|
Before we jump into this month’s newsletter, we wanted to share a quick update regarding the recent Canvas Free-for-Teacher outage that affected our classes and unit studies. We are happy to report that FundaFunda Academy's classes are now back up and running on a new platform, and all new purchases are functioning normally.
Families who previously purchased Fall semester classes, self-paced classes, or unit studies with ongoing access will receive updated course access information and links by the end of the month as we complete the migration process.
Thank you for your patience and support during an unexpectedly stressful few weeks. We truly appreciate it.
This month we have a science unit study special for you which will also help fund a homeschool Science Olympiad team get to the Nationals competition in California. Our Canva Game Creator Contest is live and the StockMarket contest is starting soon, and you'll find details on how to join the fun. There are links to summer reading clubs we know you'll enjoy, and we have new offerings in our regular features. Last but not least, we have a calendar of free educational summer activities to help you keep the learning and fun going all summer long!
Disclosure: This newsletter may feature affiliate links, which means we will earn a small commission if you purchase through the links provided.
JUST FOR YOU:
May Special
This bundle is available as part of a fundraising effort for a homeschool Science Olympiad team we support. Once the offer ends, this pricing may not return. The cost of the individual unit studies is $120! The bundle is just $29!
This bundle is only available until the end of May – May 31, 2026.
Get the bundle deal and help support the team!
|
Calendar of Free Educational Summer Activities
A fun free activity to keep the learning going all summer. The calendar has clickable links to take you right to the activity. Some are online, some offline. All are fun AND educational!
|
| April Poll: Are you traveling this summer? |
|
|
|
|
|
What Are Students Saying about our classes?
"The things I learned in this class I will be using for life. It came in handy so many times already, even while I was busy with the course. The graphics-making tools, presentations, voice-overs, video-making, websites, and study tools have made my daily life so much easier. Thank you!"
~Mishe on Computer Applications
"It really does cover everything that you would need to know about photography. A really good course and I would recommend it to anyone interested in photography."
~Ben on Photography
"This class has done a great job in going through the various aspects of the complex but amazing human body. Besides its sound teaching, the class schedule is self paced, usually completing assignments at the end of the week. This creates for a more flexible schedule that can work for anyone. Depending on the topic being studied, this class not only has tests all the time, but there times where students will do a research topic, mainly diseases that affect a certain organ. These, though difficult at times, were my favorite since I learned even more through research. If one is looking for an education that does a great job in introducing the function of the body, and doesn’t want to feel overwhelmed by school load, to wanting a more flexible schedule for busy activities, Anatomy and Physiology through Funda Funda is a perfect fit."
~Zeke on Anatomy & Physiology
|
Contest of the Month
Flavor of the Month
|
|
Summer is around the corner, and if you are 14 years of age or older and live in the U.S., here's an opportunity to enter a contest centered around ice cream! Who doesn't love ice cream?!
Submit a response (250 words or less) to the question: "Summer and ice cream go hand-in-hand. In fact, July is National Ice Cream Month, and that's the inspiration behind this award. We think people are very similar to ice cream; some are nutty, others a little exotic, while some are very comforting. If you were an ice cream flavor, which would you be and why?"
The Flavor of the Month Scholarship winner will be notified by email or phone on or around October 31st and win a $1,500 scholarship.
|
AI Tip of the Month
|
|
Google Arts & Culture just dropped One Minute Guides: National Parks, which
uses AI to create a personalized mini-guide to 10 US National Parks
based on your travel persona (romantic, artist, Zen seeker, etc.).
It's a great way for your children to virtually explore the parks,
and they even earn digital passport stamps along the way.
|
Upcoming FundaFunda Events
Canva Game Creator Contest for May!
Most people think of Canva as a design tool, but students can actually use it to create online games too.
In our Canva Game Creator Contest, students will build their own original game in Canva. They can create any type of game they want, and we will provide guidance on how to use Canva to make a video game.
The contest is open for students in grades 6th - 12th and runs through June 30, 2026.
Prizes:
1st place: $50 Amazon gift card
2nd place: $25 Amazon gift card
3rd place: $15 Amazon gift card
Plus, the $10 entry fee includes FREE access to our Intro to AI unit study (a $20 value!)
This contest is a fun and affordable way for students to build creativity, tech skills, and problem-solving skills while making something original.
Register here!
FundaFunda's Stock Market Contest is back for 2025!
Sign your children up for our summer Stock Market Contest! Students receive $100,000 in virtual currency to invest between June 1 and July 31. At the end of July, the top 3 students will win Amazon gift cards in the amounts of $50, $25, or $15.
Registration is $10 per student and includes our web-based Stock Market Unit Study ($20 value). You receive immediate access to the unit study, so sign up now and your child can start working through the unit study to gain background knowledge before the contest begins.
Game Dates: June 1 - July 31, 2026.
Register Here
Congratulations to the winners of our Fantasy Geography Contest
1st place Brextyn P ($50 Amazon gift card)
2nd place Lydia S ($25 Amazon gift card)
3rd place Dominic B($10 Amazon gift card)
|
Self-paced classes are ideal for earning credits over the summer -- students can fit them around travel and summer camps.
|
|
|
As we head into the summer, we thought it would be a good idea to gather some fun links for book clubs for you. Enjoy!
- Pizza Hut's Book It program is back! During the summer months of June, July, and August, any child that meets their parent-set reading goals can earn a free Pizza Hut® single topping Personal Pan Pizza®* from participating locations.
- The New York Times will be offering their 17th Annual Summer Reading Contest from June 5 - August 14, 2026. Participants are invited to share what they are reading in the Times and why. Middle and high school students can submit their entry in writing or via a 90-second video. At the end of each week, judges from the Times newsroom will pick their favorite responses and publish them here.
- Public Libraries and local sports teams – Don't forget to check with your public library and local sports teams, as they often host reading competitions.
- Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Program is for children in grades 1-6. Participants will receive a free book after reading 8 books and filling out a Reading Journal. Take the completed journal to a Barnes & Noble store between July 1 and August 31, 2026, to receive your free book.
- Chuck E. Cheese offers opportunities to earn awards for things from good grades to sports! You can find information on those deals here. Their Reading Rewards Calendar expires December 31, 2026, and offers 10 free play points with any food purchase.
- Half Price Books Summer Reading Camp registration is open. Starting June 1, children 14 and under who read for 300 minutes or more in June and July will earn $5 free Bookworm Bucks and a camp sticker sheet. There are also additional summer reading activities available.
Find a few more fun reading programs on our blog post here.
|
|
Plan Ahead for 2026-2027
The 2026 -2027 ACT National Test Dates have been released. Plan now for the upcoming school year.
September 19, 2026
October 17, 2026
December 12, 2026
February 27, 2027
April 10, 2027
June 12, 2027
July 10, 2027
|
Latest Podcast Episodes
In our Homeschooling with Technology podcast, we explore new and different ways of using technology in homeschooling. There is an episode released every week!
You can start listening at any time. Just click on a link to listen in a browser, or find the podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. Email me if you need help! We have a tab on our website to browse through all our past podcast episodes easily. Check it out!
In this episode, Meryl shares how educational summer walks can become meaningful learning experiences for homeschoolers using simple apps and technology tools.
Have you ever thought about turning family travel into a tech skills classroom? In this episode, Meryl shares practical ways to assign your teens real planning tasks before and during a trip — tasks that build digital literacy alongside life skills.
Staying connected across the miles doesn’t have to mean just phone calls. In this episode, Meryl shares five practical ways grandchildren and grandparents can build real relationships digitally — with the bonus that several of these also sneak in genuine learning.
In this episode, Meryl shares a practical mix of AI tips you can implement right away.
The Artemis 2 mission has four astronauts circling the moon right now, and it’s a perfect time to bring space exploration into your homeschool. In this episode, learn about free (and nearly free) tools organized into four categories: learn and explore, games and interactives, simulations, and citizen science.
|
Free Resource Library for Subscribers
Access the Free Resources Library HERE. Password: edufun
|
|
|
9508 Abrams Creek Way, Knoxville, TN, USA, KNOXVILLE, TN 37922
Unsubscribe |
|
|
