Keep Learning

Learning from Home

These are exceptional times. It’s important for children to keep learning, but there is no expectation that a normal school day be duplicated at home. Teachers will continue to provide instruction. Parent/caregiver involvement will depend on the age and ability of the child and available time. Every family will determine what works best for them in discussion with their children’s teachers. Make use of what you have available. Don’t worry that your child is missing out if there’s something you don’t have. Simple everyday items and activities offer great learning opportunities.

Routine

Disruptions in routines can be stressful. A regular schedule helps maintain a sense of stability. As a family, it's good to set up a weekday schedule including:

regular bedtime, wake-up and mealtimes
getting dressed and ready for school (even though they’re at home)
time for learning
time for breaks
daily physical activity
daily communication with friends and family

Space to Work

Setting up home learning space to work can help children focus. If possible, the space should include:

a quiet atmosphere
good lighting
a desk or table at a comfortable height for your child
a storage basket or bin to keep supplies (paper, pens, pencils, markers, books, etc.)
access to a computer/tablet or other smart device if possible

Helping your Child

How much involvement you have will depend on your child’s age and needs. Following are suggestions designed for specific age and grade levels. General suggestions for children of all ages include:

Let your child see you’re interested in what they’re doing and be positive and cheerful in your approach.
Encourage positive communication with the child (to give and accept instructions).
Encourage the development of good work habits and help your child take pride in work well done.
Be patient with your child and yourself. This is a new experience for everyone and will take some time to adjust to. The most important thing is for your child to feel safe, loved and supported. (Please see the Keeping Healthy section for wellness information for you and your child.)

Elementary Years

Your child’s teacher(s) will be connecting with you regularly with lessons and assignments.
When discussing schoolwork, try to keep the conversation lively and interesting. You want your child to be calm, alert and focused, not bored or over stimulated.
Gauge how your child is doing – physical activity time can be good after each learning activity or following an extended work period.
Take breaks when needed. These may be frequent depending on whether you see your child becoming frustrated or tired. When that happens, it’s okay to step away and come back to the work later.
Offer praise and encouragement for things well done and perseverance. Give special praise for improvement over previous efforts. Do not make unfavourable comments. Constructive suggestions, gently shared, are supportive. Overall negative judgments don’t work.

Middle Years

Here are a few things to keep in mind while helping your child become an independent learner:

Your child’s teacher(s) will be connecting with you and/or your child with lessons and assignments. Work with the teacher to understand your appropriate level of involvement.
Help your child organize, prioritize and schedule coursework, assignments, etc.
Help your child stay connected to the teacher on a regular basis; communicate directly with teachers as needed.
Encourage your child to seek your assistance when needed.
The middle years (Grades 6-9) are increasingly social times for your child. Consider creating opportunities for them to socialize remotely, for example, connecting with a friend through a phone call, video chat or online game play.

Secondary School

Most teenagers in the senior grades can work directly with their teachers on what they need to do without any direct help from parents/caregivers. They will most likely be missing the social engagement of school:

Encourage them to keep up with friends and family (virtually).
Listen when your teenager wants to talk.
Encourage them to figure out approaches and solutions to what they’re working on.

Everyday Learning Activities

Learning isn’t limited to academic tasks and workbooks. Children are learning throughout their daily routines and interactions with their environments.

If you’re interested in details on curriculum components, please see core competencies and First Peoples’ Principles of Learning.

Literacy

Activities to Consider:

Find reading opportunities in everyday life: labels on household items, recipes, directions for a craft or game, etc.
Have children read aloud to members of the family on a daily basis (a novel, news of the day, etc.).
Older children could take turns reading and listening to their siblings; younger children may enjoy reading to the family pet.
Engage in discussions where everyone in the family takes a turn to talk about what they’ve read.
Ask your child to review and create summaries of novels, picture books, games, movies or TV shows to read out to the family.
Storytelling is an excellent way for children to learn and develop skills.

Children learn by listening to stories being told or read to them.
Younger children could tell a story about what they did that day.
Older children could tell a story about an imaginary character.
Families can build stories together by everyone taking turns adding to the story.

Daily notes to siblings, friends, or family (similar to ‘daily messages’ teachers write to students).
A family “Stay Home” book where each child contributes based on ability and interest, (how life is different, reflections, COVID-19 science, drawings, photos, etc.)

Numeracy

Activities to Consider:

Play card or board games to help children practice math skills: e.g. Old Maid, Go Fish, Memory, War, Dominos, Checkers, Monopoly, BattleShip, SmartGames, etc.
Use real-life examples siblings can work together on:
- How much dirt would be needed to fill the garden box (predict then measure)?
- How many days does a loaf of bread last the family (observe consumption, create a chart of how many loaves needed a week)?
- How much drinking water does our family use each day (predict then measure)?

Thinking

Activities to Consider:

Learn something new: sewing, knitting, cooking, baking, woodwork, chess or other game, language, dance steps, technology, etc.
Create arts and crafts: beading, drawing, painting, sculpting, carving, etc.
Make music:

sing, alone or with others (in person or virtually)
drum or play a musical instrument (alone or for others)
set up a digital performance where everyone plays their part over Zoom or Skype
watch a free concert online, have a family discussion about what you thought of the performance

Act and perform:

play charades
recite poems or texts with expression
put on a play for family members

Have reflective discussions with your child, such as:

what school subjects they like best
how they feel about current situation
if anything is worrying them
what they hope will happen (short term and long term)
their ideas on how to make time with family at home fun
anything they’d like to talk about

Communication

Activities to Consider:

Daily informal, virtual chats with family, friends and classmates:

developing informal conversational skills
develop awareness of the needs of others (e.g. grandparents and other Elders).

Practicing patience and respect when speaking with others:

helps ease potential conflict
develops conversational skills

Personal Awareness and Responsibility

Activities to Consider:

Review hand-washing and other prevention practices
Encourage children to be physically active:

it’s good to get outside for backyard play, a bike ride, walk, etc. (keeping appropriate physical distancing)
for inside, have a dance party or find an online exercise video to work-out to

Talk to your child about how they’re feeling.
Support children in establishing and maintaining their daily and weekly schedule. Have them consider questions such as:

When do I have the most energy to complete work that requires concentration?
How often do I need to take a physical body-moving break?
When would be a good time for me to do some leisure activities?
What are some skills I really want to learn but have never had the time to learn?

Social Awareness and Responsibility

Activities to Consider:

doing daily chores
taking care of pets
helping with cleaning and organizing
helping with household and yard work
caring for younger siblings or an Elder
making a schedule that accounts for daily routines within the family

Positive Personal and Cultural Identity

Activities to Consider:

Nurture relationships with grandparents and extended family through virtual conversations. Children can learn more about:

their ancestors
stories of what life was like in the past
what they have in common with their relatives

Create a scrapbook about your extended family including pictures, photos and stories about family members, etc.
Create a poster or story about the types of food your family likes including special occasions where you share certain foods.

Primary/Intermediate Years (Grades K–5)

Cooking and Baking

Numeracy: Have your child help with measuring; they can count the ingredients needed and work on sequencing (first, second, etc.).
Literacy: have them search for recipes based on 1 or 2 key ingredients, get them to read the recipes; have them make a list of all the ingredients you need to gather.
Applied Design Skills and Technologies: consider and discuss the design process that takes place. For example:

importance of heating the oven ahead of time
adding wet ingredients to dry
considering the audience for the items being created (e.g. no raisins for sister)

Cleaning, Organizing, and Daily Chores

Literacy: have your child make labels for storage bins, have your child create a family chore chart.
Numeracy: have them plan the design for storage of items. For example, what items work best in which location, based on the size of the item(s) and the space available?
Social Awareness and Responsibility: washing and maybe sanitizing the items before putting them away.

Budgeting

Numeracy: involve your child in determining how much money will be spent on food in a week:

provide your child with a list of food items and have them estimate how much it will cost to buy the items at the grocery store
provide your child with several different recipes and have them estimate how much it will cost them to make each recipe

Critical and Reflective Thinking: ask questions so children can learn to gather the necessary information to make informed decisions:

When picking recipes, what criteria should we consider with regards to our budget?
When buying an item what do we consider: (Local? Brand? Organic? In season? On sale? Size? etc.)

Scheduling

Personal Awareness and Responsibility: Children should play a part in determining what their daily and weekly schedule will look like. Have them consider questions such as:

When do I normally do things on a school day?
When do I have the most energy and should spend some time outside?
When would be a good time for me to sit quietly and read a book?
What are some skills I really want to learn but have never had the time to learn?

Numeracy: Children track time spent on tasks. Using an analog clock will help children develop math skills such as fractions (“we spoke for a quarter of an hour”).
Applied Design Skills and Technologies: Creating a schedule refines skills in table and chart-making.

Middle Years (Grades 6–9)

Cooking and Baking

Plan all parts of an actual (or dream/future) meal:

Literacy: look for recipes online or in books:

consider ingredients (use what you already have?), time and difficulty
analyze ingredients in the house for nutrition, grams of protein, fibre, fat, sugar, calories

Numeracy: work with the recipes by:

listing type and amount of ingredients (Do recipes need adjustments in quantities? If so, calculate the new amounts.)
determining costs for groceries through checking an online shopping service
creating a time schedule for preparing and cooking of each part of a meal

Applied Design Skills and Technologies: think about all the steps involved in making the meal:

list all the things that need to be done, in the correct order
add a little star to the steps that impact later steps (e.g. pre-heating oven, chopping vegetables, etc.)
Are there ingredients that were part of the original recipe that you had to substitute something else for?

Social Studies: consider the origins of the meal:

What country/region/people did it come from?
Are there different origins for different parts of the meal?
Is there a cultural significance to the dish (e.g. for a special celebration)?

Science: research some science behind cooking, things to consider:

What makes ingredients, or combination of ingredients, change from one state to another (e.g. melting fat: solid to liquid)
What happens when we heat different ingredients?
Why do different ingredients react differently to heat?
What are the differences between heating things: in an oven, on the stovetop, in the microwave?
What makes baking rise?

Gardening

Science: plant and maintain a garden or houseplant:

determine best location
create a watering schedule
help with maintenance (fertilizing, weeding)
monitor, record and chart growth rates
if there are multiple plants, experiment with varying conditions (plant food, number of hours of sunlight, etc.)
prepare a gardening journal with recommendations based on the outcomes of each experiment

Cleaning, Organizing, and Daily Chores

Social Awareness and Responsibility: sort items in your room, a closet, or drawer into four piles:

what you want to keep
what to give away
what can go into recycling
garbage

Organize and put away the items you’d like to keep. Box/bag the items to give away, label who each box/bag is going to.

Budgeting

Critical and Reflective Thinking: what information do you need to make informed purchasing decisions:

List common considerations when buying an item: (price, size, colour, etc.)
List more detailed considerations (source, organic, brand, specifications, etc.)
What considerations are most important to you and why?

Secondary School (Grades 10–12)

Cooking and Baking

Take responsibility for one or more family dinners each week:

Numeracy and Literacy:

research recipes and adapt them to your family’s needs/tastes and what ingredients are available
plan to create a nutritionally balanced meal
make shopping lists, price items and determine total meal costs
determine timing and logistics of preparing and serving the meal

Applied Design Skills and Technologies: think about all the steps involved in making the meal:

List all the things that need to be done, in the correct order, before starting to cook.
Are there ingredients that were part of the original recipe that you had to substitute something else for?
Did you have to change the recipe to accommodate family members’ preferences?
Think about what worked well, what tasted great and what adjustments you might consider for future improvement. You might ask family for their feedback too.

Cleaning, Organizing, and Daily Chores

Applied Design Skills and Technologies: Take responsibility for some household duties by scheduling and doing (without being reminded!) tasks such as:

caring for younger siblings
checking up on grandparents and other elders
cleaning the bathroom or other rooms
collecting household garbage and recycling
grocery shopping
yard work

Budgeting and Financial Literacy

Career Education: if considering post-secondary education:

research tuition costs for various institutions
research and begin (or continue) to submit scholarship and bursary applications
research associated costs such as books, student fees, commuting, accommodation, etc.

Literacy: when creating a budget or analysis, consider:

Is the information organized for easy access and understanding?
Is the information presented in a clear and concise manner?
What’s the best way to provide information?

Future Planning

Literacy: Learning self-promotion is important for applying to jobs, scholarships, post-secondary institutions, etc. Things to work on include:

resume and cover letter writing
interview skills
oral presentations

Numeracy: Practicing helps you prepare for what’s ahead, consider these:

plan and create a cost estimate for a dream vacation
estimate your monthly living expenses if you move out after graduation
make checklist of what features are important in a car, then find what cars meet your criteria
calculate costs for maintaining a car (insurance, maintenance, fuel, etc.)
investigate how to prepare and report income taxes
research how to apply for a credit card, calculate how much more you’d have to pay if you don’t settle your balance at the end of the month

Career Education:

think about careers that interest you and the qualifications you need for them
research post-secondary institutions that provide those qualifications
create a schedule of when applications are due for scholarships and institutions
consider getting your driver’s license, start with ICBC study guides
work towards certifications needed for some summer jobs such as FoodSafe or first aid

Physical and Health Education:

be mindful of how you’re feeling and don’t hesitate to ask for help (see the Keeping Healthy section of this website)
exercise daily (connect online with a friend and workout together)
get enough sleep (at least 8 hours)
eat healthy foods at regular times
keep connected with friends online
have fun with your family, play games, watch funny videos, dance

Resources

Here are some resources you may consider exploring. Many are always free, but some are only provided at no cost during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic. Please note that including a resource does not mean we endorse it. You are the best judge of its suitability for your family.

Knowledge Network – Publicly funded education TV network’s video streaming site. Documentaries, dramas, and live TV including kids’ programming. Free and commercial free, requires email sign-up.

Connected North – Educational programming from museums, science centers, zoos, artists, storytellers and others on a wide variety of topics. Some programs are available in French.

Public Libraries
Access free digital resources such as magazines, newspapers, movies, books (including audio and picture books) and research tools by logging in via your library website with your library card. Look for TumbleBooks, Library2Go and RB digital to get started. If you don’t have a library card, most libraries will help you sign up for one virtually.

Find Your Library – Interactive tool to find your nearest library.

NNELS: National Network of Public Library Service – Search and download accessible books if you have a print disability (formats include Daisy, BRF electronic Braille). Requires sign-up with library card. Teachers and families can access this service, contact NNELS to learn more.

Online Museums
Museums from around the world offer virtual tours and an online experience for exploring historic and cultural heritage sites:

Activities, Games, and Videos

CBC Parents – Information and activity ideas for children of all ages.

CBC Kids – Videos, songs, games, and more.

Kids Up Front – Variety of activities, updated weekly.

PBS learning media – Free educational videos, interactives, lesson plans, and more. You can create your own lessons, quizzes and activities with any of the resources. It integrates fully with Google classroom.

TED ED – A variety of videos curated for their educational purposes. Many have questions, discussion topics, and a dig deeper section that connects to other related content.

Quizlet — A mobile and web-based study application that allows students to study information via learning tools and games.

Kahoot – Create interactive games and quizzes for students, or students can create their own projects and games for others to play.

Books and Reading

Celebrities and others reading stories — Large selection of stories.

Tumblebooks – Curated collection of eBooks and audiobooks with audio capacity, highlighted text and videos. Includes graphic novels, math books and non-fiction books. Includes titles in French and Spanish. Subscription required, but many public libraries have free access for library card holders.

Educational Collections

K-12 Learning at home during COVID-19 – University of Victoria librarian (and parent) shares information on supporting children’s learning at home as well as links to educational resources.

PowerSmart for Schools – Energy-focused educational materials for K-12 teachers from BC Hydro. Many are tagged ‘home friendly’.

JABC Online Learning – Online, self-directed courses on financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship for grades 4-12.

Curio.ca – CBC streaming platform curated and designed to complement K-12 curriculum. Includes educational packages, hands-on activities, and teacher guides. Available in both English and French.

WE Schools@home – Weekly educational resources to support well-being, service-learning and at-home education.

Remote Learning Resources for Parents – Ideas and resources on a variety of topics and grade levels.

Open Culture - A guide to free educational media: online courses, audio books, textbooks, eBooks, language lessons, movies and more.

Khan Academy – Online, self-paced learning lessons on a variety of subjects with video demonstrate and interactive components.

Hands-on Activities

Indigenous Skills Workshops – Videos of a First Nations artist demonstrating making items, sponsored by the Construction Foundation of BC.

Skills Ready Projects – A variety of woodworking projects for different ages from the Construction Foundation of BC.

Languages

First Voices for Kids – Learn simple phrases and words for a variety of First Nations languages in BC.

BBC Languages – Online language videos, resources and activities to learn a variety of languages. Also has a section on learning English as a foreign language.

Duolingo – A language-learning website and mobile app for 30+ languages. Includes a digital language-proficiency assessment, and bite-size lessons based on research.

Math

YouCubed – Math resource from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Education. Tasks are activities that can be filtered by grade, level of difficulty, concept, and topic.

Outdoors Education

Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation Education – Suggestions for free, easy outdoor activities.

BC Get Outdoors – Educator’s guide to outdoor activities, pages 41-51 could be done at home.

Plant a Seed Day – Planting lessons, crafts and activities.

Resources for Rethinking – Lesson plans, activities and videos that explore important issues and events unfolding in our world. Available in English and French.

Rhythms of Play – Outdoor learning activities for children.

Bringing Nature Home – Activities for parents for learning outside (for elementary, middle and secondary).

CornellLab, BirdSleuth Explorer’s Guidebook – Birds watching for K-12.

Project Learning Tree – Activities to connect families to nature and the outdoors.

Science, Natural and Human History

UBC Geering Up – STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) experiments and activities.

Remote-Ready STEM Challenges – Selection of fun science, technology, engineering and math activities.

Royal BC Museum Learning Portal – Free multimedia educational resources about British Columbia’s natural and human history for learners of all ages. Much of the content aligns with K-12 curriculum, and some resources include classroom activities or lesson plans.

Canadian Geographic – Activities and resources for K-12 students.

Brains On – Audio show about science and history, available online or as a podcast.

Wow in the World – NPR Podcasts about the wonders of the world.

Talking about Racism

There have been many examples of people’s kindness for each other during the pandemic. But the opposite has also been seen, especially racism. Talking to your child about race, tolerance and inclusion can help them process the events in the news. It can also help them develop their social awareness and responsibility. This is one of the core competencies in BC’s curriculum.

Something Happened in Our Town: A Child’s Story About Racial Injustice: Video reading of a story about two families (one Black, one White) speaking to their children about why a Black man was shot by police.

Raising an ally: How to talk to your child about the death of George Floyd, anti-Black racism: Global News article on why it’s important for Canadian parents/caregivers to talk to their children about racism, especially white parents. Includes related links and videos.

How to talk to kids about racism: An age-by-age guide: Today’s Parent article on appropriate discussions for different ages from infancy to teens.

How to Teach Racial Acceptance: Parents Canada article on ways to respond to racism at home and at school.

Kids Learn about Race Younger Than You Think. Talk to Them Before That: HuffPost Canada article on talking to your child and why it’s important. Includes relevant links.

How to talk to kids about race and racism: From the Adoptive Families Association of BC, a parent reflects on how children notice differences and offers suggestions for developing a home environment that values diversity.

Talking to kids about hate in media: Media Smarts article and tip sheet on how to help children deal with news stories on hate crimes.

Common Sense Media Resources About Race and Racism: Articles and media recommendations to help parents/caregivers and educators talk to kids about racism. Links to Spanish resources are included.

Talking to Your Child about COVID-19

Fear and worry are normal for children of all ages. Things we can do to manage stress and support our children during these unusual times include:

remaining calm
providing appropriate factual information
helping them feel some level of control

When talking to our children, a solutions-focused approach is most helpful:

many things are being done to help the current situation (work by governments, doctors, nurses, schools, etc.)
it will get better
life will return to normal
let’s focus on caring for our family and friends

Frequently asked Questions on COVID-19 for Children and Students: BC Centre for Disease Control and Ministry of Health.

Coronavirus: A Book for Children: free digital book, illustrated by Axel Scheffler, about the coronavirus and the measures taken to control it.

Managing Anxiety and Stress in Families with Children and Youth During the COVID-19 Outbreak: Shared Care Committee, Doctors of BC and Ministry of Health, information and advice on stress and coping with links to resources.

EASE (Everyday Anxiety Strategies for Educators) At Home: Ministry of Children and Family Development collection of classroom strategies adapted for parents/caregivers to help children manage their anxiety and worries in fun and practical ways.

Parenting during COVID-19: Kelty Mental Health, suggestions for parents for talking to their children about COVID-19, tips for self-care and managing children’s behaviour with links to resources.

Talking to Children About COVID-19 and Its Impact: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, advice and information for parents and other caring adults on helping children cope with stress and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Helping Children Cope with Stress During the 2019-nCoV Outbreak: World Health Organization, factsheet with tips for parents/caregivers.

Foundry COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus) Information: Foundry has a dedicated COVID-19 webpage with information on accessing Foundry services, links to resources and support, and articles on COVID-19, physical distancing, stress, and anxiety.

Children with Diverse Abilities

Distance Learning for Special Education – Resources to support students with disabilities.

5 Moore Minutes Special Edition: Home Learning Series
Shelley Moore (storyteller, inclusive education advocate and PhD candidate) offers tips for home learning. Designed for families who have children with disabilities, much of the information is useful for all families.

For previous videos see the 5MM Special Home Learning playlist.

Early Learning and Primary Years

Circle Round – Podcasts of sound and music-rich folktales from around the world for kids.

Come Read with Me – videos for parents/caregivers with tips to keep home reading a fun and positive experience.

The Learning Circle – Hands-on, nature-based activities to encourage learning about First Nations in Canada.

Keeping Kids Active During the Pandemic – First Nations Health Authority’s list of fun activities to keep young children active and engaged while at home.

POPEY Home Learning Resources – Tips and activities to support primary learning at home.

When I Go to Kindergarten – Help prepare your child for kindergarten by working through this booklet together.

Play – Ideas and activities for children and caregivers to play and learn together.

RBCM@home – A virtual playdate with museum staff, working from home, sharing activities and information.

Knowledge Kids – Videos and games for children aged 2-8. Free and commercial free, no email required.

GoNoodle - Movement and mindfulness videos created by child development experts.

ReadyRosie, Healthy at Home — Free toolkit of short videos for infant to K children and their caregivers.

Prodigy Math – An engaging math platform that uses a variety of interactive features and games to develop students’ math proficiency.

5 Minute Field Trips – Learn about nature in your own backyard.

Hand-in-Hand – Nature education program posts of daily activities for early learners.

Science World, Backyard Biodiversity – Seven activities to do in your backyard.

eBooks Kids – Several eBooks offered in French, Spanish and English. Includes riddles and games to engage learning.

Storyline Online – Videos of storybooks being read aloud.

Caring for Each Other – Sesame Street is offering free games, videos and eBooks.

YGym – Physical activity videos for children 5-9, led by YMCA instructors.

Intermediate Years

Circle Round – Podcasts of sound and music-rich folktales from around the world for kids.

Crash Course Kids – Science videos on a variety of topics.

Prodigy Math – An engaging math platform that uses a variety of interactive features and games to develop students’ math proficiency.

5 Minute Field Trips – Learn about nature in your own backyard.

Science World, Backyard Biodiversity – Seven activities to do in your backyard.

YGym – Physical activity videos led by YMCA instructors.

Middle Years

Online Learning Experiences – Live online workshops on HTML, CSS and gamemaking with Scratch from Canada Learning Code.

Pobble365 – Daily picture with related learning activity suggestions.

CEMC courseware – Math courses that include online teaching, interactive components, and lots of opportunities for practice. This is a great way for students who are not in class to continue learning.

Prodigy Math – An engaging math platform that uses a variety of interactive features and games to develop students’ math proficiency.

The Get It Guide – Math tutorials to help focus on key steps for solving math problems.

Science World – Science activities for students.

SFU Science – Science activities for students.

YGym – Physical activity videos for 10 - 15 year olds, led by YMCA instructors.

Secondary School

Online Learning Experiences – Live online workshops on HTML, CSS and gamemaking with Scratch from Canada Learning Code.

Pobble365 – Daily picture with related learning activity suggestions.

Create to Learn@Home – Video tutorials on digital skills and/or traditional knowledge created by First Nations, Metis and Inuit artists/ makers.

Crash Course – Youtube channel of educational videos on a variety of topics including science, technology, history, theater, engineering and sociology.

The Get It Guide – Math tutorials to help focus on key steps for solving math problems.

CEMC courseware – Math courses that include online teaching, interactive components, and lots of opportunities for practice. This is a great way for students who are not in class to continue learning. The Grade 9/10/11 Courseware includes curriculum maps that explicitly show how the lessons connect to the various Canadian provincial curricula.

GenomeBC Resources – Science activities and case studies for grades 9-12.

Keeping Healthy

Keep Practicing Prevention

Keep healthy and help stop the spread of diseases by:

thoroughly washing hands
physical distancing
wearing a mask in indoor public places
practicing good etiquette when coughing or sneezing
staying healthy through daily exercise, good nutrition and sleep

Helpful Resources:

BC Centre for Disease Control offers advice for Keeping Children Safe.
Information on masks is available from the BC Centre for Disease Control.
COVID-19 Hand wash and hand rub poster provides a visual reminder of how to wash hands.
The Ministry of Health has hand washing information available in multiple languages.

Keep Active

Taking frequent, active breaks away from devices is an important part of staying healthy.

put on some music and dance
work through an online video (search “kids workout videos”)
run up and down stairs
jump rope
stretch

Being outside is important for children. Outdoor Play Canada has guidelines on what’s appropriate during the current pandemic. Keeping appropriate physical distancing, family members could:

go for a walk
play in the backyard
go for a bike ride

Taking Care of Your Child’s Mental Health

Here are some ways to support your child:

maintain normal, predictable routines as much as possible
have calm, age-appropriate, fact-based discussions
focus on the positive
model compassion, positive coping and self-care skills
eat healthy meals together
make sure children are getting enough sleep
spend more time together, increase play time – both inside and out
for older children, encourage breaks from the news and social media (if you do watch the news, watch it together to provide an opportunity for conversation and help keep things in perspective)

Reactions

It’s important to monitor and check in with children and youth. Watch for changes in their emotions, mood and behaviour. Changes can signal a need for additional support and/or resources. You may observe your child appearing anxious, preoccupied, or tired, and/or there may be an increase in:

anxiety
worrying about self or loved ones
difficulty focusing
preoccupation with illness
need for reassurance
fatigue
stomach aches, headaches, etc.

Reactions will vary according to:

a child’s development stage
level of awareness about the pandemic
exposure to accurate information about the pandemic
physical or emotional proximity to the outbreak
health status of child and/or loved ones
mental health status of child and/or loved ones
prior experience with traumatic circumstances

Immediate Help

Kids Help Phone:

1-800-668-6868 (support in French or English)
reach a counsellor 24/7
text CONNECT to 686868 (24/7)
live chat via the website (9:00pm – 4:00am)

Youth Space: online crisis and emotional support chat service through IM chat or text.

Youth Line: peer support line through phone, text or online chat services for youth in Canada.

QCHAT: peer support line through phone, text or online chat services and resource database for youth in BC.

pflagcanada: peer to peer support and resources site for youth and families in Canada.

Taking Care of Your Mental Health

Take care of yourself, not just for your well-being, but also for those you care about and support.

take time to eat and drink water
stay active to increase energy, boast immunity, reduce insomnia and feel positive
get enough sleep (7-9 hrs per night)
stay connected, supportive relationships are a powerful influence on our sense of wellness
take time for yourself during the day
be mindful of your thoughts and feelings, both positive and negative – focus on what is meaningful
treat yourself with compassion and gentleness

Ask for Help

Please be aware of how you feel. If you need some help, reach out to one of the Mental Health Resources below.

Immediate Help

Mental Health Crisis Line:

toll-free 1-800-784-2433 or (604) 872-3311 (Greater Vancouver)
24/7 confidential, non-judgmental free emotional support for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including thoughts of suicide - available in 140 languages
Online Crisis and Youth Chat available at Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention Centre

Indigenous Supports, Immediate Help

Kuu-us Crisis Response Services:

toll-free 1-800-588-8717
provides 24/7 culturally-aware crisis support to Indigenous people in BC

Hope for Wellness Help Line:

toll-free 1-855-242-3310
offers 24/7 counselling and crisis intervention by phone or online chat
available in French, English, Cree, Ojibway, and Inuktitut

Metis Crisis Line:

1-833-638-4722
provides 24/7 mental health support
includes crisis intervention and access to crisis programs

First Nations Health Authority:
Information, resources, supports, news and public health messages on COVID-19, mental health and wellness.
Supporting Mental Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic:
Resources and services to support the mental health and wellness of First Nations children, compiled by the First Nations Education Steering Committee.

Child and Youth Mental Health: information on Child and Youth Mental Health teams located across the province. Teams are working virtually or by phone. New referrals are being processed.

Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre: a variety of mental health resources for children.

Anxiety Canada: expert tools and resources to help manage anxiety (adults and children).

Bounce Back: free evidence-based program designed to help youth and adults experiencing symptoms of mild to moderate depression, low mood or stress, with or without anxiety. Teaches effective skills to help people improve their mental health.

Black Youth Helpline: culturally relevant helpline and services for youth, families, school districts and others. Service in French and other languages available upon request.

Teen and Youth Mindfulness: free online courses on mindfulness from the YMCA of Greater Vancouver.

Here2Talk: connects post-secondary students with mental health supports, confidential counselling, and community referral services; available 24/7 via app, phone and web.

BeThere.org: information to help youth recognize when a friend is struggling with mental health issues and how to offer support.

COVID-19: Stay Well in Uncertain Times: information, resources and supports from the Canadian Mental Health Association.

Family Smart: provides support to families/caregivers who are parenting a child or youth with mental health challenges.

Heretohelp: provides information about managing mental illness and maintaining good mental health, including self-management resources and screening self-tests for wellness, mood, anxiety and risky drinking.

Mental Health Digital Hub: a provincial website that provides information, services, education and awareness about mental health and substance use for adults, youth and children.

MindHealthBC: online mental health counselling program providing information and support for depression, anxiety, or other mental health or substance use challenges; includes recommendations for further support in Vancouver, Richmond and other coastal communities.

Wellness Together Canada: Mental Health and Substance Use Support: free resources, tools, apps, and connections to trained volunteers and qualified mental health professionals.

WE Well-being Digital Tool-kit: downloadable well-being resources, social media graphics, and links to inform and support parents and families.

Here to Help Mental Health Resources: includes a variety of factsheets (depending on language) in Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Farsi (Persian)/ Dari, French, Korean, Punjabi, Japanese and Vietnamese.

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Information in Other Languages: includes a variety of resources in French, Amharic, Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Dari, Farsi, Greek, Hindi, Italian, Korean, Pashto, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi, Russian, Serbian, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Tamil, Twi, Urdu and Vietnamese.

Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre: includes a variety of resources in French, Farsi, Korean, Punjabi, Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese.

Keep Learning

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

Activity Ideas

Explore the following sections:

COVID-19 Information:

Talking about Racism

Talking to Your Child about COVID-19

Immediate Help

Indigenous Supports, Immediate Help