Free Resources for Homeschools and Teachers

Many Homeschoolers are trying to teach their children on a tight budget. It can sometimes be difficult to find teacher freebies that homeschools can also take advantage of. The free stuff in this article is for both traditional teachers and homeschool teachers! Some freebies specifically include homeschool teachers, most do not. Unless a free offer specifically excludes homeschools, then you should be able to order.

This list of free stuff for teachers (traditional, private, homeschool) contains hard to find free offers. I did not include those that are easily found when doing a google search. I also only listed offers that provide hard copies of materials, meaning through the mail not downloading. Many of these offers have downloadable items as well, but each also has hard copies available. Most likely most of you are not aware of many of these offers. It took a lot of time to research these offers, make sure each one is valid, and to write this report. Please do not take this list and post it elsewhere. Feel free to link to this article though!

Some tips on making the most of free offers:

First, you need to name your homeschool. Get creative with this, and include your children's ideas. For example, my homeschool is called Open Home School Academy, or OHS Academy for short. A name that does not announce your school as a homeschool would be most beneficial.

Next, design a letterhead for your school. Several computer programs make this easy, such as Microsoft Works, OpenOffice, and others. A nice design, your school name, and contact information will do. Some offers require you to send your request on school letterhead, so I suggest you make it look professional by using a heavier weight paper if you can.

Those of you who live in a house shouldn't have any problems when asked for address. Apartment or townhouse dwellers can give their apartment number by using Ste. Or Suite. For example: Rosa Parks Primary School, 1678 Anywhere Street Ste.8, Olympia, WA 98502.

I believe that homeschool teachers are just as valuable, valid, and legitimate as traditional school teachers. I do not consider it dishonest to name my school, list suite instead of apartment, or make a letterhead in order to qualify for items given for free to teachers. Although our tax dollars support public education and tuition dollars support private school, there is no funding for homeschools. Families who homeschool must finance the entirety of their children's education.

Women in Science, Disabled Women in Science- DVD's, VHS, Poster

http://science.education.nih.gov/women/index.html

Disaster Action Kids-Posters, activity books, comic book, coloring books, Hurricane Tracking Map. Some items can be ordered online, some must be requested via mail.

http://www.fema.gov/kids/freebie.htm

USGS-Booklets about fossils and dinosaurs. Must be ordered by mail.

http://geology.er.usgs.gov/eastern/fossils.html

Environmental Protection Agency-Various booklets, posters, comics about a variety of environmental issues.

http://www.epa.gov/region5/enved/orderpublications.html

EF (site about studying abroad)-posters, mouse pad, pens, world maps, brochures, DVD

http://www.ef.com/master/tl/materials/

National Institute of General and Medical Sciences- Booklets and brochures on a number of science topics.

http://publications.nigms.nih.gov/order/classroom.htm

Federal Reserve- Comics about finances, banking, saving, etc. (has secure checkout but there will be no charge, and they don't ask for your credit card.)

http://www.newyorkfed.org/publications/result.cfm?comics=1

California Dept. of Water Resources- Student Workbooks, Teachers Guides, Stickers, flannel board stories, posters. Teachers outside California have limits on number of each item ordered. California teachers are eligible for extra materials. (This one has lots of great free resources!)

http://www.publicaffairs.water.ca.gov/education/orderform.cfm

PG&E- Various energy related materials. Free for schools in PG&E territories only. (Does not mention homeschool teachers, but doesn't exclude them so it is worth trying)

http://www.pge.com/education_training/energenius/how_to_order/index.html

United Nations- Materials about the U.N. Must be ordered by mail.

http://www.un.org/geninfo/faq/teacherskit/teacherkit.htm

Pizza Hut Book-It program- Students earn rewards when they read! Available to Homeschoolers too!!

http://www.bookitprogram.com/default.asp

Washington Potatoes- spud tattoos

http://potatoes.com/educational-hardcopy.cfm

U.S. Fire Administration- Wide variety of materials. Posters, DVD's, VHS, CD-Roms, audiocasettes, booklets, Sesame Street , en espanol materials.

http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/applications/publications/

Homeschool Enrichment Magazine- Free copy of magazine

http://homeschoolenrichment.com/magazine/request-sample-issue.html

United States Bands- Free CD's and tapes from U.S. Government bands (Navy, Army, Etc.) Must order by mail.

http://bandtek.com/free-cds/

Building Blocks for a healthy future- Books, CD, other. Some out of stock, but sign up for the newsletter for stock updates.

https://store.health.org/buildingblocks/default.aspx

Colgate- Bright Smiles Program. Free toothbrush, lesson materials.

http://www.colgate.com/app/BrightSmilesBrightFutures/US/EN/Login/Teachers.srv

American Foundation for the Blind- Free Braille Alphabet Card

http://www.afb.org/braillebug/Braille.asp

LaSalle- Back to School Care Kit includes baseball cap, mousepad, pens, pencils, highlighters, paper cubes.

http://www.lasallepromotions.com/

IMSA- Science is fun and shocking magnatism DVD. Not sure if they will ship to Homeschools. I haven't tried yet.

http://www.imsa.edu/programs/kidsinstitute/wheels/RequestDVD.php

Consumer Aerosol Products- It's Ok to spray teachers kit and DVD

http://www.nocfcs.org/scc/kitrequest.asp

USPS- Free kit for teachers to teach how the post office works. Includes video, mail satchel, cardboard sorter, other misc. materials. Not sure about Homeschool policy-no need to mention your school is a homeschool. Order by phone: 1-888-332-0317. Request WEE Deliver.

Horsefacts.org- Horse posters, bookmark, trading card.

https://secure5.webfirst.com/fbresearch.org/HorseFacts/OrderFormS.htm

Arbor Day- Posters, brochures

http://www.arborday.org/shopping/Merchandise/merchlist.cfm?BR=1&Categories=8

Save our History- Teachers manuals on Historical subjects

http://www.history.com/classroom/flag_form.html

NICHD- Many health/nutrition subjects. Posters, booklets, brochures. Also in Spanish.

http://www.nichd.nih.gov/publications/pubskey.cfm

EPA- Planet Protector. Activity booklet, badge, certificates.

http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/osw/kids/ppcform.htm