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Learning for Free or Next to Nothing!
LIFE believes that me of the best learning is absolutely free, or at least pretty darn cheap. Organizations all over the country, and many across the world, are going to great lengths to provide resources and information to educators and students. You may need a school letterhead to make some of your requests, but all of these resources are yours for the asking.
You can keep up with new offers at the website: Teacher Freebies - Perfecting the Art of Frugality - http://almoststealing.com/teach.html
Videos
Blockbuster Video http://www.blockbuster.com/ stores nationwide offer free rentals of community service videos. Topics range from nutrition and gun violence to AIDS and fire safety
Video Placements Worldwide, at http://www.vpw.com/educational/ , is a free educational video distribution center. You need to register and identify what type of teacher you are – home education is not there, but 4H is and so are other types of youth leaders. To review all VPW titles, register with the VPW Classroom Information Network and order on-line, log onto www.vpw.com. Or you may request a catalog and registration form by writing on school letterhead to Video Placement Worldwide, 25 Second Street North, Ste. 120, St. Petersburg, FL 33701 or sending a toll-free fax to 1-800-358-5218.
Posters and Publications
The Smithsonian, http://www.si.edu/sites/publica/pubfree.htm , “Sometimes after we have closed an exhibition, we discover that we have an excess of publications that need a new home. For the first time we are offering these publications on a first come, first serve basis. The publications are FREE but you will be billed for shipping costs. When possible, links have been included to sections on our website that contain additional information. “
Free Stuff for Teachers at http://www.kalama.com/~zimba/freeforteachers.htm
The National Geographic Society provides teaching kits, posters, and classrooms guides. Contact NGS, Educational Services, Dept. 90, 1145 17th St., N.W., Washington, DC 20036
Maps
"What Do Maps Show" teaches students how to use maps. Designed for grades 4-8, the packet is available from the U.S. Geological Survey, Earth Science Information Center, US 507 Mail Stop, Reston, VA 22092.
Tax Education Materials
The IRS provides high schools with tax-education materials like videos and software that walk students through completing tax forms. Call your local IRS office. Ask for the Taxpayer Education Department and refer to Form 1742.
Computer Resources & Technology
Journey Inside: The Computer Kit from Intel includes a model of a personal computer, transparencies, and supplies like wires and switches for hands-on experiments. Free to science, math, or computer teachers who teach students in grades 5-9. Contact Intel Corporation, 2200 Mission College Blvd., Santa Clara, CA 95052, 800/346-3029, ext. 143, or visit the Web site: http://www.intel.com/education/journey/
Microsoft K-12 Technology Connection Newsletter provides articles on networking, Internet tools, and technology troubleshooting. Also available in a higher education version. Subscribe via E-mail at http://www.microsoft.com/education
Create a home page for your school on the World Wide Web-Microsoft and MCI will help, through their Schools on the Web project. Your school must have an Internet connection and an E-mail account. Visit to learn more, or send E-mail to
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To help teachers and students learn the technology associated with calculators and programming devices, Texas Instruments offers free newsletters. There's also a toll-free line to help educators with technology questions. Texas Instruments, P.O. Box 6118, Temple, TX 76503-6118, 800/TICARES.Understanding the United Nations
The United Nations offers a kit that details the inner workings of the UN-and describes how to get other educational materials on world issues. Send a postcard to United Nations Public Inquiries Unit, Room GA-57, United Nations, New York, NY 10017.Space Age Learning
NASA's Central Operation of Resources for Educators (CORE) was established for the national and international distribution of NASA-produced audio-visual education materials. Catalogs are available at http://core.nasa.gov .
The Viking 20th Anniversary Education CD-Rom is available from the Center for Mars Exploration. Send a letter explaining how the CD would be used in the classroom and specify Mac or Windows format. Center for Mars Exploration, Mail Stop 245-1, Moffett Field, CA 94035-1000, 415/604-4217. Send E-mail to
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Grants and Funding
The Foundation Center home page on the Internet is packed with information on foundation and corporate grant makers. Also included are listings of publications and training opportunities for novice grant seekers. Write to the Foundation Center at 79 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10003-3076, 212/620-4230.Health and Fitness
Booklets on health topics, including asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, tuberculosis, stress, and nutrition & fitness are available free from the Will Rogers Institute, 1640 Marengo Street, Suite 406, Los Angeles, Calif., 90033. 1-888-994-3863.
“Triggering Positive Health Choices," a free videotape and teacher's guide to help kids learn about peer pressure and decision-making, is available from Met Life, Health and Safety Education, One Madison Ave., New York, NY 10010-3690.
Writing
"Collecting Their Thoughts: Using Museums As Sources for Student Writing" suggests ways teachers can use museums to teach writing in grades 6-12. This guide provides background essays, lesson plans, handouts, and student writing samples. Contact Smithsonian Institution, OESE, Arts and Industries Bldg., Room 1163, MRC 402, Washington, DC 20560, 202/357-2425.
The National Museum of Natural History's teaching packet for anthropology includes suggestions for in-class and field activities such as mother-infant observation and exploring historic cemeteries. Contact Anthropology Outreach and Public Information Office, National Museum of Natural History, Room 363, MRC 112, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20560, 202/357-1300.
The National Postal Museum offers a postal pack for elementary and middle school students. It includes illustrated activity sheets that promote letter writing and details on stamps and historic letters. Contact the National Postal Museum, Education Department, 2 Massachusetts Ave., Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20560-0001.
For tips on starting newspapers for students in grades 1-6, contact the National Elementary Schools Press Association, Mark Levin, Carolina Day School, 1345 Hendersonville Rd., Asheville, NC 28803, 704/274-0758, ext. 397.
Science
The Edison Teaching Kit contains eight how-to booklets based on the experiments of Thomas Edison and other scientists. Designed for junior high students, each hands-on experiment includes simple directions and requires inexpensive materials. Contact the Charles Edison Fund, 101 South Harrison St., East Orange, NJ 07018. Include $1 for postage/handling.
For a free guide on forming a student earth/animal protection club in your school, along with a sample copy of the student newsletter KIND (Kids in Nature's Defense) News, contact NAHEE, Dept. FF, P.O. Box 362, East Haddam, CT 06423 or visit the website at http://www.kindnews.org/
Plants, seeds, and tools are available to schools with a gardening program through the National Gardening Association. For an application, send your name, school address, and phone number to the association at Youth Garden Grants, 180 Flynn Ave., Burlington, VT 05401 or call 800/538-7476.
Books
Many book publishers provide book samples -- often from publisher overruns and returns -- to economically disadvantaged schools. Check your library for a directory of book publishers. Then write to local book publishers on school letterhead requesting information on book donation programs.
The Children's Book Council offers 75 Authors & Illustrators Kids Should Know and 13 Exciting Reading Activities for Children. Send a self-addressed, stamped envelope (6" x 9") to The Children's Book Council, 568 Broadway, Suite 404, New York, NY 10012, 212/966-1990.
INSIGHTS is a non-profit South Carolina organization that, somehow or other, via some obscure S.C. legislation, offers free text books to homeschoolers. There are shipping and handling charges, and a minimum donation of $1 a book is requested, if possible, to help defray administrative costs. But these are hefty, serious, big time educational materials there for the taking. Check out the organization at http://www.emcd.net/insights/
Geography and Social Studies
High school students can "tour" France on the Web . Pointers with practical information, language tips, hyperlinks to popular French attractions, even information on politics and sports are available-all in French. For those more comfortable with English, this site also links to "Tennessee Bob's Famous French Links," a site whose extensive offerings include Paris subway maps.
Miscellaneous
For a package of assorted stickers and a catalog of other materials, write to Stickers-N-Stuff, P.O. Box 430, Louisville, CO 80027. Enclose $1 for shipping and handling.
Chess for Youth, a package of chess sets and boards to help school chess programs get started, is available from the U.S. Chess Federation at 3054 N.Y.S. Route 9W, New Windsor, NY 12553, 914/562-8350.
Many local public television stations offer free education services to educators, including a National Teacher Training Institute. Station trainers help teachers and media specialists integrate quality television and other technologies into the curriculum. To learn more, visit PBS on the Web or contact PBS at 1330 Braddock Pl., Alexandria, VA 22314, 703/739-5000.
Free and Almost Free Things for Teachers by Susan Osborn lists more than 250 educational resources. $8.95 from Putnam Publishing Group, 200 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10016.
Unbelievably Good Deals That You Absolutely Can't Get Unless You're a Teacher by Barry Harrington and Beth Christensen-enough said. $12.95 from Contemporary Books, Inc., Two Prudential Plaza, Chicago, IL, 60601-6970.
Free Stuff for Kids lists hundreds of free and up-to-a-dollar stickers, supplies, stencils, rubber stamps, activity and coloring books. $5, plus $2 postage and handling. Call 800/338-2232.
Freebies Magazine features yet even more free offers. Five issues for $4.95/year. Freebies Magazine/ Teacher Offer, 1135 Eugenia Pl., Carpinteria, CA 93013.
Elementary Teachers Guide to Free Curriculum Materials lists teaching kits, booklets, and other curriculum aides by subject. Contact Educators Progress Service, 214 Center St., Randolph, WI 53956.
Don’t forget the Consumer Information Center: http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/
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Family Directed Learning 
