Welcome to our series of recommended things to do online! Bookmark this page and check back often…
#1 – Discover Kanopy Kids: educational and engaging videos for children of all ages—as well as the young at heart! Their collection encourages social and emotional development, promotes respect for community diversity, and inspires creativity. Simply get a Boston Public Library ecard (it’s easy and free, just click here!) and then visit the BPL Kanopy page to login and start watching!
#2 – Museums are closed but that can’t stop you from appreciating art! Did you know that you can take virtual tours, and view high-resolution images of renowned museum collections all over the world at Google Arts & Culture? You could spend hours roaming this site!
#3 -The Cleveland Inner City Ballet is launching a FREE Virtual Online Ballet Instruction Program during the next 3 weeks while kids are off from school! Act now, classes start 3/18 at noon!
#4 – While you are missing story time with our own amazing children’s room staff, try Storyline Online, videos of acclaimed actors reading children’s books along with animations and music!
#5 – Join Discovery Education on a mission to inspire the world through aerospace innovation with an exclusive virtual field trip to historic Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas!
#6 – Experience the National Aquarium from home! You can stream live feeds of Blacktip Reef, Pacific Coral Reef and Jellies Invasion exhibits every day by checking out the link below. 🖥️🐠
#7 – Michelin-starred chef Massimo Bottura and his family have started a “Kitchen Quarantine” Cooking Show, giving live cooking lessons daily.
#8 – The Cincinnati Zoo is doing a daily HOME SAFARI – complete with related activities. You can see their past Home Safaris and projects here on their website.
#9 – Ready to explore Yellowstone National Park? You don’t have to wait for a future trip – You can start exploring now by virtually touring some of the main attractions around the park. Learn more about geysers, paint pots and canyons at this link!
#10 – The Metropolitan Opera is hosting “Nightly Met Opera Streams” on its website to audiences worldwide. The presentations will begin at 7:30 p.m. EST each night on the company’s website and will then be available for an additional 20 hours thereafter.
#11 – The great children’s musician Laurie Berkner is performing live every day at 10am on her Facebook page! Perfect opportunity for a much needed wiggle break!
#12 – Remember Schoolhouse Rock? Parents and grandparents, now is the perfect time to introduce these oldies but goodies with your young people! The entire collection is available on YouTube…
# 13 – Explore all that the Smithsonian has to offer – online! Their vast collections and the research surrounding them are available to you on a kaleidoscope of topics—from art to zoology.
#14 – Did you know that most Ipswich High School Yearbooks are digitized and online? Spend some time reliving those glory days! Start exploring at https://bit.ly/2UEQGnN
#15 – The San Diego Zoo has an amazing kids’ website! Animal facts, stories, activities and games, and LIVE animal-cams of many of your favorite animals!
#16 – Tickets to five Russian ballets (without leaving your house!) Here are links to full-length performances of classic ballets by the top Russian companies –the Bolshoi, Mariinsky, and Kirov ballet companies.
#17 – The weather isn’t cooperating but you can still get moving! Check out these great workout videos on OverDrive! You just need your Library card to log in HERE.
#18 – The New England Aquarium is presenting virtual visits, including live presentations, new videos, and activities to try from home. Check out their schedule of past and upcoming presentations HERE.
#19 – Jazz fan? Stream the Complete John Coltrane Playlist: A 94-Hour Journey Through 700+ Transformative Tracks! At Open Culture, a site for free, educational media on the web.
#20 – “Captain Underpants” Writer/Illustrator Dav Pilkey is hosting virtual drawing demonstrations, readings, and more, at his new site, “Dav Pilkey at Home.”
#21 – Dance company Alvin Ailey is moving online. “Ailey for All” will offer full length performances streaming Thursdays, and clips made by dancers at home will be included in a series called #TheShowMustGoOn. And for those who want to learn moves while in isolation, the company will have classes on social media in styles from beginner ballet to samba.
