Since the pandemic began, I’ve been supplementing home learning for the kids here and there. I’ve found a few free printables that we really like – because they print well, and have an interface that is easy to use.
(There are a lot of interactive sites that can supplement learning as well, but with all the Zoom and other digital resources that the schools are requiring the children to use, I’m trying to dial it back and reduce screen time for the kids.)
Here’s a running list in the various categories of what I’ve found and used:
Favorite Free Math Printables
Both of the math sites listed here provide a lot of different printable worksheets that go up to at least 5th grade. I see calculus topics on Math Aids, and if I remember correctly – that would be high school!
- https://www.math-aids.com/ – I use Math Aids quite a lot to give my kids the practice with basic addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division that they don’t get with common core at school. I think it helps them to understand the common core approaches better. There are a wide range of math topics on the site though that we haven’t reached at my kids’ age.
- https://www.math-salamanders.com/ – I’ve used Math Salamanders less than Math Aids but I liked the mental math problems and it has a similar interface to Math Aids. A large variety of worksheets in a large range of math topics are available.
- I used the blank multiplication chart on https://www.memory-improvement-tips.com/ to teach my kids their times tables. There are a variety of well laid out charts to choose from. The site also seems to have other cool brain games and memory improving techniques that I hope to explore more someday.
Favorite Free Geography and Map Printables
https://online.seterra.com/ – We just started some geography and I found this awesome site called Seterra, for free, professional-looking blank maps for the seven continents to teach the kids all the countries of the world. The printables were just a minor part of the site. The site is an extensive free resource of games and resources on world geography.
Favorite Free Comic Book Template Printables
http://allfreeprintable.com/blank-comic-book-template – My kids’ latest passions are in graphic novels and comic books, so of course they wanted to write their own books, too.
Favorite Free Chinese Learning Printables
Since extracurriculars have been cut down so much with the pandemic, we’ve been doing more Chinese lessons at home and these two printables are wonderful.
- http://chineseprintables.com/ – This straightforward site called Chinese Printables allows you to print grid paper or practice paper in a variety of styles
- http://chineseworksheetgenerator.org/ – I love, love, love this Chinese Worksheet Generator. You input any characters that you want and it will generate great looking practice worksheets, along with options for stroke order, etc.. This is especially useful for us because it’s curriculum agnostic and allows us to customize the worksheets for our kids to suit whatever we are learning or need to practice more.
Favorite Free Eye Chart Printables
If you’ve read my posts on myopia, you know that eye health is a biggie for me. To help with some of the myopia reversal techniques and also regularly check everyone’s vision, I use free eye chart printables. Since my kids’ tend to memorize the chart, I’ve even made my own customizable 10 feet and 20 feet eye charts.
- https://wishiknewbefore.com/2020/10/27/free-printable-eye-charts/ – my own post is now my new favorite eye chart printables source. I posted the two best, free, downloadable charts that I found online, as well as the two customizable charts that I created based off of the two “official” charts.
- https://printabletemplates.com/medical/ey(e-chart/ – this site has a section full of printable eyecharts
- https://www.homemade-gifts-made-easy.com/eye-chart-maker.html – this eyechart generator is meant to generate an eye chart for arts & crafts, but the output is still a decent chart. I put it up next to the standard Snellen to line up with the approximate sizing for vision testing (20/20, 20/40, etc.)
- https://visionsource.com/site/assets/files/1192/vision_source_eye_chart.pdf or http://eyetestnow.com/images/snellen_block_letter_eye_chart_eye_exam_test.pdf – I found plenty of free Snellen charts with the standard letters (that my kids have memorized, haha)
Other Favorite Free Teaching Printables
I found this site to have a lot of free teaching printables to help supplement home learning. It’s regularly updated by different sources, so it provides a bit of inspiration even if you don’t find exactly what you’re looking for. It’s UK-based, but many materials are still applicable for us. I’m sure there’s a US equivalent, but I just haven’t come across it yet.
Thoughts? More info? Better info? I’m all ears. Email me at: wishiknewbefore20@gmail.com or leave a comment below.
Things I wish I knew before. . . 