Coronavirus: Some online educational activities to do with the kids

Parents staying at home with their school-age children may be looking for other opportunities to education and entertain their children.

While parents often try to limit screen time, exceptions are being made by many during the social distancing and family isolation during the statewide public health emergency due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Here are a few online resources parents could consider:

Rumpke Education at Home: Rumpke offers a variety of educational programs, including online presentations to teach neighbors and customers the importance of proper waste disposal and recycling. https://www.rumpke.com/about-us/education

The Ohio Oil and Gas Energy Education Program: This is free award-winning curriculum teachers rely on to advance science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) principles in classrooms across the state. Parents can access the educational materials free of charge via OOGEEP's website:

• STEM Curriculum and Labs: https://www.oogeep.org/teacher-students/science-labs/

• Geology Curriculum and Labs: https://www.oogeep.org/teacher-students/geology-labs/

• Additional Educational Materials and Workbooks: https://www.oogeep.org/teacher-students/educational-materials/

COSI: The Columbus-based Center of Science and Industry (COSI) offers a "digital doorway" to learn more about science at home. https://cosi.org/cosiconnects

BrainPOP: This online program offers a variety of in-depth learning for upper elementary and middle school students. BrainPOP offers free access during school closures. https://www.brainpop.com

CoolMath.com: This website offers math assistance for pre-algebra, algebra and pre-calculus assistance. https://www.coolmath.com/

Khan Academy: This is a nonprofit organization that provides free online education, which offers personalized learning for students, and resources for parents and teachers. https://www.khanacademy.org/

The Adventure Academy: This is an online learning program for kids ages 8 to 13. https://www.adventureacademy.com/

Cincinnati Museum Center: The CMC will have livestream videos at 11 a.m. every Wednesday, and other free online programming will be on the website. The Museum Center has also posted free Omnimax videos online. https://www.cincymuseum.org/omnimax/

ABC Mouse: This is an early learning academy with a full online curriculum for children ages 2 to 8.

Boddle: This math program for 1st to 6th grades has free programming for educators, parents and students COVID-19-forced school closures. https://www.boddlelearning.com/

BreakoutEDU: This program features online games that combines learning with escape room challenges. For ages 2 to 12. https://www.breakoutedu.com/funathome

Many Butler County School districts have placed their online learning plans or curriculum online, some are using the application ClassDojo. Here’s what Butler County’s public school districts are doing while their school buildings are closed:

Middletown City Schools: Students can access their online learning through the district's student resources tab to access Schoology or Google Classroom. These are where assignments are posted. https://www.middletowncityschools.com/students/

Hamilton City Schools: Students can access their online learning through the district's website to access Google Classroom, which is where assignments are posted: https://sites.google.com/hcsdoh.org/hcsd-covid-19-parent-resources/home

Fairfield Local Schools: Fairfield created an online learning portal for its high school students at https://bit.ly/FHSRemoteLearning.

Students at other grade levels will have assignments via a number of digital avenues, which are explained on the district's one-stop coronavirus update page: https://www.fairfieldcityschools.com/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=335692&type=d&pREC_ID=1846036

Lakota Local Schools: Lakota is preparing to launch its online learning after its spring break, which ends on Friday.Here's the letter from Superintendent Matthew Miller: https://lakotaonline.com/about_us/what_s_new/lakota_s_preparations_for_remote_learning

This will be updated when Lakota’s plan is posted online.

Monroe Local Schools: Distance learning for students will be sent to parents. Here's the letter to parents from Superintendent Kathy Demers: http://www.monroelocalschools.com/assets/COVID-19%20Update%203-12-20.pdf

Talawanda Local Schools: Distance learning information has not been posted online. He's the letter from Superintendent Ed Theroux: https://www.talawanda.org/talawanda-high-school-blog/entry/tsd-parent-letter-covid-19-3-12-20-416/for/

Ross Local Schools: Online distance learning for students in K through 4 can be found online: https://www.rossrams.com/News/176#sthash.k1PwweSg.dpbs

New Miami Local Schools: Has not posted any distance learning online. Here's the letter from

Middle and High School Principal Kara Hanges-Brakhage and Director of Curriculum and Instruction Kim Davidson: https://www.new-miami.k12.oh.us/News/22114#sthash.FFXIDU6H.dpbs

Edgewood City Schools: There are no links to distance learning, but they have established a district-specific coronavirus web page: https://www.edgewoodschools.com/o/edgewood-schools/page/coronavirus-covid-19-updates-and-resources

Madison Local Schools: School officials will communicate with parents their distance learning plan. Here's the letter to parents: https://www.madisonmohawks.org/apps/news/article/1182107

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About the Author

Michael D. Pitman

Michael D. Pitman has been a reporter in southwest Ohio since 1999. He's covered local governments in Warren and Butler counties, as well as state and national issues. He currently covers the cities of Fairfield and Hamilton.