On March 15, Premier Jason Kenney announced the suspension of all kindergarten to Grade classes and the decision to close all licensed child care, out-of-school care programs and preschool programs in Alberta.
“These decisions are not made lightly, and I know they will have a tremendous impact on 51黑料's day-to-day lives, particularly parents, children, and seniors. But it is crucial we do everything possible to contain and limit the spread of COVID-19,” said Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Chief Medical Officer of Health in a statement.
The move has left many to find ways to entertain and educate their children, and the online community is stepping up to help.
Scholastic Canada's offers free resources for parents, teachers and administrators, which presents 21 days of "engaging, knowledge-building learning journeys for different grade levels that can be accessed at home by kids on any device, even phones."
"Even when schools are closed, you can keep the learning going with these special cross-curricular journeys," said the editors of Scholastic Classroom Magazines. "Every day includes four separate learning experiences, each built around a thrilling, meaningful story or video. Kids can do them on their own, with their families, or with their teachers. Just find your grade level and let the learning begin."
Though the company said it will continue to create and ship books to retail and online stores, it is "committed to supporting children, parents, retailers and educators whatever the circumstances."
"Many children are facing an extended March Break; others, a period of isolation," Scholastic said in a statement. "With outside activities limited, reading can take us places – it can engage, challenge, and transport us to new worlds. Favourite stories are a way to preserve continuity when the rest of the world is uncertain. We encourage you to take this opportunity to read with your kids, reading aloud or just reading your own individual books, together."
Other educational resources
The parent page on , which offers Seussian activities, crafts and printables to "engage your child in playful learning."
offers video, games, "Brain Boosters" and more.
provides read-along videos of celebrities reading children's books.
From posters to card games to episode guides and lesson plans, can help.
and discover games, videos and more.
covers a wide range of topics including weather and climate, atmosphere, plants and animals, water and energy.
has lesson plans, activities and resources to help engage students in the wonders of the world's oceans.
Access free videos and lesson plans for students grades 3-12 with .
Learn about earthquakes through the .
utilizes music to teach preschoolers about everything from weather to good behaviour.
Other virtual options take you around the world, or even to Mars, all from the comfort of your home. Virtual tours of zoos, national parks and museums are just a click away and offer a fun, educational way to take a "field trip" when similar facilities are closed.
Zoos, aquariums and wildlife
The not only has activities, games, videos and tales from around the zoo, the site also features 11 live cameras that let you watch everything from the facility's Tigers to Condors.
Check-in on the live feed of the pandas with .
Interested in what a naked mole-rat does with its day? The has that and more covered with its animal webcams. However, the zoo has been closed as a public health precaution and, though animal keepers and veterinary staff remain on-site at the Zoo and at the Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Virginia, volunteers will not be operating the cameras and animals may not be visible at all times.
webcams offer a peek into the world of bears, beavers, fish, walruses and more. Fair warning, equipment malfunction is a risk given Alaska’s challenging weather and terrain, and, depending on the season, animals could be elsewhere.
From lions to lemurs, in Tucson, Ariz., has seven live zoo cams.
Head to in Rhenen, Netherland to check in on its polar bear cubs.
Internet favourite Fiona the hippo has gone online as the Cincinnati Zoo is closed. "Let us help make your children's hiatus from school fun and educational," reads on Facebook. "Join us for a Home Safari Facebook Live each weekday at 3 p.m. (Eastern Time) where we will highlight one of our amazing animals and include an activity you can do from home."
has 10 web cams streaming live footage its penguins, otters, sharks, jelly fish and more.
Immerse yourself in Canadian farm and food tours with .
Museums
in London, England.
The in Amsterdam.
Check out the spiral staircase of the in New York
in Los Angeles.
The in South Korea.
The in Berlin.
in São Paulo, Brazil.
The in Paris.
The in Washington, DC.
The in New York.
The in Amsterdam.
in Florence, Italy.
in Paris.
The in Mexico City.
Travel the world and beyond
Take a virtual tour of the .
Discover the beautiful landscapes, wildlife and geysers at .
Become a space traveller and access the as recorded by NASA's Curiosity rover.
Get moving
Find kid-friendly works at . Select how long you'd like the workout to be and get moving.
Cooking
Get kids excited about cooking with .
Podcasts
Check out the Calgary Family says you and your children will love.
