Tips Archive » Teaching Techniques » Free Stuff

• Your Local Chamber of Commerce (1 tip)
• Armed Services (1 tip)
• Posters (2 tips)
• Magazines (1 tip)

Your Local Chamber of Commerce

Local Info

From Verlee Owens, a special education and English teacher at West High School in Sioux City, Iowa:

"Looking for some wonderful and usually free teaching resources to start the school year? Frustrated because materials haven't arrived - but you know the kids will? Try your local chamber of commerce and state tourism office. There are usually many books, maps and brochures available in classroom sets just for the asking. Teachers across the curriculum and grade levels can encourage creative writing, improve map skills, work on skimming/scanning for information and on following directions. Students are often excited about the treasures in their own city and state."

Armed Services

Free Stuff from the Armed Services

From Lois Barreto, a third grade teacher at Peace Lutheran School in Detroit Michigan:

"I go to the armed services recruiting offices and ask for book covers and pencils. They are usually glad to oblige. They have other free things for classrooms too. I use the free pencils as rewards for 100% on tests."

Posters

Free Posters!

From a fifth grade teacher:

"I just found this website, http://www.ed.gov/pubs/edpubs.html, that has tons of free items. Some don't even require postage! I just ordered a totally free reading and writing Arthur poster for a fellow elementary teacher. I also found that my local video store often has free promotional posters and they just throw out old displays. I ask for the displays right before recycling night. I use the display cartons for book reports and even dioramas."

Posters for the Asking

From Joe Marschhauser, librarian at George Westinghouse High School in Brooklyn, New York:

"An excellent way to get free posters and informational booklets is to write government embassies and consulates (listed in many phone books) or their tourist offices. For information on states, write to the chamber of commerce in the state capitol. Even without a zip code it gets there! If you want the exact address, look at a travel guide for the state. I've gotten and given posters to teachers and secretaries -- great and cheap!"

Magazines

Free Subscriptions

From Carla Herbert, a fourth grade teacher at Howard Wilson in Leavenworth, Kansas:

"Here is an idea on how to get free stuff from Highlights and U.S. Kids magazines. These magazines have applications that they expect teachers to send home and get parents to sign. Instead of sending them home, I ask parents to sign them during our first parent/teacher conference. I explain to them that it's up to them whether or not they want to purchase the magazine, but we can get free stuff with even just their signature saying they do not wish to purchase. They do not need to write their address if they do not wish to buy it and they gladly do this for me. I usually have enough signatures to get a year's subscription and some free stickers."