I know it’s summer, and I don’t have any kids of my own at home, but I was looking around for resources for the fall and came upon a goldmine! Life of Fred!! I wasn’t excited by the covers – they seem a little strange, but … nearly constant 5 STAR REVIEWS?? I had to investigate…..
Life of Fred is a series of educational books created by Dr. Stanley F. Schmidt. Unlike traditional textbooks, each book follows the adventures of a quirky little character named Fred Gauss, a math genius. Through Fred’s eyes, students encounter mathematical concepts and real-life lessons in a way that feels more like reading a novel than studying a textbook.
Each book in the Life of Fred series is written as a narrative, with Fred encountering everyday situations that require math and critical thinking to solve. This approach makes learning feel natural and engaging. The books are filled with are filled with humor and quirky characters and integrate math with all other subjects like science, history, and LA!
Fred’s adventures often present challenges that require logical thinking and creativity to overcome, and Fred’s books are available for all grade levels. They are primarily math, and I seriously could have used the math at home for reteaching.
Elementary Series: These books introduce fundamental math concepts through engaging stories.
Life of Fred Complete Elementary Collection by Dr. Stanley F. Schmidt includes the following titles that can be purchased independently: Life of Fred: Goldfish, Life of Fred: Farming, Life of Fred: Jelly Bean, Life of Fred: Honey, Life of Fred: Ice Cream, Life of Fred: Butterflies, Life of Fred: Cats, Life of Fred: Dogs, Life of Fred: Edgewood, and Life of Fred: Apples (Apples seems to be only available in smaller sets – not independently.).
Middle-School Series: The middle school series is a continuation of the elementary series, but it delves deeper into mathematical concepts appropriate for students in grades 5 through 8.
The middle-school books can be purchased independently or in small packs. The books include: Life of Fred: Fractions, Life of Fred: Decimals and Percents, Life of Fred: Pre-Algebra 0 with Physics, Life of Fred: Pre-Algebra 1 with Biology, and Life of Fred: Pre-Algebra 2 with Economics.
High-School Series: The Life of Fred series for high school covers various mathematical topics typically encountered in high school and early college-level math courses.
The titles include: Life of Fred: Beginning Algebra, Life of Fred: Advanced Algebra, Life of Fred: Geometry, Life of Fred: Trigonometry, Life of Fred: Calculus, Life of Fred: Real Analysis, and Life of Fred: Financial Choices, Life of Fred: Language Arts Series: Dreams, and Life of Fred: Language Arts Series: Begin Teaching These titles can also be purchased in packs.
It’s hard to believe, but there are even more intermediate practice books filled with fun! I’ve read so many reviews that made me wish that my kids were young enough for Life of Fred. I think the Life of Fred books would have done wonders for my daughter. Math was NOT her thing, but taught creatively, she might have just found that it does indeed make sense! I hope my discovery might help all the homeschoolers and parents who are just wanting to bridge your child’s knowledge over the summer. Don’t forget, the summer doesn’t have to be a lost 3 months of learning!