Because school budgets are cut every year, in many cases it’s the parents’ responsibility to ensure their children have well-rounded educations. Fortunately, the Internet is full of teaching tools — if you know how to search for them. And because children are so hip, accessing the Web for learning is like second nature to them. I watched my 4-year-old nephew navigate YouTube looking for NASA launch videos and tornado pictures, so older kids should have no problem.

You can often find learning opportunities in unusual places, such as in the world of vintage art. Digitized antique advertising, postcards, greeting cards, posters and other ephemera contain a view of history that’s interesting and revealing. The following are just some of the online vintage images you can use for teaching:

Free Vintage Travel Art

Kids will enjoy learning about their world if you expose them to free vintage travel art. These walks down memory lane instruct not only about the destinations themselves, but how different cultures were perceived.

Old Sailing Ships Photos and Paintings

There’s a rich source of information to be found if kids study historic tall sailing ships. From barqs to Blackwall frigates to the elegant historic vessels that sail in the modern Tall Ships Race, stories abound of life at sea.

Vintage American Icons Postcards

There were quite a few postcards printed that honored American presidents, statesmen and even heroines. As a matter of fact, these used to be all the rage. From Abraham Lincoln postcards to cards with pictures of Betsy Ross and John Adams to fictional American icons like Uncle Sam, the online world is filled with these vintage pictorial references. Most tell some aspect of the featured person’s life story, making them bite-sized history lessons.

Colonel Stoopnagle’s Spoonerisms

Animal spoonerisms originated in the early- to mid-20th Century, brought forth by Reverend W.A. Spooner and made famous by Frederick Chase Taylor, a radio comedian, performing under the name Colonel Lemuel Q. Stoopnagle. These unusual versions of traditional tales swap the first letter or phonetic sound of one word with the next word or a word that falls a few words away. Some supposed authentic spoonerisms include “cattle ships and bruisers” for “battleships and cruisers” and “a blushing crow” for “a crushing blow”. Besides being entertaining, these mangled mash-ups also give children the chance to play with words.

Victorian Era Fashions

Fashion isn’t necessarily trivial or only for children who want to go on to become fashion designers, if it reveals a piece of history. Looking at Victorian fashion how different life was almost two centuries ago. At the very least, they’ll get a better perspective on just how good their lives are now!

You Can Also Use Current Events

There are also plenty of current topics that can be studied. You just have to watch out for impartiality. As an example, many parents don’t agree with Barack Obama’s policies. But that shouldn’t stop them from using free Obama clipart, free Barack Obama photos or even free Barack Obama paper dolls to create lesson plans. In fact, one open-minded homeschooling mom accessed all three to make a large, interactive tally board for her children during the last presidential election. She never let her own political views enter the picture, she just wanted to make sure her kids understood the American election process. Due to her neutral presentation, her kids are now better equipped to make their own decisions when it comes to politics.

Remember, children are like sponges, so you want to make sure they get balanced information. That impartiality will make a big difference to them later in their lives. You never know, one of the children you’re teaching could be the president some day!