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1. My FREE Learning Printables {Any Topic}

Cursive Copywork Free Greece Poetry Printable

May 25, 2013 | 1 Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have a fun freebie today. It is cursive copywork free Greece poetry printable. Also, look at my page Practical Homeschool Writing Curriculum from Pre-K To High School for more tips.

I have done many things wrong when I first started homeschooling, but I have done a lot right too.

I tell my workshop new bees that writing or penmanship has always been the hallmark of a well educated man.

Cursive Copywork Free Greece Poetry Printable

One right thing was choosing the beautiful Calvert cursive to teach all of my sons. I know that a lot of public schools and homeschoolers are moving away from teaching cursive, but I am not one of them.

Maybe that is not so true today but if you want to peek into the past, you have to know at least how to read cursive to understand historical documents. I think reading cursive and writing cursive go hand in hand.

Too though I feel the time comes when you need to teach your kids typing skills.

Boys especially benefit from knowing how to type because they seem to struggle with learning how to write more so than girls. 

Penmanship is a time consuming skill to teach.

Between the struggles of a child and the time needed to teach, a lot of educators give up on it. However, I feel in homeschooling we do have the time to teach those skills.

Choosing Calvert script at a time when I had not a clue of what I was doing ended up being one thing that helped me not to struggle so much in this area.

After having taught Mr. Senior 2013 how to write in cursive, I just taught the other boys after that. I did venture out into other writing programs but came back to Calvert.

I came back to Calvert School cursive because it is a simplified cursive.

By the way, Calvert script is specific only to Calvert. They no longer sell it as a separate program and I believe the leader in cursive simplified cursive has gone all digital. (awful)

It is unique and I wished more people knew what a beautiful font and cursive it is. Too, it is neither D’Nealian or Getty Dubay but again a type of cursive used only by them.  However, I still base my teaching of cursive on the Calvert script as the gold standard.

Cursive Copywork Free Greece Poetry Printable

It is simplified because it teaches manuscript uppercase letters and cursive lowercase letters. I like the fact that it is free of the superfluous loops found on the traditional Palmer method.

Too, it is just plain pretty and simple as you can see from the chart above.

By the time Mr. Senior 2013 was in second grade, I knew how to teach cursive as you can see from his writing above.

My middle son struggled more because I ventured off into other writing programs. {Mea Culpa} That was the dumb thing I did but again he is fine. Kids are pretty hardy and let you know real quick what is not working for them.

Because I still feel like the same way as I did when I first started homeschooling about the importance of cursive, ALL of us will do copywork sometimes.  Me included. I keep a notebook beside my bed for me.  I never tell very many people that I pen a line or two also. 

Oh, I don’t write cursive as much as I use to. I use to write all their copywork out because the cursive font is not one you can find on computers or among fonts to purchase, but not so much anymore.

Copywork doesn’t take a long time and it’s a way of storing exquisite words in your mind and heart.

The benefits of copywork go beyond learning how to write. It gives you an overflowing amount of words and thoughts too. Especially when I do copywork from beautiful literature, I find it very satisfying and it leaves a lasting impression. Just a little each day is restoring.

MORE CURSIVE HANDWRITING TIPS

  • Teaching Cursive Handwriting Matters Style Doesn’t And Free Resources
  • Cursive and Free Greece Copywork Poetry
  • The Best Homeschool Handwriting Curriculum: Tips And Recommendations
  • Which One is Really the Best Homeschool Writing Curriculum (a comparison)

So when doing our unit study on Ancient Civilizations, I had prepare some copywork for Tiny.

I have hunted for a font that was similar to Calvert and came pretty close with the one I used in this copywork below. All of my sons know the Calvert cursive font but I still like to get pretty close.

The font is a little more slanted than I like but again close enough. The poem is Greece by Robert Frost. It is one of his more obscure and early poems. 

I like it because it’s by Robert Frost, one of my favorite poets. But also it gives a glimpse into his early writing and it shows his interest in history and idealization of heroic figures.

I thought this would go along with our Ancient Civilization unit so we are trying to commit this to our memory. Here are the beautiful words. Download your copy at the bottom.

ANCIENT GREECE POETRY FOR COPYWORK

They say, “Let there be no more way!”

And straightway, at the word,

Along the Mediterranean shore,

The call to arms is heard.

Greece could not let her glory fade!

Although the peace be in sight

The race the Persians was arrayed

Must fight one more good fight.

Greece! Rise triumphant.   Long ago

It was you proved to men

A few may countless hosts o’ver throw:

Now prove it once again!

Cursive, copywork, studying the classics and the co-op have all been on our mind lately.

What about you? Have you figured out the penmanship quandary yet?

HOW TO GRAB THE FREE GREECE POETRY COPYWORK PRINTABLE

Now, how to grab the freebie. It’s a subscriber freebie.

1) CLICK HERE ON THIS LINK TO SIGN UP ON MY EMAIL LIST & TO GET THIS FREEBIE.

2) Grab the freebie instantly.

3) Last, look for all my emails in your inbox. Glad to have you following me!

1 CommentFiled Under: 1. My FREE Learning Printables {Any Topic}, History Based, My Unit Studies {Free Printables & Hands-on Ideas}, Teach Homeschool Language Arts Tagged With: Ancient Greece, copywork, freecopywork, handwriting, homeschoolanguagearts, language arts, languagearts

Ancient Maya Unit Study + {Notebooking Pages printable}

May 24, 2013 | 2 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today I have some Ancient Maya unit study ideas, free lapbook, and notebooking pages. Also, here is my page Meso-America for more ideas.

This week was a little busier for us as we try to get back into the swing of things. It was busier partly because I have now switched back to following the public school schedule of starting school in August.  It has been a longgg time since I followed it.

For the last four or five years, I have started my school year in January and really liked it because I have a break from workshops during the winter. It was just natural for our family to start a new year and new school year.

Now, I feel like a new kid starting my school year in August. Where is my book? Where is my pen? Where is my planner? Because we are still in the middle of our books, like math, it has made the transition easier this week. On top of that, hubby had more tests this week and some more scheduled next week, but all is good so far.

Slowly each day as we begin a new school year I add a little more to the day. Because we don’t completely stop schooling in the summer, it really is just a matter of getting the kids to school longer for the day. You can see how excited my middle guy is who so looks forward {not} to math.

Ancient Maya Unit Study + {Notebooking Pages printable}

It is nice when you have homeschooled long enough that the oldest son “tutors’ the next one. {love it}

Ancient Maya Unit Study + {Notebooking Pages printable}

A fruit smoothie for the fruit smoothie-holic and a few days later in the week got better as we started our unit study of the Mesoamerica world. This would include some of the countries of Belize, Guatemala, Mexico and the area of the Yucatan Peninsula. I explained in an early post about our how unit study unfolds. This one is no different. LOTS of information on the surface. We have three cultures we are reviewing: Maya, Aztec and Incas.

But before I go on though, I wanted to share a little bit from my heart because this unit study has sentimental meaning for me.  In my pre LBK {life before kids} I was am an adventurous soul. This area is one of the areas I visited and stayed for a while in. Here are just a few pictures of some of the gorgeous rainforest, that the natives call “bush”. You think my sons would recognize me in this picture? The jungles of Belize.

Ancient Maya Unit Study + {Notebooking Pages printable}
Ancient Maya Unit Study + {Notebooking Pages printable}

The bird of paradise flower just grew all around and the friends I stayed with would even chop it down to get it out of our way as we trekked through the jungle.

Ancient Maya Unit Study + {Notebooking Pages printable}

My friends even kept a toucan as a “pet”.

Ancient Maya Unit Study + {Notebooking Pages printable}

But it was the monkey that I enjoyed each day while I was there.

Ancient Maya Unit Study + {Notebooking Pages printable}

Taking pictures of the native surroundings that were off the “tourism” beat is where I spent my time. I wanted to get to know the people and culture not make the tourist rounds.

Ancient Maya Unit Study + {Notebooking Pages printable}

Just the “normal” every day things like the lady coming down to the river to wash fascinated me.

I still like to travel and hope to make a connection of what I learned about some of these countries and make it special to my sons now. Maybe I should dig out the rest of the pictures.

The countries we are studying about are yes, very hot and humid with lots of insects but the culture, people, wild flowers, blue waters, lush rainforest and history of the area are full of life.

Ancient Maya Unit Study + {Notebooking Pages printable}

{reproduction of a Maya Codex – brilliant at math and astronomy}

Ancient Maya Unit Study + {Notebooking Pages printable}

{Chichen Inza on the Yucatan peninsula.} This is a beautiful place to visit. I will have to share more pictures of my visit to these pyramids too some time later.

Ancient Maya Unit Study + {Notebooking Pages printable}

Because I don’t put time limits on how long we learn or what we want to learn, we just roll with it until we are satisfied. There are three cultures to study here so I like to start off with some general comparisons and then narrow it down somewhat. We focused on the ancient Maya this week. Guess what that means for you? You know I love ya. I have some notebooking pages for you that we worked on and are still working on. I think  this unit just feels like it may need a lapbook too.

Ancient Maya Unit Study + {Notebooking Pages printable}

My notebooking pages for you today are about Hernan Cortes, one about the general comparisons of the three cultures, one about John Lloyd Stephens – the Father of Maya archaeology, and a geography page and one page that you could print off two copies of on the Ancient World of Maya to tell what your child finds interesting.

Also, I want to point out one thing about the culture of the Aztec and Maya and that is their religion included human sacrifices and well — lots of blood. I have one notebooking sheet that talks about that but I have my teens compare the valuelessness of shedding that human blood and the valuable blood of Jesus Christ.

This certainly could be overlooked with a younger set of kids. Because I have two teens I wanted them to understand or at least be introduced to that culture’s world views. My youngest guy was sensitive to their brutality and I wanted you to know. So with him I will focus just on the sacrifice of Jesus. Just giving you the heads up.

I was inspired by this poetry today as we delight in the study of the Mesoamerica.

“And then they said as they left, “We are going there to the sunrise, Whence our fathers came…”

From Popol Vuh, the most famous of the Maya Chronicles

How to Get the Free Maya Lapbook Free Notebooking Pages

Now, how to grab the free maya lapbook. This is a subscriber freebie.

That means when you sign up to follow me, you get access to my subscribers library and this freebie.

However, not all my freebies are in the library (wink).

I like to keep up to date with what is valuable to you so I can give you more, some freebies you must sign up again on the form below even if you are already a follower.

And it’s the only way I have of freely delivering them to you. Just follow the steps below.

► 1) Sign up on my list.
► 2) Go to your inbox and confirm your email from the automatic reply I sent you. If you’re already a confirmed subscriber, you will not have to do this. You’ll receive the freebie instantly.
 ►3) Last step. look for my reply AFTER you’ve confirmed your email.

2 CommentsFiled Under: 1. My FREE Learning Printables {Any Topic}, History Based, My Unit Studies {Free Printables & Hands-on Ideas}, Notebooking Pages

Ancient Maya Lapbook (Free Homeschool Unit Study)

May 23, 2013 | 10 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

We have been putting the final touches on our unit study for the ancient Maya. We started off our discussion on Meso-America and narrowed our interest down to the ancient Maya.

Free Ancient Maya Lapbook and homeschool unit study @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

I want to focus more on the Aztecs but Mr. Awesome and Mr. Senior 2013 are throwing out other topics for our next unit study topic.

Ancient Maya Lapbook (Free Homeschool Unit Study)

Tiny still likes this topic so we haven’t settled on our next unit study. Too, I think we may focus some on our new curriculum we just got. It’s hard for us to stay away from a good unit study for long so maybe the change to cooler weather will make them decide on a topic.

Ancient Maya Lapbook (Free Homeschool Unit Study)

In most unit studies we find an abundance of hands-on things to do but for this topic they really were focused on reading. However, we did find some hands-on things in the book Amazing Maya Inventions You Can Build Yourself that we liked.

We spent quite a few days learning about the tzolk’in calendar, also called the Sacred Round. It wasn’t as easy as the Maya made it look to line up the two circles for the calendars side by side.

Ancient Maya Lapbook (Free Homeschool Unit Study)

{tzolk’in calendar. pic att and link to learn about it.}

But we did manage to make two circles like the book said and followed the directions but I am not so sure we managed to use it like they did. It made us appreciate the advancements they made in math, building and a written language.

I added this calendar circle as a minibook in the lapbook. So here it is, the next lapbook for you. It has 9 minibooks.

Ancient Maya Lapbook (Free Homeschool Unit Study)

Then of course you know I have to make something for you to  put on the outside of your lapbook for a cover in case you don’t have wild hair and want to create one. So here are two cover choices.

Remember too all of my minibooks or downloads are usually kept separate and not one big HUGE download. I do this because it helps to keep organized when you can pick/choose what you want to download or keep on your computer.

Also, I do it this way because you may prefer to notebook and you can use individual minibooks and decorative pieces from the front cover to create your own notebooking pages. It is rare that I do one huge download. Just letting you know there is a method to my madness.

I made a few organizational changes to our school area this year and am ready to share that with you next. Here is a glimpse of one area I had to redo. I FINALLY got my teacher’s manuals for history and other subjects in a notebooking system I heart. I will have my pictures to share on the small but meaningful changes made to our area.

organization homeschool binders

You know I heart quotes each day. I find this one inspirational today as I think about you and the countless other educators as we daily give to our kids. Also, I was talking in my workshop Monday night how you do give up some things to homeschool but they seem so insignificant now when you see the blessing of your children. {sappy moment thought}. It just made me think of this today.

The things you do for yourself are gone when you are gone, but the things you do for others remain as your legacy.”

~ Kalu Kalu~

How to Get the Free Lapbook Maya and Free Notebooking Pages

Now, how to grab the free maya lapbook. This is a subscriber freebie.

That means when you sign up to follow me, you get access to my subscribers library and this freebie.

However, not all my freebies are in the library (wink).

I like to keep up to date with what is valuable to you so I can give you more, some freebies you must sign up again on the form below even if you are already a follower.

And it’s the only way I have of freely delivering them to you. Just follow the steps below.

► 1) Sign up on my list.
► 2) Go to your inbox and confirm your email from the automatic reply I sent you. If you’re already a confirmed subscriber, you will not have to do this. You’ll receive the freebie instantly.
 ►3) Last step. look for my reply AFTER you’ve confirmed your email.

10 CommentsFiled Under: 1. My FREE Learning Printables {Any Topic}, History Based, Lapbooks, My Unit Studies {Free Printables & Hands-on Ideas} Tagged With: hands on history, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, history, history resources, homeschoolhistory

Mini Unit Study Of Turkey For Kids | Free Country Report

May 23, 2013 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have a mini unit study about Turkey. Too, look at my page Homeschool Geography for hands-on and simple ideas and tips.

Did you guess which country my boys chose at the Geography Quest?

Yep it was Turkey. To be honest, I was a tad shocked but happy at the same time that they chose that country. You’ll love these ideas for a mini unit study about Turkey.

Mini Unit Study Of Turkey For Kids | Free Country Report

My oldest son, Mr. Senior 2013, got the final say on country choice since this is his last year to school {sniffle}.

Somewhere along your homeschool journey you wonder if “too much history” is too much. {mmmm does that sense?} You pray most of what you teach your sons sticks with them.

When he chose to talk about Istanbul, formerly Constantinople, and write his essay on it,  I was thrilled because of the rich history of the country.

Easy Homeschool Unit Study Turkey

Mini Unit Study Of Turkey For Kids | Free Country Report

It is absolutely fascinating to study about the beautiful buildings like the Hagia Sophia which still stand today, but also to learn of the diverse influence of the country.

One could spend a lengthy unit study just on the influence of Christians on Constantinople then the Muslim influence.

However, since this was our not back to school Geography Quest with our field  trip group, we had to condense it to about a week of study.

One small point to remember about planning and doing unit studies is that when a topic lends itself to one or more subjects easily than others, don’t force a fit.

If you can’t find a topic for one subject like science or art, focus to enrich the subject/s that your topic does naturally flow with and teach. 

Emphasis should be given to learning what interests you and your kids and it should be age appropriate.

Here are some of the topics we read about in our country mini unit study.

Mini Unit Study on the Country of Turkey

Mini homeschool unit study about the Country of Turkey | Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Science:  Tiny, my youngest son, chose to do a report about the cape hyrax. The biology of any country is a good topic for younger children.

The cape  hyrax, or rock rabbit is similar to a badger and he tied in the fact that the early colonist mistook this animal for a badger. He researched this topic on his own because that is what interested him.

Social Studies: He also wanted to show money from that country. It is important when doing a unit study about countries to point out that other money is not play money.

My husband went to the foreign exchange commission and got some Turkish money for us to take and share with the group.

Mini homeschool unit study about the Country of Turkey | Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

My middle son, Mr. Awesome, who is my social creature had to read about a variety of topics and influence on the people.

Social Studies:  He explained about a Turkish bazaar or the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul. He was interested in the clothing, the fascinating way they still make carpets and rugs from ancient ways.

He just couldn’t wrap his mind around the fact that after Constantinople was invaded by the Ottoman Turks they started construction on the building that is still part of the Grand Bazaar. Spices, Turkish pipes {yes he had to view Turkish pipes} clothes, and weapons he had to investigate.

Country of Turkey Quick and Fun Unit Study at Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Along with that he had to talk about Turkish delight which is like a confection candy.

Having never been to Turkey, we can only imagine what true homemade Turkish delight tasted like.

My oldest soon started passing out Turkish delight, that we ordered from a place in Washington, to share with the group. I told you we ate our way through the countries.

Geography of Turkey

Bible/Physical Geography: Then we focused some on the physical geography of the country. Mount Ararat is the highest point in Turkey.

The Bible speaks in Genesis 8:4 about the ark coming to rest on Mount Ararat. So we had to discuss whether the ark was discovered or not.

Studying more about the physical geography, it leads one to wonder where exactly did the ark land and Noah unload the animals.

Also, this is not the only time Mount Ararat is spoken about in the Bible. The region is referred to in the book of 2 Kings too.

Mount Ararat is called by the Turks Aghri Dagh (Mount of the Ark) and by the Persians Koh-i-nuh (Noah’s Mountain). It led to quite the discussion with all of the kids.

Of course then you have to discuss that both the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in the Bible are major rivers in Turkey.

We could hardly leave the Bible part topic because Asia Minor in the Bible is mostly Turkey and that opens up all the discussions of the lives of the early Christians.

Phew…..you see why I was thrilled when he first chose it but wondering uhmmm how to do this in one week.

There was more discussion about the physical geography of the country because Istanbul is the only major city that straddles both the Europe and Asian continents.

Was that an advantage or disadvantage in fighting wars?

Turkey Co-op Ideas for learning about the country at Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Then Mr. Senior 2013 wanted to focus on the history of not just the whole country but on Istanbul. Remember  I had mentioned how a unit study is like a funnel, and you want to narrow down to the subtopic that interests your family.

Country of Turkey Homeschool Unit Study

Ancient History/Art: Before he spent time talking on Istanbul, he started off with the story of the Trojan war. He showed how part is made up, part true and some speculation that surrounds the city of Troy.

Then, he did point out that that area is now Turkey.

He moved quickly to focus on the Ottoman Turks conquering the city as well as talking about the Hagia Sophia. The Hagia Sophia is only one building among many that are full of the intricate Turkish artwork.

People coming from Europe called Turkey “Land of the Sunrise” and the early Christians called it “second holy land”.

Istanbul is also called “Crossroads of the World” because of the meeting of cultures there.

He studied about Alexander the Great, but didn’t present this to the group as that would have been “too much”. {Whoa back Mr. Senior 2013 there are small kids too at the Geography Quest}. He did mention Sultan Mehmed II because he was the conquering invader in Constantinople.

All of this led to a discussion about Islam as well with my older two sons. Tiny was looking at pictures of his rock rabbit because he wasn’t interested in this subject.

That is the beauty again of unit studies. Stay on them as long as your children’s appetite is being satisfied.

The youngest ones can stop. Their appetite is satisfied.

One thing I did notice was that there was not a lot of what I consider good resources on this unit study topic.

There were lots of books that told the history of Istanbul. Even after several visits to our library, the books barely mentioned this area that has thousands of years of history.

Books About Turkey the Country

11 Books About the Country of Turkey

Add these books to your reading day or to a unit study to learn about the fascinating country of Turkey.

Turkey: The Complete History for Kids: Real Stories That Inspire Courage, Kindness, and Curiosity

Every chapter is crafted to spark wonder. Children will meet the first people of Anatolia, explore the mysteries of Troy, walk through ancient Greek and Roman cities, witness the rise of the Byzantines, follow the journeys of the Seljuks and the Ottomans, and watch Turkey transform into a modern republic led by inspiring figures like Atatürk. Through t all, young readers learn how courage, kindness, and curiosity shaped an entire region.This book is not just about what happened. It shows kids why history matters and how every moment carries a lesson worth remembering. Packed with rich storytelling, fun facts, and easy-to-understand explanations, it is perfect for curious minds between 7 and 13 who love to explore, ask questions, and discover how the world came to be.

The Big Book of Turkey Facts: An Educational Country Travel Picture Book for Kids about History, Destination Places, Animals and Many More

Did you know that Turkey is the only country in the world that exists on two continents, Europe and Asia? The Bosphorus Strait in Istanbul divides the city and the country into two parts, with one foot in Europe and the other in Asia.If this topic interests you and your little one then get ready for some fun and giggles.It is hard to find the time to teach your child about the world around them. Luckily, in 50 Facts About Turkey, we've made it easy. Our book contains a diverse selection of the most interesting facts about Turkey that will provide your child with hours of bonding and exploring.

Turkey (Countries)

An introduction to the history, geography, plants and animals, people, economy, cities, transportation, government, holidays and festivals, and culture of Turkey.

Song of the Old City

This lyrical, whimsical picture book, set in the old city of Istanbul, celebrates kindness and generosity of spirit.Follow one little girl on her busy day through the old city of Istanbul--from the Galata bridge to the Grand Bazaar--as the city opens its arms to her. All along the way, the generous people she meets share many gifts with her: sesame rounds, hot tea, a boat ride, rose candy, pomegranate juice, even a scrub in a Turkish bath! But she doesn't just keep the gifts for herself. At every turn, she finds a way to share what has been given to her and pass it on so others can enjoy it too.

Turkey (Our Global Village Series)

Bring the world a little closer with these multicultural books. An excellent way for students to appreciate and learn cultural diversity in an exciting hands-on format. Each book explores the history, language, holidays, festivals, customs, legends, foods, creative arts, lifestyles, and games of the title country. A creative alternative to student research reports and a time-saver for teachers since the activities and resource material are contained in one book.

The Hungry Coat: A Tale from Turkey

Once upon a time in Turkey there lived a funny, little wise man named Nasrettin Hoca. He wore a huge, white turban and a worn-out coat made of patches upon patches. Riding about on his little gray donkey, he liked to help whomever he could.A friend to all, Nasrettin is a popular figure. But when he is suddenly ignored at a friend's banquet, he realizes it is his patchwork coat that is turning people away from him. He leaves the party and returns later, wearing a brand-new coat. Now Nasrettin is warmly welcomed. But instead of eating the delicious foods placed before him, he feeds them to his coat!How Nasrettin Hoca teaches his friends a lesson about appearances is the heart of this hilarious and clever story. With good humor and luminous illustrations inspired by traditional Turkish paintings, Demi brings to life Turkey's most famous folk hero and imparts a timeless tale with a moral that will resonate with readers everywhere.

DK Eyewitness Istanbul (Travel Guide)

DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Istanbul will lead you straight to the best attractions this city has to offer. Explore the must-see Hagia Sophia, take in the beauty of the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, and don't miss out on the incredible street food.

Discover DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Istanbul.

   • Detailed itineraries and "don't-miss" destination highlights at a glance.

   • Illustrated cutaway 3-D drawings of important sights.

I See the Sun in Turkey (7)

A day in the life of a child in Turkey told from the child’s point of view. I See the Sun in Turkey is one of the books in the multiple award-winning I See the Sun in... series of bi-lingual picture books, each focused on one country and one day in the life of one child with a story told from the child’s perspective. I See the Sun in Turkey provides a unique introduction to the culture, family life and language of Turkey in a way that is age-appropriate and sensitive to the current culture and circumstances without becoming political. As with the other books in the series, the author has spent a considerable amount of time in Turkey, not merely as a tourist, but immersed in the environment and living with families who have opened their homes and their hearts to her. Includes facts about the country and a glossary for extended learning. Written in English and translated into Turkish.

Nearly Nonsense: Hoja Tales from Turkey

Nasrudin Hoja was a mullah (teacher) in Turkey. He was a busy man he worked in a vineyard, gave sermons at the mosque, and was sometimes even a judge. He did all of this with a nagging wife, a constant stream of uninvited visitors, and many animals. Although Hoja’s life wasn’t easy, his heart was always light and his observations about life held a witty twist. For instance, when his donkey got lost, his neighbors offered sympathy, but Hoja found the bright side: “Imagine if I were riding the donkey at the time. I’d be lost too!”Though the ten Hoja stories presented by Rina Singh and richly illustrated by Farida Zaman are funny, each one contains such insight into human nature that Sufi teachers use them to illustrate their teachings. Traditional Turkish Hoja stories are much-loved throughout Asia, and Nearly Nonsense brings them to a North American readership sure to enjoy them and, through laughter, to learn from them.

On Two Feet and Wings

He is in a foreign country, he is alone, and he is just a boy...Abbas Kazerooni is not yet ten, but he’s suddenly forced to leave his parents, his friends―his entire world―and flee Tehran. The Iran-Iraq war is at its bloodiest, and the Ayatollahs who rule Iran have reduced the recruitment age for the army. If Abbas doesn’t escape, it’s almost certain that he will be drafted and die fighting for a regime that has stripped his family of all they have.

On his own in the strange, often frightening city of Istanbul, Abbas grows up fast―with little more than his wits to guide him. He must conquer difficult things: how to live on his own, how to navigate a foreign city and culture when he doesn’t speak the language, and, most importantly, how to judge who is a friend and who is an enemy. Facing the unexpected as well as the everyday challenges of life on his own, Abbas walks a tightrope of survival―yearning to please the demanding father he has left behind, yet relishing his new found independence.

A Day in Istanbul: A Young Explorer Travel Guide to Istanbul (City Explorer)

Right away, Elena discovers how amazing Istanbul is! The Galata Tower, bazaar shopping, and meat roasting… There are exciting landmarks and delicious treats around every corner. If she gets confused, fact-checking guru Rosa is there to provide insight and guidance. You can’t find a better world-traveling team!

Between my passport that Tiny showed to the group, the Turkish liras or money and passing out Turkish delight we got all of this in our mini unit study.

We had to save time to savor the other countries presented at the Geography Quest by the other families.

Some of the other kids wore hats that you would think come from France to the Mexican shirts worn by the boys.

We had a great time kicking off our school year and the last year for Mr. Senior 2013. {I may go into sappy mode}.

Mini Unit Study Of Turkey For Kids | Free Country Report

I hope these pages help you in your study about the countries.

We learned about Costa Rica, France, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Romania and Turkey.

MORE TURKEY COUNTRY UNIT STUDY RESOURCES

  • Cool Turkey Country Facts For Kids | How to Make Hummus
  • How To Make A DIY LEGO Turkish Design Craft

These pages have a place to keep fast facts and then one part to do a mini report as you work your way through the countries. I do think we need to do this for another time or at least keep doing some more countries.

Country of Turkey Unit Study Resources

Naturally, we covered a variety of subjects and did not force a fit.

Too, I found these Turkish quotes.

So, when we ended this mini unit study we did copywork.

“Listen a hundred times; ponder a thousand times; speak once.”

A wise man remembers his friends at all times; a fool, only when he has need of them.”

“A lion sleeps in the heart of every brave man.”

A cup of coffee commits one to forty years of friendship.”

“Man is harder than iron, stronger than stone and more fragile than a rose.”

Quick and Fun Homeschool Unit Study about the Country of Turkey. You'll love it over at Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus. CLICK HERE!

MORE HOMESCHOOL GEOGRAPHY

  • 35 Hands-on Geography Activities to do in 15 Minutes or Less,
  • The Ultimate Guide to Brave Explorers (Great and Small)
  • 5 Steps to Choosing Geography Living Books Your Children Will Love.
  • Hands-on Ancient Mesopotamia: Easy STEM Irrigation Activity
  • Hands-on Ancient Egypt: Israelite Mud Bricks for Kids
  • Hands-on Ancient Babylon: Hanging Gardens Fun Activity
  • Hands-on Ancient Phoenicia: Alphabet Clay Tablet Craft

HOW TO GET THE FREE TURKEY GEOGRAPHY COUNTRY REPORT

Now, how to grab the freebie. It’s a subscriber freebie.

That means when you sign up to follow me, you get my emails in your inbox and you get this freebie.

1) CLICK HERE ON THIS LINK TO SIGN UP ON MY EMAIL LIST & TO GET THIS FREEBIE.

2) Grab the freebie now.

3) Last, look for all my emails in your inbox. Glad to have you following me!

Leave a CommentFiled Under: 1. My FREE Learning Printables {Any Topic}, Geography, Geography Based, My Unit Studies {Free Printables & Hands-on Ideas} Tagged With: geography, hands-on, handson, notebooking

FBI Unit Study Experiment 3 Building a Crystal Radio

May 23, 2013 | 2 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today, I have a FBI Unit Study Experiment 3 Building a Crystal Radio . Also, you’ll love my free FBI American History Free Unit Study for more ideas.

This next hands-on activity we did on our FBI unit study ended up involving the whole family. Or should I say attracted anybody of the male species.

You have to love it when dad gets involved. Not only did it end up involving the whole family but we did this over a period of two weeks.

FBI Unit Study Experiment 3 Building a Crystal Radio

Also, just so you are clear, though I know you probably are, my name is not Technical Tina.

I always say when you homeschool you take on projects you yourself would never ever do. And well with boys, I have no choice but to learn about terminals, circuitry, diodes and geodes (oh wait that has to with rocks), capacitors and all of those thing-a-ma-jigs and doodads.

FBI UNIT STUDY ACTIVITY

So after we studied about spying and the importance of communication to the FBI we found this next idea for a project from the Spy Museum.

The boys built an oatmeal box crystal radio. The original site is no long up but it’s like the one below from the crystal radio site, I am thinking they probably still build it.

It is a handmade radio that can receive am radio stations.

This made for some great discussions of how this works without a power source. I think we call that physics. Then again it does have a power source which is the antenna.

FBI Unit Study Experiment 3 Building a Crystal Radio

I have to admit after doing this alongside the boys we all had many questions.

The website was full of great beginners tips which I appreciated.

For example, I like this very simple explanation. It’s about a crystal radio: a crystal radio is the simplest kind of radio. Most radios you buy use complicated electronics to make a strong copy of the sound. A crystal radio is a simple kind of radio that just picks up the wave and changes it straight into sound. It does not use separate power or batteries to make a stronger copy of the sound. It gets all of its power only from the radio wave.

Please don’t let me teach my boys how to read schematics either which was another nice skill they picked up from this site as we read on it.

FBI UNIT STUDY ACTIVITY

The helpful links on how to read schematics added to a much more enriching understanding as we hit on some of the basics of how to represent a circuit on paper.

So I got brave and ordered the simple crystal radio from the website and the book for beginners for me them.

FBI Unit Study Experiment 3 Building a Crystal Radio

So Mr. Senior 2013 found another set of instructions on the site that uses a bigger container, a Quaker oatmeal box.

Well, not wanting to waste the few parts I already got, we had a quick a lesson on naming all those little things.

FBI Unit Study Experiment 3 Building a Crystal Radio

Then dad gets involved and picks up way more crystal radio pieces. It was interesting to read though this hobby started in the 1920’s and then it was revived in the 1950’s.

It was a hobby for father and sons to share at that time.

I ask my dad if he remembered them and he had heard about them from his father.

FBI Unit Study Experiment 3 Building a Crystal Radio

Glue the template on the container and lid and start following the directions.

CRYSTAL RADIO ACTIVITY FBI UNIT STUDY ACTIVITY

Poor sweet little boy. At least he still does not mind using momma’s tools that are pink.We used a craft knife to strip the ends of the wire and started winding it around the box…

Then get another brother to jump in and help some.Oh, and yes, have over another friend of the male species so that my house is only full of them now..Let him work on it some too.

They had to make a tap terminal every 8 winds of the wire. Strip the ends and wrap around the screws to make the taps.

Almost done, then we connected the earpiece and the detector clip. The sounds we got were so muffled but were excited to just hear the sounds.Dad to the rescue to check our “connections”. 

We ended up getting only like one local am station but there are  some 5000 stations.

Too, we can add another antenna on this and will be taking the radio with us as we drive out more to the rural areas.

I survived this project and actually learned a thing or two in the process. I just hate to sound so cliche but it really was a lot of fun and we still have it to play with for later.

FBI Unit Study Experiment 3 Building a Crystal Radio

MORE FBI UNIT STUDY ACTIVITIES

  • FBI Unit Study Experiment 2 (Invisible Ink) + FBI Printables
  • FBI Unit Study Experiment 1 Forensic Science Fingerprints
  • FBI Unit Study and Lapbook: Experiment 3 (Building a Crystal Radio)

2 CommentsFiled Under: 1. My FREE Learning Printables {Any Topic}, Hands-On Activities, History Based, My Unit Studies {Free Printables & Hands-on Ideas}

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