Any-Day Fun
Storyline Online
Storyline Online offers free story times of classic children’s books, read by your favorite celebrities. Selections include Gerald Kelley’s “Please Please the Bees” read by Rashida Jones, Thelma Godin’s “The Hula-Hoopin’ Queen” read by Oprah Winfrey, and more. Each book on the website strengthens comprehension and verbal skills, while also encouraging children to have a lifelong love of books. With hundreds of books to choose from, it is impossible to not find something your child will love.
Visionary Art Projects at Home
In need of some fun, easy craft projects for the kids? The American Visionary Art Museum provides how-to videos and coloring pages to create and design with items from around your home. Crafts include crazy-colored crayon critters, a trash wall and more. Videos are available on AVAM’s Youtube page as well as their website.
Friday
Secret Ninja Rendezvous
Break out your karate moves and get ready to learn the secret skill of the Ninja with the International Spy Museum’s Kid-Spy Workshop “Ninja at Noon.” Follow along with the Spy Museum’s “resident ninja” Viran Ranasinghe as he teaches stealth, endurance, coordination and strategy in order to perfect the mysterious ways of the Ninja. Do you have what it takes to master the ancient art of Ninjutsu? The event is free and registration is required. Noon-1 p.m.
Youth + Mental Health
One Mind is hosting a Stronger Than You Think, a one of a kind live stream focused on youth and mental health during the coronavirus pandemic. With more than 60 celebrities and athletes making appearances, the live stream will include discussions with brain experts and teens. The event, hosted by gymnast Laurie Hernandez, Kelly Osborne, Jordin Sparks and Jeannie Mai, will stream live on Facebook, Twitch and Instagram. 2 to 7 p.m.
Saturday
Cobweb Canvas
Art, bugs and theater, oh my! Join Robinson’s Nature Center and Port Discovery Children’s Museum for a virtual performance of “Cobweb Canvas,” an event combining visual arts with a dramatic theater performance. The play follows Rowan the spider on his journey to become an artist. Kids follow along with their own craft materials to help him design a cobweb masterpiece. The performance is free, however registration is required. Cloth, string, markers, paper and other decorations are needed for the craft portion. 10-11 a.m.
Family Jam Time
Break out the pots and pans and get ready to drum to some groovy beats with percussionist Dante’ Pope as he takes music lovers through an exploration of bucket drumming. Through Strathmore Arts Online Family Jam Sessions, Pope teaches families everything about rhythm and sound by playing percussion instruments from all around the world. Participants jam with items from around the home. The event live-streams on Facebook and is free to watch. 10:15 – 11 a.m.
DIY Plant Press
Preserve the beautiful flowers you find by creating your own plant press. Join The Natural History Museum’s Erika Gardner as she teaches the importance of preserving plants, how to press your own plants, and most importantly, how to create your own plant press with materials at home. Free, but registration is recommended. Visit the Smithsonian website for more information and to sign up for a spot. 11-11:30 a.m.
Sunday
Sunday Morning Storytime
Join the Gaithersburg Book Festival and children’s author Tom Angleberger for a free live reading of his book “Didi Dodo Future Spy: Double-O Dodo #3.” Follow super spy Didi Dodo for an epic who-dunnit tale as she tries to solve the mystery of who stole a cookie chef’s secret fudge recipe for a cookie-baking contest. The event streams on Facebook Live. 11 a.m.-noon
Choose Your Own Adventure
While social-distancing is making finding new places to go harder, The Ivy Bookshop offers the chance to create your own adventure from the comforts of your home. Join Rana Tahir, author of “Choose Your Own Adventure SPIES: Noor Inayat Khan,” for a Zoom workshop on how to write your own cadventure story. The free workshop is open to both children and teens of any age. Registration is required. 1 to 2 p.m.
An Evening of Musical Doodling
Gather the family for a relaxing evening of coloring and music with children’s artist Mo Willems and legendary cellist Yo-Yo Ma. This is The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts’s first online broadcast of “The Yo-Yo Ma Show.” Children of all ages are encouraged to let their creativity flow while learning how different art mediums can interact. The free event streams on the Kennedy Center’s website. 5 to 6 p.m.
