I don’t know about you, but I’m about to throw out the remaining month of schoolwork for my kids. Is it worth the battles getting it done? Especially when I’ve discovered an abundance of educational, creative, and fun activities online created by Omahan organizations! They can learn science, history, art, biology and more…plus they can get some physical activity in there as well!
My kids have enjoyed tinkering challenges from Omaha Children’s Museum, learning about Omaha history with The Durham Museum, and creative movement lessons with The Rose. How about your kids? Need some ideas? Here are a few of the Omaha groups putting on fantastic classes, sessions, and videos online:
American Midwest Ballet
- They’re sharing online dance classes for different ability levels on their Youtube page. Classes include ballet and other forms of dance and conditioning.
Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts
- The Bemis Center’s Facebook page frequently has live videos featuring lectures, studio tours, and dance parties. They also started sharing “Liv Schulman: The Gobernment,” a six-episode video installation, on Vimeo. Each episode is online for only seven days.
City Sprouts
- Visit City Sprouts’ Facebook page every Friday at 10 a.m. to catch Little Sprouts Live, featuring kid-friendly, virtual lessons on food, gardening, and the natural world. The supply list is posted
Do Space
- Do Space is offering several different webinars for various age groups, including Little’s Lab, Junior Makers, and Kid Coders. Keep track of when these free webinars occur by viewing Do Space’s online calendar.
The Durham Museum
- Digital Learning at home every weekday morning at 10 a.m. Sign up for the Zoom session at the museum’s website. It’s free, but you need to register to get the Zoom meeting invite.
- STEAM Storytime every Monday at 10:30 a.m. on their Facebook page.
Fontenelle Forest
- Visit the forest’s Facebook page for educational virtual talks, some live, and some you’ll have to register to attend via Zoom (it’s free but you need to pre-register), like the upcoming one about American beavers.
Don’t forget to show your support for the organizations you follow and watch. Donate to show your appreciation! The museums and organizations on this list are all nonprofits.
Joslyn Art Museum
- Art Adventures Live! Is held every Friday at 10:30 a.m. on their Facebook page.
- The museum offers a lot of short, virtual classes online, curator talks, and family-oriented art prompts. See all of their offerings on their website.
Kaneko
- Follow the Kaneko-UNO Library Facebook page so you can catch the weekly We Read series. Every Wednesday at noon a new story is shared.
Kerfuffle
- Kerfuffle is theater for the really young. They’re holding weekly donation-based, interactive movement classes on Zoom for children under the age of 6. Register by searching Kerfuffle on Eventbrite or email [email protected]
- They also have daily storytimes on their Facebook page.
Omaha Children’s Museum
- Every morning at 8:30ish, the museum posts a new video on their Facebook page featuring either a Tinker Challenge, Kitchen ABCs recipe, storytime, or a game.
Omaha Community Playhouse
- The community theater’s Henry Fonda Theatre Academy will hold its spring session online. Children attending a class during the spring session earn a scholarship to attend a class during the fall session.
Omaha Conservatory of Music
- Kids can keep up with practicing their instruments or learn a new one through virtual lessons through Omaha Conservatory of Music. Hourly sessions are available.
Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium
- Offering small, $10 virtual classes for different age groups. Register on the zoo’s website.
- Keepers are sharing videos on the zoo’s Facebook page, offering up-close looks at different animals and lots of great learning.
Omaha Performing Arts
- Omaha Performing Arts has movement warm-ups led by Disney Musicals in Schools Teaching Artist, Aaron Derell Gregory, every Wednesday at 10 a.m. The virtual sessions are on YouTube.
- Each Saturday at 11 a.m., tune to O-pa’s YouTube channel for Jazz Academy Teaching Artist, Shawn Bell, who leads short video lessons for students of all ages on different concepts behind jazz improvisation.
Omaha Symphony
- Omaha Symphony offers a vast Virtual Classroom, featuring downloadable packets, and informative videos on instruments, techniques, and helpful tips.
Opera Omaha
- Check the Opera Omaha Facebook page for daily creativity prompts including drawing, creating music inspired by something like the weather, and more.
Pottawattamie Arts, Culture and Entertainment
- The Pottawattamie County arts organization in Council Bluffs shares #ArtFromHome videos on their Facebook page featuring fun art projects.
The Rose Theater
- Follow their Youtube channel for brief acting workshops, theater craft workshops, and movement workshops for kids. There are also videos of readings of stories.
Union Pacific Railroad Museum
- The museum holds free Zoom sessions occasionally, teaching historical lessons connected to the railroad. An upcoming one explores the railroad’s connection to National Parks. Register so you can get the free invite to the Zoom meeting.
- UPRM also holds virtual family events in place of their usual month First Friday events. During these events, the staff will share history, activities, and other fun stuff virtually on Facebook. The next two themes are “Under The Big Top” and “Celebrate Summer.”
Sample Weekly Schedule Of Virtual Classes
It is possible to plan a fun virtual activity each day of the week. Here’s one possible weekly schedule:
- Monday – Watch The Durham Museum’s STEAM Storytime at 10:30 a.m. Find it on their Facebook page.
- Tuesday – Visit Omaha Children’s Museum’s Facebook page after 8:30 a.m. to see what fun activity they have planned for kids today. It could be a tinker challenge, craft, or a game.
- Wednesday – Do a 10-minute movement warm-up at 10 a.m. on Omaha Performing Arts’ Youtube Channel. It’s led by a Disney Musicals in Schools Teaching Artist.
- Thursday – Let’s see what is today’s creative prompt on the Opera Omaha Facebook page.
- Friday – Make some art with Joslyn Art Museum during Art Adventures Live! at 10:30 a.m. on their Facebook page.
- Saturday – Sign the kids up for Little’s Lab through Do Space. The webinar is in the morning.
- Sunday – Feeling limber? Let’s take a beginner dance lesson on the American Midwest Ballet YouTube page.
Get ideas for more virtual experiences around the state of Nebraska!
