Backpack - Western Québec School Board

What is Backpack?

Originally put together in the weeks following the province-wide closure of schools in March 2020, Backpack remains available to Western Québec students and families as a curated list of digital educational resources.

Below, you will find various engaging online learning activities that complement the extensive collection already available in the Western Québec Virtual Library. The use of these resources is optional.

For additional resources, visit the Ministry of Education’s Open School website, to which our education consultants have contributed.

Elementary levels

English Language Arts
	Scholastic Learn At Home The scholastic learn-at-home program boasts “day-by-day projects to keep kids reading, thinking, and growing” during this time. They are providing students and families with 20 free days of lessons and ideas and will update each day until the 20-day mark is reached. Pre-K to Sec II.
	Storyline Online This is an online digital library that includes fun read alouds performed by various readers. Book pages, illustrations and animation are shown during the readings. K to Cycle 3.
	National Geographic Kids This is a great online resource focused on non-fiction information. Content is provided through articles, videos, animated shorts, games and fun facts.
	Audible For as long as schools are closed, audible has opened part of its library so that “kids everywhere can instantly stream an incredible collection of stories…that will help them continue dreaming, learning, and just being kids.” All stories are free to stream to desktop, laptop, phone or tablet.
	MediaSmarts Canada’s centre for digital and media literacy. Media Smarts uses tools such as games, blogs, lessons and videos to help students of all ages become “media smart” and safe. To help guide students along when necessary, there is a specified section for parents to explore.
Math
	Prodigy Prodigy is a free, online, math-based, role playing game featuring over 50,000 questions spanning Grades 1 – 8. Players get to watch their very own wizard grow stronger, learn new spells and acquire new equipment all by answering math questions!
	Sheppard’s Sheppard’s offers everything from early math to pre-algebra. The lessons include interactive activities to practice concepts. Students can shoot fruit, pop balloons, and even play Math Man.
	Aplusmath Aplusmath provides students from Elementary to Secondary II with independent math practice including addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and more. Various options from worksheets to games provide choice and variety.
	Waterloo Math Problem of the Day University of Waterloo’s “Math Problem of the Day” for Grade 3 to 12.
	Western Québec’s CUBE Newsletter Math games and activities curated at WQSB for students in Cycles 1-3. Most activities can be played with dice and cards for a more socially interactive experience. This document will be updated periodically.
	Mathies Games, learning tools, and online math practice. Based on Ontario curriculum.
Français langue seconde
	Boukili Des livres illustrés gratuits pour les enfants. Il faut créer un compte pour l’enfant. On peut y accéder en ligne ou télécharger l’application sur sa tablette.
	La Francomobile La version Apprenant propose une variété d’exercices pour travailler la compréhension orale et écrite, l’expression orale et écrite et le vocabulaire en fonction des vidéos offertes.
	Coucou, par Télé-Québec Pour les enfants d’âge préscolaire. Des activités pour les amis du préscolaire. On y trouve même les émissions de Passe-Partout.
	Abracadabra Ce site hautement interactif, d’abord conçu en anglais par une équipe de Concordia puis adapté en français par l’UQAM, propose une variété d’activités aux petits entourant des notions relatives à la littératie. Tout en s’amusant, les jeunes peuvent ainsi lire des livres, des contes, comptines et poèmes ou effectuer l’une des activités, qu’il s’agisse de lire ou d’écrire.
	Bookaboo Plongez dans l’univers de la lecture ou s’entrecroisent musique, lecture et aventures. En français et gratuit. Un jeune chien, vedette de rock Bookaboo ,joueur de batterie et Superstar ne peut monter sur scène tant que l’on ne lui a pas raconté une histoire. Heureusement, ses visiteurs vedettes viendront à sa rescousse, dans sa loge, pour lui faire la lecture.
	Mission O.B.J.E.T. Mission O.B.J.E.T. présente aux élèves de la fin du primaire un parcours culturel sous forme de jeu. Son objectif : offrir un moyen ludique et signifiant d’intégrer la culture à l’école à partir d’objets du quotidien. Un univers culturel à parcourir de façon autonome par les jeunes.
Science
	Mystery Science Free, easy science for remote learning. No logins required. Grades 1-5.
	Canada Science Developed by the Canadian government, this site has activities, lesson plans, videos and more to help youth learn about science and technology.
	National Geographic Kids Science, games, animals, videos, homework resources and much more can be found on National Geographic for kids.
	NASA NASA’s site has the picture of the day, Build-it, Solve It, Launch it, Play It and Colour It activities to engage and promote STEM exploration opportunities.

Secondary levels

English Language Arts
	The Learning Network This New York Times resource offers many opportunities and strategies for reading, responding to reading, research, sharing opinions, picture prompts, a writing unit, writing tools and much more. Cycle 3 to Sec V.
	TedEd TEDEd is a great resource for all age levels. There are many videos and lessons to choose from, and each includes links for additional resources, discussion topics and response questions. Students can even create their own talks and lessons! They are also in the process of launching TEDEd@home.
	National Geographic Kids Sec 1 & 2:This is a great online resource focused on non-fiction information. Content is provided through articles, videos, animated shorts, games and fun facts.
	Audible For as long as schools are closed, audible has opened part of its library so that “kids everywhere can instantly stream an incredible collection of stories…that will help them continue dreaming, learning, and just being kids.” All stories are free to stream to desktop, laptop, phone or tablet.
	MediaSmarts Canada’s centre for digital and media literacy. Media Smarts uses tools such as games, blogs, lessons and videos to help students of all ages become “media smart” and safe. To help guide students along when necessary, there is a specified section for parents to explore.
Math
	Hoody Math Interactive math games for secondary students.
	Centre for Education in Mathematics and Computing The CEMC courseware materials feature lessons, interactive activities, enrichment challenges, and unlimited opportunity for practice with feedback.
	Nrich ‘Solving Together’ is a set of six mathematical games and puzzles designed for lower secondary students to work on with a parent or carer from the nrich math site.
	Youcubed Youcubed’s goal is to inspire ALL students with open, creative mindset mathematics. The activities are designed with help of Stanford researcher Jo Boaler.
	Numberphile Videos about numbers. Numberphile has many videos exploring deep concepts in mathematics.
Français langue seconde
	FrancoLab Une foule de vidéos, d’activités interactives et de fiches téléchargeables sont ainsi offertes gratuitement afin de faciliter l’apprentissage et l’enseignement du français.
	Les Éditions Magriffe Donne accès, en un seul clic, à de courts textes littéraires partout au Canada.
	Collection de livres audio de Radio-Canada Première Écoutez gratuitement, sur demande, des romans et des livres audio pour jeunes, lus par leurs auteurs ou par des comédiens.
	Au Défi, par TFO Au défi sur le web! Viens lancer des défis et jouer à des jeux interactifs inspirés de l’émission diffusée à TFO. Au défi pour jouer entre amis à travers le monde!
	Réseau In-Terre-Actif Ce site traite de plusieurs thèmes comme l’environnement, la consommation responsable, la démocratie et les droits humains, la diversité culturelle, la paix et la guerre de même que la mondialisation. Une riche ressource pédagogique pour les élèves et les enseignants du primaire et du secondaire.
Science
	Vsauce Vsauce is one of the most popular science channels on the internet. Our World is Amazing. Questions?
	Veritasium Veritasium is a youtube channel with over 200 videos answering scientific questions such as “what is the most radioactive place on Earth?” and “how do trees get their mass?” Highly entertaining and always educational.
	PHET Interactive Simulations PHET is for K-11 students looking to explore scientific phenomena without the need for expensive equipment. This site includes many applications, with pre-made lessons and questions to give directly to students to develop scientific and mathematical understanding.
	Periodic Table Videos Tables charting the chemical elements have been around since the 19th century – but this modern version has a short video about each one of the 118 elements.

Cross-Curricular

	Open School The newly-launched Ministry of Education home learning platform. You will find thousands of resources for learning, creating, having fun and staying active. The activities are designed to allow everyone to complete them on their own or with support from their friends and families. You can choose your own adventure based on your knowledge and grade level. New activities are added regularly to help you enjoy every day of learning.
	Western Québec Virtual Library Our Virtual Library is a compendium of online resources that support the Québec Education Program. It is full of bilingual, multi-media tools; including books, research databases and encyclopaedias, news and more.
	LEARN Quebec – Learn at home Online tutoring with qualified teachers at no charge! The Leading English Education and Resource Network (LEARN) is a non-profit organization that primarily serves the public and private Anglophone, and Aboriginal, Youth and Adult Education sectors of Québec. LEARN offers access to quality learning resources.
	Khan Academy You can learn anything. Expert-created content and resources for every course and level in many subject areas. Always free.
	BrainPop A trusted learning resource supporting core and supplemental subjects, reaching millions of learners worldwide. Unlimited access during school closures.
	Open PhysEd: Tools for an Active Home Get moving!
	YouTube Learn@home As schools around the world close their buildings and families find themselves at home, we want to ensure that learning together continues. So we’re partnering with learning creators to bring parents & families resources and activities to make the coming days as educational and fun as possible.
	Scratch Scratch is a free programming language and online community where you can create your own interactive stories, games, and animations.
	Sporcle History, Geography, Mathematics, Science, Pop Culture. The world’s greatest online trivia site. Sporcle is the place for you.
	MET Kids The Metropolitan Museum of Art for kids “is a digital feature made for, with, and by kids. Explore The Met with an interactive map and watch behind-the-scenes videos.” Also includes fun facts and ideas for creative projects. Cycle 2 to Sec II.
	Environmental Awareness & Outdoor Skills Resources Our Environmental Awareness & Outdoor Skills teacher Alan Earwaker, also known as Mr. E, has prepared a set of challenges for our students in this difficult time. Download Parts 1 & 2 – Download Part 3 – Download Part 4 – Download Part 5 – Download Part 6 – Download Part 7 – Download Part 8 – Download Part 9 – Download Part 10