News Release
To help families and caregivers make the most of their child's out-of-school learning time during this uncertain period of home and social isolation, Beyond School Bells, Nebraska's Afterschool and Summer Learning Network, is developing a regular, weekly series of “virtual backpacks” packed with a curated set of national, state and local educational experiences that families can use to enhance home-based learning for Nebraska's youth. All families need are a few household items and a big imagination.
We encourage afterschool providers, businesses, families and caregivers to use these free resources and share them with friends, family and coworkers. All we ask in return is that you provide us with feedback so we can continue to enhance this learning tool. Working together, we will make it through these challenging times.
Click here to view the Virtual Backpacks and additional resources on the BSB website.
Tree-a-thon Challenge
The three hands-on learning experiences in the Tree-a-thon Challenge were produced by University of Nebraska Lincoln students and Beyond School Bells staff and are intended to support a statewide tree planting activity that will take place over the Arbor Day weekend (April 24-26th) See our website for more information about this exciting statewide, at-home learning challenge. The material in these lessons are intended to both educate youth and provide step by step guidance for planting and caring for trees.
Nature Art Projects
Simple, hands-on art activities that only require items found in nature and very basic supplies found at home. The three Nature Art Projects allow for hours of artistic creativity and design thinking.
Exploratorium: Cardboard Automata
San Francisco’s Exploratorium is one of America’s great science museums and a center for sparking creativity. The Exploratorium’s Tinkering Studio website provides countless activities to stimulate creativity through hands-on activities. One of those is Cardboard Automata, a playful way to explore simple mechanical elements such as cams, levers, and linkages, while creating a moving sculpture. This activity is easy to start but become smore and more complex as users become more familiar with possible motions and imagine ways to artistically decorate their inventions.
Henry Doorly Zoo: Do the Zoo from home
Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium is bringing their world-class collection of animals to you in their Do the Zoo from Home programming. While their afterschool programs in Omaha Public Schools are not currently operating, their animal care staff is still working tirelessly to care for the more than 35,000 animals that call the Zoo home and they invite you to join them on their journey to explore the animal kingdom. Check back each day for an interactive video and activity you can do with your family, so you can enjoy and learn from the Zoo from your living room.
Go Noodle: Good Energy at Home
Teachers trust GoNoodle to help their students stay active, focused, and calm while infusing good energy into their classrooms. Now, with so many kids home from school, we want to keep that good, healthy energy going by introducing you to GoNoodle: Good Energy at Home, a free online resource. These activities provide ways for kids and families to move and learn together – and comes highly recommended by my daughters.