Homeschooling can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. There are loads of free or extremely low cost resources out there. This can be especially helpful given that oftentimes one of the family income earners is devoting a lot of time towards homeschooling, which is not a paid gig. Most of these resources are things we have personally used in our family. A few of them (such as Starfall) we have not used but came recommended.
Look into your local library. So, you probably know that you can check out books, periodicals, DVDs and the like. In case you don’t realize it- you can look for books online and have them transfered to your local library. So all the libraries in your system are available to you at the touch of a button. In addition to books, libraries may offer amazing classes and programs. Look online so that you can see what is available when at all the area libraries. Examples: chess club, Book clubs for kids, Dungeons and Dragons Club, Gardening class, Story Time, Arts and Crafts, Read to a Dog (Yes, they bring dogs.) Science programs, Concerts, and more. All free. We’ve also had libraries that prepared themed grade level grab bags. For instance, a Prek bag would have several books about dogs, supplies for a craft, and a dog stuffed animal in the bag for check out. Some library systems have additional cool resources- my local system allows you to request pairs of free tickets to various museums in the area. You just have to plan in advance. It also allows you to utilize Rosetta Stone language programs.
Speaking of libraries, have you heard of the Libby App? You can sync your library card to it and then digitally check out electronic or audio books direct to your device. Pro Tip: Join a neighboring library system or two. Now, sync all 2 or 3 library cards to your Libby app. That is a lot of books available at the click of a button. If your child has a documented disability that affects reading, such as a reading impairment due to dyslexia or vision, they will also qualify for an account on Learning Ally. There is a cost to this, but it is a huge library of audio books with connected ebook to follow along. You have to prove a disability because they create audio books that are not available on the regular market. So, they would not be licensed except through the accessibility need. I don’t personally use it, but another option is Bookshare. Look for “The Great Courses” by The Teaching Company. These are in-depth videos on all kinds of subjects, covering college-level material and taught be professors and experts.
“Free” often comes at a hidden price. Watch out. Here is the big thing about “free” when it comes to the internet and apps. You need to consider where the money is coming from if they are not charging you. A “safe” free item might be one that is run by an organization with sponsors covering the cost. Otherwise, you are paying by watching the ads they curate and show to your child. And ads can spiral quickly.
A learning game or youtube show that is free will have ads that they show your child. Sometimes the ads take you out of the game or lead you into something a different game or different webpage altogether- a child can click through intending to click the little “x” to make the ad go away. I think companies make it difficult on purpose. So with apps and youtube, for peace of mind and safety, don’t go for free. Paying with ads in the long run is actually a greater cost than having paid app in the first place. With that in mind, I really suggest you pay for a Youtube family plan. It is worth the money. Also, look at putting protections in place on your internet that help stop unwanted images from coming up. Choose the app that has a fee.
www.khanacademy.org This is one of those that are free, but it is an organization with sponsors. Khan Academy has full curriculum set for K-12 plus AP courses in math, science, reading and language arts, economics, social studies and test prep. It also has math placement tests to help you decide your level and what to focus on. A tip: don’t require your child to get perfect scores. It will frustrate them. In a little unit if there are 5 problems in a mini section, then let them go on if they get 4 out of 5 correct. That is the sweet spot, I promise!
www.openstax.org Check this out! OpenStax is a nonprofit initiative by Rice University, to make learning accessible to everyone. They create college text books that are completely free. Download a college textbook of chemistry, calculus, physics, government, psychology. You get the idea. The digital access is free, or order a printed version at a reasonable price. They also have a free online asynchronous learning program called Assignable.
Available for free on YouTube:
Crash Course has created over 45 courses covering high school and college level subjects just as U.S. History, Chemistry, Geography. Don’t get turned away by the fact that I led with “youtube.” This is very thorough. The quick pace and dynamic delivery make it friendly to all kinds of learners. Note: regular Crash Course is geared towards ages high school and up. That means some of the humor and subject material might not be ideal for your little guy. But, they also have Crash Course Kids. So for little ones, start there.
Some of The Great Courses I mentioned can also be found on YouTube.
Snake Discovery on YouTube. If you have an elementary-aged kiddo who loves reptiles, check it out! This follows a family business, so there is self-promotion weaved in, but we enjoyed it.
Story of the World is a history curriculum that over 4 volumes covers the ancient world through modern times. It is written in a format that is similar to reading a story. Hence, the name. Geared towards elementary and middle school learners. While there are books, CDs and workbooks for purchase, the creators have also posted the entire audio narration on youtube for your access. Note: while SOTW is not considered religious and is accepted by public school charters, some users feel that there are sections where it sounds like it is written from a Biblical world view. Some people who utilize it choose to skip a section or two in the Ancient World volume. Note: the hyperlink sends you to Volume 1: Ancient times, posted on YouTube.
Teachers Pay Teachers is a site that offers printables and curriculum. While there are items that cost money (many things are very low cost!) there are also over 350,000 items available for free.
Coursera– now, be aware that Coursera also has a paid version, but there are loads of courses that can be taken for free through www.coursera.com. Reputable museums and universities offer courses through this platform. My daughter is really enjoying their archaeology offerings. A similar program is EdX.
Harvard’s free online courses. We have tried one course and found it interesting. Asynchronous and mainly geared towards adults, but a lot of kids enjoy that kind of learning environment. Note: Some courses are fee-based, so you’ll need to filter the search by “free.”
National Geographic and National Geographic Kids online content. This is a great place for a child to study up on dinosaurs or any specific animal.
Scratch is a free online visual programming platform and community for kids. Developed by MiT, it is a non-profit dedicated to giving kids access to coding.
Starfall ELA and Math. While some portions require a paid subscription, the Starfall Education Foundation sponsors this program, allowing most of it to be accessed for free. It focuses on PreK-5th grade reading and math with games and online activities.
NASA resources. Take a look- there are videos, podcasts, updates on current events, games and interactives.
PreK and kindergarten ideas follow Happy Hooligans on Facebook, and check out Science 4 Superheroes. Bonus: so many of their projects used household items like recyclables, tupperware, straws, paper towel roll. Things you will be able to come up with for free.
Museum Resources – some museums will offer online courses or video lessons.
Monterey Bay Aquarium offers free online courses, curriculum, printable crafts, science projects and video lessons. The offerings are designed for levels PreK through 12th Grade. It’s all free.
Smithsonian Resources. Activities, games and projects based in the arts, science, nature, history and more. Varied ages. Take a look!
The Met resources. The Metropolitan Museum of Art in NY, has created free online resources. Download rich and amazing curricula at a higher level of learning focused on Byzantine art, the art of Africa, and more. You’ll also find curriculum resources aimed at elementary and middle school learners: “Exploring Power through Art” and “Social and Emotional Learning through Art.” It’s all ready to download and print. Also check out their art history timelines.
Co-ops and Clubs. This is where you get together in-person and create what you need. Ideally, other families are also contributing time and resources. It works best when parents each volunteer out of their areas of strength and expertise. Don’t be afraid to create it if it doesn’t currently exist. Some people like co-ops that are focused on core subjects, while other families prefer to utilize co-ops for enrichment classes.
Curriculum swaps and curriculum hand-me-downs. This is another area where it is great to be plugged into your local homeschooling community. I’ve given away so much curriculum once we’ve outgrown it. And I’ve benefitted from some great curriculum gifts from other families. Join communities and look for curriculum swap events, or get on their facebook group where they give away curriculum. Figure out the pulse of where this is happening in your community and take advantage.
4-H. This one is not free because there is a yearly sign up fee for 4H. But, after that, you can sign up for all kinds of groups and they are run by volunteer instructors alongside teen youth who have expertise. Some projects do have supply fees. Cake decorating, robotics, archery, veterinary science, programming, sewing, rabbits. These are examples of programs being offered in our local 4H program. The hyperlink will take you to the national website, and from there you can find your local chapters.
Don’t forget about podcasts. I mention a few favorites here. Those along with audio books are fantastic for car rides.
Writing opportunities: Check out my old blog as most of the ideas are free.
I hope this helps to get you started! I will add more resources as I think of them. Happy Homeschooling!
~Christina
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