Free Music Theory Resources

Whether your child is learning an instrument and would benefit from some supplemental theory learning, or you're looking to design a course of music study for high school credit, there should be something here that will fit the bill!

Music Theory Worksheets–50+ Free PrintablesMusic Theory Lessons

Online interactive lessons 

• The basics
• Rhythm and meter
• Sales and key signatures
• Intervals
• Chords
• Diatonic chords
• Chord progressions
• Neapolitan chords.

Music Theory Worksheets

50+ free printable worksheets, including:

• Note Names
• Intervals
• Circle of Fifths
• Rhythm
• Piano
• Scales and Chords
• Music Symbols
• Steps
• Music Alphabet
• Holiday

8notes Music Theory

47 online music theory lessons plus interactive activities:

• Interval Ear Trainer
• Note Trainer
• Key Signature Trainer
• Triad Trainer
• Keyboard Trainer
• Guitar Trainer
• Brass Trainer
• Scale Ear Trainer
• Chord Ear Trainer

Music Theory for the21st-Century Classroom by Robert Hutchinson

This is a very thorough textbook, as well as homework assignments and practice tests.

• Basic Concepts
• Major Scales and Key Signatures
• Minor Scales and Key Signatures
• Basics of Rhythm
• Intervals
• Triads
• Roman Numerals and Cadences
• Seventh Chords
• Harmonic Progression and Harmonic Function
• Non-Chord Tones
• Melodic Analysis
• Form in Popular Music
• Phrases in Combination
• Accompanimental Textures
• Creating Contrast Between Sections
• Figured Bass
• Secondary Dominant Chords
• Secondary Diminished Chords
• Mode Mixture
• The Neapolitan Chord
• Augmented Sixth Chords
• Modulation
• Enharmonic Modulation
• Binary and Ternary Forms
• Sonata and Rondo Forms
• Voice Leading Triads
• Voice Leading Seventh Chords
• Voice Leading With Non-Chord Tones
• Voice Leading Chromatic Harmonies
• Introduction to Counterpoint
• Introduction to Jazz Theory
• Impressionism and Extended Tonality
• Set Theory
• Serialism
• Minimalism

Even more resources: 

• Coursera - Fundamentals of Music Theory
• Hoffmann Academy - Essential Music Theory for Beginners: The Fundamentals
• Lightnote - Interactive Music Theory Lessons 
• Music Theory Practice Flashcards
• teoría : Music Theory Web
• The Open University - An introduction to music theory
• ToneSavvy - Music Theory Exercises

At Home Astronomy Freebies

Check out this link for 10 fun hands-on activities from the Space Sciences Laboratory at UC Berkeley

11 Hands-On Night Sky and Outer Space Activities from Wild Earth Lab
Our favorite is this activity to model the phases of the moon with Oreos!
(Free subscription required.)

Free printable posters from the Canadian Space Agency

Print the Canadian Space Agency's Star-finder

Make your own Rotary Star Finder
from Dennis Schatz, Science Educator and Children's Author

Find many space-themed infographics at the Canadian Space Agency website

Take a Virtual Tour of the Canadian Space Agency

Free Explorers Club e-books and coloring pages

FREE Charlotte Mason Digital Downloads

 

Gentle + Classical Nature Vol 1 Teacher's Guide  

This Teacher's Guide is complete and assists you in understanding Charlotte Mason's methods, trains you in teaching nature study to children K4-7th grade in a Charlotte Mason-inspired way, all the while encouraging you and loving on you (the Teacher!) as you go.

https://shopgentleclassical.com/collections/g-c-nature/products/gentle-classical-nature-vol-1-teachers-guide-new?variant=35210142089372

Nature Collection Notebook (2nd Edition)

This 80 page Nature Collection Journal is exactly what you’ve been looking for to explore Nature with your preschooler through high school student!

https://shopgentleclassical.com/products/nature-collection-journal-digital?variant=35202287370396

View all Gentle + Classical Nature products here: https://shopgentleclassical.com/collections/g-c-nature and use code SUMMER15 to save 15% until June 30th!

AmblesideOnline's free Charlotte Mason homeschool curriculum

"AmblesideOnline is a free homeschool curriculum that uses Charlotte Mason's classically-based principles to prepare children for a life of rich relationships with everything around them: God, humanity, and the natural world.  AO's detailed schedules, time-tested methods, and extensive teacher resources allow parents to focus effectively on the unique needs of each child."

Home Education Series by Charlotte Mason ~ Free eBooks

shared by DIYHomeschooler

Finding Your Way with Charlotte Mason’s 20 Principles - Free Online Course

with Rachel Lebowitz, Owner of A Charlotte Mason Plenary

and Amy Bodkin, EdS, Special Needs Consultant

 

• If you were a superhero, what would your power be and why?

• What makes you a really wonderful friend to others?

• What is one thing you did this week that made you smile?

• Describe your favorite, most comfortable spot to relax or play.

• What is something that used to be hard but is easy now?

• What is your absolute favorite thing about your own personality?

• How do you show your friends that you care about them?

• What is something you could teach a friend how to do?

• What makes you totally unique from your friends?

• Describe a time you did not give up, even when frustrated.

• What activities always make you happy when you feel sad?

• How did you help someone at home or school recently?

• What do you think you will be awesome at when older?

• Write down the last nice thing someone said to you.

• If you could invent a tool to help people, what is it?

• What is one amazing thing your body can do (like run or hug)?

• What is your favorite job or role to do in your family?

• Write about a mistake you made and what you learned from it.

• What is a new topic you want to learn more about?

• Write about a time you felt scared but did it anyway.

• Write about a time you said "no" to protect your feelings.

• What does your ultimate, most fun day look like?

• Write three kind words to say to yourself in the mirror.

• What are three wishes you have for the whole world?

• If you could do anything tomorrow, what would you try?

Lessons in Electric Circuits, Vol. 1-6

This curriculum for high school students was first published in 2000 as part of the Open Book Project.  It was last updated about 2008, depending which book you are looking at.  Each of the four lesson books is over 500 pages, then there is a reference manual and a book of experiments.  (There will of course be sections of this that are out of date, like the computing section.)

Volume One - DC (560 pages)
https://web.archive.org/web/20240608074912/http://homeschoolfreebies.s3.amazonaws.com/DC.pdf

1. Basic Concepts of Electricity
2. Ohm's Law
3. Electrical Safety
4. Scientific Notation and Metric Prefixes
5. Series and Parallel Circuits
6. Divider Circuits and Kirchhoff's Laws
7. Series-Parallel Combination Circuits
8. DC Metering Circuits
9. Electrical Instrumentation Signals
10. DC Network Analysis
11. Batteries and Power Systems
12. Physics of Conductors and Insulators
13. Capacitors
14. Magnetism and Electromagnetism
15. Inductors
16. RC and L/R Time Constants

Volume Two - AC (570 pages)
https://web.archive.org/web/20240607024440/http://homeschoolfreebies.s3.amazonaws.com/AC.pdf

1. Basic AC Theory
2. Complex Numbers
3. Reactance and Impedance - Inductive
4. Reactance and Impedance - Capacitive
5. Reactance and Impedance - R, L, and C
6. Resonance
7. Mixed-Frequency AC Signals
8. Filters
9. Transformers
10. Polyphase AC Circuits
11. Power Factor
12. AC Metering Circuits
13. AC Motors
14. Transmission Lines

Volume Three - Semiconductors (526 pages)
https://web.archive.org/web/20240607015800/http://homeschoolfreebies.s3.amazonaws.com/SEMI.pdf

1. Amplifiers and Active Devices
2. Solid-State Device Theory
3. Diodes and Rectifiers
4. Bipolar Junction Transistors
5. Junction Field-Effect Transistors
6. Insulated-Gate Field-Effect Transistors
7. Thyristors
8. Operational Amplifiers
9. Practical Analog Semiconductor Circuits
10. Active Filters
11. DC Motor Drives
12. Inverters and AC Motor Drives
13. Electron Tubes

Volume 4 - Digital (517 pages)
https://web.archive.org/web/20240609052519/http://homeschoolfreebies.s3.amazonaws.com/DIGI.pdf

1. Numeration Systems
2. Binary Arithmetic
3. Logic Gates
4. Switches
5. Electromechanical Relays
6. Ladder Logic
7. Boolean Algebra
8. Karnaugh Mapping
9. Combinational Logic Functions
10. Multivibrators
11. Sequential Circuits
12. Shift Registers
13. Digital-Analog Conversion
14. Digital Communication
15. Digital Storage (Memory)
16. Principles of Digital Computing

Volume 5 - Reference (171 pages)
https://web.archive.org/web/20240607131207/http://homeschoolfreebies.s3.amazonaws.com/REF.pdf

1. Useful Equations and Conversion Factors
2. Color Codes
3. Conductor and Insulator Tables
4. Algebra Reference
5. Trigonometry Reference
6. Calculus Reference
7. Using the SPICE Circuit Simulation Program
8. Troubleshooting - Theory and Practice
9. Circuit Schematic Symbols
10. Periodic Table of the Elements

Volume 6 - Experiments (425 pages)

https://web.archive.org/web/20240608225227/http://homeschoolfreebies.s3.amazonaws.com/EXP.pdf

1. Introduction
2. Basic Concepts and Test Equipment
3. DC Circuits
4. AC Circuits
5. Discrete Semiconductor Circuits
6. Analog Integrated Circuits
7. Digital Integrated Circuits
8. 555 Timer Circuits

Alternate sources for this series:

• http://www.ibiblio.org/kuphaldt/electricCircuits/
• https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/textbook/

20 Questions About Dad

 
We think it might be a fun annual tradition, to do an interview with each child and see how their answers change from year to year!

Bring the outside in: Make your own terrarium this summer!

Off the Grid News has a great idea for hands-on summer fun - build your own tiny terrarium in a jar!

House of Hawthornes also shared their gorgeous woodland-themed terrarium project:

And if you prefer video, Joy Us Garden has 4 ideas for your terrarium project:

Check out this post from Salvage Inspirations for some great suggestions for creative thrifted containers!

Camp Khan Kids

 

We have been fans of Khan Academy for years, and loved it for self-directed learning in the high school and junior high years.  Did you know they also offer options for young kids, including a four-week summer program for early learners? 

Camp Khan Kids is 100% free, but it does require the Khan Academy Kids app.  The first weekly activity calendar will be released on June 22!

Sorry about the dust...

 ... or the broken links ... or the excessive notifications of new posts if you are a subscriber!  It was time for some tidying up, especially removing the many posts that were pointing to dead links.  

I'd also like to thank those of you who have followed my Facebook page, or who have found your way to my new Instagram page!  I appreciate you!

Free Space-Themed Printables!

Visit ABCMouse for free mazes, coloring sheets, and handwriting practice pages - and (optional) if you sign up for their email list you'll receive weekly free printables! 

Work on your printing with this set of space-themed handwriting practice pages available for free from Real Life at Home! (email subscription required)

For even more space-themed handwriting practice, visit Your Therapy Source!  Email subscription required - scroll to the yellow box and enter your email address to access this product.)

Check out Free Solar System Printables Packet for Elementary Students for 8 more pages of fun space-themed activities.  (email subscription required)

Your Therapy Source shared these two printable activity mats - scroll to the bottom of the page and follow the blue link, then click on "DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE SPACE PRINTABLES HERE" 

STEM Units from Mark Rober - Class CrunchLabs

Have you heard of Mark Rober's project, Class CrunchLabs?  Check it out!

This FREE curriculum resource was designed to inspire student curiosity and creativity, and includes hands-on challenges, videos, learning resources, and celebrity collabs.

From the CrunchLabs website: "Class CrunchLabs videos feature Mark Rober, world-class engineers, scientists, and innovators who make science and engineering concepts actually make sense by blowing things up, building the impossible, and solving problems that matter. Every video is engineered to spark curiosity and keep your students hooked. It's not just content. It's the "holy cow, I get it now" moment, on repeat."

As of today, there are three complete units posted, with a fourth under development.  You'll definitely want to add this site to your favorites! 

Also coming soon... CrunchLabs books for kids!!  (Not available yet, but the first one is available for pre-order, and we're hoping that there will be more in the works!)

Free S'mores-Themed Math Worksheet Pack

 

Visit 123 Homeschool 4 Me to download this free S'mores themed summer math activity pack for kindergarten, preschool, pre-k, and first graders. 

You'll need to scroll to the bottom of the post and look for the orange button that says "Smores Math Pack" to download this file - but don't miss the dozens of goodies posted on the page!  

https://www.123homeschool4me.com/smores-free-math-worksheets-for-kindergarten/

20+ Virtual Field Trip Ideas

 

Even if you're at home, there are many places to explore through POV video, 3D photography, Google's streetview treks, live webcams, and online exhibits. Some also offer learning resources to accompany their videos!

(All of these sites were kid-safe at the time of posting, but we always recommend being engaged with your kids while they are online!)

1. Miniatur Wunderland (The world's largest model railway exhibit)
2. The Eiffel Tower (Google Maps Trek)
3. The Great Wall of China (YouTube video)
4. Pyramids of Giza (Google Maps Trek) 
5. Chatsworth Fam Virtual Tour (YouTube video series) & learning resources
6. Galapagos Islands (Google Maps Trek)
7. San Diego Zoo Live Cam (+ teacher resources)
8. Smithsonian National Zoo Cams
9. Georgia Aquarium Live Cams 
10. Houston Zoo Live Cams (7:00 am - 7:00 pm CST)
11. Monterey Bay Aquarium Live Cam (7:00 am - 7:00 pm PST)
12. Vancouver Aquarium Live Sea Otter Cam
13. Toronto Zoo to You
14. The Colorado River (Google Maps Trek)
15. Edmonton Law Courts
16. Royal Alberta Museum from Home
17. Virtual Farm Tours
18. Venice - The City Built on Water (Google Maps Trek)
19. Harry Potter: A History of Magic (British Library exhibition on Google Arts & Culture) 
20. Take 34 virtual rides at Canada's Wonderland (POV videos on YouTube)
21. Go on a virtual Disney trip with a virtual tour, rides, parades, and fireworks.  "Cook up the magic" with Disney recipes, and finish it off with homemade Dole Whip.
22. Castles Around the World (Visit 26 different castles from around the world)
23. Ancient Cities (Visit 36 different ancient sites)

Free Elementary Life Science Curriculum

Elementary Life Science - a 36-week science curriculum from Mr. Q's lab - FREE!

http://eequalsmcq.com/ClassicScienceLife.htm

 

 

 

 

Milne Open Textbooks

Milne Library Publishing at SUNY Geneseo manages and maintains Milne Open Textbooks, a catalog of FREE to use open textbooks on a wide variety of subjects. Go exploring!

https://milneopentextbooks.org/

Rock Your Homeschool Summer!

You CAN Rock Your Homeschool Summer! Get ready for some awesome fun with your kids using this free printable pack with over 100 ideas, challenges, and activities.

Click here for your free printable pack from Rock Your Homeschool!

https://rockyourhomeschool.net/homeschool-summer