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Giveaway from Spears Art Studio: A Full High School Art Curriculum! (and Free Lessons for All!)

Spears Art Studio, Inc. offers "fine art and private & homeschool K-12th grades Christian art curriculum supporting the grammar, dialectic, and rhetoric stages of Classical education."

This art curriculum is Christian based, with many projects working with Biblical themes.  Each lesson  is accompanied by a suggested set of Bible verses to read.  

One of you will win a CD-rom of the 

Spears Art Studio High School Art Curriculum

value $34.90, international shipping included

Here is a description of the curriculum from the publishers:

Spears Art Studio High School Art Curriculum, A Study from a Christian Worldview© is a student manual written for HOMESCHOOL FAMILIES AND CO-OPS, PRIVATE CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS, and INDEPENDENT STUDY.

• 
Seven Major Themes, 36 Lessons, 75 Art Activities, 36 Sketchbook Assignments
• Supports the Rhetoric Stage of Classical Education

• Addresses:
• • art elements - line, shape, space, color, texture, form
 
  • principles of design - repetition/pattern, proportion, contrast/value, emphasis/ focal point, balance/symmetry/asymmetry, unity, variety, harmony, movement/force/rhythm

  • perception skills - edges, spaces, relationships, light/shadow, gestalt 
  • 
processes - drawing, painting, sculpture, fiber, printmaking, graphic design

• Contains:
• • connections in each lesson - Scripture, art history, contemporary art connections

  • 144 visual memory exercises

  • unit tests and answer keys

  • helps: tips and subs; how to evaluate artwork, etc.

  • analyzed for National Visual Art Standards

  • 162 pages total, 177 black and white illustrations, 52 color illustrations

• Accreditation option

There are many free lessons at the Spears Art Studio website.  These are full lesson plans, ready to download and save or print:

Free sample art lessons for K-8th

Free sample art lessons for high schoolers

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You may enter more than once!  Here's how:

1. Leaving a comment, saying you want one. That's easy!

2. Tweeting this giveaway, then let us know you did.

3. Facebooking about this giveaway, then let us know you did that.

4. Blogging this giveaway, then come back and give us the link so we can visit your blog, too.

Only one entry per method, okay? Entries are open to all countries!  Random.org will select the winner.  The winning entry will be verified.  Entry deadline: Friday, August 6th, at noon CST.

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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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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 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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Free (Excellent!) Science Curriculum for Middle and High School

 

Wow!  National Geographic, NOAA, NASA and other smarties have teamed up to create JASON, a site full of curriculum, lesson plans, games, live events, an argonaut program and more.   The site is so vast and so well created that I urge you to check it out.  

Although you are able to view demos, FAQs and the JASON philosophy, you do have to register to explore the full potential of the the site.  Registration is a 1-2 minute minor inconvenience (name, address, password, school or homeschool info), but the site is of such high quality that that minor inconvenience is forgotten in less time than it took to fill out the registration form.  Truly.

After registering, you are able to create a classroom and fill it with assignments for your students.

(The following information is from JASON)

JASON's science curriculum units are designed to:

• Light the spark of inspiration in students
• Fit within school districts' core 5th-8th grade curricula
• Adapt to higher and lower levels
• Align to state and national standards
• Cover at least five to nine weeks of material
• Include numerous research articles, hands-on lab activities, videos, games, and multimedia resources
• Include suggested lesson plans, extensions, interdisciplinary connections, and teacher resources for alignment, assessment, and classroom management.

Q: What grade levels are JASON curricula designed to serve?

A: JASON's standards-based Operations curricula are geared to students in Grades 5 through 8, although JASON's materials can be easily adapted for lower or higher grades.

Q: Do JASON materials align to national model standards and state curriculum requirements?

A: Yes, visit one of our standards pages to see JASONs alignments to National Science Education Standards: Operation: Infinite Potential, Operation: Resilient Planet, Operation: Monster Storms. State standards alignments are available in the JASON Mission Center.

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Wow!  National Geographic, NOAA, NASA and other smarties have teamed up to create JASON, a site full of curriculum, lesson plans, games, live events, an argonaut program and more.   The site is so vast and so well created that I urge you to check it out.  

Free Ocean Studies Curriculum from NOAA

Even if you live far from the ocean, your classroom can enjoy a deep study of it through NOAA's Ocean Explorer program.  They offer the following (click on the links to see the section of interest - the text below is from the NOAA site): 

Lesson Plans
Hands-on and standards-based lesson plans have been developed that bring entire classrooms "on board" for exploration and discovery. Using new technological "eyes" to see, sense, measure, image, and describe a little known ocean world, scientists and educators are bringing the excitement of late-breaking ocean discoveries into classrooms through the over 300 lesson plans presented here.

Expedition Education Modules
Expedition Education Modules are designed as an education unit to share the excitement of daily at-sea discoveries and the science behind NOAA’s major ocean exploration expedition. Each module contains an Expedition Purpose, Lessons, Multimedia Learning Objects, OceanAGE Career Connections, and Other Resources and Links.

Multimedia Discovery Missions
The Multimedia Discovery Missions are a series of 15 interactive multimedia presentations and learning activities that address topics ranging from Chemosynthesis, and Hydrothermal Vent Life, and Deep-sea Benthos to Food, Water and Medicine from the Sea.

Curriculum
Learning Ocean Science through Ocean Exploration is an updated curriculum for teachers of Grades 6-12 that takes lesson plans that were developed for NOAA ocean explorations and the Ocean Explorer Web Site and presents them in a comprehensive scope and sequence through subject area categories that cut across individual expeditions. Each lesson focuses on an inquiry-based approach to teaching and learning and is correlated to the National Science Education Standards.

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Free Pro Version of Google SketchUp for Educators

SketchUp is a free software program from Google.   With it, you can "create, modify and share 3D models."  You don't have to know a lot about computers or software programs to teach SketchUp to students.  Just set them loose on it; they'll figure it out.

 

Here is a gallery of what K-12 students have created with SketchUp.

Here is a gallery of what higher education students have created with SketchUp.

For a great geography lesson and for fun, visit the Google Model Your Town Competition.  You and your students may vote on your favorite SketchUp from the five finalists: Peru, Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States.  Voting ends May 1, 2010.

Everyone can receive the basic version of Google SketchUp for free.

Educators from accredited educational institutions may receive the SketchUp Pro Educators License version for free.

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Free Peace Corp Learning & Lesson Plans

The Peace Corps has created a teacher-friendly site for learning from Peace Corps volunteers around the world.

The Peace Corps describes the site as, "Bring dozens of Peace Corps Volunteer stories, letters, and folk tales with standards-based lessons to your class. Also discover ways to involve students in service learning."

Offered on the site:

• Lesson Plans by subject area, region and grade level:

-- for grades 3-5

-- for grades 6-8

-- for grades 9-12

• Enrichment Projects (including an interactive game in which children work as Peace Corp volunteers in a fictional village)
• Service Learning    
• Language Learning (how about learning some Bambara in Mali?)

There is quite a bit more, so be sure to go to the main Educators page at the Peace Corp site as well as the areas above.

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Free History Curriculum: World History I & Timelines (Elementary Grades)

The following description is from the BringingUpLearners.com website:

Myths, Maps, and Marvels coordinates books, maps, timelines, activities, and websites to provide a thorough overview of Ancient Civilizations for early elementary grades, plus it also includes plans for poetry appreciation/memorization, great literature selections, and an optional introduction to world religions. The guide contains daily lesson plans for 36 weeks, but is intended to be followed only as closely or as loosely as you desire. Feel free to modify to suit your own family’s needs and aspirations!

This 150+ page guide is a free download! No strings or anything - This is just my way of helping to make homeschooling an affordable and enjoyable alternative.

Note:  The curriculum requires obtaining some books, many of which may be found for free at your local library.  See the resource list for information.

AND A SECOND FREEBIE!...

The Mosaic Introduction to Timelines:

This free 26 page eBook download includes extensive discussion and comparison of timelines for parents. It also details 3 great projects (including templates and appropriate timeline figures) for introducing timelines to young children in meaningful and relevant ways!

~ Enjoy this high quality ~ 100% free ~ educational find from FreelyEducate.com! ~

The following description is from the BringingUpLearners.com website:

Myths, Maps, and Marvels coordinates books, maps, timelines, activities, and websites to provide a thorough overview of Ancient Civilizations for early elementary grades, plus it also includes plans for poetry appreciation/memorization, great literature selections, and an optional introduction to world religions. The guide contains daily lesson plans for 36 weeks, but is intended to be followed only as closely or as loosely as you desire. Feel free to modify to suit your own family’s needs and aspirations!

This 150+ page guide is a free download! No strings or anything - This is just my way of helping to make homeschooling an affordable and enjoyable alternative.

Note:  The curriculum requires obtaining some books, many of which may be found for free at your local library.  See the resource list for information.

AND A SECOND FREEBIE!...

The Mosaic Introduction to Timelines:

This free 26 page eBook download includes extensive discussion and comparison of timelines for parents. It also details 3 great projects (including templates and appropriate timeline figures) for introducing timelines to young children in meaningful and relevant ways!

~ Enjoy this high quality ~ 100% free ~ educational find from FreelyEducate.com! ~

Free Resources for Teachers, Including Standards-Correlated Lessons for K-12

The quality of free educational finds seems to be improving each year.  Today's freebie is definitely one of those high quality resources. 

SMART Exchange offers free downloadable lessons* and lesson plans for teachers (including homeschoolers).  There is a teacher forum on the site, where you can bounce ideas off other teachers.  You may upload content you'd like to share. And, best of all, there is a search feature built into the site where you can find lessons specific to your state's standards and specific to the grade(s) you are teaching.

The free resources are available in a dozen or so subjects, ranging from Citizenship to Math, and from English as a Second Language to Special Education.  Here is a screenshot of the most downloaded subjects (as of March 18, 2010):

03/20/10 Update:  A FreelyEducate.com reader asked how to view the files.  Mark @ SmartTech replied, "If you don't have Notebook software installed, you can use a free web-based viewer at http://express.smarttech.com to open and edit them."~ Thanks, Mark!

Are you from a non-US country?  If so, click on the small flag in the top right corner of the SMART Exchange site to view the site in another language.

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Thank you, Katherine, for sharing this high quality, 100% free educational find with us! Want to share one, too?  Just email me at freelyeducate@gmail.com. ~ Lori

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

For Preschool through 6th Grade: Free Curriculum in All Subjects

Today we have another one of those vast sites that offer something in many subject areas.  The Learning Site is primarily for preschool through about 6th grade.  You're going to have to visit it yourself to see all there is to offer you!

Here are a few screenshots of random pages within The Learning Site:

At least one area of the site (math) requires registration, including adding the author's name of a Harcourt textbook as a password.  Other than that area, and perhaps another that I haven't yet noticed, the site can be freely used, even without registration.

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Thank you, Kathleen, for sharing this high quality, 100% free educational find with us! Do you have a resource to share, too?  Email me at freelyeducate@gmail.com

Here are a few screenshots of random pages within The Learning Site:

At least one area of the site (math) requires registration, including adding the author's name of a Harcourt textbook as a password.  Other than that area, and perhaps another that I haven't yet noticed, the site can be freely used, even without registration.

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Thank you, Kathleen, for sharing this high quality, 100% free educational find with us! Do you have a resource to share, too?  Email me at freelyeducate@gmail.com

Free Geography Computer Program

Seterra Geography is a freeware program (freeware is software that is free to download).  It comes highly recommended by a local homeschooler in my area who said, "It works great!"  I haven't personally downloaded or used the program yet.  Based on her recommendation, I thought I'd pass the link onto you:

The Seterra Geography site describes the program as the following:

Seterra is a fun geography program with 88 different exercises. Learn about countries, capitals, flags and cities all over the world! Examples of exercises: countries in Europe; American states; American state capitals; French cities; cities in Mexico; countries in Asia, etc, etc...

Thank you, Brenda!

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The Seterra Geography site describes the program as the following:

Seterra is a fun geography program with 88 different exercises. Learn about countries, capitals, flags and cities all over the world! Examples of exercises: countries in Europe; American states; American state capitals; French cities; cities in Mexico; countries in Asia, etc, etc...

Thank you, Brenda!

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Free Space Simulation Program

Yesterday, I highlighted a free planetarium program for your computer; today, view not only the stars, but much more with Celestia, a "free space simulation that lets you view our universe in three dimensions."  This looks like an excellent find for any science student or teacher!

 

Here is more information, straight from the Celestia developers:

Unlike most planetarium software, Celestia doesn't confine you to the surface of the Earth. You can travel throughout the solar system, to any of over 100,000 stars, or even beyond the galaxy.

All movement in Celestia is seamless; the exponential zoom feature lets you explore space across a huge range of scales, from galaxy clusters down to spacecraft only a few meters across. A 'point-and-goto' interface makes it simple to navigate through the universe to the object you want to visit.

Celestia is expandable. Celestia comes with a large catalog of stars, galaxies, planets, moons, asteroids, comets, and spacecraft. If that's not enough, you can download dozens of easy to install add-ons with more objects.

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