Freely Educate

From Amazon: A Free Game AND $5 in Free Music

The Bottom Line: Amazon.com is giving away a game called Big Kahuna Reef for FREE.  That "purchase" (free) qualifies you to receive a credit for $5 in mp3 downloads. 

The Method:

1.  First, order the game Big Kahuna Reef. You don't have to download or install it.

But you might want to: It might be a bit of a stretch to call this Bejeweled-like game "educational," but it, um, teaches fine motor skills?  Colors?  Okay, maybe it won't turn the kids into little Einsteins, but in any case, it's a pretty fun, n0-brainer game that's safe for the kids.  Above is a screenshot of mine.

2.  After you've placed your $0.00 order for the Big Kahuna game, you'll receive an email from Amazon letting you know that a $5 mp3 promotional credit is in your account.   Now, this freebie can indeed be educational!  Here are a few educational mp3s I found at Amazon (note: I haven't tried them yet):

• Hip Hop Multiplication
• Schoolhouse Rock! Earth
• Muévete- Learn Spanish Through Song and Movement

and because it makes me giggle:

• Beethoven's Wig 2: More Sing Along Symphonies

There are thousands of other mp3s to choose from; don't feel like you have to go with those!

I did both steps in this offer tonight before writing you. It took me under 5 minutes to purchase the game (for nothing, as I keep saying!) and receive a promotional credit in my Amazon account for $5 in mp3s.  There were no catches!

This offer expires August 31, 2009, so hurry up!

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Free Museum Day at Over 1,000 American Museums

On Saturday, September 26th, 2009, you and a guest may enjoy free admission to one of over 1,000 museums across America during the Smithsonian Magazine's Museum Day.

I'll bet there's one near you! 

Go to the Smithsonian Magazine's Museum Day site to:

• download your free ticket voucher
• view participating venues (by address or state)

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College-Level Biology from Carnegie Mellon University

Another free course offering from Carnegie Mellon University. This course is called Modern Biology...

A description from Carnegie Mellon:

This introductory course in"Modern Biology" covers topics found in the fields of celluar biology, molecular biology, biochemistry, and genetics. It does not cover organismal biology or taxonomy. This course is a requirement for biology majors at Carnegie Mellon University. The course is carefully planned to provide the backgound biology students will need for advanced biology classes. Non-biology majors will also find this course useful as it explains many of the concepts and techniques currently discussed in the popular press.ans for a complete on-line Biology course are under development.

This Modern Biology course is built around six Key Concepts that provide unifying explanations for how and why structures are formed and processes occur throughout your study of biology. Because it is not possible to cover the breadth of modern molecular biology in one semester, an understanding of these Key Concepts will provide a basis for extension of your knowledge to biological systems beyond the specifics covered in this course. One of the major goals of the course therefore is for you to not only learn the definitions of the concepts but also learn to recognize when they are operating the process being studied.

The Key Concepts:

• Bioselectivity
• Energy
• Equilibrium
• Ionic State
• Rate Control
• Solubility

Unit 1: Modern Biology

Unit 2: Biological Chemistry
- Atoms, Functional Groups, and Water
- Equilibrium and pH
- Carbohydrates and Polysaccharides
- Amino Acids and Proteins
- Enzymes and Regulation

Unit 3: Cell BiologyModule
- Lipids and Membranes
- Transport and Signalling

Unit 4: Basis of Molecular Biology
- DNA and RNA
- DNA Replication
- DNA Transcription
- RNA Translation-Protein Synthesis

Appendix: Glossaries
- Instructions for Activities
- Tutorial Animations
- Functional Groups
- Structure and Function of the Cell Membrane
- Images of Living Cells

Subscribe to FreelyEducate here  or keep up with FreelyEducate tweets (Twitter) here: @freelyeducate

Another free course offering from Carnegie Mellon University. This course is called Modern Biology...

A description from Carnegie Mellon:

This introductory course in"Modern Biology" covers topics found in the fields of celluar biology, molecular biology, biochemistry, and genetics. It does not cover organismal biology or taxonomy. This course is a requirement for biology majors at Carnegie Mellon University. The course is carefully planned to provide the backgound biology students will need for advanced biology classes. Non-biology majors will also find this course useful as it explains many of the concepts and techniques currently discussed in the popular press.ans for a complete on-line Biology course are under development.

This Modern Biology course is built around six Key Concepts that provide unifying explanations for how and why structures are formed and processes occur throughout your study of biology. Because it is not possible to cover the breadth of modern molecular biology in one semester, an understanding of these Key Concepts will provide a basis for extension of your knowledge to biological systems beyond the specifics covered in this course. One of the major goals of the course therefore is for you to not only learn the definitions of the concepts but also learn to recognize when they are operating the process being studied.

The Key Concepts:

• Bioselectivity
• Energy
• Equilibrium
• Ionic State
• Rate Control
• Solubility

Unit 1: Modern Biology

Unit 2: Biological Chemistry
- Atoms, Functional Groups, and Water
- Equilibrium and pH
- Carbohydrates and Polysaccharides
- Amino Acids and Proteins
- Enzymes and Regulation

Unit 3: Cell BiologyModule
- Lipids and Membranes
- Transport and Signalling

Unit 4: Basis of Molecular Biology
- DNA and RNA
- DNA Replication
- DNA Transcription
- RNA Translation-Protein Synthesis

Appendix: Glossaries
- Instructions for Activities
- Tutorial Animations
- Functional Groups
- Structure and Function of the Cell Membrane
- Images of Living Cells

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Biblical Studies: Free Online Curriculum

If Biblical studies are part of your curriculum, check out Experiencing the Word.  With illustrations, maps, and quotes, this Bible study covers all of the Bible through 43 online volumes.

Plain Truth Magazine, the publisher of the online version of Experiencing the Word, describes the program like this:

Experiencing the Word Online — covering the entire Bible in 43 online volumes. Whether you’re a new student of the Bible, or have been studying it for years, this series is an adventure in faith that will change forever the way you look at the Scriptures. Written, designed and edited by a highly qualified team of Bible experts and publishing professionals, packed with illustrations, charts, maps and stories, Experiencing the Word Online combines the heart of a Bible devotional with the mind of a Bible study course.

 

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Free Catholic Charlotte Mason Curriculum

For ages 4-14, Mater Amabilis is a Catholic-friendly option for fans of the Charlotte Mason style of education.  Go to this page for an overview of the program and to view each year's scope and sequence.

The curriculum includes schedules and lesson plans.  You'll have to purchase the books, but many can be found free, online.

Thank you, God's Dancing Child, for sharing this high quality, 100% free, educational find with us!

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From MIT: Free High School Courses

MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) has been highlighted here on FreelyEducate.com before, for their 1,900 (!) courses available for free (!) at the college level.

Well, now they're focusing on high schoolers.  Check out the MIT OpenCourseware: Highlights for High School website for the course listings.

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Best of Freely Educate: Free Full Curriculum

Continuing the Best of FreelyEducate.com theme, I thought I'd highlight two free homeschooling curriculum, which I think could be adapted to schools as well as other education options (such as self-learning!).  Both of these curriculum contain all that you need for a full education, including history, literature, writing, math, etc.  This does not mean that the materials are included - it is curriculum, after all -  but the lesson planning and book lists are included. 

I could only find two free full curriculum, so hope you will mention others to us in the comments, below.  Click on the title or screenshot for a review of each:

Ambleside Online:  a Charlotte Mason curriculum

Old-Fashioned Education: a Christian, living books curriculum

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