Life of Fred Mathematics Curriculum

The Life of Fred homeschool math curriculum is designed to engage students in a fun narrative while instilling a solid understanding of the principles of mathematics--without an abundance of repetitive, boring drills! Discover the Life of Fred Elementary Series, the Life of Fred Intermediate Series, Life of Fred High School books, and Life of Fred Language Arts and Beginning Readers!

Life of Fred Series Information

Life of Fred is likely to be one of the most unique math programs you will ever come across. It is a complete (not a supplemental!), math program that relies upon the self-teaching learning style many homeschoolers love. How Life of Fred Works

The texts follow the life of Fred Gauss—a six-year-old math professor at Kittens University who was born on the slopes of the Siberian Mountains—who has many humorous, unlikely, and zany adventures. Informal in tone and approach, these books are designed to engage students in a fun narrative while also instilling a solid understanding of the principles of mathematics--without an abundance of repetitive drills!

The program is structured in different courses that cover multiple grades:

  • Elementary and intermediate books for 1st-5th grade

  • A “Before High School Mathematics” series that features arithmetic & pre-algebra books for late elementary and middle school

  • A four-year high school course

  • A set of university-level textbooks

Unlike the common “consumable” math worktext model, Life of Fred texts are hardcover, non-consumable textbooks with Smyth-sewn bindings; students write their answers on separate paper. Answers are also included in the text (written directly to the student) for most texts; geometry and the college-level courses have selected answers in the texts with answer keys (sold-separately) that include the remaining answers.

Life of Fred: Elementary Series: Grades 1-4

Life of Fred: Intermediate Series: Grades 4-5

Getting Ready for High School Arithmetic Series: Grades 5-8

Getting Ready for High School Pre-Algebra Series: Grades 6-8

Life of Fred: High School Mathematics

Life of Fred: University Mathematics Set 1

  1. Life of Fred: Calculus Expanded  Edition
    Stanley F. Schmidt
    Polka Dot Publishing / Hardcover
    Our Price$57.00
  2. Life of Fred: Statistics, Expanded  Edition
    Stanley F. Schmidt
    Polka Dot Publishing / Hardcover
    Our Price$57.00

Life of Fred: University Mathematics Set 2

  1. Life of Fred: Linear Algebra  Expanded Edition
    Stanley F. Schmidt Ph.D.
    Polka Dot Publishing / Hardcover
    Our Price$61.00
  2. Life of Fred: Five Days of Upper  Division Math
    Stanley F. Schmidt Ph.D.
    Polka Dot Publishing / Hardcover
    Our Price$24.00
  3. Life of Fred: Real Analysis
    Stanley F. Schmidt
    Polka Dot Publishing / Hardcover
    Our Price$49.00
  4. Life of Fred: Complex Analysis
    Stanley F. Schmidt
    Polka Dot Publishing / Hardcover
    Our Price$49.00

Zillions of Practice Series

  1. Zillions of Practice Problems:  Fractions
    Stanley F. Schmidt
    Polka Dot Publishing / Hardcover
    Our Price$24.00
  2. Zillions of Practice Problems:  Decimals
    Stanley F. Schmidt
    Polka Dot Publishing / Hardcover
    Our Price$24.00
  3. Zillions of Practice Problems:  Pre-Algebra 0 with Physics
    Stanley F. Schmidt
    Polka Dot Publishing / Hardcover
    Our Price$24.00
  4. Zillions of Practice Problems:  Pre-Algebra 1 with  Biology
    Stanley F. Schmidt
    Polka Dot Publishing / Hardcover
    Our Price$24.00

Financial Literacy

Educate your students on the importance of sound financial choices with Life of Fred’s trademark humor and pizzazz. Designed to fulfill the need for personal financial literacy skills that math books don’t often cover, readers will learn about income and spending ratios, debt, budgeting, setting goals, investments, and other necessary knowledge for functioning as an adult with financial solvency. . . while keeping the perspective that there are more important things than money! “Your Turn to Play” exercises are included throughout, but rather than focusing only math skills, often ask students to reflect upon their priorities, the differences between wants and needs, and where to allot items or expenses. Answers are also included in the text and written directly to the student. 176 pages, indexed, hardcover with Smyth-sewn binding.

High School Science

Life of Fred: Chemistry is a stand-alone chemistry course designed for the high school years. Short and concise-while still managing to cover many, many different topics in typical Life of Fred style-- it contains 36 lessons that are rich in content without overloading students with "facts, facts, facts." Each is designed to take one day and includes approximately four pages with a "Your Turn to Play" exercise set at the end (which consists of 2-5 questions). Answers are provided on the next page for students to go over themselves after attempting to solve the problems.

This book covers:

  • The weight of a helium atom using ordinary high school chem lab equipment

  • The value of absolute zero (-273o C) using ordinary high school chem lab equipment
  • The periodic table of the elements step-by-step
  • Why both Mn 2+ and Mn 3+ exist
  • Student lab experiments

When this book is finished, the student will have completed a full year of high school chemistry.

240 pages, indexed, hardcover with smyth-sewn binding. Answers are also included in the text and written directly to the student. High School.

High School Logic

Now you can learn Logic along with Fred!

Life of Fred: Logic will teach students about:

  • Sentences in logic

  • Connectives
  • Inductive reasoning
  • Logic fallacies
  • Syllogisms
  • Proofs in predicate logic plus direct and indirect proofs
  • Set theory as a predicate logic structure
  • Axiom systems: consistent, complete, meaningful, independent, and recursive
  • And more!

    Written in same fun, playful, and directly conversational tone as other Fred books, this text is filled with "puzzles" rather than "problems," along with continuing storyline of 6-year-old mathematical genius Fred.

    The first six chapters can be used for a high school logic course; the entire book together can be used for a college-level course. No mathematical pre-requisites. Solutions are included in the back of the book. 176 pages, hardcover. Non-consumable textbook. 16 chapters and 99 puzzles included.

Life of Fred Beginning Readers

  1. Life of Fred Beginning Reader Series  Set 1
    Stanley F. Schmidt
    Polka Dot Publishing / Hardcover
    Our Price$46.50
    5.0 out of 5 stars for Life of Fred Beginning Reader Series Set 1. View reviews of this product. 1 Reviews
    Availability: Expected to ship on or about 01/03/25.
    Stock No: WW233404
  2. Life of Fred Beginning Reader Series  Set 2
    Stanley F. Schmidt
    Polka Dot Publishing / Hardcover
    Our Price$46.50
    Availability: Expected to ship on or about 01/03/25.
    Stock No: WW233406
  3. Life of Fred Beginning Reader Series  Set 3
    Stanley F. Schmidt
    Polka Dot Publishing / Hardcover
    Our Price$46.50
    Availability: Due in Shortly. Expected to ship on or about 12/09/24.
    Stock No: WW233407

About Life of Fred Language Arts

The Life of Fred Language Arts Series is designed for the high school years; it is recommended that books be used in order: Australia, Begin Teaching, Classes, and Dreams. Short and to the point, each contains 19 daily lessons that are rich in the rules of the English Language. Covering grammar (not literature and writing) –as well as the many other facts about other topics Fred always integrates--these books are perfect for those who want to learn foundational English skills through the fun style of Life of Fred.

Life of Fred Plush Dolls

  1. Life of Fred Kingie Doll
    Polka Dot Publishing / Other
    Our Price$15.00
  2. Life of Fred Doll
    Polka Dot Publishing / Other
    Our Price$15.00