Learn programming languages

This is a relatively new endeavor, and I'm not sure how it will come out, but it's worth looking at.

http://mashable.com/2010/12/17/learn-html5-javascript-and-css-with-mozillas-free-school-of-webcraft/

Mozilla is working with Peer2Peer U in developing this. The quality of the courses will depend on the teachers, of course.

http://p2pu.org/

GREAT Math learning resource

K-everything, by level or by skill---this site pulls resources from around the web to help with math learning. Fun stuff, too.

http://www.onlinemathlearning.com/index.html

TimeMaps Interactive History Maps

This is an awesome new resource that covers all of World History in engaging, informative interactive maps and a timeline.

http://www.timemaps.com/home/

It's a new enough resource that they are still adding materials, but the Ancient Egypt page can give you an idea of what to expect--not just places and dates, but info on art, architecture, government, and (this is BIG) the legacy in the rest of history.  http://www.timemaps.com/civilization/Ancient+Egypt.

Easy to access and fun.

Fourth Grade

Here is the link to the Fourth Grade curriculum I'm using with my son this year. My son is profoundly gifted in the verbal/social studies areas, so you might find some of this perplexingly varied in its content and academic level.  I have left off math except for drills because we are using Saxon Math 54 this year.   Access it here:

http://docs.google.com/View?id=ddssdqrh_15752xgxhg9

Digital claymation

http://nfbkids.ca/handson/html/en/fu/clay.html

Online Audio Lectures on American History

http://teachingamericanhistory.org/library/audio.asp

Teaching Gems--links to over a thousand interactives

http://www.teaching-gems.com/

Fantastic portal to educational content

http://www.thinkfinity.org/

Illustrating Books

http://www.sil.si.edu/exhibitions/PicturingWords/PW_explore.htm

FANTASTIC library of dinosaur materials online

http://www.guidetoonlineschools.com/library/dinosaurs

Really fun stuff here, and very accessible with a summary of the links.

Math Challenges for Families

Fun site!

http://www.figurethis.org/index.html

Fun, visually appealing elementary physical science materials

http://www.nationalgrideducation.com/teachers/about.php

Free online courses from around the world

World Lecture Hall

http://wlh.webhost.utexas.edu/

Courses on Physics

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/HFrame.html

http://www.physicsclassroom.com/

K-8: http://www.thephysicsfront.org/static/topic.cfm?course=1

Conceptual: http://www.thephysicsfront.org/static/topic.cfm?course=3

http://www.hippocampus.org/Physics;jsessionid=278824950B833949E194E99D22BC8DB1

http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewiTunesUCollection?id=341599922#ls=1

http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewiTunesUCollection?id=341599916#ls=1
Click on "more from this provider" for more physics courses.

self-directed exploration: http://www.compadre.org/informal/search/browse.cfm?browse=gsss

And textbooks:
http://www.motionmountain.net/
http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/2008-09/physics/ph1/basic_physics/free_high_school_science_text.pdf

And labs: http://websites.kahoks.org/Richert_Gary/sciweb/applets.html

Entire course on Mass Communication

http://www.cybercollege.com/frtv/frtv_ind.htm

Course on TV Production

http://www.cybercollege.com/tvp_ind2.htm

Cooking Conversion Calculators

There are a lot of great education resources coming out of the UK right now, including cooking lessons for kids. To make them really useful, though, you need to convert the measurements:

http://www.dianasdesserts.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/tools.measures/Measures.cfm  has conversion calculators and measurement.

GREAT Lesson and interactive library: Teacher's Domain

You have to register, but you can register for free. GREAT resources, lesson plans, and materials available here.

If you homeschool and your "school" doesn't show up on their list, you can enter it for free to access the materials. Just click on "help, I can't find my school on the list".

http://www.teachersdomain.org/

Uses a LOT of PBS stuff.

Fossweb Interactives, links, and science lessons

SOME of these modules are only available to subscribers. Some resources are freely available.

http://www.fossweb.com/searches/search.php

Lesson plans and great interactives

Interactives here: http://www.uen.org/3-6interactives/, http://www.uen.org/k-2interactives/index.shtml, and here: http://www.uen.org/7-12interactives/index.shtml

Lesson plans here: http://www.uen.org/k12educator/corelessonplans.shtml

3D animation tool

http://www.blender.org/

Great Portal that searches out legitimately educational resources for you

http://ethemes.missouri.edu/

TV411: adult ed interactives that are useful for kids, too

Lots of practical reading, math, vocab kinds of lessons here. Very thorough, too.

http://www.tv411.org/

Second Grade (Gifted)

This is the curriculum I designed for my exceptionally (or maybe even profoundly) gifted second grader.  It is posted in 2 parts (so google docs could handle it).

12 lessons per day for a year:

Second Grade Part 1:  http://docs.google.com/View?id=ddssdqrh_155gqms2sd3
Second Grade Part 2: http://docs.google.com/View?id=ddssdqrh_166dtznmxhb

This draws from material from 3rd grade up to college level, so it might not be appropriate for every 7 year old!

French resources

http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/eng/vtc-home/vtc-ks2-home/vtc-ks2-french

Spanish resources

http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/eng/vtc-home/vtc-ks2-home/vtc-ks2-spanish

Sociology e-course with text and materials

http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/eng/vtc-home/vtc-post16-home/vtc-post16-pelss/vtc-post16-pelss-sociology

Psychology e-text with interactives plus lesson materials

http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/eng/vtc-as-psychology

In Welsh and English

HUGE library of interactives on dozens of topics

http://www.wisc-online.com/ListObjects.aspx

Science Interactives

http://www.gamequarium.org/cgi-bin/search/dirs.cgi?lv=1&ct=Science_Interactives_for_MO_GLEs

Physical Geography Course and ebook

http://www.physicalgeography.net/

This is a course and e-text on physical geography, or the study of the earth.

Experiment Videos

http://www.gamequarium.org/cgi-bin/search/dirs.cgi?st=0&nd=5&ct=SqoolTube_Videos-Science-Experiments&lv=3&newpop=

Biology course

http://www.fi.edu/tfi/units/life/life.html

Inside the Cell

Whole, complete lesson on cells.

http://publications.nigms.nih.gov/insidethecell/index.html

The Habitable Planet: Complete Online Course on Environmental Science

http://www.learner.org/courses/envsci/index.html

Cool Stuff Being Made

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=cool+stuff+being+made&aq=f

One of the Best Biology/Biodiversity sites I've found

http://www.untamedscience.com/biodiversity

Biology Lessons

http://www.untamedscience.com/lessons

Fun Animals Site

http://switchzoo.com/zoo.htm

Teaching Memoir Writing

http://web2.jefferson.k12.ky.us/CCG/supp/MS_Memoir.PDF

Online Art Ed from the National Gallery of Art

http://www.nga.gov/education/classroom/

ASL Children's Stories

http://www.signwriting.org/library/children/children.html

International Folktales

http://www.aaronshep.com/stories/folk.html

Folklife Resources for Educators

http://www.loc.gov/folklife/teachers/index.html

Classic Stories (Podcast with archives)

http://thestoryhome.com/

also: http://storynory.com/

Read REAL poetry online

http://www.poemhunter.com/

WOW Math--over 500 free videos of high school math

http://www.wowmath.org/

Free practice standardized tests with answer keys, all grades

For those of us who have students that must pass standardized tests to remain in homeschooling, free tests to use for practice:

http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index3.aspx?id=44&menu_id=793

Interactive online versions are here also.

Go to the Louvre Virtually

http://www.louvre.fr/llv/musee/visite_virtuelle.jsp?bmLocale=en

New Programming Language for Kids

Designed especially for developing computer games, Kodu is a visual language...and supposedly fun and easy to use, although I haven't tried it.

http://fuse.microsoft.com/project/kodu.aspx

Math Worksheet Site

If you have an online list of skills your child needs to know for math (like from http://www.ixl.com/), you can use that list plus this site to generate entire workbooks worth of practice problems free:

http://themathworksheetsite.com/

Intuitive interface, and practical, nice-looking results.

It will cost you to print the worksheets, so to keep it absolutely free, you can have your child work on a glass-screened computer monitor, figuring the problems right on the screen with a dry-erase marker.

Complete Math by INew

http://www.inew.com/php/guest.php

You can access the site as a guest user for free. To use some of the features (like student tracking) you do have to pay.

Week-by-week math courses K-12 and Algebra 1

http://mathlearnnc.sharpschool.com/cms/One.aspx?portalId=4507283&pageId=4993281

Choose the level you want and then scroll down to the "Week-By-Week Essentials".

Online Math Resources, including a section for gifted kids

http://www.homeschoolmath.net/online/

GREAT portal to math sites.

Math Practice Problems (1-8 grades) covering the whole curriculum

http://www.csun.edu/~vcmth00m/practice.html

Free Math Course Materials

http://www.homeschoolmath.net/curriculum_reviews/curriculum_materials.php

COMPLETE K-10 Math Courses

I've been searching for something like this. It includes workbooks, lesson plans, interactives, videos, and printables.  All free.

K is called R (for Reception) because this is a UK programme.

http://www.cimt.plymouth.ac.uk/projects/mep/default.htm

Schoolhouse TV

AWESOME new sight. Not only is it visibly beautiful, it's easy to use and full of fun, educational video clips with more solid, reliable content than user-submitted sites like Teacher Tube.

http://www.tvschoolhouse.com/

Go see. They tell me it's brand new, so they'll be adding more content as soon as they can.

History of Technology

http://inventors.about.com/od/timelines/tp/timeline.htm
http://inventors.about.com/od/astartinventors/a/Famous_Inventor.htm
http://inventors.about.com/od/astartinventions/a/FamousInvention.htm

sites to help a child learn to read in addition to Starfall.com

This site uses a Montessori approach: http://www.learntoreadfree.com

Hooked on Phonics videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/HookedOnPhonicsTV#p/u

http://www.foniks.org/

http://www.softschools.com/language_arts/phonics/

http://www.funfonix.com/games/

http://www.familylearning.org.uk/phonics_games.html

http://www.donpotter.net/ed.htm

http://www.abcfastphonics.com/

http://www.literactive.com/Home/index.asp

Vocabulary in multiple languages

http://montessorihome.com/readingcards/common.shtml

Learn to Read Hebrew

http://www.beverlyhillschabad.com/reading-hebrew/pages/title-page.htm

(Click "Enter" to start. It's bold and large, but easy to miss in the middle of the page somehow....perhaps because you read the text below it before you are supposed to click it?)

Free online foreign language courses

This site links to courses in over 115 languages, plus many other resources for learning languages for free.  Igbo anyone?

http://www.word2word.com/course.html

Math Curriculum Option

http://www.smartkiddies.co.nz/

This is K-6 ( I think, it's a New Zealand program, so years 1-7, levels 1-3?).

The full program is only accessible if you pay for it (boo!), but you can access 2 lessons per day free. It is limited when its free (lets you create an account, but doesn't track your students...).

Still, if you're looking for complete online math, free, this is an option, albeit a limited one. It includes games, video lessons, interactives, and printables.

the Kindergarten Curriculum I'm using this year

This is the Kindergarten curriculum I'm using for my gifted 5 yo this year:


 http://docs.google.com/View?id=ddssdqrh_151f8h562g5

Film, music, and pop media history Time Machine

http://yttm.tv/v/1921

This is really fun. Click a year and go at it!

Math Teacher Online

TenMarks.com is a fee-based online math program for grades 3-10. They do have a significant free resource though:

http://teacher.tenmarks.com/search-home

Sign up as a teacher (free and easy) and you have access to well over a thousand online math videos, similar to Khan Academy in that you  have a virtual whiteboard on screen rather than a real live teacher, but the real live teacher does narrate and write on the screen as you go.

You can access the videos here, too: http://www.youtube.com/user/TenMarksInstructor, but the advantage of using the Teacher.Tenmarks site is they have a nice interface that lets you choose topics by grade level or by topic.

If your student needs help understanding a concept, you need someone else to teach it (this happens to all of us homeschoolers sometimes!), or you're a DIY curriculum person, this could be a really valuable resource for you.

Storyline Online

Professional Actors read to you!

http://www.storylineonline.net/

Read Children's ebooks Online

http://kids.nypl.org/reading/Childrensebooks.cfm

Have Fun with (US) History

Cool site--lots of videos, interactives, etc.  US History.

http://www.havefunwithhistory.com/

Video Lecture Aggregate

http://freevideolectures.com/

Art Videos

http://www.artbabble.org/

Videos of science experiments

http://www.testtoob.com/home/

Sources of educational video content

http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2010/09/47-alternatives-to-using-youtube-in.html

Resources for studying Japanese

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/web-resources-learn-japanese-online-free/

Preschool Curriculum

This is the preschool curriculum I'm using for my 3 year old:


http://docs.google.com/View?id=ddssdqrh_163cqgf5pdq

Educational Games, puzzles, problem solving activities

http://www.theproblemsite.com/default.asp

Progressive Phonics

Teach your child to read. Easy and free.

http://www.progressivephonics.com/

Digitized University Libraries Online (dozens of them!)

http://maryandmacdesign.wordpress.com/2009/09/22/100-extensive-university-libraries-from-around-the-world-that-anyone-can-access/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Internet Browsers for Kids

http://www.kidzui.com/

http://www.kidoz.net/site_tr/

Inside WWII interactive

http://www.history.com/interactives/inside-wwii-interactive

Latin Vocabulary Games

http://www.vocabulary.co.il/foreign-language/latinenglish-phrase-match/

http://www.vocabulary.co.il/foreign-language/latin-english-word-match/

http://www.vocabulary.co.il/foreign-language/latin-english-matching-game/

http://www.vocabulary.co.il/foreign-language/latin-abbreviation-game/

Spanish Vocabulary games

http://www.vocabulary.co.il/foreign-language/spanishenglish-color-match/

http://www.vocabulary.co.il/foreign-language/spanish-word-english-definition/

http://www.vocabulary.co.il/foreign-language/spanish-english-word-match/

http://www.vocabulary.co.il/foreign-language/math-match-spanish-and-english/

http://www.vocabulary.co.il/foreign-language/fill-it-in-english-spanish-vocabulary/

Games for building vocabulary

http://www.vocabulary.co.il/

Literature-based spelling lists

http://www.spellingcity.com/literature-based-word-lists.html

Spelling City

This is a great spelling site!

http://www.spellingcity.com/

You can enter your own words and practice them, test yourself, or play a game with them. They also have lists you can access and use (under Teacher Resources, though, not Find a List).

There are also state information quizzes (largest cities, etc.) for each US state.

This is a very homeschool-friendly site. They even include an entire spelling curriculum here: http://www.spellingcity.com/avkofoundation/
Start on the first list and work your way down--they grow incrementally harder--and play games, etc. with each list.

Also, an entire 1-6 grade curriculum is here: http://www.spellingcity.com/BrowardCounty/

Also, individual teachers are putting up reading curricula. Grades 3-5 are here: http://www.spellingcity.com/tinalittell/

Playschool curriculum (for ages 1-3)

I have created a full year online curriculum for my toddler. The link is here if you want to use it as is or as a model for your own custom curriculum:


http://docs.google.com/View?id=ddssdqrh_162hnz9c3fr

Primary Homework Help

This site used to be called "Woodland's Junior" and several people have linked me to it (and I keep finding it on my own).  It really is one of the best resource collections out there, at least in the history section. I haven't used the others extensively, but I'd love to hear from people who have:

http://primaryhomeworkhelp.co.uk/

There are still more resources at the original Woodland's Junior site, like unusual customs.

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/

Check both.

Lots of Ancient Greece Interactives

Woodland's Junior consistently has fantastic educational resources, and their section on Greece is fun.

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/Homework/greece/interactive.htm

Also here:

http://primaryhomeworkhelp.co.uk/Greece.html

Be sure to check the menu on the left. It's easy to miss, but that's where your various chapters are.

Ancient Mesopotamia

http://www.mesopotamia.co.uk/menu.html

Be sure to check out the staff room for free teacher materials (worksheets, discussion guides, etc).

Ancient India

http://www.ancientindia.co.uk/

and

http://www.mughalindia.co.uk/room.html

Be sure to check out the staff room for teacher materials (worksheets, discussion guides, etc.).

Best Ancient Greece Site

http://www.ancientgreece.co.uk/

Be sure to check out the "Staff Room" for lesson plans, worksheets, and other teacher materials.

Ancient China

http://www.ancientchina.co.uk/menu.html

and

http://www.earlyimperialchina.co.uk/room.html

Be sure to visit the "Staff Room," which has free teaching resources, downloadable worksheets and discussion guides, etc.

Ancient Civilizations by theme (building, writing, etc)

http://www.ancientcivilizations.co.uk/home_set.html

Be SURE you click on "staff room" (at the bottom left, very tiny). This gives you teaching materials (discussions, comparative resources, etc) as Word Documents.

Online Tours of the British Museum (history)

http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/online_tours.aspx

History of the world in 100 Objects

http://www.bbc.co.uk/ahistoryoftheworld/programme

Young Explorers (Ancient History)

http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/young_explorers1.aspx

This is a fantastic new site with games, activities, and interactives on Ancient World History.

VERY cool.

Time Explorers from the British Museum

Computer game. History. Fun.

http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/young_explorers/play/time_explorer.aspx

Complete 8-12 Math courses (pre-algebra through calculus)

http://www.brightstorm.com/math

These are video lectures from real teachers covering the whole course. They DON'T include the book or assignments, so you'll have to use them to teach the topics covered in your own textbooks, but they do include a homework checker that gives answers to your math problems and a forum.

Complete Video Physics Lectures

http://www.brightstorm.com/science/physics

There are no assignments included here, so this would be a complete course with the addition of a textbook to work with. But this does include video lectures from real teachers.

Complete Video Chemistry Course

http://www.brightstorm.com/science/chemistry

Like the biology course, this doesn't include worksheets or assignments, but it does contain a complete series of video lectures by a real teacher with a whiteboard.

Complete Video Biology Course

http://www.brightstorm.com/science/biology

As of this date, the course isn't completely finished, but there's a good chunk. These are videos of a science teacher with a whiteboard, so it somewhat simulates a real classroom lecture. Taken together, it forms a complete course in terms of information (there are no assignments or worksheets).

"Best" sources of educational video content

http://www.refseek.com/directory/educational_videos.html

Book Cover Creator

Lets you design and print a book cover (front only, front and back, or full dust jacket) for a book you like or a book you wrote.

http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/bookcover/

Science Experiments from Head Rush

http://headrush.discovery.com/science-experiments/index.html

Fun Science Quiz Game

http://headrush.discovery.com/game/game.html

Play in "practice" mode for solo play.

Polish Vocabulary Resources

http://www.sparklebox.co.uk/topic/mfl/polish.html

Nursery Rhyme Ebook downloads

These are simple and colorful--perfect for young learners.

http://www.sparklebox.co.uk/cll/nursery/animal.html

http://www.sparklebox.co.uk/cll/nursery/number.html

http://www.sparklebox.co.uk/cll/nursery/songs.html

http://www.sparklebox.co.uk/cll/nursery/other.html

http://www.sparklebox.co.uk/cll/nursery/general.html

Make your own educational games

This site has over 2000 educational games, plus the capacity to make your own, which you can then embed on your own blog or website. It says it's a 6-12th grade site, but there are games for young learners, too.

You have to register for access, but it's free.

The games I played were solid educationally, but could hardly be called "games"--they were more like online learning activities, animated quizzes, or animated drills. Still, they were brightly colored and if you are just looking for yet another way to drill your child on multiplication or the parts of a cell, this works.

Plus you can make your own activities using your own content.

http://www.what2learn.com/

Russian Vocabulary Resources

http://activityvillage.co.uk/learn_russian.htm

Italian Vocabulary Resources

http://activityvillage.co.uk/learning_italian.htm

Dutch Vocabulary Resources

http://activityvillage.co.uk/learning_dutch.htm

German Vocabulary Resources

http://activityvillage.co.uk/learning_german.htm

http://www.sparklebox.co.uk/topic/mfl/german.html

http://www.sparklebox2.co.uk/topics/mfl/german.html

http://www.vocabulary.co.il/foreign-language/german-english-word-match/#

Spanish Vocabulary Resources

http://activityvillage.co.uk/learning_spanish.htm

http://www.sparklebox.co.uk/topic/mfl/spanish.html

http://www.sparklebox2.co.uk/topics/mfl/spanish.html

French Vocabulary Resources

http://activityvillage.co.uk/learning_french.htm

and games: http://www.what2learn.com/examgames/french/

Others: http://www.sparklebox.co.uk/topic/mfl/french.html
http://www.sparklebox2.co.uk/topics/mfl/french.html

http://www.vocabulary.co.il/foreign-language/french-english-word-match/

Spanish Numbers and More

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/languages/spanish/Numbers.shtml

German Numbers and More

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/languages/german/Numbers.shtml

US States Booklets

http://schoolexpress.com/fws/cat.php?id=2801

You have to access the pages one at a time, and with multiple clicks.

Welsh Language Materials

http://www.sparklebox.co.uk/welsh/

http://activityvillage.co.uk/welsh_language_printables.htm

Colorful Printables on many topics

http://www.sparklebox.co.uk/

Mother Goose Rhymes (and accompanying lesson materials)

http://www.mothergoose.com/

The rhymes are found listed down the left side as links.

And this site: http://alphabet-soup.net/goose/goose.html , which is a little nicer to look at but equally confusing to navigate.

This one is still prettier, but very modern, high-tech feel to the design: http://www.iyedo.com/1humpty.html

History Printables

http://activityvillage.co.uk/history-resources.htm

Preschool Academy

http://preschoolacademy.org/

39-week Algebra course

http://algebra.mrmeyer.com/

What is Anthropology

http://www.amnh.org/ology/index.php?channel=anthropology#features/bigideas_anthro/?TB_iframe=true&height=550&width=750

Science Web Quests

http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/explorations/webquests.htm

Dear America: Tales from US History

http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/our_america/index_flash.htm

Reading Guides to Children's Novels

http://www.scholastic.com/kids/homework/bookfiles.htm

Dinosaurs

http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/dinosaurs/

Interactive Tour of Ellis Island

http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/immigration/tour/index.htm

Write It online Writing Classes

http://teacher.scholastic.com/writeit/

Interactive Spanish Games -- intermediate and advanced

http://www.missmaggie.org/scholastic/cyclerace_eng_launcher.html

http://www.missmaggie.org/scholastic/cleanup_spa_launcher.html

http://www.missmaggie.org/scholastic/science_spa_launcher.html

http://www.missmaggie.org/scholastic/dilemma_spa_launcher.html

http://www.missmaggie.org/scholastic/roundtheworld_spa_launcher.html

http://www.missmaggie.org/scholastic/passpuzzle_spa_launcher.html

The First Thanksgiving

http://www.scholastic.com/scholastic_thanksgiving/

Hans Christian Andersen Stories

http://candlelightstories.com/storybooks/hans-christian-andersen-stories/

The Arabian Nights

http://www.candlelightstories.com/storybooks/the-arabian-nights/

Most of these are widely accepted. I advise you preview the Richard Burton translations (down at the bottom) before you turn your child loose on this page. He was well-known in the 1880s for being heavily into erotic literature, and some of his translations are not child-appropriate.

Grimm Brothers Fairy Tales

http://www.candlelightstories.com/Grimms/GrimmsFairyTalesOldSite.htm

Thousands of printables and crafts

These are much higher quality and more diverse than most educational sites.

http://www.crayola.com/coloringcraft/index.cfm?n_id=1&mt=coloringandcrafts

They also have lesson plans, art ideas, etc: http://www.crayola.com/educators/index.cfm?n_id=5

Cybrary Man's Web Portal

http://www.cybraryman.com/

US History Images

http://ushistoryimages.com/index.shtml

GREAT kids' stories and rhymes site

I've been searching out nursery rhymes and classic tales to add to my children's curricula, and this is one of the best sites I've found:

http://www.speakaboos.com

It's loaded with stories, rhymes, and songs, each illustrated colorfully and read by a professional (not like Cullen's ABCs--I mean people like Crispin Glover and Nick Cannon, who know how to read).

Really fun. Free downloads. Watch online. Great stuff.

Also, if you click on the "teachers" link, you'll find lesson guides, worksheets, and activities for the stories.

For Small Scientists: the Magic Schoolbus

THIS RESOURCE IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE.

Full episodes of Magic Schoolbus here:

http://www.sqooltools.com/edvideos/msb/index.html

organized by topic.

Peter Rabbit Games and Activities

Visually beautiful site, too:

http://www.peterrabbit.com/us/childrens.asp

Also, the story:

Printable Worksheets

Over 500 printable worksheets, sortable by grade level and subject:

http://www.education.com/worksheets/

and activities:
http://www.education.com/activity/

Spanish Verb "Machine"

http://72.3.224.81/verbatron/

Spanish vocabulary game--animal words

http://content.pglms.com/online_activity/spanish/ch/l1/day009/dswmedia/vmloader.php?link=vmine.swf

Printables to go with classic children's books

http://www.kizclub.com/stories.htm

Great Story Resource

Read the e-book. Then print a coloring book version of it for your child to make their own.

http://www.kizclub.com/reading1-1.htm

Printable Writing Papers (of various elementary school styles)

http://do2learn.com/activities/writingtools/index.htm

ABC practice worksheets

http://do2learn.com/activities/writingtools/alphabetguide.htm

Math Card Games

http://do2learn.com/activities/cardgames/index.htm

Free 8-12th grade online core curriculum

http://www.sascurriculumpathways.com

Just checking this out. They say they are k-12 on their front page, but they really are 8-12 (which is fine because Head of the Class is pK-8, and Lesson Pathways is K-5, so those are covered already if you like free online curricula).

You have to register for free access, but they welcome homeschoolers.

I would love to hear other people's experiences with this. Reviews, anyone?

Educational Kids Games

http://www.playkidsgames.com/

Some are better than others, but they do have a more truly educational bent than, say, Dora.

Homeschool Buyer's Co-op

You can join for free and make free ID cards for your own homeschool (for a fee you can get PVC cards, but you can print them for free). They also have a database of free resources out there:

http://www.homeschoolbuyersco-op.org/free-curriculum/

Learn the ABCs (online and printable activities)

http://www.readtoday.net/ --printables

http://www.literacycenter.net/ --online

I especially like the online animations that show how to form the letters properly, and then the follow-up worksheets to practice on.

French Vocabulary Activities (online)

online activities:
http://www.literacycenter.net/lessonview_fr.php

and worksheets:

http://www.readtoday.net/fr/french-letters.php

German Vocabulary Activities

online activities:
http://www.literacycenter.net/lessonview_de.php

and worksheets:
http://www.readtoday.net/de/german-letters.php

Spanish Vocabulary Activities

online activities:
http://www.literacycenter.net/lessonview_es.php#

and worksheets:
http://www.readtoday.net/es/spanish-letters.php

Poetry lesson ideas with Shel Silverstein

http://www.shelsilverstein.com/pdf/Runny_Babbit.pdf

http://www.shelsilverstein.com/pdf/ActivitySuggestions.pdf

http://www.shelsilverstein.com/pdf/poetry.pdf

http://www.shelsilverstein.com/pdf/kate.pdf

http://www.shelsilverstein.com/PDF/ShelPoetryMonth_2010EventKit.pdf

http://www.shelsilverstein.com/PDF/poetrykit2009.pdf

http://www.shelsilverstein.com/pdf/classroom.pdf

http://www.shelsilverstein.com/PDF/ShelSilversteinclassroom_booklet.pdf

http://www.shelsilverstein.com/PDF/Glump_activity_kit.pdf

http://www.shelsilverstein.com/PDF/EightBalloonsBooklet.pdf

Shel Silverstein performs his work

http://www.shelsilverstein.com/html/books.asp

Click a title for access to animations with audio of Shel performing his work.

Mercer Mayer Reads his own Books

http://www.youtube.com/user/critterpaw#p/a

Physics Games. Lots of them.

http://www.physicsgames.net/

Colonial Williamburg for kids

Tour the town, check out the people....

http://www.history.org/kids/

Fun Website for Word-Lovers

http://savethewords.org/

Make Green Eggs and Ham

http://www.seussville.com/printables/geah_recipes.html

Other Dr. Seuss Recipes

Who Pudding: http://www.seussville.com/printables/grinch_recipes.html

Sneetch Treats: http://www.seussville.com/printables/sneetch_snacks.html
http://www.seussville.com/activities/SNEETCHES_Snacks.pdf

Cat in the Hat Cake: http://www.seussville.com/printables/catinhat_cake.html

Many Colored Day Cookies: http://www.seussville.com/printables/days_recipe.html

Kids' Sign Language Videos

http://www.sqooltools.com/edvideos/signlang/index.html

Books and stories told by storytellers

http://www.plcmc.org/bookhive/activities/

This site is packed: kids' book forums, activity books, storytellers on video, printable book plates, book lists, book recommendations, etc.

Lots of fun.

Stories and activities (online and off) to go with them

Organized into thematic units: http://www.storyplace.org/.

Spanish or English.

German Word e-flashcards

http://www.mooneleaf.com/flashcards/index.php?mode=flashcards&cardset_category=languages

Includes pronunciation audio, spelling, and pictures.

Fun, colorful e-"flashcards" on many topics and levels

http://www.mooneleaf.com/flashcards/

Great Printable Coloring Pages

http://www.poissonrouge.com/print/

Chinese language exploration for kids

http://www.poissonrouge.com/schoolofchinese/

Spanish Alphabet Exploration

http://www.poissonrouge.com/abcespanol/

Greek Language Exloration

http://www.poissonrouge.com/greekalphabet/

http://www.poissonrouge.com/schoolofgreek/

French Language Exploration for children

http://www.poissonrouge.com/abcfrancais/

http://www.poissonrouge.com/schooloffrench/

http://www.poissonrouge.com/songs/

http://www.poissonrouge.com/frerejacques/

Find the constellations

http://www.poissonrouge.com/telescope/

Educational Pre-K Games

http://www.poissonrouge.com/poissonrouge.php

Saxon Math Online

Saxon Math has started putting online components of their math curricula out there for people to use, including those pesky fact sheets that begin every lesson (form A and form B?):

http://www.haelmedia.com/basic_fact_sheets/index.html

My kids, at least, will be delighted--they can now do at least that part online!

Funnest math games I've found (and other learning games, too)

I'm doing a lot of searching out of math games for my kids to practice their math facts. Worksheets just don't cut it for them--too boring--and MOST math "games" are simply worksheets where you can only see only problem at a time, sometimes with a cute frame, and sometimes with cute animation. But it doesn't really qualify as a game unless there is a progression of some kind and a way to win.

This site is my favorite so far: http://www.fun4thebrain.com/index.html

They have other learning games as well (language arts, reading, science) and animated tutorials. I just haven't played those yet.

Math Games/Lesson Site

This site allows you to play math games. It also allows you to create a math "lesson" for someone else, choosing groups of games you want them to play.

http://www.free-training-tutorial.com/math-games.html

Free worksheet generator

http://www.softschools.com/

Math Skills by Grade k-6

http://www.ixl.com/

You have to pay for unlimited access to the site. But they do have lists of all the skills kids should learn in each grade, if you're doing a DIY, online math program (or if you just want to know how far in that Saxon book they have to get to "finish the grade").  The lists are free. You can do some problems for free.

Fun Typing Program for Kids

So far, this is the best typing program I've found for kids. It actually explains everything, is colorful and animated, and doesn't move too fast.

http://e-learningforkids.org/Courses/EN/K0001/index.html

Free Math Practice Garden

http://www.mathsgarden.com/users/sign_up_e_learning

Sign up (free) and it lets you grow your garden over time.

Animals of Ancient Egypt

http://www.touregypt.net/wildegypt/

The National Archives Digital Vaults

http://www.digitalvaults.org/?#/browse/?record=552


VERY cool stuff here for students of US History.

Virtual Tours of the Ancient World

http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/a_walk_through_the_ancient_world.php?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+readwriteweb+(ReadWriteWeb)&utm_content=Google+Reader

Physics/Mechanics Game

http://www.thegamehomepage.com/play/red-remover/

NYPL Digital Gallery

Fun stuff here:

http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/explore/dgexplore.cfm?topic=all

How a law is made

http://www.mikewirthart.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/howlawsmadeWIRTH2.jpg

Metamorphosis

http://lifecycle.onenessbecomesus.com/

Young Person's Interactive Guide to the Orchestra

http://www.mhhe.com/socscience/music/charlton_em_2e/activities/ch03/Activity_31.htm

Preschool Intro to Computers Lessons

http://boowakwala.uptoten.com/kids/boowakwala-homefirstclicks.html

How Cheetos are Made

http://www.wired.com/magazine/2010/05/process_cheetos

If you didn't check this out before

If you didn't check this out before, you really should now. The updates to the system that have happened in the last month have been fantastic, including my favorite thing:

A FULLY CUSTOMIZABLE CURRICULUM.

You can even include external links (like to Learning Lynx or a specific Interactive your child would enjoy).  You can pull lessons from any of the thousands they have available on their site, any grade and any subject. It is VERY cool.

Highly Recommended. Free. Complete curriculum as it is, with anything you want to add.

http://www.theheadoftheclass.com/SplashPage/SplashPage.aspx

Right now they are still PreK-2, but they have assured me they are going to have 3-5 or 6 up this year, and up through 8 next.

Biomes of the World

http://www.mbgnet.net/

How are Hollywood films made?

http://www.learner.org/interactives/cinema/index.html

What was life like in the Renaissance?

http://www.learner.org/interactives/renaissance/index.html

What was life like in the Middle Ages (interactive)

http://www.learner.org/interactives/middleages/feudal.html

Elements of a Story Interactive

http://www.learner.org/interactives/story/index.html

K-12 Science Lessons and Activities

This site is LOADED with good, hands-on lessons on science.

http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/index.php

e-Learning for Kids

http://www.e-learningforkids.org/

Lessons and activities K-12.

Cool stuff.

Make your child an educational virtual playground, customized

You can customize even more if you get the paid subscriptions, but the free one still will make an age-appropriate playground for your children.

http://www.zoodles.com/

Reading Programs for kids

http://www.bookitprogram.com/enrollment/homeschool.asp

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/summerreading/

http://www.borders.com/online/store/MediaView_doubledogdare

Free History DVDs for Homeschoolers!

http://peggysuesblog.blogspot.com/2010/05/free-history-channel-dvds-for.html

Experiments from Engaging Science

http://www.engagingscience.org/Table/Sample-Activities/

Teaching Science that Sizzles--an introduction to teaching science

This guide is actually really helpful to the homeschooling parent--how many of us started out as science teachers? Fewer than have to do it now!

http://www.engagingscience.org/PDFs/ES_PRO_TeachingScience021908-web.pdf

Climate Change Unit

http://www.engagingscience.org/PDFs/ClimateChange261006.pdf

Engaging Science Games

http://www.engagingscience.org/games/onlinegames/games.html

Secrets at Sea

Cool game about oceanography!

http://www.secretsatsea.org/

Teacher's Guide: http://www.secretsatsea.org/tg/
The Teacher's Guide includes extension activities and additional resources to make this an entire oceanography unit. Very Cool Stuff.

Astronomy: Explore Gravity

Gravity is a force that pulls objects together. Here's a song about it: http://www.acme.com/jef/singing_science/gravity-32.mp3

Here is a lesson about Gravity: http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/afterschool/falling/student.html

If you have several people, you can  do this experiment:  http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/teachers/gravity_effects.html

Watch this video:  http://spitzer.caltech.edu/video-audio/238-irastroSD015-Robot-Astronomy-Talk-Show-Gravity-and-the-Great-Attractor

Explore gravity and orbits here: http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/explorations/space/index.htm

Your weight is determined by gravity, and the gravity of the planet you are on is determined by the mass of that planet. Arty Astro's Gravitron can help you find out what you would weigh on other planets:

http://www.artyastro.com/ click on explore; page 2; gravitron

Ancient Egyptian Science: the Water Clock

Watch this movie to see someone make a water clock. Then you can download the instructions to build your own!

http://www.history.com/shows/ancient-discoveries/videos/ancient-hobbyist-bamboo-flute#ancient-hobbyist-water-clock

The Ultimate Book List

Posted by a Children's Librarian, this is the BEST elementary reading list I've ever found.

http://casacamisas.wordpress.com/2010/04/25/the-top-100-childrens-books-redux/

If I've published this before, I apologize for doubling up. This is the final, longer (120 books) version.

Life in Ancient Egypt

http://www.ancientegypt.co.uk/life/index.html

Natural Resources in Ancient Egypt

http://www.pbs.org/empires/egypt/newkingdom/resources.html

http://www.fi.edu/learn/tut/k-4/water.html

Zoom Dinosaurs Online Dino Text

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/dinosaurs/index.html

The Wild Classroom

Great Biology Resource:

Lots of videos, lesson plans, scientist bios/interviews, etc.

http://www.thewildclassroom.com/home/nav/lessonplans.html

Transportation in Ancient Egypt

http://library.thinkquest.org/J002037F/transportation.htm

http://www.digitalegypt.ucl.ac.uk/themes/transport.html

http://www.reshafim.org.il/ad/egypt/timelines/topics/means_of_transportation.htm

Learning Planet Educational Games

http://www.learningplanet.com/stu/index.asp

Gamequarium Web Portal

http://www.gamequarium.com/

Dr Seuss Videos and Games

http://www.gamequarium.com/junior.html

and games

http://www.gamequarium.com/junior.html

Online Preschool/Early K games

http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/preschool/preschool.htm

Number Games for Pre-K and K

http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/preschool/ngames/numbers.htm

Fun way to learn how scientists think

http://spaghettiboxkids.com/blog/kids-science-what-if-an-elephant-sat-on-it/

Guest Hollow Homeschool Curriculum

This is a work in progress, but they have some free courses up already.

http://www.guesthollow.com/homeschool/curriculum.html

Fisher Price Preschool

http://www.fisher-price.com/fp.aspx?st=10&e=gamesLanding&mcat=game_infant,game_toddler,game_preschool&site=us

More Curriculum Guidelines and Outlines for the DIY Homeschoolers

http://www.brighthub.com/search/results.aspx?q=curriculum%20guidelines

http://www.time4learning.com/curriculum/scope-sequence/index.shtml

http://www.internet4classrooms.com/grade_level_help.htm

Homeschooling Adventures.com

Links to lessons, worksheets, and information for homeschoolers.

http://www.homeschoolingadventures.com/

Typical Course of Study K-12

Complete outline of what a typical course of study for each grade is--some with links to resources--which you can use as a launching point for a DIY homeschool curriculum (since more and more of us are "winging it" using resources that are online).

This is a great outline to start with if you need a curriculum and can find the resources to teach the subjects yourself (using Learning Lynx, Merlot, and the other Web Portals/Links Repositories out there--dozens are linked on the sidebar).

http://homeschooling.about.com/cs/learning/a/courseofstudy.htm

Online Free Middle School Textbooks

http://countryclubmiddle.dadeschools.net/index_files/Page1519.htm

Internet4Classrooms Web Portal

http://www.internet4classrooms.com/index.htm

If you click on "Grade Level Help", there is a complete list of links and lessons for each grade that you could use as your primary curriculum starting point. It is lacking (completely) in science, though.

Literature Project

http://www.literatureproject.com/

Full text online classic books plus links for each to further studies.

Grammar Park--practice grammar in games

http://www.harcourtschool.com/menus/preview/harcourt_language/grammar_park.html

Google Bookmarks

https://www.google.com/bookmarks/l

This has become (or maybe always was and I'm just discovering it) a very useful tool. You can collect bookmark lists and make them PUBLIC, share them with your friends, etc.

For educators and homeschoolers, this can be really useful. You could make a list of "related links", or even craft a whole links-based lesson, and just "share" the list.

You could also make an assignment for each child to find a unique link to add to the list--incredibly useful activity both for the subject at hand and also to teach them about how to do internet research.

One of the more popular courses at UC Berkeley

The rest of the course is on there, too!

https://www.google.com/bookmarks/l#!threadID=GCcNC4q17ltI%2FBDQiEggoQo9GXkYEl

P2PU

No, it's not stinky.

It's Open Courseware with DISCUSSION. Even if you missed the signup date, you can "sit in" on the courses and read the discussions. Cool approach--blending Open Courseware with Peer 2 Peer networking.

http://p2pu.org/

iTunes U

This is worth downloading iTunes for! http://www.apple.com/education/itunes-u/whats-on.html

They even have free animated courses for kids (like Drum lesson for kids including tracks, animations, and a book--all free).

VERY worth browsing.

Intro to Philosophy Course (college level)

http://www.cs.utk.edu/~butler/course_materials/

Complete Course on the History of Science (College Level)

This is a self-guided "course" (feels like a textbook):

http://www.clas.ufl.edu/users/ufhatch/pages/03-Sci-Rev/SCI-REV-Home/05-SR-TABLE-CONTENTS.html

with dozens of links to explore: http://www.clas.ufl.edu/users/ufhatch/pages/10-HisSci/links/index.htm

Scientists who have appeared on money

http://www2.physics.umd.edu/~redish/Money/

Complete Course on History Of Science (middle school level)

These lessons are creative, complete, and varied.

http://www.clas.ufl.edu/users/ufhatch/pages/05-SecondaryTeaching/NSF-PLANS/contents.html

questions to discuss (scroll half way down): http://www.clas.ufl.edu/users/ufhatch/pages/02-TeachingResources/crowe/crowe.html

and research resources:

http://www.clas.ufl.edu/users/ufhatch/pages/09-HisSciSearch/index.htm
http://www.clas.ufl.edu/users/ufhatch/pages/10-HisSci/links/index.htm

and

http://www.clas.ufl.edu/users/ufhatch/pages/05-SecondaryTeaching/index.htm

Science Kids at Home

With lessons: http://www.sciencekidsathome.com/science_topics/index.html

Just experiments:
http://www.sciencekidsathome.com/science_experiments/index.html

Learn NC Lesson Plans

http://www.learnnc.org/lessons/

DMOZ School Time

http://www.dmoz.org/Kids_and_Teens/School_Time/

ProTeacher

http://www.proteacher.org/ --for ideas from teachers

http://www.proteacher.com/ --for useful links

Everything History from Teacher Oz

http://www.teacheroz.com/toc.htm

Exploring Fabric and Dye

http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_ideas/Chem_p019.shtml?From=Blog

Science Buddies Science Projects

http://www.sciencebuddies.org/

Kitzu--digital resource kits for classes

http://www.kitzu.com/

Open Courseware "samples": Berklee Music

Berklee doesn't put whole courses online for free. But the do put lessons on. I recommend you "Browse by Instrument" rather than clicking on the links in the main box. The "Browse by instrument" lessons take you right to the materials. The main box takes you to a registration page where you have to fill out a form.

http://www.berkleeshares.com/

Shambles. net--links to resources

http://www.shambles.net/ourschool/english3d/index.htm

http://www.shambles.net/

PBS Teachersource

Lessons based on PBS materials--and ones that are independent.

http://www.pbs.org/teachers

Explore Virtual Ancient Egypt

http://www.pbs.org/empires/egypt/special/virtual_egypt/egypt.html

Lesson on Science and Technology in Egypt

http://www.pbs.org/empires/egypt/educators/lesson8.html

or the .pdf of the same lesson:

http://www.pbs.org/empires/egypt/pdf/lesson8.pdf

Intro to Meteorology

This includes instructions on how to make many meteorological tools at home:

http://www.fi.edu/learn/tut/5-8/tut_print_5-8_weather.pdf

Links-based homeschool course on Ancient Egypt

http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/egypths/Egypt_Introduction_Independent_Study.htm

History of Science Up to Newton

http://www.clas.ufl.edu/users/ufhatch/HIS-SCI-STUDY-GUIDE/

Ancient Egyptian Astronomy

http://www.elisabethmorrow.org/classroomnews/lp6scien.htm

http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/prehistory/egypt/dailylife/astronomy.html

http://ancienthistory.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ/Ya&zTi=1&sdn=ancienthistory&cdn=education&tm=6&f=10&tt=14&bt=1&bts=1&st=24&zu=http://web.clas.ufl.edu/users/rhatch/HIS-SCI-STUDY-GUIDE/0011_egyptianContrib2Astron.html

Interactive Atlas of Ancient Egypt (archaeology)

http://www.thebanmappingproject.com/

Newton's Apple--Great Science TV

http://www.newtonsapple.tv/

Ancient Egypt Teaching Activities

Mummies
Hieroglyphs
Afterlife:

http://www.mos.org/quest/teaching.php

Print and Play and Ancient Egyptian Game

http://www.mos.org/quest/activities.php

Exploring the Afterlife with the Museum of Science and Technology

http://www.mos.org/quest/afterlife.php

http://www.mos.org/quest/mummymain.php

Egyptian Archaeology Game

Introduction: http://www.mos.org/quest/excavation.php

Game:
http://www.mos.org/quest/message.php

Ancient Egyptian SCIENCE

Like all people in every time, the Ancient Egyptians observed their world and tried to understand it. They also tried to use the things they learned about the world and resources around them to improve their lives.

While they didn't know the same things we do (and we don't know some of the things they did), science was as important to their lives as it is in ours.

Do THIS: http://www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/gallery/aas/Intro.html

Then, if you want more info:

http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/egypt/science/

Explore ancient egyptian inventions:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egyptian_technology

http://www.ancient-egypt-online.com/ancient-egyptian-inventions.html

http://ftp.aa.edu/lydon/egypt/matton1egypt/index.htm

http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/articles/20050629/Note3.asp

http://www.digitalegypt.ucl.ac.uk/themes/tech.html

http://www.digitalegypt.ucl.ac.uk/astro/index.html

Fly through the known universe

http://www.haydenplanetarium.org/universe

VERY cool.

Brief Musical Introduction to Habitats/Biomes

For the budding rocket scientist: Crayon Rockets

http://www.jcrocket.com/crayons.shtml

Science Activities to do at home

http://www.superteacherworksheets.com/science.html

Fun US Geography Unit: Mystery States

http://www.superteacherworksheets.com/states.html

Fun Plants unit

http://www.superteacherworksheets.com/plant-worksheets.html

Printable Student Paper (for writing, mostly)

Ever just want blank pages for your kids to practice letters, writing, etc. on?

Here it is:

http://www.superteacherworksheets.com/paper.html

Free worksheets on many subjects

http://www.superteacherworksheets.com/

Newspaper Archive Search

http://www.google.com/archivesearch?q=

I didn't know Google did this, but you get actual images of the newspapers (so pictures, ads, and everything). They had my local paper from when I was a kid.....

Apollo 13

http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/apollo40/

Online Education from About.com

Very cool stuff. Courses in dozens of subjects, all utilizing resources on the net. Very cool.

http://www.about.com/education/

Astronomy 101--10-week course

http://space.about.com/cs/astronomy101/a/astro101a.htm

The core idea of this course is really good. I didn't do the whole thing, so I have no idea how good the execution is. But I'd love to hear if anyone tries it!

Astronomy Tools: Observatories and Virtual Observatories

One of the greatest on-earth tools astronomers have is the observatory--a place that usually houses a giant telescope and other tools useful for observing the sky.

Now the internet makes it possible for anyone to access the information collected by observatories in Virtual Observatories.


http://www.virtualobservatory.org/students/ --this has some great tools for students

http://skyview.gsfc.nasa.gov/

http://www.us-vo.org/

and more: http://www.haydenplanetarium.org/resources/vo

Fact Monster

http://www.factmonster.com/

Google Search Tips

http://www.nytimes.com/external/gigaom/2010/04/02/02gigaom-10-simple-google-search-tricks-58674.html?src=me&ref=general

Space Images for the Classroom (or homeschool)

http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/en/educators/teachers_images.shtml

Includes images, games, projects, animations, and lots of other great stuff!

Space Science Education Resource Directory

http://teachspacescience.org/cgi-bin/ssrtop.plex

Searchable by grade level, topic, etc.

Watching Satellites from the ground

http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/

Space Telescopes

There are lots of Space Telescopes out there. They each have different tools and different purposes, but they all work together to give us more information about space.

Learn about them here:  http://www.kidscosmos.org/kid-stuff/hubble.html

and here:
Fermi: http://fermi.gsfc.nasa.gov/, and  http://fermisky.blogspot.com/
Einstein: http://einstein.stanford.edu/
James Webb: http://ngst.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ; http://webbtelescope.org/webb_telescope/
Hubble: http://hubblesite.org/ and http://heritage.stsci.edu/
Keppler: http://www.kepler.arc.nasa.gov/
Spitzer: http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/

telescopes and how they work Interactive

They call this a game, but it's more of an interactive, despite the fact that they say there are "levels".

Still, it's worthwhile.

http://www.jwst.nasa.gov/scope.html

College Astronomy Lecture on the Planets, with images

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoN53QpGXaQ&feature=fvw

Hubble Space Telescope Documentary

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpkrVw_E6Nw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upXTZE57Z5U&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xt9Bvc8s_d0&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_9gsFcKh9I&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnCvHnlNT7c&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PwkW76jR1w&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqYshf-jc7U&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23MXsnpC-5Y&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBhde27sS2k&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pu8HXFg_O6M&feature=related

Unit on Space Multiwavelength Telescopes

http://coolcosmos.ipac.caltech.edu/cosmic_classroom/multiwavelength_astronomy/multiwavelength_astronomy/index.html

2010 Meteor Showers

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2010-119

Spitzer Videos (astronomy)

http://spitzer.caltech.edu/video-audio

Science Songs

These were written a long time ago, so some of them aren't exactly accurate according to current theory.

But they are fun.

And some are perfectly fine scientifically, too.

http://www.acme.com/jef/singing_science/

Geology of Ancient Egypt

http://www.digitalegypt.ucl.ac.uk/geo/geology.html

Watch PBS Video Online

Search by Topics, shows, or collections, or use the search box to find something specific.

http://video.pbs.org/

NOVA online

http://www.youtube.com/user/NOVAonline

International Children's Digital Library

AWESOME resource. Read online if you want. Sign up for an age-appropriate or parent account. Or just read and read (in many languages!).

http://en.childrenslibrary.org/

Rube Goldberg Machines: Try this at home!

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2010/03/rube-goldberg-video-gallery/

Nature by Numbers movie

http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2010/03/nature_by_numbers_linking_math_to_n.html

How Chocolate Bunnies are Made

http://www.rmpalmer.com/tour.asp

The Virtual Body Interactive

This is one of the cooler interactives I've seen. Thanks Chastity for sending the link!

http://www.medtropolis.com/VBody.asp

Plagiarism definitions and detection tools and copyright guidelines

I suspect most homeschooling families don't think much about plagiarism because of the nature of homeschooling. When the teacher is pacing the room or folding laundry on the couch behind you while you're researching your paper and writing it, it's a lot less tempting to copy and paste!

However, homeschooled students, like all students, need to know about plagiarism and how to avoid it.

There are some really useful helps on this site: http://www.guidetoonlineschools.com/online-teaching/plagiarism

Math Dude

http://mathdude.quickanddirtytips.com/

Fun words for your Lexiphanic Child

http://www.foxnews.com/slideshow/scitech/2010/03/23/wacky-science-words/?slide=1

Virtual Tour of a State Fair

http://host.newspin360.net/statefairofoklahoma/

Fly Over Mars

http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/science/2010/03/18/take-flight-over-mars/

Cool Online Art Museum (SFMOMA)

http://www.sfmoma.org/projects/artscope/#r=64

Watch Know

Thousands of educational videos, organized by topic and rated.

http://www.watchknow.org/

Discovery Channel Games

http://dsc.discovery.com/games/games.html

Discovery Channel can be a little irreverent, so you might want to preview these games.

Edinformatics Directories

This is a great links repository:

http://www.edinformatics.com/

Edinformatics Interactives Library

http://www.edinformatics.com/il/

Vermilion Interactives Library

http://www.vrml.k12.la.us/curriculum/tech/interactives/interactivelibrary.htm

Current Conditions on Earth

This is a pretty cool interactive map based on current satellite data:

http://forces.si.edu/current/base.html

El Nino

Interactives: http://forces.si.edu/elnino/library.html

Lesson: http://forces.si.edu/elnino/exhibition.html

Activities: http://forces.si.edu/elnino/educators.html

Links: http://forces.si.edu/elnino/learn.html

The Atmosphere

Interactives: http://forces.si.edu/atmosphere/04_00_00.html

Lesson: http://forces.si.edu/atmosphere/02_00_00.html

Activities: http://forces.si.edu/atmosphere/05_00_00.html

Links: http://forces.si.edu/atmosphere/06_00_00.html

The Arctic

Interactives: http://forces.si.edu/arctic/04_00_00.html

Lesson: http://forces.si.edu/arctic/02_00_00.html

Activities: http://forces.si.edu/arctic/05_00_00.html

Links: http://forces.si.edu/arctic/06_00_00.html

CNN Science Interactives Archive

There are a lot of broken links here, but the ones that work are pretty cool.

http://edition.cnn.com/TECH/space/interactive.archive/

Science (mostly) Jigsaw Puzzles

http://science.discovery.com/puzzles/puzzles.html

Not sure why they included Tarot cards and zombies in Science, but most of these are truly science-based.

Solar System Memory Game

Find the matching planet photos:

http://science.discovery.com/interactives/memory/solarsystem/solarsystem.html

Science Channel's Science Interactives

http://science.discovery.com/interactives/interactives.html

Some of these are very cool.

Medical Science and Human Anatomy Interactives

http://www.thevisualmd.com/interactives_library

Note to Parents:  Be aware that this is a medical site not intended for K-12 learners, but that might be of use to them. It has photos of human bodies and diseases on it, so preview this and decide if your students can handle these  appropriate medical images of unclothed men and women. There are some fantastic resources like an interactive view of the difference between adult and infant skin, and of fetal development. Just pre-view the site before you send your kids exploring.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorial.html

Note: This site also includes medical information about many disorders, diseases, and procedures. This site is geared toward patients and doesn't include photos, but it does include drawings of human anatomy. Preview this site as well. REALLY good information.

Learner.org Video Courses

Some of these are available only by purchase, but many can be viewed online. Many include video and materials, some are interactives (with a discussion and activities).

http://www.learner.org/resources/browse.html

Or check it out here: http://www.learner.org/#

Who knew dirt could be so interesting?

http://forces.si.edu/soils/04_00_00.html  --interactives

http://forces.si.edu/soils/02_01_00.html --lesson

http://forces.si.edu/soils/05_00_00.html --activities and links

Vacations and Vacationing Unit

http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/pdfs/programs/vov-education-kit.pdf

While this unit is focused on Victoria, the activities in it are excellent and easily linked to or adapted to discussions of leisure and vacationing either in a family history setting or in a local or state tourism resources setting.

Lots of fun activities and pictures are here.

Science U: Math and Science Interactives, kits, and crafts

http://www.scienceu.com/start/

Thomas Jefferson's Library Interactives

http://www.myloc.gov/Exhibitions/jeffersonslibrary/Pages/Interactives.aspx

What are interactives and why use them?

http://www.schoollibrarymonthly.com/articles/Lamb&Johnson2010.v26n5p41.html

National Virtual Library of Manipulatives (Math)

I'm sure I've mentioned this site before, but here it is again. An excellent collection of online interactives for Math.

http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/vlibrary.html

Seeing Math Interactives

http://seeingmath.concord.org/sms_interactives.html

Explore Early America with Interactives

http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/earlyamericas/online/interactives.html

http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/earlyamericas/online/index.html

Exploring Mars--a Timeline History

http://science.discovery.com/tv/phoenix-mars/timeline/timeline.html

The Near Future of Space Travel

http://science.discovery.com/tv/space-week/constellation/constellation.html

How to Build your own Time Machine

Learn about light speed, atoms, particle accelerators, etc, with this interactive game:

http://science.discovery.com/interactives/time-machine/time-machine.html

General Ecology with audio lectures

http://ocw.usu.edu/biology/general-ecology

Japanese Rare Books

While this is rather specialized and most average K-12 families won't need this, students of Japanese language and culture might find this fascinating:

http://elib.doshisha.ac.jp/english/digital/index.html

Educational Games at Game Classroom

It's a web portal for educational games, sortable by level.

Very cool.

http://www.gameclassroom.com/

When you click on a grade level, you get a popup asking you to sign up for the newsletter. You don't have to sign up to access the games. Just close the popup window.

Animal Makers

This is the website of a company that makes "fake" animals for Hollywood. It's pretty cool. Be sure to check out Behind the Scenes (both Making of and On location), where they have pictures and movies of making and using the fake animals.

Pretty cool!

http://www.animalmakers.com/index2.php

Tree of Life Web Project

http://tolweb.org/tree/phylogeny.html

Short Animal video clips

These are not highly edited documentaries. Rather, these are brief clips of animals being themselves in their own habitats. It's like observing the animals in nature. Very Cool.

http://tolweb.org/movies/Animals/2374

Animal Diversity Web

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/index.html

Includes pictures, animal sounds, and explanations of things like animal naming as well as an abundance of information about animals.

Classification

Math practice games

http://math.cilenia.com/en

Norton's Online Writing Course and Handbook

http://www.wwnorton.com/college/english/write/writesite/writing_home.aspx

Complete Online Algebra Courses

http://www.hippocampus.org/Algebra

Online AP Biology Course

Semester 1:
http://www.montereyinstitute.org/courses/AP%20Biology%20I/nroc%20prototype%20files/coursestartc.html

Semester 2:
http://www.montereyinstitute.org/courses/AP%20Biology%20II/nroc%20prototype%20files/coursestartc.html

Includes multimedia and complete course, but you will need a text. It recommends one, but you can use a college-level online textbook or check one out from the library. Or buy one used online.

Online Biology Text--illustration-rich

http://www.emc.maricopa.edu/faculty/farabee/BIOBK/BioBookTOC.html

Virtual Biology Lab

Some of these I linked to before, but this is a more complete list.

http://www.mhhe.com/biosci/genbio/virtual_labs_2K8/

Why the Stars Appear to Move

http://wwnorton.com/college/astronomy/astro_ani_webad/ViewFromThePoles/

Life Photo Archive

Explore history and photography:

http://images.google.com/hosted/life

Grammar

http://www.azargrammar.com/, where you will find lessons, worksheets, songs, etc.

and

http://www.pearsonlongman.com/ae/azar/grammar_ex/message_board/archive/index.html, where you will find an index of English Grammar and usage.

These were designed for ESL students, but are useful to all of us.

Online Dictionary

http://www.ldoceonline.com/

For Parents: Tips on Reading with your Kids

http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6720442.html

Full textbooks online

http://my.hrw.com/

This is intended to be a sample site for Holt. Right now there are science books there. Click login to access the books. I can't guarantee they'll stay, but for now, there are 3 textbooks available.

Ancient Egyptian Climate Interactive

http://www.americanepic.org/demos/Egypt/Egypt.html

and activities

http://www.fi.edu/learn/tut/5-8/weather.html

Shadow Puppets

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtOsVmRdK9w

Drawing in Water and Sand

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=go7gzkYj34o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TXDSlhSo-U

Free animation software for the budding film maker

http://www.calicomonkey.com/blog/free-cartoon-animation-software.php

Fantastic Pictures of Earth

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1254834/Nasa-reveals-detailed-images-Earth.html

3-D Street Art

Be sure to watch the "making of" video.

http://www.metanamorph.com/displayimage-album,4,pos,0,3D%20Pavement%20Art-Ice%20Age-The%20Crevasse.html

World Maths Day is upon us!

Registration deadline for 2010 is March 1 (today).

http://www.worldmathsday.com/2010/Default.aspx?

Tech TV Video clips

http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0073516708/student_view0/g4techtv_videos.html

Animations explaining how tech stuff works (like digital cameras)

http://www.computing2008.com/Animations

Links to all the State Depts of Education

http://www.epd-mh.com/statestandards.php

Video clips of teaching techniques

http://www.epd-mh.com/evideolibrary.php

One of the cooler geometry activities I've ever seen

Google Maps + Paris + teaching instructions = seriously cool. Click on the purple pin to get started.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=106744469957319968675.000477900903fa3443371&source=embed&ll=48.813872,2.37751&spn=0.10671,0.298691&z=12

Sounds (of Nature) and Music

http://www.wildmusic.org/

Tour Mount Everest

http://www.thetech.org/exhibits/online/everest/tour/tour.htm

Apparently the shockwave version is cooler.

Free Reading

Teach your child to read.

Free.

http://www.freereading.net/index.php?title=Main_Page

Lesson Pathways

This used to be a subscription learning service, but now it's free. Apparently made with a lot of input from homeschoolers, it allows you to create a curriculum (or "pathway") for your child on several levels and with different details. This site has great reviews!

http://www.lessonpathways.com/

This allows you to build a custom curriculum for each child, which is REALLY cool, and is apparently very intuitive and user-friendly.