ARIZONA NEWS

Free online education program launches for Arizona students

Apr 2, 2020, 4:25 AM | Updated: Apr 14, 2020, 11:48 am

(Getty Images/Omar Marques)...

(Getty Images/Omar Marques)

(Getty Images/Omar Marques)

PHOENIX — Parents and teachers have had to think of creative ways to educate and entertain their students since Arizona schools were shut down due to the coronavirus.

The new online Wide Open School program aims to make that easier.

Now, you can do a science project with your second grader using Exploratorium. Take your sixth grader on a “field trip” with a live video feed from the San Diego Zoo. Practice meditation with your high school student using the Khan Academy.

Common Sense, a nonprofit education program, launched Wide Open School on Tuesday to give parents, students and teachers free access to leading online education material.

The program has partnered with leading education brands including PBS, Sesame Workshop, Khan Academy, National Geographic and Noggin, said Ilana Lowery, the Arizona director for Common Sense Media

“We’ve brought together a very unique group of partners to pull this off,” she said.

Wide Open Schools offers a variety of lessons and projects ranging from typical school subjects like math and social studies to outside growth lessons including improving life skills and emotional well-being.

Lessons are split between age groups pre-K through fifth grade and grades six through 12. In doing so, the model gives parents and teachers a way to easily plan out activities for their kids.

“They can quickly and really easily sort of map out their day and their week even with a real balance of academic and other activities,” Lowery said. “It’s very high-quality, vetted choices … The goal is to keep kids learning, entertained, and then both physically and creatively engaged.”

Just because your kid isn’t at school doesn’t mean they can’t be learning.

With Wide Open School, parents and educators can find an abundance of lessons in one spot at no cost.

“It really streamlines what would otherwise be a really arduous process for parents who are so overwhelmed right now,” Lowery said.

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Ali Vetnar contributed to this report.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Pass it along to the KTAR News team here.

Eyes on Education presented by:

Maricopa Community Colleges

Arizona News

A teenager was fatally wounded in a shooting on Oct. 30, 2024, according to the Phoenix Police Depa...

KTAR.com

Police trying to identify suspect after teen killed in south Phoenix shooting

Police are trying to identify a suspect in a south Phoenix shooting that claimed the life of a teenager earlier this week.

6 hours ago

Apache County Attorney Michael Whiting...

Associated Press

Apache County Attorney has salary stripped, law license suspended

The Apache County Attorney who faces criminal charges of misusing public funds will be stripped of his salary just days before standing unopposed for reelection as a Democrat.

8 hours ago

Maricopa County employees...

Associated Press

Maricopa County employees taking on extra shifts to help process early ballots

Maricopa County employees are taking on extra shifts to help election workers with an around-the-clock operation to process early ballots that are an unusually long two pages.

9 hours ago

Phoenix Children's...

Angela Gonzales/Phoenix Business Journal

Phoenix Children’s walks away from giant health insurance contract

Phoenix Children's, one of the nation's largest pediatric health systems, turned down an $80 million offer from one of Arizona's largest health insurers in a heated contract dispute.

11 hours ago

Judge gavel and baby crib...

Payne Moses

Suspect arrested 38 years after sexual assault, kidnapping case opened in Phoenix

After 38 years, a suspect accused of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a Phoenix toddler was identified and arrested.

11 hours ago

Follow @Logan_Newsman...

Sponsored Content by Day & Night Air Conditioning, Heating and Plumbing

Why a Heating Tune-Up is Essential Before Winter

PHOENIX, AZ — With cooler weather on the horizon, making sure your heating system is prepped and ready can make all the difference in staying comfortable this winter.

Sponsored Articles

...

Morris Hall

West Hunsaker, through Morris Hall, supports Make-A-Wish Foundation in Arizona

KTAR’s Community Spotlight this month focuses on Morris Hall and its commitment to supporting the Make-A-Wish Foundation in Arizona.

...

Bright Wealth Management

Here’s how to save money on retirement planning

PHOENIX -- With inflation still going on, people planning on retiring still face many issues on when they can retire and how much money they need to achieve it.

...

Sanderson Ford

3 storylines to get you revved up for the 2024 Arizona Cardinals

Arizona Cardinals training camp is just a couple weeks away starting on July 25, and Sanderson Ford is revved up and ready to go.

Free online education program launches for Arizona students