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Free Online Resources
*Note: This list is no longer updated. 4/6/2023
Books, Stories, & Education
Hour of Code: Free Coding Resources (great for tweens and teens)
Science Experiments You Can Do At Home
Audible Books for Kids: Free Streaming of thousands of stories.
The Big List of Children’s Authors Doing Online Read Alouds & Activities
Pete the Cat Virtual Storytime - 11am Central, Weekdays
Zooniverse - Volunteer-powered research. You can choose any number of projects from lion sightings to digitizing anti-slavery documents to helping astronomers identify galaxies.
Science Center of Iowa & Blank IMAX Dome Theater
Entertainment
Harry Potter at Home - "...magical craft videos (teach your friends how to draw a Niffler!), fun articles, quizzes, puzzles and plenty more for first-time readers, as well as those already familiar with the wizarding world."
Virtual Theme Park Rides - Including Hogwarts Express (Universal Orlando Resort), Splash Mountain (Disneyland), and Frozen Ever After (Walt Disney World).
Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
Explore.org - Live cameras on wildlife in forests & oceans, and zen cams (peaceful nature cams on things like the Aurora Borealis)
Lord of the Rings and Dungeons & Dragons Online - free to all players until April 30. Along with the free content, Standing Stone will also be hosting extra events in both games.
Escape from Wonderland Digital Escape Room
Virtual Exhibits & Tours
Harry Potter: A History of Magic, The British Library, London, UK
Machu Picchu, Peru
Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Brooklyn, New York
American Museum of Natural History, New York
Musée du Louvre, Paris
British Museum, London
Guggenheim Museum, New York
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Musée d’Orsay, Paris
National Museum of Modern & Contemporary Art, Korea
Pergamon Museum, Berlin
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam
The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles
Ufizzi Gallery, Florence
National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico City
Songs, Play, & Exercise
HyVee KidsFit - 30 Days of Play
Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden - Join them on Facebook for virtual meditation & yoga in the garden
Cleveland Inner City Ballet Virtual Instruction Program for kids
At-Home Play & Activity Ideas for Ages 0-3
Jim Gill - Music Play for all young Children
Songs and Music with The Laurie Berkner Band
Miscellaneous
7 Things To Do If You Can’t Leave The House
Free Online Events and Activities for Kids at Home - Common Sense Media