Life of Fred: The Scoop on Why We Like it and How to Get Started

The links on this blog and in the posts may be affiliate links.  Please see my disclosure policy for full details and thank you for your support!

As many of you know by now, we made the decision to add Life of Fred math series to our curriculum this year for Little Britches (age 10). I made this decision after continually hearing the program mentioned as "life changing" in regards to a child's math awareness. Little Britches has struggled to identify math as being useful in the real world--you know, besides the normal times math shows up--and I wanted him to see how math is relevant all the time! Little Britches also does NOT do well with the standard way math is taught through textbooks, worksheets, and brain numbing facts. He's also an auditory learner who thinks outside of the box. Thus, the primary reason Life of Fred appealed to me was the proclamation that it was storybook form, teaching more than just math, and most of all...it was fun! 

We gave Life of Fred a try when we started school back in September 2015 (we began at the beginning of the series) and are now on the 10th book (Jelly Beans). We are in LOVE and Little Britches has rapidly gained speed and confidence in his math comprehension thanks to Fred making it real and keeping it FUN and INTERESTING. Fred even introduces advanced math concepts early on--making them not scary. Remember how many kids hated algebra because of introducing the concept of x and y? Fred introduces them in the very first book (which is set for a Kindergarten level)--which means by the time you get to the algebra focused book--x and y are old friends! Life of Fred does this with all kinds of advanced math concepts!

Sigma Notations! Introduced very casually in elementary math--and something I never learned in school!

Casting out nines to verify answers for multiplication--I didn't learn this either!

Fred is out of the box math. If you are wanting worksheets and drilling--look somewhere else! Life of Fred is a continuous story from one book to the next--did you see that? STORY! Life of Fred is a chapter book and a silly story, that just happens to have math concepts woven throughout the plot! If your child does better with creativity, read alouds (or reading in general), and looking at the world of math away from textbooks--you really need to consider trying out Life of Fred!

Sample of what the story looks like in part of Jelly Beans

It doesn't matter if you are a public schooler or homeschooler--this program can be done in under 30 minutes of time--and it WILL boost your child's math knowledge! There is also a whole HOST of other subject matter that is woven throughout the book--bits of fabulous random information that can take you on delightful rabbit trails! And did I mention character studies? These books teach morals and character too as Fred investigates this world he lives in.

So what should you expect from the Life of Fred books? 
How do you pick where to start? 
Here is a Life of Fred Buyer's Guide from Educents to help you navigate the world of Fred--including videos, customer reviews, blog review links, sample pages, and more!

So, why are the Life of Fred books gaining popularity? The books follow Fred Gauss, a child prodigy math genius, during his exciting adventures which encounter every day math situations. Children actually want to read these books. Your child can start using these books when it's time to learn how to read, and your child can continue learning with Fred all the way to college! For a complete overview of the entire collection, check out each series of books below.

Life of Fred Elementary Math Series

Life Of Fred is like no other math program out there. It's a story that begins with book one, and continues all the way through high school. It includes every other subject, such as science, history, geography, and more. Each book contains short, 4 to 6-page chapters, and usually is less than 20 chapters per book. This makes it possible for each child to go at a pace comfortable for them.

Who is it for? Kindergarten to 4th grade

Concepts covered: time, types of numbers, geometry, measurement, facts about stars, Morse code, geography, adjectives and verbs, patterns, functions, sheet music, seven wonders of the world, math poems, percents, numbers vs. numerals, division, slope of a line, graphing, notation, the improper use of seat belts, how to prove you are not a duck, reducing fractions, and so much more.

Titles in this series: Apples, Butterflies, Cats, Dogs, Edgewood, Farming, Goldfish, Honey, Ice Cream, Jelly Beans

More about the Elementary Math Books:

Life of Fred Elementary Math books are discounted on Educents.com

• "This is my first year home schooling and I wish I had found Fred earlier. My son loves to read, so Life of Fred makes math a cinch to teach now." -Shanna, homeschooler
  
• "I see a light shining bright from within my son that was almost extinguished completely. As he watched me place the order for the complete elementary set of Life Of Fred, I said 'I can't wait to see how Fred starts, and I want to see how it ends too, so be ready to order more!' I smiled and assured him that not only would Fred be part of his learning as long as he desired, but that Fred would be gift wrapped for Christmas presents this year for his niece and nephew, my 2 grandchildren. No more costly potholes for this family!!" -Janet, homeschooler
  
• "My granddaughter, who truly dislikes math, always wants to start the day with Fred. I have to stop her after four chapters. She would do the entire book in a day if allowed. I never thought I could use math class as a reward! And she is learning besides." -Bette, homeschooler
  
• Life of Fred Math Books in Carisa’s Homeschool
• The Complete Guide to Using Life of Fred Homeschool Math
• Featured on Cathy Duffy's 102 Top Picks
• Samples: Apples, Butterflies, Cats

Life of Fred Intermediate Math Series

Designed for students under age 10, but already finished the Life of Fred elementary book series. Best for students who can add, subtract, and who understand multiplication and division.

Who is it for? 3rd to 7th grade

Concepts covered: Milliliters, writing numerals in checks ($4000 and not $40.00), idioms, 1/4 + 1/4 +1/4 = 3/4, elapsed time, metaphors, milligrams and pounds, rounding numbers, three-eights of 19,416, and more!

Titles in this series: Kidneys, Liver, Mineshaft

More about the Intermediate Math Books:

Life of Fred Intermediate Math books are discounted on Educents.com

• “I was not so sure on these books. I heard a lot of good reviews but after we got them, just skimming through I wasn't sure my 9 year old daughter would like them. I was WRONG! she really likes them! They move at a pace she likes and being one continuous story about Fred's life keeps her interested and entertained. We will be back for more soon. She just finished Kidneys and is now on Liver.” -Melisa W., Homeschooler
• Samples: Kidneys, Liver, Mineshaft

Life of Fred Intro to Algebra Series

If your student can solve these equations: 5 + 8, 8 – 5, 7 times 8, 6231 divided by 93, then he or she is ready for the Fractions title. It also might be time for you to begin using a very basic calculator to complete these lessons.

Who is it for? 6th to 12th grade

Concepts covered: less than, cardinal and ordinal numbers, adding and subtraction fractions, lines of symmetry, geometric figures, circumference, reducing fractions, sets and subsets, probability, consecutive numbers, repeating decimals, area of a triangle, square roots, ordered pairs, and more!

Titles in this series: Fractions, Decimals and Percents

More about the Intro to Algebra Books:

• Life of Fred Intro to Algebra books are discounted on Educents.com
• "My boys really enjoy hearing about the story of Fred’s life. At first it sounded weird, Fred is a 5-year-old math genius, really? It didn’t take long for my boys to get hooked on the Life of Fred books – there’s humor and math woven throughout the story. They always look forward to find out what happens next." -Joelle, Homeschooler.
• How We Use Life of Fred Fractions & Decimals In Our Homeschool
• Samples: Fractions, Decimals and Percents

Life of Fred Pre-Algebra Series

Fred does physics before algebra. What’s the difference between math and physics? In this series, students use math and science to solve quirky, real world scenarios - all while having fun with Fred of course!

Who is it for? 3rd to 7th graders

Concepts covered: numerals, area of a rectangle, the speed of light, nine forms of energy, Hooke’s law, static versus kinetic friction, photosynthesis, metric system, Gregorian calendar, conversion factors, unit analysis, freedom versus liberty, steps in solving word problems, venn diagrams, germination of seeds, digestion, negative numbers, whole numbers, chromosomes, DNA, circumference of a circle, and more!

Titles in this series: Pre-Algebra 0 with Physics, Pre-Algebra 1 with Biology, and Pre-Algebra 2 with Economics

More about the Pre-Algebra books:

• Life of Fred Pre-Algebra books are discounted on Educents.com
• Featured on Cathy Duffy's 102 Top Picks
• Samples: Pre-Algebra 0, Pre-Algebra 1, Pre-Algebra 2

Life of Fred High School Math Series

Life of Fred is preparing for college! In this series, students learn algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and a few other lessons from Fred. The Zillions of Practice books are keyed directly to the chapters and topics in the associated book. Each problem is worked out in complete detail to offer additional help for a student who may have gotten stuck along Fred’s mathematical journey.

Who is it for? 8th to 12th grade

Concepts covered: infinite numbers, ratios, graphs, plotting points, averages, multiplying polynomials, solving fractional equations, Pythagorean theorem, milkshake marketing, absolute value, surface area of a cone, imaginary numbers, slopes of perpendicular lines, complex fractions, linear equations, Cramer’s rule, ellipses, graphing in three dimensions, geometric sequences, Pascal’s Triangle, right triangles, quadrilaterals, entrepreneurship, geography of Kansas, piano music, sines, cosines, functions of two angles, a preview of calculus, and more!!

Titles included in the series: Beginning Algebra, Zillions of Practice Problems for Beginning Algebra, Advanced Algebra, Zillions of Practice Problems for Advanced Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry

More about the High School Math books:

• Life of Fred High School Math books are discounted on Educents.com
• Featured on Cathy Duffy's 102 Top Picks
• Samples: Beginning Algebra, Advanced Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry

Life of Fred College Math Series

This series is geared toward advanced high school math students, students preparing for college, or any adult who wants to brush up on their math skills while reading fun stories. Students will learn calculus, statistics, linear algebra, and advanced math puzzles (equations, not word problems).

Who is it for? 9th grade to adults

Concepts covered: functions, speed, slope, curvature, polar coordinates, Bayes’ Theorem, probability, descriptive statistics, field guides, solving systems of equations, vector spaces, linear functionals, math theory, abstract arithmetic, and more!

Titles included in the series: Calculus, Statistics, Linear Algebra, and Five Days of Upper Division Math

More about the College Math books:

• Life of Fred College Math books are discounted on Educents.com
• Featured on Cathy Duffy's 102 Top Picks
• Samples: Calculus, Statistics, Linear Algebra, Upper Division Math

Life of Fred Financial Choices

Let Fred help you teach your children about financial management, decisions, and choices. It's very likely that you, the adult, will pick up a tip or two while teaching.

Who is it for? Useful for middle school kids all the way to adults

Concepts covered: entrepreneurship, spending, investing, retirement, debt, calculating interest, how to start a business, insurance, taxes, real estate, successful spending habits, stocks, mortgages, REITS, mutual funds, and more!

More about the Financial Choices book:

• Financial Choices book is discounted on Educents.com
• Sample pages from Life of Fred Financial Choices
• Reader reviews on HomeschoolReviews.com

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Did you know there are also Life of Fred Language Arts and Science books too? These were created because people demanded more subjects written like the math books, and these are gaining popularity too! There are 18 books in the Beginning readers series, 4 books in the Language Arts series, and a Life of Fred Chemistry (biology and physics are part of the pre-algebra series!). If your kids love Life of Fred math and you want to apply the same philosophy to other subjects, you might give these a whirl too!

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If you are looking for something different to expand your child's math understanding...if you are looking for an out-of-the-box math program that will make your kids want more...if you are looking for a unique perspective on math that will make math real and applicable without drilling and worksheets...if you want math to be FUN again...you really should give Life of Fred a try! And guess what? YOU might learn something new too! I sure have!

Mini Peel & Play Sets with Ready-To-Go lessons

I love finding new resources to help make school fun. I also love finding things that we can take on the go with us in the car! The Mini Peel & Play World Map Set is a great tool for doing just that!

The links on this blog and in the posts may be affiliate links.  Please see my disclosure policy for full details and thank you for your support!

World Maps are so exciting to explore. The best way to engage a student learning about the world, is to ask them to label it. The Mini Peel & Play World Map Set on Educents provides students all the materials they need to explore and label a world map. Better yet, the map is small enough to stick onto the car window while you're traveling. It's also easy to move the map from room to room in your house - the map has a safe adhesive that allows students to stick the map to a surface over and over again.

The Map In Action

Check out the Mini Peel & Play World Map in action during this video.

Click here to find the Mona MELisa Mini Peel & Play World Map at a discount on Educents!

Activity Ideas

Looking for ways to make the Mini Peel & Play World Map interactive? 
Use these activities:
Label the oceans - use the labels to point out oceans around the globe. Ask your student to match the sticker with its continent. What does your student see in that continent? What is the climate there? Is that continent above or below the equator? After your student has placed all the sticker labels on the globe, s/he can refer to the map while responding to these writing prompts:

• Name all of the oceans in the world.
• Locate your home on the map. If you wanted to visit Australia, which direction would you need to travel?
• How would you travel to Europe - by foot, by boat, or by plane?
• Which direction does a ship need to sail to travel from South America to Africa?

You can get the Mona MeLisa Mini Peel & Play world map for 40% from now thru September 30th! Make sure you also check out some of the OTHER sets from this great company!

About the Sets

Mona MELisa Mini Peel & Play Sets go beyond the World Map. Learn about all the themes and ways to use the sets in your lessons.

Theme options: Math, science, geography, spelling, counting

Great for: all ages, visual learners, kinesthetic learners (kids will love touching the pieces and moving them around from place to place), auditory learners (sets can be combined with verbal instruction) 

Parents: Stick your sets to a car window, on any wall at home, or on your child's bathroom mirror to practice counting while brushing teeth. 

Teachers: This tool will save you hours preparing any of your lessons. The labels are made and ready to go! 

Homeschoolers: Provide hands-on lessons for your students! Visual learners will love the colorful map, and kinesthetic learners will enjoy sticking and unsticking parts of the map. 

What's included?: The Mini Peel & Play sets are fabrics with a safe, adhesive backing. They sets measure 11 by 17 inches. Bonus!! You can download ready-go-to lessons to accompany the Peel & Play sets.  Check out the World Map Teaching Guide.

Click here to find the Mona MELisa Mini Peel & Play World Map or any of the other sets that are offered at a discount on Educents!

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I am most excited to get my hands on the World Map and the Human Body sets for our classroom...which of the sets would YOU get first for your family?

FREE Ancient Egypt Mini-Unit for Kids!

One of the things I am looking forward to the most this year, is returning to our Story of the World history curriculum. I love studying ancient civilizations and one of the most fascinating to learn about is Ancient Egypt! I was tickled to find a great Ancient Egypt Mini-Unit freebie from Educents which will work perfectly when we are studying this great empire this year. Here is a peek at what is included, so you can snag it for yourself---but hurry...it's only a freebie until 8/19/2015!!

The links on this blog and in the posts may be affiliate links.  Please see my disclosure policy for full details and thank you for your support!

Students LOVE to learn about King Tut and Ancient Egypt! Download a FREE lesson for kids about Ancient Egypt and jump into King Tut's history! The freebie has several activities included in this pack, including reading comprehension, math review, map skills, and timeline practice, so there are a multiple ways to use them.

Hieroglyphics Math

 

Use these fun pages to practice place value and/or addition and subtraction skills! Page 12 of the King Tut Mini-Unit Freebie asks students use the symbols to determine the number. The following page goes a step further and asks students add or subtract numbers.

Fun facts about Ancient Egypt:

• The Egyptian alphabet contained more than 700 hieroglyphs!
• Egyptians believed cats were a sacred animal and having a pet cat would bring a household good luck.
• Ancient Egyptians invented pens, toothpaste, and a game very similar to bowling.

More Ancient Egypt resources:

Mini Bio: King Tut - Here's a mini bio about King Tut to go with your mini unit!

Ancient Egypt Lapbook - Study interesting facts about the discovery of hieroglyphic writing, the Rosetta Stone, the great King Tutankhamun, the lovely Cleopatra and more.

Recipes From Egypt - Delight your little cooks with two authentic and easy-to-make recipes from Egypt: Tameya (the original veggie burger), and Basboosa (Semolina cake with honey and lemon). 

My Book About Egypt - My Book About Egypt takes elementary students to the cities of Cairo, Alexandria, Damietta, and Giza.  

 

Want free lessons for kids about Ancient Egypt?
  Download the King Tut Mini-Unit Freebie on Educents!
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I hope that you will be able to use this great freebie in your classroom! If you miss out on the freebie promotion (it ends August 19, 2015) you can still snag the lesson for just $5.00! I look forward to working this into our Ancient Egypt studies this year in history!

Science Projects, Books and Freebies!

Are you looking for great end of the summer science activities? Are you seeking some ideas for adding to your science curriculum this coming year? Have you considered the great resources from Educents? Check out these science experiments, science freebies, and science books that will make back-to-school fun for everyone.

 

The links on this blog and in the posts may be affiliate links. 
Please see my disclosure policy for full details and thank you for your support!

Magic School Bus Polymer Group Pack

Seat belts everyone! Get ready to grow amazing polymers! Young Scientists grow super balls, snow, rainbow beads, crystal gels, and polymer flowers while learning about the importance and science of super-absorbent polymers. This kit provides enough materials for 30 students and is great for the classroom, after-school programs, science enrichment, boys and girls scouts, camps, and a Magic School Bus birthday Party!

Discounted Magic School Bus Polymer Group Pack on Educents

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FREE - Osmosis: The Colorful Celery Experiment

Are you teaching your students about osmosis? Perhaps it is a part of your science curriculum, or maybe you want to just do a little experimenting... The Colorful Celery Experiment is the perfect introduction to Osmosis. Your students will learn how water moves with this fun experiment.

It's Science Time! Osmosis Freebie on Educents

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Science Story eBooks - 50% OFF

Follow Merrin and Pearl to combine science with adventure in Brainiacs. Also learn about the nervous, digestive, immune, skeletal and circulatory system with a five part series from Human Body Detectives eBooks.
 

Human Body Detectives eBook Collection - 50% off on Educents

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Magic School Bus Inspired Planet Study - 30% OFF

Plan games, worksheets, and coloring pages to expand your young astronomer's understanding of space!

   

Discounted Interactive Planet and Lunar Study on Educents

 

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More Science Resources

Looking for more inspiration for science experiments? Check out these resources:

• The Young Scientists Club - Engage boys and girls around the world in an educational science adventure that lasts a lifetime.
• Science printables for older kids - Teach With Fergy offers printable task cards, complete science units, PowerPoint lessons, and more!
• STEM Mystery Books - Teach science and math with these books full of dozens of one-minute mysteries that kids love to solve!

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I hope this gave you some ideas for what you can use for science! Tune back in tomorrow for an exciting giveaway announcement and upcoming blog hop!

Educents Limited Time offer~ Free Minion Math Centers

What makes you happy? Minions? Freebies? Well, how about Minion Freebies?   The links on this blog and in the posts may be affiliate links.  Please see my disclosure policy for full details and thank you for your support!

These free math activities on Educents offers 22 printable pages of math activities for Minion fans. It covers addition, subtraction, measurement, money, and more!

**FREE OFFER EXPIRES 8/2/2015**
(once it expires, price will return to $4.99)

Minion Math Centers Freebie

• Minion Addition (to 12)
• Minion Subtraction (to 12)
• Minions Making Ten
• Minion Measurement
• Minion Money Match
• Missing Minion Numbers
• Minion Number Cards

 

If you're looking for more ways to make math learning fun, check this out:

Early Math Musical DVDs

This DVD set from Rock 'N' Learn is a fun way to boost math skills for the early grades. Like the Minions, these DVDs have fun characters your little ones will love to get to know! Math facts are easy to learn with fun music and exciting animation. Learn all about counting coins and bills and practice making change. Kids will learn to tell time to the hour, half hour, and minute using traditional analog clocks. Includes Addition & Subtraction Rap DVD, Money & Making Change DVD, and the Telling Time DVD. I hope this math freebie made by Amy of Teaching in Blue Jeans makes you happy. 

Download the Free Minion Math Centers, then go ahead and do a little dance! :)

We saw the Minions movie this past weekend and enjoyed it...and I know my boys will enjoy this Minion themed math center!