Homeschooling Resources

Urbandale Public Library offers a variety of books and materials which homeschooling families might find useful. Below is an annotated list of non-fiction series which also feature related activities.

BOOKS
ONLINE RESOURCES
MAGAZINES

BOOKS

HISTORY

• HANDS-ON HISTORY – Offers many different learning projects for children of elementary age.
• YOU CHOOSE BOOKS – Readers are in the driver’s seat with these interactive history books! Everything in these books happened to real people. And YOU CHOOSE the path to take and what to do next. Readers will explore multiple perspectives and learn for themselves the value of seeing history from many points of view.

MATHEMATICS

• LET’S INVESTIGATE – Looks at various topics in the field of Mathematics.
• MATH MATTERS – Is a set of thirteen volumes of mathematics reference materials. The books include models that represent mathematical ideas and exercises to help reinforce those ideas

SCIENCE

• LET’S INVESTIGATE SCIENCE - A concise introductory format to explore many subjects.
• SCIENCE FOR EVERY KID - Filled with experiments which include easy to follow instructions and explanations. Check out other books by author, Janice VanCleave.
• SCIENCE STARTERS - A variety of fun activities and experiments designed to introduce the young reader to the world of science by exploring everyday occurrences.
• SCIENTISTS IN THE FIELD - Show people immersed in the unpredictable and dynamic natural world. These books show firsthand adventures in the great outdoors—adventures with a purpose. From climbing into a snake den with thousands of slithering snakes to tracking wolves, swimming with hammerhead sharks, and collecting bugs, readers experience the thrill of discovering the unknown.
• SURVIVOR’S SCIENCE - Explores the science of different habitats and the application of scientific thinking in order to tackle its specific survival problems. The series is novel and very well thought-out. Formation and dynamics of each habitat are clearly explained, with perceptive use of illustrations and supporting photographs. A key feature is the use of activities that openly model the scientific enquiry process of observation.

GENERAL

• FOR KIDS – While not a formal series, these books offer a combination of information and activity projects while giving an overview of various topics.

Africa for Kids: Exploring a Vibrant Continent: 19 Activities by Harvey Croze - J916 Cro
Archaeology for Kids: Uncovering the Mysteries of Our Past: 25 Activities by Richard Panchyk - J930.1 Pan
Leonardo da Vinci for Kids: His Life and Ideas: 21 Activities by Janis Herbert - J709.2 Her
The Civil War for Kids: A History with 21 Activities by Janis Herbert - J973.7 Her
The American Revolution for Kids: A History with 21 Activities by Janis Herbert - J973.3 Her
World War II for Kids: A History with 21 Activities by Richard Panchyk - J940.53 Pan
Thomas Edison for Kids: His Life and Ideas: 21 Activities by Laurie M. Carlson - J621.3092 Car
Exploring the Solar System: A History with 22 Activities by Mary Kay Carson - J523.2 Car
Backyard Birding for Kids: A Field Guide and Activities by Fran Lee - J598 Lee
Kid’s Guide to Native American History: More than 50 Activities by Yvonne Wakim Dennis - J970.00497 Den
Harry Houdini for Kids: His Life and Adventures with 21 Magic Tricks and Illusions by Laurie M. Carlson - J793.8 Car
Chicago History for Kids: Triumphs and Tragedies of the Windy City, Includes 21 Activities by Owen Hurd - J977.311 Hur
Galileo for Kids: His Life and Ideas by Richard Panchyk - J520.92 Pan
Insectigations: 40 Hands-on Activities to Explore the Insect World by Cindy Blobaum - J595.7 Blo

• WILLIAMSON KIDS CAN – Books on a variety of topics which include science, history, and crafts. Simple learning experiences fill these volumes.

ONLINE RESOURCES

The Urbandale Public Library subscribes to several databases which may be useful to homeschool families.

Biography in Context
Discover fascinating facts about world famous people throughout history. For usage outside of the library, users must enter the first 13 digits of their Urbandale Library barcode from the back of their library card. (http://infotrac.galegroup.com/itweb/urbandalepl?db=BIC1)

Ebsco Host
Full text magazine and journal articles. From this page you can also access more “kid friendly” interfaces: Kids Search; Searchasaurus – Interface for Children; and Student Research Center for Grades 6 – 12. EbscoHost is also available in a number of languages. This database is accessible from within the library and outside the library with a user ID and password, available by contacting the reference desk at 515-331-4488. (http://search.ebscohost.com/)

LearningExpress Library
An interactive online learning platform featuring over 770 practice tests, tutorials, and eBooks related to basic skills improvement in reading, writing, and math, for all ages. You’ll get immediate scoring, complete answer explanations, and an individualized analysis of your results. Library card barcode number required for remote access. (http://www.learningexpresslibrary.com/)

Mango Languages
Mango is an online language learning system teaching practical conversation skills for real communication. It’s the fast, easy and effective way to learn to speak a foreign language. Library card barcode number required for remote access. (http://libraries.mangolanguages.com/urbandale/start)

NoveList K-8
Easy to use reader’s advisory database. These databases are accessible from within the library from all public access computers, as well as outside the library with a user ID and password, available by contacting the library. (http://search.ebscohost.com/)

NextReads Newsletters
Need suggestions for your next book to read? The library offers a number of free monthly newsletters for both kids and adults. Be sure to check out the Youth Staff Picks. You may subscribe to have them delivered to your e-mail or simply read them online from the library’s web page.

Please click here to access the complete list of library databases.

MAGAZINES

The Urbandale Public Library subscribes to several magazines which may be of interest to homeschool families. Please click here for a list of children’s magazines available in the library. All magazines except the current issue may be checked out.

Disney FamilyFun
Home Education