Category Archives: Middle School / Elementary

The Mystery Science team creates lessons that inspire kids to love science! They provide an engaging and understandable approach for kids to learn about the mysteries of our world through science.

To help with School Closure Planning, they have created a dedicated page to access their FREE lessons that do not need an account.

Also, for a limited time each week, Mystery Science is giving away FREE memberships for one year (to June 2021). So if you don’t see them available, just visit their website on a regular basis.

In addition to Mystery Science, make sure you don’t miss “Ask Doug” each week! Doug answers real kids science questions and provides a fun and easy-to-understand perspective! He also inspires kids to ask their own questions that they may have. Check out Mystery Doug!

Learn exciting Science with Mystery Science!

Mystery Science

Ask Doug

Tynker is an excellent platform for Kids to code! It’s a fun way to learn computer programming and starts with block programming, logic steps and transitions them into coding in a language like Javascript or Python.

Kids can do things like building games, modding minecraft and creating apps. Tynker is a great way to make kids’ screen time creative and productive. 

Tynker is currently offering 15 Free Coding Resources. Read more about it on the Tynker Blog.

1. Until May 31, 2020, educators can apply for FREE access!
2. Enroll for free training and get great tips on how to teach coding to kids
3. Hour of Code – Story-based coding puzzles, fun projects, and STEM challenges
4. Download Free Coding Apps
5. Modding with Tynker and Minecraft: Education Edition
6. Until Apr 30, 2020, parents can sign up to get FREE access! 
7. Glitch Manor (free during school closures) 
8. Augmented Reality(free during school closures)
9. Python 1 (free during school closures)
10. Coding puzzles for all levels
11. Minecraft add-ons and mods
12. NASA Moon 2 Mars
13. Barbie You Can Be Anything
14. Crystal Clash Game
15. UN Sustainability Goals

Zoos and Aquariums have provided virtual tours and close-up interactions with their animals

Many have provided their Youtube Channels and have created interactive tours.

The following is a large list of all the Zoos in North America that we have found Youtube Channels and Tours.

Zoos in the United States

Alabama

Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

Florida

Georgia

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska

Nevada

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York

North Carolina

North Dakota

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

Washington

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Wyoming

Zoos in Canada

Alberta

British Columbia

Manitoba

New Brunswick

Nova Scotia

Ontario

Quebec

Saskatchewan

Florida

GatorLand

• Watch the daily vlog with Alligators!
• Website | Youtube
• Orlando, FL

Center for Great Apes

• Watch orangutans and chimpanzees!
• Website | Youtube
• Wauchula, FL

Central Florida Zoo

• Adventures at the Zoo and Botanical Gardens!
• Website | Youtube
• Sanford, FL

Palm Beach Zoo

• Inspiring conservation of the natural world
• Website | Youtube
• West Palm Beach, FL

Zoo Miami

• Miami Zoo updates and inspiration
• Website | Youtube
• Miami, FL

Zoological Wildlife Foundation

• Learning about rare and endangered animal species
• Website | Youtube
• Miami, FL

ZooTampa Lowry Park

• Florida manatees, elephants, tigers and more!
• Website | Youtube
• Tampa, FL

Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens

• Creature cams brings you close to the wildlife
• Website | Youtube
• Jacksonville, FL

Jungle Island

• Watch shows and meet animals. The Jungle Awaits!
• Website | Youtube
• Miami, FL

Lion Country Safari

• Safari and animal feeding experiences!
• Website | Youtube
• Loxahatchee, FL

Naples Zoo

• Inspiring you with our planet’s wondrous inhabitants
• Website | Youtube
• Naples, FL

Sarasota Jungle Gardens

• Flamingos, reptiles and animal shows!
• Website | Youtube
• Sarasota, FL

St. Augustine Alligator Farm

• Alligators, Komodo dragons and more!
• Website | Youtube
• St. Augustine, FL

White Oak Conservation

• Rhinos, giraffes and especially cheetah cubs!
• Website | Youtube
• Yulee, FL

Lubee Bat Conservancy

• Rehabilitating and saving bats!
• Website | Youtube
• Gainesville, FL

Disney Animal Kingdom

• Animals at Disney’s Animal Kingdom park
• Youtube Playlist
• Orlando, FL

Animal Outtakes

• Florida animal show for Kids
• Website | Youtube
• Sarasota, FL

Zoological Wildlife Foundation

• Learning about rare and endangered animal species
• Website | Youtube
• Miami, FL

Alabama

Alberta

Calgary Zoo

• Inspiring action to sustain wildlife and wild places
• Website | Youtube
• Calgary, Alberta

Edmonton Valley Zoo

• Intimate zoo with authentic and engaging animal experiences
• Website | Youtube
• Edmonton, Alberta

Discovery Wildlife Park

• Providing a forever home for wildlife in need
• Website | Youtube
• Innisfail, Alberta

British Columbia

BC Wildlife Park

• Connecting you to nature and encouraging the appreciation and respect of wildlife
• Website | Youtube
• Kamloops, BC

Greater Vancouver Zoo

• Inspiring appreciation of our ecosystems and supporting conservation efforts
• Website | Youtube
• Vancouver, BC

Victoria Butterfly Gardens

• Learning about rare and endangered animal species
• Website | Youtube
• Victoria, BC

Manitoba

Assiniboine Park Zoo

• Sharing the wonders of nature to inspire conservation for the future.
• Website | Youtube
• Winnipeg, MB

New Brunswick

Magnetic Hill Zoo

• Educating and inspiring conservation action
• Website | Youtube
• Moncton, NB

Cherry Brook Zoo

• Inspiring excellence in conservation through education
• Website | Youtube
• Saint John, NB

Nova Scotia

Shubenacadie Wildlife Park

• Natural habitats with outdoor educational opportunities
• Website | Youtube
• Shubenacadie, NS

Oakland Farm Zoo

• Family Farm-like setting, along with a mix of exotic animal species
• Website | Youtube
• Aylesford, NS

Ontario

Toronto Zoo

• Connecting people to Wildlife. Keeper tours!
• Website | Youtube
• Toronto, ON

Greenview Aviaries Park & Zoo

• County Park and Zoo
• Website | Youtube
• Morpeth, ON

Brantford Twin Valley Zoo

• Learning about rare and endangered animal species
• Website | Youtube
• Brantford, ON

Bird Kingdom

• Free flying indoor aviary to discover birds and exotic animals
• Website | Youtube
• Niagara Falls, ON

African Lion Safari

• Home to exotic birds and animals that roam freely in game reserves
• Website | Youtube
• Hamilton, ON

Oshawa Zoo

• Fun farm and zoo of friendly exotic and domestic animals
• Website | Youtube
• Oshawa, ON

Audio books can provide literature to your children as they are doing passive activities. They can perform chores or put together puzzles while listening to an adventure or drama read to them.

Audible Gift Memberships and Kindle Unlimited Membership Plans

Audio Books have great benefits for kids:

• Helps to expand vocabulary, pronunciation and fluency.
• Time management, multitasking
• Knowledge acquisition and familiarity with cultural literature
• Critical listening skills
• Focus and attention span improvement
• More Advantages: 10 Amazing Benefits of Audiobooks

Great Book Series for 8-14

Mr Lemoncello’s Library
by Chris Grabenstein

Mystery, fun facts with board games, video games and word puzzles.

Enjoy 4 Books in this Series

Listen on Overdrive, Cloud Library, Audible

Spirit Animals
by Brandon Mull

Adventures, Danger and Spirit animals that help to save Erdas.

Enjoy 7 Books in this Series. 2nd Series is Fall of the Beasts

• The Green Ember
• Peter Nimble
• Chronicles of Narnia
• Moby Dick
• Swiss Family Robinson
• Wonder
• Spy School
• Space Case
• Fun Jungle by Stuart Gibbs
• The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place
• Tom Sawyer

Great Book Series for ages 10-14

• Ranger’s Apprentice
• Brother Band Chronicles
• Age of Extinction
• Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit
• Percy Jackson
• Candy Shop Wars

Free Audio Books

Check your local library’s website for the Audio and Digital content they provide to their community. Seriously, google your library near you now and look at their Digital streaming and audio books that they offer. You’ll need a library card and account in order to use their resources.

The libraries often include the following Audio Book services:

• Hoopla Digital
  High Quality audio books, ebooks and movies.
• OverDrive
  Provided through Libraries, this service has a decent selection of Audio books.
• Cloud Library
  High quality Audio books and provide mobile apps for listening to them.
• RB Digital
  Provides a selection of Audio books.
• AudioBookCloud
  Selection of Audio books.
• TumbleBookLibrary
  Early readers with interactive books read to you.

More Free Audio Books:

• StoryNory
  Provides a small selection of books read to you.
• Loyal Books
  Free domain books and Audio books
• DigitalAudio
  Provides a set of free audio books along with a subscription service.
• Librivox
  Free domain books and Audio books
• Lit2go
  Free domain books and Audio books
• Open Culture
  Provides a huge list of free audio book resources
• Learn Out Loud
  Educational Audio books

If you would like to suggest more great Audio books, please let us know in the comments