Homeschooling offers incredible freedom to explore subjects both within and beyond traditional curriculum boundaries. The good news? You don’t need to spend a fortune to provide an enriching education for your children. While there are plenty of great paid resources available, the wealth of free tools can create a superb learning experience without straining your budget.
Whether you’re just starting your homeschool journey or looking to enhance your established routine, you’ll find something valuable here, all without spending a dime.
And we’re really going off the beaten track for some of these. From Khan Academy to country music, here we go.
Core Academic Resources
1. Khan Academy
While it’s well-known, Khan Academy remains one of the most comprehensive free educational platforms, offering courses in math, science, computing, history, art, economics, and more with interactive exercises and instructional videos. The platform’s adaptive technology adjusts to each student’s learning pace, making it ideal for personalized education at home.
2. Freedom Homeschooling
Freedom Homeschooling offers an extensive collection of free curriculum materials spanning all academic subjects. Parents can maximize this resource by first exploring the subject-specific directories to identify complete programs that match their teaching style, then supplementing with individual resources to create a customized curriculum that addresses their child’s specific learning needs and interests.
3. Easy Peasy All-in-One Homeschool
Easy Peasy All-in-One Homeschool provides a complete, structured curriculum for K-12 students with daily lessons in all core subjects. To get the most from this platform, parents should start with the placement tests to determine the appropriate level for their child, follow the day-by-day schedule for consistency, and utilize the parent resources for guidance while allowing flexibility to adapt the pace when necessary.
4. Ambleside Online
Ambleside Online delivers a comprehensive Charlotte Mason-inspired curriculum with literature-rich resources and detailed weekly schedules. Parents will benefit most by first familiarizing themselves with Charlotte Mason’s educational philosophy, then using the resource lists to obtain books in advance (many available free online), and implementing the nature study and habit training components that distinguish this approach.
5. CK-12
CK-12 focuses on science and math with interactive digital textbooks, videos, and practice exercises. Parents can enhance their use of this platform by creating free accounts to track their child’s progress, utilizing the FlexBooks feature to customize learning materials, and supplementing the digital resources with the hands-on activities suggested in many lessons to reinforce concepts through experiential learning.
Science Resources
6. Guest Hollow’s Biology
Guest Hollow’s Biology offers a free, comprehensive biology textbook complemented by labs, worksheets, and supplemental resources. Parents can maximize this curriculum by following the weekly schedule, incorporating the suggested experiments (adaptable for different budgets), and using the discussion questions to assess comprehension and critical thinking rather than relying solely on worksheets and tests.
7. The Physics Classroom
The Physics Classroom provides a complete online physics course with tutorials, interactive simulations, and practice problems. To best utilize this resource, parents should begin with the concept builders to establish foundational understanding, use the multimedia animations to visualize abstract concepts, and regularly incorporate the practice review questions to assess knowledge before advancing to new topics.
8. TED-Ed Periodic Table
TED-Ed Periodic Table features engaging video lessons about every element, making chemistry accessible and fascinating. Parents can enhance this resource by creating a schedule to explore elements systematically, pairing videos with hands-on demonstrations where safe and practical, and encouraging children to research real-world applications of various elements to connect learning to everyday life.
9. National Eye Institute for Kids
Here’s one to keep an eye out for! Ha ha! Ha . . . no? Ahem, anyway . . .
National Eye Institute for Kids delivers interactive scientific resources about vision and eye anatomy through games and activities. Parents can maximize this specialized science resource by incorporating it into larger units on human biology, using the printable materials for hands-on learning, and connecting the content to regular discussions about eye health and safety practices.
10. HHMI BioInteractive
The Howard Hughes Medical Institute offers an outstanding collection of completely free biology resources including short films, interactive activities, virtual labs, and data analysis exercises. Created by scientists, artists, and education experts, these high-quality materials cover key topics like evolution, genetics, and ecology through engaging multimedia presentations that bring scientific concepts to life. This resource is best for older students.
11. NASA STEM Engagement
NASA provides an extensive collection of free educational resources connecting students to space exploration, earth science, and engineering. Their site includes lesson plans, interactive activities, videos, and virtual experiences suitable for K-12 students. Parents can leverage these materials to inspire interest in astronomy, physics, and other STEM fields through the lens of NASA’s exciting missions and discoveries.
12. Open Stax Free Textbooks
Operated by Rice University, Open Stax offers free high school and college-level digital textbooks, particularly valuable for advanced science subjects. Parents can request teacher resources by providing proof of homeschooling, making this an excellent resource for upper-level courses that require more rigorous academic materials.
13. PhET Interactive Simulations
The University of Colorado Boulder offers free interactive science and math simulations that allow students to experiment with concepts in physics, chemistry, biology, and more. These visual, interactive tools help make abstract scientific concepts concrete and understandable, supporting different learning styles through virtual experimentation.
Technology and Coding
14. Code.org
Code.org offers structured programming courses for all ages with interactive, game-like lessons. Parents can optimize this resource by establishing regular coding sessions in their weekly schedule, starting with the Hour of Code activities for beginners, and encouraging children to complete projects they can share with family members to demonstrate their new skills.
15. Scratch
Scratch provides a visual programming platform where children can create games, animations, and interactive stories. To get the most from this tool, parents should begin with the tutorial projects, then encourage experimentation with increasingly complex elements, and utilize the online community (with appropriate supervision) for inspiration and feedback on their child’s creations.
16. freeCodeCamp
freeCodeCamp delivers comprehensive coding education with practical projects and certifications. Parents can help older students navigate this resource by setting specific goals (like completing one certification path), creating a consistent study schedule, and encouraging participation in coding challenges to apply new skills in varied contexts.
17. CodeSpark Academy
CodeSpark Academy introduces young children (ages 5-9) to programming concepts through playful activities. Parents can enhance this resource by limiting screen time while still maintaining regular practice, discussing the problem-solving strategies being used, and helping children make connections between the coding concepts and everyday logical thinking.
18. W3Schools
W3Schools delivers free tutorials covering all aspects of web development and programming. Parents can help older students leverage this resource by setting specific project goals (like creating a personal website), following the tutorials in a logical sequence to build knowledge progressively, and encouraging real-world application of skills through volunteer opportunities designing websites for family or community organizations.
Arts and Creativity
19. The Kennedy Center Resources
The Kennedy Center Resources provides extensive performing arts educational materials across multiple disciplines. Parents can best utilize this treasure trove by selecting resources that complement their current studies in other subjects, incorporating the lesson plans into weekly arts education, and using the performance videos as examples of artistic expression and technique.
20. Drama Notebook
Drama Notebook offers free plays and teaching resources for theatrical education. To maximize this resource, parents should start with simple activities to build confidence, gradually introduce script reading and character development, and organize small performances for family members to give children authentic audience experiences while developing public speaking skills.
21. Freedom Homeschooling Art Curriculum
A resource so nice, it made the list twice. Freedom Homeschooling Art Curriculum compiles comprehensive free art education resources organized by topic and approach. Parents will get the most value by first determining their preferred art education philosophy (technique-focused or exploration-based), gathering basic supplies in advance, and establishing a regular “art day” in their schedule to ensure consistent creative development.
22. Creative Drama Lesson Plans
Creative Drama Lesson Plans features tested drama activities and lessons for various age groups. Parents can enhance this resource by creating a progression of activities that build skills sequentially, connecting drama exercises to literature being studied in other subjects, and using the improvisation activities to develop confidence and creative thinking.
History and Social Studies
23. Stanford Education History Group
SHEG offers high-quality, free high school history lesson plans focused on critical thinking and primary source analysis. Their “Reading Like a Historian” curriculum teaches students to evaluate historical evidence, compare conflicting accounts, and develop evidence-based historical interpretations—invaluable skills for deeper understanding of history and current events.
24. World on the Move
This public education initiative from the American Anthropological Association provides materials on human migration over 100,000 years. Resources include online videos and current migration news, offering a unique perspective on human history that connects ancient population movements to contemporary migration issues through an anthropological lens.
25. The Dalí Museum
Take a 360-degree virtual tour of this St. Petersburg, Florida museum and access online galleries of Salvador Dalí’s artwork, providing an immersive art history experience with surrealist masterpieces. The virtual tour allows students to explore Dalí’s revolutionary artistic techniques while learning about the historical and cultural contexts that influenced his work.
26. Library of Congress Digital Collections
The LOC provides access to millions of primary source documents, photographs, maps, and recordings that can enhance history studies at all levels. This vast digital archive allows students to examine historical evidence firsthand, developing research skills while gaining deeper insights into American and world history through authentic materials.
27. HomeschoolBase Anthropology Resources
A collection of anthropology teaching resources curated by the University of Guelph is available at HomeschoolBase. This rarely-mentioned treasure includes resources on biological anthropology, archaeology, linguistic anthropology, and cultural anthropology for middle and high school students, offering an interdisciplinary approach to understanding human societies.
28. Smithsonian Education
The Smithsonian offers free downloadable archaeology activities that teach scientific methods, historical analysis, and cultural understanding through hands-on archaeological simulations. These resources help students understand how archaeologists uncover and interpret evidence about past civilizations, connecting physical artifacts to broader historical narratives.
29. Colonial Williamsburg
Experience early colonial history through 360° tours and interactive exhibits. Students can explore historical artifacts, examine types of currency, and explore colonial maps, gaining an immersive understanding of early American life while developing context for foundational moments in United States history.
Language Arts Resources
30. All About Learning Press
Their resource page contains downloadable e-books and checklists to help parents teach young children to read and spell, using multisensory approaches and phonics. These evidence-based materials support struggling readers and writers through structured, sequential learning activities that build confident literacy skills.
31. Fluent Forever Word List
This carefully curated list of cross-linguistically common non-function words is an excellent starting point for vocabulary development in any language, including constructed languages. The scientifically-designed list prioritizes high-frequency, concrete, and imageable words that form the foundation for further language acquisition.
32. Read Theory
This free reading comprehension tool provides personalized practice for students from kindergarten through 12th grade, adapting to each student’s reading level. Through adaptive technology, it continually adjusts question difficulty based on performance, ensuring students are appropriately challenged while building critical reading skills.
33. Project Gutenberg
Access thousands of free classic ebooks for literature studies, including many titles suitable for all grade levels. This extensive digital library provides instant access to literary classics from around the world, supporting literature studies with authentic texts that students can annotate digitally or use for independent reading.
34. The Language Creation Society
For students fascinated by language, the Language Creation Society offers free resources for designing constructed languages—the same process used to create languages like Klingon and Elvish. Their Conlanger’s Library contains tutorials and guides suitable for middle and high school students who want to explore linguistics through creative language design.
tIv! (Apparently, that’s Klingon for “Have fun!”)
35. Etymology Online
This free dictionary traces the origins and historical development of English words, making vocabulary lessons come alive through fascinating stories of language evolution. Perfect for developing a deeper appreciation of language and enhancing writing skills, this resource helps students understand how English has evolved through borrowing, adaptation, and innovation.
36. IPA Chart
Introduce phonetics and pronunciation with interactive International Phonetic Alphabet charts. These visual tools help students understand language sounds and can support foreign language learning, speech therapy, or language creation projects by providing a standardized system for representing speech sounds across all languages.
37. Duolingo
You know it, I know it, we all know it, but no list would be complete without it. This free language learning platform offers gamified courses in over 30 languages, making foreign language acquisition fun and accessible for all ages. The bite-sized lessons, immediate feedback, and achievement system motivate consistent practice, while the variety of languages available allows students to explore cultures that interest them most.
38. The Good and Beautiful
The Good and Beautiful is a paid program, but they do offer free language arts curriculum materials for grades K-8 with an emphasis on character development. Pretty classy, The Good and The Beautiful. Parents can optimize this resource by using the placement tests to start at the appropriate level, incorporating the read-aloud suggestions to enhance the literary experience, and utilizing the handwriting components consistently for skill development.
Virtual Field Trips
39. Virtual Farm Tours
Virtual Farm Tours provides panoramic explorations of various farms and agricultural operations. But, uh, without the smell. Parents can maximize this resource by preparing relevant questions before visiting each farm, comparing different agricultural practices across farms, and following up with related activities like cooking with farm products or researching agricultural economics.
40. San Diego Zoo
San Diego Zoo offers live animal webcams and comprehensive educational resources about wildlife. To get the most from this virtual experience, parents should schedule regular viewing of different habitats, pair webcam observations with the zoo’s fact sheets and activity guides, and encourage children to keep nature journals documenting animal behaviors they observe.
41. The Louvre Museum
The Louvre Museum virtual tours allow exploration of one of the world’s most famous art collections. Parents can enhance this experience by researching selected works beforehand, using the tour to discuss art history and techniques, and inspiring follow-up creative projects where children create their own art inspired by what they’ve seen.
42. Buckingham Palace Virtual Tour
Buckingham Palace Virtual Tour provides a 360-degree exploration of the British royal residence. Parents can maximize this resource by connecting it to history lessons about British monarchy, comparing architectural features to local buildings, and using it as a springboard for discussions about different systems of government around the world.
43. Musical Instrument Museum
The Musical Instrument Museum offers virtual field trips through on-demand video collections. Each collection includes activities and educator guides, sometimes with a STEM focus, allowing students to explore the science of sound alongside cultural aspects of musical instruments from around the world.
44. Google Arts & Culture
Google Arts & Culture provides access to artwork and cultural artifacts from over 500 museums worldwide. Parents can optimize this vast resource by creating themed virtual tours (focusing on specific time periods, artistic styles, or cultures), using the close-up viewing features to study artistic techniques, and incorporating art appreciation into weekly routines through scheduled exploration time.
Storytelling Resources
45. Poetry Foundation
The Poetry Foundation offers an extraordinary collection of free poetry resources through their Learning Lab, including a core set of poems, teaching guides, discussion questions, and poet biographies. Parents can use their searchable database of over 12,000 poems, downloadable lesson plans, and interactive tools to introduce children to poetry in an engaging way that builds literary appreciation and analytical skills.
46. StoryJumper
This free tool allows students to create digital storybooks with illustrations, enhancing creative writing while developing digital literacy skills. The platform’s intuitive interface enables students to become published authors, combining text, images, and sometimes audio to create shareable digital books that can be viewed online or printed.
Specialized Resources
47. Wonderopolis
Wonderopolis posts daily questions and explanations designed to spark curiosity about the world. To best use this resource, parents should incorporate the “Wonder of the Day” into morning routines, use the questions as journal prompts or discussion starters, and follow the rabbit trails of curiosity that emerge by researching related topics their children find fascinating.
48. The Country Music Hall of Fame
The Country Music Hall of Fame provides virtual field trips and educational resources about music history. Parents can enhance this specialized content by connecting it to broader American history studies, using the songwriter resources to encourage musical creativity, and comparing different musical styles through the various historical periods presented.
49. NASA Kids’ Club
NASA Kids’ Club features interactive games and activities about space exploration and science. Parents can maximize this resource by aligning activities with nighttime stargazing opportunities, supplementing digital content with hands-on science experiments, and connecting NASA’s current missions to the historical space race during history lessons.
50. U.S. Capitol Visitors’ Center
U.S. Capitol Visitors’ Center offers downloadable lesson plans about American government and history. To get the most value, parents should incorporate these materials during election seasons and government studies, use the primary source documents to develop critical thinking skills, and connect the historical information to current events discussions.
How to Use These Resources
Free Stuff That Actually Works? Yes, Please!
These resources aren’t just budget-friendly (you know, totally free!), they’re flexible, too.
While traditional textbooks often feel like educational straitjackets, these digital resources are just begging to be mixed and matched. The end result? An educational experience that fits your unique child.
Curriculum Design Strategies
Here are some tried-and-true ways to make these resources sing.
Build your own curriculum from scratch by picking across subject areas. Start with the heavy-hitters like Khan Academy or Easy Peasy All-in-One Homeschool as your base layer and then add those specialty resources.
Already bought a curriculum but it’s missing something? No problem! Enhance your curriculum with these free resources. When your kiddo either needs extra practice or suddenly becomes fascinated with Ancient Rome after your curriculum barely mentioned it, these resources bring fresh explanations and cool approaches. Your child gets it, you look brilliant—everybody wins!
Try “Deep Dive Days” (or “The day we follow that rabbit hole all the way down”). Set aside one day a week where your child can go totally crazy exploring something they’re obsessed with. Today it’s volcanoes, next week it might be Victorian fashion or how video games are made. These obsessive deep dives often turn into their most memorable learning experiences. And, who knows, maybe even future careers!
Make project-based learning actually doable by gathering resources around your child’s ideas. Whether they want to code the next Minecraft, investigate why the local creek is turning purple, or film a historical documentary starring the family pet, these resources provide the expert backup you need. Because let’s face it, none of us are experts in everything our kids get interested in!
Create theme-based learning adventures that laugh in the face of subject boundaries. A unit on pirates could combine historical exploration, navigation math, oceanic science, sea shanty music, and swashbuckling literature—complete eye patches and terrible “arrr” puns.
(What does a pirate drive to work? His carrr, of course. Feel free to share that incredible joke with everyone you know and love. That makes 51 free resources, by the way.)
Sneak life skills into everyday learning. Coding teaches logical thinking (and patience!), virtual field trips build cultural, creative writing develops communication, and science simulations enhance critical thinking.
Getting Started
Begin by identifying your child’s strongest interests and select 2 to 3 resources that align with those areas. Introduce them gradually, perhaps during a dedicated “exploration time” once or twice a week. As you discover which resources resonate most with your family, you can expand your selection and integrate them more fully into your homeschool routine.
Remember that not every resource will be a perfect fit for every child. The freedom to try new approaches—and set them aside if they don’t work—is one of homeschooling’s greatest advantages. With this comprehensive collection of free resources at your fingertips, you have the flexibility to craft an education that’s as unique as your child.