There are so many free resources for homeschooling to get you out of the house with hands on learning. Here is a short list of some of the best free resources for your homeschooling journey.
(For a list of free curriculum, check out our Homeschooling Without Stress guide.)
The Public Library
This might seem obvious as a free resource for homeschooling, but the library has so much to offer your kids besides book borrowing. If you haven’t visited your library lately, here are a few things they offer besides books.
-Computers: Not only do they have free computer access, they also typically have paid versions of software that typically would require a fee or subscription. Some even offer free classes on using computers
-Community classes: they will vary in age and abilities, our local library has reading times, computer classes, yoga nights for families, and more
-Events: we have been to so many amazing events hosted by our local libraries. Some are geared around a holiday, some around the “made up” holidays (like Harry Potter Day, Star Wars Day, etc), and some are kick-off events for programs, like the summer reading program. We’ve been to escape rooms, ballet showcases, and more!
A lot of these free resources will help plan a great learning experience or even help you craft your homeschool lesson from what they offer.
Universities & Colleges
There are so many cool areas to explore at a university/college. You can usually schedule a tour or just show up and explore some of their resources, inner school university museums, gardens, exhibitions, and more. Plus, if you attend a play or concert you can typically get a better rate than a city or professional version (not free usually, but a good tip).
We recently toured a university library, attended a mini-class, and got to sign up for our own library card at that university. The kids loved seeing the campus as well. It was actually quite a fun adventure.
Local Groups
I am a part of several homeschool groups, many of which offer free activities and meet ups. Some also have a free and paid services and I sift through those options as well and tend to pick free events, then the inexpensive ones, don’t do memberships to co-ops, and will only spend money if the event is so extraordinary that we can’t miss it.
We meet up with groups at libraries, parks, nature centers (pic below), beaches, and more. I have not paid for a single co-op or membership fee in order to attend. Don’t think that they all cost money because they don’t.
I have found them through Facebook, use the search function and events tab to find these groups. Example: “Miami Homeschool…” and I see what comes up. You may need to alter your wording to find the best groups around you. I also have found a great group through Wild + Free, I don’t use the membership with them but still get to participate for free in events. We share many of these adventures on our Instagram, if you ever need recommendations definitely comment here or DM us there.
If you’re looking for resources for homeschooling, just know that they exist and are out there! Curriculum aside, this list will get you out the door and in many interactive situations for your kids. Need some support in this area? Check out our Stress Free Homeschooling Guide where we outline this all in complete detail.
What are some of your favorite resources to get you out the door and hands-on with your learning? Comment below, the more suggestions the merrier!