Just for Fun, Living Books, Math

The Arithmetic Fairy (Audio story)

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The Arithmetic Fairy by E. Nesbit (MP3 audiobook reading)

Today we have a DELIGHTFUL Audiobook reading of this  fairy tale written by English writer E. Nesbit (author of “The Railway Children”, “Five Childen and It”), which comes from her 1901 book “Nine Unlikely Tales for Children”.

Young Edwin is an English schoolboy who deplores his daily mathematics class assignment.  He wishes he could easily solve the problems he faces each day… and quite to his surprise, finds his wish is answered by the “Arithmetic Fairy”.  However, as he soon finds out, these correct answers come at a very frustrating – and hilarious – price.

This delightful story will appeal to any student who has struggled with math… or loves a good “fairy tale”. A great audiobook reading by Cori Samuels! (23 minutes)

To download this mp3 audio story, RIGHT CLICK HERE and “save link” to your computer. Mac users, press the “control” key, then click the link and save to your mac.
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Living Books, Sewing

The Mary Frances Sewing Book

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THE MARY FRANCES SEWING BOOK – Adventures Among the Thimble People by Jane Eayre Fryer (PDF ebook)

She’s BACK! This week we’re bringing back one of the most beloved & popular children’s book characters from the early 1900s — Jane Eayre Fryer’s delightfully imaginative and educational heroine, Mary Frances!

In this part “fairy tale” and part “instruction book” various sewing implements come to life for Mary Frances, and they teach her how to sew – beginning with outfitting a sewing basket, then learning 10 or so basic stitches, then progressing to a sampler, and then on to doll clothes. The wonderful illustrations sprinkled throughout the book are very reminiscent of the L. Frank Baum Oz series.

This fun book can be enjoyed just as a delightful fairy story, or you can use it as the basis of a hand-sewing curriculum. Don’t miss it!

To download this PDF ebook, RIGHT CLICK HERE and “save link” to your computer. Mac users, press the “control” key, then click the link and save to your mac.

Audio, History

The King of Ice

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The King of Ice

In the 1700s, one man claimed to have “invented” ice! What was the story behind this outlandish claim, and why did he make a fortune with a cargo of plain ordinary ice? Listen to this fascinating old time radio program and find out — great “living history for the ears”! (15 minute audio)

Here is your download link: The King of Ice

(To download these MP3 files, RIGHT click the links and “save as” to your computer. Mac users, press the “control” key then click the link and “save” to your mac.)

Spelling

Spell by Color

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The Spell By Color spelling course by Andrea Scurlock (for grades 3 and up) uses color-coding to reinforce organized instruction in the rules of spelling. The course is unique in that it actually teaches spelling rules clearly and explicitly to ensure that a child has the tools they need for figuring out how to spell any word, not just the ones they see on their spelling lists.

Andrea has made the complete first year of this 3 year course available as a freebie. “Year One” is geared toward 3rd grade but can be used with older children who either need extra practice or who have not yet use a rules-based spelling program. There are a total of 31 weeks in Spell By Color Year One, averaging 4 lessons per week. This leaves you a few weeks remaining in the school year to focus on age-appropriate sight words that don’t fit well into any spelling rule.

For more information, and the download link for the full “Year One” course, Click here!

Physics, Science, Video

Frostbite Theater

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Welcome to Frostbite Theater, a collection of Liquid Nitrogen Experiment videos + More Cool Stuff, produced by Jefferson Lab!

Have you ever wanted to play with liquid nitrogen, but didn’t happen to have any lying around the house? No problem! Since liquid nitrogen is a hazardous substance that should not be handled by homeschool students anyway, the folks at the Jefferson Lab did the experiments and filmed them for your viewing pleasure. Their website has over 30 “cool” videos to check out. They are fun to watch, are only a couple minutes each, and you’ll learn a lot in the process.

(There’s also a bonus collection of Static Electricity Experiments and Experiments that You Can Do at Home on this page!)

Click here to go to the videos!

Nature Studies

Wings, Stings & Leggy Things

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Here’s a very well done guide from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to all those common insects you find in your back yard, with lessons and activities for kids ages 7 – 10. Learn insect anatomy, solve puzzles, and much more. Lots of great pictures too.

To download this 24 page PDF activity & lesson guide, RIGHT CLICK HERE and “save link” to your computer. Mac users, press the “control” key, then click the link and save to your mac.

Math, Puzzles

Classic Cartoon Math Puzzles by Sam Loyd

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Here’s a link to over two dozen classic cartoon puzzles & brain-teasers, from a fellow named Samuel Loyd (January 31, 1841 – April 10, 1911), perhaps Americas greatest ever puzzle maker, who invented and refined thousands of puzzles in his lifetime.This batch of puzzles from the Math is Fun website includes Word puzzles, rebuses, tangrams and math puzzles for your enjoyment.

Once you go through these, you’ll also want to visit their other pages (menu is at the top of the linked page below) and check out their measuring puzzles, puzzle games, logic puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, numbering puzzles, card puzzles, Einstein puzzles, and more. It’s a great site for math fun!

Click here to go to the site!

Foreign Languages

Learn Greek Free!

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Learn Greek Free.com offers a complete 13 lesson video course (along with dozens of free downloadable handouts & review sheets) to enable students to read the New Testament in the original language. No other resources or books are required.

As explained by instructor D. Eric Williams:

“The method of instruction employed at LearnGreekFree.com is designed to begin the learning process as quickly as possible. The  lesson plan will enable you to read the New Testament Greek after a few hours of study. Rather than burden students with morphological technicalities right off the bat, the pupil will learn Greek grammar in the same way he learned his mother tongue; in context and as the need arises. In this fashion the learner is able to make quick progress and the learning of the Greek becomes a joy, not a burden.”

Click here to check it out!

Audio, History

The Story of Young Davy Crockett (audio)

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Young Davy Crockett (MP3 audio & PDF study guide) – Today’s resource is this excellent, quite moving half hour audio dramatization of the early life of the legendary frontier hero and teller of tall tales, Davy Crockett, and his experiences growing up on the American frontier. This dramatization of Crockett’s own remembrances of his early life on the frontier was adapted for radio by Earl Hamner, who later went on to create the TV program “The Waltons”. Great stuff!

Included with this mp3 audio is a short PDF “listening guide” to use for further discussion and study after listening to the audio. You’re welcome!

To Download “The Story of Young Davy Crockett” (MP3 audio, 6 megs / 26 minutes), RIGHT CLICK HERE and “save target” to your computer.

To Download the Listening Guide to “The Story of Young Davy Crockett” (PDF ebook, 2 pgs.)  RIGHT CLICK HERE and “save target” to your computer.

Lesson Plans

Quick & Easy Five Minute Lesson Plans

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EducationWorld.com has a great section of their website called “5 Minute Lesson Plans” – and that’s exactly what they are. Dozens and dozens of short, creative lessons in math, english, spelling, critical thinking, puzzles, measurement skills, and much more. Many of these include hands-on activities. This is a great page to bookmark and refer back to whenever you want to do some short activities to introduce new concepts, or review and reinforce your current studies.

Click here to go to the site!