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Ancient Civilizations

Ancient Greece Unit Study. Hands-on Activity 1. Refraction and Ancient Greece and their Contributions Pull Tab Book

October 29, 2015 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Ancient Greece Unit Study refraction activity and Ancient Greeks Pull Tab book @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Today, we did an easy science activity to begin our Ancient Greece Unit Study.

I have the book Classical Kids: An Activity Guide to Life in Ancient Greece and Rome (Hands-On History)

and so Tiny quickly opened it to find something he wanted to try.

He was reading about Ancient Greeks studying refraction.

We did this when the boys were little, but as is the case when you have younger children, they don’t remember what you did with the older kids.

This just means double fun for me because I get to do easy science activities again.

As the book brought out refraction is the way rays of light change when they pass from one thing to another that’s made of different material. That is what it means to have materials made of different density.

So this activity was super easy but cool and I love the fact that all 3 things were found in my house.

Ancient Greeks Studies Refraction – Easy Hands-on Activity 1

Here is the really short list of what you need:

Refraction Activity 1

■Pie or cake pan (dark coated, not glass or clear)
■Coin
■Pitcher of water

The activity is really easy. Tiny rounded up Mr. Awesome 2015 to help us.

Mr. Awesome placed the coin right next to the side.

While Tiny stood a distance away, so that the coin is hidden by the side.

Refraction Activity 2

Then Mr. Awesome poured the water slowly into the container.

Refraction Activity 2

As Mr. Awesome poured the water, it appeared to move to the center of the pan.

Of course the coin doesn’t move, it’s just that the light rays were distorted or bent as they passed through the water.

A bit of easy and quick science was enough to pique Tiny’s interest for the unit study.

Since that is the activity he chose to do first, we focused on reading about some Greeks and what they were famous for.

I created a giant pull tab book which is Famous Greeks and their Contributions.

Ancient Greece Giant Pull Tab @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Though there are many famous Greeks to focus on, I used the ones below and listed a bit of information about them.

It’s pretty easy to find information on the internet, but I am listing a few facts here for you too.

Aesop – storyteller; author of Aesop’s fables

Eratosthenes – geographer; first to describe the world as a globe

Euclid – mathematician; “Father of Geometry”

Aristotle – philosopher; student of Plato; tutor of Alexander the Great.

Archimedes – mathematician and inventor; calculated value of Pi; invented the lever; Archimedes Screw

For the giant pull tab book, just cut out all the pieces and write about each Greek on the box provided.

Ancient Greece Pull Tab 2 @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

I have instructions on the minibook, but you will form a pocket with the two pieces and place the pull tab book inside.

Ancient Greece Giant Pull Tab @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

I hope you like the first “little” giant pull tab book I have for our new unit study.

I have a sweet surprise for my email readers because I always hold something back for them and this Ancient Greece Lapbook is part of my email reader’s subscribers only.

I would love for you to follow me and give me the opportunity to help you along in your homeschool journey.

I would love for you to follow me and give me the opportunity to help you along in your homeschool journey.

This is a Subscriber’s Only Freebie because I luv my followers.

subscribe to my blog posts

Important: IF you are already an email reader, please read this below instead of emailing me right away.

Though I love your emails, it can take a while for me to answer you.

1.) The private link to the subscriber’s only page was sent to you immediately when you joined my blog.

2.) Also, the link is sent to you at the bottom of EVERY newsletter. If you have been getting my blog posts, then check at the very bottom of one of my recent newsletters for the link.

Remember, if you are following along with us, do the minibooks and then just place in a ziploc bag until the end or close to the end of the unit study.

I normally show you a layout we do for our lapbook toward the end of the unit study.

I can’t wait to share the rest of our hands-on activities and the minibooks.

Hugs and love ya,

Tina Signature 2015c

Leave a CommentFiled Under: 1. My FREE Learning Printables {Any Topic}, Ancient Civilizations, Hands-On Activities, History Based, History Resources, Lapbook, Science Based Tagged With: ancient civilizations, Ancient Greece, hands on history, hands-on activities, handsonhomeschooling

Beware of Greeks Bearing Gifts – Great Big List of Ancient Greece Freebies

October 28, 2015 | 12 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I always try to kick off our unit studies with some hands-on ideas and I love rounding up great freebies and organizing them here for us.

Great Big List of Ancient Greece Freebies

Ancient Greece Big List of Freebies, Hands-On Ideas and Resources @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

This way you and I both can plod along and choose some of them to do or create our own.

So today, to kick off our newest unit study, Ancient Greece, I couldn’t resist the saying Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes or Beware of Greeks Bearing Gifts to use for my great big list of Ancient Greece freebies to share with you.

greek-mythology-kids

Corny I know, but I love the saying.

(image attribution: Woojr)

Free Printables

Greek Vase Patterns

Story about Achilles Free download
Ancient Greece Map
The Birth of the Ancient Games and Map
Geography of Ancient Greece
Nice Greek Coloring Page and Greek Mythology Worksheets

Free Greek and Latin Root Activities
Ancient Greece Writing Activities
Finish the Greek Patterns
Ancient Greek Art Notebooking Pages
Mythology Teacher. Cool. Several free downloads, check out the Trojan War Find It, a pictorial search and check out the printable Trojan War Game and the reader’s theater script.

Lesson Plans & Studies

Reflections of Ancient Greece Lesson Plan with Vocabulary
Ancient Greece Unit Study
Why Study Greek Mythology?
Going Greek
Pandora’s Box

Bearing the Torch – Ancient Greece 19 page .pdf.
Alex from Ancient Greece
Ancient Greece Across the Curriculum
Ancient Greek Unit Study

Mythology Lesson on Hercules
Medicine in Ancient Greece
Greek Mythology & Activities
80 page .pdf super nice
Secrets of the Parthenon
Parthenon

Geometry and Pi
Ancient Greece Unit Study and Lapbook
Studying Greek Mythology – from The Kennedy Adventures
Ancient Greece Unit Study – from Alicia Hutchinson
Child’s Geography about Greece – 52 page download from Knowledge Quest. Nice.

Odysseus story on line and download the 42 page pdf.
Spartan timeline

Also, look at the fun and easy coloring pages!

Here is what the 20 page download contains. I put a few key words to explain each picture on the page. This way you can use the coloring pages as title pages too.

Page 3: Ancient Egypt Court,
Page 4: Ancient Egypt Spinning,
Page 5: Ancient Egypt Life of the Royals,
Page 6: Ancient Egypt Battles,
Page 7: Ancient Egypt The Nile,
Page 8: Life Along the River – The Nile,
Page 9: Metal Workers & Crafts of Ancient Egypt,
Page 10: Egyptian Hieroglyphics,
Page 11: Egyptian Queen Cleopatra,
Page 12: Aztecs Floating Gardens,
Page 13: Aztecs,
Page 14: Aztec Life,
Page 15: Mayans,
Page 16: Ancient Greece Wedding,
Page 17: Ancient Greek Galley,
Page 18: Ancient Greece Crafts,
Page 19: Ancient Greece Bank,
Page 20: Athens,
Page 21: Spartan Warrior and
Page 22: The Vikings.

  • 00. Ancient Civilization History 20 Coloring Pages

    00. Ancient Civilization History 20 Coloring Pages

    $3.50
    Add to cart

Clay Map of Greece – from Susan Evans
Greek Art for Kids
– from Susan Evans
Foil Masks – from Susan Evans

trojan-horse-craft

(image attribution: DLTK’s Crafts for Kids)

Trojan Horse Craft
Another printable Trojan Horse Craft
Basket Weaving
– from Susan Evans
Mysterious Cracking Pots – from Susan Evans

Ancient Greece Activities
– from Layered Soul. You just have to check out their Homer rap video tube. Fun.
Ancient Greece Activities – List of various activities from Adventures in Mommydom
Greek Feast
Make a tree mobile of the gods
Ancient Greece Activities – Design a Greek pot

Greece Olympic Lesson Ideas for Kids – from Teach Beside Me
Paper Mache Greek Vessels
Make Greek Honey Pie and Greek Myths
Easy Medusa Craft
Greek Mythology Cubes

Ancient Greece Activities – from Creekside Learning

build-edible-temple-350x440

salt dough map

Make a labyrinth Craft
Build an Edible Ancient Temple
Make Greek Worrying Beads

(image attribution: The Homeschool Den)

Make a salt dough map

Crafts and Activities

Media

Ancient Greece Videos for Kids
Music and Creativity in Ancient Greece
Who were the Ancient Greeks? Super helpful and covers a wide range of topics.
Ancient Arcade – match the god to the symbol
Ancient Athens

All About Ancient Greece
Ancient Greece – learn about the Acropolis, daily life, festivals, geography and more
The Battle of Thermopylae

Books

13 Living History Books about Ancient Greece
Books About Ancient Greece – from Triumphant Learning
10 books to hook your kids on mythology – from Adventures in Mommydom

(image attribution: Homeschool Commons)

study-ancient-greece

Free e-books

Free e-books to study Ancient Greece
Aesop’s Fables

I hope you enjoy this super list of Ancient Greece activities to get your unit study started.

Do you want some other creative ways to homeschool?

Also, you may like these other activities:

  • Hands-On History: The Rosetta Stone and Breaking The Code
  • 9 EASY and Fun Hands-on Ancient Greece Kids Activities
  • 20 Ancient Civilization History Coloring Pages

Hugs and love ya,

12 CommentsFiled Under: Ancient Civilizations, Hands-On Activities, History Based, History Resources Tagged With: ancient civilizations, hands-on activities, handsonhomeschooling

Marco Polo Unit Study – Salt Dough Map + Free Printable Map Flags

January 29, 2015 | 3 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have a Marco Polo Unit Study salt dough map activity today. Also, check out my Free Marco Polo Unit Study, Lapbook, and Hands-on Ideas.

Tiny never tires of salt dough maps.  It is one of his favorite go to geography projects.

Our Marco Polo unit study is not only an awesome unit study for a salt dough map, but the map is a project he can mostly do by himself now.

We gathered our supplies and yes we are finally starting to add to our school supplies here in Ecuador. Thank goodness they have Pizza Hut delivery here so we have a box for our project.

This is the basic recipe I am always sharing in case you don’t have it already.

Hands-on Geography

Too, when we left the states, I made sure our suitcases had plenty of room for our much loved atlases.

We made it here to South America with our atlases in great shape and now that books in English are almost non-existent here, we take care real good care of what we do have.

No running to drool over books at Barnes & Noble here.

Back to our project.After mixing the dough, we just drew by free hand on the box with a pencil and then traced back over with a permanent marker.

Not only did we add some of the places visited by Marco Polo, but Tiny wanted to label some of the areas around it, so we did.

Also, look at some of these books to add to your study.

Marco Polo Books for Kids

10 Marco Polo Books & Resources for Kids Who Love Reading and Being Read To

Add some of these fun books about Marco Polo to your home library or use them in your unit studies.

Marco Polo

The amazing story of a Venetian trader who becomes an aide to the great Kublai Khan comes to life in this retelling for students by Manuel Komroff. Follow along as Marco Polo travels through deserts littered with bones, encounters animals previously unknown to Europeans, and comes to serve in the court of one of the greatest kingdoms ever known.Included is a gorgeous new map tracing his journey, and 29 full page illustrations from an early edition written for adults.The text in this edition is a reprint of the original Messner Biography, a series that was created for students. "Well told and with engaging narratives, they unknowingly flow nicely from story to fact. You will find a plethora of information packed between these pages, not only about the title’s subject, but the subject's time and the world they lived in."

The Adventures of Marco Polo

Was Marco Polo the world's greatest explorer -- or the world's greatest liar? Newbery Medalist Russell Freedman turns his eagle eye on the enigmatic Marco Polo in his most exciting biography yet.

He claimed to have seen rocks burn, bandits command sandstorms, lions tamed with a look, and sorcerers charm sharks while divers gathered pearls on the ocean floor. Marco Polo shook Europe with descriptions of the world he'd seen on his epic journey to the court of Kublai Khan.

But was Marco Polo the world's most accomplished explorer? Had he really seen the "Roof of the World" in Central Asia, and the "City of Heaven" in far-off China? Or was he a charlatan who saw nothing more than the conjurings of his inventive mind? Join Russell Freedman as he tackles a centuries-old mystery.

The Story of Marco Polo

This is volume number 22 in the Signature Books series for young readers. This series, under the general editorship of Enid Lamonte Meadowcroft, provides easy to read, exciting stories based upon the lives of historical figures. A vivid story of the life and adventures of perhaps the most romantic traveler of all time, a man who returned from the East with tales so fantastic that no one believed him until he was vindicated by later travelers.

Animals Marco Polo Saw (Explorer Series)

A continuation of the Explorers series by award-winning author Sandra Markle, Animals Marco Polo Saw brings to life the amazing, exotic animals Marco Polo encountered during his explorations in Asia, how the animals sometimes affected the outcome of the journey, and even helped the explorer survive!

Marco Polo (Junior World Explorers)

Examines the political forces and personal ambition that drove Marco Polo in his explorations.

The Travels of Marco Polo

Marco Polo was the most famous traveller of his time. His voyages began in 1271 with a visit to China, after which he served the Kubilai Khan on numerous diplomatic missions. On his return to the West, he was made a prisoner of war and met Rustichello of Pisa, with whom he collaborated on this book. The accounts of his travels provide a fascinating glimpse of the different societies he encountered: their religions, customs, ceremonies and way of life; on the spices and silks of the East; on precious gems, exotic vegetation and wild beasts. He tells the story of the holy shoemaker, the wicked caliph and the three kings, among a great many others, evoking a remote and long-vanished world with colour and immediacy. He found himself traversing the most exotic lands-from the dazzling Mongol empire to Tibet and Burma. This fascinating chronicle still serves as the most vivid depiction of the mysterious East in the Middle Ages.

He Went With Marco Polo

Cathay is a long way from his home in Venice, but when 14-year-old gondolier, Tonio Tumba receives the chance of a lifetime, he doesn’t say no. Leaving behind his only possession, a shabby green gondola, Tonio eagerly joins Marco Polo on his adventure.

As Tonio and the Polo family travel the dangerous silk road to modern-day China, they encounter many fascinating people and dangerous perils. When Tonio rides into Cathay on one of the Khan’s elephants, he says to his friend, Pietro: “Elephants are grand… but give me a horse any time – unless I could have a gondola. When we get back to Venice, I’ll take you out in mine.”

There are many wonderful sights, amazing inventions and great riches to discover, though Tonio looks forward to getting back home - but many years will pass before his chance to see the canals of Venice again. When so much has changed, will Tonio find anything worth returning for?

Louise Andrews Kent is a master storyteller, weaving historical accuracy and immersive adventure into one epic voyage of discovery.

This new edition features all the original illustrations and clean, readable text. It is a fantastic living book teaching about history and geography, recommended for ages 10 and up.

Genghis Khan and the Mongol Horde (World Landmark Books)

Excellent, historic story well told by Harold Lamb and beautifully illustrated by Elton Fax. Originally published in 1954, this paperback edition was released in 1982.

Marco Polo: Overland to China (In the Footsteps of Explorers)

Relive Italian voyager Marco Polo's adventures in China in1275, including his legendary meeting with Kublai Khan, emperor of the powerful Mongol Empire. This exciting new book separates fact from myth using excerpts from Polo's actual journals and vivid illustrations and photographs to portray Polo himself and his impressions of the unique traditions and customs of the Mongols. A recipe from the period is also included. Topics include - what the Medieval period meant to Europe and exploration - the Silk Road - Marco Polo's service in Kublai Khan's court - life at sea and in the Mongol Empire - Marco Polo's influence on later explorers Teacher's guide available.

Marco Polo: his travels and adventures.

This edition is presented complete and unabridged, with larger text for easier reading by younger readers, and all the original illustrations and decorations.“I have attempted to transform the somewhat dry and monotonous translation of this narrative into an entertaining story, that may engage the attention and the interest of my young readers; for which it certainly presents ample opportunities. If the task is properly done, no one can fail to follow Marco Polo from his Venetian home, across the entire continent of Asia to the court of Kublai Khan, and in his various adventures and journeys while in the far-off Orient, without eager curiosity and ever-deepening interest. The central figure of the story is heroic, for Marco Polo was in all things manly, brave, persevering, intelligent, and chivalrous; and the scenes and incidents in which he was the leading actor were in the highest degree thrilling and dramatic.”-From the Preface by the Author.

More Activities to Go With the Salt Dough Map

  • Make a Persian Mosaic
  • Learn how to make the extend a timeline book
  • Make Terra Cotta Warriors
  • Grab these free Notebooking Pages
  • Create this salt dough map of the Travels of Marco Polo and grab the printable map flags.

Marco Polo Unit Study – Salt Dough Map + Free Printable Map Flags

Too, I made some printable flags to put on the salt dough map.

A few places, I added in the name that would have been used back in the time of Marco Polo and then put the name of the modern day city to help Tiny make a connection.

Names are boring to learn about unless they make sense today.

Remember, before the salt dough dries, stick a toothpick in the dough so when it dries, the hole is there already for the flag pennant.

There is just something a lot more engaging for Tiny to add the pennants on some of the places Marco Polo traveled instead of labeling a printed out map, which would have been a lot more easier for me.

Then again, he remembers geography a lot better this way.

At the last minute, he decided he wanted to paint the trail of Marco Polo’s travels white because it would be easier for him to remember.

Don’t you love it when your kids come up with their own ways of remembering information?

I love it because Tiny was so ultimately satisfied with his work.

Too, though hands-on ideas sometimes are time consuming or in our case we plod along over a few days working on them, you don’t have to do much more review because they retain so much information in the beginning.

How to Download the DIY Printable Map Flags

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

When you sign up to follow me, you get access to this freebie AND you’re now a follower of me by getting emails in your inbox.

1) Sign up on my email list.
2) Grab the printable.
3) Last, look for my emails in your inbox as a follower. Glad to have you.

Marco Polo Unit Study, Lapbook, and Hands-on Ideas

3 CommentsFiled Under: 1. My FREE Learning Printables {Any Topic}, Ancient Civilizations, Geography, Geography Based, Hands-On Activities, History Based Tagged With: geography, hands-on

Marco Polo Unit Study – Terracotta Warriors and Free Resources

January 17, 2015 | 4 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Taking a bunny trail in our Marco Polo Unit Study to talk about the Terracotta Warriors was a fun way to spend the morning as we debated whether or not Marco Polo really visited all the places he claimed.

Salt Dough Recipe

Too, though we have been adding to our homeschooling supplies when we moved here, we still didn’t find any clay yet.

That is okay because salt dough is pretty cheap and you can make just about anything out of it besides salt dough maps.

So I got our trusty recipe shown in the picture above and followed the salt dough recipe found here too and we were in business.

Tiny researched a few of the free websites on line to see how the Terracotta Warriors were made and then he made his version of a warrior.

This is an activity he can do by himself too, which I loved.

Afterwards, he used some tempera paints we did find here and gave his warrior a color he thought he would have been when they were discovered.

Pretty fun and a pretty easy activity for this unit study!

Marco Polo Unit Study Terra Cotta Warriors

Marco Polo Unit Study–Terracotta Warriors and Free Resources

Too, I have some free resources today that will help to round out your unit study.

On line resources have become really important to us since we couldn’t bring all of our books when we moved here to Ecuador.
So I have taken some time in putting together some of the more helpful links and hope you find them helpful too.

Helpful Lessons Plans and Background Information

  • Wonderful article with a visual that shows how the  Terracotta Warriors were made
  • On the Road with Marco Polo
  • Pretty cool infographic timeline about Marco Polo. Be sure to zoom in if the image is small.
  • Check out the activities Highhill homeschool did for their co-op on China
  • Mapping the Italian City- States Map Activity
  • Great info at Heritage History about Marco Polo.

Free Teacher’s Guides

  • Teacher’s Guide by Calliope for Marco Polo. 5 pages. I love this guide because it gives you ideas for extra activities with a little bit of background information.
  • Teacher’s Guide on Life in Medieval Europe.. This is a very helpful guide along with a timeline and activities to do and has information about what was going on in Marco Polo’s life during the medieval times in Europe.
  • Teacher’s Guide on Medieval China. Even though this free guide is based on a DVD, the ideas in it are still great with background information and to spark another topic you may want to learn about.
  • Teacher’s Guide Age of Exploration. . This has helpful information on several explorers, but also background information about Marco Polo.

Other Free Printables

Over at the homeschool den, Liesl has some great free printable notebooking pages about Marco Polo and Genghis Kahn notebooking pages.

Over at 123 Homeschool 4 Me, Beth has an early Explorers Unit and free Marco Polo lapbook.

Marco Polo Unit Study–Terracotta Warriors and Free Resources

YouTube Marco Polo

The Mongol Empire “Kublai Khan” History Channel For a middle school to high school student because it’s not cartoonish, but more factual type of presentation.  Appreciated by an older student.

Wait for it! Crash Course on the Mongol. Fun! From younger to older will enjoy this lively presentation.

Watch the building of a yurt in fast time.

Marco Polo Unit Study Hands-on Activities

  • Make a Persian Mosaic
  • Learn how to make the extend a timeline book
  • Make Terra Cotta Warriors
  • Grab these free Notebooking Pages
  • Create this salt dough map of the Travels of Marco Polo and grab the printable map flags.

Books About Marco Polo

10 Marco Polo Books & Resources for Kids Who Love Reading and Being Read To

Add some of these fun books about Marco Polo to your home library or use them in your unit studies.

Marco Polo

The amazing story of a Venetian trader who becomes an aide to the great Kublai Khan comes to life in this retelling for students by Manuel Komroff. Follow along as Marco Polo travels through deserts littered with bones, encounters animals previously unknown to Europeans, and comes to serve in the court of one of the greatest kingdoms ever known.Included is a gorgeous new map tracing his journey, and 29 full page illustrations from an early edition written for adults.The text in this edition is a reprint of the original Messner Biography, a series that was created for students. "Well told and with engaging narratives, they unknowingly flow nicely from story to fact. You will find a plethora of information packed between these pages, not only about the title’s subject, but the subject's time and the world they lived in."

The Adventures of Marco Polo

Was Marco Polo the world's greatest explorer -- or the world's greatest liar? Newbery Medalist Russell Freedman turns his eagle eye on the enigmatic Marco Polo in his most exciting biography yet.

He claimed to have seen rocks burn, bandits command sandstorms, lions tamed with a look, and sorcerers charm sharks while divers gathered pearls on the ocean floor. Marco Polo shook Europe with descriptions of the world he'd seen on his epic journey to the court of Kublai Khan.

But was Marco Polo the world's most accomplished explorer? Had he really seen the "Roof of the World" in Central Asia, and the "City of Heaven" in far-off China? Or was he a charlatan who saw nothing more than the conjurings of his inventive mind? Join Russell Freedman as he tackles a centuries-old mystery.

The Story of Marco Polo

This is volume number 22 in the Signature Books series for young readers. This series, under the general editorship of Enid Lamonte Meadowcroft, provides easy to read, exciting stories based upon the lives of historical figures. A vivid story of the life and adventures of perhaps the most romantic traveler of all time, a man who returned from the East with tales so fantastic that no one believed him until he was vindicated by later travelers.

Animals Marco Polo Saw (Explorer Series)

A continuation of the Explorers series by award-winning author Sandra Markle, Animals Marco Polo Saw brings to life the amazing, exotic animals Marco Polo encountered during his explorations in Asia, how the animals sometimes affected the outcome of the journey, and even helped the explorer survive!

Marco Polo (Junior World Explorers)

Examines the political forces and personal ambition that drove Marco Polo in his explorations.

The Travels of Marco Polo

Marco Polo was the most famous traveller of his time. His voyages began in 1271 with a visit to China, after which he served the Kubilai Khan on numerous diplomatic missions. On his return to the West, he was made a prisoner of war and met Rustichello of Pisa, with whom he collaborated on this book. The accounts of his travels provide a fascinating glimpse of the different societies he encountered: their religions, customs, ceremonies and way of life; on the spices and silks of the East; on precious gems, exotic vegetation and wild beasts. He tells the story of the holy shoemaker, the wicked caliph and the three kings, among a great many others, evoking a remote and long-vanished world with colour and immediacy. He found himself traversing the most exotic lands-from the dazzling Mongol empire to Tibet and Burma. This fascinating chronicle still serves as the most vivid depiction of the mysterious East in the Middle Ages.

He Went With Marco Polo

Cathay is a long way from his home in Venice, but when 14-year-old gondolier, Tonio Tumba receives the chance of a lifetime, he doesn’t say no. Leaving behind his only possession, a shabby green gondola, Tonio eagerly joins Marco Polo on his adventure.

As Tonio and the Polo family travel the dangerous silk road to modern-day China, they encounter many fascinating people and dangerous perils. When Tonio rides into Cathay on one of the Khan’s elephants, he says to his friend, Pietro: “Elephants are grand… but give me a horse any time – unless I could have a gondola. When we get back to Venice, I’ll take you out in mine.”

There are many wonderful sights, amazing inventions and great riches to discover, though Tonio looks forward to getting back home - but many years will pass before his chance to see the canals of Venice again. When so much has changed, will Tonio find anything worth returning for?

Louise Andrews Kent is a master storyteller, weaving historical accuracy and immersive adventure into one epic voyage of discovery.

This new edition features all the original illustrations and clean, readable text. It is a fantastic living book teaching about history and geography, recommended for ages 10 and up.

Genghis Khan and the Mongol Horde (World Landmark Books)

Excellent, historic story well told by Harold Lamb and beautifully illustrated by Elton Fax. Originally published in 1954, this paperback edition was released in 1982.

Marco Polo: Overland to China (In the Footsteps of Explorers)

Relive Italian voyager Marco Polo's adventures in China in1275, including his legendary meeting with Kublai Khan, emperor of the powerful Mongol Empire. This exciting new book separates fact from myth using excerpts from Polo's actual journals and vivid illustrations and photographs to portray Polo himself and his impressions of the unique traditions and customs of the Mongols. A recipe from the period is also included. Topics include - what the Medieval period meant to Europe and exploration - the Silk Road - Marco Polo's service in Kublai Khan's court - life at sea and in the Mongol Empire - Marco Polo's influence on later explorers Teacher's guide available.

Marco Polo: his travels and adventures.

This edition is presented complete and unabridged, with larger text for easier reading by younger readers, and all the original illustrations and decorations.“I have attempted to transform the somewhat dry and monotonous translation of this narrative into an entertaining story, that may engage the attention and the interest of my young readers; for which it certainly presents ample opportunities. If the task is properly done, no one can fail to follow Marco Polo from his Venetian home, across the entire continent of Asia to the court of Kublai Khan, and in his various adventures and journeys while in the far-off Orient, without eager curiosity and ever-deepening interest. The central figure of the story is heroic, for Marco Polo was in all things manly, brave, persevering, intelligent, and chivalrous; and the scenes and incidents in which he was the leading actor were in the highest degree thrilling and dramatic.”-From the Preface by the Author.

Free Coloring Pages Marco Polo

I listed a few coloring pages here too for those of any age, K to Gray, that like to color. That includes me.  Am I the only one that prints a page for myself and color with my kids? It’s so relaxing in a way.

marco_poloviaggio_marco_polo
mpolomapkublai
Marco-PoloMarco-Polo 2
  • Marco Polo free coloring page.
  • Ship Marco Polo
  • Color on line.
  • Educational Coloring Pages

Free Country Report

Mongolia Country Report

Grab my free country report on the country of Mongolia from my geography page to add to your notebook or study. This is a fun and quick report for a middle or high school student to do.

Though not free, there are lots of great books to choose from for any age. Tiny loved the easy Junior Explorer book because it was a great read in a day or two.

Marco Polo Unit Study – Terracotta Warriors and Free Resources

How to Get the Free Marco Polo Lapbook

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

When you sign up to follow me, you get access to this freebie.

1) Sign up on my email list.
2) Grab the printable.
3) Last, look for my emails in your inbox as a follower. Glad to have you.

Hugs and love ya,

Marco Polo Unit Study, Lapbook, and Hands-on Ideas

4 CommentsFiled Under: 1. My FREE Learning Printables {Any Topic}, Ancient Civilizations, Geography Based, Hands-On Activities, History Based, History Resources Tagged With: ancient civilizations, hands on history, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling

Free Extend a Timeline Book Marco Polo Unit Study

January 9, 2015 | 17 Comments
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I have a free extend a timeline book Marco Pol, which is the next interactive minibook we did on our Marco Polo Unit Study.

And well, we found it kind of fun and yes, easy. The printables are a subscriber only freebie and I would love for you to follow and grab it.

Free Extend a Timeline Book Marco Polo Unit Study

Look at the steps below on how to do this free extend a timeline book.

First, it’s easier to have your child write on a full size page instead of the smaller strip.  So fill in the timeline first on the full size page before you cut the strips.

Extend a Timeline Book – Hands-On History

I have some information on the downloadable to help you fill out the timeline and then as I go along I will add a more comprehensive timeline on this unit study.

Free Extend a Timeline Book Marco Polo Unit Study

Too, here in Ecuador I haven’t been able to find cardstock yet, but I had photo paper and since it’s more stiff, I used that for the cover page or 3 masted ship, which by the way is the kind of ship Marco Polo would have traveled in.

You want to print out the cover page on stiffer paper or cardstock and print out the timeline on regular paper so the strip is easier to fold.

Fold the cover sheet in half and cut down the middle.

Then cut out the timeline strips after they are filled in and fold back the part on the strip (gray part) where the two strips glue together.

Timeline Book – Hands-On History

After you download the printables, you will see that there are two strips that need to be glued together to form one long strip or timeline that will extend across both halves of the cover page.

I have instructions on the printables or tabs to show you where you are suppose to glue it in case this sounds all jibberish.

Here is the picture below after gluing the two strips together. Fold the crease and let it dry for a while.  And then crease both ends of the strip where they will attach to the cover page.

Next work on folding it accordion style. 

You can see the front of the timeline faintly when you turn the strip on the back to start folding. 

So we just folded it naturally dividing the time periods with the faint lines showing through from the front.

The picture below on the left shows us folding it accordion style and the picture on the right shows how it looked before we glued it on but after we messed with folding it.

It doesn’t have to be perfect, just accordion like and it will work.

Then, flatten out the end pieces of the strip before you glue then onto the cover.

Glue the strips onto the bottom of the cover page and not in the middle or higher so that the book will stand somewhat on it’s own.

Then taaa daaa, look at our interactive extend a timeline book. 

But, we have one more secret and that is where we will placing this book, but I can’t tell you yet.

Okay, one clue and that is Tiny is working on a project for Marco Polo and this is one piece to it.

I can’t wait till he’s finished to show it to you. Here is how the printables look below.

Free Extend a Timeline Book Marco Polo Unit Study
Free Extend a Timeline Book Marco Polo Unit Study

Marco Polo Lapbook and Unit Study

First, look at these minibooks that are included in this download.

  • Extend a Timeline Book Printable
  • Along the Journey
  • Lapbook Cover
  • Soldier, Merchant, Prisoner
  • Places outside of China
  • About the Mongols
  • Early Life of Marco Polo
  • Did You Know this
  • Travels
  • Great Khan

Next, look at these books about Marco Polo.

Books About Marco Polo

10 Marco Polo Books & Resources for Kids Who Love Reading and Being Read To

Add some of these fun books about Marco Polo to your home library or use them in your unit studies.

Marco Polo

The amazing story of a Venetian trader who becomes an aide to the great Kublai Khan comes to life in this retelling for students by Manuel Komroff. Follow along as Marco Polo travels through deserts littered with bones, encounters animals previously unknown to Europeans, and comes to serve in the court of one of the greatest kingdoms ever known.Included is a gorgeous new map tracing his journey, and 29 full page illustrations from an early edition written for adults.The text in this edition is a reprint of the original Messner Biography, a series that was created for students. "Well told and with engaging narratives, they unknowingly flow nicely from story to fact. You will find a plethora of information packed between these pages, not only about the title’s subject, but the subject's time and the world they lived in."

The Adventures of Marco Polo

Was Marco Polo the world's greatest explorer -- or the world's greatest liar? Newbery Medalist Russell Freedman turns his eagle eye on the enigmatic Marco Polo in his most exciting biography yet.

He claimed to have seen rocks burn, bandits command sandstorms, lions tamed with a look, and sorcerers charm sharks while divers gathered pearls on the ocean floor. Marco Polo shook Europe with descriptions of the world he'd seen on his epic journey to the court of Kublai Khan.

But was Marco Polo the world's most accomplished explorer? Had he really seen the "Roof of the World" in Central Asia, and the "City of Heaven" in far-off China? Or was he a charlatan who saw nothing more than the conjurings of his inventive mind? Join Russell Freedman as he tackles a centuries-old mystery.

The Story of Marco Polo

This is volume number 22 in the Signature Books series for young readers. This series, under the general editorship of Enid Lamonte Meadowcroft, provides easy to read, exciting stories based upon the lives of historical figures. A vivid story of the life and adventures of perhaps the most romantic traveler of all time, a man who returned from the East with tales so fantastic that no one believed him until he was vindicated by later travelers.

Animals Marco Polo Saw (Explorer Series)

A continuation of the Explorers series by award-winning author Sandra Markle, Animals Marco Polo Saw brings to life the amazing, exotic animals Marco Polo encountered during his explorations in Asia, how the animals sometimes affected the outcome of the journey, and even helped the explorer survive!

Marco Polo (Junior World Explorers)

Examines the political forces and personal ambition that drove Marco Polo in his explorations.

The Travels of Marco Polo

Marco Polo was the most famous traveller of his time. His voyages began in 1271 with a visit to China, after which he served the Kubilai Khan on numerous diplomatic missions. On his return to the West, he was made a prisoner of war and met Rustichello of Pisa, with whom he collaborated on this book. The accounts of his travels provide a fascinating glimpse of the different societies he encountered: their religions, customs, ceremonies and way of life; on the spices and silks of the East; on precious gems, exotic vegetation and wild beasts. He tells the story of the holy shoemaker, the wicked caliph and the three kings, among a great many others, evoking a remote and long-vanished world with colour and immediacy. He found himself traversing the most exotic lands-from the dazzling Mongol empire to Tibet and Burma. This fascinating chronicle still serves as the most vivid depiction of the mysterious East in the Middle Ages.

He Went With Marco Polo

Cathay is a long way from his home in Venice, but when 14-year-old gondolier, Tonio Tumba receives the chance of a lifetime, he doesn’t say no. Leaving behind his only possession, a shabby green gondola, Tonio eagerly joins Marco Polo on his adventure.

As Tonio and the Polo family travel the dangerous silk road to modern-day China, they encounter many fascinating people and dangerous perils. When Tonio rides into Cathay on one of the Khan’s elephants, he says to his friend, Pietro: “Elephants are grand… but give me a horse any time – unless I could have a gondola. When we get back to Venice, I’ll take you out in mine.”

There are many wonderful sights, amazing inventions and great riches to discover, though Tonio looks forward to getting back home - but many years will pass before his chance to see the canals of Venice again. When so much has changed, will Tonio find anything worth returning for?

Louise Andrews Kent is a master storyteller, weaving historical accuracy and immersive adventure into one epic voyage of discovery.

This new edition features all the original illustrations and clean, readable text. It is a fantastic living book teaching about history and geography, recommended for ages 10 and up.

Genghis Khan and the Mongol Horde (World Landmark Books)

Excellent, historic story well told by Harold Lamb and beautifully illustrated by Elton Fax. Originally published in 1954, this paperback edition was released in 1982.

Marco Polo: Overland to China (In the Footsteps of Explorers)

Relive Italian voyager Marco Polo's adventures in China in1275, including his legendary meeting with Kublai Khan, emperor of the powerful Mongol Empire. This exciting new book separates fact from myth using excerpts from Polo's actual journals and vivid illustrations and photographs to portray Polo himself and his impressions of the unique traditions and customs of the Mongols. A recipe from the period is also included. Topics include - what the Medieval period meant to Europe and exploration - the Silk Road - Marco Polo's service in Kublai Khan's court - life at sea and in the Mongol Empire - Marco Polo's influence on later explorers Teacher's guide available.

Marco Polo: his travels and adventures.

This edition is presented complete and unabridged, with larger text for easier reading by younger readers, and all the original illustrations and decorations.“I have attempted to transform the somewhat dry and monotonous translation of this narrative into an entertaining story, that may engage the attention and the interest of my young readers; for which it certainly presents ample opportunities. If the task is properly done, no one can fail to follow Marco Polo from his Venetian home, across the entire continent of Asia to the court of Kublai Khan, and in his various adventures and journeys while in the far-off Orient, without eager curiosity and ever-deepening interest. The central figure of the story is heroic, for Marco Polo was in all things manly, brave, persevering, intelligent, and chivalrous; and the scenes and incidents in which he was the leading actor were in the highest degree thrilling and dramatic.”-From the Preface by the Author.

Moreover, look at more ideas for your unit study.

Marco Polo Unit Study Hands-on Activities

  • Make a Persian Mosaic
  • Learn how to make the extend a timeline book
  • Make Terra Cotta Warriors
  • Grab these free Notebooking Pages
  • Create this salt dough map of the Travels of Marco Polo and grab the printable map flags.

How to Get the Free Marco Polo Lapbook

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

When you sign up to follow me, you get access to this freebie.

1) Sign up on my email list.
2) Grab the printable.
3) Last, look for my emails in your inbox as a follower. Glad to have you.

Marco Polo Unit Study, Lapbook, and Hands-on Ideas

Check out the other hands-on activities so far for our Marco Polo Unit Study.

Persian Mosaic Craft Marco Polo Unit Study

Create a Mythological Map – Marco Polo Unit Study

And then check out some of the Marco Polo books we are using and loving!

17 CommentsFiled Under: Ancient Civilizations, Geography Based, Hands-On Activities, History Based Tagged With: hands on history, hands-on, hands-on activities, handsonhomeschooling, lapbook

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