On this tab you can find links to free online activities. You can explore a range of virtual activities including museum exhibits and exercise programs, with more activities to follow in the coming weeks. Each activity also includes a brief introduction, and research discussing the benefits of staying engaged and connected.
Animals
Although social distancing may make it difficult to visit zoos and sites in nature where we can observe animals, you can watch a variety of animals from your own home at the links listed below. People may visit zoos for a variety of reasons, including social connection, learning, and spirituality (Falk et al., 2007). Visiting zoos can also lead people to reconsider their own role in environmental problems and conservation and consider how they can be part of the solution Falk et al, 2007). If connecting with animals, nature, or environmental and conservation causes appeals to you, feel free to check out these links!
Channel Islands National Park Bald Eagles
National Geographic WildCam Obersvations
Books
With the spring semester over, you might be finding yourself with a bit more free time. If you’d like to use that time to read, feel free to check out the following list of resources to help you access free e-books and audiobooks that you can safely access from home! Research has shown that in addition to cognitive benefits, reading can help reduce stress (Rizzolo et al., 2009), and if we’re emotionally transported into the story, reading can build empathy (Bal & Veltkamp, 2013). In fact, listening to the stories of people who have oppressed identities is an important step in working toward social justice when those stories lead to our increased awareness and action against oppression. Based on the books and stories we choose, reading can have benefits not only for ourselves, but for others as well.
Akron-Summit County Public Library (for Ohio residents)
Escape Rooms
Escape rooms can be a fun way to use and build critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills (Wiemker et al., 2015). Escape rooms have also been found to be an effective way to practice leadership skills, including communication and teamwork (Wu et al., 2018). There are several free ways to have an escape-room-like experience from your own home to safely practice social distancing. You could complete these puzzle and escape rooms on your own, or consider video chatting with family or friends to complete them as a group. Check out the list below for online escape rooms in a variety of formats!
“Cube Escape” Mobile App Series (Made by Rusty Lake)
Compiled lists of several online escape room games: List 1, List 2
Music and Concerts
In response to social distancing, concerts have become available for streaming. Several studies have found that listening to music can reduce feelings of stress, anxiety, and promotes relaxation (Fancourt et al. 2014). Additionally, music also fosters positive emotions such as confidence, social connection, and focus (Fancourt et al. 2014; Schellenberg 2012). We invite you to explore the links below, which cover a range of free concerts across a wide variety of genres, including classical, rock, hip hop, R&B, country, and more, as well as a wide range of artists such as John Legend, the Roots, Post Malone, Kesha, and The Cleveland Orchestra.
Free Classic Music in Northeast Ohio
Free Andrew Lloyd Webber Musicals
Museums
With the following links to virtual exhibits and interactive experiences at a variety of museums with content ranging from art to history to nature to culture, we invite you to explore! In addition to learning something new, research has found a variety of potential benefits from visiting museums, including: experiencing personal growth, understanding oneself and others more deeply, broadening perspective, connecting with purpose in life, feeling connected to one’s culture and history and to other people, and relaxation (Everett & Barrett, 2011; Packer, 2008). Many of us could use some feelings of connection and relaxation during this time, and if a virtual museum tour feels like a good option for you, please check any or all of these out!
Cleveland Museum of Natural History
British Museum- Museum of the World Exhibit
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian
Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art
Smithsonian National Museum of African Art
Nature and Parks
Although current opportunities to get out in nature may be limited right now, research has shown us that spending time in nature can provide a variety of benefits. For example, being in nature or green spaces has been found to reduce difficult emotions, such as feelings of depression or anxiety; help maintain positive emotions; improve working memory; and even provide physical health benefits such as lowered blood pressure (Bratman et al., 2015; Shanahan et al., 2016). Looking at and listening to nature through a computer or smartphone is far different from physically being in nature, but if you find enjoyment or other benefits from being in nature yourself, we would encourage you to check out the following links.
Virtual Guided Tours of 5 U.S. National Parks
Oklahoma Nature Conservancy Virtual Field Trip
Grand Canyon National Park (Google Earth)
Variety of other National Park and historical site resources
Exercise
With the following links to exercise workouts, work-ins, and apps, we invite you to explore! Research has shown that exercise is related to positive mood, optimism, resiliency, and stress reduction (Szabo, 2003). Thus, we encourage those interested to explore these options to exercise in an affordable way. The links below include a variety of workout websites that provide free workout videos, testimonials, blogs, and healthy recipes. Each website also has its own app, listed below!
Planet Fitness Live Stream Workouts
Team Body Project Free Home Workouts
Team Body Project Mobile App
References:
- Bal, P. M., & Veltkamp, M. (2013). How does fiction reading influence empathy? An experimental investigation on the role of emotional transportation. PloS one, 8(1), e55341.
- Bratman, G. N., Daily, G. C., Levy, B. J., & Gross, J. J. (2015). The benefits of nature experience: Improved affect and cognition. Landscape and Urban Planning, 138, 41-50.
- Everett, M. C. & Barrett, M. S. (2011). Benefits visitors derive from sustained engagement with a single museum. Curator: The Museum Journal, 54(4), 431-446.
- Fancourt, D., Ockelford, A., & Belai, A. (2014). The psychoneuroimmunological effects of music: A systematic review and a new model. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 36, 15–26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2013.10.014
- Falk, J. H., Reinhard, E. M., Vernon, C., Bronnenkant, K., Heimlich, J. E., & Deans, N. L. (2007). Why zoos & aquariums matter: Assessing the impact of a visit to a zoo or aquarium. Silver Spring, MD: Association of Zoos & Aquariums.
- Packer, J. (2008). Beyond learning: Exploring visitors’ perceptions of the value and benefits of museum experiences. Curator: The Museum Journal, 51(1), 33-54.
- Rizzolo, D., Zipp, G. P., Stiskal, D., & Simpkins, S. (2009). Stress management strategies for students: The immediate effects of yoga, humor, and reading on stress. Journal of College Teaching & Learning (TLC), 6(8), 79-88.
- Schellenberg, E. G. (2012). Cognitive Performance After Listening to Music: A Review of the Mozart Effect. In R. MacDonald, G. Kreutz, & L. Mitchell (Eds.), Music, Health, and Wellbeing (pp. 325–338). Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199586974.003.0022
- Shanahan, D. F., Bush, R., Gaston, K. J., Lin, B. B., Dean, J., Barber, E., & Fuller, R. A. (2016). Health benefits from nature experiences depend on dose. Scientific Reports, 6. doi: 10.1038/srep28551
- Szabo A. (2003). Acute psychological benefits of exercise performed at self-selected workloads: implications for theory and practice. Journal of sports science & medicine, 2(3), 77–87
- Wiemker, M., Elumir, E., & Clare, A. (2015). Escape room games: Can you transform an unpleasant situation into a pleasant one? In Haag, J., Weißenböck, J., Gruber, W., & Freisleben-Teutscher, C. F. (Eds.), Game Based Learning -English Dialog Orientation & playful learning analog and digital. Retrieved from http://skill.fhstp.ac.at/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Tagungsband_2015.pdf
- Wu, C., Wagenschutz, H., & Hein, J. (2018). Promoting leadership and teamwork development through Escape Rooms. Medical Education, 52, 561–562. https://doi-org.ezproxy.uakron.edu:2443/10.1111/medu.13557