Free online boredom busters & educational resources for kids (& parents!)

We know it’s tough on parents right now, trying to find free online resources to educate and entertain their children, in the coming weeks and months.

We get sent lots of information here at First News about what’s going on and what’s available for kids so we thought we’d share this with our readers.

Easter Boredom Busters

The WWF’s Seek app

By using your phone or tablet’s camera, it instantly identifies the exact species of plant, flower, insect or wildlife right in front of you. The app has been made to use by even the youngest nature enthusiasts, and has been steadily rolled out to schools in the UK to encourage children to get outdoors and interact with nature.

Not only is it a clever tool – somewhat like Pokemon Go for nature – but the data it collects is fed back to a global database which is helping scientists track biodiversity levels, which are seen as the barometer of the planet’s livelihood.

Seek is now available to download for free on both iOS and Android.

Easter Eggsplorers: Meerkats celebrate Easter at ZSL London Zoo

Zookeepers at ZSL London Zoo have arranged Easter egg hunt for their meerkats.  Painting fresh eggs in eye-catching colours, dedicated keepers – who are still working to look after the Zoo’s animals – hid the tasty treats for Frank, Dracula, Archie, Penelope, Timon, Aurora and Meko to find amongst the sand and rocks in their home.

https://www.zsl.org/zsl-london-zoo/news/easter-eggsplorers

Puffin: Dream Big

Initiatives include a daily Puffin Storytime, a Puffin Podcast series, an online book festival – the Puffin Festival of Big Dreams – as well as updated Puffin Schools resources to facilitate home-learning.

https://www.penguin.co.uk/puffin/dream-big.html

Disney On Stage

Disney Theatrical Productions is offering free downloadable creative activities for educators and parents from their West End shows of The Lion King, Mary Poppins, Frozen and Aladdin. This collection of fun and educational resources for schools and home learning is available to download now. From costume making and designing your own set model to creative writing, behind-the-scenes videos and career focused podcasts, these creative resources are designed for primary, secondary pupils, all selected specially to enjoy at home.

https://disneyonstage.co.uk/education/

BT: Coding

BT has released a free online experience that introduces more children to the basics of coding while they are at home and off school.   Code a Cake uses a simple baking analogy to inspire kids to build their digital skill set during the Covid-19 lockdown, arriving at a time when home-schooling is becoming more and more important.

https://www.bt.com/codeacake

Educational Resources

BBC Teach
https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach
All ages

TES
https://www.tes.com/coronavirus
Some free resources, possibly more coming

Scholastic
https://www.scholastic.com/parents/school-success/home-learning-resources.html
Free resources from Scholastic

Science Museum
https://learning-resources.sciencemuseum.org.uk/
Science Museum resources, activities, games, apps etc

Marine Conservation Society
https://www.mcsuk.org/coolseas/
Marine Conservation Society resources, aimed at ages 5-11

Girl Guides
https://www.girlguiding.org.uk/what-we-do/adventures-at-home/
Girlguiding’s Adventures At Home activities

Scouts
www.scouts.org.uk/the-great-indoors/
100 Things to do

Muddy Puddles
https://www.muddypuddles.com/blog/free-outdoor-lesson-plans-children/
Muddy Puddles outdoor lesson plans, early years up to KS2

Konni Huq
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDlSobQTc4IifJEu6Lt22eA
Konni Huq doing videos every Mon, Wed and Fri at 10am, for 6-12 year olds

Carol Vorderman
https://www.themathsfactor.com/
Carol Vorderman doing free maths resources while the plague continues, ages 4-12

Audible audiobooks
https://stories.audible.com/discovery
Some of Amazon’s Audible audiobooks free for kids, toddlers to teens

WIRED
https://www.wired.co.uk/article/how-to-home-school-and-exercise-you-kids
Really long article with education resources, fitness and hobbies (DJing, guitar lessons etc)

BBC Tech
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-51960865
BBC article with links to maths, coding, crafting resources etc

PopSugar
https://www.popsugar.co.uk/parenting/free-online-educational-resources-for-kids-47312329
PopSugar article with lots of handy links

Facebook: 7 Stories
www.facebook.com/7Stories
Picture book readings every Friday at 10am.

Royal Mint
https://www.royalmint.com/kids/
Royal Mint is releasing loads of coin-themed activities. Kids love coins!

Keeping fit resources

Sport England
https://www.sportengland.org/stayinworkout
Sport England’s new campaign. Launches Wed 25th 10.30pm. Backed by the Government and NHS, Joe Wicks etc

Joe Wicks
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAxW1XT0iEJo0TYlRfn6rYQ
Joe Wicks’ YouTube channel where he’s doing 9am workouts for the whole family

GoFest
https://en-gb.facebook.com/gofestUK/
GoFest doing a 20min family workout every Thursday at 11am

Lawn Tennis Association
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6P9iGS4Ir9kw18iEujrkRi-3nJ5e7_K6
Lawn Tennis Association’s twelve tennis training videos

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