125 Activities

OregonASK

OregonASK is a collaboration of public and private organizations and community members which seek to address common issues and concerns across all expanded learning areas.

Through 15 exhilarating STEM activities, youth embark on an adventure to explore the mechanics of transportation and vehicles! They will be invited to envision, design, and build inventions that can improve the quality of life in their communities.

Activities

Cell City

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

45m

•

Grades 6 - 12

Cell City

By OregonASK

6 - 12

45m

Students learn about cells, including their functions in the body, by building models for themselves!

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Cell City

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

45m•Grades 6 - 12

Building a Mini Greenhouse

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

•

Grades 6 - 8

Building a Mini Greenhouse

By OregonASK

6 - 8

Students make a mini greenhouse and learn about how they work.

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Building a Mini Greenhouse

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

1h•Grades 6 - 8

Building Canoes

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

1h 15m

•

Grades 6 - 12

Building Canoes

By OregonASK

6 - 12

1h 15m

In this activity, students learn to engineer a canoe out of popsicle sticks and other everyday materials.

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Building Canoes

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

1h 15m•Grades 6 - 12

Clay Pinch Pot

Literacy • Arts

•

Grades K - 5

Clay Pinch Pot

By OregonASK

K - 5

Students learn how to sculpt clay into Pinch Pots. Pinch Pots have a multi purposes and students find out what those are.

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Clay Pinch Pot

Literacy • Arts

1h•Grades K - 5

S.INQ Up Space Systems Part 2

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

•

Grades 6 - 8

S.INQ Up Space Systems Part 2

By OregonASK

6 - 8

Students learn what constellations are and how they work, and how to find them.

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S.INQ Up Space Systems Part 2

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

1h•Grades 6 - 8

Invent an Outdoor Game

Health and Wellness • Leadership and Teamwork

•

Grades 6 - 8

Invent an Outdoor Game

By OregonASK

6 - 8

Students create their own outdoor game with a partner.

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Invent an Outdoor Game

Health and Wellness • Leadership and Teamwork

1h•Grades 6 - 8

Simple Clay Animal Figures

Social and Emotional Awareness • Arts

30m

•

Grades 3 - 12

Simple Clay Animal Figures

By OregonASK

3 - 12

30m

Students create animal figures by using clay and their hands. Also, students learn about the symbolic meanings that animals bring to all cultures, especially the Mayans.

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Simple Clay Animal Figures

Social and Emotional Awareness • Arts

30m•Grades 3 - 12

Model Eardrum Experiment

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

•

Grades 6 - 8

Model Eardrum Experiment

By OregonASK

6 - 8

Students make a model eardrum and see how sound travels through air.

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Model Eardrum Experiment

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

1h•Grades 6 - 8

S.INQ Up Careers Engineering & Manufacturing Part 2

Career and Future Readiness • STEM

30m

•

Grades 6 - 8

S.INQ Up Careers Engineering & Manufacturing Part 2

By OregonASK

6 - 8

30m

Students think about skills that go into manufacturing. Students work in teams to design, construct, test, and redesign an assembly line to manufacture a product as quickly and efficiently as possible to meet the quality control criteria.

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S.INQ Up Careers Engineering & Manufacturing Part 2

Career and Future Readiness • STEM

30m•Grades 6 - 8

Gumdrop Structure Challenge

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

•

Grades 6 - 8

Gumdrop Structure Challenge

By OregonASK

6 - 8

Students use gumdrops to design a structure that can hold the weight of a textbook. Students engage in a fun activity, expanding their knowledge and creativity.

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Gumdrop Structure Challenge

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

1h•Grades 6 - 8

S.INQ Invisible Forces Gravity & Circuits

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

30m

•

Grades 3 - 8

S.INQ Invisible Forces Gravity & Circuits

By OregonASK

3 - 8

30m

Students will use knowledge about conductive materials to build a circuit using at least 3 different materials.

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S.INQ Invisible Forces Gravity & Circuits

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

30m•Grades 3 - 8

Engineering Cars

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

1h 10m

•

Grades 6 - 8

Engineering Cars

By OregonASK

6 - 8

1h 10m

Students brainstorm and create their own car designs from recycled materials. Students can compete in a friendly competition to see how fast their car can go.

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Engineering Cars

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

1h 10m•Grades 6 - 8

Featured in These Collections

23 Days of Fun, Healthy and Creative Activities for December

Social and Emotional Awareness • Health and Wellness

250 Items

•

All Grades

Collection

23 Days of Fun, Healthy and Creative Activities for December

All Grades

With winter afoot, during a school year like no other, are you looking for fun, healthy and restorative activities you can share with children and youth?

23 Days of Fun, Healthy and Creative Activities for December offers just that.

From “Action Packed ABC” for younger children and “Dance, Dance, Dance” for middle school kids, to “Mindfulness” for teens, this weekday December calendar shares art, music, yoga, social emotional learning, and indoor and outdoor projects and games to help kids feel better.

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23 Days of Fun, Healthy and Creative Activities for December

Social and Emotional Awareness • Health and Wellness

All Grades

COLLECTION

American History: Elevating Black Voices (K-2)

Leadership and Teamwork • Arts • STEM • Literacy • History and Society

130 Items

•

Grades K - 2

Collection

American History: Elevating Black Voices (K-2)

K - 2

The American History: Elevating Black Voices Collection is a weekly, hands-on playlist that helps young learners explore how stories, creativity, problem-solving, and leadership shape communities and American history. Through engaging texts, Innovator Trading Cards, and theme-based activities in literacy, STEM, the arts, and teamwork, students discover lesser-known Black Americans whose voices and ideas have made a lasting impact. Each week introduces a new theme that strengthens early reading skills, creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking, while giving learners multiple opportunities to apply their understanding through play and exploration. Designed for easy facilitation and joyful learning, this playlist shows that innovation takes many forms—and that every voice matters.

For a consistent learning experience, it is recommended that this collection be completed in the sequence outlined below. This allows learners to apply the weekly themes from the Innovator Playing Cards through supplementary activities.

Week 1: Storytelling and Voice

Designing Innovator Trading Cards (K-2)

New End to the Story

Round Robin Storytelling

Animal Interviews

Week 2: Inventing and Problem Solving

Designing Innovator Trading Cards (K-2)

Balanced Mobile

Sound on a String

Mechanical Engineering Tops

Week 3: Creativity and Expression

Designing Innovator Trading Cards (K-2)

Masquerade Masks

Music and Rhythm (Grades k-2)

Creative Play Design Challenges

Week 4: Leadership and Change

Designing Innovator Trading Cards (K-2)

Playing Innovator Trading Cards (K-2)

People Bingo

What is a Quality

Discover Collection

American History: Elevating Black Voices (K-2)

Leadership and Teamwork • Arts • STEM • Literacy • History and Society

Grades K - 2

COLLECTION

American History: Elevating Black Voices (3-5)

Leadership and Teamwork • Literacy • History and Society

130 Items

•

Grades 3 - 5

Collection

American History: Elevating Black Voices (3-5)

3 - 5

This Collection is a weekly, hands-on playlist that helps learners explore how stories, creativity, problem-solving, and leadership shape communities and American history. Through engaging texts, Innovator Trading Cards, and theme-based activities in literacy, STEM, the arts, and collaboration, students discover lesser-known Black Americans whose voices and ideas have made a lasting impact. Each week introduces a new theme that strengthens reading comprehension, evidence-based thinking, creativity, and teamwork, while giving learners multiple opportunities to apply their understanding through discussion, design, and gameplay. Designed for flexible facilitation and active learning, this playlist shows that innovation happens in many ways—and that elevating diverse voices deepens our understanding of history.

For a consistent learning experience, it is recommended that this collection be completed in the sequence outlined below. This allows learners to apply the weekly themes from the Innovator Playing Cards through supplementary activities.

Week 1: Storytelling and Voice

Designing Innovator Trading Cards (3-5)

Word Detectives

What is that Tone

Rhythm and Language

Week 2: Inventing and Problem Solving

Designing Innovator Trading Cards (3-5)

S.INQ Mechanical Engineering Self Propelled Cars

Arm and Belt Accessories

Engineering an Upgrade (Grades 3-5)

Week 3: Creativity and Expression

Designing Innovator Trading Cards (3-5)

The Animal Spin

Create and Perform a Scene from a Book

Clay Pinch Pot

Week 4: Leadership and Change

Designing Innovator Trading Cards (3-5)

Playing Innovator Trading Cards (3-5)

More Tools Are Better Than One

Build Your Own Obstacle Course

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American History: Elevating Black Voices (3-5)

Leadership and Teamwork • Literacy • History and Society

Grades 3 - 5

COLLECTION

American History: Elevating Black Voices (6-12)

Leadership and Teamwork • History and Society • Literacy

130 Items

•

Grades 6 - 12

Collection

American History: Elevating Black Voices (6-12)

6 - 12

The American History: Elevating Black Voices Collection is a weekly, inquiry-driven playlist that invites learners to examine how storytelling, innovation, creativity, and leadership shape American history and civic life. Through complex texts, Innovator Trading Cards, and theme-based activities across literacy, STEM, the arts, and collaborative problem-solving, students engage with lesser-known Black Americans—whose contributions have influenced systems, culture, and community change. Each week introduces a thematic lens that builds historical analysis, critical reading, argumentation, and interdisciplinary thinking, culminating in a challenge-based game that requires evidence, reasoning, and collaboration. Designed to support meaningful discussion and application, this Collection highlights innovation as a collective process and underscores the power of amplifying voices that shape our shared history.

This collection is designed to have learners apply ideas from the weekly themes introduced through the Innovator Playing Cards with additional related activities; it is recommended to follow this sequence to maintain consistency:

Week 1: Storytelling and Voice

Designing Innovator Trading Cards

What Makes a Good Story?

One Minute Speeches

Erasure Poetry as Resistance

Week 2: Inventing and Problem Solving

Designing Innovator Trading Cards

Cell City

Catapult (Team Building) Game

Build an Extension Arm

Week 3: Creativity and Expression

Designing Innovator Trading Cards

Create a Cardboard Self-Portrait

Improv: Say the Line

How to Look at Dance

Week 4: Leadership and Change

Designing Innovator Trading Cards

Playing Innovator Trading Cards

Analyzing and Constructing Timelines of Racial (In)justice

Dream Team

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American History: Elevating Black Voices (6-12)

Leadership and Teamwork • History and Society • Literacy

Grades 6 - 12

COLLECTION

Leadership and Team Building

Leadership and Teamwork

230 Items

•

All Grades

Collection

Leadership and Team Building

All Grades

Great things happen when leadership and teamwork come together! This collection of engaging K-12 activities help youth awaken their inner leader while strengthening the skills that make collaboration meaningful. Through playful challenges, cooperative tasks, and reflective moments, learners build communication, problem-solving, and shared responsibility. Whether someone is stepping into leadership for the first time or refining their strengths, each experience encourages confidence, connection, and positive group dynamics.

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Leadership and Team Building

Leadership and Teamwork

All Grades

COLLECTION

Catalyze STEM Learning with Kayla Ambesi

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

120 Items

•

All Grades

Collection

Catalyze STEM Learning with Kayla Ambesi

All Grades

From robots and rockets to quicksand, plants, weather, and wildlife, this playlist ignites curiosity in STEM, inspiring the joy of discovery. Youth will design and test a kite in flight (learning about wind and weight); make rock candy crystals (discovering supersaturation), record and sketch nature (learning about climate and weather); and craft a protective device for a falling egg (exploring momentum and energy).

"By engaging in STEM activities that go beyond textbooks and lectures, youth can explore their interests, develop critical thinking skills, and gain practical knowledge that transcends traditional education. Investing in these experiences empowers them to become well-rounded individuals equipped to thrive in an ever-evolving world." — Kayla Ambesi

Kayla Ambesi is the Supervisor of Community Schools at Schenectady City School District in New York. With a passion for education and engagement, she oversees six community schools and leads districtwide STEAM Camps, K-12 summer enrichment, and a "STEM Saturdays" collaboration with Union College. Kayla is the devoted mother of four children and holds a Bachelor's degree in Social Work from the esteemed College of Saint Rose.

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Catalyze STEM Learning with Kayla Ambesi

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

All Grades

COLLECTION

2020 National Summer Learning Association Awardees

Leadership and Teamwork

100 Items

•

All Grades

Collection

2020 National Summer Learning Association Awardees

All Grades

This playlist is brought to you by the awardees of the 2020 National Summer Learning Association Awards. We are so excited to feature the winners of Excellence in Summer Learning, Founder's Award, and Climate Change Award! Congratulations ANYTOWN, Camp EDMO, CityParks Foundation Green Girls Empowered by ING, and Young Audiences of Maryland- Summer Arts & Learning Academy for these achievements and all you do for the community.

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2020 National Summer Learning Association Awardees

Leadership and Teamwork

All Grades

COLLECTION

Clay Projects Inspired by Mesoamerican Culture

History and Society • Arts

70 Items

•

Grades 3 - 8

Collection

Clay Projects Inspired by Mesoamerican Culture

3 - 8

This module includes fun, hands-on clay projects using air-dry clay that focus on simple techniques like coil, slab, and pinch construction of vessels, animals, and human forms inspired by Mesoamerican Culture and history.

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Clay Projects Inspired by Mesoamerican Culture

History and Society • Arts

Grades 3 - 8

COLLECTION

Make It Move Invention Camp

Arts • STEM

150 Items

•

Grades 6 - 8

Collection

Make It Move Invention Camp

6 - 8

The Make it Move Invention Camp curriculum explores transportation, vehicles, and mechanical things that move! These activities explore engineering and invention with hands-on, fun activities that end with the creation of an invention that improves quality of life.

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Make It Move Invention Camp

Arts • STEM

Grades 6 - 8

COLLECTION

S.INQ Up Earth and Space

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

70 Items

•

Grades 6 - 8

Collection

S.INQ Up Earth and Space

6 - 8

Earth and Space is an inquiry and exploration-based curriculum that uses hands-on activities focused on the relationship between the earth, the solar system, and human impacts on our global environment.

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S.INQ Up Earth and Space

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

Grades 6 - 8

COLLECTION

Amazing Bodies Invention Camp

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

140 Items

•

Grades 6 - 8

Collection

Amazing Bodies Invention Camp

6 - 8

The Amazing Bodies Invention Camp Curriculum explores the human body and the creative ways that we can invent to improve quality of life. This module includes hands on exploration leading up to the six activity invention process, where invention prototypes are created and shared.

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Amazing Bodies Invention Camp

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

Grades 6 - 8

COLLECTION

S.INQ Mechanical Engineering

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

60 Items

•

Grades K - 5

Collection

S.INQ Mechanical Engineering

K - 5

This set of lessons will prepare teachers to explore mechanical engineering with their students using Engineering Design Grids. Simple materials like cardboard and rubber bands provide the power to build and test tops, vehicles, catapults, and safety devices in the classroom. Students will be exposed to mechanical engineering, and how they brainstorm, build, test, and modify devices with moving parts.

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S.INQ Mechanical Engineering

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

Grades K - 5

COLLECTION

S.INQ Sound

Arts • STEM

90 Items

•

Grades K - 5

Collection

S.INQ Sound

K - 5

This lesson has hands-on activities ranging from learning about sound, pitch, and amplification through material exploration to designing, building, testing and modifying their own musical instruments.

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S.INQ Sound

Arts • STEM

Grades K - 5

COLLECTION

S.INQ Invisible Forces

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

80 Items

•

Grades K - 5

Collection

S.INQ Invisible Forces

K - 5

S.INQ Invisible Forces explores state, magnetic, and other invisible forces that youth can engage with simple materials. This curriculum offers activities that guide youth through STEM concepts using the engineering design process. Every lesson includes time for brainstorming and reflection and allows ample opportunity for hands-on exploration.

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S.INQ Invisible Forces

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

Grades K - 5

COLLECTION

Foster Health and Wellness with Richmond Brown, Jr.

Leadership and Teamwork • Health and Wellness

120 Items

•

All Grades

Collection

Foster Health and Wellness with Richmond Brown, Jr.

All Grades

Belonging. New friends. Fresh foods. Joy. Embracing a whole-child perspective, this playlist celebrates the many everyday ways we can nourish youth health and wellness. Dive into this collection and you’ll find blood-pumping relay races, team-building balloon tosses, and creativity-boosting game design. Plus this playlist is brimming with learning resources you can use to introduce youth to yoga, mindfulness meditation, and the health benefits of seasonal fruits and vegetables!

“Physical activity, creative expression, and social interaction are all essential for well-rounded development that goes beyond the classroom. Whether it’s through sports, outdoor adventures, or introductions to wellness, youth learn the value of taking care of their body and mind. And that’s a cornerstone of their success and happiness.” — Richmond Brown, Jr.

Richmond Brown, Jr. is a native of Charleston, SC who recently relocated to Los Angeles, CA continuing 15 years of dedication and service in leadership in the out-of-school time field. As the Associate Director of Programs with Woodcraft Rangers, he oversees expanded learning partnerships and 21st CCLC programs throughout the Los Angeles area.

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Foster Health and Wellness with Richmond Brown, Jr.

Leadership and Teamwork • Health and Wellness

All Grades

COLLECTION

Strengthen Social and Emotional Learning with Johnny Crowder

Health and Wellness • Social and Emotional Awareness

120 Items

•

All Grades

Collection

Strengthen Social and Emotional Learning with Johnny Crowder

All Grades

Like learning algebra or how to ride a bike, social and emotional learning (SEL) calls for patience, compassion, and everyday practice. That’s what brain science and experience say, and it’s at the core of this playlist. Through activities that teach mindfulness meditation, how to identify your strengths and talents, and cultivating compassion through service, you’ll find practical experiences, resources, and tips for empowering youth while helping them navigate stress and build healthy relationships.

“I often wonder how much different my life would look if I was offered support earlier. Before I was struggling, before I withdrew, before I exhibited all sorts of behavioral health issues. The power of prevention is something we can’t waste. We need to use our own hindsight into what would have helped us when we were young to set this next generation up for the success we never had.” — Johnny Crowder

Johnny Crowder is a suicide/abuse survivor, TEDx speaker, touring musician, Certified Peer Recovery Specialist, and the Founder & CEO of Cope Notes, a text-based mental health platform that provides daily support to youth and adults in nearly 100 countries around the world.

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Strengthen Social and Emotional Learning with Johnny Crowder

Health and Wellness • Social and Emotional Awareness

All Grades

COLLECTION

Arts and Creative Activities for Summer Camps

Arts

120 Items

•

Grades K - 8

Collection

Arts and Creative Activities for Summer Camps

K - 8

Bring creativity into your summer camp planning with arts and creative activities that help youth express themselves through hands-on learning. These flexible activities make it easy to spark imagination and confidence across different art mediums—music, drama, arts and crafts, design, and creative expression.

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Arts and Creative Activities for Summer Camps

Arts

Grades K - 8

COLLECTION

STEM Activities for Summer Camp

STEM

130 Items

•

Grades K - 8

Collection

STEM Activities for Summer Camp

K - 8

Keep curiosity high all summer with hands-on STEM activities that are fun, engaging, and easy to lead. From simple science experiments to engineering challenges, these ready-to-use lessons make summer planning easier while helping youth explore, create, and learn through play.

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STEM Activities for Summer Camp

STEM

Grades K - 8

COLLECTION

STEM Activities at Home for 9-12th Grades

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

90 Items

•

Grades 9 - 12

Collection

STEM Activities at Home for 9-12th Grades

9 - 12

Students engage in science and engineering activities that contain accessible materials.

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STEM Activities at Home for 9-12th Grades

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

Grades 9 - 12

COLLECTION

Farm to Table Prototype

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

60 Items

•

Grades 6 - 8

Collection

Farm to Table Prototype

6 - 8

Take youth through a journey of innovation and invention with this step-by-step guide to creating their very own prototype! Focusing on improving food production or consumption, youth work through the process of prototyping, starting with a creative brainstorming session, using their construction skills to build a prototype, and presenting their final prototype.

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Farm to Table Prototype

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

Grades 6 - 8

COLLECTION

STEAM Activities for Middle School at Home

Arts • STEM

100 Items

•

Grades 6 - 8

Collection

STEAM Activities for Middle School at Home

6 - 8

This Playlist gives middle school aged students fun engineering and design activities that can be done at home or in small groups.

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STEAM Activities for Middle School at Home

Arts • STEM

Grades 6 - 8

COLLECTION

Clay Sculpting Activities for 3rd-5th Grade at Home

Literacy • Arts

80 Items

•

Grades 3 - 5

Collection

Clay Sculpting Activities for 3rd-5th Grade at Home

3 - 5

This Playlist provides fun clay sculpting activities for younger children at home.

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Clay Sculpting Activities for 3rd-5th Grade at Home

Literacy • Arts

Grades 3 - 5

COLLECTION

Making Comics

Digital Media and Communications • Arts

70 Items

•

Grades 3 - 12

Collection

Making Comics

3 - 12

Enter the creative world of storytelling through comics!

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Making Comics

Digital Media and Communications • Arts

Grades 3 - 12

COLLECTION

Outdoor Activities for Middle School at Home

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

110 Items

•

Grades 6 - 8

Collection

Outdoor Activities for Middle School at Home

6 - 8

This Playlist is all about getting outside and trying some STEM outdoors or in for Middle-School aged kids, and has been mixed especially for having fun at home or in small groups!

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Outdoor Activities for Middle School at Home

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

Grades 6 - 8

COLLECTION

STEM Activities for K-5th Grade at Home or in Small Groups

Arts • STEM

110 Items

•

Grades K - 5

Collection

STEM Activities for K-5th Grade at Home or in Small Groups

K - 5

This playlist is a great mix of engineering and science activities that are easy and fun for home or small groups of kids k-5.

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STEM Activities for K-5th Grade at Home or in Small Groups

Arts • STEM

Grades K - 5

COLLECTION

Art Projects for K-5th Grade at Home or in Small Groups

Literacy • Arts

120 Items

•

Grades K - 5

Collection

Art Projects for K-5th Grade at Home or in Small Groups

K - 5

This playlist is full of fun art projects for kids K-5 at home or in small groups. The materials are simple, perfect for use with available pencils, magazines, clay, or paper. Art can be enriching, relaxing and inspiring!

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Art Projects for K-5th Grade at Home or in Small Groups

Literacy • Arts

Grades K - 5

COLLECTION

Art and Design For Middle School at Home

Literacy • Arts

120 Items

•

Grades 6 - 8

Collection

Art and Design For Middle School at Home

6 - 8

This Playlist is all about Art and Design for Middle School Aged youth, and has been mixed especially for having fun at home or in small groups!

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Art and Design For Middle School at Home

Literacy • Arts

Grades 6 - 8

COLLECTION

Making Comics!

Arts • Literacy

70 Items

•

Grades 3 - 12

Collection

Making Comics!

3 - 12

Making Comics has seven basic lessons for students to explore how comics are made while learning about story telling, character, setting, action and plot. Each lesson takes about an hour, and this course has 7-10 hours of activities that build as students complete their own comic characters, strips, and finally books from start to finish.

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Making Comics!

Arts • Literacy

Grades 3 - 12

COLLECTION

Visual Arts Activities For 3rd-5th Grade at Home

STEM • Arts

130 Items

•

Grades 3 - 5

Collection

Visual Arts Activities For 3rd-5th Grade at Home