Awesome Science Websites

Ok I know I promise lots and deliver few...lol... But, here's my super secret list of science websites kids will absolutely adore.

• http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/gamesactivities.html
• http://www.brainpop.com/ Brainpop also has some awesome apps! You can view the free video of the day, or pay for full access to the website
• http://www.tryscience.org/home.html
• http://science.howstuffworks.com/ 
• http://www.exploratorium.edu/ 
• http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/ -- this is great for the budding scientist who wants up to the minute info on new developments in science!
• http://kids.usa.gov/science/index.shtml
• http://www.mos.org/sln/Leonardo/LeoHomePage.htm - This page is fantastic! You get to learn all about the scientific mind Leonardo Da Vinci had!!
• http://www.extremescience.com/
• http://www.ftexploring.com/
• http://www.greatachievements.org/ This site is dedicated to the Greatest Engineering Achievments of the 20th century!
• http://www.rudimentsofwisdom.com/themes/themes_science.htm Got a kid who prefers cartoons? This site is packed with mini-cartoons that explain almost everything!
• http://www.free.ed.gov/subjects.cfm?subject_id=41
• http://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/ this is a great science podcas
• http://www.kidsknowit.com/ (my kids favorit
• http://sciencespot.net/Pages/kdztech.html
• http://www.apples4theteacher.com/science.html
• http://www.forgefx.com/casestudies/prenticehall/
• http://www.molecularium.com/kidsite.html
• http://www.scienceworld.ca/playstuff
• http://www.sciencetoymaker.org/
• http://www.hhmi.org/coolscience/index.html
• http://www.thinkingfountain.org/
• http://www.amnh.org/ology/index.php
• http://www.thunk.com/ (this site is all about cartography - the secret world of codes
• http://www.bu.edu/satellite/
• http://library.temple.edu/collections/scrc/kidsnet/sfkc/

Interesting Sciences

• http://www.exploratorium.edu/skateboarding/ - The science of skateboarding
• http://www.exploratorium.edu/hockey/ - The science of Hockey
• http://www.exploratorium.edu/baseball/ - The science of baseball
• http://www.worsleyschool.net/science/files/physicsof/basketball.html - The Physics of Basketball
• http://www.trinitylaban.ac.uk/dance-science/about-dance-science - Got a child who loves dance? There is a university in the UK that is dedicated to analyzing the science of dance. This site is better suited to older teens. 
• http://www.learner.org/interactives/parkphysics/index.html - This website is based on Amusement Park Physics. Kids learn all about science while designing their very own virtual amusement park! - The science of Amusement parks
• http://www.your-martial-arts-resources.com/martial-arts-science.html - an interesting website resource for older children who might love the martial arts.

TV Shows & Science

• http://www.pbs.org/nerds/ - Triumph of the Nerds is all about computers and the history of the development of computers.
• http://www.billnye.com/ - My boys love Bill Nye the Science Guy
• http://pbskids.org/fetch/  - Fetch with Ruff Ruffman
• http://pbskids.org/sid/ - Sid the Science Kid
• http://pbskids.org/dragonflytv/ - Dragonfly TV
• http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/mythbusters/ - Mythbusters!
• http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/front/distilling-the-best-science/ - Naked Science
• http://science.discovery.com/tv/tv-shows.html - Science Channel

 

Give it a little try

Ok so we all know how much I'm willing to spend on HS curricula....anyone? That's right, I aim for a big fat 0! And I mostly make it. I spend, maybe, $50/year on my 2 boys. Mostly for apps that are less than $5 each. You know it's sad when it takes 4 days to make a decision because an app costs a whopping $8.99! Man, I'm anal. Lol

One thing I love about computer programs vs apps? You can usually get a free trial with a computer program. Sure, lots of apps offer a modified 'free' version. But I don't recommend them. It usually will not give you a well rounded idea of what it will be like to use the full app because they cut so much out of it to make it free. But, most computer curricula will give you a few weeks of using the entire program to see how you like it.

Our newest trial? Readingeggs.com I wasn't sure if this was going to be worth it. My 11 y/o is a great reader. But my 8 y/o is a lazy reader! Gasp! Shock! As many of you are very aware I'm a voracious reader - at least 2 books/day. It's how I maintain my sanity. And the kids are old enough that I can make slaves of them for misbehaving...hehehe. But once they are in bed, I sit out side, rain or shine, with a big cup of decaf and read. So having a reluctant reader is stumping me.

X-man doesn't see the need to exert himself when he has an older brother or mom to do it for him. So I have been trying to find something that will interest him and help him learn to love the written word as much as I. One thing the kids fight over? Computer time. So I thought, why not suck it up and try a reading program?

So the next 4 weeks we are trying 2 different or programs. I'm trying to ignore my cheap side and let the kids make the decision based on which program they will use.

Abcthekey.com - cost: $FREE

Gee, con you guess why I like this one? Lol but it is a little confusing for the kids. And no where near as interactive.

Readingeggs.com - cost: $49/6 months, $75/year (you can add up to 3 students on one acct)

Gulp! To me that is a ton of money! But, the kids have been playing with it for a couple of days and are really liking it. Even my 11 y/o! He loves that many of the 'books' are half story-half comic book. And my 8 y/o loves the virtual world (and the silly music videos!)

So I'll let you know which one we end up settling on.

Free Websites Master Lists

Ok, a while ago I made a list of my most used free worksheet links, there are of course many more webpages that I have found important in my HS - from fun interactive sites for the kids, to sites designed for different types of learners (my oldest is a visual). Here is my list of what is in my favorites list.
Blessings -
Shannon

Interactive Sites -
Miamiopia - the kids LOVE this site and play it while I'm making dinner.
Big IQ - math, spelling & Geography. The kids play about 30 minutes each.
12 Dozen Places to Educate Your Kids
Click n' Kids (Phonics and spelling) -- ok this is not free, it is about $50/mo but it is sooo fun!
 Head of the Class - this site is a little disappointing - each lesson starts with a great animation, but many (MANY) of the lessons are actually worksheets. But it is free, and great on a day I'm sick or the kids need a distraction.
MEP
http://www.cypsd.k12.ca.us/Curriculum/curr/6thgrade.htm
http://www.learnerstv.com/index.php
http://www.powayusd.com/projects/edtechcentralnew/2-3standards.htm
http://guest.portaportal.com/jrll5math

Geography -

Math -
http://www.numbernut.com/
http://web.archive.org/web/20090328203303/http://www.cimt.plymouth.ac.uk/projects/mep/default.htm
http://www.moneyinstructor.com/money.asp
http://www.learner.org/courses/learningmath/geometry/
http://www.georgehart.com/slide-togethers/slide-togethers.html
http://web.archive.org/web/20090303195849/http://www.jamesbrennan.org/algebra/
http://visualmathlearning.com/index.php

Science -
http://education.jlab.org/indexpages/elementgames.php
http://www.christianhomeschoolhub.spruz.com/blog.htm?cat_id=013DE729-EF52-4E9F-9A4E-28646B368CC8
http://freescienceonline.blogspot.com/
http://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/how
http://science.howstuffworks.com/
http://science.discovery.com/videos/kapow-superhero-science-hurricane-science.html
http://learningscience.org/
http://mycourses.med.harvard.edu/public/
http://nsdl.org/
http://www.cosmos4kids.com/
http://www.learner.org/resources/series49.html
http://www.exploratorium.edu/science_explorer/pringles_pinhole.html
http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/lessons.php?DocID=312
http://www.thecraftyclassroom.com/HomeschoolPrintablesScientificMethod.html
http://www.rocksandminerals4u.com/what_is_a_mineral.html
http://xplor.mdc.mo.gov/#wildguide

Computer Science
http://videolectures.net/Top/Computer_Science/
http://freecomputerbooks.com/
http://www.freetechbooks.com/
http://libguides.library.albany.edu/cs_guide
http://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Portal:Computer_Science
http://lifehacker.com/5401954/programmer-101-teach-yourself-how-to-code
http://www.dreamincode.net/forums/forum/78-programming-tutorials/
http://w3schools.com/

Lesson Plans -
http://teachers.net/lessonplans/subjects/science/

more to come!

Grammar lapbooks

http://trying2walkwisely.blogspot.com/2009/05/first-language-lessons-lapbook-year-one.html
http://www.squidoo.com/grammar-for-homeschool
Phonics - http://lapbooklessons.com/PhonicsLapbookAT.html
http://www.a-z-worksheets.com/grammar-definitions.html
http://homeschoolfreestuff.wordpress.com/english/grammar/
Grammar game - http://jimmiescollage.com/2009/05/grammar-game/


Great new resources -
 http://www.thatresourcesite.com/my_book_mini-books_books.htm
TONS OF LINK - http://www.homeschoolforfree.net/2007/09/lapbooking-links.html
http://www.squidoo.com/pioneers_Oregontrail

Free Spelling Lists

I found this great link today to one of our hardest subjects - SPELLING -
http://www.homespellingwords.com/index.htm

Awesome new link!

I'm so excited! I've finally found the perfect math site for my boys. The college kids who started the site deserve medals! The videos are short and sweet and somehow put even the most complex math concepts into terms the kids can understand. I had been using IXL.com for the last several months, but I don't like that it's mostly a type of review - like a worksheet just on the computer. THere are no lessons or real interactive information, so I was still somewhat at a loss on how to teach my oldest son - the audio learner - math concepts. He was stuck at about 3rd grade, he couldn't remember multiplication tables so we've gone back to the several times with no success. But after watching their video on Khan he went through their practice sheets like he'd been doing them for years! He just suddenly got it!!!

If your child is an audio learner like my 9 y/o you may also be banging your head against a wall. Math is all about working things out on paper (for the most part) and audio learners have close to zero attention span for paper work. BUT I found this great site that's TOTALLY FREE and has video clips explaining every aspect of math in ways kids can understand!!!

Khan Academy

Unit Study Links

Here are some of the resources I use for Unit Studies...these are mostly literature based (as that's when I tend to do a Unit mixed with a Lap Book).

• http://www.oklahomahomeschool.com/unitstudies.html
• http://www.mce.k12tn.net/units/units_with_books.htm
• http://www.homeschoolshare.com/levels.php
• http://www.edhelper.com/books/literature_units.htm
• http://www.angelfire.com/mo/sassafrassgrove/homeschool/unit_studies.html
• http://www.freelyeducate.com/2010/04/free-900page-unit-study-lapbook-project-on-the-book-of-virtues-.html
• http://home-school.lovetoknow.com/Literature_Unit_Studies
• http://www.magictreehouse.com/#home

Contraction Practice

One of my mom's asked me for some links or games to help her child practice doing contractions. Here are some fun ones I've come up with!


Contraction Pages
Contraction Quiz
Treasure Trove
Teacher Ideas
Working with Contractions
K - 2 Contraction Games
Fly By Contractions
Contraction Concentration Game
Spelling City

New Foreign Language Resource

OMG -- you know how I'm always searching for resources, well another HS mama just pointed me in the direction of this great webpage!

Know It All

New Sites & Interesting Article!

Anyone learning about History (or the future for that matter) should check out Owl & Mouse's Build A Town website - Very cool indeed!

Ever want something truly inspirational for the kids to do on a rainy day? Ever looking for something the kids can do while you feed the baby/make dinner/fold the laundry? Then this is the treasure trove of ideas for you - Think!   - Encouraging kids to think outside of the box!

Further, one of the mom's in my Cafemom HS group brought this article to my attention - We Don't Believe in Socialization - it's a witty and honest look at the misconceptions of socialization for PS & HS.

Astronomy Vids

Well, you know my favorite new site is the ZuiKids (YouTube For Kids) so I'm just categorizing some of my fav's we're using for school -

ASTRONOMY/ SCIENCE:
The Sun Is Hot
The Real Perspective of the Solar System (earth's size in comparison to other planets)
Did You Know?....

DISCOVERY KIDS

 MATH:
Metric & Standard Measurement

HISTORY:
Social Studies
Mythology

READING / Words Helper


Little Genius

GRADES -

Homework Helper 1
Homework Helper 2
Homework Helper 3
Homework Helper 4
Homework Helper 5
Homework Helper 6

Cool New Site

As many of you know i use lots of lapbooks with my boys. But I also like to watch childrens videos for things like History topics. Let's face it, describing something like the Romans isn't as clear as watching it. But, on YouTube you're way more likely to find a History Channel clip (waaay to boring for my 8 & 6 y/o's) or a joke than something pertinant. So, this morning I was searching for clips on Christopher Columbus (as PS holidays just mean EXTRA work for us HS'ers..lol) and came across a YouTube-like site specifically for kids!!!! So I just had to share it with you all!!


ZuiTube - videos for kids

Some New Record Keepin Resources

I've been trying to keep better records of what we achieve, menus and finances. Here are some great free links -

http://highland.hitcho.com.au/Forms.htm - over 800 free form downloads!!

http://www.printablehomeschool.com/ - with a name like 'printable homeschool' it says it all!

Free Printable Master List

Ok, I've recieved many requests for a list of where I go to get free printables as it's a major cornerstone of my HS with the boys. Here's the main list!

http://www.tlsbooks.com/
http://www.theteacherscafe.com/
http://www.abcteach.com/
http://www.studyshack.com/
http://www.teach-nology.com/
http://school.discoveryeducation.com/
http://www.firstschoolyears.com/
http://www.edplace.com/
http://www.homeschooling.about.com/
http://www.superteacherworksheets.com/
http://bogglesworldesl.com/
http://www.instructorweb.com/
http://www.softschools.com/
http://www.kiddyhouse.com/
http://www.multiplication.com/
http://www.freeprintable.com/
http://www.ezschool.com/index.html
http://www.free-phonics-worksheets.com/html/free_phonics_worksheets.html
http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/
http://www.sssoftware.com/freeworksheets/
http://www.myschoolhouse.com/courses/Sample.htm
http://www.mathfactcafe.com/
http://www.englishbanana.com/downloads.html
http://www.schoolexpress.com/fws/cat.php?id=2252
http://www.rhlschool.com/reading.htm
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/school/index.shtml
http://math-and-reading-help-for-kids.org/elementary_algebra_worksheets.html
http://www.homeschoolingadventures.com/worksheets.html
http://www.docstoc.com/search/free-elementary-spanish-worksheets
http://www.math-drills.com/algebra.shtml
http://www.netrover.com/~kingskid/freestuff.htm
http://www.funlessonplans.com/history_lesson_plans/free_history_worksheets.htm
http://www.tooter4kids.com/free_worksheets_and_awards.htm
http://www.sciencewithme.com/worksheetsmain.php
http://www.homeschoolmath.net/
http://printstationary.net/school/index.php
http://www.moneyinstructor.com/basics.asp
http://math-and-reading-help-for-kids.org/elementary_math_worksheets.html
http://www.helpingwithmath.com/by_subject/geometry/geo_worksheets.htm
http://www.mathsisfun.com/worksheets/index.php
http://teachers.net/classifieds/supplies/topic356/10.31.06.15.25.00.html
http://www.toolsforeducators.com/weather.php

This free site is great for online educational play - http://www.ixl.com/
Another master list - http://www.okaloosa.k12.fl.us/walker/freestuff.htm
http://home-school.lovetoknow.com/Free_Grammar_Worksheets

Lapbook Resources for 2011

Here are some of the free lapbooks we'll be doing this coming year. They are in no particular order and I have them for both boys here ( Xman is 6 y/o, DJ will be 9 in a few weeks) as I post their curriculum you'll see how everything fits together. We also school year round so I plan for 52 weeks of school. Furthermore, some will be put in a 2-ring binder together as a combo book - this is how make our text books. When we do a subject they pull out the book rather than having a million file-folder lapbooks all over. There are also some info on Mini-Offices on here. ENJOY!

Squidoo, homeschool share; homeschool helper; lapbook lessons
Space Lapbook; Solar System
Mabon Lapbook - Autumn Festivals
Classical Music; M is for Melody;  Mozart
Monet
Picasso
Cassat
John James Audobon; Backyard Birds
Greek Classics ; Greece
The Maya
Ancient China
Ancient Egypt; Egypt
Ancient Rome
Hands on Fractions
Tangrams
K-1 Math Review - Early Math
5th Grade Mini Office -- mini-office resource -- Language Mini-office
Composers
Ice Age - research, another research
Aesops Fables
Intro To Chemistry; Intro to Chemistry 2 ; Periodic Table
Civil War
Earthquakes
Grocery Store
Phonics, Vowels;  Spelling/Phonics Rules ; Phonics "at"
Lapbook-a-person - Biography
  Abe Lincoln
  Geogre Washington
  Ben Franklin
  Betsy Ross
  Presidents
  Pocahontus
Character Study - Citizenship
Plague (Middle Ages)
Subtraction Facts
Viking Adventure
Volcanoes
Boston Tea Party
Parts of Speach


File Folder Games for lapbooks
Multiplication; multiplication
Space
Even/Odd
Pumpkin patch phonics ; Shamrock Phonics; Nouns/Verbs
Character File Folder Games
Fish Fractions
Rounding
Subtraction
Science & Roman Numerals
Contractions
Addition
Skip Counting
Homophones 

Other Tidbits - printables, coloring pages, worksheets, etc.
Greek/Roman Myth & Heroes Coloring Pages
Egyptian Hierogryphs
Grade 5 printables; Grade 5 printables; math; printables; printables
Grade 4; Grade 4; math ; printables; printables
Grade 3; Grade 3; math; printables; printables; printables
Grade 2; Grade 2; math; printables; printables; printables
Grade 1; Grade 1; math; printables; printables; printables
History Worksheets;
English Worksheets
Music Worksheets;
Science Worksheets;
Multi-Grade Worksheets;  math; Grammar K-2; Grammar 3-5; Grammar 6-8; printables

Another great resource site!

You know I can't resist a great free lapbooking resource as I was looking for 4th of july minibooks and such I came across - The Homeschool Mom ....ENJOY!!

Daily Drills - Fun

I got this idea from my BFF Dani. She has her kids do a daily drill sheet each day as a sort of warm-up to homeschool. Each day is a different theme (math, puzzle, reading, etc). Well I wanted to hook the kids with something fun each day - and I found a free site to do it (of course!) So I printed several books of the following, and each morning my kids grab their binder and do a sheet (or two or three). They're fun and help us transition from normal day to school day.

http://www.crazydad.com/ is a fab site filled with great vid clips and such
For his 50 books of mazes - Mazes
For his Kiduko puzzles - Kiduko
For his FAB Slitherlink (one of my fav games) - Slitherlink
For his great Karuko puzzles - Karuko

More daily fun:
Printable Mazes for Kids (themed)
Word Searches
Connect The Dots
Color By Numbers
Family Fun Printables (word searches, memory games, mazes, puzzles, etc)

Cool New Science Site

I found this cool new science link - the kids have been watching their videos all day...lol...and wanting to try them themselves. Check it out!

http://www.sciencesplat.com

Organization

Well, one of the questions I've heard the most is about organization. How do I find the time? As most of you know I am a mom of 2, I homeschool both, I'm a personal trainer, I teach kickboxing, I write articles, I teach Sign Language, make blankets for the Linus Project, and I run several online support groups (over 7500 members world-wide now!! Whoot!)...on top of normal cooking and cleaning... so I'm often asked how I fit it all in. I'm a total type A personality so I'm naturally a bit anal about organization. But I believe I developed some good tips & tricks while I was an engineer. So, to help out my non-type A friends, I'm developing a website dedicated to becoming a true Domestic Goddess - with tricks on organization, cleaning, cooking, shopping, scheduling, living within a budget, and not forgetting to dedicate some time each day on MOM! You'll be able to check it out at

http://www.madgetoday.weebly.com

M.A.D.G.E. stands for - Me? A Domestic Goddess? Eeck! (lol)

Let me know if there's anything you'd like to see me add. I'm calling in favors from all my super organized friends so it won't just be my advice!

Anatomy & Physiology Visuals

So, not everything can be learned in a lap or Combo book. *gasp* Yup I said it...er...wrote it...lol... To help my boys get a better understanding of our subject matter (since we don't use traditional school books) I like to find little video clips or animations on the internet. Since I'm waaaay frugal I prefer them to be free. :-D

Here are some cool anatomy & physiology animations/clips:
http://www.visiblebody.com this is a really cool animation site that allows the student to travel within the body to check out how systems actually work!

You Tube Vids:
Your Circulatory System
Respiration
The Digestive System
The Muscular System
The Nervous System1 / Nervous System 2
The Glucose Song (Nutrition)
The Food Groups Song (fun nutrition)
Cookie Monster's Healthy Food Rap (fun nutrition)
Timon & Pumba Healthy Food Adver (very short but fun)
The New Food Pyramid
Bill Nye The Food Web Song
Skeleton Macarena (great for learning the actual names of the bones)
Bill Nye - Just Wash Your Hands (germs)
Bill Nye on Germs
Bill Nye on Skin
Bill Nye "It's Called Genetics" Song
Bill Nye on Genetics (I just love this show!)