Tour SoCal museums for free during COVID. With everything closed, everyone’s home, it is getting harder to experience new things. So how are you bidding your time on lockdown? Netflix? Take a break from the typical and take some digital tours of some of the best museums in the world. For free!
The Need For Culture
In a press release from the SoCal Museums President Jennifer Caballero said.
“For more than fifteen years, SoCal Museums has made arts and culture more accessible to our communities, including visitors from outside the region. In the face of this global crisis, our member museums are finding a way to bring exciting and transformative cultural experiences to our younger audiences.”
SoCal Museums curated a list of digital, at-home educational programming tools. This is an initiative in support of families and students, creating access to culture in our new online space during COVID. There are educational tools for grades K-12 and programming for everyone in the family.
Here Are Our Top 10:
1. Aquarium of the Pacific
Aquarium of the Pacific offers an Online Academy, which includes live classes for students, animal webcams, resource kits, and activities. The Online Learning Center provides educational videos on demand. This includes the Daily Bubble puppet show and more. Appropriate for all ages.
2. The Broad
The Broad offers weekly art activity tutorials inspired by artists from the Broad collection. Tutorials are released every Friday morning on social media. As a result, these activities are appropriate for grades K–6.
3. City of STEM Science Festival
City of STEM Science Festival offers STEM resources from over 100+ partner organizations. These programs are curated in a way that is easy and accessible for kids, parents, and teachers. Options for children grades Pre-K–12.
4. Descano Gardens
Descanso Gardens offers #DescansoatHome, which includes virtual tours, nature, and science activities. There are also how-tos on taking a nature walk and crafts. That is to say, lots of fun for ages 2–10 and families.
5. Getty Museum
Getty Museum offers lessons on the fundamentals of photography. As part of a teen-centric education program, Getty Unshuttered teachs, perspective, composition, shot size, lighting, and portraits. Ideally, for teens but could be fun for adults too.
6. The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens
The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens offer virtual classroom instruction for educators. Appropriate for grades K–12.
7. Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)
Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) offers online curricular resources that foster creativity, inspire personal growth, and enhances learning. Grades K–12. LACMA@Home offers additional digital resources to think and learn about art. Therefore, this is appropriate for all ages.
8. Museum of Latin American Art
Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) offers explorations of its exhibitions, collection, and beyond. Appropriate for all ages.
9. Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County offers NHMLAC Connects. NHMLAC Connects is a new digital portal to discover and learn about nature, science, and culture from the safety of our homes. So, this is a great resource for grades K–12.
10. Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History and Sea Center
Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History and Sea Center offers activities for indoors, outdoors, or online. This including guides for neighborhood birding and backyard observations, stargazing guides, coloring sheets, nature games, and likewise. Appropriate for all ages.
In Conclusion
In conclusion, we hope that your family is safe at home and taking advantage of resources like these. We encourage you to explore all of the museums, not just the ten on our list. Here is the full list.
Are you using any free at-home resources during COVID? Share with us the projects or websites your family is using to stay busy during COVID here.
