Good day, my friends! Thanks so much for sticking with me through this week of re-calibration and preparation for the coming spell of homeschooling. I do promise to get back into the writing soon; the plan is to go quiet on Jean Lee’s World for a few days so I can work on some flash and short fiction for my university’s journal (sharing here for feedback, of course), and then also write up a few lesson plan samples (ibid).
(Yup, I do actually write when life allows! You can see some short WIPS of mine on my Free Fiction page. I’ve also got a novel, novella, and some serialized fantasy, if you’re so inclined, and most of it’s free on Kindle Unlimited. Click here to check’em out!)
For those visiting my site for all the homeschooling stuff–welcome! Please don’t forget to take care of your own creative sparks to stay sane. I’ve been writing on this site for 5 years now, and I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to create and communicate in order to maintain one’s mental health. Please also check out some of those wonderful folks who follow my blog or have been interviewed here. You’re going to meet beautiful songwriters, poets, authors, and photographers on both sides of the globe. xxxxx
So, let’s finish the week strong with more resources dear friend and fellow indie author Anne Clare called to my attention. As a teacher and mother of three kids under the age of ten, Anne knows all too well how tough it is to keep kids engaged while also getting her own work done. After I shared my post yesterday of online and hands on activities, Anne emailed me a whole bunch of stuff she’s found in her own hunt for things to do with her kids. Her hunt was super successful, as you’ll soon see!
Extra Science Stuff
- Mystery Science: Oodles of lessons and materials! A portion of it’s for free; if you help spread the word about the site, you level up on your access level.
- Real Wild: A Youtube channel featuring some killer wildlife videos, including the late great Steve Irwin.
- Steve Spangler Science: tons of experiments perfect for the home setting, especially for sensory kiddos!
Extra Reading Stuff
Scholastic has created a Learn at Home site with an amazing mix of reading, video, and hands-on activity all organized by theme, time frame, and age group. HUZZAH!
Extra Geography Stuff
Anybody else remember the PBS ’90s gem known as Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? What had started as an ancient PC game with a pile of floppy disks transformed into books, more games, cartoons, and of course this game show focused on history and geography. I learned a lot from this show as a kid, and there are a bunch of episodes on YouTube.
More recently Google Earth has created a free online game to let your homebound gumshoes chase Carmen Sandiego all over the globe. Click here for more info!
More Art Stuff
- Create Art with Me: This site is jam-packed with age-appropriate projects. Drawing, watercolor, painting, pastels, foils, charcoal–if you can create with it, it’s on here!
- Crafts by Courtney: A really cool mix of projects for grown-ups and kids alike.
- Fun-A-Day: Cool Crafts for the little Jedi–and Sith–in your household.
- Pinterested Parent: More fun artsy ideas, such as this salt watercolor project, to keep kids occupied without busting your wallet.
- Picklebums: When it comes to projects for multiple ages, simple is always best, such as this squish painting activity.
- Easy Peasy and Fun: This one requires a membership if you want the printables, but browsing its crafts may give you ideas for adapting with your own materials.
- Artful Parent: Creativity abounds on this site! I particularly love the focus on sensory kiddos.
What a treasure trove of ideas! I’m excited to show these to my three little Bs and see what strikes their fancy before we head off to the craft store after lunch. So long as we avoid the cart races down the aisles, we should be okay. Enjoy your own explore here, and remember–we’re in this together! xxxxx
Read on, share on, and write on, my friends!
Jean Lee's World 
Awesome! 🙂 Sharing everywhere…
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Thank you!
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I’m so excited about revisiting Carmen Sandiago!!!! Thanks for the kind shout-out, Jean 🙂
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I know, right? 🙂 And thank YOU for sharing so much awesomeness. Now the coming weeks don’t seem *quite* so impossible, lol
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What an enticing selection. Sounds like your household is having some fun 🙂
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Ask me in a week if the fun’s still being had, and we’ll know we survived! 🙂
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I’m sure there are bound to be a few downs as well as ups…
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I’m hopin’ so 🙂
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Wonderful. Will look at these. Monday we do start the full day of online schooling. While keeping one eye on the schooling will keep other eye on the spreadsheet trying to work out how to financially survive without a wage for probably 3 months or longer. This wasn’t in the parent brochure.
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I know just what you mean. These are not, going, to be, easy, times. We’re supposed to get some government aid in April. Here’s hoping you get something similar, too!
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Fantastic resources, Jean! Best of luck in the coming week:))
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Thank you! I could use all the luck I can get xxxx
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This might be useful.
https://hyperallergic.com/547919/2500-virtual-museum-tours-google-arts-culture/
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Ooo, many thanks!
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So cool! Thanks for sharing!
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And thanks!
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At first blush, I thought the “where in the world” guys were The Wiggles! ;0)
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LMAO! They do have that vibe, don’t they? 😉
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😂😂😂
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Carmen Sandiego was a fave for me as a kid, so cool to hear it’s back!
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Are you all locked-in where you live, young Ms Lee? We are. We’ve not seen the light of day for nearly a week and oddly…admittedly with no sprogs to care for…are having a wonderful time. The stress level’s that have afflicted me of late now on a downward slope for ‘choices’ have been taken away. What to wear today? Where shall we take coffee today? All manner of minor things gone. We live in dressing gowns…little laundry as of now…and do all that we wish. Bliss. I trust all remains creative and good with you and yours. Regards, The Old Fool
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That does sound ideal, Sir! Sadly, the kids still wish to get out and about, and we just can’t. We’re not technically on lockdown yet, but non-essential travel is STRONGLY encouraged. Now that I have to mix education into the day, we’ll see if the kids can follow this new plan…ooooooor if they mutiny….
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My best wishes during this time, Jean. Stay safe!
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Thank you very much!
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Good post. Stay safe and well, my friend. 🙂
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Thanks. You too!
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