Just for Kids

• Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems  - Kennedy Center Artist-in-Residence author Mo Willems, of Elephant and Piggie fame, teaches simple drawing lessons for kids
• Dav Pilkey at Home  - Join the creator of Dogman and Captain Underpants for weekly art lessons
• Tate Kids - Maker activities, art, quizzes and games from the Tate Galleries in London, England.
• Think Play Create from Home - San Diego’s New Children’s Museum presents virtual Toddler Time, DIY activities, and Zoom talks for caregivers.
• VMFA Educators + Students  - Art ideas based on the collection at the Virginia Museum of Art

Make Your Own Box Guitar

1. Find a Box and Some Rubber bands. You can use any kind of box. An empty tissue box, a shoe box, a plastic food container, or a small shipping box will all work. Hair ties will work instead of rubber bands, but will sound a little different than rubber bands.
2. Wrap the Rubber bands around the Box. Make sure that the bands lay across the opening of the box and don’t touch each other.
3. Play Your Guitar. Pluck the rubber bands over the opening in the box. This will cause the rubber band to vibrate, producing a sound.
4. Experiment with Pitch. Making the rubber bands tighter will make the guitar make a higher sound. One way to tighten them is to place the rubber band at an angle on the box.
5. Try New Things! What else can you do to change the sound? Does the thickness of the rubber band make a difference? What about the size and material of the box?

Click the Music tab above for more!

• Alina Celeste - Award-winning English and Spanish songs, puppets, fingerplays, and more for kids!
• Beat-Boxing with GoNoodle - This video from GoNoodle will show you how to make an instrument with just your mouth!
• Classics for Kids - Missing music class? Try these lessons and games for music appreciation, created by Cincinnati Public Radio.
• DK Find Out! - For more information, videos, and fun quizzes about musical instruments, check out this website! What type of instruments are your favorites?
• Franklin’s Music Lesson - This episode of the TV show Franklin all about music is available to watch for free with Access Video Just for Kids.
• Gale In Context: Elementary - For articles, pictures, and news about different types of music and instruments, visit Gale In Context.
• Miss Nina - Sing and move-along songs for early learning and literacy
• Music : Investigate the Evolution of American Sound by Donna Latham - Learn about how instruments make sound, experiment by making more of your own instruments, and discover the history of music in America.
• New York Philharmonic Kidzone - Interactive games, instrument facts, and composers for children
• Virginia Symphony Orchestra’s Learning Lab - An instrument "petting zoo" for kids, and more!
• Wonderopolis - Learn how to make music with just water and a glass!

Browse CCPL Research Databases for more useful links and materials.

• National Parks for Kids - National Geographic’s video tours, gorgeous pictures, and fun games about America’s national parks.
• National Zoo Webcams - Watch lions, cheetah cubs, giant pandas, elephants and more on these live streams! Downloadable activity packet included at link.
• PBS Learning Media - Learn about science, social studies, math, the arts, and more!
• Virginia Museum of History and Culture At Home - COVID-19 stories, lectures, virtual tours, and more
• Virginia Repertory Theatre At-Home Activities  - Stories and extension activities integrated with the arts for at-home learning.
• DayByDayVA  - Easy activities, videos on books on a different subject each day for kids.

Technology can be a valuable tool for learning and literacy. Make screen time into learning time with educational games and apps, suggested by CCPL librarians.

• Tech with Kids - Recommended apps
• PBS Kids - Educational computer games and apps, including the free PBS Kids app
• Scratch Jr. - Coding for kids