Resources for education during COVID-19 

April 1, 2020

For more information and updates about Creative and our programs’ response to COVID-19, click here.

Educators, students, families and development professionals are feeling the impact of COVID-19 in ways unimagined at the start of the pandemic. To meet these new demands, Creative’s Education Division is curating resources, helpful tips and more for staff and stakeholders. 

The resources are predominantly on the “lighter side,” providing books and activities for learning enrichment and engagement that can be used at home rather than formal curriculum-based instruction. Embedded in many of the resources are multiple links to resources aimed at different purposes and users. 

While most of the items listed are in English, there are also links to resources in other languages. As more organization share their resources and create new ones, Creative will continue to update this page to meet emerging education needs over the coming months. Check back for updates. 

Featured Creative-Developed Resources

Psychosocial Support and Emotional Learning | Creative | Teaching

PSS and SEL are critical elements of a healthy learning environment, and essential elements of the learning structures during a pandemic. Creative’s online course covers the definitions of and differences between Psychosocial Support (PSS) and Social Emotional Learning (SEL), PSS and SEL frameworks, best practices, methods of assessments and more.

Child Protection and Wellbeing

Protection of Children during the Coronavirus Pandemic | UNICEF | Health/Wellbeing 

“The aim of this brief is to support child protection practitioners to better respond to the child protection risks during a COVID-19 pandemic.” 

COVID-19 Response and Children’s Care | Better Care Network | Multi-use 

“Resources on the response to the COVID-19 pandemic as it relates to child protection and children’s care.” 

COVID-19 and its implications for protecting children online | UNICEF | Health/Well-being

While digital solutions provide huge opportunities for sustaining and promoting children’s rights, these same tools may also increase children’s exposure to online risks. This technical note sets out some of the key priorities and recommendations on how to mitigate those risks and promote positive online experiences for children.

Safe to Learn during COVID-19 | End Violence Against Children | Health/Well-being

Safe to Learn partners have published new guidance for governments to help prevent and respond to violence against children in different learning environments during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ethical Considerations for Evidence Generation Involving Children | UNICEF | Health/Well-being

This paper identifies key ethical considerations when undertaking evidence generation involving children during the mitigation stage of the pandemic (emergency phase), on subject matter relating to COVID-19 once the pandemic has been contained, and once containment policy measures, including lockdowns, have been lifted (post-emergency phase).

Students 

Literacy Cloud | Room to Read | Students | Learning 

Nearly 200 online books for kids organized by theme and reading level. 

Free eBooks for Children and Students in Africa | Opera | Students | Learning 

“Opera, one of the world’s leading browser providers, and international nonprofit organization, Worldreader, are expanding the access to ebooks for children and students via the Opera Mini browser during the coronavirus outbreak.” 

Books for Kids in Multiple Languages | Global Digital Library | Students | Learning 

Online books in multiple languages for kids organized by reading level. 

COVID-19 Books for Kids (multiple languages) | Asia Foundation | Students | Learning 

COVIBOOK is an invitation for families to discuss the full range of emotions arising from the current COVID-19 situation. 

Bloom Library (multiple languages) | SIL International | Students | Learning 

In addition to offering an extensive library of basic leveled and decodable books available in more than 220 languages, Bloom enables teachers, parents and children to easily create new leveled and decodable children’s books in any language. Books can be adapted from shell books, or new resources created using Bloom software’s templates for basic books, picture dictionaries and wall calendars, with images available from its free illustration library.

eKitabu (multiple languages) | eKitabu | Students | Learning

eKitabu’s digital library offers many free books in multiple languages readable on the web or accessible for download. Sign language videos and storybooks are also available.

My Hero is You, Storybook for Children on COVID-19 (multiple languages) | IASC MHPSS RG | Students | Learning 

Story developed for and by children around the world to support mental health of children in countries affected by COVID-19. 

Families

WHO Healthy Parenting | WHO | Health/Wellbeing 

Resources and ideas to support parents and projects that will engage children in understanding the coronavirus, the challenges it brings to their world and what can be done to protect them.

COVID-19 Parenting | UNICEF | Health/Wellbeing 

Tips on parenting children during the coronavirus crisis. 

‘Caring for Each Other’ Initiative | Sesame Workshop | Health/Wellbeing 

“Rich array of Sesame Street content, including newly produced Sesame Street Muppet moments designed to entertain, educate, and comfort parents, caregivers, and children.” 

Early Childhood Focused COVID-19 Resources | EDCN | Health/Wellbeing 

A list of resources for parents, early childhood workers, educators, administrators, and child protection practitioners. 

Parent’s Guide to Surviving Out-of-School Children During COVID-19 | Brookings | Multi-use 

“Simple strategies for keeping your job and your sanity for parents and caregivers with children under 10.”

Teachers/School Staff

Offline Education Library | Kolibri | Teaching 

Kolibri provides offline access to a curated and openly licensed multilingual educational content library, including formal educational materials — such as lessons and assessments — and exploratory materials, such as books, games, and simulations.  

COVID-19 Resources for Education in Emergencies | INEE | Multi-use 

“[This] list of resources has been collected to support the provision of education in places affected by COVID-19, with particular focus on distance learning, alternative education, e-learning, and psychosocial support.” 

Blended Instruction Guide | The Modern Classrooms Project | Teaching 

Tips on creating instructional videos, supporting student engagement, and operating a well-organized online Learning Management System. 

Resources for Student Resiliency | RTI | Health/Wellbeing 

“When faced with adversity in K-12 education, oftentimes it’s just as challenging to resume normal school days as it is to move through the adverse event. We understand that social emotional learning (SEL) and trauma resiliency can be top of mind. We’ve compiled some resources below to support you as you move through the effects of COVID-19.” 

Distance Learning Solutions | UNESCO | Teaching 

“The list of educational applications, platforms and resources below aim to help parents, teachers, schools and school administrators facilitate student learning and provide social care and interaction during periods of school closure. Most of the solutions curated are free and many cater to multiple languages.” 

COVID-19 Crisis Resources | EDC | Multi-use 

“This page contains links to EDC resources and ideas for parents and teachers that have been contributed by EDC staff around the world.” 

COVID-19 ICT Interventions | Viamo | Multi-use 

“Given the rapid spread of COVID-19 Viamo has created the following capabilities statement presenting possible mobile interventions in response to the recent outbreak.” 

Health and Wellness Webinar Series | KonTerra Group | Health/Wellbeing 

“Free webinar led by KonTerra expert consultants to help guide you in navigating the stressors and feelings that accompany the public health crisis we are facing together.” 

Safe Back to School: A Practitioner’s Guide | Global Education Cluster | Multi-use

This guide helps program teams plan an integrated, participatory process for safe school reopening.

Supporting teachers in back-to-school efforts | UNESCO | Multi-use

This document provides guidance to policy-makers on measures to support teachers and education staff when schools reopen, during and after the COVID-19 crisis.

About the Coronavirus

Tackling the Novel Coronavirus (Online Courses) | Future Learn | Learning 

“What is COVID-19 and how might the outbreak affect you? Find out more about coronavirus and explore its worldwide implications.” 

COVID-19 Advice for the Public: Myth Busters | World Health Organization | Multi-use 

The truth about myths surrounding coronavirus. 

How Soap Kills the Coronavirus | Vox | Teaching 

A 3-minute video explaining how soap kills the coronavirus. 

Additional COVID-19 Resources

• Inter-agency Network for Education in Emergencies 
• United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
• United Nations Children’s Fund
• United States Agency for International Development
• International Disability Alliance
• World Health Organization
• End Violence Against Children
• Global Partnership for Education

Photos by Erick Gibson (1, 4) and Jim Huylebroek (2, 3, 5)