We’re all appreciating our children’s teachers a lot more since the start of the covid-19 lockdown, right? Keeping a little one happy and entertained while confined to a limited space can feel like a full-time job for a parent.
With many schools restarting via distance learning, parents can also do with all the support they can get in their new roles in homeschooling. Here are some great free or affordable educational resources that can help you keep your primary school aged child or toddler busy.
WorksheetCloud free online lessons
The people behind the educational app WorksheetCloud are offering a range of free live lessons for grades three to seven on their website. The lessons are presented by real South African teachers. There are up to three hours per day of lessons in essential subjects like maths, natural science and English home language.
Past lessons as well as downloadable learning materials to support learning are also available online. Just browse the available lessons and pick your child’s grade. Check the lesson schedule to see the days and times of each lesson. Join a class from your computer, tablet or cellphone, you don’t have to register.
Multichoice education channel for primary school kids
MultiChoice together with the Mindset Network has launched Mindset Pop, a dedicated channel for Primary School learners.
Mindset Pop (DStv 137) features educational programming covering the entire General Education and Training (GET) phase, including Early Childhood Development (ECD), as well as a key focus on the Grade 4 – 9 curriculum.
Mindset Pop delivers live lessons daily with 6 fresh hours every day. Bringing literacy, numeracy as well as maths, natural sciences, english, life orientation, art and physical education activities. Parents can download worksheets and information sheets to work through with expert teachers. Lessons come live from the studio, where teachers unpack the concepts learners need to understand as well as point you to additional resources. The lessons are based on the South African Curriculum Assessment Policy Statements (CAPS), but are also aligned to the Cambridge curriculum.
Mindset PoP is available to all subscribers across the DStv platforms in South Africa and Africa who tune into DStv channel 317.
SPAR sponsors free numeracy support
The nationwide retailer has teamed up with the Numberwise online maths learning platform to offer a free registration worth R300 for during April, May or June 2020.
The Numberwise programme teaches basic numeracy for all school-aged children. It reinforces the basic concepts that all more complicated maths is based on through a structured online platform that works on computers or mobile devices.
Pick n Pay school club
This major South African retailers offers an affordable online learning support programme with weekly lesson plans in various subjects. They support the South African curriculum for kids from grade R right through to matric.
It is not free, but at R65 per user, per grade, per year this resource is actually a great option for kids who need a little extra support even when normal schooling resumes.