Keeping the young ones busy at home might be even more of a challenge during this period as they are home all the time. However, there are so many ways to keep them busy, entertained and productive at home.
Many local schools and educational institutions have turned to social media platforms, YouTube and other online or digital platforms to help guide you and your little ones while you continue to learn and stay productive at home.
ACS International School Doha
At ACS, teachers, students, and parents are working with each other hand in hand as part of their e-learning process. The school has also provided students with iPads to help with their learning continuity.
ACS has launched a YouTube channel to help students get up and stay active while studying from home. Children anywhere can learn from ACS’ PE teachers on how to stay healthy and active.
For more information, find ACS on social media.
Arab International Academy (AIA)
Like many schools, AIA has continued its classes and learning using distance learning techniques for their students. However, on social media, AIA has many videos, quizzes and competitions to keep everyone entertained and informed.
For more information, find AIA on social media.
British Council Qatar
In response to the reported cases of COVID-19 in Qatar, as a precautionary measure, the British Council Qatar has suspended all walk-in customer service until further notice. However, they will continue to serve you through their call centre, website, social media channels and other online platforms.
The British Council Qatar is committed to helping your child learn in a safe and secure environment both in the classroom and online. While you are at home why not download Learning Time with Timmy App Pack for a high quality and safe language learning experience for your child with familiar characters? They provide hours of fun and allow them to continue learning English at home. Find out more or download by clicking here.
In British Council’s series of video tips for parents, their passionate and experienced teachers share inspiration and ideas with you so that you can help your child to continue learning English at home. Watch the series of tips on YouTube.
Visit learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org for some edutainment while learning English. You can listen, watch, read or play. In addition, find the British Council Qatar on social media to keep you and your children entertained and educated during your stay at home.
For more information, call 800 5501 or email [email protected]
Compass International School Doha
Students, teachers and other members of Compass International School Doha have fully embraced the Nord Anglia Virtual School Experience while school is out. There is plenty to watch and learn from on the school’s social media.
Find Compass International School Doha on social media.
Doha British School (DBS)
DBS has launched a YouTube channel, encouraging families to stay safe and enjoy listening to their daily stories, which are all under the playlist ‘Pre-School to Year 2 Stories’. Play the whole playlist or get on to the reading story for the day. Teachers also provide tips on how students can get the most out of learning from home. Find DBS on YouTube for some fun learning from home.
For more information, find DBS on social media.
Doha College
Doha College’s Musiqaa Academy has been a popular choice with students using the time of being indoors to learn a new musical instrument. You too can join with some places still available. For more information, contact [email protected] or visit musiqaa-academy.com
For the past two terms, primary students have been participating in the Generation Amazing World Cup 2022 legacy football programme. Run by the Qatar2022 Supreme Committee, it promotes values through sport that firmly align with those of Doha College, including inclusivity and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Adapting to the current situation, Generation Amazing have developed an online programme via Instagram. Anyone can follow along live at 4 pm every weekday or watch the recorded session later via their social media channels @GA4Good.
Browse through Doha College’s booklet dc.click/booklet and challenge yourself to one or all of the activities suggested.
For more information, find Doha College on social media.
Doha English Speaking School (DESS)
With school closures, DESS has launched home learning resources such as a phonics video collection not only for their students, faculty and staff but for the general public as well. The importance of staying visible and present in the lives of students has been a central focus for their superstar teachers. The wonders of technology have meant that teachers, students and other members of DESS have been able to post fun-packed lessons, engaging with their classes and making home learning fun. Join the learning fun on the DESS YouTube channel.
For more information, find DESS on social media.
International School Of London, ISL Qatar
ISL Qatar is ensuring their students continue learning through online learning but also ensuring their students have fun and stay healthy. In addition to hosting weekly Zoom classes, teachers and students share their home activities including studying, learning, singing, dancing and exercising. On their social media platforms, ISL Qatar share creative tips on how to keep your kids busy at home.
For more information, find ISL Qatar on social media.
Qatar Museums
Qatar Museums (QM) has complied online learning resources to serve as useful learning tools to keep up with children at home amid the COVID-19 outbreak.
Digital Citizenship Curriculum – Common Sense Media addresses a multitude of topics related to the digital and online world with interactive lessons and activities for all students. Use digital citizenship lesson plans to address timely topics and prepare students to take ownership of their digital lives. You can browse lessons by grade and topic below.
Khan Academy, which can be accessed through its mobile app website, provides a free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere, in collaboration with the US Department of Education and various public and private educational institutions. In addition to the fact that it’s easy to use and an ad-free programme, it’s also suited for any school-aged child that knows how to read. Khan Academy covers all school subjects, from art history to economics.
The IXL, for pre-K through grade 12, is popular for many children who use it for supplementing their regular school curriculum in maths, English language arts, social studies and science. According to QM, IXL is one of the few sites with great maths content for non-reading children. Children earn simple online prize pictures for completing milestones. Each skill adjusts to the child’s level. If you get enough problems right, it skips to the end, but if you get some wrong you have to do more. The IXL curriculum is entirely practice problems – no videos at all. Written explanations are given for incorrect answers, although non-readers can click on an icon to get audio explanations. Children can do a few sets of problems per day for free or a monthly USD9.99 subscription or USD79 yearly for a family membership.
Students can take advantage of high school (more than 60 courses) and college courses from leading universities through EdX. In 2015, EdX partnered with the College Board to provide online AP courses. Founded by Harvard University and MIT in 2012, it now has more than 85 global partner institutions. It is free but fees apply for official transcripts and college credit.
Another free platform is TED-Ed, which supports a kid’s sense of wonder with short video lessons. It includes engaging videos and support for flipped-class lessons with a community of thinkers and doers. TED-Ed’s videos and lessons can be used to supplement nearly any subject with video learning, basic knowledge checks, and discussion questions.
Awarded Google’s ‘Best of the Best’ in 2013, Duolingo provides free interactive foreign-language education in at least 15 languages. Duolingo is appropriate for those at the age of five and above, including adults. Users can earn digital awards called ‘lingots’ and use them to ‘buy’ special content. Progress is displayed in graph form after every lesson.
Swiss International School in Qatar
In addition to adopting virtual or distance learning practices, Swiss International School in Qatar launched a YouTube channel to share what their students, staff and faculty have been doing at home such as learning, singing, dancing, exercising and more. The school has also used the power of social media to educate school members and the public about COVID-19.
Swiss International Schools in Qatar also recommends: The World Health Organization (WHO) and other humanitarian organisations have released a storybook to help children cope with the COVID-19 outbreak. It’s aimed at children aged 6-11 but it can also be useful for older or younger kids. Visit https://interagencystandingcommittee.org/iasc-r…/my-hero-you to download a copy. Available in English, Arabic, French, Russian, Ukranian, Bahasa Malay, Spanish, German and Turkish.
For more information, find the Swiss International School in Qatar.
The Hamilton International School
Ensuring the learning of their students continues while they learn from home, The Hamilton International School and their dedicated teachers are busy preparing great lessons for distance learning. On their social media channels, the school provides helpful advice for families to consider regarding communication during this time.
For more information, find The Hamiltion International School on social media.
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