Submitted by Kit Darling
If, like me, you’re getting a little tired of TV reruns and runs to the fridge here are a few links to free things that can help dispel the blues, keep you moving and exercise your brain. There are some that are specifically for kids, other are more general or aimed specifically at seniors.
Kids
The Ontario government has launched it’s online Learn at Home program. https://www.ontario.ca/page/learn-at-home This site has sections for learning support from Kindergarten to Grade 12, covering Math Science and Literacy in grade relevant sections. For example, Math Storytime uses stories as a way of introducing simple math concepts in a fun way. Your local school board has updated information on supports for their students at Hamilton Wentworth District School Board (https://www.hwdsb.on.ca/blog/novel-coronavirus/#UPDATES-FOR-FAMILIES: ), Hamilton District Catholic School Board (https://www.hwcdsb.ca/learningathome/ ), Ontario French School Boards ( https://csviamonde.ca/le-coin-dapprentissage/ ).
TVO Kids (https://www.tvokids.com/ ) lists their program schedule for pre—school and school age kids to Grade 6, as well as resources, games and activities to support learning. They even have a section on Health and daily activities to stay healthy and active broken down by grade level. TVO Mathify ( https://www.tvomathify.com/students ) offers free 1 on 1 online tutoring sessions with Ontario Certified teachers for Grades 6 – 10 and includes resources for parents. TVO MPower (https://www.tvompower.com/) offers over 60 online games that help K-6 students master tough math concepts. Also worth exploring are TVO ILC – on-line courses to earn credits for Grades 9 – 12 (https://openhouse.ilc.org/ ).
All Ages
Hamilton Public Library has a range of resources for adults and kids for learning and fun. (https://www.hpl.ca/at-home ) You can get a library card online – it’s free and you can use that to borrow e-books, read magazine and newspapers on-line and more. Tumblebooks offers online story books with audio, graphic novels for the older kids, e-books from early readers to advanced readers, videos and more.
Links to learning (https://www.hpl.ca/learning-links ) provides access to a number of online databases with articles, research and more and Elementary and Secondary resources.
Kanopy gives you access to critically acclaimed movies, foreign films and documentaries.
Overdrive lets you borrow from a library of 100,000+ e-books and e-audio books.
PressReader allows you to read the full-text of newspapers and magazines from around the world and around the corner including the Hamilton Spectator.
RBDigital lets you choose from hundreds of magazines in English and several other languages in full text – colour, photos and all.
Movies and Music includes Summa has information and videos featuring Canadian and Indigenous voices, Lynda.com with online courses particularly in computer technology, Great Courses features short online video lectures ranging from Finance and Commerce to Food and Wine, Travel and much more. Acorn TV gives you access to old favourites and new series of British TV and Film. Mango Languages. Freegal gives access to HPL’s collection of song and music videos.
Ancestry helps you access genealogical information and build your family tree.
Seniors and soon to be Seniors
McMaster University Optimal Aging Portal covers a range of topics for healthy aging. Have arthritis and miss the gym as much as I do? Want practical and research-based advice on a range of topics? This site covers it all. You can even get their weekly updates delivered to you email in-box. https://www.mcmasteroptimalaging.org/
The Ontario Government includes advice to seniors on how to stay active, falls prevention, etc. https://www.ontario.ca/page/seniors-stay-healthy-and-active#section-2
