KC’s Online Playground: Penguins and Puppets and Virtual Playdates, Oh My!
Monday, April 13, 2020
Need a break from 24/7 information on the pandemic? Many local institutions and organizations are adapting their content and programming (for free) during this time of sheltering in place. Here are some links to just a few.
- The Kansas City Zoo offers fun, livestreamed videos of various zoo animals, from otters and penguins to orangutans. Check out its YouTube channel.
- The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art offers a variety of ways to visit and learn digitally through its Nelson-Atkins@home offerings, including virtual art tours, storytelling, and activity sheets.
- The National World War I Museum and Memorial has a plethora of online exhibits and tours, plus virtual classes including the upcoming Mrs. Wilson’s Knitting Circle on May 1.
- The Mesner Puppet Theatre’s YouTube channel offers videos ranging from puppet-related crafts to exercises in “I Am” poetry allowing children (and their grownups) to explore their thoughts and feelings. You can also watch clips of their live performances.
- The Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art offerings include its Virtual Playdates video series. It provides step-by-step tutorials on creating art inspired by works currently on view museum, using materials easily found around the home. You can also browse their collection online.
- The American Jazz Museum’s Museum at Home offers virtual tours of its collection, specially curated Spotifty playlists, and jazz-related coloring pages and activity sheets.
- The KC Online Music Series offers a platform for local musicians to provide virtual nightly entertainment until live concerts return.