Interactive Literacy Activity Resources
Websites for Instructors
- Adobe Spark (https://spark.adobe.com/) – Create pre-recorded videos that are up to 10 minutes long. Videos can include photos and video clips or record a story being read.
- Boeing & Discover Education Future U (https://www.boeingfutureu.com/) – Use this website to find tools to inspire students to collaborate and problem-solve. Go on virtual field trips to explore new places. Geared to students who are grades 6 to 12.
- National Center for Families Learning – 30 Days of Families Learning Together (http://30days.familieslearning.org/) – Engage in a month’s worth of family literacy activities that help families imagine, play, and learn together. Instructors can help families go through the slides together through the website on the computer or phone.
- Spanish version (pdf) – http://30days.familieslearning.org/wp/wpcontent/uploads/2014/10/NCFL30Days-es.pdf
Websites for Families
- Audible (https://stories.audible.com/start-listen) – Stream stories for free while schools are closed due to Covid-19. Stories are in up to six different languages.
- Dial a Story (https://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/services/dial-a-story.jsp) – Listen to a story by phone anytime of the day. Available in 16 languages.
- Epic! (https://www.getepic.com/) – Access instantly free digital books for children 12 and under. Subscription required for parents, but a 30-day free trial period is available.
- Free Library of Philadelphia (https://www.freelibrary.org/) – Access free digital books and, if needed, apply for online for a library card.
- International Children’s Digital Library (http://en.childrenslibrary.org/) – NEW Explore this collection of digital of books that represent historical and contemporary books from around the world.
- Open Culture (http://www.openculture.com/2016/08/enter-an-archive-of-6000-historicalchildrens-books-all-digitized-and-free-to-read-online.html) – Discover 6,000 historical children’s books, all digitized and free to read online.
- Unite for Literacy (https://www.uniteforliteracy.com/) – Look through the large collection of books that are either narrated or for the family to read together. The books can be narrated in over 40+ languages.
- Wonderopolis (https://wonderopolis.org/) – Explore the wonder of the day. Each day a new question is posted, and the answer is explored in a number of ways.
- Wow in the World Podcasts (https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510321/wow-in-the-world) – Join two hosts as they guide curious kids and their grown-ups on a journey into the wonders of the world around them.
Additional ILA Resources of museums, zoos, and other fun sites
- Animals & Zoos – Access information about various zoos and learn about animals and view live animal cams. A few examples include:
- Atlantic Zoo Panda Cam (https://zooatlanta.org/panda-cam/)
- Houston Zoo Live Animal Cams (https://www.houstonzoo.org/explore/webcams/)
- San Diego Zoo (https://kids.sandiegozoo.org/videos)
- Wolf Conservation Center (https://nywolf.org/meet-our-wolves/webcams/)
- Cornell Lab Ornithology (https://www.allaboutbirds.org/cams/) – A virtual window into the natural world of birds. Includes live video cams and video highlights of barred owls, red-tailed hawks, and other birds.
- British Museum (https://www.britishmuseum.org/learn/schools/ages-7-11) – Engage and experience the unique collection through resources, sessions and gallery visits.
- Exploratorium (https://www.exploratorium.edu/) – NEW Learn about science, art, and human perception by exploring the huge collection of online experiences and teaching resources.
- How Stuff Works (https://www.howstuffworks.com/) – NEW Allow your curiosity to run wild on this website that answers questions about topics, such as cars, culture, entertainment, science, technology, money, and more.
- NASA Kids Club (https://www.nasa.gov/kidsclub/index.html) – Play games and learn about NASA. Features of this site may or may not work on a phone or tablet.
- National Geographic Kids (https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/) – Learn about fun and interesting topics, including animals, earth day, heroes, homework help, and fun quizzes.
- National Geographic Resources for Families (https://www.nationalgeographic.com/family/in-the-news/coronavirus.html) – Find parenting articles, study tips, science experiments, videos, and more.
- National Park Service Virtual Tours – a few examples:
- Yellowstone National Park (https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/photosmultimedia/virtualtours.htm)
- Gettysburg (https://www.nps.gov/gett/planyourvisit/national-cemetery-virtualtour.htm)
- Klondike Gold Rush (https://www.nps.gov/klgo/learn/photosmultimedia/virtualtours.htm)
- Statue of Liberty (https://www.nps.gov/stli/index.htm)
- P.E. with Joe daily workouts (https://youtu.be/K6r99N3kXME) – Engage in fun, daily live and video-recorded workouts with a fitness trainer.
- Smithsonian Kids (https://www.si.edu/kids) – Find fun stuff for kids, including activities and games and animal cams of zoo animals.
- Spy Museum (https://www.spymuseum.org/education-programs/spy-resources/) – Learn about spy stuff (more for the instructor).