Here’s a list of fun things to do, or information to have on hand, while the library is closed and so many of us are staying home. Newest info will be at the top, so check back often! Have a link that you’d like to share with everyone? Send it to: askus@woodbridgetownlibrary.org
Make Your Place in History, Even at Home
Booklist Magazine offers a list of suggestions to keep busy at home, and all have a historical theme. From making a time capsule to recording oral histories to helping digitize papers for the Library of Congress–everything can be done at home, and some with very little equipment!
Family Math Enrichment Activities
Building, sorting, noticing similarities and differences get kids actively learning. Numbers and shapes are all around us! There are lots of math opportunities indoors, but the good news is…it’s spring. Step outside, take a math walk, and see the world through a child’s eyes. Here are some resources to get you started!
- Math at Home Toolkit from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
- teach@home (Daily Lessons & Activities for K-5 Students) from hand2mind
- 10 Playful Math Activities from Parents Magazine
- 25 Fun Maths Activities and Games for Kids from Third Space Learning
Even More Virtual Tours and Experiences in Connecticut
Look at this long, ever-growing list of things to do and experience from home from CTVisit.org (Connecticut Office of Tourism). There’s everything from animals to art to concerts to mindfulness–and things for all ages to enjoy!
Free Live Family Concerts with Tom Chapin
Folk singer Papa Tom Chapin is in the house! And he’s pretty sure you’re in your house too. Let’s get together and sing! Free live family concerts weekdays at 11 AM Eastern time. You bring your kids and grandkids, and he’ll do the same. Find him on Facebook or Instagram to see him live. If you miss the live feed, or want to watch again, search YouTube for “Mornings with Papa Tom.”
BookPage Available Online
While you can’t come to the library to pick up April’s issue (which has been delayed anyway), we can bring it to you! All of the 2020 issues have been digitized, so you can catch up if you missed previous months and find great new reads. No sign up or log in needed.
Marvel announces free access to popular comics
To access the free issues, download the Marvel Unlimited app via the Apple or Google Play app stores and select the free comics option. No credit card information or trial subscription required to read from the list above. New titles will be added monthly.
While Baseball is on Delay…
Brush up on your baseball history with Ken Burns’ well-known documentary, Baseball. All NINE parts are available to stream via PBS for free!
Introducing TumbleBooks!
TumbleBooks, a world leader in online children’s book databases, announced that it will make its family of online libraries available for free to all public libraries through the summer! Several databases are available for all ages (even adults!) and there’s a TumbleMath too! No library cards or passwords needed. These links take you directly to each collection.
TumbleBookLibrary – K-6 children’s ebook database
TumbleMath – K-6 math ebook database
TeenBookCloud – grade 7-12 ebook database
AudioBookCloud – all ages audio book database
RomanceBookCloud – a huge collection of steamy Romance novels for the older crowd!
Ancestry.com
The Library’s subscription to Ancestry is NOW available at home with your Woodbridge library card! This is only until we are back in the building, so take full advantage of being able to do your genealogical research anywhere as long as you have internet access and your Woodbridge library card.
Instructions:
1. Log in to your account on the catalog page: https://wd.catalog.lionlibraries.org
2. Go to the “help” area on the left side of the page. A little menu will pop out, and Ancestry Library will be at the bottom.
3. Click on that, and go!
Read & Learn with Simon Kids
Simon & Schuster has many curriculum guides and reading group guides for educators, as well as kid-friendly activities, that may prove useful to you at this time. Visit their Read & Learn with Simon Kids website for links to everything they have to offer!
You Can Ride the Universal Studios “Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey” Ride From Your Couch
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is the must-experience ride inside of Hogwarts castle at Universal Studios. A video from UndercoverTourist.com takes you through the entire experience–even waiting in line, which is arguably one of the best parts as you get to check out the halls of Hogwarts.
NFB launches Indigenous Cinema website with more than 200 films to stream
The National Film Board of Canada has launched Indigenous Cinema, a website that offers free streaming of more than 200 titles by Indigenous directors. The website is part of the NFB’s three-year Indigenous Action Plan and will also feature playlists and filmmaker biographies.
National Emergency Library to Provide Digitized Books to Students and the Public
To address our unprecedented global and immediate need for access to reading and research materials, as of March 24, 2020, the Internet Archive will suspend waitlists for the 1.4 million (and growing) books in their lending library by creating a National Emergency Library to serve the nation’s displaced learners. Just follow the link and create an account for free access to their collection!
STEAM Ahead @ Home
In response to the needs of library staff and their patrons who are practicing self-isolation and social distancing during the Coronavirus Pandemic, STAR Net is developing a special collection of resources through a new “STEAM Ahead @ Home” initiative. You can see free webinars and more on their YouTube and here’s a fun activity families can try at home: Daylight in a Bottle
Getting a Library Card
If you live in Woodbridge and do not already have a card, please send an email to askus@woodbridgetownlibrary.org. Include your full name, address, phone number, and email address. We will provide you with a barcode via email, so that you may access our digital resources. Your physical card will be mailed to you via USPS.
Creativebug
Creativebug is offering 50 free classes to take over the next 30 days!!! No credit card required, as with so many other trial periods. Learn something new or take that old hobby back up while you’re stuck at home or thrown off your usual routine. Start your trial here!
Care for Your Coronavirus Anxiety
Check out virusanxiety.com, brought to you by Shine and Mental Health America. The site has resources for anxiety and your mental health in a global climate of uncertainty.
Visit a Museum, Without Leaving Your Couch
From Travel & Leisure, here are 12 museums offering virtual tours, including the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam.
Accessing digital materials at home
hoopla circulations have increased to TEN per month! hoopla gives you access to ebooks, audiobooks, comics, music, movies, and more without any holds lists
OverDrive/Libby provides ebook and audiobooks
RBDigital is your gateway to magazines
Kanopy offers streaming movies and TV shows, with special programming for children
Complete the Census!
https://my2020census.gov/
Register to vote
https://portal.ct.gov/SOTS/Election-Services/Register-to-Vote/Voter-Registration-Application-English-and-Spanish
Storyline
https://www.storylineonline.net/
Well-known celebrities reading children’s picture books. Click on the link of the selected title, then choose your platform (Vimeo, YouTube, etc.).
Potential COVID-19 Treatments
An article from PharmacyChecker.com that highlights the safety issues surrounding what you may have heard in the media.