Free sources for homeschoolers (and teachers, and kid group leaders)

I have mentioned numerous times that we get a lot of our resources free. Several people have asked me what my sources are. So, I will start listing some of them, and I am asking my readers and followers to join in and add their sources as well.

A few are not open to homeschoolers, but are open to scout leaders, 4H leaders, public school teachers....I am a 4H leader, and work with scouts and other youth activities, and sub teach, so, often even though I homeschool, I still qualify. Some will also send materials if you belong to a coop and plan to show the video or use the lesson plan in the coop.


Some of these also have an option of sending you an email daily or weekly to update you with what they have added to their site. Many also have links to more sites.

Free videos--there are many sources, but 2 I like the best are:
Video placement, located at http://vpw.com and also

Izzit.org
Both of the above do request that you give them feedback on the videos.

You can also get free John Stossel in the classroom videos at http://stosselintheclassroom.org


A favorite of mine that has lots of useful information, worksheets and links is
About.com:Homeschooling. There website is http://homeschooling.about.com/



Another great resource is our Department of Conservation (state level). For Missouri it is located at http://www.mdc.mo.gov/teacher/classroom.htm but you will want to check on all the links and the entire site as well. From this site, and mailings we are received from them we have learned to identify Missouri trees and plants, and have learned about our wildlife and some Missouri history as well. You can also visit a state park and receive lots of brochures and information as well as talk with a park ranger. Many parks also have free hands on programs for kids as well.

Countrymart Grocery stores also have a neat link--it is really designed to advice you of sales, but they always include a recipe or two. Since my girls are actively collecting recipes for their recipes as part of an ongoing home-ec assignment, we like their weekly emails as well. You will need to ask at your local store what the web address is--ours doesn't actually have a website, but rather a weekly newsletter we receive via email.

Another great online source is your public library. Some even have online homework help, which is nice to use sometimes if your child doesn't understand how you are explaining something. Often hearing someone say the same thing, but worded differently is a great help. Some books are available on line as well as genealogy information.

Freely Educate sends out emails with links for the free resource of the day.

http://www.princetonol.com/groups/iad/links/toolbox/free.html Sometimes this one is good, but sometimes I find dead links or expired offers--but is is always worth a try.

Most companies will send you free information and resources if you send them an email. We sent one to Heinz, and got neat books about how they make catsup and relish, as well as some pencils. Georgia Pacific sent us some free rulers and posters about various trees and logging, and how they plant new trees to replace what they log.

My girls each have an "animal notebook". It is a 3 ring notebook and we find the animals online, and either print off a picture of them or a coloring page to color of that animal or draw it (sometimes we add photos also while we are at the zoo. We also fill in a page that tells about that animal. No cost involved.

OK. That is a few of mine that come to mind, but there are thousands of them out there. Also, don't forget sources such as your extension office. Worksheets are everywhere, just google "free worksheets math" or "free worksheets science"...

So, what are some of your favorite ones??

Reorganized Basement Pantry

I finally got the pantry straightened out. After our last trip to Alidi, it was sort of a mess. The girls put everything away, and some of the shelves were too high for them to put cases up on. It took the twins and I about 2 hours to get it neat and rearranged. Emily will be glad that we got it done while she is gone on her winter retreat at church camp.

I had someone ask me why most homeschooling families have large stock up pantries, or as my husband calls it, the emporium... I don't think it is a matter of being a homeschool family, but rather I think it is being more common for single income families to have a stock up pantry. And, most homeschooling families are running their household on a single income. Therefore, we tend to be a little more frugal.

I don't stock up on everything. I don't on TP, paper towels or paper items, because I have lost those items before due to a broken water pipe, and they are bulky to store. Items in plastic or cans are easier. I also don't stock up on short shelf life items.

Most of my stock up non food items come from sales at CVS, Walgreen or Dollar General. CVS and Walgreen will let you use both their sale flyer coupon and the manufactures coupon on the same item. By doing this you can often get the item for free. Yes, I have a years supply of shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, soap, dish soap, deodorant, razors, shaving cream.....but a good part of it I got free or very close to it. For example, this week CVS had V05 shampoo on sale for 77 cents. I had 4 coupons for V05 for 75 cents off. So, I got 4 bottles and paid 2 cents each, so 8 cents for 4 large bottles of shampoo. If I just waited to get it when we needed it, I would be paying full price possibly, my current coupon would be expired and they may not come out with another sale and coupon combo when I needed it.

I also am not brand loyal on many items. This allows me to take advantage on any shampoo that is on sale and combine it with coupons, instead of having to wait for a certain brand to come on sale. Each week you can count on at least one brand being on sale.

Hopefully in the next couple of weeks I can get some more work done in the basement and make the pantry a little larger. Right now it is just along one wall and I am wanting to make it in an L shape to also go along a short wall. Then along the opposite wall I would like to set up our sewing area. That wall is long enough that I could set up an area where each of my girls and I could sew and leave our machines up all the time. But, for now, that is a future project.

Today it got up to almost 50 degrees, and the sun was out all day. All our snow and ice is gone. I am ready for spring, but I am sure we will get hit with more cold weather shortly.

Our windsock arrived in the mail yesterday, so as soon as the ground thaws enough to drive in the conduit, we will get that added to our weather station. It is bright orange, aviation style. JD says we are likely to have airplanes landing in the yard.