Celebrate Earthday Virtually!
Earthday.org has a database of virtual Earth Day 2020 events & programs searchable by age group. Go to Earthday.org and scroll to the bottom of the page for the “Find a Digital Earth Day Event” map.
Free eBooks from Lerner
Lerner Publishing has made a Distance Learning Library of digital materials for children in Pre-K to Grade 5 available to parents, educators, and librarians. (A separate library for older learners in Grades 6 to 12 is also available)
Earth Day Activities
Do you want to help your children celebrate Mother Earth from home? Prodigy has released a set of activities for your child to do this week. It’s a free download.
Go on A Magical Ride
Just because we are social distancing doesn’t mean you can’t go on a virtual ride! Walt Disney World has posted some fun virtual rides on youtube, such as Splash Mountain and Slinky Dog Dash.
Mondays with Michelle Obama
Michelle Obama will joining the ranks of other virtual storytime celebrities by reading children’s book online. Watch her on PBS Kid’s Facebook Live at 12pm on Mondays. Videos will be archived on PBS’s YouTube page.
Magic Milk! – Boredom Busters with Rebecca & Gordon
Learn how to do a magic milk experiment with Ms. Rebecca. It’s quick, easy, and really neat! Click here to learn how. If you make magic milk at home, let us know!
Mystery Science
Check out the free Mystery Science website! Mystery Science is the creator of the most popular science lessons in U.S. schools. They’ve curated a starter set of science lessons that you can use remotely. It’s for children in Grades K-5.
Children’s Museum Houston
The Children’s Museum Houston is offering free online learning activities for Grades K-5, including weather and science.
Friday Fun with Ms Linnea – Make an Eggshell Disapper! Make an Egg Bounce?
Join Ms. Linnea for this week’s Friday Fun activity. She’ll show you how to make an egg bounce! All you need is an egg, vinegar, and some time.
Free eBook about Coronavirus for Children
Candlewick Press has released a free book about Coronavirus for children ages 5-9. Click the link to download the book as a PDF.
Oxford Owl Free Ebooks and More!
Oxford Owl is offering free ebooks for ages 3-11. They also have some great ideas on their website to make learning fun.
“Read It, Watch It” Children’s Recommended Titles
These precious picture books are available on Hoopla and Overdrive. The television adaptation can be streamed on Hoopla and Kanopy.For Grades 1-2: The Detective Gordon series by Ulf Nilsson
This fun and friendly mystery series features an old toad detective who helps his woodland neighbors by soliving crimes. Several of the books are available on Hoopla. When you finish reading, you can watch the movie adaptation, Gordon and Paddy, on Kanopy.For Grades 2-3: The Wayside School series by Louis Sachar
This collection of silly school-age stories is available with 3 eBook titles on Hoopla along with an animated television series.For Grades 3-4: The Anne of Green Gables series by L. M. Montgomery 
This beloved classic is available unabridged on Hoopla & Overdrive, as are many of its sequels. Or, if you’re looking for something to tempt reluctant-readers, try the graphic novel version (on Hoopla & Overdrive). Younger readers can enjoy these abridged versions (on Hoopla & Overdrive). Once everyone has finished reading, the PBS television adaption is available on Hoopla & Kanopy.For Grades 4-5: The Swallows & Amazons series by Arthur Ransome
This classic sibling, adventure series is available on Hoopla, along with the 2016 movie adaptation of the first novel.Other ideas that REQUIRE a subscription service:
- Judy Moody and the NOT Bummer Summer by Megan McDonald, eBook available on Hoopla & Overdrive, (movie available to stream with Hulu or Netflix). For Grades 2-3
- Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library by Chris Gravenstein, eBook available on Overdrive (movie available to stream with Hulu or Netflix). For Grades 3-5
- A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle, eBook and graphic novel adaptation available on Overdrive, (movie available to stream with Disney+). For Grades 4-6
- Charlottes Web by E.B. White, eBook available on Overdrive, (1973 animated musical movie available to stream with Hulu). Grades 2-4 **I will warn parents, that while the movie is fantastic and appropriate for children 5+, I still remember watching Charlotte’s death as a kid. (heavy stuff…)**
Random House Children’s Books is working with authors and celebrities to create a live virtual storytime program weekdays at 3pm on Instagram. See the image below for this week’s line up:
Simon Kids (Simon & Schuster publishing) is offering a live storytime program on their facebook page at 2pm Tuesdays, Wednesdays, & Thursdays called “Snack & Read Live”. Here is the line-up for this week:
They also have several read-aloud videos and activity sheets available on their website.
Boredom Buster with Rebecca and Gordon
Monday’s Boredom Buster is ready for your enjoyment! It was a pretty crazy night in the Teglas household, with two young boys to keep entertained indoors. Check out the fun that was had with hidden pennies in baking soda! The boys were challenged to recover the pennies using vinegar spray bottles and pokers. Plus, the cat plays foosball.
Friday Fun – Learn to Make Rock Candy!
Now that we’re spending lots of time at home, it’s the perfect time for science! Learn to make Rock Candy with Ms. Linnea. It’s a delicious science experiment that you can watch grow all week long. Click HERE.
If you make some, share it with us on the library’s facebook page. We’d love to see it!
The Children’s Museum of Manhattan at Home
The Children’s Museum of Manhattan has launched CMOM at Home, posting a weeks worth of kid-friendly activities including: games, at home science experiments, storytimes, songs, and recipes.
Intrepid Free Online Classes
The Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum has made all of its digital programming through Zoom and all their online resources free during this time of being stuck inside. Today, for children ages 5-12, they are having a program called What Makes a Boat Float?, …
Visit the Hidden World of National Parks
Take a tour of the Hawaii Volcanoes or head to Florida to visit Dry Tortugas without leaving your home. Gooogle has created The Hidden World of the National Parks so that you can take trips even with a stay at home order.
Language Learning for Free
Due to COVID-19, Babbel, a language learning app is are offering free language learning to K-12 and college students through mid-June.
Making Music Together on Zoom
Music Together Online classes have opened up to new families as well as current students through the Zoom platform. They are offering free trial Zoom classes. Making Music Together classes are for babies, toddlers, preschoolers and the grown-ups who love them. The family music program, based on …
The Zoo Comes to You: Zoos & Aquariums with Virtual Programs
Several Zoos & Aquariums throughout the country have begun offering free online education and virtual animal encounter programs for children: Bronx Zoo (Wildlife Conservation Society) offers Stay At Home Science Activities, lesson plans, and webinars. Cincinnati Zoo offers a “Home Safari” program on Facebook Live …
Free Mad Libs
Penguin Classroom is allowing for free sample downloads of Mad Libs if you’d like to bring a little mad libs to your at-home learning.
Khan Academy Free
The Khan Academy is offering their online learning program free for a limited time. They also give you a suggested schedule to keep you in a groove.
Fun resources from TOON Books
TOON Books, publishers of graphic novel series like Benny & Penny, is offering fun ways for children to connect with their graphic novels online. Check out the links below: – CarTOON Maker – TOON Reader – Lesson Plans for Parents & Teachers
Tennis at Home
Kids don’t have to go to the court to brush up on their tennis skills! Net Generation has posted some great video drills online to keep that hand/eye coordination going.
Anderson’s Book Shop Open for Delivery!
Need to hold a new book? Anderson’s Book Shop on Chatsworth Avenue is open Monday-Friday, 9:30-3:30 for pick up or delivery. You can email them your request at andersonsorders@optimum.net.
Activity of the Week with Rebecca & Gordon
Start off your week with a sizzle and a fizz. Learn to make a volcano with Legos! Watch Rebecca and Gordon to learn how HERE. If you make one share it with us on the library’s facebook page. We’d love to see it!
TIME for Kids – PBS for Parents
TIME for Kids is offering a free digital subscription for the rest of the school year. Sign-up by grade level to for news that kids will able to read and understand. PBS Kids is offering parents a free weekly digital newsletter, each with five days of …
New York Roadrunners Kids Workout
Looking to stay active indoors? The New York Roadrunners has posted a list of activities you can do indoors to keep those endorphins going! There is also an activity tracker.
Friday Fun with Ms. Linnea – Lemon Vocanoes!
Want to make your own lemon volcano at home? Watch our first Friday Fun video to learn how HERE. If you make one share it with us on the library’s facebook page. We’d love to see it!
Watch Grace Lin Read and Learn to Draw!
Author of the popular easy reader series Ling and Ting (and many other books for older readers), Grace Lin is doing read alouds and drawing instruction on her youtube channel.
Hoopla Bonus Borrows
Hoopla has announced a collection of more than 1,100 top titles, and through the month of April it will not count towards the limit of e-books, movies or e-audio that you can borrow if you borrow one of these titles.
Free activity sheets from Candlewick Press
Candlewick Press has an archive of printable activity sheets for some of their Children’s titles. To search through the entire archive click HERE. Here are some popular favorites I found: Mercy Watson – Activity Kit Peppa Pig – Activity Kit This Is Not My Hat/I Want My Hat Back …
Harry Potter Casting Banishing Charm on Boredom
Until April 30, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by JK Rowling is available for checkout for unlimited patrons in e-book and e-audio on Overdrive. Usually, one patron could check it out at a time and the rest would have to put holds on it. …
Attention, History Buffs!
The New York Historical Society Dimenna Children’s History Museum is offering hands-on activities, the History Detectives blog, and virtual family programs. Programs range in age from preschool to middle-school readers, so there are fun and challenging ways for the whole family to dig in, celebrate New …
Free Delivery of Pottery Making Supplies
A Maze In Pottery in Briarcliff knows that creativity doesn’t stop with cabin fever. The art center is offering free delivery within 24 hours for both adult and children’s projects. You can do a make-it-take-it that doesn’t need to get fired or choose another option …
New Videos & Activities from Dogman’s Dav Pilkey!
Dav Pilkey, author of the popular series Dogman and Captain Underpants, has launched an activity page for children called, “Dav Pilkey at Home”. New videos and activities will be added every Friday!
Hear a lovely goblin story read by Author, Ben Hatke
Ben Hatke, author of Zita the Space Girl and Little Robot, just posted a video of himself reading his picture book, Nobody Likes a Goblin.
Masking Tape Maze
This is on the to-do list for a schoolwork break today at my house! Try out this masking tape laser maze in your hallway from the site, It’s Always Autumn!
Draw With Rob Biddulph
Author and Illustrator of books such as Give Peas a Chance and Grrrrr!, Rob Biddulph is posting new Draw With Rob sessions every Tuesday and Thursday at 10:00 am.
“Good Night with Dolly”
Starting this week, Dolly Parton will be reading children’s books on her Imagination Library YouTube Channel every Thursday evening for the next 10 weeks. Stories will include books like: Llama, Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdny, Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Pena, and The Little Engine …
Creativity Camp with Arree Chung
The author Arree Chung, writer of Mixed: A colorful Story and the Ninja! books, is hosting free Creativity Camps for kids, parents, and educators via Zoom on his website.
Meet Cool Animals from Nature on Facebook Live!
Camps are starting online activities too. Camp Chewonki has started a nature series, and they are going live at 1:00 every day with different animals on Facebook Live.
New From Museum of Modern Art
Hi all! There is a really great new post about art making activities for kids. I personally like the one about shading a page and having your child create art with an eraser!
Rebecca’s Activity of the Week – Now on YouTube
Watch our Head of Children’s Services, Rebecca, debut our first Activity of the Week video! This week she will be showing you a fun sink of float experiment you can do at home. Look for Rebecca’s videos every Monday on YouTube. Subscribe to the Larchmontkids YouTube …
110 Sesame Street eBooks Free!!
Sesame Workshop has made 110 eBook titles free on most online platforms including: Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, Google Play, Barnes & Noble Nook, and Kobo. They also pledge to regularly update their site: https://www.sesamestreet.org/caring with content for children and parents during this time. Source article from Gizmodo.
Kindness Rocks
Need a new art project? Create a kindness rock to add to Ryder’s Garden! Either paint a pretty picture on a rock or write an inspirational message. The idea is that people who need a little inspiration can pick one up to brighten their day.