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diff --git a/wired/cool-tools-school.txt b/wired/cool-tools-school.txt index 7d8ddfd..81a4cf9 100644 --- a/wired/cool-tools-school.txt +++ b/wired/cool-tools-school.txt @@ -1,12 +1,107 @@ +Every parent knows there are times when you just need to keep the kids occupied for a few minutes. Whether you think screens are evil or the best thing since sliced bread, your kids are going to use them. Plan ahead and find constructive way for them to use screens. That's where [CuriosityStream](https://fave.co/2xP9Ak4){: rel=nofollow} comes in. It's a subscription-based documentary video streaming service. CuriosityStream has more than 3,000 nonfiction documentaries on subjects ranging from ecology to history to ecological history. In addition to original content, it also licenses films made by production companies all over the world. + +https://www.amazon.com/Shuttle-Art-Sculpting-Accessories-Non-Stick/dp/B087P7QHKX/ + +When I want to showcase how your kids can learn in all kids of unexpected ways, I send people to [GameSchool Academy](https://homeschoolgameschool.com/). The site is primarily a guide to using board and card games for homeschooling, but whether or not you homeschool isn't the point, the point is that learning is a never-ending process that's all around us all the time. GameSchool Academy has countless [board and card game suggestions](https://homeschoolgameschool.com/gameschooling/) based on what your kids want to learn—math, reading, science, strategy. Lately Sushi Go (a great game for improving math skills in younger kids) has been the most popular game in our home. + +Whatever +Whether you're homeschooling, remote schooling or some other form of schooling, remember that school doesn't have to be *a thing*. The world is full of educational opportunities. Consider the humble board or card game for example. Sure it's a fun family Friday night activity, but it's also capable of providing an enjoyable learning experience. Just don't tell your kids that. In fact, you can base an entire educational program around games, it's called game schooling. + + + + +Back to school is a little different this year. Depending on where you live, you might be doing distance learning, part-time distance learning, or perhaps even trying your hand at homeschooling. To help you out, we've pulled together some supplies and suggestions for those heading back to the classroom, or to the brave new digital classroom. + +For more school-related tips and suggestions, be sure to read through our [guide to remote learning](https://www.wired.com/story/remote-learning-school-coronavirus-tips/). + +### Explore Tiny Worlds + +Celestron microscope + +Education should be about encouraging curiosity and creativity, and what better way to do that than diving deeper into the world of science? This is a very nice beginner compound microscope that will open up new worlds for your kids, without overwhelming them with complexity. That said, it's best suited to younger kids just getting started. If you want something for older or kids more experienced with microscopes the [My First Lab Duo-Scope Microscope ($75)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000NOU54O/?tag=w050b-20){: rel=nofollow} is a better choice. + + +### Discover Kids' Podcasts + +Tripit Stormbox + +What tells stories, enthralls your kids, keeps them occupied while you get some work done, *and* doesn't involve a screen? Podcasts. Podcasts are a great way to entertain and educate your children without using a screen. Be sure to check out [our guide to kid's podcasts](https://www.wired.com/story/best-podcasts-for-kids/) for some ideas. Then grab this cheap, but still impressive sounding 7-inch speaker. The battery lasts an impressive 20-ish hours, and an IPX7 waterproof rating means it will stand up to the occasional spill. Another option is the [JBL Clip 2 ($60)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01F24RGHI/?tag=w050b-20){: rel=nofollow}, which also has decent sound, and features an auxiliary input, which is handy if you and to repurpose an old iPod or other device that doesn't support Bluetooth. + +### Take Breaks and Get Outside + +Jump Ropes + +Getting away from school is just as important as school. Make sure your kids take breaks, and if you can, get outside. Head to a nearby park or open space, go out on the balcony, or, if you're lucky enough to have a yard, get out in it. This jump rope will keep your kids entertained outdoors and help them get some exercise. If you've got the space, parents rave about how much their kids love these [slack line sets ($80)](https://www.amazon.com/Slackline-Kit-Training-Line-Protectors/dp/B017KQRVBC/){: rel=nofollow}. Want a whole obstacle course in a box? Yup, that's [a thing ($200)](https://www.amazon.com/Ninja-Warrior-Obstacle-Course-Kids/dp/B07WPG5LG1/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=slack+lines+for+backyard+for+kids&qid=1597944817&sr=8-5){: rel=nofollow}. + +### Gameschooling with Board and Card Games +Sushi Go + +Whether you're homeschooling, remote schooling or some other form of schooling, remember that school doesn't have to be *a thing*. The world is full of educational opportunities. Consider the humble board or card game for example. Sure it's a fun family Friday night activity, but it's also capable of providing an enjoyable learning experience. Just don't tell your kids that. In fact, you can base an entire educational program around games, it's called game schooling. + +I'll let you search to learn more, but one of my favorite resources for this sort of thing is [GameSchool Academy](https://homeschoolgameschool.com/), which has countless [board and card game suggestions](https://homeschoolgameschool.com/gameschooling/) based on what you want to learn—math, reading, science, strategy. Lately Sushi Go (a great game for improving math skills in younger kids) has been the most popular game in our home. + +### As Above, So Below +Celestron + +Celestron's telescope can open up a whole new world for your kids. Thanks to the companion app you can auto-locate major stars and nebulae with just a few taps on a smartphone. Unlike many cumbersome motorized telescope-app setups, Celestron keeps theirs affordable with a wonderfully low-tech solution—a mirror. A mount sticks off to the side of the telescope, holds your phone in place, points the phone's camera into a mirror to figure out where the scope is pointed, and directs you to move it accordingly. These days especially, it's nice to point your kids to worlds beyond ours. + +### Build a Robot + +LEGO's Spike Prime building set is a complete DIY Robot building classroom in a box. Literally. Prior to the abrupt rise in distance learning LEGO marketed this primarily to schools. It comes with its own lesson plans and is probably best-suited to the dedicated homeschooling family looking to add a robotics component to their lessons. Don't let the seriousness fool you though, my kids love this set and went from never having used it to programming their own robots (using the drag and drop Scratch programming language) is a couple of afternoons. After the Nugget couch above, this is the most popular thing in our house these days. + + + +No matter what back to school means in your house, there will be things to print out. While many of us like to think the printer belongs with the fax machine in the dustbin of history, parents know better. Be it worksheets, instructions, coloring pages, or forms for school, printers are a still a part of life. They're not, however, a particularly fun part of life so I say keep it cheap and simple. Now there are certainly cheaper ink jet printers, but now that I have this Brother Laser, I will never go back. It is well worth the money to eliminate the hassle of ink cartilages (it's B&W only, if you need color [check out this model](https://www.amazon.com/Brother-HL-L3230CDW-Providing-Wireless-Replenishment/dp/B07FMYYXZD/?tag=w050b-20){: rel=nofollow}). If you want something less expensive up front—though remember, ink cartridges are where the companies make their money—I've also used this Canon Pixma MG3620 ([$45, Target](https://www.target.com/p/canon-pixma-mg3620-wireless-inkjet-all-in-one-printer-black-0515c002/-/A-49174092){: rel=nofollow}) which is often on sale for less than $50. + + + +CuriosityStream is a subscription-based, video-on-demand streaming service with more than 3,000 nonfiction documentaries on subjects such as science, history, and culture. In addition to original content, it also licenses films made by production companies all over the world. It’s been hard to check out its other offerings because, for the past few weeks, my children have been riveted by the BBC nature series Walking with Dinosaurs. + +CuriosityStream is available as an app on both iOS and Android devices, as well as on Roku, SlingTV, and other services. It also has a kids mode that allows parents to filter out inappropriate content. + + + + +Back to school is a little different this year. Depending on where you live, you might be doing distance learning, part-time distance learning, or perhaps even trying your hand at home schooling. To help you out, we've pulled together some of our favorite educational , toys and must-have tools to help ensure you have a smooth school year, whether you want to supplement your child's distance learning program, or build out your own home schooling program. + +https://www.amazon.com/Celestron-Beginner-Microscope-1200x-magnifaction/dp/B00LPKQ7O2/ + + play couch friction pens -cheap laptop -book subscription service (scholastic has a deal, 50 books for $50 bucks) -telescope portable speaker for podcasts -board games whiteboard - several sizes cheap printer jump rope -curiosity stream +My kids do not like pencils, but they're kids, they need to be able to erase things. That's where these friction pens come in, they write like pens and erase like pencils. They're also great for science experiments because they erase when they heat up (hence the name). Write something out, stick them in the direct sunlight and the writing disappears. Bring them back in and stick them in the refrigerator and the writing magically re-appears. + + +cheap laptop +book subscription service (scholastic has a deal, 50 books for $50 bucks) +telescope +board games + +Best Bargain +Tribit StormBox + +Podcasts are a great way to entertain and educate your children without using a screen. Be sure to check out [our guide to kid's podcasts](https://www.wired.com/story/best-podcasts-for-kids/) for some ideas. Then grab this cheap, but still impressive sounding 7-inch speaker. The battery lasts an impressive 20-ish hours, and an IPX7 waterproof rating means it will stand up to the occasional spill. Another option is the [JBL Clip 2 ($60)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01F24RGHI/?tag=w050b-20){: rel=nofollow}, which also has decent sound, and features an auxiliary input, which is handy if you and to repurpose an old iPod or other device that doesn't support Bluetooth. + + +https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00UNNRFOI/ + +Whiteboard + +Depending on how schools—and your workplace—reopen, your sanity may depend on more screen time for your children. Choose the right screen. + +Depending on how your school is working this fall you may not really want to encourage too much extra screen time (grab the jump rope and slack lines listed above), but all parents know there are times when you just need to keep the kids occupied for a few minutes. That's where [CuriosityStream](https://fave.co/2xP9Ak4){: rel=nofollow} comes in. It's a subscription-based documentary video streaming service. CuriosityStream has more than 3,000 nonfiction documentaries on subjects ranging from ecology to history to ecological history. In addition to original content, it also licenses films made by production companies all over the world. + +CuriosityStream is available as an app on both iOS and Android devices, as well as on Roku, SlingTV, and other services. It also has a kids mode that allows parents to filter out inappropriate content. + +Tablets have several advantages over cheap laptops, especially for younger kids. They're easier to hold, touch interfaces seem more intuitive, and both FireOS and iOS offer good parental controls so you can keep tabs on what your little ones are doing online. My favorite kid-friendly tablet is the Fire HD 8 Kids Edition. The hardware is less than amazing, but it's good enough for most kid-related tasks and the extras make it even more attractive. You get a one-year subscription to Amazon's FreeTime Unlimited (a $36 value), which ensures that every one of the 2,000-plus videos, apps, games, books, Audible books, or websites that your child encounters on the 8-inch screen is age-appropriate. There's also a dashboard for your phone you can use to monitor everything. The slightly larger [10-inch version ($200)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KD7K4B1?ref=MarsFS_TAB_FHD10KIDS){: rel=nofollow} may be easier for older kids to use. + +If your kids are a bit older, say 10 and up, and you want a tablet that will continue to serve them as they get older the iPad is probably a better choice. Our guide to finding the right iPad will help you pick a good model. Also consider the handy-me-down device. Older iPads, phones, and tablets are often plenty powerful enough for kids and can save you a bundle. + +Whether you're homeschooling, remote schooling or some other form of schooling, remember that school doesn't have to be *a thing*. The world is full of educational opportunities. Consider the humble board or card game for example. Sure it's a fun family Friday night activity, but it's also capable of providing an enjoyable learning experience. Just don't tell your kids that. In fact, you can base an entire educational program around games, it's called game schooling. I'll let you search to learn more, but one of my favorite resource for this sort of thing is [GameSchool Academy](https://homeschoolgameschool.com/), which has countless [board and card game suggestions](https://homeschoolgameschool.com/gameschooling/) based on what you want to learn—math, reading, science, strategy. Lately Sushi Go (a great game for improving math skills in younger kids) has been the most popular game in our home. + +No matter what back to school means in your house, there will be things to print out. While many of us like to think the printer belongs with the fax machine in the dustbin of history, parents know better. Be it worksheets, instructions, coloring pages, or forms for school, printers are a still a part of life. They're not, however, a particularly fun part of life so I say keep it cheap and simple. Now there are certainly cheaper ink jet printers, but now that I have this Brother Laser, I will never go back. It is well worth the money to eliminate the hassle of ink cartilages (it's B&W only, if you need color [check out this model](https://www.amazon.com/Brother-HL-L3230CDW-Providing-Wireless-Replenishment/dp/B07FMYYXZD/?tag=w050b-20){: rel=nofollow}). If you want something less expensive up front—though remember, ink cartridges are where the companies make their money—I've also used this Canon Pixma MG3620 ([$45, Target](https://www.target.com/p/canon-pixma-mg3620-wireless-inkjet-all-in-one-printer-black-0515c002/-/A-49174092){: rel=nofollow})which is often on sale for less than $50. |