Continuity of Learning
Supporting Students During Temporary Absence
Overview
During this temporary absence due to illness or public health guidance, students will continue to receive asynchronous assignments from their classroom teachers through our Learning Management System (Schoology) or through printed materials provided by the school. Students may also receive support through Homebound Instruction as appropriate. Students may continue to access learning supports such as Varsity Tutors .
Tech Resources
Schoology Student Account Information
Schoology Student Account Information Translations:
አማርኛ (Amharic)
العربية (Arabic)
中文 (Chinese)
English
فارسی (Farsi)
한국어 (Korean)
español (Spanish)
اردو (Urdu)
Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
Every FCPS student has access to an FCPS device for learning. Students typically check out their device at the beginning of the school year. Contact your school if you have not yet received information about device checkout dates. Students in grades 3 to 12 can take their FCPS devices back and forth between school and home. Students in grades PreKindergarten to grade 2 should check with their teacher on whether to take the FCPS device home.
Schools have mobile hotspot devices (MiFi) for checkout to students who have no internet access at home. These MiFis are intended to support school-related activities only. They include internet filtering that prevents recreational uses, including Netflix, Hulu, and other streaming services.
If your student needs a MiFi device to complete school work at home, please contact your school.
Learning Activities
The activities below are designed to support and extend your child’s learning while they are away from school. They provide flexible options for practicing important skills, exploring interests, and staying engaged in learning. These activities are not intended to replace the full school day, but to help students maintain learning routines until they return.
Families may find it helpful to organize learning time around a few simple routines each day:
- Core Skills and Learning Routines
- English/Language Arts (reading or listening to texts)
- Writing (journaling, responding to reading, or sharing ideas)
- Math practice or problem solving
- Exploration or project-based activities
- Choice activities including: science, social studies, art, music, physical activity, or wellness
The goal is to help students remain engaged in learning while maintaining a flexible routine until they are able to return to school.
Grades PreK and K
Possible Activities
- Read a picture book with a family member.
- Read or listen to a digital book. Consider:
- Kindergarten: Practice writing letters
- Draw pictures of words that begin with specific letters (e.g., Letter T, draw a picture of a turtle and a turkey)
- Look at a picture book and tell the story using the illustrations.
- Reread a poem or a book.
- After reading, answer simple questions:
- Who was in the story?
- What happened first, next, and last?
- What was your favorite part?
Optional Extension
Draw a picture of the story and label it with words.
Possible Activities
- Draw a picture about something you read or did that day and label the picture.
- Write or draw about your day.
- Write about your favorite part of a book you read.
- Write a message or letter to your teacher or class.
Prompts Families Can Use
- What happened today?
- What was your favorite part of the story?
- What made you smile today?
Optional Extension
Create a journal with details and pictures
Possible Activities
- Visit STMath through Schoology
- Count objects in your home (toys, fruit, books).
- Take a group of objects and categorize them (by color, size, shape, etc.)
- Practice adding or subtracting with small objects.
- Find and name shapes around your house.
- Compare groups of objects (Which has more? Which has fewer?).
- Measure items using nonstandard units (How many blocks long is the table?).
Example Problems
- If you have 6 crackers and eat 2, how many are left?
- You have 4 toys and get 3 more. How many do you have now
Optional Extension
Play simple math games such as dice games or card games that involve counting.
Possible Activities
- Go on a shape hunt around your home and draw what you find.
- Observe something in nature every day (plants, weather, pets) and draw it in a journal.
- Build something using blocks, cups, or household objects and describe it.
- Sort household items by color, size, or shape.
- Create a picture book about something you like.
Example Project Ideas
- Weather watcher:Draw the weather each day for a week.
- My neighborhood:Draw a map of your street or home.
Students can share learning through drawings, pictures, or short explanations.
- Visit PBS Parents to find activities by age students can do at home by subject.
- Log in to Clever
with FCPS Google username and password to access:
- ST Math
- Lexia
- Benchmark Universe
- Science A-Z
Possible Activities
Students may explore museums, parks, zoos, and historical sites through virtual tours or live webcams. After the virtual visit, students might:
- Draw their favorite animal, place, or object they saw
- Tell someone at home one new thing they learned
- Write or label one or two words about the experience
- Ask a question about something they noticed
Virtual Tours Might Include
-
Watch animals such as elephants, lions, and pandas through live webcams.
-
Watch animals such as elephants, giraffes, penguins, and koalas through live webcams.
-
Take a video tour inside the International Space Station and see how astronauts live and work.
-
Take a virtual tour of farms to learn where food comes from and how it is produced.
-
Explore art and creative activities designed for younger learners.
-
Interactive trips on topics like space, engineering, animals, and nature.
-
Explore exhibits about dinosaurs, ocean life, human origins, and Earth’s history.
-
Take a virtual tour of The Louvre Museums and explore famous works of art.
Grades 1 and 2
Possible Activities
- Read a picture book with a family member.
- Read a digital or listen to an audiobook. Consider:
- Practice sight words or word families.
- Look at a picture book and tell the story using the illustrations.
- Reread a favorite book to build fluency.
- After reading, answer simple questions:
- Who was in the story?
- What happened first, next, and last?
- What was your favorite part?
Optional Extension
Draw a picture of the story and label it with words.
Possible Activities
- Draw a picture about something you read or did that day and label the picture.
- Write or draw about your day.
- Write about your favorite part of a book you read.
- Write a message or letter to your teacher or class.
- Practice writing sight words or sentences.
Prompts Families Can Use
- What happened today?
- What was your favorite part of the story?
- What made you smile today?
Optional Extension
Create a journal with details and pictures
Possible Activities
- Visit STMath through Schoology
- Count objects in your home (toys, fruit, books).
- Take a group of objects and categorize them (by color, size, shape, etc.)
- Practice adding or subtracting with small objects.
- Find and name shapes around your house.
- Compare groups of objects (Which has more? Which has fewer?).
- Measure items using nonstandard units (How many blocks long is the table?).
Example Problems
- If you have 6 crackers and eat 2, how many are left?
- You have 4 toys and get 3 more. How many do you have now?
Optional Extension
Play simple math games such as dice games or card games involving counting.
Possible Activities
- Go on a shape hunt around your home and draw what you find.
- Observe something in nature every day (plants, weather, pets) and draw it in a journal.
- Build something using blocks, cups, or household objects and describe it.
- Sort household items by color, size, or shape.
- Create a picture book about something you like.
Example Project Ideas
- Weather watcher:Draw the weather each day for a week.
- My neighborhood:Draw a map of your street or home.
Students can share learning through drawings, pictures, or short explanations.
- Visit PBS Parents to find activities by age students can do at home by subject.
- Log in to Clever
with FCPS Google username and password to access:
- ST Math
- Lexia
- Benchmark Universe
- Science A-Z
Possible Activities
Students may explore museums, parks, zoos, and historical sites through virtual tours or live webcams. After the virtual visit, students might:
- Draw their favorite animal, place, or object they saw
- Tell someone at home one new thing they learned
- Write or label one or two words about the experience
- Ask a question about something they noticed
Virtual Tours Might Include
-
Watch animals such as elephants, lions, and pandas through live webcams.
-
Watch animals such as elephants, giraffes, penguins, and koalas through live webcams.
-
Take a video tour inside the International Space Station and see how astronauts live and work.
-
Take a virtual tour of farms to learn where food comes from and how it is produced.
-
Explore art and creative activities designed for younger learners.
-
Interactive trips on topics like space, engineering, animals, and nature.
-
Explore exhibits about dinosaurs, ocean life, human origins, and Earth’s history.
-
Take a virtual tour of The Louvre Museums and explore famous works of art.
Grades 3 to 5
Possible Activities
- Read a book from home or a digital book.
- MyON
- PebbleGo
- Newsela ( Log in to Schoology to access Newsela )
- Read an article about a topic you enjoy (animals, sports, science, etc.).
- Reread a previously read chapter book.
- After reading, students could:
- Write or tell a short summary of what they read.
- Identify:
- the main idea
- a new vocabulary word
- something surprising they learned
- Ask or answer one question about the text.
Optional Extension
Write a recommendation for a book to a classmate or friend and explain why.
Possible Activities
- Write a short daily journal entry.
- Respond to a book you read by writing:
- a summary
- a favorite scene
- a character description
- Write three things you learned from something you read.
- Write instructions explaining how to do something at home (cook, play a game, build something).
- Write a letter or email to a classmate or teacher.
Helpful Prompts
- What surprised you in your reading today?
- What was the most interesting thing you learned?
- What would you change about the story?
Optional Extension
Write a short story with a beginning, middle, and end.
Possible Activities
- ST Math
- Practice multiplication or division facts.
- Solve 3 to 5 real-world word problems.
- Measure objects in the house using a ruler or measuring cup.
- Practice fractions using food or objects (cutting fruit, dividing snacks).
- Create and solve your own math problems.
Example Problems
- A recipe needs 3 cups of flour. How much flour would you need to make two batches?
- You have 24 stickers and want to divide them equally among 4 friends. How many does each friend get?
Optional Extension
Track something over several days (temperature, steps, reading minutes) and create a simple chart.
Possible Activities
- Observe something over several days (plants, weather, shadows) and record what you notice.
- Research a topic you are curious about and share three things you learned.
- Design and build something using materials at home.
- Create a poster explaining a science or social studies topic.
- Conduct a short interview with a family member about their work or experiences.
Example project ideas
- Design challenge:Build the tallest tower you can using only paper and tape.
- Community connections:Interview a family member about their job and explain what you learned.
Students could share their work through a drawing, short report, or presentation.
- Visit PBS Parents to find activities by age students can do at home by subject.
- Log in to Clever
with FCPS Google username and password to access:
- ST Math
- Lexia
- Benchmark Universe
- Science A-Z
Possible Activities
Students may explore museums, parks, zoos, and historical sites through virtual tours or live webcams. After the virtual visit, students might:
- Write three facts you learned during the virtual field trip.
- Explain one thing that surprised you.
- Describe the most interesting exhibit, animal, or artifact you saw.
Virtual Tours Might Include
-
Watch animals such as elephants, lions, and pandas through live webcams.
-
Watch animals such as elephants, giraffes, penguins, and koalas through live webcams.
-
Take a video tour inside the International Space Station and see how astronauts live and work.
-
Take a virtual tour of farms to learn where food comes from and how it is produced.
-
Explore art and creative activities designed for younger learners.
-
Interactive trips on topics like space, engineering, animals, and nature.
-
Explore exhibits about dinosaurs, ocean life, human origins, and Earth’s history.
-
Take a virtual tour of The Louvre Museums and explore famous works of art.
Grades 6 to 8
Possible Activities
- Use Lexia and/or NoRedInk
- Continue reading a current novel or independent reading book.
- Read nonfiction connected to a class topic.
- Read news articles or informational texts.
- After reading, students could write a short response such as:
- What is the author’s main message?
- What evidence supports the author’s point?
- What connections can you make to other learning or real life?
Optional Extensions
- Compare the same topic from two different sources.
- Track unfamiliar vocabulary and define the words.
Possible Activities
- Write a reading response paragraph about something you read that day.
- Keep a daily reflection journal about your experiences or observations.
- Write a short explanation of something you learned in math, science, or social studies.
- Write a persuasive paragraph about a topic you care about.
- Write a summary of a news article.
Prompts
- What is one idea from today’s reading that stood out to you?
- What questions do you still have?
- What connections can you make to your life or other learning?
Optional Extension
Write a short blog-style post explaining a topic to others.
Possible Activities
- Use ST Math or MathSpace
- Solve several multi-step word problems.
- Work with ratios or percentages using real-life situations.
- Practice operations with fractions, decimals, or integers.
- Analyze simple data sets and describe patterns.
- Estimate and calculate measurements around the home.
Example Problems
- If an item costs $40 and is on sale for 25% off, what is the new price?
- A recipe serves 4 people but you need to serve 6. How should you adjust the ingredients?
Optional extension
Design a small survey of family members and graph the results.
Possible Activities
- Investigate a topic of interest and summarize your findings.
- Conduct a small experiment and record observations.
- Design a solution to a real-world problem in your home or community.
- Create a visual or digital presentation explaining a concept you learned.
Example Project Ideas
- Problem solver:Identify a small challenge at home and design a solution.
- Mini research project:Learn about a historical event, invention, or scientific discovery and explain its impact.
Students could share learning through a short written explanation, diagram, or presentation.
- Log in to Clever
with FCPS Google username and password to access:
- ST Math
- Mathspace (Math 7 and Math 8)
- Lexia
- Benchmark Universe (Grade 6)
- Into Literature (Grades 7 and 8)
- NoRedInk (Grades 7 and 8)
- Newsela ( Log in to Schoology to access Newsela )
- Gizmos
Possible Activities
Students may explore museums, parks, zoos, and historical sites through virtual tours or live webcams. After the virtual visit, students might:
- Write 4 to 6 sentences summarizing what you explored during the virtual field trip.
- Identify three important facts or ideas you learned.
- Explain why the place you visited is important (museum, park, zoo, historical site, etc.)
Virtual Tours Might Include
-
Watch animals such as elephants, lions, and pandas through live webcams.
-
Watch animals such as elephants, giraffes, penguins, and koalas through live webcams.
-
Take a video tour inside the International Space Station and see how astronauts live and work.
-
Take a virtual tour of farms to learn where food comes from and how it is produced.
-
Explore art and creative activities designed for younger learners.
-
Interactive trips on topics like space, engineering, animals, and nature.
-
Explore exhibits about dinosaurs, ocean life, human origins, and Earth’s history.
-
Take a virtual tour of The Louvre Museums and explore famous works of art.
Grades 9 to 12
Possible Activities
- Continue a class novel or independent reading selection.
- Read nonfiction articles related to current events or academic interests.
- Read essays, speeches, or historical documents.
- After reading, write a short reflection responding to a prompt such as:
- What is the author’s argument or central theme?
- How does the author support their ideas?
- What questions does this text raise for you?
Optional Extensions
- Write a brief critique or commentary.
- Connect the reading to another text, historical event, or contemporary issue.
Possible Activities
- Write a reflection responding to a reading or article.
- Write a short argument or opinion piece supported by evidence.
- Write a summary and critique of a text or article.
- Keep a reflective journal about current events or personal experiences.
- Write an explanatory piece about something you are learning independently.
Prompts
- What is the author’s main argument and do you agree?
- What evidence supports the author’s claim?
- How does this text connect to another text or issue?
Optional Extension
Write a longer essay response or research reflection.
Possible Activities
- Solve practice problems related to current course topics.
- Apply math to everyday scenarios such as budgeting or statistics.
- Analyze data and create graphs.
- Work through multi-step algebraic or geometric problems.
Example Tasks
- Create a monthly budget using estimated expenses and income.
- Analyze a small data set (sports statistics, weather data) and interpret trends.
- Model a real-world scenario using equations.
Optional Extension
Investigate how math is used in a career of interest (engineering, business, architecture).
Possible Activities
- Investigate a current issue or topic and summarize different perspectives.
- Design a project connected to a personal interest or career field.
- Conduct a small research project and present findings.
- Analyze data or information related to a topic of interest.
Example Project Ideas
- Career exploration:Research a career you are interested in and describe the skills and education required.
- Community issue analysis:Identify a problem in your community and propose possible solutions.
Students could share learning through a written report, presentation, or creative product.
Possible Activities
Students may explore museums, parks, zoos, and historical sites through virtual tours or live webcams. After the virtual visit, students might:
- Write a short summary explaining the key ideas or themes presented in the virtual field trip.
- Identify two or three important takeaways and explain why they matter.
- Evaluate how effectively the virtual experience communicated the topic.
Virtual Tours Might Include
-
Watch animals such as elephants, lions, and pandas through live webcams.
-
Watch animals such as elephants, giraffes, penguins, and koalas through live webcams.
-
Take a video tour inside the International Space Station and see how astronauts live and work.
-
Take a virtual tour of farms to learn where food comes from and how it is produced.
-
Explore art and creative activities designed for younger learners.
-
Interactive trips on topics like space, engineering, animals, and nature.
-
Explore exhibits about dinosaurs, ocean life, human origins, and Earth’s history.
-
Take a virtual tour of The Louvre Museums and explore famous works of art.
K to 8 Choice Activities
Students may choose activities that interest them and complete them in ways that are appropriate for their age and independence. Younger students may draw, talk about their thinking, or work with a family member, while older students may write or explain their ideas in more detail.
Possible Activities
- Observe the weather each day and record patterns you notice.
- Investigate a plant, tree, or animal in your neighborhood and describe what you observe.
- Test which objects float or sink and explain why you think this happens.
- Track something over several days (temperature, shadows, plant growth, moon phases).
- Research a scientific topic that interests you and share what you learned.
Possible Activities
- Draw or create a map of your home, neighborhood, or community.
- Interview a family member about their childhood, job, or where they grew up.
- Learn about a historical figure and explain why they are important.
- Research a holiday or cultural tradition and describe how it is celebrated.
- Follow a current event and summarize what is happening.
- Create a timeline of important events in your life.
- Identify ways people contribute to their communities.
- Explore how transportation, technology, or communication has changed over time.
Possible Activities
- Track how much water you drink in a day.
- Identify healthy foods you eat and explain why they support your body.
- Practice breathing, stretching, or mindfulness activities.
- Reflect on strategies that help you manage stress or stay focused.
- Plan a balanced meal or snack.
- Reflect on habits that help you stay focused and ready to learn.
- Track sleep or movement for several days and notice patterns.
- Write or draw about ways to take care of your physical and mental health.
Possible Activities
- Take a walk or complete a movement challenge and notice how your body feels.
- Create a short exercise routine that includes stretching, balance, and strength.
- Track physical activity for several days.
- Practice coordination skills such as jumping, balancing, or agility activities.
- Design a personal fitness challenge.
Possible Activities
- Listen to a song and describe the mood or feeling it creates.
- Identify instruments you hear in a piece of music.
- Create a rhythm by clapping or using household objects.
- Learn a new song and perform it for someone at home.
- Compare two songs and describe how they are similar or different.
- Draw what you imagine while listening to music.
- Research a musical instrument and explain how it makes sound.
- Write about your favorite type of music and why you enjoy it.
Possible Activities
- Draw or sketch something you observe outside.
- Create a collage using recycled or household materials.
- Design a poster about a topic you are learning.
- Illustrate a scene from a story you read.
- Create artwork inspired by music you listen to.
- Experiment with patterns, shapes, or colors.
- Recreate a famous work of art using your own materials.
- Design a symbol or logo that represents something important to you.
