NYCDOE Remote Learning for April 9-17

During this unprecedented time, you have been invaluable partners in bringing remote learning to life
for our students, while we are all home doing our part to keep everyone healthy and safe. In the coming
days that were originally planned to be spring recess, we want to help you create fun, themed activities
for students to participate in with family or by themselves at home, as well as virtual field trips.

Below are some preliminary examples of activities, which will be added to TeachHub in the coming days
and include resources developed by partners such as the UFT Teacher Center and Discovery Education.
Schools are free to choose one or more of these resources as their plan of activities for these days, or
they may choose to adapt these activities or leverage their own engaging activities to meet the needs of
their students. We encourage schools to share their ideas with us and with each other as we prepare
for these days.

We hope that students will also find ways to reflect and show gratitude for all those around us- whether
it’s family and teachers helping them each day, to grocery store workers and building supers, to health
care workers. It is a time for us to be grateful for big and small things as we support each other.

Thursday, April 9th - College and Career Readiness: Looking Forward to

My Future

Overall Theme:  College and Career Day - “A Day in the Life...” 

Objective:
Engage students and families from all backgrounds with celebrating their goals for the future, including
their journey to meaningful careers. Younger learners will engage in fun activities with their families on
in envisioning their future and older students will have new opportunities to plan for their future in
whatever field might be of interest to them.    
 
Content Examples by Grade Band – More activities will be available this week to support schools in
planning: 
 PK-2, Sample Activity: When I Grow Up… 
o Families will talk with their children about careers they might want to pursue and then
students will draw a self-portrait illustrating a career of their choice.  
 Grades 3-5, Sample Activity: Matching My Skills and Interests to my Future Career 
o Write or illustrate a letter of support and encouragement to Class of 2020 seniors. Take a
pic, read it aloud or type and share on social media with hashtag (i.e. #FutureReadyNYC,
#YouReady, #BronxReady, etc.). 
 Grades 6-8, Sample Activity: College & College Life Exploration 
o Students will explore colleges through virtual tours. 
o Students will connect with current CUNY students via video conference to reflect on their
virtual tour and explore “A Day in the Life” of a college student through personal narrative. 
 Grades 9-10, Sample Activity: Career Awareness, Exploration, and Planning 
o Go on virtual visits to careers and colleges/postsecondary programs that you are
considering.   
 Grades 11-12, Sample Activity: Career Preparation and Training   
o Lunch and Learn with Employers - Pick and register for a lunch and learn session with
employer panels in three industry sectors: Information Technology and Media; Business and
Finance and Healthcare.  

Friday, April 10th and April 17th - Arts 

 
Overall Theme: Arts: Spring Break Family Fun with the Arts!  

Objective: Over two days, students and families are invited to explore together active arts making
adventures in Dance, Music, Theater, Visual Arts and the Moving Image. These activities will allow
students and families to come together on projects across disciplines that will allow students to express
themselves and share their talent with their school communities. 
 
Content Examples by Grade Band – More activities will be available this week to support schools in
planning: 
 PK-2, Sample Activities: 
o Rainbows in the Window
 Students will decorate their windows at home with rainbows to express gratitude to
front line workers and learn how children from around the world are supporting
each other.
o Playdough Art
 Families can be creative using an easy to make Playdough “recipe” for molding and
sculpting things that make people smile.
 Grades 3-5, Sample Activities: 
o Ten Minute Photo Challenge 
 How can families take creative dance photos in their homes, using household
objects as set pieces and props?
 Students and their families will participate in a 10-Minute Photo Challenge inspired
by the work of photographer Jordan Matter and Ballet Dancer Michaela Deprince.
o Springtime Collage
 Families can use any kind of paper to create a collage. They can use magazines,
newspapers or cereal boxes. Colleges can be dedicated to our heros or to say Thank
you!
o Identity Wire Sculpture
 Families create free standing wire sculptures based on individual and family
identities.
 Grades 6-8, Sample Activities: 
o Our Musical Legacy 
 Family members of all generations share the music that was passed down to them
from older relatives and members of the community, then have a family sing-along.
o Responding to the Arts
 Watch the Alvin Ailey Dance Company perform Revelations. Families can mimic
moves and discuss the power of dance as a means of artistic expression.
 High School, Sample Activities: 
o Bringing the World into Our Homes…Virtually! 
  Though video clips and images of artwork, families explore a variety of museum
sites, and following exploration, questions, and discussion, create artwork with a
global theme. 
 Explain each family will role such as each of us will look up a different museum. 
Then each of us will choose a piece of art that interests us. And then each of us will
answer three questions. 
o Try out Sketchpad!
 This free online digital illustration program allowing students to draw original
images, use clipart from an extensive library, and import pictures from the internet
to blend into their work.

Monday, April 13th - Science 

 
Overall Theme: Exploring science in the home! 

Objective:  To provide students and their families an opportunity to engage in  design challenges and
opportunities to explore the natural world from home. These interactive activities will allow for hands-
on learning of the design process and provide students the opportunity to engage in virtual trips to the
natural world from home.

Content Examples by Grade Band – More activities will be available this week to support schools in
planning: 
 All Grades (PK-12)
o Try out an activity from Science Matters: Tips for Busy Parents - NSTA. From lava lamps
to magic milk eruptions and more, these simple science experiments and STEM activities
that parents can do with their children will wow the students and keep them engaged.
 PK-2, Sample Activity:  Rube Goldberg Challenge Stage 1
o Students work with family members to design and build a Rube Goldberg machine (a chain
reaction contraption) to complete a task such as knocking an object down or into water,
Open a book, Ring a bell, Hole in one, Open a box/ close a box, Put a coin in a coin bank,
Pour something into a cup. 
o For this level the machine should have two steps, later grades could increase the number of
steps.  Students make a video of their machine completing the task to share. 
 Grades 3-5, Sample Activity: Virtual visit to the Bronx Zoo
o Students and families virtually tour the Bronx Zoo.
 Grades 6-8, Sample Activity: Virtual visit of the Smithsonian Natural History Museum 
o Students and families virtually tour the Smithsonian Natural History Museum
 High School, Sample Activity:  Rube Goldberg Challenge Stage 4
o Students work with family members to design and build a Rube Goldberg machine to
complete a task such as knocking an object down or into water, Open a book, Ring a bell,
Hole in one, Open a box/ close a box, Put a coin in a coin bank, Pour something into a cup. 
o For this level the machine should have 7+ steps.  Students take a video of their machine
completing the task to share. 

Tuesday, April 14th - Computer Science 

 
Overall Theme: CS4All’s Create, Compute, and Community Day 
 
Objective: We want to give students and parents of all ages a fun and engaging introduction to
computer science. These ideas are designed for every student and family to engage in activities that
show how computational thinking can be used to solve problems and express every child’s identity. 
 
Content Examples by Grade Band – More activities will be available this week to support schools in
planning: 
 PK-2:
o Sample Activity: Giving instructions to successfully complete a maze 
 Families will lay out tiles (or other objects found at home) to form a maze and think
of what commands they need to follow to solve it (move one step forward, turn left,
turn right, etc.) 
 Repeat, make the maze longer or more complex 
 Get other family members to try to solve the maze
o Try out an activity from Code.org
 Dance Party, Minecraft and Astronomy are but a few of the fun and engaging
activities families can engage in through coding.Code.org is launching Code Break —
a live, weekly interactive classroom where their team will teach children at home
while school is closed, and a weekly challenge to engage students of all abilities,
even those without computers.
 Grades 3-5, Sample Activity: Creating a Scratch project representation of a room in the home
o Students will think of 3 items in a room that are the most interesting to them 
o They will open Scratch, add sprites that represent these 3 items, and learn how to make
them interactive 
o Students will continue to explore Scratch and experiment with different features of it 
 Grades 6-8, Sample Activity: Drawing images using JavaScript 
o Students will be taught how to draw images using the p5 library of JavaScript 
o They will learn how to make rectangles and ovals, and will be given challenges of pictures to
try to recreate 
o Afterwards, students can create their own pictures and learn how to make other shapes 
 High School, Sample Activity: Making a poster using JavaScript 
o Students will be given code that creates a poster using p5 
o They will see how they can create comments and utilize work that already exists as a
baseline to make their own creations 
o Afterwards, students will create their own posters using a sample as a base 
 

Wednesday, April 15th - Health and Wellness 

 
Overall Theme: Wellness Wednesday: Discover How You Can Be a Wellness Champion while staying
indoors and practicing social distancing with Physical Education activities and Social, Emotional and
Mental Health Education activities  
 
Objective: As a system, the NYCDOE uses the Supportive Environment Framework to support the
mental, physical and emotional wellness of each student and to ensure a safe, welcoming & affirming
environment for all students, families and educators. During Wellness Wednesday, students and families
will have a chance to learn about these domains of wellness through instructional enrichment and
experiential activities. This will include, but is not limited to: 
 Physical Education and Health Education extension activities 
 Physical activity & Healthy Habits (eat a healthy snack, do a 15-minute mindfulness exercise) 
 Learning about and/or practicing a restorative circle as a family 
 Affirming and honoring one’s identity through CR-SE activities 
 
Content Examples by Grade Band – More activities will be available this week to support schools in
planning: 
 All Grades (PK – 12):
o Choose and Take a Virtual Vacation or Walk in the Park as a Family
o Disney’s Favorite Rides—virtually: https://parade.com/1018029/alexandra-
hurtado/virtual-disney-rides/
o National Parks Virtual Tours:
https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/photosmultimedia/virtualtours.htm
o Parks @ Home: Take a virtual walk in the Park! Learn more about our NYC urban park
rangers and the many living things we encounter everyday.
 PK-2, Sample Activities: 
o Create a family physical activity pact: Choose a time every day to engage in physical activity 
 Download the Move-to-Improve World Beats Album. Play any song on the album
and practice your animal walks as you are able. 
o Discuss: What was your favorite animal to imitate? Which animal moved the
fastest? How did one animal move differently or similarly with another? Can you
invent a new animal movement? Show me.  
o Child’s Play in Action
 Treasure Hunts, Making Puppets and Animal Identification Games are some of the
engaging early childhood activities families can share. This website houses many
free videos for children to use their imagination.
 Grades 3-5, Sample Activities: 
o Learning From Empathy: Look up the definition of empathy. Talk about why it is important
to understand other people’s feelings and point of view. Use the empathy cards from the
lesson materials (will include) to share a time that you had similar feelings. As a family,
discuss what it means to have empathy for people affected by COVID-19 and/or those
working to keep everyone safe. Answer these questions: 
 Did someone in your family share something that surprised you? 
 Were your feelings similar to or different from your family? 
 How might health care workers or first responders be feeling right now? 
 Grades 6-8, Sample Activities: 
o “Story of my name”: Students discuss with their family where their name came from, what it
represents/how it was chosen. Families can do the same in return 
o Create a family physical activity plan: Assess your physical activity levels over the past week 
 Student asks family: How many minutes of physical activity have you done per
day over the past week? What are your daily goals for physical activity for the
coming weeks? What types of activities would you like to do? 
 Student uses the information gathered to develop a plan.  
 High School, Sample Activities: 
 o Spring Break Townhall by students for students – C4 Campaign: Cultivating Community in
the Climate of Covid-19. Students will host a townhall to share experiences, have their voice
be heard and connect with students across various high schools.  
o Social, Emotional, and Mental Health 
 Students and family members read or watch the poem “Turning to One
Another” by Margaret Wheatley and discuss one or more prompts. 
 Work with family members to create individual mental health plans for when
they are feeling challenging emotions. List actions I can do alone, virtually with
others, or in connection to a professional (could include mental health
resource list). 

Thursday, April 16th - World Languages 

  
Overall Theme: Over the course of World Languages Day, students and families will explore cultures and
languages as assets in a global society.  
  
Objectives: 
Students and families will explore and make connections to rich diversity of languages and cultures in
New York City. Students will build on the core concepts of World Language learning: communication,
comparisons, connections, communities, cultures, as well as lifelong learning: 
o To understand how exploring and understanding the world around us makes us better
global citizens
o To develop an understanding of Spring celebrations around the world  
o To explore the music and art of another culture 
  
Content Examples by Grade Band – More activities will be available this week to support schools in
planning:  
 All Grades (PK-12):
o Each grade band includes an activity that invites students to engage with family members.
Examples: 
 Families will engage in discussions around their family background and home
culture, and how they relate to the world? 
 Families will engage in virtual global scavenger hunts and virtual tours (Google
Expeditions) 
 Families and children will fill out their families’ US Census 2020 form together, using
supporting materials from the US Census website, as necessary.
o Reach out to various organizations and/or their websites such as: 
 United Nations 
 El Barrio Museum 
 Qatar Foundation 
 China Institute 
 Japan Society 
 Hispanic Federation 
 Asia Society Museum 
 Caribbean Cultural Center/African Diaspora Institute 
 PK-2, Sample Activities: What makes me who I am? Global community 
 o Explore and imitate an art form from another culture (choices provided) 
o Students learn greetings in other languages and create a poster of these new words.  
 Grades 3-5, Sample Activities: Explore your home language/culture or another language/culture of
your interest   
o Interview your family member or a peer who has had a different language or cultural
experience.  
 Share a favorite family activity or tradition, ask them to share theirs. If a different
language, teach each other.  
 Consider generational changes. How has the use of home language/culture changed
from generation to generation?  
 Why do you think is the reason for that? Create a hypothesis. 
 Grades 6-8, Sample Activities: World languages in a global society  
o Selection of videos and resources that highlight the importance of world languages in a
global society then, students respond to question such as: what one compelling reason is to
learn a new language in the 21st century; write a brief summary that captures the highlights
presented by this video.   
 High School: Explore the importance of World Languages and Intercultural Competence
o Explore the importance of World Languages and Intercultural Competence in careers
o Explore civic engagement, teen leaders and changemakers from different countries