Homeschooling your high schooler can be quite a challenge. An even bigger challenge is obtaining free ideas for field trips, curriculum add ons, and social activities. Here is a list of five free ideas you may be able to use. Hopefully there will be one that appeals to your homeschooler, too! Free is a word not often heard, but always much appreciated.

1. Attention Chicago and Phoenix high schoolers! Free field trips are offered at Universal Technical Institute titled "XLR8 Your Future". Geared specifically for high school students, this trip is perfect for a homeschool group. Here is a description, taken from the Field Trip Factory website:
"XLR8 Your Future is an innovative, FREE program that reinforces high school curriculum and provides exposure to valuable career opportunities.
XLR8 Your Future is hosted at Universal Technical Institute enriches Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) curriculum. Knowledge and skills are applied through engaging hands-on activities in the interactive labs.
XLR8 Your Future is designed for Seniors currently taking a science, math, engineering, technology or automotive course, or who are involved in a related club. In addition, the trip is ideal for students exploring post secondary education. Curriculum comes to life as students work together to solve problems, test variables and observe results. Field trips are approximately 3 hours in length and can be scheduled for all group sizes. XLR8 Your Future is hosted at your local Universal Technical Institute campus in Chicago and Phoenix. Lunch is included.
Visit Field Trip Factory's website for more information!

2. Read the newest vampire themed book for teens online- totally for free! At Harper Teen.com there is a full edition to print or read online of the latest book "The Vampire Diaries-The Struggle" by L.J. Smith. For teens who find vampires too gross, there are many facets to the site at Harper Teen, with book reviews, contests, and much more. There is no cost to sign up online and it is safe for the teen crew.

3. MIT is an excellent school, now offering free courseware online. Visit their site for exciting information on free classes your high school homeschooler can partake in.

4. At the website Science Fair Sanity you will find free downloads for teen projects, free teacher materials and much more! This site is a great resource for all Science projects.

5. While as parent we wish we didn't have to deal with the possibility of our homeschoolers drinking and driving, it is an issue that warrants discussion nonetheless. The website "stopimpaireddriving.org" is a good resource for teen friendly lessons and resources on the dangers of drinking and driving. There are also comprehensive resource toolkits to use as well.

www.fieldtripfactory.com/fieldTrips/ftDetail.aspx?ftid=46
www.harperteen.com/
www.ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/hs/home/home/index.htm
www.sciencefairsanity.com/home/sci/cpage_7
www.stopimpaireddriving.org/youth-programs.htm