Freely Educate

Free Curriculum for Elementary Students (really worth checking out!)

Okay, listen up, you'll like today's free educational find if you are teaching to the elementary grades.  Lesson Pathways used to be a subscription site, but on February 24th they decided to switch to offering their valuable site for 100% free, no catches at all. They say they're hoping to, like Twitter and Facebook, monetize the site through high traffic and ads.  Thankfully, the site isn't full of ads at all.   But I'm sure it will be full of high traffic, once the word gets out!

What is Lesson Pathways? 

Here is their description of the site: "We've found the very best online lessons, projects, games, and activities for K-5 students and we've assembled them into ready-to-teach, weekly topic units. [We offer over] 900 FREE weekly topic units; pre-screened, high quality, online resources; and an easy-to-use Planner, allowing you to customize your child's curriculum or supplement."

My favorite thing about the site is that planner. I have each student set up in the planner so that I can create a custom curriculum and assignments just for that child.  

You can use Lesson Pathways to create your own homeschool or classroom curriculum.  You may choose to assign a weeklong unit to one student, or assign a 36-week learning plan on a core subject (for example, math) for an entire classroom grade level (eg. Science 4).

Any catch?

You do need to register, but, if you want to, you can register with your Facebook account so that you're not giving out any other information.  Or you can register with your email address, like I did. It's quick easy, and spam-free to register.

See what you think by visiting Lesson Pathways.  The following are a few of the testimonials from the Lesson Pathways site:

	KimberlyC says:  "I have been searching high and low for ideas without having to buy a "boxed" curriculum. So far I am liking what I am seeing."
	jollygreengiant93 says:  "Thank you! I have had such trouble finding quality science information for my 1st grader. This is exactly what I was looking for!"
	bmw29 says:  "This really takes the headache away from planning fun yet educational activities to go along with our lesson plans."
	Katy says:  "This is such an unbelievably wonderful program. I have everything I need to start."
	StacyJ says:  "Finally, the exact curriculum I wanted with the same type of activities and resources, but it's already been pulled together for me! Thanks! " ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Subscribe to FreelyEducate here Keep up with FreelyEducate tweets (Twitter) here: @freelyeducate

Free Genetics Curriculum from the University of Utah

The University of Utah offers a free Genetic Science Learning Center that is definitely worth a look!   On the student-friendly interactive site, your students can build a DNA molecule, work with test rats and more activities as they learn about heredity and genetics. 

This one is work a look for any science teacher or science-seeking homeschooler.  I think it would best fit middle school to high schoolers, but check the site out even if you have elementary students. 

Oh, and here is a teachers' page with lesson plans and resources.

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Free Literature-Based K-12 Curriculum

As this school year ends (in the US), perhaps you're wondering what to do next year?  Here is one option:

Ambleside Online is a free homeschool curriculum designed to be as close as possible to the curriculum that Charlotte Mason used in her own private and correspondence schools. Our goal is to be true to Charlotte Mason's high literary standards. Ambleside Online uses the highest quality books and costs no more than the cost of texts. The curriculum uses as many free online books as possible, and there is no cost to use this information or join the support group.

Personal Experience:  This one is near and dear to my heart, as our family has been using Ambleside Online as our curriculum for the past two four years.  Our lives are much richer for it!  If the book lists and schedule at first seem overwhelming, look again.  The children are not sitting for 8 hours at a desk. Rather, they are reading and studying in small amounts, to have time to absorb the information.

I highly recommend joining the support groups, which should be listed at the site (they are Yahoo groups, I think the main one is called "AmblesideOnline." Let me know if you need me to hunt for it)

~ Lori Seaborg, FreelyEducate.com founder

Ambleside Online is a free homeschool curriculum designed to be as close as possible to the curriculum that Charlotte Mason used in her own private and correspondence schools. Our goal is to be true to Charlotte Mason's high literary standards. Ambleside Online uses the highest quality books and costs no more than the cost of texts. The curriculum uses as many free online books as possible, and there is no cost to use this information or join the support group.

Personal Experience:  This one is near and dear to my heart, as our family has been using Ambleside Online as our curriculum for the past two four years.  Our lives are much richer for it!  If the book lists and schedule at first seem overwhelming, look again.  The children are not sitting for 8 hours at a desk. Rather, they are reading and studying in small amounts, to have time to absorb the information.

I highly recommend joining the support groups, which should be listed at the site (they are Yahoo groups, I think the main one is called "AmblesideOnline." Let me know if you need me to hunt for it)

~ Lori Seaborg, FreelyEducate.com founder

Free Customizable Curriculum, Unit Studies, & Supplements for K-5th

Okay, listen up, you'll like today's free educational find if you are teaching to the elementary grades.  Lesson Pathways used to be a subscription site, but on February 24th they decided to switch to offering their valuable site for 100% free, no catches at all. They say they're hoping to, like Twitter and Facebook, monetize the site through high traffic and ads.  Thankfully, the site isn't full of ads at all.   But I'm sure it will be full of high traffic, once the word gets out!

What is Lesson Pathways? 

Here is their description of the site: "We've found the very best online lessons, projects, games, and activities for K-5 students and we've assembled them into ready-to-teach, weekly topic units. [We offer over] 900 FREE weekly topic units; pre-screened, high quality, online resources; and an easy-to-use Planner, allowing you to customize your child's curriculum or supplement."

My favorite thing about the site is that planner. I have each student set up in the planner so that I can create a custom curriculum and assignments just for that child.  

You can use Lesson Pathways to create your own homeschool or classroom curriculum.  You may choose to assign a weeklong unit to one student, or assign a 36-week learning plan on a core subject (for example, math) for an entire classroom grade level (eg. Science 4).

Any catch?

You do need to register, but, if you want to, you can register with your Facebook account so that you're not giving out any other information.  Or you can register with your email address, like I did. It's quick easy, and spam-free to register.

See what you think by visiting Lesson Pathways.  The following are a few of the testimonials from the Lesson Pathways site:

	KimberlyC says:  "I have been searching high and low for ideas without having to buy a "boxed" curriculum. So far I am liking what I am seeing."
	jollygreengiant93 says:  "Thank you! I have had such trouble finding quality science information for my 1st grader. This is exactly what I was looking for!"
	bmw29 says:  "This really takes the headache away from planning fun yet educational activities to go along with our lesson plans."
	Katy says:  "This is such an unbelievably wonderful program. I have everything I need to start."
	StacyJ says:  "Finally, the exact curriculum I wanted with the same type of activities and resources, but it's already been pulled together for me! Thanks! " ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Subscribe to FreelyEducate here Keep up with FreelyEducate tweets (Twitter) here: @freelyeducate

Free Full Homeschool Curriculum: Charlotte Mason, Literature Based

Today I'm highlighting  two three 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. 

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

Mater Amabilis: Catholic Charlotte Mason Curriculum

If you know of other full homeschooling curriculum that's 100% free, please share by clicking on "comments" below.

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

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

Mater Amabilis: Catholic Charlotte Mason Curriculum

If you know of other full homeschooling curriculum that's 100% free, please share by clicking on "comments" below.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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

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!

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

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

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

Curriculum: Old Fashioned Education

AnOld Fashioned Education is a generous website!   Featured on the site is a  full curriculum (free, of course!) based on free domain books and other free sites.  The books tend to be classics; the education is of high quality.

Keeping an open mind and checking out all the options:  On the front page of the Old Fashioned Education site, the web author writes that AmblesideOnline.org, another free curriculum site, does not have "enough structure" for her boys, so she created her own (the one featured today).  After looking through the schedules of both curriculums, I cannot figure out on what that opinion is based.  Both give suggestions for the week rather than the day, and both are based on reading "living books" (many long-standing classics are considered this).  Besides, I think the responsiblity of structure lies with the parent, not the curriculum, so please don't let her comment sway you from checking out Ambleside Online as well. 

Either curriculum is an excellent choice, in my opinion.

~ Lori for FreelyEducate.com, high quality ~ and free!~ educational finds posted every weekday

Charlotte Mason based Curriculum: AmblesideOnline

Ambleside Online is a free homeschool curriculum designed to be as close as possible to the curriculum that Charlotte Mason used in her own private and correspondence schools. Our goal is to be true to Charlotte Mason's high literary standards. Ambleside Online uses the highest quality books and costs no more than the cost of texts. The curriculum uses as many free online books as possible, and there is no cost to use this information or join the support group.

Personal Experience:  This one is near and dear to my heart, as our family has been using Ambleside Online as our curriculum for the past two years.  Our lives are much richer for it!  If the book lists and schedule at first seem overwhelming, look again.  The children are not sitting for 8 hours at a desk. Rather, they are reading and studying in small amounts, to have time to absorb the information.

I highly recommend joining the support groups, which should be listed at the site (they are Yahoo groups, I think the main one is called "AmblesideOnline." Let me know if you need me to hunt for it)

~ Lori Seaborg, FreelyEducate.com founder

Preschool Curriculum: Letter of the Week

Letter of the Week is a 38-week curriculum for teaching preschoolers their alphabet and its sounds.   

Scroll down on the above page, which you will find at this link, and you'll see all of the letters of the alphabet.  Click on one, "A" for example, and you'll find poems, math suggestions, even field trip suggestions - all related to the letter "A"

Also included are scheduling helps.

The website author, Katrina, writes:

I feel it is very important that when teaching each letter you focus on only one sound at a time.  The letter A, for example, has many different sounds.  The first time the letter A is taught, I have chosen to focus on it's short vowel sound.  While words such as airplane, acorn, and aerobics, start with the letter A, they do not focus on the short vowel sound.  Focus on one sound a week, and reading skills will come quickly for your child.  It truly does help!!