The U.S. Postal Service Community Connection, a school-community partnership, connects elementary educators with unique and engaging teaching tools — stamps!
USPSConnection.com weaves stamps into elementary grade instruction, offering curriculum supports in history, geography, science and the arts. Resources include monthly calendars, lesson plans, education kits and much more. Visit www.uspsconnection.com/cc_site/.
Map it
The U.S. Geological Survey offers several online education resources on biology, geography, geology, water and much more. The USGS even includes a unit on plate tectonics with a summary poster of the April Nepal earthquake. Resources at the site are geared toward students in kindergarten through undergraduate studies. Visit http://education.usgs.gov/.
Game time
Youth Downloads offers several free customizable PowerPoint templates to make games suitable for students, including Jeopardy, Family Feud and MadGabs. The site aso features video tutorials to guide you in setting up the games. Visit www.youthdownloads.com/games for more information or to download.
Open for business
Funds2orgs offers a micro-enterprise curriculum for elementary, middle and high school students to help teach the importance of good business and the role of micro-enterprises. Each curriculum is broken into five modules: general business, general marketing, micro-enterprise fundamentals, creating a micro-enterprise business plan and finance. For more information, and to download the student workbook and teacher's guide, visit http://funds2orgs.com/micro-enterprise-curriculum/.
The "Freebies" column offers free opportunities for you and your students. We do not screen for subtle or not-so-subtle plugs.