help them plan their child’s day and make sure they keep up with the school studies. Each of these packs include activity sheets, information packs and interactive presentations, complemented by online games and videos. The packs are categorised by key stage groups from the Early Years Foundation Stage up to GSCE, as well as those requiring special educational needs provision, and Twinkl has also put together guidance for parents and carers as to how to help children being schooled at home. All core subjects at each key stage are covered and are mapped to all UK curriculums. To access these materials, go to the Twinkl website and enter the code UKTWINKLHELPS with your email and password.

3. Oti Mabuse Dance Class Price: Free Age range: All

At 11.30 every day this week, Strictly Come Dancing star Oti Mabuse is live-streaming dance classes suitable for all age groups on her YouTube channel and via her Instagram page. Along with her dance partner, and husband, Marius Lepure, the pair will be teaching steps from famous dances as well as choreographing new routines. Monday’s lesson was themed around the idea of washing your hands and can be watched again on YouTube. Learn how to draw Price: Free Age range: All (although more suited to school-age children) If art and drawing are more your child’s thing, there are various drawing classes being hosted on Facebook and YouTube throughout the week. Steve Harpster from Harptoons Publishing is hosting classes via his Facebook page and YouTube channel at 2pm EST/6pm GMT every day, aimed at teaching families how to draw cartoons. Monday’s episode focused on drawing different types of monsters. Grumpycorn author Sarah McIntyre is similarly posting drawing classes to her YouTube channel with the hashtag #DrawingwithSarah.

4. Lingvist Price: Free until 31 July Age range: No lower or upper limit but more suited to confident readers

Lingvist has opened up its student and educator platforms so people can continue, or start, to teach and learn foreign languages online for free. For students, Lingvist’s AI-software tailors courses to suit their previous experience, introducing them gradually to grammar and vocabulary in their chosen language – German, French, Russia or Spanish. This is done through interactive games, challenges and tasks. Wilberforce-B (talk) 03:03, 23 April 2020 (UTC)