Homeschooling! Secular Resources?

[WishboneDawn]

(Note; Not for debate over homeschooling)

I know there are a few other homeschoolers here and I'm betting some of them share the frustration of looking for good resources that AREN'T 'Apologia Science" or history from a christian perspective or spelling books with a biblical feel.

I thought we could trade some links of our favourite secular homeschooling sites and suppliers, anything from preschool craft sites to college level stuff, free to retail sites, stuff for kids to stuff for parents.

Here's a few to start with...

Starfall (http://www.starfall.com/) Phonics over several grade levels.

Mathcats (http://www.mathcats.com/) "Join the Math Cats in a land of creative, open-ended math explorations!"

National Library of Virtual Manipulatives (http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/vlibrary.html) Damn cool! Everything from pattern games to virtual geoboards.

[Matt the Medic]

Just have your kid read 50 wikipedia pages a day.

:p


Matt

[chekmate]

Just have your kid read 50 wikipedia pages a day.

:p


Matt

You'd of course have to test him on the content occasionally, but if you were to do that, I'd imagine he'd probably be smarter than me!

I'm only half kidding.

[Super Squirrel]

Just have your kid read 50 wikipedia pages a day.

:p


Matt

Hell, I do this just for the fun of it. :D

[Isolde]

The Big Myth (http://www.mythicjourneys.org/bigmyth/2_eng_myths.htm) Flash animations of different creation myths

Make Paper Toys (http://www.thetoymaker.com/2Toys.html) Nice print-outs to make paper toys (including a T. Rex card)

SkyMaps (http://www.skymaps.com/downloads.html) Download a sky map for your hemisphere - updated monthly

Music Lab (http://www.sfskids.org/templates/musiclab.asp?pageid=4) Teaches music concepts and orchestral instruments

NOVA (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/) The website for the PBS program - offers clips and some full programs

For Halloween, check out this site:
Haunted Paper Toys (http://ravensblight.com/papertoys.html)

[WishboneDawn]

I like the Halloween site! It reminded me of this one, Canon 3D Papercraft (http://cp.c-ij.com/english/3D-papercraft/).

And I knew I'd need this thread...My daughter wants to learn to read music so that music lab site is about to get a workout. And the creation myth site...cool.

Oh, and for links to children's freeware there's Humpherlinks (http://www.humpherlinks.co.uk/)

[Jennie]

Cool stuff! My daughter's kindergarten doesn't really do math, and while they're going to do all sorts of stuff for her reading because she comprehends at the late second/early third grade level, there's no interest in doing more than exposing her to "math concepts" basically blocks and stuff.

[WishboneDawn]

i'll keep posting stuff as I find it Jennie. I guess those of you who aren't homeschooling will still find this thread a good resource, eh?

BBC History for Kids (http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/forkids/index.shtml)

Junior Mechanicals science products (http://www.mechanicals.co.uk/mechanicals/pages/products.htm)

I Know that online activities (http://www.iknowthat.com/com)

Science freeware from nasa (http://pcsinspace.hst.nasa.gov/spaces.htm)

Drawing lessons for kids (http://www.kinderart.com/drawing/)

Exploratorium Online Science Activities (http://www.exploratorium.edu/explore/online.html)

More paper models (http://www.ss42.com/pt-buildings.html)

Whoo! I'll add more later.

[reddhedd]

I like Math U See; first one my kids all can grasp easily, and promotes independent work.
For a total curriculum , I'd go with Curriculum Services.
I love Suite 101, an online learning site for all ages. They have a good study guide for Phantom Tollbooth....

[Isolde]

I love the papercraft sites, mostly for the wow factor. I can't imagine actually being able to make most of those things!

Here's a few more sites we like...

Ian's Shoelace Site (http://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/index.htm) Many unusual ways to lace and tie your shoes

SET game (http://www.setgame.com/set/index.html) Play SET online (Puzzle Contest of the Day). You can also use the left-hand menu and play Quiddler or Xactika.

Disney Papercraft (http://www.disneyexperience.com/lvdlabs.html) The atom box is cute, although I also like the quarantine door hanger and Oogie Boogie's dice.

NASA's Space Place (http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/en/kids/projects.shtml) Projects for kids.

Squeakland (http://www.squeakland.org/)
Squeak Home page (http://www.squeak.org/) I've heard good things about using this software with kids, but I haven't had a chance to give it a try.

[Bright Life]

*Moving from TL to SL*

[WishboneDawn]

Here are some links that list secular resources...

Butch's Blog (http://www.angelfire.com/or/mtdewbydo/)

Doc's Sunrise Rants: Secular Curriculum Suppliers (http://intothesunrise.blogspot.com/2006/03/secular-curriculum-suppliers.html)

More of my links...

Pirate Crafts (http://familycrafts.about.com/od/piratecrafts1/)

Solar System Resources (http://www.kiddyhouse.com/Kids/space.html)

The Music Rack - Free sheet music downloads (http://www.sheetmusic1.com/music.rack.html)

Our favourite computer games have been the Zoombini series, Reader Rabbit, Jumpstart and Oregon Trail.

[WishboneDawn]

Oh! For Halloween, carve a pumkin online (http://www.cubpack81.com/images/carve_pumpkin.swf)!

[WishboneDawn]

I like Math U See; first one my kids all can grasp easily, and promotes independent work.
For a total curriculum , I'd go with Curriculum Services.
I love Suite 101, an online learning site for all ages. They have a good study guide for Phantom Tollbooth....

I always forget about suite 101...

[EverLastingGodStopper]

A local net-friend emailed me about the lack of secular homeschooling resources, this was my reply:
I ran a quick google search on secular homeschool and found this site:
http://www.secularhomeschool.net/

But I have an account on Atheist Parents.org and it turns out that they have
one whole forum section devoted to secular homeschooling:
http://www.atheistparents.org/forum/viewforum.php?f=34

A sticky thread at the top is a reference to this program, that can be
bought: http://www.deltaeducation.com/

[Steve Schlicht]

Let me get with my wife and see if she can offer you anything. I know that for five years she has accumulated quite a resource for our youngest son and it did wonders. He just started kindergarten this year and is well out in front.

We may have lost a lot in the storm, but we'll try to offer you something soon!

Steve

[ashideena]

This thread is lacking math. I shall remedy this terrible problem!

http://www.funbrain.com/
http://www.homeschoolmath.net/
http://mathforum.org/library/

[WishboneDawn]

Bless you. Now for some music...

Creating Music (http://www.creatingmusic.com/)

Kaboose (http://resources.kaboose.ca/games/music.html)

Music Notes (http://library.thinkquest.org/15413/)