I’ll be honest. I don’t see how we can keep this up-to-date or include everything. Still, why not include some neat, helpful free non-Lutheran resources? Together we can keep this vetted. Maybe? Hopefully?
Anything with an obvious cultural slant against Christianity will be excluded, although, certainly Khan Academy, etc., can probably be used to great effect with supervision. Likewise DuoLingo, which includes “her wife” and “his husband” in various languages.
Table of Contents
Unvettable lists & resources that still might interest you:
- Clickschooling: daily emails about all sorts of educational websites
- Ultimate list of free homeschool resources: big ol’ list of resources
- In Search of Free Books: need I say more?
- Common Sense Media: Age-Based Media Reviews for Families
- Smart Social: A place to look up slang, emojis, hashtags. I found it when looking up a video game to see whether it was age appropriate. As an example, it offers 100+ At-Home Educational Online Activities For Students.
Overarching Educational Tools
CoreKnowledge.org (which is not Common Core) is a knowledge-based schooling resource known for books like What Your Kindergartener Needs to Know. There’s a whole series like that, which are not free, and there are a lot of free resources on that website, too. It’s secular, but it’s knowledge-based approach makes it very useful.
Adult Resources
Funny Stuff
Bardcore: medieval inspired remakes of hot pop and rock songs
Free Homeschooling Articles
Free Training Videos for Adults
Free Video Series
These are not entirely vetted, but many of the topical and “how to” videos seem to be pretty safe.
- The Brain Scoop: Chicago’s Field Museum
- Science Max: A Canadian series that demonstrates large-scale experiments to demonstrate scientific principles.
- Smarter Every Day (A family favorite of ours)
- Smithsonian Channel
Free Website-Stuff (Games, Tips, etc.)
- Read Write Think offers parent afterschool resources here for grades K through 12.
Free Suggestions/Recommendations
- Math teachers may be interested in Jacobs’ Geometry, as a wonderful presentation of Euclidean geometry. Also Euclid’s Elements and Geometry: Euclid and Beyond. And, although he stopped after the first year, this website gives you a sense of direction as well as significant resources.
By Age
Preschool & Early Grades
Topical
- NASA offers a free “High Flyers Alphabet Activity Book” that will appeal to kids who like planes, balloons, etc.
- Super cute ABC video with lots of different jobs & services!
Websites
- ABC Mouse: So far so good. Let us know if you come across anything worth warning about.
- Starfall: So far so good. Let us know if you come across anything worth warning about.
By Grade
- A Complete Classical Christian School Reading List: Grades 1 to 8
- Summer Reading Lists from Memoria Press
- K-12 School Reading List
By Subject
Astronomy
- WikiSky.org: It’s like a Google Earth for the universe.
Civics
Coding
- Khan Academy (Although sometimes they slip non-Christian material in)
- Code.org
Bitsbox is also recommended, although that isn’t free. It sounds like Scratch has gone downhill.
Here is a list, A Beginner’s Guide to Coding and Programming, with some handy links.
Crafts/Design Projects
- Blocks/Legos (FWIW, you can buy separate parts & figures here)
- Lego building directions
- Rebrickable.com
- United States Map Digital Instructions (including capitals, state flowers & birds, etc.)
Finance & Economics
- Lessons for the Young Economist has been recommended but not screened. Geared for ages 13 and older.
- Economics for Beginners Series offers a free series of short introductory videos. It also includes information for how to order a free copy of Henry Hazlitt’s book, Economics in One Lesson. Although those resources are unvetted, Economics in One Lesson is a book used by Wittenberg Academy.
- NEFE High School Financial Planning Program
Fine Arts
Music
Music Appreciation
- A lesson on jazz
- The Top 100 Delightful Classical Music Pieces All Children Should Hear (Sorted by time period)
Music Performances to find on Youtube
- Carnival of the Animals by Saint-Saens
- Fur Elise on Two Pianos
- Peter and the Wolf by Prokofiev
- Swan Lake by Tchaikovsky
- The Nutcracker by Tchaikovsky
Music Theory
- MusicTheory.net: Free website (though you can purchase apps to support the site) for grades 1–12.
- G Major Music Theory: This is a mix of free and subscription resources, but freebies include some free music for piano and guitar, 19 downloadable workbooks, 31 sets of clash cards, contextual listening, harmonic dictation, and music humor.
Visual
Geography
- Exploring Antarctica: A one-hour documentary about the least-known continent in the world.
- Seterra: A website with lots of geography quizzes
- Western and Eastern European Capitals song
- Geo Quizzes
- World Geography Games
Handwriting
Calligraphy
- The Postman’s Knock: Video courses, practice drills, etc.
History
Podcast recommendations:
- Stuff You Missed in History Class
- BrainsOn
- Revolutions by Mike Duncan (though geared more toward adults)
- The History Guy
- Based on a True Story podcast
Drive Thru History videos
Languages Arts
Grammar
Some of these may be more geared toward college or adults, but you can pick and choose what is helpful.
- “Crash Course on Grammar, Common Usage and APA Style” by CSUF: 22 page online booklet
- Daily Grammar: a free, brief lesson with a brief assignment & answers included, available online, by email, and as either a physical or digital book.
- Grammar 101: Here’s a PDF brochure. Exercises are reserved for account holders, but there are a lot of basics covered.
- Lousy Writer: Lots of cheat sheets, which can be helpful in self-editing
- UNC Writing Center has a lot of free resources for both grammar and writing on their Tips and Tools page.
Languages Arts (General)
- Language Arts Lesson Plans
- Reading Eggs has free math resources for homeschooling here for grades K-6th.
Phonics
Languages
Multi-Language
- DuoLingo
- FSI Language Courses
- ielanguages.com
- Internet Polyglot
- Hello-World: World Languages for Children
Bilingual Bible Resources:
French
German
- DuoLingo (though it has references to same sex stuff)
- Learn German with Herr Antrim
- Sing Mit Mir Kinderlieder on YouTube
- Kinderlieder and Liederkiste on YouTube. You can also find episodes from Unser Sandmännchen on YouTube.
- Easy German on Youtube is geared more toward adults, but some of it is fine for kids.
- Sometimes libraries will have access to Kanopy Kids, Mango
- ANTON Montessori learning app has German
Greek
- Daily Dose of Greek on Youtube
- Bill Mounce has free resources, including power points
- B & H Academic has some free resources
Note: The Lutheran organization CCLE (Consortium for Classical Lutheran Education) offers a course on Greek each year on three levels: Greek I, Greek II, and Greek Readings. Also, Dr. James Voelz (long time Greek professor at Concordia, St. Louis) has his lections online if you’re looking to learn Koine! Here as an Apple podcast.
Latin
- Familiar Romana, which looks like an online companion to the immersion method of Lingua Latina
- (Also see our Compiled list of Latin resources)
Native American
- Talk Sauk: The traditional language of the Sac and Fox Nation of Oklahoma
Spanish
Math
- Two Views of Math, Three Kinds of Students: Great article
- Prodigygame.com
- Xtramath: The website is free. The app costs.
- Reading Eggs has free math resources for homeschooling here for grades K-6th.
Museums/ Online Exhibits
Historical
Music
- Seatup.com has a list of musical education resources
Science
- Deep Sea guide: Scroll down to see animals at various depths
- “Exploring Options for Virtual Dissections” article
- Periodical Table Song (Slow) and (Fast)
- Taking a Closer Look: Examining Light and Telescopes
- US Forest Service Learning for Kids
Spelling
- Spelling City
- Reading Eggs has free math resources for homeschooling here for grades K-6th.
Typing
- Dance Mat Typing (BBC resource best for ages 8-11)
- Typing.com
Vocation
Career Exploration
