Homeschoolers learn as much outside the home as in it. Here you'll find listings of cultural and educational institutions, government resources, libraries, and bookstores. If you need a tutor, this is the best place for you to find one near you.
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| Museums |
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Explore the world of art, science, and history by visiting a museum in Illinois. Museum trips can make your lessons come alive and can offer a fun way to spend the day learning.
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| Zoos & Wildlife |
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You can read all you want in a book, but there is nothing like seeing the objects of your study up-close and personal when you visit a zoo, nature preserve, aquarium, or wildlife sanctuary. Visit the animal kingdom here in Illinois, and you'll find a fun and interesting way to learn more about the natural world.
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| Botanical Gardens |
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Share the natural world with your child at these botanical gardens and arboretums. These are wonderful places to go to go birding, work on your nature journals, or simply spend a lovely afternoon outdoors.
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| Nature Centers |
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Nature centers are places where you can see the natural and historical world come alive. Browse through these nature centers in Illinois and introduce your children to the world outside their door.
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| Theater, Dance & Music |
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Visiting and viewing the arts expands your outlook on the world and can an inspiration to both you and your children. Browse through this list of theaters, dance companies, and music offerings in Illinois.
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| Historic Sites |
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Learn through history by visiting interesting historic sites around the state of Illinois. Historic sites let you put a real face on the history that you've read about, making it more exciting for you and your children.
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| National & State Parks |
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Continue your child's education as you explore the natural wonder of national and state parks in Illinois.
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| Public Resources |
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Connect with government and public agencies in Illinois that can offer resources and opportunities for learning.
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| State School Resources |
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A listing of public school resources, including Illinois's Department of Education, school districts, and other useful information.
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| Libraries |
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Libraries are an important resource for homeschoolers. Parents and children value librarians for the expertise they share when navigating the vast amounts of information found in today's libraries. Libraries also provide lending materials, educational materials, meeting space for support groups, and more.
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| Bookstores |
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Where can you find homeschooling books, curricula, and supplies? Where can you get used books? Here is a list of bookstores around the state of Illinois, with a special emphasis on those that are especially helpful for homeschoolers.
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| Tutors & Teachers |
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Are you looking for a tutor? Need some help with a particular subject? Here are some resources to help you.
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Homeschool Library Connection |
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The library can be an awesome resource for homeschoolers, but is useless if it doesn't carry the books that homeschoolers need. The sole purpose of the Homeschool Library Connection email list is to help homeschoolers make purchasing suggestions to their public libraries.
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Lincoln Home National Historic Site |
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The Lincoln home in Springfield, the centerpiece of the Lincoln Home National Historic Site, has been restored to its 1860s appearance, revealing Lincoln as husband, father, politician, and President-elect. It stands in the midst of a four block historic neighborhood which the National Park Service is restoring so that the neighborhood, like the house, will appear much as Lincoln would have remembered it. |
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Cosley Zoo |
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Located in Wheaton, the Cosley Zoo is situated on five acres and exhibits domestic farm animals and native Illinois wildlife. You can enjoy sitting by the picturesque duck pond, get close to a 2,000 pound horse, and if you're lucky, hear the coyotes howl. The 1887 railroad station, antique caboose, and a 125-year-old barn provide visitors with a piece of local history.
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Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum |
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The Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum in Chicago features the first planetarium built in the Western Hemisphere. The Adler is home to more than 35,000 square feet of exhibits, rrom scale models of the Solar System, to ancient astronomical instruments, to interactive adventures. The Adler is the only museum in the world with two full-size planetarium theaters which feature a variety of shows. |
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A Home Away from Home: Libraries & Homeschoolers |
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Lora Shinn |
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According to a 2003 study by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), when homeschoolers were asked about their primary source of books and/or curriculum, 78 percent named their public library. This article offers ideas for outreach and support to homeschooling families, including ideas for creating a homeschool information hot spot, touring the library with homeschool groups, offering targeted programs and more. |
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