Why we never really think about using government resources for our homeschool, I don’t quite know. However, government websites have a wealth of very specific knowledge on a range of different sectors that our children can surely use as references in their schooling.
I wanted to share with you some government websites you can use in your homeschool to enrich your child’s knowledge base as it pertains to our country. My kids frequented these sites this past year and learned from them all.
Book report ideas, essay questions, research, statistics, policies, and regulations can all be found in government websites – for FREE. We can equip our kids with these government resources to enrich their knowledge base easily.
Maybe I am slightly biased in this. I worked for the United States Government for nine years. Of course, I love my country, and I think using these resources makes good use of government funds and hard work.
If you need a broader database in your homeschool resource library to allow your children to explore and learn from, then look no further.
These 10 government websites can be used in your homeschool and will be a great addition for your resource bank:
The World Factbook has awesome truths about history, people and society, government, economy, energy, geography, communications, transportation, military, and transnational information for 267 places all over the globe. And it’s from the Central Intelligence Agency, kids love that!
NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION (NOAA)
If your kids love all things about the ocean (like mine), then explore this site for useful information about the ocean and its atmosphere. Your kids can check out amazing facts like ocean currents, El Niño, hurricanes, tsunamis, ocean pollution, all things marine life – this is one of my daughter’s favorite educational sites. She is still debating whether she wants to be a lawyer or a marine biologist. At thirteen, I am totally OK with her exploring the two.
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION – NASA (FOR KIDS)
This site provides an interactive app with an overview of the complex aspects of getting to and conducting research abroad at the International Space Station. The NASA kids club is a place where younger kids can play games and learn all about NASA right from home.
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE (HISTORY, FOR TEACHERS, FOR KIDS, AND NATURE)
The NPS has everything you need to know about the National Park Service. Additionally, the parks with links have an education section that students can learn from no matter where kids live in the U.S. Live in Tennessee but want to learn about a national park in Alaska? No problem! Kids can use this site for studying topics like battlefields, nature, historical events like the Gold Rush, and so much more.
U.S. MINT (FOR KIDS, FOR EDUCATORS)
The U.S. Mint site has all types of games and learning resources to teach children about the Mint and currency. They can learn how and why coins are made. It is so refreshing to know that our kids can learn facts about the Mint even if they aren’t close enough to visit one (there are six Mint locations around the country, by the way).
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCE (FOR KIDS)
This site is all about the environment and how it affects people to promote healthier lives. The website for kids is a resource where kids, parents, and teachers to explore fun and educational materials related to health, science, and the environment we all live in today.
If your kids are exploring the government, then this website lists and explains all the different government departments and what they do to keep this country going. You can find anything from history, arts, culture, environment, energy, health nutrition, science, and technology. Many kids don’t know what it takes to run a country and the different entities that make it possible, this tool is perfect for them to get an overview of that.
FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION (FDA)
What my kids focused on in the FDA website were the different laws enforced by the FDA. It had some cool information that helped my kids (and me) understand why specific FDA laws were passed. For instance, one was the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of 1938, passed because a legally marketed toxic elixir killed 107 people, including children. It helps put rules, and the need for them, in perspective.
The LOC can help kids learn how everyday citizens became trailblazers and history makers to change America and make life better for the country. It also has videos of events, a Rosa Parks blog, and your kids can even “Ask a Librarian” anything here!
I live in a disaster-prone area, so in researching how to help my kids prepare for disasters, I stumbled upon this government website. We could all use some help in staying prepared and trying to remain calm no matter what happens. Visit READY.GOV for tools and information that help us all stay prepared and ready before and after disasters.
We highly recommend Bluestocking Press when you are ready to teach your kids about the government and economics.
The government has a slew of sites that you can use in your homeschool to enhance learning in your home. I may need to come up with another list, but I may leave that for next year. We will test them out and see if they were useful, before sharing them with you all.
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Jeannette is a wife, mother and homeschooling mom. She has been mightily, saved by grace and is grateful for God’s sovereignty throughout her life’s journey. She has a Bachelor in English Education and her MBA. Jeannette is bi-lingual and currently lives in the Tongan Islands of the South Pacific. She posts daily freebies for homeschoolers!
