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American History Game Fun U.S. President Go Fish Unit Study

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

We enjoy the American history game U.S. President Go Fish for studying homeschool history.

And we love History For Kids Go Fish Game series a lot, and with a good variety of history topics we can easily add them to several studies.

American History Game Fun U.S. President Go Fish Unit Study

Today is all about the U.S. Presidents Go Fish and how to use it.

Also, we are going to take this game and build an entire presidents unit study around it with books, hands-on activities, and videos that will help you dive deep into it without cracking open a curriculum box.

About the U.S. Presidents Go Fish Game

Moreover, the U.S. Presidents Go Fish game is a simple game to add to a presidential unit study.

I like it because it is a quick play game that will pack a lot of educational punch.

Too, it comes with a little mini book that gives instructions and plays like traditional go fish but you collect all 4 presidents from each category (cold war, industrial revolution, reconstruction, etc.).

Or kids can collect presidents by guessing them correctly based on the hints on the card the other player gives.

You can take it on the road, use it in place of your lesson for the day or add it to your morning basket to help start the day.

The one drawback is that as of this date, it only includes the first 44 presidents.

American History Game Fun U.S. President Go Fish Unit Study

Additionally, look at this list of books to use as a unit study spine or for your learning day.

Books about U.S. Presidents

10 Resources about U.S. Presidents and The White House

Here are some books to add to a presidential unit study that cover a good variety of ages.

Furthermore, add hands-on activities.

Hands-on Ideas for a President Unit Study

For example, use the Safari Ltd US Presidents busts to introduce and build excitement to the start of a new topic or for art inspiration.

American History Game Fun U.S. President Go Fish Unit Study

Create your own bust with Crayola Air Dry clay and a flashcard of a president for a model.

All you need is some clay and a toothpick and craft stick to carve and add detail.

American History Game Fun U.S. President Go Fish Unit Study

Any age can use these but I like that the scrabble tiles are so versatile and don’t seem babyish like some letter tiles might for older kids.

Instead of writing out spelling and vocabulary words use letter tiles. Call out words you would like your child to learn and let them do it with the letter tiles instead of paper.

This activity is easy to modify for any age level by simply using easier or more difficult words.

American History Game Fun U.S. President Go Fish Unit Study

 In addition, here are some vocabulary/spelling words to get you started and let your younger children put them in alphabetical order.

  • President,
  • election,
  • politics,
  • republican,
  • democrat,
  • ballot,
  • veto,
  • federal,
  • constitution,
  • monument, and
  • executive.
American History Game Fun U.S. President Go Fish Unit Study

Besides playing the U.S. Presidents Go fish according to the directions you can also use them to create a timeline by pulling 5 or 6 random cards and having your child place them in order.

American History Game Fun U.S. President Go Fish Unit Study

More Fun History Games

Look at them below.

Furthermore, add some American Presidents board games.

4 American Presidents Board Games

Play a fun board game like one of these below to learn about presidents, elections, and politics.

Finally, videos are always a great way to present information in a fresh new way as well as take a little of the teaching responsibility off your shoulders.

The Benefits Of Using Games That Teach Geography | Review Of Scrambled States

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

When teaching history, sometimes you have to come in sideways or use games that teach geography. I have more fun game ideas for teaching history on my Kids History Games Boosts Learning & Promotes Critical Thinking page.

For example, gameschooling has become one of the most popular methods for teaching your child.

It doesn’t matter if you gameschool exclusively, unschool, use a packaged curriculum, online lessons, or put together unit studies.

The Benefits Of Using Games That Teach Geography | Review Of Scrambled States

Games that teach geography can be added to your day and teach so much through playing and enjoying time together.

First, you can build an entire lesson or even a full unit study around a game.

I’m sharing one of favorite games for learning geography.

Besides geography and history can go hand in hand.

Too, I’m showing you other items and activities to add to keep the lessons going as long as you want.

Everything from movies to books, a few more games, and other items helps to round out a geography or history slant or both.

What is Geography

The word geography comes from the Greek geo, which means “Earth,” and graphy, which means “writing or description.

So, geography means to learn about  the Earth’s land its surface, and features including water and air.

However, geography also includes learning about the people of the area, understand landmarks, and appreciating cultural differences

Immediately, you can see a tie in between learning about the natural resources of an area and the people.

Additionally, look at some of these hands-on geography ideas.

The Benefits Of Using Games That Teach Geography | Review Of Scrambled States

Finally, be sure to check out my post on the 100 Best Books From All 50 States

Hands-on Geography

If you have been around for any length of time you know I am a fan of these Toobs for Safari Ltd.

This USA Landmarks and Symbols set is perfect for learning about symbolism and important places throughout the United States.

Use them as drawing inspiration, in sensory bins for younger children, as part of a diorama, or use them as game markers.

Fun History Games

Too, look at these games below which can be games that teach geography with history.

In addition, look at these fun books and resources to help U.S. geography more lively.

10 U.S. Geography Resources

If you're looking to teach U.S. geography in a hands-on way, you'll love adding one or two of these resources to your day or study.

As you can see combining geography and history is a natural fit.

The Benefits Of Using Games That Teach Geography | Review Of Scrambled States

Finally, look at how to play the scrambled states of America.

Scrambles States of America

First, The Scrambled States of America is a silly colorful game which introduces states as a game that requires observation and quick reflexes.

You collect the state cards, match them with neighbors, and more.

And you win by familiarizing yourself with the state cards you’re dealt.

Then, you try to be the quickest to respond to action cards like – capital that starts with D or a state that is south of Colorado.

It even comes with a small copy of THE Scrambled States of America Book. Fun.

The Benefits Of Using Games That Teach Geography | Review Of Scrambled States

While this game probably is best for middle to upper elementary. I definitely think that it is still fun for middle school kids.

It is a gentle approach to learning US Geography for anyone that needs to learn or refresh what they already know.

I don’t really have a con for this game except that older kids may feel that it is baby-ish.

However, if they can get past that it’s a great learning tool for the whole family.

Unit Study: French Revolution + Free Storming the Bastille Game

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

This French Revolution board game is so much fun. Also, look at my free French Revolution 1789 – 1799 Unit Study & Lapbook. And you’ll love grabbing more ideas for history games on my page.

Plodding along, we have started out next unit study which is the French Revolution. 

Unit Study: French Revolution + Free Storming the Bastille Game

Mr. Awesome needs to cover some more European history during his high school years and so this a great topic to cover for older kids.

French Revolution Homeschool Unit Study

Too, sickness has hit our family early and everybody has had a touch of the crud this whole week. Crazy that we all get sick at the same time.

So knowing that the French Revolution is not a topic exactly easy to explain to younger children and because all of us are still recovering from the coughing junk,  I made a board game about the French Revolution that they both could play.

Playing the French Revolution Game

This way they both have an introduction to this time period.

I can’t pry them away from the fireplace when they play games either.

I guess they think the ultimate luxury for at home learning is sitting by the fireplace because that is their go to place (even in the summer). I give up and let them play where they want to now.

French Revolution Game | Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

About the French Revolution Board Game

Just to let you know I made the game really big.

However, you can print it on regular size paper or print it poster size (4 separate pages under your print settings).

We printed it on regular size paper because I can’t store anything now

By making it large, I could print it on 4 pages when we decided to play again.

Normally, I like to start our unit studies with a real aloud from books written about that time period like A Tale of Two Cities or Les Miserables.

But again, my time has been short lately, so I have found a nice abridged audio reading of A Tale of Two Cities that the boys could listen to.

Click here to listen Charles Dickens’ “A Tale of Two Cities.“

The boys can’t miss hearing the popular phrase: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,  . . .” I love the whole opening paragraph of that book.

Also, you’ll love these other fun history games.

More Fun History Games

Other French Revolution Resources

Unit Study: French Revolution + Free Storming the Bastille Game

HOW TO GRAB THE FREE FRENCH REVOLUTION BOARD GAME

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Exploring Space and Astronomy Free Unit Study for Multiple Ages

Easy Hands-on Fun Ancient Greek Games for Kids DIY Knucklebones

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If you’re doing hands-on history and want to add ancient Greek games for kids, you’ll love this knucklebones game and the other games on my page Kids History Games Boosts Learning & Promotes Critical Thinking.

I am sharing with you how to make and play Knucklebones.

It’s one of the oldest discovered ancient games.

Easy Hands-on Fun Ancient Greek Games for Kids DIY Knucklebones

Knucklebones is an ancient Greek game typically played with 5 small objects.

They were initially made from the knuckles of sheep or goats. 

It was also called Tali, 5 stones, Jacks, scatter jacks, dibs, jackstones, or astragalus.

It is a primitive form of the modern game of jacks that is played with little metal pieces and a rubber ball.

The game of Knucklebones is 2,000 years old.

How Knucklebones Was Invented

The official rules are not known as it is such an ancient game.

But several versions have been guessed at through paintings and sculptures.

We are making the version that is like the more modern jacks game.

According to Sophocles, the mythical figure Palamedes invented te game of Knucklebones.

And taught it to Greek soldiers during the Trojan War.

Here is an image of a sculpture depicting two Greek girls playing Knucklebones.

They look so much like two little modern girls playing on the sidewalk, don’t they?

Ancient Greek Games for Kids

Look at some other toys ancient Greek children played with or spent their day being entertained with. And learn the Greek name for them.

  • Spinning Top-Stromvos
  • Rattles- Platagi
  • Animal Figurines- Athyrma
  • Marbles- Spheria
  • Piggyback game- Ephedrismos
  • Ourania- Game with a ball
  • Passe-boule- Similar to basketball

Here are some images of Ancient Greek Toys  to get an idea of what they looked like.

Ancient Greece Game Knucklebones Rules

You can play this game with 1 to 4 players. Cast (or toss) the knucklebones the same way you would dice.

Toss one knucklebone up into the air and try to grab one off the ground. Catch the falling one before it hits the ground.

Repeat but grab 2, then 3, then 4 to complete a sequence.

The winner is the first person to complete all the required sequences.

You can also play by tossing up all into the air and trying to catch as many as you can on the back of the hand or in your palm.

If you are going to play this version make your knucklebones smaller so they are easier to catch and don’t hurt.

Yet another variation is to try to toss one up and grab as many as you can in your hand before it falls.

You will want to practice.

Don’t scatter them to much or throw them too high. This will give you more control over catching them or grabbing them up.

Also, a completely different take on knucklebones assigns a points system to each side of the die.

And the winner is the one with the highest point value after tossing the knucklebones and counting up where they land. This is where the numbers or symbols you added come into the game.

Encourage your children to make up their own game with the Knucklebones. See what their imagination comes up with.

Next, look how to make your own DIY Knucklebones.

How to Make DIY Knucklebones Game

I found this terra cotta air dry clay at dollar tree and thought it looked pretty ancient so it was perfect.

You will need:

Then, create a rustic dice shape by first rolling 4 to 5 similar sized balls of clay out.

Easy Hands-on Fun Ancient Greek Games for Kids DIY Knucklebones

Next, pinch to create a bowed shape on the top and bottom of one face. But don’t invert too much if you plan on writing/drawing on them.

Easy Hands-on Fun Ancient Greek Games for Kids DIY Knucklebones

Rotate and repeat this step all the way around, this will give us a basic shape similar to real knucklebones.

Easy Hands-on Fun Ancient Greek Games for Kids DIY Knucklebones

Allow the clay to dry completely. This is what your final shape should look like.

Easy Hands-on Fun Ancient Greek Games for Kids DIY Knucklebones

Decorate your sides with numbers or symbols if you like using a small paintbrush and paint or a paint pen. 

We researched ancient Greek numbers and used those. This will give your child some math practice too. You could also make up your own symbols for your family if you want.

Make a key like I did here to keep track of what each Greek number represents.

Easy Hands-on Fun Ancient Greek Games for Kids DIY Knucklebones

What do you think? What other Ancient Greek games for kids will you add to your Ancient Greece Unit study?

Other History Games for Kids

And finally, here are some other Ancient Greece activities.

Other Ancient Greece Activities

Free Native American Plains Indians Fun Lapbook for Kids (& resources)

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Today I have a free Native Americans Plains Indians fun lapbook to add to your list of homeschool lapbooks. Also, you can look at my page Plains Indians Unit Study & Lapbook to see our co-op.

This Plains Indians lapbook was created for upper elementary to middle school. There are approximately ten minibooks in this Native American Plains Indians lapbook.

However, if you do a letter size file you only need eight minibooks. We did one which was letter size and two which were legal size file folder so we could add more fun resources.

Free Native American Plains Indians Fun Lapbook for Kids (& resources)

Besides, learning about the Plains Indians a lapbook is a fun way to organize all the fun bits of information your child wants to know.

Look below at the different minibooks included in this free lapbook.

  • Tribes of the Plains
  • Spear and Shield Dance
  • Food of the Plains Indians
  • Make a leather tipi
  • Tipi with pictographs

Also, here are five more included.

  • Another tipi but create you own design
  • The Great Plains Geography
  • Buffalo a way of life
  • Chiefs of the Great Plains
  • Picture Words

The Plains Indians

If you’re looking for a way to bring learning about the Plains or Native Americans, you’ll love studying about the Plains Indians.

In addition, we concentrated on several areas when studying about the Plains Indians.

First, it was important to me to not perpetuate stereotypes. Nobody likes that done to them. The problem is none of us were alive then.

Free Native American Plains Indians Fun Lapbook for Kids (& resources)

So, we have to use the best primary sources we can find to determine how the Plains Indians lived and what was important to them

In addition, I wanted to include reference resources which were helpful for our age range.

Plains Indians Tribes

First, I wanted the children in our co-op to appreciate a few of the tribes that roamed The Plains.

For example, they are the Mandan, Wichita, Caddo, Kansa, Sioux, Comanche, Pawnee and Crow to name some.

Also, here are a few other topics to include when studying about the Plains Indians.

  • Learn what is pemmican
  • Explore the geography of The Plains because Native Americans learn to live off the land and
  • Investigate how they made tools and clothing
Free Native American Plains Indians Fun Lapbook for Kids (& resources)

However, not only will you want to share ideas about how Plains Indians lived but make this fun diy pop up book.

It’s not included in this free lapbook because we made with material we had on hand. One of my sons was interested in how the Native Americans road horseback while hunting.

So he was inspired to tittle this book The Stand Off and inspired by the work of George Catlin.

DIY Pop Up Book

Too, I had this older cool book Plains Indians Diorama to Cut & Assemble. So the Native American and buffalo my son cut out of the book.

Then, take a letter size page of construction paper and have your child draw or use markers to illustrate his knowledge of The Plains. Decorate or color the paper with whatever scene your child wants to illustrate.

Next, fold it half and cut two parallel, horizontal slits per image to pop up. Cut the slits on the crease where you want the pop ups at. Try to space the tabs apart where you want your images.

For instance, for the buffalo and the Native American you will cut four slits about one inch and then push the tabs in.

Finally, glue the images on the inside of the book on the tabs. So cute.

I found this video of the pop out book of what we actually did except instead of one tab we had two tabs. 

Your child could print free clipart or use an activity book to add fun things to your lapbooks.

You can add other Native American tribes and use any of the pop up features in activity books.

More Free Plains Indians Resources

Also, you’ll love these other free Plains Indians Resources.

Free Native American Plains Indians Fun Lapbook for Kids (& resources)

Some of them are lesson plans and others are teaching helps.

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Exploring Space and Astronomy Free Unit Study for Multiple Ages