Dear Parents/Guardians,
As we navigate these uncharted waters together, there are so many questions that are unanswered. We appreciate your patience with us as we continue planning what is best for our district and your children. We understand the closure of schools puts many of you in hardship, and we ask for your understanding and ability to give grace to all during this unprecedented time.
In accordance with the Iowa Department of Education guidance, online learning options cannot be required. Therefore, we do not plan to provide online educational services (as this would continue to widen the learning gap for those unable to participate) but instead will provide some online resources. While we will not be listing online resources your child may have already had access to during the regular school year, students are not prohibited from using those at home. We will not be sending home any type of “packet/worksheets” as a substitute for our quality learning environment.
We will be providing some suggestions or resource ideas if your children are able to continue learning in this temporary new normal at home. These are ONLY suggestions; it’s okay to just survive and cope together without adding the stress of recreating a school environment at home. With that being said, establishing some sort of daily routine/schedule can be very helpful to children in this uncertain time. Fullest consideration should be given to your family’s health and well-being, so please do not feel pressured to utilize these resources or suggestions if they do not assist your family’s needs.
6th Grade Resources:
Math:
Learn Zillion:
You can pick your grade level and it will provide you with videos that connect to the standards that are taught throughout the curriculum now.
https://learnzillion.com/resources/73936-math-video-lesson-library
Khan Academy offers practice exercises, instructional videos, and a personalized learning dashboard that empower learners to study at their own pace. When you search up a topic, you can choose one of the options provided to you and it will provide a long list of topics for your child to work through that include videos, practice problems, and even articles for them to read and gain the understanding/knowledge needed to master these skills.
https://www.khanacademy.org/
Variety of Geometry Skills
https://www.onlinemathlearning.com/grade-6.html#Geometry
Math games:
https://www.funbrain.com/math-zone
https://www.mathplayground.com/
https://www.onlinemathlearning.com/math-games.html
https://www.coolmathgames.com/
English/Language Arts:
Reading support:
- Great list of classic short stories to read and discuss: https://www.weareteachers.com/best-short-stories-for-middle-schoolers/
- Free ebooks, audiobooks, online magazines for 30 days: https://blog.scribd.com/home/2020/3/17/a-letter-from-the-scribd-ceo-to-our-community And suggested books for kids on the website: https://blog.scribd.com/home/2020/3/16/keeping-kids-entertained-at-home-books-by-reading-level
- Free Children’s audiobooks from audible.com: audible.com
- Free grade level, standards-based reading practice: https://www.commonlit.org/en/parents_and_guardians
- Ebooks and audiobooks through the West Branch Public Library: http://wbpl.org/using-the-library/ebooksbridges/
- Scholastic Learn at Home: https://classroommagazines.scholastic.com/support/learnathome.html
Writing support:
- Journal Prompts for Shorter Writing Practice- You could start a Google Doc, Google Slideshow, or find a notebook/piece of paper and continue adding to it with new prompts from this list linked below. You don’t have to use these prompts either if you’d rather simply journal about your day. https://www.journalbuddies.com/journal_prompts__journal_topics/writing-prompts-for-middle-school-kids/
- Creative Writing Story Starters for Longer Writing Practice- This website gives you a picture and lots of prompts or questions to help you develop a story. You can switch/refresh through the prompts until you find you that is interesting to you! You can start a Google Doc or grab a notebook from home and start writing. https://www.teachstarter.com/us/widget/visual-writing-prompts-us/
Skill development:
- Reading/Word/Grammar games:
https://www.funbrain.com/grade/6
https://www.pogo.com/games/boggle?sl=2
http://www.wordgametime.com/grade/6th-grade
- Grammar Skills review lessons: https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/grammar
- Grammar Worksheets/Practice: https://www.k12reader.com/grade-level/grades-k-12/grades-6-8/ https://www.ereadingworksheets.com/languageartsworksheets/free-grammar-worksheets/
- Podcasts to practice your listening skills. Try doodling or sketching as you listen to help build stronger connections.https://www.weareteachers.com/best-podcasts-for-kids/
Science:
- Khan Academy offers practice exercises, instructional videos, and a personalized learning dashboard that empower learners to study at their own pace. When you search up a topic, you can choose one of the options provided to you and it will provide a long list of topics for your child to work through that include videos, practice problems, and even articles for them to read and gain the understanding/knowledge needed to master these skills.
https://www.khanacademy.org/ - This site is designed to provide middle school science students access to materials and resources to learn and be educated on various areas of science.
http://www.nclark.net/ - Interactive site designed for students to do experiments, projects, learn facts, and lessons on various science subjects.
http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/gamesactivities/healthgrowth.html - Site with focus on life science study.
https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/subjects/science/life-science/ - Site focusing on the living cell
www.cellsalive.com - Site to focus on life science study
https://byjus.com/biology/cells/ - Understanding our Senses
Science begins with using our senses to observe and try to understand the world around us. - What Does It Mean to Be Colorblind?
https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/what-does-it-mean-to-be-colorblind - Body Awareness through your Senses
https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/beyond_the_five_senses_body_awareness - Direction though your senses
https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/beyond_the_five_senses_direction - Dominant eye and left or right handed
https://www.canr.msu.edu/uploads/resources/pdfs/4h1750_teaching_science_are_you_left-right_handed_aa.pdf - Scholastic Science World Magazine Issues (sign up in Google)
https://digital.scholastic.com
(If needed) password: cubpot1129
Social Studies:
- Virtual Field Trips
Explore the world from home! There are many different “trips” you can take, but here are some suggested ones.- https://www.thechinaguide.com/destination/great-wall-of-china
- https://www.natureworkseverywhere.org/resources/filter/type/virtual-field-trip-video/
- http://naturalhistory.si.edu/visit/virtual-tour
- https://www.virtualfieldtrips.org/video-library/videos-by-curriculum-area/social-studies-videos/
- https://www.360cities.net/
- Weekly Readings & Activities
- Social Studies Games
- http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/Geography.htm
- https://www.primarygames.com/social_studies.php
- https://www.funbrain.com/games/where-is-that
- Learn 360 has many games but you need our district login information to play. Username: 6930wbms Password: aea10 https://learn360.infobase.com/p_Search.aspx?rd=a&sortby=Copyright_Date&sliderID=350&cType=242
Art:
- Art for Kids Hub (how to draw videos): https://www.youtube.com/user/ArtforKidsHub
- Daily Live Art Activities: https://www.mcharpermanor.com/post/supply-list-for-our-first-week-of-projects
- Cassie Stephens: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdEo82iK2lzwMqCxBuQmmrQ
- Make an Art Studio: https://mindfulartstudio.com/make-an-art-studio-at-home/
- Bullet Journaling: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcR1TUaD8Zn6P6O8hOA-xYA
- Watercolor Tutorials: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEYTvzdLrD1bx1NTOO4nwpA
- Drawing at Home Prompts: https://drive.google.com/file/d/11ddBGfXA-x8DKiugnyaZCZFIaRspU5wu/view
- How to Draw/ Free Daily Live Webcasts: https://markkistler.com/?fbclid=IwAR37pyxPHEoYo1NYOcbMBnlpFKacPFIc2hH67dMg83CxvycKsITEDS7IAZk
- Jarrett J. Krosoczka—author & illustrator tutorial videos: https://www.youtube.com/studiojjk?fbclid=IwAR3X30tC2QXL2iX0sn-lq0mbLTZFTDQOWJ802oKb4q6CZpis-xC23FFqSjU
- Jesion’s Artroom (drawing ideas): http://msjesionart.weebly.com/
- Art with Mati and Dada videos: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCR2NlUr0yPuqRxZN_7ItHog
- Louvre Museum Online Tours: https://www.louvre.fr/en/visites-en-ligne
- Scratch Animations: https://scratch.mit.edu/
- National Gallery of Art Ngakids Art Zone: Many opportunities to create and interact with art here. From abstracts to collages, students will definitely find ways to unleash their creativity. http://www.nga.gov/content/ngaweb/education/kids.html
- Psykopaint: Now your students can take on the role of an Impressionist through the use of the digital photography painting tool. Simply choose your brush and paint right over the image to see the colors blend and become more artistic. It’s a little tricky to figure out, but great once you get going. http://www.psykopaint.com/
- Tate Kids Games: Two great interactives are available here for student creativity. The Street Art graffiti creator allows students to paint right on the virtual wall while the Tate Paint is a virtual easel. http://kids.tate.org.uk/games/
- The Graffiti Creator: This is a graffiti text paint tool where students can type in a name or phrase and create unique logos and images. Unfortunately, ads are a small problem, but the tool offers many choices for student creativity. http://graffiticreator.net/
- Virtual Lite-Brite: Bring back those days of yesteryear and create your own virtual Lite-Brite mosaic. A print screen will be required to save the image http://www.happydaric.com/lite-brite/index.html
- Make Beliefs Comix: Create digital comics. http://www.makebeliefscomix.com/
PE/Wellness:
- Be mindful of your physical and mental health during the days to come. Try to get 30 minutes of cardio completed each day. Utilize 2 or 3 mindful activities a week. Below are some resources you can choose from in staying mentally and physically healthy during this time at home.
- Great ideas,games,contests,challenges and activities for your mind and body.
https://newsletters.spinutech.com/t/ViewEmail/r/25DE1C8F2D5679B42540EF23F30FEDED/6D02017F3B41E1C51726EA5DA1051479 - Cardio Hiit workouts to choose from- Great youtube videos to follow while stuck at home or unable to get outside.
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=hiit+workout+at+home - Yoga videos to follow,from a Basic 10 minutes or full body yoga for 30 minutes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3joHNOOyYY -10 mins gentle yoga
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g13nVd7OLYs – 30 mins full session yoga - Deep Breathing and Meditation for teens.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RWNqtI8w58 – Meditation for teens
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnXrXX0m-NE – Deep Breathing - More Mindful activities to view and try.
https://kidshealth.org/Nemours/en/teens/mindful-exercises.html
https://shifts.coach/mindfulness/activities-for-teens/
Music:
Music FUN!
- https://musiclab.chromeexperiments.com/Experiments
No login required - http://www.isleoftune.com
Requires Adobe Flash player
Music sequencing game
Can share sequence/compositions with others - https://tonematrix.audiotool.com
Simple game for creating melodies – no adjustments for tempo, volume, etc. - https://splice.com/sounds/beatmaker
Music sequencing game
No login required
Can share sequence/compositions with others - http://www.incredibox.com/
Requires Adobe Flash player
Music game
Students can unlock levels and features - www.musictheory.net
No login required
Lessons and practice - http://www.rhythmrandomizer.com/
No login required
Creates random sequence of notes, great for rhythmic sight-reading - https://musicards.net/
No login required
Practice identifying music symbols and terminology
Enrichment/Extension:
- The Kid Should See This- smart videos for curious minds of all ages https://thekidshouldseethis.com/
- Atlas Obscura- The definitive guide to the world’s hidden wonders https://www.atlasobscura.com/
- GeoGuesser- Let’s explore the world https://www.geoguessr.com/
- Free Rice – many categories to choose from at different levels https://freerice.com/
- Cross curricular enrichment activities https://www.teachervision.com/extension-enrichment-activities, https://www.mensaforkids.org/,or https://www.freethinkinggames.com/free_critical_thinking_games.html
- Free Brain Games: https://www.exquisite-minds.com/best-thinking-games-online/
- The Kid Story- Multi-Subject Websites for different levels http://www.thekidstory.com/websites-for-gifted-children/
- pbslearningmedia.org
Social/Emotional:
- TedEd –The beautiful balance between courage and fear – Cara E. Yar Khan
- Everfi -Compassion Project – Class code – eff41d7a
- TED ED- Why it’s so hard to make healthy decisions – David Asch
- TED ED- The profound power of an authentic apology – Eve Ensler
- Clear Fear App
- Smiling Mind App
- Headspace
- Breathe For Change
- Mind Yeti
- 45 Things To Do When You Are Stressed
- Mindfulness
Other ideas:
ENTERTAINING BRAIN GAMES FOR KIDS
BRAIN GAMES: National Geographic Kids
Digital Literacy and E-Books
If students want to practice their keyboarding, we have used typing.com in the past. Any practice with both hands on keyboard and checking finger position is good! Typing.com also has games that allow students to practice using a keyboard.
For practice with Digital Literacy, I’d recommend the resources at Common Sense Media, specifically the Digital Compass game (https://www.digitalcompass.org). Lots of ways to practice being good digital citizens!
EBooks
We have eBooks available through the library catalog (wbcs.follettdestiny.com) Click on middle and then do a search of the catalog for “ebook”
Books that are part of our library collection have this symbol – the E is blue, the box is white.
To download, you will need a login and password. Login is the same as the first part of your email address, before the @ symbol. Password is initially set to “password” and you can change it. If you can’t get in, please email Mrs. Olson (jolson@west-branch.k12.ia.us)
We also have eBooks in the library catalog that are from MackinVia. They are indicated with a blue box and a white E. Those can be accessed through the library catalog by using a MackinVia backpack. Everyone should have one set up. When the MackinVia page pops up, search for West Branch Middle School. Your username is the same as above (the part of your email address before the @) and your password is initially set to “password”. You can change it. Useful video: https://help.mackinvia.com/video/
We will continue to communicate as we get additional information and we look forward to seeing students in school on April 13th. Continue to practice patience and resiliency for each other during this time.
Thank you,
6th Grade Teachers and Colleagues