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We have gathered a selection of ideas and websites for creative activities to do from home. We hope you enjoy these and welcome your comments, suggestions or questions about the content on this page.
Visit our partner programmes World of Work and Music Education Islington
for more Music and Career home learning activites!
Home Learning - Music Education Islington
What's new!
Spring Specials...
Shemza Digital
We are delighted to invite you to take part in Shemza Digital, a new online project where you can create your own digital painting based on the work of Pakistani modernist painter Anwarjalal Shemza. Created by Aphra Shemza & Stuart Batchelor.
The artwork invites the public to create their own computer art painting using elements such as style, forms, colors and aesthetics from Aphra's grandfather's work, the well-known modernist British/Pakistani painter Anwar Jalal Shemza.
This project is accessible for all ages and can be used to explore topics such as immigration, heritage alongside art and design.
Design tool and introductory Video (Website)
Museum of London
Fun Learning at Home
Families don't need to visit the museum of London to enjoy the fun. Here are some great ways to play and learn at home!
Museum of London Fun learning at home (Website)
Barbican's Squish Space Online for under 5's
We’re bringing Squish Space, our sensory play sessions for under 5s, online as a Facebook Group to keep you inspired with fun and creative activities for you to try at home with the family.
Join Squish Space Online (Barbican Website)
Each day, we’ll share a play prompt in the Barbican Families: Squish Space Activities Facebook Group that you can do using things you have around the house or classroom. Let us know how you’re joining in – and share any other tips and activities with the group. We’re excited to share this new series of activities with families and early years settings – help us spread the word by inviting others to join and don’t forget to share with us your creations. We’ve made this a private group as we’d like this to be a fun and safe space for people to come together, just like the Squish Space sessions in our centre.
Squish Space is produced by artists India Harvey and Lisa Marie Bengtsson in collaboration with Barbican Guildhall Creative Learning.
Peace and Last - An interactive storytime with families and Under 5s
Join All Change Associate Artists Fran Lobo and Sarah Blanc for a special interactive storytime for families and under 5s
Join Peace at Last Interactive Storytime (Website)
Inspired by Peace at Last by Jill Murphy. Pop on your pyjamas and snuggle down to enjoy this perfect bedtime treat! Watch whenever suits you and as often as you like.The whole family can watch and join in together. With songs, sounds and actions - this will leave everyone ready for a good and peaceful night's sleep!
If you enjoy this - find more interactive stories and activities for families and under 5s from All Change
Little Angel Theatre Shows and Activities
Little Angel Theatre is Islington's home for puppetry. Over the holidays they are offering three fantastic christmas shows online for free!
The Girl and the Raven (From 17 January 2021)
A short adaptation of the Icelandic folk legend of The Girl and The Raven. The story is based on events surrounding a huge landslide in Vatnsdalur, Iceland in 1545, laying waste to the farm of Skíðastaðir. Thirteen people died, but tradition says that one girl survived in an extraordinary manner…
Watch The Girl and the Raven (YouTube)
If you enjoyed the shows and would like to support Little Angel Theatre, you can make a donation.
Activities
Although the Little Angel Theatre is currently closed for public performances, their staff are super creative people and they will be using their time to generate a whole host of stay-at-home activity guides to help keep you and your little ones entertained. All of the guides will use simple materials (most of which can be found around the home) and are aimed at children from 3 to 11.
Little Angel Theatre Activities (Website)
Winter Holiday Activity Pack from the Institute of Physics
The Institute of Physics has released a new pack of physics-themed activities for Year 4 and 5 children and their families to do together during the holiday.
This pack contains fun activities that children can do by themselves or with their families, including:
- Winter-themed science experiments and challenges to get the family playing together
- Engaging articles to help support literacy and build science vocabulary
- Design and writing prompts to encourage creativity
- “Meet a Physicist” features to give children relatable science role models in a diverse range of careers
- A science scavenger hunts to encourage children to think about the role of science and engineering in the world around them
Free Winter Activity Pack from the Institute of Physics (PDF)
Tall Stories
Tall Stories is a registered charity which has become internationally recognised for its exciting blend of storytelling theatre, original music and lots of laughs.
Tales of Light
Gather round for Tall Stories' Tales of Light, a brand new series of short stories for audiences aged 4+ and their families.
Join us for stories old and new, told by our brilliant company members, available for free to watch at anytime
Watch Tales of Light by Tall Stories (Website)
Unicorn Free Online Theatre
This winter the Unicorn Theatre, UK's Theatre for Young Audiences, is offering 3 free online theatre productions for you to enjoy from your homes.
Huddle (for ages 2-5)
Unicorn's hugely popular Christmas show recreated for young audiences to enjoy at home
Watch Huddle (Website)
Philip Pullman's Grimm Tales (for ages 8-12)
New online theatrical readings of deliciously gruesome tales.
Watch Grimm Tales (Website)
Roald Dahl's The Twits Online (for ages 6-12)
We're thrilled to be part of YouTube's 12 Days of Culture, a new charitable programme bringing the best of British culture to your home over the festive period. Previously shown in three parts this autumn, our ★★★★★ reading of Roald Dahl's The Twits will be available to watch as one hour-long video from Christmas Day until 6 January.
Watch Roald Dahl's The Twits (Website)
Need More Ideas? See our other activities here:
Activities are sorted by sector. Use the menu to jump to each section.
Music
London Symphony Orchesra: Space...but not as we know it Family Concert
Find out what happens when an orchestra has to keep its distance! Rachel Leach explores the separation of sounds, how music travels around an orchestra and what you can hear between the notes.
Availble free online for 90 days from 18 November
Watch Space...but not as we know it (Website)
Accompanying Activities
Beethoven FIVE!
Warm up for the concert with a high five from Beethoven!
You can do the activity whilst you listen to this section in the concert [at 00:11:20], or as an extended separate activity listening to the full track on Apple Music, Spotify or Amazon Music.
Desert Island Discs
Imagine what your own personal desert island would be like. What music do you want to have there? Play with the other people at home too and check their answers!
Theatre
The Compact Coronavirus Time Capsule is a set of 25 video-making challenges to help young people stay connected, build resilience and express themselves during lockdown. It can be used with any group of young people aged 11+ and it can be adapted for a wide range of different time-frames, subjects, ability levels and purposes.
Tales From the Shed
Chickenshed has some lovely puppet videos for early years and SEN viewers with their Tales from the Shed series, which you can find here
Let's Play at Home
The National Theatre have some great ideas on their Let’s Play at Home worksheet for how you can try out some creative ideas at home.
Daily Warm Up
Pegasus Opera Company practitioners, Aga and Amie show us how we can get involved with a quick, active and fun warm up using drama and music to get our minds and bodies ready for the day ahead. View it on YouTube here
Act Make Move Create
Fourth Monkey Theatre Ensemble want you to get creative with them and share your work! You can create a piece of art that will go into an exhibition when their theatre reopens.
Little Angel Theatre
The fantastic Little Angel Theatre team has put together loads of ideas to watch or try at home:
- You can watch Nix Wood read The Tinderbox here, and then try a craft for making your own treasure box by following these instructions.
- Watch Elaine Hartley read The Little People of the Snow here and follow the guide to making a snow person puppet. Click here.
- Hear about the trickster Anansi in this story; Anansi and Turtle go to dinner: Click here.
- Finally, we have Daniel King reading the story of Odysseus and the Cyclops here. Then you can make your very own sheep mobile with these instructions. Click here.
Dance
Online Live Dance Events Calendar
One Dance UK are devoted to supporting dancers and dance education and performance. They have created a helpful online calendar of everything dance you might like to see, happening in the digital world right now! Visit their easy to use calendar so you can find out at a glance exactly what’s happening when, where and in what categories. You can take a live class online, watch a performance, get tips, and much more!
Stream a performance of The Lost Thing from the Royal Opera House
A magical reimagining of Shaun Tan's beautifully illustrated book about a boy who helps a lost thing find its way home. Watch it online here for free.
What is it… and where does it belong? The discovery of something mysterious and out of place is the starting point for this family show. Experience a musical reimagining of Shaun Tan’s beautifully illustrated book about a boy who helps a lost thing find its way home. In this enchanting collaboration between Candoco Dance Company and The Royal Opera, a cast of disabled and non-disabled singers, dancers and musicians, come together to tell a story about how we are all connected.
Online Families Ballet Workshop
Dance Artist Sarah Golightly leads an English National Ballet at Home workshop for children and families, based on the ballet Swan Lake.
Watch the workshop here:
Science / STEAM
STEAM is the abbreviation for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, & Math.
Ice Cream and States of Matter
STEAM Variety Pack
Download our activity pack with a range of different ideas for the week
If you liked the first installment of the Do Try This At Home series, have a go at 4 more physics experiements from home! There's a rocket ballon activity, a wobbly stick competition, and more! Download here
Heritage and Museums
Black Cultural Archives
The Brixton-based Black Cultural Archives have made their collection available online through Google Arts & Culture. Learn about the Black British experieince, historical events such as Windrush or the Notting Hill Carnival, view fantastic art by Black artists and much more.
London Canal Museum
This museum is a local favourite. Until they can reopen, the museum staff have put together a family pack based around 12 of their favourite historical objects from the Museum
International Women's Day Profiles 2020
International Women's Day takes place every March. This year, they shared some profiles of some amazing women from all over the world, such as Malala Yousafzai, Greta Thunberg, Obiageli Ezekwesili and more! Have a look and find a little insight into how they helped change the world for the better.
Florence Nightingale Bi-centenary
2020 is the Year of the Nurse and Midwife, in honour of the 200th anniversay of Florence Nightingale's birth.
Who was Florence Nightingale? She is widely seen to be the Mother of Modern Nursing. You can find out more in this video, and then try out the pack from the Florence Nightingale Museum about her life.
Museum of London at home
The Museum of London have created a brand new home learning section for families with suggestions for great ways to play and learn at home! #MuseumOfFundon
Everything you need to know about the Great Fire of London!
From crafts, articles, objects and Q&As with Museum of London curators to games and our immersive Minecraft experience, here’s all you need to know about The Great Fire of London of 1666. Visit here
Votes for Women!
Explore the ins and outs of the Suffragette city through this partnership between Google Arts & Culture and the Museum of London. Visit here
#MuseumofFundon
We love welcoming families to the Museum of London and Museum of London Docklands, but you don’t need to visit to enjoy the fun! Here’s a wide selection of great ways to play and learn all about London from home! Visit here
Explore 3D historic artefacts with the Museum of London
Want to get up close to some real prehistoric artefacts? We've got ten 3D models for you right here, featuring amazing objects from the Stone Age, Bronze Age and Iron Age! Visit here
London Now, London Future
How did London become a world city and what are the impacts of this? Discover this and more in the Museum of London’s short film created in consultation with GCSE Geography teachers. Visit here
Myths and Legends Pack
We picked some ideas that let you explore the theme of Myths and Legends from your own home:
1) The legend of Anansi the spider: Make your own spider! (Little Angel Theatre)
2) Centaur colouring sheet. A Centaur is a creature in Greek mythology. It has the upper body of a human, but the lower body of a horse.
3) Phoenix colouring sheet. The phoenix is a legendary bird born out of fire. It was said to have red and gold feathers and a beautiful voice.
1) Employment myths: Read about some myth busting in the world of work!
2) Job centre activity (Kidzania)
Ancient Worlds Activities
In our printable pack about Ancient Worlds, you can find the following activities:
1) Museum of the Order of St John: Colouring St John’s Gate
2) Museum of London Pocket Histories: Life in Roman London
3) The Getty Museum: Make an ancient roof ornament for home
4) Read about careers working with the Ancient World
5) Curate your own museum
Build A Pyramid Game
Can you build a grand pyramid for the king's tomb? Where will you put it? What size will it be? What will you use to build it? And how will you look after your workforce? See if you can succeed in building a pyramid that lasts for thousands of years. This game from the National Museums of Scotland will let you test your skills
Pioneers Pack
We’ve selected some fun learning worksheets that you can do around the topic of ‘Pioneers’! You won’t need a computer to complete these. We picked some ideas that let you explore the theme of pioneers from your own home.
Creative activities:
1) Louise Bourgeois art activity
Music activities:
1) John Cage home composition challenge
World of Work activities:
1) STEM pioneers case studies
2) Starters for STEM
Visual Art, Crafts and Design
The Creative Dimension Trust
The Creative Dimension Trust has launched an exciting range of online workshops aimed at young people aged 14+, taught by the best some of the craft specialists and artists in the UK.
Each subject is broken down into 20-30 minute video tutorials which help you build your skills
Tutorials Available:
- Puppet Making with Sian Kidd
- Architectural Model Building and Paper Folding with Adam Williamson
- Mask Making with Emma Brassington
- Grisaille (monochrome optical illusions) with Sarah Hocombe
- Eco-Fashion Upcycling with Jose Hendo
- Eggshell Mosaic Inlay with Rian Kanduth
- Building Up A Thematic Composition with Rene Gonzalez
- Geometric Drawing with Adam Williamson
Visit the website here to access all of the tutorials
A Cure for Boredom with Camden Spark
This book from Camden Spark is filled with creative ideas to brighten up the times under lockdown and beyond! They are brought to you by a range of artists who worked in Camden last year to make new artworks across the borough.
Crafts Council: Making at Home
Our partner the Crafts Council supports designers and craftspeople all over the UK. They hold exhibitions and run exciting projects, which you can learn more about here.
While people are at home more, they have gathered dozens of ideas for how to get creative as a maker for young people and all the family.
Here are some exciting activities from their Craft Club for you to do at home, take a look!
- Try printmaking at home with leftover materials and create some exciting art for your home,
- Build a bunny by learning a little about origami, the Japanese paper art,
- Learn how finger-knit, with just your hands and some wool!
- Make an 'under the sea' collage with things you can find at home
- Use leftover materials to make an amazing print with your family!
- Watch Vanessa from Black Girl Knit Club here, to walk you through how to make a great knitted mug cosy
These are just a few of their many ideas. Their At Home Learning page is here, and their very cool Craft Club projects are here. Have a great time making!
Food Glorious Food
This pack has food related fun for all the family. Download and try some crafts and career related worksheets, with different ideas from writing to drawing to cooking for the whole week
When you are finished there, here's a few other ideas to try at home:
- How to Make Gingerbread Buildings: A guide from the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)
- Can a bag of chips or slice of pizza become a masterpiece? Explore some tasty art about food with the Tate.
House of Illustration activities
The House of Illustration has created six hands-on drawing and art activities with step-by-step instructions and examples.
Please find the ideas below, ready to download now!
Botanical Illustrations
Make Your Own Story Tile Game
Pencil Skills
Atmospheric Buildings with Stick and Ink
Expressing Emotion in Pictures
Painted Collage Creatures
Puppet making by Little Angel
Little Angel have lots of links on their website about how to make puppets. Here are two ideas about making a tortoise and a hare out of leftover egg boxes, or making the characters from the Ugly Duckling out of paper plates:
Use the templates to create your own buildings (or maybe three or four of them!). Colour it and add some detailing to make it extra special.
We all love our pets, but do we really know what they get up to? The RSPCA has an activity to help you investigate.
Keeping a photo diary will help you find out what your pet does all day!
Stay inspired with Firstsite’s artist created activity packs, featuring contributions from UK artists including Antony Gormley, Sarah Lucas, Gillian Wearing, Idris Khan, Richard Wentworth, Cornelia Parker, Jeremy Deller, Vanley Burke, Mark Wallinger and more. ‘Art is where the home is’ will give you ideas about how to get creative at home. Anyone can have a go – there are no specialist materials required
Wonder Women Pack
We picked some ideas that let you explore the theme of Wonder Women from your own home. After printing, these do not require a computer to complete.
The Hamilton Trust learning packs for Nursery - Key Stage 1
We have two great packs from the Hamilton Trust, a charity working with teachers. These are suitable for Nursery - Key Stage 1 children, and each has 6 activities to help you be creative with art and make believe ideas!
Make Believe Pack Download Activity Pack (PDF)
Art Activities Pack Download Activity Pack (PDF)
How to make stained glass window stickers
This short video teaches you how to make stained glass window stickers using PVA and acrylic paint. The video is presented by Janet Caddick and was created for the Walthamstow Virtual Culture project.
Funky Flowers of Hope and Thanks (recycled bottle sculpture tutorial)
Kat Hall guides you through how to create colourful, imaginary flower sculptures. Aimed at children from 7 up or families collaborating together these recycled plastic drinks bottle creations can be made individually or with members of your household. Say a massive thank-you to your teachers by displaying these amazing creations outside your home or by sending them digitally!
Carnival!
Key Stages 1 and 2
We’ve selected some fun learning worksheets that you can do with your children around the topic of the Notting Hill Carnival. You won’t need a computer to complete these.
What’s in the pack?
1) Mas band costume tutorial (Craft Council)
2) Carnival mask colouring sheets (UK Centre for Carnival Arts)
3) Read about jobs that make the Notting Hill Carnival happen.
4) Host your own mini-carnival!
Film and Digital
Soapbox Online Timetable (13+ years)
Soapbox Youth Hub in Old Street is running a huge range of activities online for young eople age 13 and up. the timetable includes Podcasting, DJing, Make-up tutorials, 3D printing, music production, gaming, and much more. Visit the timetable at the link below, and contact the centre to get the access information for the session you want to try!
Into Film
Into Film puts film at the heart of children and young people's education. They have gatheres a number of resources for families to use at home. Click the Activity title to download the worksheet.
Director's Mood Board
Use this mood board template to map out your film ideas.
Visual Storytelling
An activity to help you to develop and perfect your filmmaking skills.
Movie Picture Puzzles
Sort out the visual clues to create a film title. Play on your own or as a group.
Movie Magic - Make a Thaumatrope
Create your own thaumatrope and see how the illusion of moving image in film is created through the persistence of vision.
Hair and Make up Design Template
Templates to help you design hair and make-up for your characters.
Literature / Reading
Alphabet Scavenger Hunt
Can you explore your home to find something for each letter? Play with someone else in your household and see who gets the most objects from the whole alphabet!
ESL Activities: British Council
The British Council has created songs, storytelling activities and games to help children learning English as a second language.
Hay Festival Schools Programme
Watch authors from Hay Festival Programme for Schools filmed over the last 4 years. There are 70+ fun filled and inspiring events to choose from including Ade Adepitan, David Baddiel, Gemma Cairney, Eoin Colfer, Julian Clary and Andy Stanton.
Authorfy's 10 Minute Challenges
For a daily dose of creativity and fun, check out Authorfy's '10 Minute Challenges', which are set by bestselling authors and illustrators - a new challenge is added every day!
Wellbeing
You may find that your day-to-day life is very different lately. There are many confusing things happening, and sometimes that can feel worrying or stressful. We know it's very important to look after your whole family's health and wellbeing right now, and we have put together some ideas for activities that may help you do this.
Mini Mindfulness Activites
Tangled Feet are a theatre company who create original theatre performances, sometimes inside theatres but often in other public spaces. Tangled Feet have created the Mindfulness Project, which you can see here. The Mindfulness Project is 12 short activities you can do at home, suitable for all ages. If you have acess to YouTube, you can view the videos Tangled Feet have added demonstrating some of these activities here.
Little Box of Calm
Sometimes it's great to have things you really enjoy to help you feel better. The charity Young Minds have put together a great toolkit on how you can make your own Little Box of Calm for any time things feel overwhelming.
Say Your Peace
Young People’s Laureate for London Theresa Lola has launched #SayYourPeace, a campaign that encourages young people to use poetry to find peace and solace during the uncertain times the world faces.
Five Senses Nature Scavenger Hunt
Use all your senses and explore outside (either on a walk or in a garden) to find as many of the challenges as you can.
SEND
Sensory Circuit for children with SEND/PMLD:
Children, in particular, those with special needs, often need many breaks throughout their day to help them focus, stay on track, or calm in order to self-regulate. This printable list of activities can be done in 5-15mins chunks several times in the day, especially after long sitting down periods.
Inclusive Street Dance Workshop (Part 1)
DanceSyndrome is a multi-award winning inclusive dance charity based in Lancashire with a special focus on including everyone, regardless of ability. They provide weekly inclusive dance workshops for people of all ages, with and without disabilities. You can start learning the routine for Dua Lipa's song, Dont Stop Now, and check out many other videos on their YouTube channel:
Outdoor / Sport
Use all your senses and explore outside (either on a walk or in a garden) to find as many of the challenges as you can.
Texture Hunter Gathering
Take some time to relax and become a #texturehuntergatherer wherever you are. Notice tiny texture details by seeing or feeling them, and capture them however you like - in a photograph, quick sketch or in writing. Can you find interesting textures in nature or in your home? What can you see or feel in your food, clothes, wallpaper...?
Sensory Circuit for children with SEND/PMLD:
Children, in particular, those with special needs, often need many breaks throughout their day to help them focus, stay on track, or calm in order to self-regulate. This printable list of activities can be done in 5-15mins chunks several times in the day, especially after long sitting down periods.
The Daily Mile Weekly Worksheet
The Daily Mile from the London Marathon have some a fun sheet of activities to keep you active this week
Find out more here
Towel Ping Pong
Sometimes it isn't easy to excercise outside. This Towel Ping Pong Game will let you be active indoors or in a small space.
Superhero Fitness
Fitness Expert Born Barikor and his son Pascal have a 10 minute Superhero Fitness video (as well as their own YouTube channel), which parents and children can do together if they like!
Cosmic Kids Yoga
Cosmic Kids Yoga has plenty of fantastic videos to get you started.
This Moana themed 30 minute yoga session is a good first one to try while hearing a story at the same time
If you can’t get enough, in this Trolls yoga video you can follow Poppy along on her adventure and get nice and stretched at the same time