Virtual Picks for the week ahead 11th – 17th June 2020
It’s hard to keep up with everything that’s become available online. Fear not, we’ve done the hard work for you.
From the free streaming of Midsummer’s Night Dream at Shakespeare’s Globe, to baking Cinnamon Rolls live, watching Michael Bourne’s Red Shoes at home or leaning to draw Walt Disney characters in How-to videos, there’s lots to do, watch and enjoy this week.
If you find it useful, please do share this and sign up to the newsletter. We’ll be sending these out every week.
Ways to support BLM
First and foremost we wanted to share some of the different ways you can support the BLM movement.. Please see our previous blog with some useful links and suggestions for what to watch and read to help discuss racism with kids.
Further information, education and donations are highly encouraged to a range of charities and organisations with the explicit aim of stamping out racism and working towards racial equality at home and abroad:
Black Lives Matter – a global campaign, Black Lives Matter seeks an end to white supremacy and police brutality, and works to counter violence and promote black liberation.
Official George Floyd Memorial Fund – a GoFundMe page which helps to cover funeral costs, grief counselling, family assistance, and education cost for George Floyd’s family.
Campaign Zero – a campaign which seeks to end police violence in America.
Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust – named after the London teenager killed in a racially-motivated murder in 1993, the Trust works with young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to help them follow their dream career.
Stand Up To Racism – a UK anti-racism organisation who are also behind the nationwide #TakeTheKnee protest happening tonight (read all about that here)
Show Racism the Red Card – a UK anti-racism charity with its roots in football, Show Racism the Red Card uses education, training, and media to tackle racism in UK society.
If you don’t have the spare funds to donate at this time, a useful initiative has been created by Youtuber Zoe Amira who has made a video filled with the work of black artists and creatives, in which 100% of the ad revenue is being donated a wide range of funds, including bail funds, funeral costs, and advocacy groups. By watching and not skipping the ads, you can raise money for Black Lives Matter. Watch it here There’s also a list of petitions you can sign to support the cause.
We have our previous blog with some useful links and suggestions for what to watch and read to help discuss with kids and for yourself.
For Kids – Sesame Street Discuss Racism and Protesting
CNN partnered with Sesame Street for a special town hall about racism, giving both kids and parents an opportunity to explore the current moment the nation is living through and to understand how these issues affect people.
“Coming Together: Standing Up To Racism” discusses everything from how to fight racism when you see it and who to call when police officers are being unsafe.
The hour-long program features “Sesame Street” characters like Elmo, Abby Cadabby and Rosita. Together, they — along with experts — answered questions submitted by families. Watch it here.
OUR TOP PICKS FOR THE WEEK AHEAD
National Theatre at Home: The Madness of George III, (11th June, 7pm)
Written by one of Britain’s best-loved playwrights Alan Bennett (The History Boys, The Lady in the Van), this epic play was also adapted into a BAFTA Award-winning film following its premiere on stage in 1991.
From 7pm 11th until 18 June
Running Time: 2 hours 10 minutes including a short interval. Watch it here.
BBFC rating for cinemas: 12A
The Quest – Screen-free fun for families at home (Listen for free from 12th June)
The Quest is a story about adventure. After receiving a mysterious call during lockdown, a librarian and her housemates set out on a quest to discover the meaning of adventure.
Join the screen-free fun: this imaginative audio play offers you a chance to join in with activities to become part of the story. This original story was written especially for 5 to 10 year olds and their family. It features original sound design and music. See more here
Royal Opera House’s – La Fille mal gardée (12th – 26th June)
Frederick Ashton’s La Fille mal gardée (The Wayward Daughter) is one of the choreographer’s most joyous and colourful creations. Inspired by his love for the Suffolk countryside, the ballet is set on a farm and tells a story of love between Lise, the daughter of Widow Simone, and Colas, a young farmer
See more here and more of their other free streams here.
The Show Must go on: The Wiz (12th June for 48 hours)
This week The Wiz will be available from 7pm BST on Friday 12th June for 48 hours featuring Queen Latifah, Mary J Blige, David Alan, Grier, Ne-Yo, Elijah Kelly, Uzo Aduba, Amber Riley, Common, Stephanie Mills and Shanice Williams.
Sofa Singers (Tue, Fri and Sundays)
The Sofa Singers is a free & weekly online singing event that brings hundreds of people together from around the world to spark joy. The Sofa Singers brings together hundreds of people in real time for 45 minutes of simultaneous singing.
You need to register to see that weeks show – registration opens every Sunday at 5pm BST for the sessions that week. You do need to register for each individual event but it’s FREE and takes a couple of minutes.
Afterwards, there’s a virtual tea break followed by some open floor slots where individuals can say hello and share a song, a poem or a story. Join here.
Zoom and Gloom Theatre Fun for ages 5+ (Sat 13th June 11-12pm, Sun 14th 4-5pm)
A brand-new comedy for all the family to watch together! From the Roustabout Theare. (It’s not all) Zoom and Gloom is a heart-warming, daft, and very funny play, celebrating the wonderful creativity that so many have shown during lockdown, and the nonsense that comes with any attempt to communicate online. A comedy created for Zoom, performed live, and semi improvised (depending on the scale of technical difficulties!).
When friends gather together for an online chat with the ever-grumpy Ben, they find that nothing they can say will cheer him up. It’s free to watch but grab your ticket here.
“#BringingChinatownHome Cookalong (Saturday 13th 6pm)
Masterchef stars Ping Coombes (2014 champion) and Sandy Tang (2020 finalist) are taking part in a series of live cook-a-longs on the Chinatown London Instagram channel. Coombes and Tang have been challenged to help bring Chinatown home by recreating some classic, easy-to-make Chinatown London dishes..
This Saturday at 6pm you can learn to cook Plum Valley’s Sea Spiced Aubergine and Tofu Hot Pot with Sandy Tang.
Keep an eye on @ChinatownLondon for the full recipe and prep videos.
See here
FREE weekly Story, Song and Movement Sessions for 2-5 year olds (Every Monday)
Story, song and movement YOUTUBE sessions for very young children.FREE weekly, fun and interactive online video sessions for children aged 2-5 years and their parents and carers, based on story books and well known songs. No need to book, just tune in! Join Little Story Seekers closed Facebook group to gain access . Join here
Shakespeare’s Globe A Midsummer Night’s Dream 15th -28th June)
This week’s The Globe share their 2013 production of Midsummer’s Night Dream. Watch it here.
Also check out the storytelling online for 5-12 year olds, paid for story sessions that are selling out fast. Join the Globe’s practitioners on a playful journey into the woods for Shakespeare’s most sparkling comedy in this interactive online storytelling session.Find out more here
Natural History Museums’ Nature Live Online: Rivers of Mars (16th June, 12-12.45 pm)
Although cold and arid now, Mars once had lakes and rivers too. Join Museum scientist Joel Davis to find out how these ancient water bodies were discovered, what they can reveal about past climate change on the red planet and how they could be instrumental in the search for ancient microbial life.
Once aired, you can rewatch this talk and any others on the Nature Live playlist on YouTube.
Bread Ahead IG LIVE Baking.(2pm daily)
At 2pm on Instagram live we’ll be sharing our favourite baking lessons with you. Check out the upcoming recipes.. Plus there’s online baking ebooks available to purchase here
CINNAMON BUNS 10th June
PALMIERS 11th June
BAGUETTE 12th June
LEMON MERINGUE PIE 13th June
PAVLOVA WITH BERRIES 14th June
ANYTIME
Wimbledon Activity Fun
Wimbledon may be cancelled but the team there have put together # a series of fun and engaging activities for kids both big and small.
Each activity pack is downloadable. Some activities can be completed online. Others will need to be printed off (they will have a printer-friendly icon on the page).
Activities include word searches, quizzes, crafts, codebreaking, drawing and social media challenges. See more here
Matthew Bourne’s The Red Shoes from Home
One of the major dance productions cut short by the coronavirus crisis was Matthew Bourne’s tour of The Red Shoes, his rapturously received version of the Powell and Pressburger film.
The Red Shoes from Home has been created by the cast of the show during lockdown and they perform among children’s toys in their living rooms, on tables, in gardens and backyards, and in the kitchen. This 12 minute film is not to be missed! Check it out here
Watch Not Now, Bernard and get a free picture book
Have you been ignoring your little monsters? Watch Not Now, Bernard by David McKee, where a little boy tries to warn his parents about a monster in the garden – but they’re too busy to listen! Ben Bailey Smith has reenacted the story to mark its 40th anniversary.
David McKee has written and illustrated over 50 picture books for Andersen Press including Not Now, Bernard and the Elmer series. Read Charlotte’s Piggy Bank to find out what happens when a little girl receives a new present from her aunt which turns out to be rather special. You can download the book below completely free. Read it here.
How-to-Video tutorials on Favourite Disney Characters
You may not be able to visit the theme parks for now, but you can learn the ways of Walt Disney‘s iconic artistry at home! In a collection of how-to videos, Disney Parks cast member Stephen Ketchum offers lessons for drawing the studio’s iconic mascot Mickey Mouse, Tinkerbell, Queen Elsa from Frozen and more. Josh Gad even makes a cameo in a lesson about drawing his Frozen character, Olaf.
Check out the videos here.
Knowsley Home School Online Safari
Home School Safari is an online, free to access, learning resource hub from Learning & Discovery at Knowsley Safari. Education videos, resources and learning aids for parents and teachers, in the class or at home.
There’s Animal Talk videos on Giraffe’s, Meerkats Mammals and Rainforest and so much more. Check it out here.
Free App to help kids with Spelling and Times Tables
Need help getting the kids learning and progressing with spelling and times tables?
Brainbox Games provides fun educational games that support primary children’s understanding of spelling rules and times tables. Run by primary school teachers and leaders, they understand exactly what children and parents need.
Creative Fun with Cass Arts
Keeping everyone entertained at home can be tricky at the best of times, so the team at Cass Arts have collated some of their favourite creative activities to make things as easy as possible, provide a spark of inspiration and add some fun during these challenging times. With downloadable colouring and activity sheets, plus online art tutorials. Check out more here.