Cheap is neat, but free is for me.

Free Online Resources

Scratch is a computer programming language and environment that is designed for grades 5-8. It is a great introduction to computer programming. Make sure to go to the Help menu then Getting Started when you begin. It will give you a little backround. Another good thing to do is click the Open button. This will show you folders of projects that have already been created. Click on one of them to see how they were created. Try changing some of the settings. Click HERE to go to the Scratch website.

Amongst the great Google applications is SketchUp. It is a 3D drawing and drafting program that works in both Windows and MacIntosh operating systems. It allows you to create startlingly detailed and realistic three dimensional drawings. Click HERE to go to the SketchUp webstie.

If you don't already have Google Earth, you've most likely heard of it. It too is free, and available HERE.

Microsoft Office is great, but you can get Open Office for free. It has nearly all of the capabilities of Microsoft Office, but without the hefty price tag.

Forecast Fox is a cool (and free) add-on for your Firefox web browser (which is also free). With it you can get international weather forecasts from AccuWeather.com, and display it in any toolbar or statusbar with this highly customizable and unobtrusive extension. What is even cooler is that it was developed by Jon Stritar, an MIT student (they made Scratch), who is also an MMS graduate.

Free Online Typing Lessons This is a pretty good website for learning to type. It is not set up like a game, but that is a good thing.