Freely Educate

Free Comic Books on Finances (in the mail or online)

Think our students need to study finances?  You bet they do!  The Federal Reserve has published quite a few comic books on the topic of money (banking, foreign trade, saving, and more). 

You may view the comic books online or order hard copies of them to arrive in your mailbox.  I went through the ordering process today and found both methods hassle-free and 100% free, no catches, not even a registration requirement.  You may order up to 35 copies of each comic book.

Here is a peek at one of the comic books:

 

How to Get This Freebie:  Visit the Federal Reserve Comic Books site (while there, you may want to browse around for other free, non-comic-book, publications)

For:  Elementary, Middle, and High School Students

Update added 7/23/2010:  I wrote this post on Saturday, the 17th, and ordered two comic books that day as a review of their process. We received the comic books on Thursday, the 22nd!  Our teen was immediately interested in them and claimed them as his own.

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Today's high quality, 100% free, educational find comes from reader Carrie Bon. Thank you, Carrie! 

Have a resource to share, too?  Email me at freelyeducate@gmail.com

The Periodic Table of Videos

If your students had an Einstein-look-alike with a British accent teaching chemistry, do you think they'd listen more attentively?

If so, you're in luck.  He, along with other scientists from the University of Nottingham, have created the Periodic Table of Videos.  

Lisa, a Freely Educate reader, suggested this site to you.  She says, "There is a fun and instructional video for each element and many will have a cool experiment to show the properties of the element discussed."

How to Get This Freebie:  Visit the Periodic Table of Videos

For:  All Ages Studying the Elements

Thank you for suggesting the site, Lisa!

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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

Practical Skill: A Unique Geography Idea

It's hot.  Let's stay indoors this weekend and embroider a globe, shall we?

This idea comes from the Piece Work magazine site.  They offer full instructions, a history of embroidered globes (1840s schoolgirls used to do this), and stitching details.

If you embroider a globe, please comment below with a link to a photo so we can admire your piecework!

To Get the Instructions:  Visit this Embroider a Globe page 

For:  Students over age 9, give or take, should be able to handle a needle without difficulty.

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Our Favorite Freebies for Elementary Grades

 Today, it's all about the elementary grades (around 1st through 6th, give or take a year or two, depending on  your students).  Once again, I find myself shaking my head at what is offered free to us educators!  See what you think about my favorites!

(click on the screenshot or links to read a full review of the site):

English Banana's Big Grammar Book

Scott Foresman's Grammar Curriculum for Grades 1-6th

Dick Blick's Art Lesson Plans

Dance Mat Typing

Centre for Innovation in Mathematics Teaching (math curriculum)

 

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Learn How Careers use Math (for grades 4-12)

Your students will like this site!  Math Apprentice teaches a student how various careers use math.  But they don't teach math through a boring, lengthy, text-based method.  No, Math Apprentice gets your student happily involved by allowing them to choose a character who skateboards through town, visiting the different careers:

The student then interactively works on math problems related to the career of choice:

Description from the site author:  Math Apprentice ... connects math to real world careers by allowing students to be apprentices at various companies, applying their math skills to real world challenges. 

For more about the site, or to view how to use the site in a middle school classroom, including classroom examples, visit this informative page. 

How to Get This Freebie:  Visit Math Apprentice.  To get started right away, click on the Explore the Math button at the bottom of the home page. 

Targeted Grade Level:  Grades 4th-7th, but I  found the site had a lot to teach me, so I'd recommend it for high schoolers, too. 

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Free Science and Math Simulations for All Grades

The University of Colorado at Boulder created a site full of dozens of interactive simulations in subjects such as physics, biology, chemistry, earth science, and math.

How to Get This Freebie:  Click the orange "Play with Sims" button.

Good Starting Points:

• Access the Simulations by Grade Level
• This Teacher Page has activities created by other educators

Recommended Grade Levels:  All!  From Elementary, to Middle, High and even College Level

Free Educational Games to Keep the Kids Learning This Summer

Let's keep the kids happy while learning this Summer, shall we? Game Classroom, a site created by teachers, gathers and organizes educational games from other sites so well that it is worth a visit from any educator of K-6th grade students. 

Here is more about the site from its founders:

Game Classroom is a one-stop web destination for accessing high-quality educational games, worksheets and homework help for K-6^th grade students.  At Game Classroom students, teachers and parents will find:

• Math games and language arts games conveniently sorted according to skill, topic and grade level.
• Printable worksheets, categorized by grade level, covering important math and language arts skills.
• Age-appropriate newsletters and lesson plans full of learning tips, current events and activities.
• Comprehensive homework help.
• Educational articles covering topics such as kids online safety, homeschool tips and the top educational iPad apps.

How to Get This Freebie: Visit Game Classroom

Grade Level: K-6th grade students

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Free Resources from a Textbook Publishing Company

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, publisher of textbooks, offers a huge support library on their website, which includes learning games, lesson plans and much (!) more.  This site would be good as a supplemental resource for both homeschoolers and parents interested in after-school (or Summer school!) work. 

FreelyEducate.com reader, Lisa, shared this freebie with us.  She wrote,  "Thought you might be interested in this site I found when I was on another computer and did not have my book mark for the Harcourt school site.  This site is also a Houghton Mifflin Harcourt site but I think I like it better. ~ Lisa" 

How to Get This Freebie:  Visit the Education Place

Grade Level:  Recommended for PreK-6th

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Have a resource or giveaway to share?  Email me at freelyeducate@gmail.com. Thank you, Lisa, for sharing today's freebie!

For K-7th: Chemistry, Biology, Geography, Physics, Math & More!

I hope this isn't too overwhelming.  Today's highlight is a collection of six sites, in a variety of subjects.   

The science sites are introductory for, perhaps, elementary through middle schoolers:

• Physics4Kids
• Chem4Kids
• Cosmos4Kids
• Biology4Kids

There is also a Geography site:

• Geography4Kids

And a math site:

• NumberNut.com

Some of the sites are rather basic (the science sites seem to be so).  The math site seems to be the most developed.

Antonia, who suggested these sites, wrote, "[With these sites] one can study biology, chemistry, physical geography, astronomy, math, and physics. I have used these websites for years, when they were free, when they were 'fee', and again when they returned to 'free'."

How to Get this Freebie:  Visit this page to view all 6 sites.

Grade Level:  K-7th

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Have a resource or giveaway to share?  Email me at freelyeducate@gmail.com. Thank you, Antonia, for sharing today's freebie!

Free Reading Program (a favorite of ours!)

Oh, I'm so excited that one of our readers chose to share this one with us!  Several years ago, our now-10yo began a reading program called Progressive Phonics.  At that time, the books were released as free downloads while they were being written by their author, Miz Katz N Ratz.  For a few years after they were written, the books were no longer free and I forgot all about the website (such a cheapskate, I know!). 

Dawn, a FreelyEducate.com reader, wrote recently to let us know that the Progressive Phonics program is 100% free again!  I know our 7yo will enjoy reading the entertaining books, as her brother did before her. 

Here is more about Progressive Phonics program, as stated on their home page:

Progressive Phonics is an all-in-one reading program that is easy, fun, and totally FREE---that's right, totally and completely free!

And with Progressive Phonics, ANYONE can teach a child to read and write in just a few minutes a day, which makes it ideal for parents, teachers, tutors, volunteers and homeschoolers.

No experience necessary. Just pick a book and start reading it with your child/students.

Matching handwriting worksheets and activity sheets for each book -- when children write what they learn, they learn it better.

Also teaches the essential sight-words (phonics rule-breakers) that most phonics programs fail to teach.

Instant access -- download and use today. (Free registration required, but there are sample books you can look at before registering.)

Our books can be read on-screen or printed on your color printer. Each book takes 4--8 minutes to print and uses as little ink and paper as possible.

But don't judge a book by it's home page. Read one of our books with a child and see for yourself.

How to Get this Freebie:  Visit Progressive Phonics.

Grade Level:  Beginning & Struggling Readers

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Have a resource or giveaway to share?  Email me at freelyeducate@gmail.com. Thank you, Dawn, for sharing today's freebie!

Free 6' U.S. Presidential Timeline Poster (in the mail) & a Lot More @ C-SPAN Classroom

( This one is a good one!)

Here is what the site creators say about C-SPAN Classroom:

C-SPAN Classroom is a free membership service for social studies teachers. Our mission is to enhance the teaching of social studies through C-SPAN’s primary source programming and websites.

Membership [free, homeschoolers welcome] gives educators access to their own library to store C-SPAN Classroom videos and video clips, supplementary materials such as lesson plans and handouts, and special offers like our American Presidents Timeline poster.

How to Access C-SPAN Classroom:  Go to C-SPAN Classroom to browse and complete a free membership form. 

About that free American Presidents Timeline poster:   "The 6ft long poster details the lives and public service careers of every president, plus key historical events, Supreme Court cases, and technology milestones throughout 280 years of Presidential history." 

How to Get the Free Poster:  Go to the Special Offers page to order the poster, but you'll have to register with the C-SPAN Classroom site to receive it (free, no catches). The poster will be delivered to your mailing address for free.

p.s. I'm not sure of their quantity in stock, but imagine that this may be a Limited Time Offer.

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How to Keep the Kids Busy This Summer

If your kids are like mine, they are not averse to rotting their brains in front of the TV, Wii and XBox all Summer.  (Imagine those things being at all interesting to kids!)  This morning, I created a chart for  the kids.  I told them they need to spend 30 minutes doing each of these today:

• Something educational on the computer
• Something that makes you move
• Something that you can make or do (a project)
• Something that you can write or read

"Something educational on the computer" included any of the highlighted sites from here, Freely Educate.  Tomorrow, I'll add Activity TV to the list of allowed sites.  I think this one will keep them interested longer than 30 minutes (yay!).

Activity TV is a digital cable program that also offers its videos online, at ActivityTV.com.  The available projects range from origami to juggling, so you'll have to check this one out to see all there is to offer!  I know our 4 kids (14, 12, 10, 7) will enjoy this one!

This high quality, 100% free educational find was sent to me from Amy Machin, who said, "My kids (8, 7, 6, & 4) love it!"   Thanks, Amy!

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Free Assessment Tests

The Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) is online for free!  These tests will give you a good idea of how your homeschooled children are doing compared to the national (or, Texas?) average student. 

I'll add a screenshot of the available exams, below.  It's a bit blurry, but gives you an idea of what to look for when you arrive at the TAKS site:

 

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Thank you, Sprittibee, for mentioning this high quality, 100% free educational find!

Do you have a resource to share?  Email me at freelyeducate@gmail.com.