The Organization of Virginia Homeschoolers
VaHomeschoolers.org
Your Resource. Your Voice. Your Association.
The Organization of Virginia Homeschoolers
VaHomeschoolers.org
Your Resource. Your Voice. Your Association.
When seeking specific types of resources, your best bet is to use a meta-search engine, such as Google, or ask other homeschoolers for suggestions on specific groups. A discussion list can provide a wealth of information, as can the DMOZ Directory page on k-12 Home Education. See some great FREE resources below.
Here's a conglomeration of FREE educational resources excerpted from our VaHomeschoolers Updates. Use your browser's "edit" feature to find keywords in this list. Find many more FREE resources and educational Web sites in the VaHomeschoolers-Updates list archives. Search by keyword, such as: science, history, geography, etc. To receive the latest nifty sites, plus events, news and resources, subscribe to our FREE VaHomeschoolers Updates.
"This supplement (I do not want to call it a magazine...it really is so much better than a magazine) is absolutely wonderful. It has articles at many different age levels and it took us a couple days to fully enjoy it. I can already see so many jumping-off points from here (and they make it easy, listing related books and resources). It worked really well for us...we skipped articles that he was not interested in, and I was surprised at some of the articles he was interested in (like the ones about medieval fashion and gardens). They have projects for different age levels, and I can definitely see us using this again and again over the years." - Stephanie Elms, Annandale, VA
FREE CD-ROM for Environmental Chemistry Education
MERL (Metals in Environmental Remediation and Learning) is a multimedia CD-ROM that teaches chemical concepts by following the development and implementation of permeable iron barriers, which are now a leading environmental remediation method. The CD-ROM is designed for high school and college level chemistry teachers and students. It has also proven to be of interest to teachers and students in related disciplines (geology, engineering, etc.). To obtain a free copy (while supplies last) email a request to merl@ese.ogi.edu, and include a complete mailing address. See for additional background, previews, FAQ, and links to supporting information, experiments, etc.
"Discover the Art of Writing Interviews," by Christian curriculum writer Sue Butler.
Science Education at Jefferson Lab
16 hands-on activities help students to answer questions such as: How do scientists to measure the size of an atom? What kind of coat will keep you the warmest -- one made from cotton, steel wool, or air? How should you build a boat so that it carries the most cargo? Flash cards, matching games, & crossword puzzles can help students learn the periodic table of elements & other science information. Middle school teachers are invited to apply for a summer enrichment program in basic physics. Jefferson Lab is home to an underground, race-track shaped tunnel that accelerates electrons to incredible speeds, so that we can learn about the structure & behavior of the atom's nucleus.
"A free educational program designed to help your students better understand and appreciate the animals with whom we share our world."
FREE Charlotte Mason E-Newsletter
The Charlotte Mason Monthly provides information and inspiration for people interested in the educational theories and practices of Charlotte Mason, a British educator from the last century. Readers will find ideas for nature study, literature, art, music, and many other educational topics. There are also excerpts from Miss Mason's own writings. To subscribe, send an email to: subscribe-cm-monthly@hub.thedollarstretcher.com
The Nuts and Bolts of College Writing
This new writing primer covers style, structure, evidence, and paper mechanics. There are also sections dealing with the use of the historical present, finding a voice, and nominalizations. A large number of examples illustrate the different writing tools and potential pitfalls that students may encounter.
"JPI has one mission - to provide kids, families, educators and scientists with the ultimate resource for dinosaur learning and fun. There are resources for teachers and activities for learners such as games, news, interactive online science labs; all of which are tied to National Science Standards." You'll need to register (FREE) to access the teacher features. The site is full of high quality graphics and sound. (Shockwave and Flash required.)
Free "Leafy Greens" Lesson Plans
The National Leafy Greens Council provides market, nutritional, and educational information to consumers, produce growers and produce buyers. Leafy Greens Lesson Plans encourage younger consumers to understand the nutritional benefits and the cancer-fighting elements of leafy greens; and encourage the increase in consumption of leafy greens at home. Teachers who plan to incorporate the Leafy Greens Lesson Plans into their classroom studies can receive free materials such as book covers, trading cards, brochures and posters, (while supplies last).
200 FREE Software Programs and 2000 FREE Worksheets!
1,000 years of history by decade, a particular date, a particular year, or by topic-such as art, discoveries, entertainment, wars and conflicts, and science and technology. There are also pictures, booklists, and discussion forums.
Over the last 45 years, Scholarship America has "distributed more than $911.5 million dollars to nearly 850,000 students." Includes Dollars for Scholars, community-based fundraising for scholarships awarded to local students; the ScholarShop "curriculum and resource center for motivating and preparing young people to achieve their full potential as students and as productive members of society" (aimed at students from grades 4-12); a scholarship manager, and Internet resources on self esteem, career exploration, college success, funding and more.
FREE Software: Shields, Knights and Heraldry
Kids can make their own shields (coats of arms). Learn about the Middle Ages, feudalism, knights and chivalry while making a coat of arms. The associated page on making an authentic medieval shield discusses the origins and functions of coats of arms, and their relationship to the culture of the Middle Ages. The software includes dozens of traditional medieval designs to use on shields and the rules of heraldry and emblazonry. Fun, educational hands-on learning. Requires PC running Windows 3.1, 95 or 98 and a printer.
The human body through images that illustrate radiographic and cross-sectional anatomy, plus a more in-depth section on thoracic anatomy. Requires Macromedia Flash 5 or higher.
Offers several complex medical mysteries to solve using clues and interviews interspersed throughout an illustrated storyline. See if you can figure out who's spreading disease in a small town, why a space ship's oxygen supply is dwindling faster than expected, why a town's frogs are dying off, what caused madness to strike an 1834 polar expedition, and more.
FREE "Chemistry Worksheet of the Month Club"
Once a month you'll receive an email that contains the URL for a free chemistry worksheet in PDF format.
"One of the best ways to learn about animals is to keep and look after them. Insects and other invertebrates are no exception. In most cases they are easy to look after (provided you've found out about them first), inexpensive and don't require a vast amount of space." This site provides links to "care sheets for some of the more commonly kept invertebrates."
"Lichens are some of the most amazing living things on this planet. Often the first form of life to colonise a new area of rock they occur all across the known world. Lichens are commonly seen and commonly overlooked." Site covers lichen growth, reproduction, photos, conservation, links, bibliography, and more.
Plate copper pennies with zinc to make them turn "gold,"extract DNA from an onion using everyday household materials, test to see if various fruits and vegetables can be used as acid-base indicators, Paper Plane Lab, Exploding Balloon Lab and more. These worksheets are available in .PDF format or as Microsoft Word files.
"Meet and celebrate Virginia patriots: travel to their homes; walk where they walked; see how they lived; learn how their lives as Virginians led to their struggle to create a revolution, win American Freedom and craft the United States Constitution.; visit early American and colonial sites and attractions; and read the founding documents that provide liberty for We the People."
The main focus of Archiving Early America is primary source material from 18th Century America, displayed in digital format. View original newspapers, maps and as they appeared to our forebears more than 200 years ago. These archival materials are displayed in their original formats, and allow close-up inspection.
Over 4,000 species of mammals! FREE lesson plans, online/offline activities and worksheets, developed in conjunction with members of the faculty at Teachers College, Columbia University.
Learn the locations, capitals, abbreviations and over 500 important facts about our 50 states with this collection of online games.
Changemaker offers experience in making change. Players can choose difficulty level and currency (US, Canada, UK, Australia).
FREE Age of Exploration Curriculum Guide
The Mariners' Museum online curriculum guide covers maritime discovery from ancient times to Captain Cook's 1768 voyage to the South Pacific.
FREE Anti-Drug Abuse Materials
The National Clearinghouse for Drug and Alcohol Information offers free publications, stickers, bookmarks, and more for children.
FREE "George Washington: A National Treasure" Education Kit
You can order this kit from the National Portrait gallery. It includes a 30-page Teacher Resource Guide, plus a 19 1/4" x 31" full-color museum quality poster reproduction of the Lansdowne portrait of George Washington by Gilbert Stuart.
Social Studies at Snaith Primary School Elementary
School age children can enjoy this site's pages on various social studies themes, such as India, timelines, the Romans, water, the Tudors, myths and legends, and many more.
Courage, Patriotism, Community
This page at the Library of Congress features veterans' stories, patriotic music, and unique community traditions.
For young readers. Themes include dinosaurs, rodeo, chocolate, frogs, presidents and more. Print the puzzles so kids can find the hidden words.
Math Lite is "a dynamic graphing and mathematical modeling program for algebra, trigonometry and precalculus classes." Available for Mac and PC computers. Includes 13 Algebra I computer lab assignments.
Provides a gateway to statewide environmental education resources including information about volunteer opportunities, educational classes, places to visit, community events, watershed maps, lesson plans, recreational activities, and more.
Four-H is the youth development education program of Virginia Cooperative Extension. Four-H is committed to assisting youth, and those adults working with them, in acquiring the knowledge, life skills, and attitudes that will enable them to become self-directing, contributing, and productive members of society. The central theme of 4-H education is "learn by doing." For youth age 5 to 19.
Hundreds of classic books and documents you can read online. View the list by author or title.
FREE Smoky Bear Campfire Safety Games
A lesson book for teachers. It includes labs, research projects and other activities.
6 Free Thematic Units from School Express. These include Weather, Fairy Tales, Alligator, Butterfly, Caves and Icebergs.
The Old Timer Page: The Way We Used to Do It
Provides links to short stories, recipes and other sites that celebrate our pioneer history.
Art Institute of Chicago's Kid's Art Games
The Art Institute of Chicago houses more than 300,000 works of art within its 10 curatorial departments. Among its great treasures are the legendary masterpieces A Sunday Afternoon on La Grand Jatte--1884 by Georges Seurat, American Gothic by Grant Wood, Nighthawks by Edward Hopper, and 33 paintings by Claude Monet. More than ten art games are available to play on this site. Uses shockwave.
FREE Teaching History Online Newsletter
A weekly newsletter put out by Spartacus Educational. It includes The newsletter includes news, reviews of websites and articles on using ICT in the history classroom.
All USGS teaching packets are based on National Education Standards. Some are only available online, while others are available by calling a toll-free number.
Online Database of Ancient Papyrus Documents (click on APIS link)
One of the great treasures of The University of Michigan Library, the collection comprises about seven thousand catalogued items. The Michigan Collection, by far the largest in the United States, ranks among the great collections in the world.
Schedules are available for daily, monthly, weekly or yearly and for 1, 2 or 3 children.
Over 10 free printable staff papers including Measured Staff Paper, Student Rule Staff Paper, and a Guitar Fret Board Diagram.
Military Homeschoolers Website
Military? Homeschooler? Then this is the site for you. It includes links for homeschooling with an emphasis on the specific characteristics only shared by those in the Military. Information includes news, stories, and 'where you're going' laws for those on the move.
Designed to teach world geography. It is is an ideal research and teaching tool to quickly learn the names of capitals, national flags, country location, neighbors, and much more. It also offers a Consultation mode which allows you to browse a 200+ countries database, as well as a Test mode (to play alone, and evaluate your knowledge and progresses) and a Match mode (to play with friend or family). Download online.
Free online tool creates Venn Diagrams. You just type in the information you possess and it draws a printable, copyright by you diagram.
The Center for Civic Education is a nonprofit, nonpartisan educational corporation dedicated to fostering the development of informed, responsible participation in civic life by citizens committed to values and principles fundamental to American constitutional democracy. Programs focus on the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights; American political traditions and institutions at the federal, state, and local levels; constitutionalism; civic participation; and the rights and responsibilities of citizens.
Visual Record of the Atlantic Slave Trade
The Virginia Foundation for the Humanities has collected together a large number of images on the subject of slavery. This collection is envisioned as a tool and a resource that can be used by teachers, researchers, students, and the general public. The images are arranged in eighteen categories. Maps, Pre-Colonial Africa, Capture of Slaves, European Forts & Trading Posts in Africa, Slave Ships & the Atlantic Crossing, Slave Sales & Auctions, New World Agriculture & Plantation Labour, Plantation Scenes, Domestic Servants Miscellaneous Occupations, Marketing & Urban Scenes, Music & Dance, Family Life, Religion & Mortuary Practices, Military Activities & U.S. Civil War, Physical Punishment, Emancipation & Post-Slavery Life and Portraits & Illustrations of Individuals.
Free Online Courses for Grades 6-12
Free Charlotte Mason Curriculum for K-6
Online Montessori Teacher Albums
Free Homeschooling Curriculum Materials at A to Z Home's Cool
NOTE: A VaHomeschoolers volunteer has reviewed the above URLs and believes them appropriate for children-unless otherwise stated. However, VaHomeschoolers cannot guarantee the appropriateness of any other link on the page. Parents are strongly encouraged to supervise Internet use by their children.
VaHomeschoolers works hard to protect your homeschool freedom and empowers you by giving you the information that helps you homeschool with confidence. This is all a free service to you. But providing these services does cost money without which we could not maintain this site, cover our lobbyists' expenses while they work for you at the Virginia General Assembly, or produce and mail the VaHomeschoolers newsletter. Show how much you value the indispensable services VaHomeschoolers provides you--by joining or donating to VaHomeschoolers! If you are already a member, check out our give-back programs where purchases you normally make can earn money for VaHomeschoolers at no cost to you. When you join or donate to VaHomeschoolers, you are supporting the Old Dominion's only fully inclusive, member directed, and volunteer driven state homeschool association.
The Organization of Virginia Homeschoolers is a non-profit public charity with 501(c)(3) status; your donation is tax-deductible to the extent provided by law.