Virtual Backpack: State & National Resources
Nebraska Resources
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Living Room LearningTune in every Tues/Thur afternoons at 2:00 PM CT to participate in a hands-on virtually guided activity where youth will learn about healthy living, STEM and more! Sessions are recorded.
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Tune in weekly Mon/Wed at 2:00 PM CT for a problem to solve--Monday a challenge is introduced and exciting twists and turns are given on Wednesday! Explore entrepreneurship, healthy living, STEM and more!
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Visit their website for additional opportunities and activity guides for at-home learning!
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Long time BSB partner Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium is a world class zoo located right here in Nebraska. The Zoo at Home is a great way to engage students in open ended exploration of the natural world.
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Enjoy a variety of digital and interactive activities you can do at home with your family with basic supplies--virtual planetarium tours, Facebook learning sessions and hands-on science activities.
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Low-cost, high-quality professional development for afterschool professionals to create positive STEM learning experiences with youth. Visit their website for staff development guides, self-directed web lessons and webinars.
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Nebraska non-profit organization that provides youth with free afterschool and summer programming focused on healthy lifestyle choices through the introduction of soccer & fitness. https://www.future-kids.net/
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Adaptable for a variety of ages, Nebraska Game and Parks' free lesson plans cover everything from birds to pollinators to soil and worms.
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Visit the online Nebraska Bird Library to find information about any Nebraska bird--browse through the bird species profiles or search to find particular birds.
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Use these fun online lesson plans and activities from the Nebraska Bird Partnership to teach children about birds, including birdwatching basics, habitat and at-risk species.
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The Lincoln Children's Zoo Keeper Corner, a new Facebook daily video series, is available for free along with a fun activity. Zookeepers will talk about the animals they take care of giving viewers the opportunity to connect with and learn about animals.
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Experience virtual industry tours that provide a unique opportunity to get a glimpse inside Nebraska-based industries without leaving your home or classroom.
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Visit the SAC & Aerospace Museum's Education Creation page and find activities, such as making a sun dial and foam plate glider, to do right at home!
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Use this time at home to design your own trip to explore our own great state – from natural heritage, native peoples, pioneer past, the great outdoors and rural & urband communities, there is so much to explore and learn! Also, check out their 10 virtual experiences for the entire family.
National Resources
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Wonderopolis is a free product of National Center for Families Learning, a BSB partner. Each day, explore an intriguing question about the world around us and complete activities that reinforce the content learned while building background knowledge and vocabulary skills.
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Online learning resources that can be used at home during the COVID-19 school closures.
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The Exploratorium is one of the most engaging, hands-on science museums and center of exploration and creativity in the nation. The Tinkering Studio offers free, hands-on experiences for youth to work on at home. Cardboard Automata is just one activity that you can enjoy.
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Teachers trust GoNoodle to help their students stay active, focused, and calm while infusing good energy into their classrooms. GoNoodle: Good Energy at Home provides ways for kids and families to move and learn together. Our kids love it and we think yours will too!
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PBS KIDS offers a daily activity newsletter for families, educational videos and games as well as educational programming for kids ages 2-8.
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A comprehensive set of k-12 learning tools that can turbo charge any home learning environment. Find videos, lesson plans, and activities that support learning at home.
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Let your creativity take flight with engineering activities, online games and even videos to get you moving and training like an astronaut! Activities are grouped for students K-4th, 5th-8th and 9th-12th grades.
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A curated collection for curious learners in grades K–2nd, 3rd-5th and 6th-12th. With minimal supplies needed, these activities will keep learners’ minds engaged in social studies, geography, science, and more.
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Join the Explorer Classroom every weekday at 2:00 p.m. EDT--the live video events connect students with National Geographic Explorers across all seven continents to bring exploration to life.
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Enjoy activity guides and projects available for children of all ages to learn about environmental education.
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VentureLab helps kids develop the entrepreneurial mindset they need to succeed in business – and in life. Check out their Remote Learning Series and downloadable workbooks for practical, engaging, thought-provoking activities.
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YEI has compiled a number of distance learning resources for entrepreneurship education including curriculum, virtual guest speakers, online games and virtual job shadowing.
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Scholastic Learn at Home has day-by-day projects for students in Pre-K through 9th grades to keep them reading, thinking and growing.
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Virtual Park Tours & At-Home Activities. National parks offer extraordinary experiences, but it’s not always possible to get to a park in person. Fortunately you can connect with national parks from a distance through digital opportunities and activities to do in your own home or neighborhood. There are enough activities to keep you occupied for days!