Free Educational Downloads
Applications Worth Downloading:
Dragnifier: www.halley.cc/stuff/dragnifier.html
This is a handy program that allows you to magnify a portion
of the screen by just clicking on the icon in the tray.
PDF995 Adobe PDF File Creator: www.pdf995.com
This download will allow you to create .pdf files that
anyone can read with Adobe Acrobat Reader, which
comes loaded on most new computers (or download for
free at www.adobe.com). This is great if your
students/parents do not have the software you use at school (e.g. MS Word)
on their home computers.
To create a PDF of any file, simply click on File / Print and choose PDF995
from your printer options. You will get a pop-up where you must click on the
“Continue using the sponsored version.” Once you do, it will open Adobe and
create the .pdf. You will get one other pop-up to close. Hey, it’s free – what
do you expect?!
Google Earth – GIS System: http://earth.google.com
This is a very cool GIS system that allows you to manipulate and view
major cities in 3D. You can add layers of information to your from
geographic features to commerce. (This Click “No” when asked to log in as
you start up the system.)
• Instructions for use: http://earth.google.com/tour/index.html
• Integrating: http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001672.shtml
SMART Notebook: www.smarttech.com/support/software/index.asp
This is free software from SMART Technologies designed to be used
with their interactive white board BUT it has many applications not
dependent on using a SMART Board.
StudyDog – Early Reading Program: www.studydog.com
This free program focuses on building early reading
skills and comes in three levels, Pre-K, K-1st and 1st –
2nd. Using Flash media, the program is visually rich
and good auditory enhancements. There are both
home and school versions so that students have reinforcement practice at
home.
Picasa Photo Organizer: www.picasa.com
This is neat program that will scan your computer
for any saved pictures, organize them for you,
quickly set up a slide show at the click of a
Alma Row
Program Specialist, Instructional Technology
Lincoln Intermediate Unit
Page 1 of 6
button, and let you manipulate them. You can also set up a blog account
where you can display these pictures for others to see (“Hello” feature).
PageBreeze Web Authoring Tool: www.pagebreeze.com
This web authoring tool is free for non-commercial use
and offers both a WYSIWYG (visual) and HTML
viewing options. Many of the tools look like MS Office.
Moodle: http://moodle.com
Moodle is an online course management system
where teachers can create and conduct online
courses. The software is free but you must download it onto your own server.
GIS from ArcExplorer: www.esri.com/software/arcexplorer/download.html
This is a “geographic information system” that allows students to
manipulate geographic data in a visual way. Be sure to download the
ArcExplorer Java Edition for Educational ( AEJEE) version.
Cmap Concept Mapping: http://cmap.ihmc.us
This free software works much like the graphic portion of
Inspiration. You are able to create concept maps and
show relationships between the ideas.
Abiword Word Processor: www.abisource.com
This free word processor looks very similar to Microsoft
Word and will save its files as Word documents. It can also
open Word documents for editing and saving.
OpenOffice: www.openoffice.org
This is opensource software suite that is compatible with
MS Office. The word processor is not as intuitive as
AbiWord but the other applications are available.
Text-to-Speech Software - ReadPlease 2003: www.readplease.com
This is freeware that allows you to cut and paste text into the
program and then reads it back upon demand. Web pages can
also be enabled if you copy a simple script into the html. Great for
non-readers or text that is above a students reading level!
Tuxedo Paint: www.newbreedsoftware.com/tuxpaint/
This is a paint program for primary children. It’s very intuitive to use,
has fun sound effects, and you can import your own images. They
must be .png files (no larger than 448 x 376 pixels) and stored in
C:\Program Files\TuxPaint\data\stamps\cartoon\tux
Alma Row
Program Specialist, Instructional Technology
Lincoln Intermediate Unit
Page 2 of 6
Gimp Shop: www.plasticbugs.com
This is an image editing tool very similar to PhotoShop,
however, it is only available in Windows.
Audacity: http://audacity.sourceforge.net/
This is a great sound editor that can really come in
handy for podcasting or any time you need to edit
sound file. If you need free music to augment your
voices files, look into http://freeplaymusic.com.
Online Tools:
TappedIn: http://tappedin.org
Survey Monkey: www.surveymonkey.com
This is a free program that will allow you to video conference
with others who have also downloaded this software. You will
need to register on your first visit.
Maps from Google: http://maps.google.com
You can view the world or close in on a particular area.
You can view either a map or the satellite view of that
area. Enter any address in the top box and it will bring a map back for it.
Try GoogleMoon too: http://moon.google.com
Brainy Betty: www.BrainyBetty.com
This is a great online survey tool that
allows you to create up to a 10question online survey, batch send the
request participation and harvest the results. There is a more sophisticated
version that is fee-based.
iVisit: www.ivisit.com
This is a free online community where teachers
can post information, students can engage in
discussion boards, student work can be posted,
etc.
This site has a ton of free PowerPoint templates that you can download. It
will save it as a .zip file that you must unzip (free zip file extractor at
www.winzip.com).
Localendars: www.localendar.com
Create your own calendar and then
just use the web address to share with
others. Premium features can be added (free 30-day trial).
Alma Row
Program Specialist, Instructional Technology
Lincoln Intermediate Unit
Page 3 of 6
Calendars Net: www.calendars.net
Nicenet Online Discussion Board: www.nicenet.org
This is an online tool where students and teachers can
collect resources for research. You will create a free
teacher account and create corresponding student
accounts. You can make assignments, send emails,
and have students keep notes of their various research resources as it
creates a bibliography. Great for secondary!
Mike’s LegoCad: www.lm-software.com/mlcad
Converts pictures from one format to another.
It can convert an entire folder at one time!
Notestar: http://notestar.4teachers.org
This is a free online discussion board
where you can create a class account
and share the Class Key with your
students. Students must set up their
own account but no email is required.
You can also delete users.
Blue Armadillo www.tech4learning.com/support/barmadillo.html
This site allows you to create your own
online calendar. You can add security so
that only you can edit or give others access to calendar. You can also link
your calendar to your own web page.
This is download that allows you to “build” with Legos on the
computer and then it will produce the directions to build it (PC only)
NetTrekker Online Search Tool: www.nettrekker.com
This is free for all of Pennsylvania teachers and
students (purchased by PDE)! Any site
cataloged within this site has been reviewed by
teachers and all are arranged by reading level. Sites can be searched and
bookmarked.
Online Site that are Worth Noting:
Alma Row
Program Specialist, Instructional Technology
Lincoln Intermediate Unit
Page 4 of 6
Electronic Field Trips: www.bsu.edu/eft (select BestBuy as your method of
payment – philanthropy for BestBuy – AVAILABLE through IP)
QuizStar: http://quizstar.4teachers.org - Make online quizzes that students can
access online or copy the html for importing into your own web page.
HangMan: http://www.caltrox.com/products/hangword.htm
Maze Creator: www.mazecreator.com
Free Teacher Web Page: www.schoolrack.com (Alma’s page:
www.schoolrack.com/aprow); http://poster.hprtec.org;
Online Skill & Drill Programs:
o www.teachrkids.com
o www.starfall.com
Worksheet Wizard : http://wizard.hprtec.org – Create worksheets to print.
KidsDomain HUGE listing by age:
www.kidsdomain.com/down/pc/_agefreeware-index.html
Virtual Online Manipulatives: http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/vlibrary.html
50 States map puzzles: www.yourchildlearns.com/owlmouse.htm
Scholastic News Teacher:
https://my.scholastic.com/sps_my_account/registration/GenericTeacher
Registration.jsp -- free teacher web page, resources
Puzzlemakers: www.puzzlemaker.com; www.jigzone.com;
Post-Its: http://www.3m.com/market/office/postit/com_prod/psnotes/index.html
Online Web Response Creator: www.response-o-matic.com
Online puzzle creator:
www.apte.com/puzzles/index.cfm?action=dsp_createhome
Create a Graph: http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/graphing - Great online site where
students can enter data and create graphs
National Science Digital Library: http://nsdl.org/
International Children’s Digital Library- www.icdlbooks.org/
Translator: www.freetranslation.com
Free Web Page: http://poster.hprtec.org
PBS for Kids: http://pbskids.org
Webquest Portal Webquest Templates:
http://webquest.sdsu.edu/materials.htm
Alma Row
Program Specialist, Instructional Technology
Lincoln Intermediate Unit
Page 5 of 6
Online bookmarks: www.backflip.com; http://del.icio.us
Other Freebies:
Free Digital Images:
www.pics4learning.com
www.mutopiaproject.org
http://gimp-savvy.com/PHOTO-ARCHIVE
http://eduscapes.com/tap/topic98.htm
www.freefoto.com
www.bigfoto.com
www.loc.gov/rr/geogmap/gmpage.html - maps
www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook - maps
Text:
www.gutenberg.org
Music:
www.pdinfo.com/list/g.htm
http://freeplaymusic.com
www.mp3.com
www.imusicsearch.com
www.moviewavs.com
www.wavethemes.org
www.ultimatesoundarchive.com
www.emp3world.com
Sounds: www.findsounds.com
Free music curriculum: http://media.jalc.org/nea/home.html
Public Domain:
www.pdinfo.com/link.htm
http://odur.let.rug.nl/~usa/D/
- historical documents
Freebies Listings:
More Freebies
•
•
www.tucows.com – Beware as not all sites are without spyware.
www.versiontracker.com – Choose your operating platform.
Alma Row
Program Specialist, Instructional Technology
Lincoln Intermediate Unit
Page 6 of 6