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Online Materials and Resources for Students and Educators

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These are online materials and resources for students and educators. They do not need a Calabasas library card. We hope you consider getting a library card once we reopen, if you do not have one.

More online services for patrons with library cards or students/staff with ID can be found on the   E-Media and Databases pages.

For Students

6 Kid-Friendly Websites for Free Arts and Crafts Activities for Children  6 Kid-Friendly Websites for Free Arts and Crafts Activities for Children  
 
A News Literacy Challenge Workshop
 Join UMaine's Fogler Library and the Department of Communication and Journalism for Friend, Enemy, or Frenemy? Activities include discerning fact from fiction in popular news stories, de/constructing the purpose and content of the news and examining the role of confirmation bias in how we interact with news media.
  
 
A Trip to Mars

Watch interviews, experts and scientists from NASA.  All the videos will be archived. 

Watch the Perseverance Rover touch down on Mars from Thursday, February 18, 2021.  Q and A's and other events available.  https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/timeline/landing/watch-online/ 

Plus, StarNet with the Space Science Institute has a collection of NASA STEM @ Home resources for students.- http://www.starnetlibraries.org/my-trip-to-mars/

“My Trip to Mars” Book List

  
 

BerkeleyX from the University of California, Berkeley

 Browse free online courses in a variety of subjects. Courses can be audited for free or students can choose to receive a verified certificate for a small fee.  
 
Black History Month Resources
    
 
Book Lists Book Lists for K through 12th grade
  
 
California Science Center Beyond the Center Explore Science Center exhibits from behind the scenes, take in an amazing view, or learn something new from a scientist or astronaut.  
 
California Science Center Virtual Field Trips
 Enjoy access to the California Science Center’s unique exhibits and hands-on science activities and interact with a skilled team of educators.
  
 
Candlewick at Home Activities, discussion guides, educational materials, videos, and more from Candlewick Publishing. Also, included is an e-book titled Coronavirus: A Book for Children.  
 
Child's Play Library Publisher Printable activities from Child's Play Library Publisher.  
 
CoBuild At Home
 Sharing activities for kids and families at home was created by educators and researchers to help youth and their caregivers to spend quality time together building and creating.
  
 
Dave Pilkey at Home
 Have fun and get creative at home with characters from Dog Man, Cat Kid Comic Club, Captain Underpants, and the Dragon series.  Learn how to draw your favorite characters, create your own comic, download a Zoom background, and more.
  
 
Dan Gutman Read-a-loud Author Dan Gutman will be reading a new book and you can follow along on his Facebook Fan Page or webpage.  
 
Disney activity sheets Disney activity sheets with Pigeon
-Mo Willems' Pigeon
  
 
DK Findout Fun facts, quizzes, games, and activities on a wide variety of topics from Publisher Dorling Kindersley.  

 
Dog Man and
Friends
Summer Camp		  Download weekly downloadable fun stuff from Dav Pikley and Scholastic.
 		  
enki library Enki library is the first statewide e-book platform created by libraries for libraries. With over 70,000 e-book titles in this shared collection, enki provides a collection of popular fiction and nonfiction genres including romance, mysteries, travel, technical, crafts, cooking and more.

On phones and tablets, patrons can read through their browser or on a number of e-reader apps available. If on a laptop or computer, you can download the title through Adobe Digital Editions or read through the browser.		  

 
First Partner’s Summer Book Club

The California State Library is working with First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom on the First Partner's Summer Book Club for kids ages 3-12.  More information here.

Each week, from June 7 through August 2, the First Partner or a special guest will read a story, hosted on the Governor's YouTube page. – YouTube link.  Story times are each Monday at 6:30pm, but available to watch through the summer.  It is for preschoolers (ages 3-5), but all are welcome to join.  

  
 
Free Arts and Crafts Resources
 This page has arts, crafts, virtual tours, games, activities and other resources for students.
  
 
Good Night with Dolly  Story times with Dolly Parton's Imagination Library  
 
Graphic Medicine A collection of online COVID-19 comics as well as links to and reviews of graphic novels about the experience of illness.  
 
HarperCollins Harper at Home Story times, read-alouds, activities, fun content, and entertainment.  
 
InvestiGators Featuring a pair of goofy alligator detectives, this website has InvestiGators activity pages, including a maze and drawing lessons.  
 
JobNow, VetNow and Tools for Learners
 Tools for Learners from the JobNow and VetNow database are available to students.  These include test prep and practice exams.

This resource will end on August 24, 2024.

  
 
Library of Congress - Smart Fun for Kids Links, resources and ideas from the Library of Congress' Center for Learning, Literacy and Engagement.  
 
Look to Libraries
  • Tough Conversations Tip Sheet - Consider the strategies of Fred Rogers, of Mr. Rogers Neighborhood, that describe how to talk with children about difficult topics.  
  • Apps, Podcasts, and Activities - Apps, podcasts, and activities to support family well-being during the pandemic.  
  • Books for Older Children - Titles for older children that include nonfiction information about epidemics and ways to manage anxiety.  
  • Books for Young Children - Books to help young children understand germs and how to cope with the feelings they may be having.  
  • Comforting Reads - Times of crises bring times of change. These books were selected to help children going through challenging situations like the death of a loved one, an unexpected move, natural disasters, and more.   
  • COVID-19 Expert Resources Tip Sheet - Connections to information about the virus to help children understand the pandemic.  
  • COVID-19 Resources Tip Sheet - Print and online books, articles, apps, podcasts, and websites for youth and parents/caregivers to provide support during the COVID-19 pandemic.  
  • Online Books for Children - Online books for children that address the COVID-19 pandemic and how to cope with its challenges.  
  • Resources for Parents/Caregivers - Books and articles to help parents and caregivers on a range of topics, from caring for a newborn in the age of COVID-19 to trying to balance parenting and coping with the pandemic.  
  • Tough Topics - The books on these lists are to help inspire conversations with children going through challenging situations like the death of a loved one, an unexpected move, natural disasters, and more.   
  
 
NASCAR Spark Learning The NASCAR Hall of Fame is offering free, engaging lesson plans with project-based learning experiences to do at home.  
 
Neil Gaiman’s Mouse Circus Neil Gaiman has videos and extras on his website for free use.  
 
PBS Kids

Games and activities from PBS

  

 
Project Gutenberg
 Project Gutenberg offers over 36,000 free e-books to download to your PC, Kindle, Android, iOS or other portable device. Choose between ePub, Kindle, HTML and simple text formats.
  
 
Reading with a Ranger
 The Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area Visitor Center at King Gillette Ranch in Calabasas have rangers reading to children on Facebook at different places in the National Park System.
  
 
Save with Stories Celebrities read stories on Instagram to help Save with Stories and No Kid Hungry  
 
Simply E Download the Simple-E app to your smart device to access classic e-books in an epub format and materials from the New York Public Library’s Digital Public Library of America collection.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/simplye/id1046583900?mt=8

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.nypl.simplified.simplye&hl=en_US		  
 
Start with Heart in conjunction with the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District

With schools closed, LVMWD has commissioned the Razzle Bam Boom team to produce some fun and informative videos.

 

  

Storyline Online

 

 The SAG-AFTRA Foundation’s children’s literacy website, Storyline Online, streams videos featuring celebrated actors reading children’s books to help inspire a love of reading in children.  

 
Teaching Books and Book Connections

TBLogo

TeachingBooks for Students - It should automatically log you in as a California resident.  If you come to a sign in page, click on "For Students" on the upper right.  Browse books, listen to read-alongs, find book lists, get homework help and more.

 

bclogoBook Connections for Readers under 18 -  To get a personal account, students can click on the three lines in the upper right, click sign out, click on Readers Under 18, then sign in with their library card. (LVUSD students with the student ID.)  Click on "For Readers" in the upper right.  Discover books that match your interest, get homework help and support.

  
 
Ventura County Library Minecraft Server Available through the VC Library System.  This server is a fun opportunity for open and collaborative Minecraft building for youth ages 10-17.  For more information, read the link and email vencolib.minecraft@gmail.com.  
 
Wide Open School Wide Open School is a free collection of the best online learning experiences for kids curated by the editors at Common Sense.  
 
Wonderopolis Discover and learn about a variety of subjects from the National Center for Families Learning.
  

 

For Educators

Authors and Publishers have given permission for free use during this health crisis. Please be thoughtful about copyright and check the publishers’ websites for guidance.

A News Literacy Challenge Workshop
 Join UMaine's Fogler Library and the Department of Communication and Journalism for Friend, Enemy, or Frenemy? Activities include discerning fact from fiction in popular news stories, de/constructing the purpose and content of the news and examining the role of confirmation bias in how we interact with news media.
Black History Month Resources
  
California Science Center Virtual Field Trips Enjoy access to the California Science Center’s unique exhibits and hands-on science activities and interact with a skilled team of educators.
Diamond Comics
 Lesson Plans for graphic novels from Diamond Comics
Discovery Education Virtual Field Trips
 These virtual events let educators take students to amazing places and give them experiences, without leaving the classroom.
Free Arts and Crafts Resources
 This page has arts, crafts, virtual tours, games, activities and other resources for students.
Graphic Medicine
 A collection of online COVID-19 comics as well as links to and reviews of graphic novels about the experience of illness.
HarperCollins Harper at Home
 Story times, read-alouds, activities, fun content, and entertainment.
JobNow, VetNow and Tools for Learners
 Tools for Learners from the JobNow and VetNow database are available to students.  This includes test prep and practice exams.

This resource will end on August 24, 2024.
PBS At-Home Learning
 Programming and resources for at-home learning
Peer 2 Peer University
 This online network has learning circles and study groups for people who want to take online classes together. 
Penguin Classroom (from Penguin Random House)
 Penguin Classroom have free educator and discussion guides, downloadable activities, and more
Neil Gaiman’s Mouse Circus
 Neil Gaiman has videos and extras on his website for free use.
Peanuts Snoopy and the gang have an indoor classroom available with lesson plans and activities.

Sesame Street in Communities

There are multi-media tools to help kids and families enrich and expand their knowledge. Resources include teaching early math and literacy concepts, to encouraging families to eat nutritious foods, to serious topics such as divorce and food insecurity.

  Sesame Street Caring- Resources for help during stressful times.
  Other Sesame Street resources – There are over 110 free Sesame Street eBooks are now available on all major platforms, including Apple Books, Barnes & Noble Nook, Google Play and others.

Teaching Books and Book Connections
 TBLogoTeachingBooks for Educators – Click on Educators and Adults. Type in your work email.  Click sign in, then fill out the form for an Educator Login Registration, then click on Continue Educator Login.  Click on "For Educators" in the upper right.   Your Book Connections log in will work if you already signed up.

You can then share resources and access with students, create custom reading lists, save custom lesson plans, subscribe to newsletters for support and ideas.  Also, find materials that support your literacy instruction, virtual teaching ideas, book lists and more. 


bclogoBook Connections for Professionals, such as librarians, teachers and other educators - To get a personal account, educators can click on the three lines in the upper right, click sign out, then click on Professionals and Adults. Type in your work email.  Click sign in, then fill out the form for a Professional Login Registration, then click on Continue Professional Login.  Click on "For Professionals" in the upper right.  Your TeachingBooks log in will work if you already signed up. 

You can then share resources and access with students, create custom reading lists, save custom lesson plans, subscribe to newsletters for support and integration ideas.  Also, you can get information on materials to the children's and young adult books to use for book clubs, readers advisory, homework support.
What Do We Do All Day
 Unplugged ways to connect for kids through reading, playing and learning activities.