History Resources

Homeschool History Teaching Ancient Civilizations Using Netflix

April 21, 2015 | 5 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Besides being a great way unit study starter, movies have a way of taking us back in history. Remember, when we did our FBI Unit Study, we started our unit study by popping popcorn and watching the documentary about the FBI.

Not only do movies capture our children’s attention but they have a way of hooking our children on history too.

Homeschool History Alive

Netflix is one tool I happily pay for each month because the benefits always outweigh the nominal cost.

Though the movies change throughout the years, I always manage to keep a list or two on hand when teaching different periods of history.

Look at my list of homeschool history teaching ancient civilizations using Netflix.

Son of Hercules vs. Medusa
The Ancient Life
The 300 Spartans
Colosseum: A Gladiator’s Story
Cleopatra
The Prince of Egypt
Nova: Building Pharaoh’s Chariot
The Pyramid Code
The Curse of King Tut’s Tomb
Secrets: The Sphinx
Alexandria
Secrets: A Viking Map?
Secrets of the Viking Sword: Nova
Secrets of the Dead: China’s Terracotta Warriors

Whether you add a movie or two for enrichment, as a unit study starter or to add some spice to your day, a movie or two can history alive for a time period in history that sometimes can be hard to teach.

Teaching Ancient Civilizations Using Netflix

I also scour the History Channel and PBS/Nova for movies to go with a specific time period.

Also, be sure to scoot by and check out Teach With Movies for free lesson plans to go with movies. It is such an awesome resource.

Although I don’t use movies to teach exclusively, I feel they are a fun and valuable part of teaching history that can be inspirational.

What about you? Do you add movies to your unit studies or to enrich your curriculum?

Also you’ll love these other resources:

Hugs and love ya,

Homeschool History Teaching Ancient Civilizations Using Netflix @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

20 Awesome History Books for Kids

April 7, 2015 | 80 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Whether you’re looking for homeschool history books or just plain good ancient history books for your homeschool, I have 20 awesome history books for kids,

Too, you’ll find history books for every age.

And I have listed books for topics like castles, Greeks, Egypt, mummies, warriors, pyramids, inventions, the medieval world and time travelers.

These history books for kids can be used as a stand along spine which is a framework for your unit study or they can be used as supplements.

In addition, I love these series of books because some have additional activities for history.

History Books for Kids

History should not boring and so I look for books that have activities. You need reference books, but you also want ideas for all ages.

The books below on different eras of history are sticker books, about time travel and learning about Greek myths.

From preschool to young adult, these books give a diverse look at life in ancient times as well as some of the most important events.

Other History Books:

History Books for PreK – Kindergarten

1. Look Inside a Castle

Kids will follow a lord and lady as they go about their day in a medieval castle.

Children will learn all about castle life as they lift up over 60 different flaps to reveal facts about the medieval time period.

2. Mini Greek Myths for Children

These traditional Greek myths are retold so young children can understand and older children can read on their own.

This book is beautifully illustrated so that the whole family will enjoy reading it again and again.

3. Sticker Dressing Long Ago

What did Vikings, Pharaohs, and Japanese Samurai wear long ago?

Children will find out by dressing each character and reading about the facts that go with each.

Even after all the stickers are gone, children love reading about these historical people.

4. Ancient Egypt Jigsaw Book

Complete 6 easy jigsaws to reveal facts about life in ancient Egypt.

There are lots of things to seek and find which makes this book one of the most fun history books I’ve ever seen.

5. Look Inside Mummies and Pyramids

This lift and look books gives more details of how the Egyptians buried their dead and how the pyramids were made.

Kids love the flaps to lift and look inside the pyramids!

Elementary History Books

6. Living Long Ago

Details on everyday living in ancient times are revealed in this fun book.

Topics include clothing, homes, food, travel and more!

7. Sticker Dressing Warriors

Use over 200 stickers to dress warriors from the past. This book covers Mongols to Native American Chefs!

8. The Story of Inventions

This best selling books tell the stories behind the things we use everyday.

Children will be inspired to come up with their own inventions after reading this book.

9. Time Traveler

Follow a young boy as he travels back in time to 4 different civilizations.

This action-packed history book is just what kids who hate textbooks need to get interested in history.

10. Illustrated Stories from the Greek Myths

This collection of famous myths from Ancient Greece include: “The Horse”, “The Minotaur”, “Bellerophon and Pegasus”, “The Twelve Tasks of Heracles”, “Perseus and the Gorgon”, “The Odyssey”, even more myths and a guide to the gods.

Children will love the beautiful illustrations and introduction to Greek beliefs.

11. Ancient Egypt Sticker Book

This sticker book explores Egypt through ancient artifacts and monuments.

With over 120 stickers, this book is an awesome resource to have when studying ancient Egypt.

12. Ancient World

Lavish illustrations and detailed tid-bits help make this book intriguing for all children.

They’ll love learning about the rise and fall of major civilizations and the internet links featured will help them further explore the ancient world.

13. Medieval World

To find out all about the lives of knights, peasants, warriors, and more, this book is your ultimate resource.

It contains lots of internet sites with more resource for your children to learn about the history of the Medieval world.

14. Encyclopedia of World History

A 12000-year illustrated time chart, over 100 maps, clear descriptions of historical events and more make this book a must-have resource for any home library.

History Books for Young Adults

15. The World Wars

Based on true events, this book is perfect for reluctant readers and takes you on a thrilling journey through the lives of people who experienced the first & second world wars.
16. War Stories

Based on true events, this book is perfect for reluctant readers and takes you on a thrilling journey through the lives of people who experienced the first & second world wars.

17. Book of Castles

This book is for the castles buffs who want a detailed look inside castle life. With photographs, artworks, computer graphics, and internet references, you’ll get to see inside the world of castles like never before.

18. Greeks

Who were the Greeks and how did they come to dominate the Western world for centuries? Find out in this exciting book all about the Greeks!

19. Illustrated Guide to Greek Myths & Legends

This reference guide contains a detailed list of all the Greek gods, heroes, and monsters and their attributes. It is a great introduction to the myths and characters that make up Greek culture.

20. Romans

One of the most powerful empires that ever existed, their influence is still felt to this day.

They were pioneers of trade, engineering and government.

That’s why this book is great to have as a reference or to read a full chronicle of the Roman way of life.

Free History Copywork – A Roundup of History Resources

March 17, 2015 | 5 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Copywork is a valuable aid in teaching visual learners.

Too, because copywork can be part of a history unit study, I have rounded up some free history copywork pages.

Free History Copywork. A roundup of history resources you'll love. Click here to download the free copywork @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Free copywork is easy to find, but I wanted to round up just those focused on history so you can pair them with your history unit studies and with the free unit studies I have here.

History copywork does not exist as plentiful as just plain copywork, so I will be adding more freebies for history copywork to match my unit studies here.

Today, I have a copywork page on the poem, Kubla Khan by Samuel Taylor Coleridge.

You can read the whole poem on the link and then also look at sparknotes for an explanation of the poem if you want to do some more copywork.

Kubla Khan by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Then here are the free ones I rounded up.

Theodore Roosevelt Copywork Pages from Jimmies Collage.

President Quotes Copywork Pages from Walking By the Way. {Click on picture to download.}

American History 1770-1880’s Copywork Pages from Lulu.

Famous quotes from World Leaders Copywork Pages from Practical Pages.

28 Principles of Liberty Cursive Copywork Pages from Notebooking Nook.

Leonardo Da Vinci Copywork Pagesfrom Harrington Harmonies.

American Revolution Copywork Pages from Harrington Harmonies.

Preamble to the Constitution Copywork Pages from Cynce’s Places.

George Washington’s Rules of Civility Copywork Pagesfrom Donna Young.

Winston Churchill Quote Copywork Page from Activity Village.

Shakespeare Quotes Copywork Pagesfrom Activity Village.

Martin Luther King Quotes Copywork Pages from 3 Boys and a Dog.

John F. Kennedy – Excerpt from Inaugural Address Copywork Pages from Blessed Beyond a Doubt.

Then here are my other two copywork pages I have done that are history related.

Download Greece poem here. Download Cattle, a Texas Poem.

This will give us a running start but I will be adding more history copywork pages especially for Ancient history.

Hugs and love ya,

Also, grab:

Free Middle and High School Homeschool Language Arts

World War II Free Resources For a Middle School Unit Study

March 13, 2015 | 20 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I rounded up some World War II free resources for a middle school unit study because I plan on tackling this tough part in American history soon with Tiny. Also, look at my page homeschool middle school for more fun tips and World War II Hands-On History – Make Ration Cakes.

This certainly is not an easy topic to study with younger kids and it’s still pretty hard with middle and high school kids.

However, it is easier to explain the issues and ideology on both sides when your kids are a bit older.

You know too I like having plenty of time to plan, think about some of these activities, and gather them in one place before we start.

World War II Activities for Homeschooled Kids

Look at these ideas for hands-on history, free lesson plans and resources.

(Picture copyright Home School in the Woods and used here for illustrative purposes only.)

Grab the free sample lesson download at the bottom of the page at Home School In the Woods.

It has some soldier paper dolls (for lack of better words) in color showing the soldiers for both sides and I think it’s an easy way of identifying whose who in the war.

Video from NeoK12 about World War II. Letters are read from that time period about how people felt.

These letters or excerpts are a great free primary resource to use.

A free lesson plan on the Navajo Code Talkers.

In 1943 Eleanor Roosevelt helped start a Victory Garden movement that ended up making a substantial contribution to feeding the nation in wartime. You’ll love reading about it here along with learning about period posters.

World War II Victory Soup Recipe

So you could either plant a garden or have a Victory Garden Meal as you studied this topic.

Look at this recipe that I have included below that is in one of our kids history magazine that would make a fun edible project.

Ingredients.
1 of each of the following:
potato, onion, celery, turnip, tomato
1/2 cup corn
1/2 cup peas
Small amount of any leftover cooked vegetables in your refrigerator
2 Tablespoons flour
2 Tablespoons butter
2 Cups tomato juice
1 Cup water
½ Tablespoon salt
Pepper to taste
¼ Cup small pieces of macaroni or any type you prefer

Directions.

Peel the potato, cut in cube and boil in water for 15 minutes. Peel the carrot and turnip. Chop the onion and celery in small pieces. Slice the carrot.

Dice the turnip and tomato. Mash the potato in the cooking water.

Melt the butter over medium heat in a soup pot. Then, add the onion and celery and cook over low heat for about five minute, stirring frequently.

Next, add the flour and stir for one minute. Add the tomato juice, water, salt, pepper and macaroni. Add the potatoes, carrots, turnips, corn, peas and tomato. Cook over medium heat stirring.

When soup begins to boil, lower the heat and simmer for 20 minutes. During the last five minutes, add any leftover vegetable.

World War II Free Resources For a Middle School Unit Study

Read letters from the Front. More letters from the home front.
Though this 198 page pdf download does not have lesson plans, this was a study of the World War II home front.

The purpose of the study is to identify historic places that best represent the wartime mobilization that occurred in the United States and its territories and possessions between 1939 and 1945 to assist in identifying whether any of these places should be considered for potential inclusion in the National Park System.

In other words, it makes a nifty guide for identifying key places and obtaining back ground information.

Study poster art from World War II in this free 26 page download.
Very helpful World War II history study guide that is only 2 pages long but in a three column form, it gives several topics to study.
Learn about canning, which was utilized to help rationing during wartime.

Use this Nazi party infographic to help your child understand their ideals.

More World War II Unit Study Hands-on Activities

Watch and listen to the original Sound of Music movie. The well known Von Trapp family left Austria before the Nazi take over. Another activity would be to compare the movie with what happened in real life. Check out Movie vs. Reality: The Real Story of the Von Trapp Family which lists some facts about the life of Maria Von Trapp.

World War II Free Resources For a Middle or High School Unit Study

Here is a great visual on understanding the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Then Teaching Ideas has some very helpful free pdfs like the 25 pdf on dogs in the war, clothes rationing and questioning a World War II character.
Make a model gas mask.
Pearl Harbor teacher’s guide .
Check out this round up of World War II films by Kathy’s Cluttered Mind. She has some suggestions for younger children and some for older ones.
Also, check out this unit study for resources for younger children by Ticia at Adventure in Mommydom.

Hands-on History for Kids

INF3-104_Food_Production_Lend_a_hand_on_the_land_Whatever_your_front_line_job_Artist_Showell

Study tons of color posters by the British or propaganda artworks, which have been released on Wikipedia.
Free World War II timeline worksheet by Square Head Teachers.
Free teacher’s guide World War II from Kids Discover.
Teach a lesson in being frugal by following this World War II saying: “Use it Up. Wear it Out. Make it Do” and add “Or Do Without” if you want to.
Add in some art by doing a shadow box on World War II. So cool.
Study some more primary resources. 11 Awesome Pages from World War II Ration Cookbooks from Mental Floss.

Then, some free coloring pages:

Woman in the War Effort.
Free coloring pages from Edupic.
3 free coloring pages for World War II airplanes from Dover Coloring.
Lots of free coloring pages for World War II aircraft.
Also look at these posters about World War II from the Virtual Library.

Spot an air craft activity. Check out these deck of cards from that time period that has different air craft pictured to learn about.

During war time, kids would spot air crafts and try to identify them.

I have some more ideas for hands-on history that I’ll share when we start our project, but I wanted to share these ideas today so you can starting sorting through them too.

World War II Free Resournces for a Middle School Unit Study

Free 27 Week American History Study through Lapbooking In Chronological Order

February 4, 2015 | 16 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today, I have rounded up 27 free American history lapbooks to keep American history fun, hands-on and covered in chronological order if you choose to cover American History in order too. There are enough lapbooks here to turn this easily into a year long study on American history.

Free 27 Week American History Study through Lapbooking

Some lapbooks have more resources added to them and others less. Some topics have two or three lapbooks, but then again, the topics like the American Revolution and presidents, you could spend two or three weeks on.