With the current global pandemic, majority of students are attending school online at home and self-isolating. However, with the state lockdown and quarantining at home, some are at a loss for activities or what to do at home. Below are some ideas compiled by Campus Library employees of activities for the lockdown.
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Ways to get creative
Make some art
One great way to stay creative during quarantine is creating a new art piece. There is often a fear of having to be perfect and highly skilled to make art but in reality, art is subjective and anyone can create. One big supporter of this is Bob Ross, who was an American painter and the creator/host of The Joy of Painting which aired from 1983 to 1994 on PBS. For creative inspiration, instruction, and positive reinforcement, you can watch Bob Ross on both Netflix and Hulu and paint along. With some cheap paints that can be bought online, painting with Bob Ross is a great way for anyone to be inspired with some creativity and make a wonderful painting.
An environmentally-friendly option for making art is using materials around your house and recycling them into a new decoration. One way to do this is cutting up leftover cardboard paper towel or toilet paper rolls. Thin circles cut from the rolls can then be painted and glued together to make interesting wall decorations that mimic cast iron. Another good way to stay creative, and get some fresh air, is drawing outside with sidewalk chalk. This is a fun way to relax and enjoy the sun while still self-isolating.
Try a new recipe
As many already are, learning how to cook or bake something new is a great way to be creative and make something tasty. There is a lot of creativity and even art that can go into cooking. It is always a fun way to try something new and with more time at home, more time can go into preparation and cooking. Below are a few recipes that Library Staff recommend and are sure to make something tasty to enjoy.
Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ways to stay entertained
Watch a new movie or TV show
With the ever-growing streaming services, there is a lot of incredible entertainment out there to enjoy at home during lockdown. However, the expansive lists of shows and movies can be overwhelming and hard to sift through. Below are some favorite suggestions, in no particular order, compiled by Library Staff for your binging pleasure. Streaming services are listed but many DVDs are available at UW Libraries (once reopened) and some have online student access.
MOVIES
- Top Five
- Ferris Bueller’s Day Off ~ this film is a classic 80s comedy on Netflix and iTunes about a high school senior having one last adventure with his friends by cutting class and having fun in Chicago.
- Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse ~ an incredible, underrated, expertly animated story about Miles Morales as he grapples with newfound spider powers and meets alternate universe Spider-People. It is not your typical kid’s superhero movie, available on Netflix and Amazon Prime.
- The Shawshank Redemption ~ a mature prison story, on Netflix and Amazon Prime, about a wrongful conviction and the brutalities and institutionalization faced in prison.
- The Blues Brothers ~ this movie is the unrestrained hilarious adventure of the two “Blues Brothers” as they try and get the band back together to raise money to save their old orphanage. It is based on the recurring SNL skit of the same name and is available on Hulu and Amazon Prime.
- The Grand Budapest Hotel ~ the comedic drama, on Amazon Prime and iTunes, tells the story of a murder mystery and that the owner of the Grand Budapest Hotel is a suspect.
- Comedy
- Napoleon Dynamite ~ Hulu, Amazon Prime
- Jojo Rabbit ~ Amazon Prime
- Moonrise Kingdom ~ Amazon Prime, iTunes, UW
- Ghostbusters ~ iTunes, Amazon Prime
- Nacho Libre ~ Netflix, iTunes
- Action
- Thor: Ragnarok ~ Disney Plus, Netflix
- Black Panther ~ Netflix, Disney Plus
- Black and Blue ~ Hulu, Sling TV
- Men in Black ~ iTunes
- Drama
- Moonlight ~ Netflix, iTunes
- A Man Called Ove ~ iTunes, Amazon Prime
- Stand By Me ~ iTunes, Amazon Prime
- Romeo + Juliet ~ Hulu, Amazon Prime
- The Hate U Give ~ Hulu, Amazon Prime
- The Joy Luck Club ~ Amazon Prime
- Animation / Family
- Fantastic Mr. Fox ~ Disney Plus, iTunes
- Klaus ~ Netflix
- Song of the Sea ~ Netflix, iTunes
- Coco ~ Disney Plus
- The Little Prince ~ Netflix
- Documentary / True Story
- The 13th ~ Netflix
- Hidden Figures ~ Hulu, iTunes
- October Sky ~ iTunes, Amazon Prime
- BlacKkKlansman ~ Hulu, HBO Max
TV SHOWS
- Top Five
- The Witcher ~ a mature comedic and action-packed high fantasy series with one season out on Netflix and another on the way, it would fit well with fans of Game of Thrones or DnD.
- Avatar: The Last Airbender ~ one of the best cartoon series out there, recently put on Netflix, Avatar has immense world-building about a universe with magical elemental bending and the Avatar, master of all four elements, has to save the world.
- The Dragon Prince ~ an animated cartoon series on Netflix set in a fantasy world with magic elves, dragons, human kingdoms, and more.
- The Umbrella Academy ~ another mature comedy/action series on Netflix self-described to be about a “dysfunctional family of superheroes” and based off the comic of the same name.
- Stranger Things ~ if you haven’t watched Stranger Things by now, you’re missing out on a 80s themed paranormal thriller with young ghostbusters available on Netflix.
- Comedy
- Master of None ~ Netflix
- Brooklyn Nine-Nine ~ Hulu, NBC
- How I Met Your Mother ~ Hulu
- I Am Not Okay with This ~ Netflix
- Action
- Agents of Shield ~ Netflix, iTunes, Amazon Prime
- Outer Banks ~ Netflix
- You ~ Netflix, Amazon Prime
- The Mandalorian ~ Disney Plus
- Drama
- Sex Education ~ Netflix
- Good Omens ~ Amazon Prime
- Dear White People ~ Netflix, YouTube
- Ragnarok ~ Netflix
- The Good Doctor ~ Hulu
- Raising Dion ~ Netflix
- Animation / Family
- Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia ~ Netflix, Amazon Prime
- Steven Universe ~ Hulu, Sling TV
- The Legend of Korra ~ CBS, Amazon Prime
- Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts ~ Netflix
- The Hollow ~ Netflix
- Documentary / True Story
- Round Planet ~ Netflix, BBC
- Our Planet ~ Netflix
- Black America Since MLK: And Still I Rise ~ Amazon Prime
- When They See Us ~ Netflix
Listen to music
Along with movies and TV shows, the music streaming industry is always expanding and with so many great choices, there is a lot to listen to. A great way to stay entertained during quarantine is to play some tunes and bust out dance moves or sing along. Below are some artist suggestions with favorite songs of Library Student Employees for you to jam out to or vibe in the sun. Also be sure to check out a past Library Blog playlist and some great book recommendations. All of the songs below are available on Spotify.
- Soul / R&B
- Make a Move by Lawrence
- Homesick by Lawrence
- One More Time by Lawrence
- Location by Khalid
- Don’t Make Me Wait by The Dip
- For Once In My Life by Stevie Wonder
- Signed, Sealed, Delivered by Stevie Wonder
- My Girl by The Temptations
- Read Receipts by Kyle Thornton
- The Real by Busty and the Bass
- Sunday Best by Surfaces
- Indie / Alt. Pop
- California by I Said Yes
- Lay It Back by Andrew Douglas
- Sunkissed by Khai Dreams
- Best Friend by Rex Orange County
- Road Trip by Convent Bonfires
- Live That Long by Lewis Del Mar
- Heart Wants by Magic City Hippies
- I Love You 3000 by Stephanie Poetri
- Beige by Yoke Lore
- Baseball by Hippo Campus
- Pop
- U and Mii and Honesty by Trev
- Panama by Quinn XCII
- Good Thing Go by Quinn XCII
- Olivia by One Direction
- 100 Bad Days by AJR
- If We Have Each Other by Alec Benjamin
- I Don’t Belong In This Club by Why Don’t We, Macklemore
- Summer Days by Martin Garrix, Macklemore
- Sunflower by Post Malone
- Maniac by Conan Gray
- Folk / Folk-Rock
- Books by Caamp
- My Lover by Birdtalker
- And It Spread by The Avett Brothers
- Kick Drum Heart by The Avett Brothers
- Walking For You by The Avett Brothers
- All My Words by The Way Down Wanderers
- Somewhere in Between by Morningsiders
- Thinking It Over by Morningsiders
- A Little Bit of Everything by Dawes
- Empty Rocking Chair by Parsonsfield
- Beautiful Woman by Netherfriends, Soul Food Horns
- Pop-Rock
- Dancing in the Moonlight by Toploader
- First Day of My Life by Bright Eyes
- Scrawny by Wallows
- Holy War by Rainbow Kitten Surprise
- All That and More by Rainbow Kitten Surprise
- Don’t Ask Me Why by Great Caesar
- Shotgun by George Ezra
- Hip-Hop / Rap
- What’s Up Danger by Blackway, Black Caviar
- Scared of the Dark (ft. XXXTENTACION) by Lil Wayne
- Ok by PEABOD, Hollyn
- Invincible by Amine
- Better Now by Post Malone
- American Boy by Estelle, Kanye West
- Familia by Nicki Minaj, Anuel AA, Bantu