Education Matters: Summer Learning in the Age of COVID-19

By Ryan G. Van Cleave

Whether you’ve got k-12 kids around the house (like me!) or you’re just bored out of your gourd thanks to the stay-at-home mandate, the what-to-do plan for this summer likely has you concerned. Sure, we can all bingewatch 14 seasons of Supernatural on Netflix, or let the kids act out Lord of the Flies while you sleep in, but that’s not enough, right?

Considering that the quality of education took a hit when everything moved online in a flurry in March, there’s probably some making-up to do in terms of the kids. And even we adults could stand to knock some cobwebs out of the cranium. So, what options do we have to beef up the brain between now and the start of fall classes? Thankfully, a lot of local organizations are happy to help the cause! 

Bay News 9

http://www.baynews9.com/fl/tampa/community/project-weather

• Project Weather School. Every Wednesday at 1pm, get a free interactive weather lesson from a weather expert. Learn how raindrops are formed, how air pressure creates wind, and why cold fronts trigger a thunderstorm.

The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature

http://www.bishopscience.org/museum-from-home

• “Tales Under the Tree.” Help the littlest ones learn about science and nature on Saturdays.

• Monthly IQuest. Using Google classroom, middle-school kids (grades 6-8) can expect challenging projects and games that inspire out-of-the-box solutions to real-world problems.

• “Manatee Minutes of Zen.” Videos of manatees swimming. What more could you want?

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
& Historic Spanish Point

http://www.selby.org/bringing-selby-gardens-to-you

http://www.historicspanishpoint.org/mondays-with-mccarthy

• Science Saturday. Hear from staff botanists, associates, and volunteers to learn about plant inventory and classification, and celebrate plant diversity. (Selby’s living collection has 13,500 plants in 214 families!)

• Selby Gardens in Bloom. Learn about pollinators, the prickly pear cactus, and more!

• Salvador Dali: Gardens of the Mind exhibition. This exhibition highlights Dali’s use of botanical images alongside actual tropical plants from Selby Gardens.

• Daily Facebook and Instagram updates/information/activities at 2pm.

• “Mondays with McCarthy.” Join Executive Director John McCarthy on behind-the-scenes tours of Historic Spanish Point that offer information you won’t get on regular tours.

Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium

http://www.mote.org/mote-goes-remote

• Mote Education Online. All the marine science you need for engaging pre-K students to adult learners and teachers.

• 24/7 webcams. Check in on the sharks, manatees, and otters.

• Mote’s “Two Sea Fans” podcast. Hear fun and educational conversations between Mote scientists and hosts Joe Nickelson and Hayley Rutger.

The Ringling

http://www.ringling.org/museumfromhome

• Virtual Bayfront Garden Tours. See the wildlife, trees, secret garden, and rose garden renovation on YouTube.

• Quick Crafts with Kallie! Turmeric tie-dye, bunny stamps, circus costume design, and more.

• Digital Performance Picks. Why not bring Asolo performance offerings to your home?

• Art Chats. Enjoy brief conversations about artworks between a museum educator and someone beyond the museum world.

• Send Digital Art Postcards. Send a freebie art pick-me-up!

Sarasota County Libraries

http://www.suncoast.co.sarasota.fl.us

• Beanstack. Keep track of your reading and complete fun at-home activities.

• ONEpass. This partnership between Sarasota County Public Libraries and Sarasota County Schools gives access to a range of digital resources. 

• Hoopla. Download the app and get thousands of eBooks, audiobooks, TV, movies, and graphic novels. (Log on early each day because there’s a daily limit of what can be checked out that’s shared by our entire library system!))

• eCards. Don’t have a library card yet? Easily get a temporary digital one now.

• and much more!

Van Wezel

http://www.facebook.com/watch/schooltimevanwezel

• Schooltime at the Van Wezel. Enjoy information and behind-the-scenes information/experiences from this education program.

Westcoast Black Theatre

http://www.westcoastblacktheatre.org/performances/

wbtt-on-demand

• On-Demand Streaming. Founder & Artistic Director Nate Jacobs brings you songs and stories from your favorite performances.

If Elon Musk and Donald Trump turn out to be wrong and COVID-19 doesn’t magically burn up in the scorching heat of summer, then watch for more virus-related articles here to help us all get through this. In print and in my life, I joke about the virus situation, but let’s be clear—it’s a defense mechanism to keep up the pretense that Cheetos with a side of ranch dressing constitutes “dinner.”

We’re all in this together, folks. Until next time—best of luck. And happy learning!