high school
Time Team America
This is the companion site for the PBS series Time Team America. Time Team America shows archeologists on real digs in the US, and the website includes background information both about individual digs and the field of archeology more generally. In addition to the bckground information, complete episodes can be viewed for free at the pbs video portal here: http://www.pbs.org/video/program/1100231536/
Museum Kids: Just for Fun
From the Metropolitan Museum onf Art, here are eighteen interactive web games that teach about art, art theory and artists. Many cultures and time periods are represented. There are games for all ages, but if a game doesn't seem geared toward younger children, I'd recommend screening it first (for example, the one on Van Gogh's life includes mention of his mental trouble and suicide).
Spark Labs: How to make bio-plastic
From the Smithsonian Institution, here are instructions to make bio-degradable plastic with safe ingredients you're likely to have around the house. The pdf includes a brief history of plastic, and links to learn more.
Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History
Part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's website. Browse art by culture, region, thematic category and era. Includes background information and key events for each timeline. There are also thematic essays on a broad number of topics. The information here is written for adults, or perhaps high school students, but could be used a resource for gathering information for younger kids. A rich and extensive resource-- to give a better idea of the extent of the site, there are 92 links within the site related to Ancient Greece and 123 related to European Art in Renais
CK-12: Free, quality math and science curriculum
This site features textbooks in a flexible format called "Flexbooks" available for free download and printing. Most programs include a Teacher's Edition, workbooks, and other supplementary material, all for free. The topics at the moment include middle school and high school level math and science. The science is mainstream (evolution is included in Life Science and Biology programs). The Chemistry course includes labs. The math is fairly traditional and includes Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Probability & Statistics (AP), and Calculus (AB). Free S
Math Live, online animated math tutorials from LearnAlberta.CA
This free site features 23 different interactive tutorials on a range of math concepts. The focus is on understanding concepts, not drill. The tutorials are "taught" by friendly animated characters-- it's not as fun as Cyberchase, but it's not too dry either.
The topics covered are: decimals, fractions, basic geometry, plotting points on an XY coordinate system, and probability. If there's a topic that your child isn't getting or is resistant to being taught, this could be a helpful site.
Scholastic Lesson Plans: a searchable, free collection of plans and projects
Looking for ideas to support a new interest, or a whole unit study? There's lots to choose from here! There are hands-on science projects, multimedia-supported lessons, book club ideas... Most are designed for classroom use, but all the lessons I've looked at are very well-suited to homeschooling.
There is the most available for elementary students, but pre-k through 12th grade are represented. Interesting to just browse if you're feeling uninspired.
Illuminations: Resources for teaching math (interesting! free! K-12)
Illuminations is a website maintianed by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. The website has interactive math games that allow kids to explore math concepts or review math facts, without being tedious drills. A few favorites in our house:
Free, Creative Math Lesson Plans from the Math Project Journal
Includes lessons for Pre-algebra, Algebra, and Geometry. Some relate to popular culture, others mythology, all involve a hands-on component. Could be a way to add some fun or at least novelty to a topic review.
Virtual Age- Dating: a free interactive tool that explains "carbon" dating
Virtual age-dating is an interactive tool that describes how geologists and archeologists are able to determine the age of samples. Aimed at high school level and above, but an interested middle school level child could grasp the concepts introduced with help. Students should be familiar with the concept of ions , percentages and how to read data off a graph to do the exercise. FWIW, I think the scale of some of the graphs are poorly chosen, and make it difficult to be as precise as the exercise requires; a per