First and foremost, I want to express how awed I am by the steadfast calm, the bravery, and the perseverance of every student, teacher, administrator, and parent during this very difficult and stressful time. I am honored to be part of this strong, tight-knit community. Please don't hesitate to contact me if I can help you find a resource you need at this time.
I know it can be frustrating to stay home all the time, and it's easy to start feeling like a Captive Cougar, so here's a graph to give you a visual explanation of why we are all doing what we are doing. By staying home, you and your family are truly helping to stop this COVID-19 virus from spreading. Take a look! COVID-19 Transmssion Graphic Thank you for doing your part!
Below is what will likely be an ever-growing list of resources for students and teachers to use, primarily to help us all get through our period of social isolation during the COVID-19 virus outbreak, but perhaps some resources will prove useful in the future to help with lessons in the classroom. If you, students and teachers, find any online resources that you think are particularly useful and engaging, contact me and I'll see if I should add them to this list.
MID-CONTINENT PUBLIC LIBRARY
Mid-Continent Public Library
MCPL has databases, tutorials, live online tutoring, eBooks and audiobooks, all accessible to you with just your student ID! Just type in s and your number to access all that MCPL has to offer.
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
Cameron's Collection Password: parkhill A wonderful resource for teen health and wellness eBooks.
Dance Sweat Live Short YouTube videos of mini-workouts to upbeat music. 2-5 minutes long. Very fun if you "like to move it, move it!"
COVID-19 INFORMATION
Center for Disease Control (CDC) Website for information on symptoms, guidelines, and recommendations.
FEMA Rumor Control It can be hard to separate fact from fiction when the situation is sometimes changing rapidly. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has started a webpage dedicated specifically to COVID-19 rumor control and helping people figure out the facts.
Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center Website to help create a better understanding of the virus and keep everyone informed.
Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Website for information related to COVID-19 and other health issues.
Platte County Health Department Information on the changes to Platte County Health Department services. Call before you arrive.
UMKC LibGuide on Coronavirus A multi-lingual guide providing information the pubic needs to know about the virus and a site to virus-related facts.
ART AND MUSIC
The Louvre Museum, Paris, France
Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York City Take a virtual tour through the Google Arts and Culture App. Modern Art.
The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, CA Take a virtual tour through the Google Arts and Culture App. A wide variety of art from the 8th century to the 21st century.
National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul, South Korea Take a virtual tour through the Google Arts and Culture App. Modern Art.
"Draw Everyday with JJK" Short drawing lessons on Author/Illustrator, Jarrett J. Krosoczka's, YouTube channel
READING/WRITING/ALL LANGUAGES
COVID-19 Storybook Very simple storybook that explains COVID-19. Interactive. Free to download. Multiple languages. Open Educational Resource. Good for a quick and simple explanation and to read to younger family members.
ABDO Nonfiction Middle School level. Nonfiction. All subject areas: sports, animals, social issues, history, etc.
Capstone Interactive (username: continue, password: reading) Nonfiction. Many subject areas, including DUCT TAPE PROJECTS! History, animals, sports, etc.
Neal Shusterman Reading His Own Books Link to YouTube where Neal Shusterman reads his own works.
Jarrett Lerner Comic Books Visit this author's website to finish comics he started.
Where the Heart Is, Jo Knowles Author Jo Knowles, will read from her book and provide a writing assignment.
SOCIAL STUDIES
Anne Frank's House Take a virtual tour through the Google Arts and Culture App.
Ford's Theater Take a virtual tour through the Google Arts and Culture App. Tour the theater where Abraham Lincoln was assassinated.
Private Tour of WWII Museum
Tour the American Civil Rights Museum
Colonial Williamsburg Visit a town in Colonial America to see how people lived before we became the USA.
SCIENCE
Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C.
Kansas City Zoo 24/7 Penguin Cam. Do I need to say anything more???
My Hero Environmental Films Middle school appropriate short films on the environment.
March Mammal Madness
Kennedy Space Center
The Solar System Tour the solar system.
Mars Take a virtual tour of Mars. Talk about "social distancing"!
Virtual Marine Biology Camp Oceans Initiative is streaming live at 9am every Monday and Thursday on Facebook and Instagram @OceansInitiative. Visit their website for more information at
Oceans Initiative
MATH
Multiplying Fractions A short video tutorial on multiplying fractions with different denominators because, honestly, I know I need a reminder.
Khan Academy 6th Grade Math
Khan Academy 7th Grade Math
Khan Academy 8th Grade Math
Khan Academy Pre-Algebra
Khan Academy Algebra Basics
Khan Academy Algebra I
Khan Academy is an excellent website for video tutorials and practice problems.
VIRTUAL FIELD TRIPS
Georgia Aquarium Offers a number of different webcam exhibits to visit.
National Aquarium Click on "Explore Scenes" to visit 10 different exhibits.
San Diego Zoo One of the best zoos in the country offer videos, activities and games on this website. There are resources for grownups, too.
The White House Tour the White House with the Google Arts and Culture app. No, you won't see the President!
Ellis Island Do you come from a family of immigrants? I do! And it's possible that some of my family passed through Ellis Island when they arrived in the United States. Take a virtual tour and see what it was like for immigrants arriving in the US.
Yosemite National Park Need to see the great outdoors? Take a virtual tour of Yosemite.
Grand Canyon National Park Take a virtual tour or go on a virtual hike.
The Great Wall of China Tired of hanging out in the US? Why not visit China?
Antarctica It's a very short tour of Antarctica, but it's really too cold there to stay very long.
Machu Picchu The 360 degree view is stunning from the top of Machu Picchu, ruins from the Inca civilization in Peru. You have to see this!
Solar System Tour Maybe you're starting to think that Earth is getting a little, well, germ-y. Time to take a trip out into space. Let's tour the solar system. That will give a new meaning to the term "social distancing."
Mars Take a virtual tour of Mars. Talk about "social distancing"!