11/18/2017

39 FREE Social Studies Resources to Get Your Homeschooling Roling - Ihsaan Home Academy

 
Don't feel like buying textbooks at the moment because of a tight budget? Try these free and complete social science PDF textbooks. You can literally homeschool today on a on a low budget or even totally free if you prefer. I previously shared seventy free science resources, now check these thirty-nine social science resources out.



Note: Use any information you get from these resources with caution. Just because it's written doesn't mean it's true. Make your own research before use.
 (History, Geography, Anthropology, Economics, ...)
1st Grade (Grade 1)
Practice/Workbook
People and Places (PDF by Macmillan/McGraw Hill)
5 units, 68 pages
People and Places: Texas Edition (PDF by Macmillan/McGraw Hill)
5 units, 68 pages

2nd Grade (Grade 2)
Practice/Workbook
We Live Together (PDF by Macmillan/McGraw Hill)
5 units, 84 pages
We Live Together: Texas Edition (PDF by Macmillan/McGraw Hill)
5 units, 84 pages

3rd Grade (Grade 3)
Practice/Workbook
Our Communities (PDF by Macmillan/McGraw Hill)
5 units, 84 pages
Our Communities: Texas Edition (PDF by Macmillan/McGraw Hill)
5 units, 84 pages
4th Grade (Grade 4)
Practice/Workbook
Our Country's Regions (PDF by Macmillan/McGraw Hill)
6 units, 108 pages
Indiana (PDF by Macmillan/McGraw Hill)
5 units, 100 pages
Texas, Our Texas (PDF by Macmillan/McGraw Hill)
5 units, 100 pages

5th Grade (Grade 5)
Practice/Workbook
Our Nation (PDF by Macmillan/McGraw Hill)
9 units, 148 pages
Our Nation: Texas Edition (PDF by Macmillan/McGraw Hill)
9 units, 148 pages


6th Grade (Grade 6)
Practice/Workbook
Our World (PDF by Macmillan/McGraw Hill)
5 units, 140 pages

General Resources
1001 Inventions (Inventions made by Muslims that are not talked about in textbooks; PDF)
Social Studies (Grade 6 textbook, lots of PDF) 
History (Grade 7 textbook, PDF)  
The World and Its People (Grade 7 textbook, PDF) 
The Medieval World and Beyond (Grade 7 textbook, PDF)  
The USA Through Industrialism (Grade 8 textbook, PDF)  
Student's Friend World History & Geography 1 (PDF)
National Geography (History)
Atlas of the World (Intermediate Geography)
InfoPlease (History)
You don't have to follow the curriculums by the letter. You can use them as supplementary resources or develop your own using them as a guide. Stay tuned for the next free resources in my upcoming post in shaa Allah.

________________________
Umm Sumayyah is a mother of two and a former teacher who turned into a home educator after becoming a mother. She is also an editor and a researcher who loves collecting and sharing information on social matters, education, career, and entrepreneurship.

11/11/2017

70 FREE Science Curriculum Resources for Homeschooling - Ihsaan Home Academy

 
Homeschooling is much easier than it probably was decades ago. Now we have resources at the click of a button, Alhamdulillah. There are many paid curriculums out there; but did you know, there are also countless completely FREE resources! This is useful for educators who prefer to set up their own curriculum; like me. So, if you're looking for resources to set up your own curricula, then this post may be perfect for you! Now, let's start with seventy free science resources.

Note: Use any information you get from these resources with caution. Make your own research before use.

Kindergarten
Harcourt School Physical, Earth, and Life Science 
This an interactive way of learning science. It's full of activities and fun ways of learning. Children can hear, play while learning, and even print sometimes!

First Grade (Grade 1)
Textbooks
California Science: Interactive Text (PDF by Macmillan McGraw-Hill)
7 chapters divided into lessons. 108 pages!
HSP Kentucky Science (interactive online textbook by Harcourt School Publishers)

Activities & Workbooks
California Science: Activity Lab Book (PDF by Macmillan McGraw-Hill)
7 full chapter and 158 pages of activities!
California Science: Reading & Writing in Science (PDF by Macmillan McGraw-Hill)
7 chapters and 152 pages
Harcourt School Life, Earth, & Physical Science
It is very interactive and fun for kids while learning at the same time.
South Carolina Standard Test Preparation (PDF by Macmillan McGraw-Hill)
52 pages. You can use it as an extra activity booklet or test your children's comprehension (if you prefer that type of teaching)


Second Grade (Grade 2)
Textbooks
California Science: Interactive Text (PDF by Macmillan McGraw-Hill)
7 chapters and 144 pages
HSP Science (interactive online textbook)
3 units (A, B, & C), 322 pages

Activities/Workbooks 
California Science: Activity Lab Book (PDF by Macmillan McGraw-Hill)
7 chapters and 162 pages
California Science: Reading and Writing in Science (PDF by Macmillan McGraw-Hill)
7 chapters divided into lessons, 156 pages
Harcourt School Life, Earth, & Physical Science 
Very interactive and fun for kids while learning at the same time.
South Carolina Standard Test Preparation
54 pages. You can use it as an extra activity booklet or test your children's comprehension (if you prefer that type of teaching)

Third Grade (Grade 3)
Textbook
California Science: Interactive Text (PDF by Macmillan McGraw-Hill)
8 chapters divided into lessons. 200 pages.

Activities/Workbooks 
Harcourt School Life, Earth, & Physical Science
Very interactive and fun for kids while learning at the same time.
California Science: Activity Lab Book (PDF by Macmillan McGraw-Hill)
8 chapters and 220 pages
California Science: Reading and Writing in Science (PDF by Macmillan McGraw-Hill)
8 chapters divided into lessons, 176 pages
South Carolina Standard Test Preparation
72 pages. You can use it as an extra activity booklet or test your children's comprehension (if you prefer that type of teaching)


Fourth Grade (Grade 4)
Textbook 
California Science: Interactive Text (PDF by Macmillan McGraw-Hill)
7 chapters divided into lessons. 168 pages.

Activities/Workbooks 
Harcourt School Life, Earth, & Physical Science
Very interactive and fun for kids while learning at the same time.
California Science: Activity Lab Book (PDF by Macmillan McGraw-Hill)
7 chapters and 211 pages
California Science: Reading and Writing in Science (PDF by Macmillan McGraw-Hill)
7 chapters divided into lessons, 160 pages
South Carolina Standard Test Preparation
73 pages. You can use it as an extra activity booklet or test your children's comprehension (if you prefer that type of teaching)

Fifth Grade (Grade 5)
Textbook 
California Science: Interactive Text (PDF by Macmillan McGraw-Hill)
8 chapters divided into lessons. 208 pages.

Activities/Workbooks 
Harcourt School Life, Earth, & Physical Science
Very interactive and fun for kids while learning at the same time.
California Science: Activity Lab Book (PDF by Macmillan McGraw-Hill)
8 chapters and 255 pages
California Science: Reading and Writing in Science (PDF by Macmillan McGraw-Hill)
8 chapters divided into lessons, 198 pages
South Carolina Standard Test Preparation
73 pages. You can use it as an extra activity booklet or test your children's comprehension (if you prefer that type of teaching)

Sixth Grade (Grade 6)
Textbooks
California Earth Science: Interactive Text (PDF by Macmillan McGraw-Hill)
7 chapters divided into lessons. 232 pages.
CPO Focus on Earth Science
16 chapters and 391 pages

Activities/Workbooks 
Harcourt School Life, Earth, & Physical Science
16 chapters, 6 units (A-F)
California Earth Science: Activity Lab Book (PDF by Macmillan McGraw-Hill)
7 chapters and 278 pages
California Science: Reading and Writing in Science (PDF by Macmillan McGraw-Hill)
7 chapters divided into lessons, 176 pages
Tennessee State Standard Test Prep
85 pages


Seventh Grade (Grade 7)
Textbook 
Dr. Wood (PDF)
4 units (A-D) and 12 chapters

Eighth Grade (Grade 8)
Textbook 
CPO Focus on Physical Science
17 chapters and 395 pages

Other Resources
Natural Science and Technology (Grades 4-6)
CPO Focus on Life Science (PDF)
K-8 Science
Life Science (PDF, student edition)
Physical Science (PDF, interactive reader)
List of Free Science Texts 
Holt Chemistry (PDF)
Middle School Chemistry
Khan Academy Chemistry
Khan Academy Organic Chemistry 
Chem4Kids (Chemistry for Kids)
George Public Broadcasting Chemistry 
GPBC Chemistry Matters
Virtual Chemistry Lab
Khan Academy Biology
Kids Biology
Biology4Kids
Online Biology Book 
List of Biology Texts
Khan Academy Cosmology and Astronomy
Health and Medicine
Glencoe Chemistry (PDF)
Glencoe Chemistry Lab (PDF)
Physics Textbook (PDF)
Physics and Chemistry Worksheets 
Physics Quizzes, Games, etc 
Khan Academy Physics
More Physics Worksheets 
Kid's Science 
*K-12 Animated Science Storybooks  
Science for kids (PDF)
Next Generation Science Standards (PDF, K-12 Integrating Science, Math, and Technology)
Standard Science Curriculum (PDF, K-12)
More Science Resources

I hope this list will be of help to you. Share it with those you know are homeschooling as well.
Have fun!

________________________
Umm Sumayyah is a mother of two and a former teacher who turned into a home educator after becoming a mother. She is also an editor and a researcher who loves collecting and sharing information on social matters, education, career, and entrepreneurship.

11/04/2017

8 Common Baby Items that Are a Waste of Your Money

 
Becoming a parent is fun and one of the biggest blessings in life despite its challenges. One of the most fun parts of it is preparing to welcome the new cutie pie at home. You know what I'm talking about; you guessed it right... shopping! I'm obviously talking about shopping for baby items. Not everyone finds shopping in general fun; myself included. But there's only one problem; parents can easily get carried away by buying unnecessary baby items without even realizing it. Shopping for newborn products shouldn't have to be complicated or expensive. Babies really don't need as much as most people think they do. Here are eight items that I've listed as some of the common baby items that parents waste their money on.

Baby Food Processor
I have no idea why some people think having a special baby food processor would make the food blend any better than an average blender. Oh... oh; I think I'm talking about myself too. I made this mistake with my first child. I got this cute food processor that I thought I definitely needed for my baby, even though I had one already! Well, better learn late than never. At least now I can help someone else save.

Fancy Changing Table
I'm glad I didn't make this mistake; I knew it would have been a waste of money and space for me. It can turn out useful for some parents because everyone has a different lifestyle, but I don't think it's crucial for the average parent. You can simply use one of your tables, put a baby changing sheet on it, and there ya go! Just make sure you're there to watch your baby; you wouldn't want him/her to fall. Anyway, that applies to even a fancy changing table. If you use baby travel cots, most come with a changing area!

Diaper/Nappy Rash Creams
Why on earth are some of the diaper rash creams full of harmful chemicals soooo expensive these days? For one, they are harmful; two, a complete waste of money. Just use organic extra virgin coconut oil and you'd be AMAZED at how much better it would heal the rash. And... it's completely natural and inexpensive. I call that a win-win situation. I must mention though, make sure to check for allergic reaction by testing a little on a less sensitive area. Another effective and inexpensive natural product I always use is unrefined Shea Butter. Both products are solid at room temperature, but Shea Butter is much harder and only melts in semi-high heat. To make Shea Butter easier to use, you can whip it with an electric mixture. The extra plus side: you can use these products for personal use and in all skin and hair products! Again; win-win!

Baby Shampoos
I don't get the point of this one. Yea, they may smell good, but so do many soaps. You can just use your usual soap or buy an inexpensive soap that smells yummy. I personally use African Black Soap for my whole family. It's great for smoothing skin, pimples, large pores, and even blemishes. It has a natural odor, but I'm more than okay with that. It works for us, so everyone uses it; no special separate soap. If the soap you use is good for you, then it should also be good enough for your baby (usually). If that doesn't satisfy you, then buy the best liquid soap you can find and add some drops of your favorite baby-friendly essential oils in it. Problem solved.



Newborn Clothes
Babies grow so rapidly that there's no point on buying newborn baby clothes, unless of course your baby is extra small or was born prematurely. 0-3 months clothes should be good enough. Your baby will have time to grow a bit in the same clothes, and you save money. Say it with me... win-win! Okay, I'll stop with the win-wins. Moving on...
New Born Shoes
Same as the above; babies grow very fast. Save that extra money for something else. They can't even stand up at this age. No need to be in a rush; the time will come (if applicable) in shaa Allah.

Breastfeeding Pillows
When I became a new mom, I just 'knew' I had to get a breastfeeding pillow because of back pain while feeding. I later didn't see the point after using the normal pillows that we already had. I was amazed at how much better the simple pillows worked. I guess sometimes it's all about the hype. Oh well, you live and learn.

Baby Towers
Unless you just want to, you really don't need any special towers for your baby. If you have extra pillows at home, wash well and use them for your baby. It's not such a big deal.

Not everyone will agree with this list because what's important for one person may not be for another. I'm just sharing this because some new mothers actually believe they HAVE to purchase certain items because everyone else seems to be doing just that. I personally dislike spending unless I find something really useful. I usually buy things that will benefit me and last me longer. I've been asked before by a new mother for the list of baby items she should get. Honestly, as long as you have the bare minimum, everything else is simply a want.

Welcome to motherhood. Wish you all the best!

Disclaimer: None of what I've shared is meant to diagnose or treat any illness/disease. These are only my personal opinions and research. Please always make your own research before taking any advice/opinions.

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