Using Educational Magazines in Your Homeschool (and Our Favorites!)

Magazines are a fantastic addition to your homeschool. Small articles are approachable, topical stories supplement history and science and the interest in receiving a new one each month makes magazines a must-have homeschool resource.

I have loved magazines for as long as I can remember.  It started with Highlights and National Geographic World.  My hometown library had a wide range of magazines for kids and I’d stop there first every visit.  I’ve had at least one subscription since I was 8.  And now I can share that with my kids.  Magazines can be a fantastic addition to your homeschool.

1. They add something new to your day and that itself can increase interest. Plus you get a new one each month! 
2. Short articles, graphics, and tidbits are approachable for a student who may be hesitant to read longer works.
3. With numerous authors in a single magazine comes exposure to many different writing styles.
4. Even high-quality magazines can be affordable when purchased as a subscription.
5. Topical magazines, filled with high-interest articles, make great supplements to history and science.

*Some of the following links are affiliate links.  You may read my full disclosure policy here.**

Finding Magazines

Over the summer, I headed over to Cricket Media’s single-issue section so I could purchase individual magazines to go along with this year’s science and history topics (zoology & the middle ages). This is a great way to try out several magazines while rounding out supplements for your school year.  They also offer teacher guides to go along with their magazines, including lesson ideas & activities.  You don’t have to purchase through their site to access the teacher guides.

Subscriptions for Cricket Media’s print magazines are less expensive through Amazon but the digital versions are less expensive on Cricket’s website.  Cricket Media also offers a great option.  If your child outgrows a magazine during your subscription or you just want to switch to a different one, you can contact them to have it switched!
Through your library system, check Overdrive, RB Digital, and Zinio.  We are able to check out many magazines listed below…all free!  I load them into the app on our iPad.

RELATED Current Events in Our Homeschool

How We Use Magazines in Our Homeschool

• Each kid reads an article and then summarizes it aloud.
• We read an article together and discuss it.
• Free time reading
• Topical magazines make a great assigned reading.
• Articles that coordinate with our together work are shared during those subjects.
• Add a magazine or two to your morning basket.
  

History and Science Magazines for Kids

AppleSeeds
ask  {See my review.}
Chick-a-Dee
Owl 
cobblestone
dig into History  {See my review.}
faces
muse
Ranger Rick
National Geographic Kids
Zoobooks

Literary & Just for Fun

Boys’ Life
Curious Jane
New Moon: the Magazine for Girls & Their Dreams
Sports Illustrated for Kids
Highlights
Spider
Military Kids Life
Chop Chop

Magazines for the Younger Crowd

click
Ladybug
High Five
National Geographic Little Kids
Ranger Rick, Jr. 
Babybug