Welcome to our series sharing Homeschool Resources: Extra Curriculum and Virtual Field Trips. If you’ve used any of these resources leave me a comment and let me know what you thought of the resources and why.
Touch-type Read and Spell is an award-winning, multi-sensory, highly accessible typing program that teaches touch-typing skills while also helping kids improve reading and spelling.
Destination: Machu Picchu – Virtual Field Trip to Machu Picchu
This website provides 360-degree panoramic views of the ruins of Machu Picchu in Peru.
When you get to the website you’ll see a picture in the center of your screen and a welcome message below it. Scroll further down the landing page to read an overview of this virtual tour. Then, use the menu on the left side of the screen to see the panoramic view of each area of the tour that includes:
- Funerary Rock
- Royal Tomb
- Inside the Tomb
- Sacred Plaza
- Sacred Rock
- Central Plaza
- Intiwatana
- Condor Temple
- Animals
- Inca Trail
Click on any one and a new page opens. Wait a second or two for the video to load and then watch the breathtaking panoramic photo-view. Below the screen, you can read interesting text that explains what you are seeing.
This is an engaging way to explore a foreign destination without leaving home.
Encourage self-directed learning with BrainPOP’s engaging animated movies, hands-on learning with coding, movie making, and concept mapping, and encourage meaningful play with games and exercises from the world’s leading game designers. New subscriptions only.
The Thinking Business: Virtual Field Trip to the Human Brain
Grade 4 & up (approximately), with parental supervision
This commercial website offers a FREE, multi-media virtual tour of the human brain.
When you get to the site you will see a colorful map of the human brain. Read about the various parts of the brain including:
- Parietal Lobe
- Occipital Lobe
- Cerebellum
- Frontal Lobe
- Temporal Lobe
- Brain Stem
Follow the links to explore Brain Hemispheres, the Limbic Brain, Brain Cells, and the Thinking Process. When you complete the tour, use the menu bar to find “Brain Facts” – learn fascinating tidbits about your brain that are sure to amaze.
La Grotte Chauvet-Pont d’Arc
All grades, with parental supervision
Explore the La Grotte Chauvet-Pont d’Arc Cave in southern France with these virtual tours.
Discovered in 1994, the La Grotte Chauvet-Pont d’Arc Cave is home to the some of the best-preserved cave paintings in the world. The actual cave is closed to visitors to preserve the cave, but a replica of the cavern was created so that the collection can be admired without the risk of damage to the original location. However, with this website, visitors can take a virtual tour of the actual caverns.
When arriving at today’s website, scroll down the page to select the virtual tour link. There are twelve locations included in the tour:
- Brunel Chamber – North and South
- Chamber of the Bear Hollows
- Cactus Gallery
- Red Panels Gallery
- Candle Gallery
- Hillaire Chamber – North and South
- Skull Chamber
- Latticework Gallery
- Megaloceros Gallery
- End Chamber
Use the mouse to navigate around the images and locate “hot spots” to learn more and see additional images. When you have finished the virtual tour, use the “Home” button in the upper left to return to the opening page. Scroll down the page to locate the video link (beside the virtual tour link.) Please note that the video is in French, but even if you don’t speak French, it is worth watching. Scroll further down the home page to discover more about the cave, its history and preservation.
Supercharged Science is a video-based online curriculum that explains Science topics to kids in a practical real-world way, then uses step-by-step instructional videos, experiments, and projects that let them apply the concepts they just learned.
All grades; with parental supervision
This commercial website specializes in travel to Africa and includes a terrific, free Virtual Safari of East Africa and Southern Africa using photos and interactive 360° panoramas of wildlife and landscapes.
When you get to the website you’ll see a picture of a Lion. Click on the words, “To The Gallery” located below the Lion. A new page opens with a menu of the photo gallery that you will use to take this Virtual Safari that includes:
- Wildlife – See pictures and read descriptions of African Mammals, Reptiles, and Birds including:
- Elephant
- Rhinoceros
- Cheetah
- Leopard
- Lion
- Mongoose
- Hippopotamus
- Warthog
- Nile Crocodile
- Ostrich
- and many more!
- Landscapes – Explore national parks in Botswana, Tanzania, and Kenya.
If you click on any item on the menu a new page opens to photographs with descriptions in GERMAN. If you don’t read German – don’t worry. You can easily translate each page into English with a Google translation service located in very small print at the bottom of each page.
Just click on the words “Translate this page into English” and the Google application works its magic so that you get the full benefit of the picture and the descriptive text.
If you enjoy the Virtual Field Trip, you can also virtually explore the Lodges and Camps that are available to those who go on a real Safari using the travel services of Bwana Mitch.
Thank you,
Glenda. Charlie and David Cates
