Homeschooling Resources

Everyday Mysteries

Helen — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 14:11:03 +0000

Who invented electric Christmas lights?

The Library of Congress sponsors the fascinating Everyday Mysteries collection: Did you ever wonder why a camel has a hump? If you can really tell the weather by listening to the chirp of a cricket? Or why our joints make popping sounds? These questions deal with everyday phenomena that we often take for granted, but each can be explained scientifically.

Everyday Mysteries will help you get the answers to these and many other of life’s most interesting questions through scientific inquiry, asked by researchers and answered by librarians from the Library’s Science Reference Services. In addition, it will introduce you to the Library of Congress’ rich collections in science and technology.

Animated Engines

Helen — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 02:00:56 +0000

Animated Engines offers fun and functioning illustrations which explain the inner workings of a variety of engines such as four stroke, diesel, jet propulsion, oscillating steam, ross yoke stirling and others you may never have heard of, and includes a fascinating look at how the animations were created in the how-to section of the site for those who are either just interested in how they’re made, or would like to try their own hand at designing an animation: “If there are spoked wheels or gears in your drawing, be extra careful with the number of frames you choose, or the parts might appear to be rotating too fast, two slow, or backwards—like wagon wheels in an old western movie. My solution is to make sure the gears rotate exactly 1/2 tooth (or some odd multiple) per frame.”

Free Paper Toys

Helen — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 01:29:24 +0000

From the website 100 Exceptional Free Paper Toys: “There is an underlying web world about papercraft modeling. It is not visible. It is hard to find. And, in many cases, the web sites are in a language that most of us can’t read. But, believe me, it is huge. And it is not about printable cards or paper dolls, or even scrapbooking. It is about stunningly good looking three dimensional paper models: Gadgets, toys, characters, cars, robots, spaceships, airplanes, buildings and even working photo cameras. You name it. This list gathers some notable models available for download. But this is just a small sample.

At the end of the article you will find links to paper modeling books, paper models directories, paper modeling software and tutorials, and paper models blogs, which in my opinion are the most important of all, just because they are constantly updated and the owners seem to have access to information that’s very difficult to find.”

AwesomeStories.com

Helen — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 03:30:13 +0000

AwesomeStories.com: The Story Place of the Web uniquely uses the Internet to link its story content to hundreds of thousands of the world’s best on-line primary sources. Enjoy an interactive learning experience as you see relevant maps, pictures, videos, artifacts, manuscripts and documents, in context, within each story. Take advantage of human-based searches for a safe, fast and fun way to learn the real story behind historic events, famous people, heroic exploits, legends, disasters, movies, plus topics of current and general interest.

When you become a member of Awesome Stories … You can see everything on the site (including an extensive image data base), explore all its features (including narrated stories), dig deeper (with lesson plans and text documents) and hear from Awesome Stories once a month (with a newsletter profiling current events and hot topics).

Join the site today. It’s all free!

Christmas Cookies

Helen — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 03:16:49 +0000

‘Tis the season for Christmas cookies, and Almost Unschoolers shares a lovely way of making three different cookies from one sugar cookie recipe: “In Lillian Hoban’s Arthur’s Christmas Cookies, Arthur wants to make Christmas cookies, as a Christmas gift. When he mistakes the salt for the sugar, though, it takes some fast thinking, and a little paint, to save the day. And, while he doesn’t end up with cookies, he does make some lovely ornaments, instead.

“We wanted to end up with cookies, so we stuck with sugar…”

Every post from Almost Unschoolers ends with the lovely reminder, “It’s great to be a homeschooler.” So true!

Key Curriculum Press

Helen — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 02:29:36 +0000

Key Curriculum Press was founded in 1971 by Peter and Steven Rasmussen to provide the educational community with alternative mathematics materials. Based on their experiences as mathematics teachers, Peter and Steven wrote and produced the initial texts, which launched the company, and Steven remains its president today. Key Curriculum Press publishes high school mathematics textbooks, mathematics software, supplementary materials and workbooks, videos, and manipulative materials, including:

The Key to… Series: Algebra, Geometry, Decimals, Fractions
Textbooks: Algrbra, Calculus, Statistics, Geometry, etc.
Discovering Mathematics Online
Software: Geometer’s Sketchpad, Tinkerplots, Kaleidomania!
Supplemental Materials
Tools & Manipulatives and more!
Mathematics is their focus-their only focus. Careful product development and the application of progressive educational standards are the highest priorities at Key Curriculum Press.

Cliffs Notes

Helen — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 02:12:24 +0000

Cliffs Notes has over 300 literature guides online for free viewing. Browse alphabetically by title or by author, or search by keyword. Click to see the material divided by chapters, with character studies, study help, summaries, commentaries, and critical essays, and a pdf version can be inexpensively downloaded. Use CliffsNotes literature guides as a study aid — a tool to help you understand literature. Use CliffsNotes by reading a chapter of the book or an act of the play, and then reading the corresponding section in the CliffsNotes. Alternatively, read the entire book or play, and then review with CliffsNotes.

Cliffs Notes also offers course study guides for Business and Finance, Government and History, Languages, Math, the Sciences, plus test preparation guides, advanced placement exams, entrance and exit exams and much more.

Gnarly Math

Helen — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 01:26:11 +0000

The educational CD-ROM Solid Gold Gnarly Math offers more than eighteen hours of entertainment and instruction and teaches Geometry, Algebra, Trig, Probability, Statistics, Numbers, and Topology. It also features games, magic tricks, puzzles, and a Math Lab. This CD can be helpful if you’d like to provide your kids with a head-start in mastering math, show your kids (and yourself) that math can be fun, refresh your own math and improve your math teaching skills.

Monty Phister, creator of Gnarly Math, writes: “… we’re so confident that Gnarly Math will help you and your children learn and enjoy math that we offer it with a 5-year, Unconditional Money-back Guarantee.”

Monty also edits a free hilarious math newsletter, the “Gnarly Gnews, ” which contains mathematical cartoons, limericks, riddles, and “news items” from today, yesterday, and tomorrow. (You’ll learn a little history, along with some art and literature, as well as math.)

At his web site Monty offers six Mathematical “Gofers” which will encourage your interest in math, such as free downloadable examples that show how a computer can kindle your and your children’s interest in mathematics. You can play pool on a parabolic table, stretch a skyscraper, color soccer jerseys, visit a strange flat universe, paint a map of the United States, and more!

Learn about Web sites that teach and promote mathematics, offering math games to play, or puzzles to solve, and examine some math software that can be found on the Web.

The Standard Deviants

Helen — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 05:08:21 +0000

Link: The Standard Deviants.

Do you need science help or math help? Having trouble writing a paper? Stuck with boring study guides? Sometimes described as a cross between Sesame Street and Saturday Night Live, The Standard Deviants teach the most difficult concepts with an added twist of humor.

The Standard Deviants are a terrific learning resource for middle and high school students, college students, and parents developing a home school curriculum. We have also developed a line of products for teachers, including test review materials and professional development programs.

Available on DVD, VHS and CD-ROM, our video courses allow students to learn at home and study at their own pace. Don’t pay for an expensive reference guide or hire a tutor – get homework help whenever you need it! Our staff of expert writers and educators clarifies the most difficult middle school and high school subjects – including many tougher college courses – from Spanish to Basic Math and Chemistry.

Also look for FREE educational resources, including tests, interactive quizzes, games and helpful hint cards.

Welcome to the world of the Standard Deviants – where learning is anything but standard!

Putumayo Music for kids

stacy — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 04:55:33 +0000

Putumayo Music for Kids shares music from all over the world for kids and families!

Great music, lyrics included, beautiful covers, and resources for teaching you can download from their web site all combine to make this an exceptional resource for homeschooling. The Playground series is especially for kids and includes a huge selection of music from the upbeat Latin Playground, to lullabies from all over the world on Dreamland, to Sing Along with Putumayo. Other CDs include Reggae Playground, Jazz Playground and the food-themed release, Picnic Playground.

The currently featured album is Celtic Christmas. Beautiful voices and entrancing Celtic instrumentation provide an uplifting soundtrack for the holiday season. Features an original recording. Other Christmas CDs include Christmas Around the World, A Jazz and Blues Christmas, A Family Christmas and more!

A fantastic resource for teaching geography, culture, music, dance, foreign language, and just having fun. See the Putumayo Music for Kids web site at the link above for more information.