Coronavirus (COVID-19) Teaching from Home Ideas

We are in the midst of a historic event. Now that many states are shutting down schools and looking at online teaching options, there are many swirling questions about education: When will we go back to school? How will learning continue in the meantime? I feel for the high-school students who have to face the possibility of missing proms, sporting events, performances, and graduations.

As troubling as all this uncertainty is, here is an encouraging thought:  Historic events like this one tend to reshape how we view our world and each other. Many previous generations have been defined by the obstacles they overcame. The Greatest Generation was born into the Great Depression and sacrificed on and off the battlefield in World War II to preserve our country.

As challenging as a national shutdown is, this, too, shall pass, and we will be stronger because of it. In the meantime we should focus on staying positive, listening to the guidance of our government officials, supporting one another, and continuing to learn.

Learning might seem like the last thing on everyone's mind, but here is one of my all-time favorite quotes, delivered by Merlin the Wizard from The Sword in the Stone and The Once and Future King.

 

As our country prepares to hunker down and defeat the coronavirus COVID-19, parents and teachers may be in search of quality online content. Our site has materials available for free, and I am going to include links to other sites that my wife and I plan on using with our own kids at home. I will continue to update this list as I think of other materials. 

Free online learning resources are available on this website and our other website, Mythologyteacher.com

• Life in Ancient Greece Webquest  This webquest takes readers through various facets of everyday life in one of the world's most influential cultures
• Ancient Greek Fates This activity might be subtitled "30 ways to die in ancient Greece," but these fates show how ancient life was different for the ancient Greeks.
• Learn about Ancient Greek Theater  A simple worksheet about the birth of drama.
• Learn about the Greek Gods  This gallery gives pictures and information about the Greek gods.
• Learn about the Lesser Gods and Creatures of Ancient Greece This presentation teaches about other gods and mythological creatures
• Famous Greeks A worksheet about Socrates, Hippocrates, etc.
• Theseus: A Choose Your Own Adventure Myth  Face down the Minotaur using this choose-your-own-adventure style website.
• Read an Ancient Greek Myth in Script-Story Form  This script dramatizes the myth of "Hades and Persephone"
• Famous Love stories from Ancient Greece
• Life in Ancient Rome Webquest  This webquest takes readers through ancient Rome
• Teach Yourself a Bit of Old English Learn the origins of the English language
• Write an Anglo-Saxon Riddle Have a riddle contest Hobbit-style!
• Free Hero Bookmarks for Coloring! Color these bookmarks featuring original artwork.
• There are many other materials available on our site! Use the header menu to find your area of interest.

Script-stories are a great way for a small group to learn a particular story by acting out. Below are a list of free script-stories available on this site.  

• An Egyptian creation story
• The Making of Enkidu from Gilgamesh
• The Arrival of Beowulf
• “The Pardoner’s Tale” from the Canterbury Tales
• A Dramatization of the Pilgrims’ Journey to the New World and the First Thanksgiving
• The Myth of Hades and Persephone
• A Native American myth about Niagara Falls
• The Scarlet Letter Part I
• The Last of the Mohicans: Part I
• "Feathertop" (A Short Fable by Nathaniel Hawthorne)
• Huckleberry Finn:  Part I
• The Narrative of Frederick Douglass: Part I

Other Websites

Khan Academy is a great online resource, and one my favorite teaching toolboxes from the site is Imagineering in a Box. In case you don't know, Imagineers are the creative force behind Disney theme parks. The video based lessons go through the process of designing a particular theme park land and ride--detailing the various elements that go into such an effort:  music, artwork, engineering. It's a great cross-curricular project, and the videos are excellent! The full link is here:  https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/hass-storytelling/imagineering-in-a-box 

Khan Academy also has a course called Pixar in a Box. I have not tried it personally, but it focuses on Pixar's unique storytelling approach. The link is here:  https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/hass-storytelling/storytelling-pixar-in-a-box

Learning Activities That Our Kids (ages 10-11) Enjoy  Some of these are more educational than others, but for all of you parents out there, these are some great ways to keep your kids entertained during indoor times.

• Building an action-figure sized zip-line (and sending the action figures down it)
• See who can build the most impressive LEGO city
• Learning how to make friendship bracelets
• Discovering Mister Roger's Neighborhood
• Playing multiple board games:  Our favorites include Monopoly, Catan, Disney's Villainous, Villagers and Villains, Bang!, 7 Wonders, Treasure Hunter, Ticket to Ride, and Castle Panic.
• Design your own card game or board game
• Watching a soothing episode of Bob Ross's The Joy of Painting
• Mandated reading time! Harry Potter, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Prydain Chronicles, The Squire's Tale
• Drawing lessons
• Making a pallet in the living room and watching a movie
• Putting a puzzle together
• Writing letters to relatives and faraway friends