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Fun Ancient Greece Unit Study Ideas | Refraction Science | Free Pull Tab Book

October 25, 2026 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Back when I started my Ancient Greece unit study I began with science. Now, I have numerous hands-on Ancient Greece activities and two free lapbooks. Go here to Fun Ancient Greece Homeschool Unit Study and Lapbook and Free Awesome Ancient Greece Lapbook and Fun Hands-on Activities to grab both free lapbooks.

Fun Ancient Greece Unit Study Ideas | Refraction Science | Free Pull Tab Book. Back when I started my Ancient Greece unit study I began with science. Now, I have numerous hands-on Ancient Greece activities and two free lapbooks. Go here to Fun Ancient Greece Homeschool Unit Study and Lapbook and Free Awesome Ancient Greece Lapbook and Fun Hands-on Activities to grab both free lapbooks. I have the book Classical Kids: An Activity Guide to Life in Ancient Greece.

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.

First, look at some of the books I gathered for our Ancient Greece unit study.

BOOKS ABOUT ANCIENT GREECE FOR KIDS

8 Living History Books about Ancient Greece

You'll love this roundup of living history books about Ancient Greece.

Image for D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths

D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths

In print for over fifty years, D'Aulaires Book of Greek Myths has introduced generations to Greek mythology—and continues to enthrall young readers. Here are the greats of ancient Greece—gods and goddesses, heroes and monsters—as freshly described in words and pictures as if they were alive today. No other volume of Greek mythology has inspired as many young readers as this timeless classic. Both adults and children alike will find this book a treasure for years to come. “For any child fortunate enough to have this generous book . . . the kings and heroes of ancient legend will remain forever matter-of-fact; the pictures interpret the text literally and are full of detail and witty observation.”—The Horn Book

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Image for Ancient Greece for Kids Through the Lives of its Philosophers, Lawmakers, and Heroes (History for Kids - Traditional, Story-Based Format)

Ancient Greece for Kids Through the Lives of its Philosophers, Lawmakers, and Heroes (History for Kids - Traditional, Story-Based Format)

The suggested reader age for this book is 8 to 14 years old. To write this book, I went back to Herodotus, Plutarch, Diogenes Laertius, and other ancient sources of biographical anecdotes, and extracted from them the stories that will be most memorable to a modern kid. I retold them without adding any fictional color. I have omitted some things, however. Anything gruesome or seriously cruel is not included. Anything off-color, or outside traditional-family-friendly morality is not included. I have included only accounts of the most major battles, and without much detail. Battles are important, but as a kid - maybe as a girl - I was falling asleep over the ancient battles. Politics: Again, I have included only major turns of events.

I wove the information about the social order and geography of Ancient Greece into the stories of the era's historical figures. So, no worries, the kid will learn about the Agora and Acropolis of Athens, the city-states of Corinth and Sparta, daily life in an Ancient Greek household, the major Greek temples, and the three orders of Ancient Greek architecture. This book is richly illustrated. I don't agree that if you are 13 or 16 you should be content with pages and pages of text and no pictures. Illustrations help both kids and grownups to visualize - and therefore to remember - events and descriptions. I have illustrated the book mostly with paintings portraying historical figures or everyday life in classical Greece. Whenever I could, I chose late 19th century and early 20th century art over the older neoclassical paintings for a more accurate representation of the Ancient Greek costume and environment.

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Image for The Iliad for Boys and Girls

The Iliad for Boys and Girls

The Iliad is typically described as one of the greatest war stories of all time. Set during the Trojan War, this timeless poem vividly conveys the horror and heroism of men and gods wrestling with towering emotions and battling amid devastation and destruction. Homer's tale is a compassionate view of human life lived under the shadow of suffering and death in the face of an often uncaring divinity.

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Image for Archimedes and the Door of Science (Living History Library)

Archimedes and the Door of Science (Living History Library)

Jeanne Bendick, through text and pictures, admirably succeeds in bringing to life the ancient Greek mathematician who enriched mathematics and all branches of science. Against the backdrop of Archimedes' life and culture, the author discusses the man's work, his discoveries and the knowledge later based upon it. The simple, often humorous, illustrations and diagrams greatly enhance the text.

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Image for The Great Philosophers: Socrates, Plato & Aristotle - Ancient Greece - 5th Grade Biography - Children's Biographies

The Great Philosophers: Socrates, Plato & Aristotle - Ancient Greece - 5th Grade Biography - Children's Biographies

You have probably heard about Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. When it comes to ancient minds who created foundations in philosophy, science, and math, these three names would automatically come up. But what exactly did they do to warrant immense respect and admiration? Well, your fifth grader will soon find out from this biography book.

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Image for Marathon Looks on the Sea

Marathon Looks on the Sea

Illustrated by Erwin Schachner. The story of the Battle of Marathon and how it determined the future of Athens.

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Image for Life in Ancient Athens (Picture the Past)

Life in Ancient Athens (Picture the Past)

What was it like to live in Ancient Athens? All the people who lived in ancient Greece spoke the same language and worshipped the same gods and goddesses. But they all lived in different city states a city and the land around it that it controlled. These city states were all run differently, and there were often fights between them. Despite their differences, there were things that united the city states. Find out more in this exciting title.

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Image for Growing Up In Ancient Greece (Growing Up In series)

Growing Up In Ancient Greece (Growing Up In series)

Describes daily life in ancient Greece, discussing life in the city, life in the country, school, ceremonies and festivals, food, and other aspects

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However, when you include your older kids this just means double fun 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.

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

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

ANCIENT GREEKS STUDY REFRACTION – EASY HANDS-ON SCIENCE ABOUT LIGHT

Here is the really short list of what you need:

Fun Ancient Greece Unit Study Ideas | Refraction Science | Free Pull Tab Book
  • Pie or cake pan (dark coated, not glass or clear)
  • Coin
  • Pitcher of water

The activity is really easy. Tiny rounded up Mr. Awesome to help us. Mr. Awesome placed the coin right next to the side.

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

Fun Ancient Greece Unit Study Ideas | Refraction Science | Free Pull Tab Book

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

Fun Ancient Greece Unit Study Ideas | Refraction Science | Free Pull Tab Book

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.

In summary, refraction is the bending of light as it travels from one transparent material into another, such as from air into water or glass. It’s an important part of science because it helps explain many things we see in everyday life.

For example, light changes speed. When light travels from air into water or glass, its speed changes. If it enters at an angle, this causes the light to bend.

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.

Fun Ancient Greece Unit Study Ideas | Refraction Science | Free Pull Tab Book

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.

Fun Ancient Greece Unit Study Ideas | Refraction Science | Free Pull Tab Book

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

The lapbook is now complete. And I have two Ancient Greece lapbook.

Below, download the Ancient Greece lapbook which has this famous Ancient Greek pull tab book.

Look at the books included in this lapbook.

ANCIENT GREECE MINIBOOKS INCLUDED IN THIS LAPBOOK 2

  • Why Study About Ancient Greece
  • Go Fish pocket
  • Different Lives Athens and Sparta
  • Ancient Greeks About Greek (Life , Politics, History and gods)
  • Famous Greeks and their Contributions
  • Greek & Latin Root Words
  • Greece is Called the Birthplace of Civilizations
  • Can You Answer True or False

Now, how to grab the freebie.

It’s a subscriber freebie.

HOW TO GET THE FREE ANCIENT GREECE LAPBOOK NUMBER 2

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 instantly.

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

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Ancient Civilizations, Hands-On Activities, History Based, History Resources, Lapbook, Science Based Tagged With: ancient civilizations, Ancient Greece, hands on history, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, history, homeschool

Free Light Lapbook | Light Crafts For Kids And Living Books

October 24, 2026 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have a free light lapbook and light crafts for kids. Light is a form of energy that helps us see the world around us.

From sunlight streaming through a window to a rainbow appearing after a rainstorm, light is part of our lives. And studying light is not just a subject for younger kids.

Free Light Lapbook | Light Crafts For Kids And Living Books

Begin with the basics of energy but move on to introducing terms like waves, reflection, refraction, color, and the electromagnetic spectrum.

And light is one of those science topics that makes it easy to combine reading, experimentation, and hands-on learning.

Next, for a light unit study, I like combining biographies of scientists with engaging science books.

Some are narrative nonfiction rather than traditional living books, but they are all fun resources to help your child understand about light and activities.

6 Books About Light For Kids

Living books introduce scientific ideas through interesting stories, memorable people, historical discoveries, and descriptive writing.

Image for Isaac Newton (Giants of Science)

Isaac Newton (Giants of Science)

Here is a man with an imagination so large that just ?by thinking on it,? he invented calculus and figured out the scientific explanation of gravity. Kathleen Krull presents a portrait of Isaac Newton that will challenge your beliefs about a genius whose amazing discoveries changed the world.

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Image for Newton's Rainbow: The Revolutionary Discoveries of a Young Scientist

Newton's Rainbow: The Revolutionary Discoveries of a Young Scientist

Famed for his supposed encounter with a falling apple that inspired his theory of gravity, Isaac Newton (1642–1727) grew from a quiet and curious boy into one of the most influential scientists of all time. Newton's Rainbow tells the story of young Isaac―always reading, questioning, observing, and inventing―and how he eventually made his way to Cambridge University, where he studied the work of earlier scientists and began building on their accomplishments. This colorful picture book biography celebrates Newton's discoveries that illuminated the mysteries of gravity, motion, and even rainbows, discoveries that gave mankind a new understanding of the natural world, discoveries that changed science forever.

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Image for The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind,

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind,

When a terrible drought struck William Kamkwamba's tiny village in Malawi, his family lost all of the season's crops, leaving them with nothing to eat and nothing to sell. William began to explore science books in his village library, looking for a solution. There, he came up with the idea that would change his family's life forever: he could build a windmill. Made out of scrap metal and old bicycle parts, William's windmill brought electricity to his home and helped his family pump the water they needed to farm the land.

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Image for Light Is All Around Us: An Engaging Visual STEM Book About the Sun and Shadows

Light Is All Around Us: An Engaging Visual STEM Book About the Sun and Shadows

Light is all around you! It comes in many forms: Light from the sun brightens our day, firelight flickers in the night, electric lights fill our homes—and some animals even make the sea glow.

With lively illustrations and diagrams and clear, engaging text, this Level 2 Let's-Read-and-Find-Out picture book is an engaging look into the many ways that light brightens our world.

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Image for World History Biographies: Isaac Newton: The Scientist Who Changed Everything

World History Biographies: Isaac Newton: The Scientist Who Changed Everything

Born in England in 1643, Isaac Newton grew up in the age when Renaissance thinkers were challenging accepted ideas throughout Europe. Fascinated by all earthly science, Newton developed laws of motion and universal gravitation which also furthered our understanding of the movement of celestial bodies. This vibrant biography profiles the famed physicist as an acclaimed mathematician, astronomer, alchemist, philosopher, and inventor as well. Readers will discover the genius who inspired Alexander Pope to write.

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Image for Isaac Newton and Physics for Kids: His Life and Ideas with 21 Activities (30) (For Kids series)

Isaac Newton and Physics for Kids: His Life and Ideas with 21 Activities (30) (For Kids series)

Isaac Newton and Physics for Kids paints a rich portrait of this brilliant and complex man, including 21 hands-on projects that explore the scientific concepts Newton developed and the times in which he lived. Readers will build a simple waterwheel, create a 17thcentury plague mask, track the phases of the moon, and test Newton’s Three Laws of Motion using coins, a skateboard, and a
model boat they construct themselves. The text includes a time line, online resources, and reading list for further study. And through it all, readers will learn how the son of a Woolsthorpe sheep farmer grew to become the most influential physicist in history.

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Then look at some resources and activities about light.

LIGHT CRAFTS FOR KIDS

  • Why Does A Rainbow Appear After A Drizzle | Magic Rainbow Experiment
  • Shadow Puppets You Can Do!
  • R is for Rainbow Craft for Preschool | Fun Rain Mobile
  • 3 Things Light Can Do Activities
  • Free Isaac Newton Lapbook for Kids Who Love Hands-on Science
  • Easy Northern Lights Crafts for Preschoolers
  • Ancient Greece Unit Study Refraction Activity
  • How to Make a DIY Homemade Spectroscope | Bring Light Refraction to Life!
  • Make A Rock Sundial and learn about shadows
  • Letter S Sun Craft Activity for Preschoolers (Free Template)
Free Light Lapbook | Light Crafts For Kids And Living Books

Last, look at the minibooks included in this free download.

FREE LIGHT LAPBOOK MINIBOOKS

  • How Light Interacts With Different Materials
  • Fun Facts
  • All About Light
  • What is Light
  • Shadows
  • Refraction
  • Reflection
  • Make a Shadow

Now, how to grab the freebie.

It’s a subscriber freebie.

HOW TO GET THE FREE LIGHT LAPBOOK

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 instantly.

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

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Lapbook Tagged With: hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, lapbook, lapbooking, lapbookresources, lapbooks, light, science

How to Choose the Best Middle School Literature And Favorite Resources

October 18, 2026 | 2 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today in how to choose the best middle school literature I want to help you conquer the overwhelm by giving you a few seasoned homeschooler secrets. Also, look at my page How to Successfully Homeschool Middle School for more ideas.

With so many wonderful books, literature guides, and reading programs available, how do you decide which ones are right for your middle school student?

How to Choose the Best Middle School Literature And Favorite Resources

When I approached the middle school years, there was no lack of middle school literature lists.

BEST MIDDLE SCHOOL LITERATURE

I loved having the lists, but I quickly learned that having tips on how to choose literature for my teen was better.

So first, look at these four questions asked and answered full of tips to help you decide which books are best for your family.

FOUR MIDDLE SCHOOL LITERATURE QUESTIONS ASKED AND ANSWERED

Question 1.
Should I Read Every Book My Child Reads?

The answer is complicated. It’s both yes and no. The way you determine if it’s a yes or no is your purpose.

For example, if you’re wanting to use literature for analysis and to engage your child with understanding an author’s purpose it’s hard to do that unless you read the book.

Middle school is the time that most kids can do some introductory analysis. If you’re wanting to fill the literature requirement for just reading or for enjoyment, the answer is no.

How to Choose the Best Middle School Literature And Favorite Resources

I couldn’t read every book my kids chose, but focused on reading the few we would used for analysis. That secret tip helped me conquer the literature overwhelm in middle school.

In addition, this site for Banned and Challenged Books gives you an idea of the theme or worldview behind some books.

Question 2.
How many books should my kid read each year?

That is another subjective answer. Some kids are voracious readers others not so much.

But if you’re using the literature to fill a credit (yes you can get high school credit in middle school), you’ll want to set your goal for a realistic amount.

Looking over some literature lists for middle schooled kids, I’ve seen some unreachable numbers.

Whatever the number of books you come up with lower it. It’s so much better to get through a handful of books with meaningful discussions than to overestimate and rush through them.

That is disheartening for both teacher and kid. Remember you can always add more literature for analysis anytime during the year.

I’ve had different requirements with each kid as my circumstances were different each year, but a good rule of thumb at this age was to analyze between 4 to 6 books or less.

Some years we did more, other years I struggled to get through three books, but it was still solid language arts.

The other books were pure pleasure and met my reading requirement.

READING FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL

Again, this is NOT all your child will read, but it’s the amount you want him to read to help him with the critical thinking part of literature.

Question 3.
Do I want my child to integrate other subjects or skills or to use literature as stand-alone?

My answer is to integrate as much as possible. My preference from the time I learned about how to integrate was to use this method for all literature.

Integrate means to combine several skills or to combine subjects. By integrating skills or subjects,

  • your child learns the practical application of grammar, vocabulary, or writing in a way that makes sense;
  • the areas of language arts that your child is weak at can be strengthened. For example, he sees the correct spelling of a word in literature and applies it to his writing;
  • your child can choose literature choices based on his interests or to cover a subject he may not like as well. Unlike public school, your child doesn’t have to follow arbitrary lists. Too, if he is not passionate about history, then well-written fiction prose can help him to fill a history credit. Literature can make a history time period come alive while filling both a literature and history requirement in a more fun way; and
  • one unexpected benefit was that my kids learned study skills and research skills.

LITERATURE ANALYSIS FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL

Question 4.
Should I require my child to write book reports?

Although it’s not necessary for kids to write book reports, understanding the purpose of a book report lets you decide if it’s for your family.

Book reports, oral or written, are the blueprints for high school literary analysis.

The point is not whether you assign a book report or not, it’s that your child understands things like elements of fiction, genre, and figures of speech.

Whether you choose to do this orally, through a book report, a lapbook, or reading journal, it’s your choice. I have only one kid that loved book reports, but I orally reviewed with each kid the assigned books.

Next, look at this list of questions to include in a written book report or to go over them orally:

  • Was it better that . . . ?
  • What do you think . . . ?
  • In your opinion . . . ?
  • How would you change the character to . . . ?
  • How is ____ tied in or related to ____?
  • What choice would you have made ____?

Now that you have a quick overview of some of the general tips about how to choose middle school literature, look at this list of books.

Remember that you can choose classics, follow a history theme, favorite author or do a balance of genres. There are many genres to choose from.

Of course, if your child is college bound you will want to do a variety of genre even in junior high.

READING FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL HOMESCHOOL

And one final thought there is a huge difference in maturity between sixth grade and eighth grade.

Keep that in mind in looking over this literature list as I provided options for different reading levels. This list below is a mix of literature that works well for this age, but you can always add to it.

  • The Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
  • The Giver by Lois Lowry
  • The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
  • Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl by Ann Frank
  • Hitty Her First Hundred Years by Rachel Field
  • Black Ships Before Troy by Rosemary Sutcliff
  • The Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
  • Sounder by William H. Armstrong
  • Johnny Tremain by Esther Hoskins Forbes
  • The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
  • My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George
  • Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt
  • To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
  • All Creatures Great and Small: The Warm and Joyful Memoirs of the World’s Most Beloved Animal Doctor by James Herriot
  • Redwall by Brian Jacques
  • Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor
  • Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
  • Carry On, Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham
  • The Outlaws of Sherwood by Robin McKinley
  • The Call of the Wild by Jack London
  • The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
  • Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George

Books for Middle School Kids

  • The Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell
  • A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
  • Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
  • Lord of the Rings Trilogy by J. R. R. Tolkien
  • America’s Paul Revere by Esther Hoskins Forbes
  • Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
  • Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
  • Holes by Louis Sachar
  • Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
  • Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIHM by Robert C O’Brien
  • Number the Stars by Lois Lowery
  • Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
  • Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds
  • Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
  • The Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks
  • The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo
  • Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie
  • The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
  • Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis
  • The Borrowers by Mary Norton
  • Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery 
  • Tales from Shakespeare by Charles Lamb
  • The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann D. Wyss

Alternatively, you may want to use something besides just a reader or the literature.

TEACHER GUIDES, THEMED GUIDES AND ALL-IN-ONE CURRICULUM

For my first time teaching literature at the middle school level I loved using teacher helps and many times I used them as life happened. Why reinvent the wheel?

You can choose a book along with a teacher guide to help you teach the important parts of the book or use an all-in-one guide or curriculum.

How to Choose the Best Middle School Literature And Favorite Resources

Look at some of your options below.

I love Lightning Literature and they’re perfect for the older grades because they have a schedule which helps when you’re first beginning to teach literature.

Still, I had the tendency to over teach literary analysis, but key to keeping it fun is to do a bit each day.

Then, Language Arts Through Literature series is timeless. Their middle and high school grades are solid.

It is a Charlotte Mason gentle approach to literature and fits a lot of my likes; it takes an integrated approach which aligns with how I feel beautiful literature should be learned.

However, one of my VERY favorite resources for middle school kids was created by another homeschool mom.

You’ll love Literary Adventures for Kids which is online and self-paced.

You choose the books and course and your child goes at his own pace. All the stress and prep for learning about literature was taken out.

If you’re looking for something that your child can do on his own, or you don’t have time to read every book, you’ll love Literary Adventures for Kids.

Also, Progeny Press Study Guides have been timeless.

My kids can pick the book they want to read and we find the accompanying study guide. The guides cover background information, vocabulary, literary analysis, and more.

MORE RESOURCES FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL TIPS

  • How to Transition a Child From Reading to Literature
  • Modern U.S. and World History High School Literature
  • 3 Beginner’s Tips: Homeschool High School Literature
  • Homeschool High School Literature Guides
  • How to Choose the BEST Homeschool Middle and High School Language Arts Curriculum & Options
  • 20 Nature-Inspired Kids’ Novels to Nurture Interest In the Outdoors
  • 6 Boy Approved Books Which Spark the Love of Reading
  • 8 World War II Historical Fiction Books for Middle School
  • 5 BEST Books to Create an Around the World Unit Study (and Hands-on Activities)

HOMESCHOOL HELPS FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL

Another favorite has been the literature unit guides by Teacher Created Resources. Although they are created for a classroom, I’ve been able to get many ideas to flesh out with my kids.

Additionally, Memoria Press literature guides are grade level literature units which also have helped me at this age.

Next, Beautiful Feet literature are some of my favorite themed literature units.

Covering history and literature simultaneously helped us to learn how to utilize our time and widen our reading diet.

If your child loves history, then integrating history and literature together makes practical use of your child’s time.

Did I mention that reading doesn’t become a chore, but becomes a time you and your child look forward to during the day?

Finally, paying attention to detail looks different for each book with each child, but that is the purpose of literature analysis. Too, our children can come to view each book loved as an artistic expression. It’s quite possible.

What books are you using for literature analysis for middle school kids?

Hugs and love ya,

2 CommentsFiled Under: Choose Curriculum, Graduate a Homeschooler, Homeschool Multiple Ages of Children, Homeschool Simply, Homeschool Teens _ From Teen to Graduation, Middle School Homeschool, Teach Homeschool Language Arts Tagged With: book lists, books, homeschool, homeschoolanguagearts, homeschoolcurriculum, homeschoolreading, language arts, languagearts, middleschool, reading, teaching multiple children, teens

100 Reasons Why Homeschooling is a SUPERIOR Education

September 23, 2026 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have 100 reasons why homeschooling is a superior education. Also, you’ll love more tips on my page The Dynamics of How to Homeschool Easily and Smarter.

In the early 1980s, my mom homeschooled my youngest sister. Then, folks thought homeschooling was illegal. It wasn’t, but it felt that way.

100 Reasons Why Homeschooling is a SUPERIOR Education

As my mom researched about homeschooling, I read the same research as meager as it was, but I came to appreciate that homeschoooling is a superior education for many reasons.

I was in public high school and close to graduating when my mom began her homeschool journey.

Later, I started my family and now I have 3 homeschool grads. I’ve seen many changes – big and small.

One thing which has exploded is my BIG list of reasons why homeschooling is better than school.

Too, we have stats now for you to analyze, but the hundreds and hundreds of personal success stories are of greater value to me.

I don’t think homeschooling is for everyone.
There are valid reasons why folks can’t homeschool, but not having favorable circumstances doesn’t negate the superior value of the homeschool approach.

I wished EVERY family could give their kids one-to-one tutoring. Those odds are hard to beat.

100 REASONS WHY TO HOMESCHOOL IS A SUPERIOR APPROACH

Look at these 100 reasons why the homeschool approach is better than a public school education.

100 Reasons Why Homeschooling is a SUPERIOR Education. I don't think homeschooling is for everyone.  

There are valid reasons why folks can't homeschool, but not having favorable circumstances doesn't negate the superior value of the homeschool approach. CLICK HERE to read this long list of how homeschooling is a superior education.
#homeschool #homeschooling #newhomeschooler
  1. Education is different than schooling. ALL children can be educated, but if a child doesn’t step in sync to public standards in a school he is failed. The public standard is put ahead of the child. The self-confidence that a child has is undermined.
  2. Bullying by students and teachers isn’t tolerated in the homeschool world.
  3. Education at home is in sync with how a child develops and as he masters concepts.
  4. More time is spent outdoors and nature becomes the child’s schoolmaster.
  5. Sleep, diet, and wellness of the child is superior at home because of the ability to adapt to the needs of each child.
  6. Passions are intensely pursued which turns to mastery of topics by children.
  7. Children will read well on their timetable which sets them up for lifelong success. Waiting on a child to read sets them up for loving to read instead of having to read. One is a delight the other is drudgery.
  8. The parents are hands-on with their children and children flourish with personal and loving attention.
  9. Freedom. It’s the true meaning of a superior education when you’re not told what to learn each day.
  10. Open-ended questions become the segue to mastery of material, not being spoon-fed.
100 Reasons Why Homeschooling is a SUPERIOR Education

WHY CHOOSE TO HOMESCHOOL

  1. Learning is not looked at as grade levels, but for longer periods of time. Did you know that a lot of homeschooled kids don’t care what grade they’re in until they get older? Grade levels compartmentalize learning.
  2. We trust the fact the children have a natural curiosity to learn and it shouldn’t be contained in workbooks.
  3. Homeschooled kids learn excellence without the two Ws that public school enforces – walls and workbooks.
  4. Education happens while you travel and see the world. Even a child’s own backyard is his science lab.
  5. Customized learning is the BEST.
  6. Children are not exposed to active shooter drills. Children focus on celebrating childhood not being in fear of it.
  7. By not being up at 5 a.m. to walk in the dark and catch a school bus, children wake up later rested and go for a nature walk. Playing piano or practicing art before the formal part of their day begins is the norm.
  8. Instead of constantly cutting or washing their children’s hair because they’re exposed to lice, they are outside playing in a leaf pile or making snow angels.
  9. Instead of focusing on how vaccines are harmful to children, the family is focusing on a vacation to learn about caves or the beach.
  10. Sex education is the parent’s right to teach their children at a time he is ready. A parent protects the innocence of her children because she knows the exact time to expose her children to sensitive matters.

WHY PARENTS HOMESCHOOL THEIR KIDS

  1. Fear of gangs does not have to be present.
  2. Parents and not peers are the best to influence their children.
  3. The family chooses ideals they want their children rooted in instead of society deciding what is accepted and not accepted.
  4. Education is not forced-fed.
  5. When it comes to what our children are learning, most families want more.
100 Reasons Why Homeschooling is a SUPERIOR Education
  1. Gifted children can move ahead and not get in trouble because they became bored in a traditional classroom.
  2. We want our children to learn how to read proficiently and to be a lifelong reader.
  3. Our children are exposed to more topics and are not learning to just pass state required tests.
  4. We teach our kids skills that will be practical for them in life.
  5. Does anybody else find it bizarre to turn their children over to a complete stranger and who spends most of their day with them?
  6. Children are not constantly sick and missing out on learning opportunities.
  7. You can teach in a relaxed way without jumping through hoops to meet rules.
  8. Learning at home is more exploratory and not workbook driven.
  9. It’s unhealthy for children of any age to sit for six hours a day.
  10. Home fosters a love for learning.

WHAT IS A SUPERIOR EDUCATION

  1. We teach things that public school can’t teach like how to budget, how to save, and how to not get in debt.
  2. As parents we ARE the experts. An expert is one who has an authoritative knowledge of a skill. Parents are the experts for their children.
  3. We change curriculum instantly when it’s not working. We don’t wait on red tape or even the start of a new school year to make changes.
  4. Adjusting the hours and days to suit our family’s life keeps learning a privilege and something children look forward to each day.
  5. Pushing our children out of their comfort zone, but in a secure environment elevates their learning to another level.
  6. We want our children to pursue learning as a lifestyle and not a list to check off.
  7. It takes less time to learn at home. There are no unnatural interruptions at home. Children are used to natural interruptions like younger siblings or a change in a parent’s schedule.
  8. We have the choice to put our children in front of a computer for school, crack open a physical book, or both.
  9. We do not need to answer to the government. It’s been my experience that most parents exceed any government standard.
  10. Tests should have a purpose, not be meaningless. Parents are the ones to best determine if a tests suits their needs.

HOW TO START HOMESCHOOLING

  1. Face to face discussions everyday with your children gives you a window into their heart and what is on their mind. Channeling children to do good is part of a superior education.
  2. Academics can be delayed for young children so they have more time to play and be little boys and girls.
  3. Children learn from experiences and not just from children their same age.
  4. Children can be ready for higher level courses on their timetable. Sometimes that is earlier than what is considered the high school years.
  5. Instead of reading about science in a boring textbooks, children get their hands dirty doing science.
  6. Homework is a nightmare. While at home, children learn at times that are good for them. What are they doing all day in public school?
  7. Parents don’t want to feel disconnected from their children because children get up at dark:30 and are exhausted when they come home.
  8. Free public school doesn’t mean better. Parents decide which curriculum is free and which curriculum is paid.
  9. Children learn at home what is a true entrepreneur.
  10. Children learn cursive at home which always been the standard of a well-educated man. Learning to read cursive is a skill that many children are losing.
  11. There is no mind numbing busy work at home.
  12. Public school suffers budget cuts, but at home even the most modest budget is ample for children.
  13. No one gets left behind at home because the pace is set to each child.
  14. The learning style of each child is important and learning is tailored to strengths.
  15. There is not constant focus on what a child cannot do, but how to pursue what he can do.
100 Reasons Why Homeschooling is a SUPERIOR Education

WHY YOU HOMESCHOOL

  1. Home is the best place to prepare children for adulthood which is the true meaning of education.
  2. Special needs children can learn in a safe environment instead of being made fun of by both teachers and children.
  3. Extracurricular activities can be increased or limited to the needs of each family.
  4. Common sense is used as a measure of what to teach and not common core.
  5. There is less pressure on young children at an early age.
  6. Parents want the say over what to teach their children.
  7. One approach or curriculum can be used for one child and a completely different curriculum and approach for another child.
  8. Teens don’t have to spend four years in high school and waste time on subjects they’ve mastered. They can move on to college level work in high school or sooner if they’re ready.
  9. Mistakes by a child are viewed as learning experiences. Failure is a good teacher. Learning that early on teaches a child to try again and critical thinking skills.
  10. Getting children out of their comfort zone teaches them to take charge of their learning.
  11. Unless you plan to homeschool under a rock, children have frequent socialization with adults and children. They learn the true meaning of socialization which is how to behave in a mixed aged group.
  12. Children learn compassion and kindness when they take care of family members who have become sick. Waiting to teach children how to be kind when they’re adults could be turning out self-centered people. Children learn early to put their needs on the back burner while caring for those hit with sickness.
  13. Religion or lack of it is the SOLE responsibility of the parent.
  14. Being at home allows children to dig deeper and not have to move on until their curiosity has piqued.
  15. Parents are the ones enjoying the best times with their children instead of someone else. That love fosters a strong desire to learn because children know they’re in a secure and safe environment.

INDIVIDUALIZED HOMESCHOOL EDUCATION

  1. When a child has medical issues, his learning is not delayed.
  2. Children do have to have a substitute teacher who may care little to none about a child.
  3. Parents want their children to enjoy learning as long as possible.
  4. While being educated, children have the flexibility to run a family-based business.
  5. Time spent with children is superior quality.
  6. Field trips in the homeschool world can happen every week if the family chooses to and not just while children are in Kindergarten.
  7. It’s just a better education tailored to each child.
  8. Parents don’t want their children away from them for so many hours.
  9. Families aren’t locked into school calendars of when children should learn.
  10. Children want to be outside a lot and play.
100 Reasons Why Homeschooling is a SUPERIOR Education

Top Reasons to Homeschool

  1. Some children choose a career or college track and can pursue their objectives better at home with the freedom they need.
  2. The pace in Kindergarten has gone to ridiculous for little kids. Standardized tests in Kindergarten is becoming the norm.
  3. Children can travel the world and learn about it instead of inside a crowded classroom.
  4. Families teach children about being a member of society by being in it and getting children involved it.
  5. There are not tons of useless meetings with teachers or administrators who may care little about the success of your children.
  6. Families can address immediately any perceived gaps in a child’s education.
  7. Testing is not used as the gauge of what children know and do not know.
  8. A school setting is arbitrary and unnatural.
  9. Families can allow humor and grace to meet in the day which aids children to be emotionally sound.
  10. More time is spent reading together as a family.
  11. Children are valued instead of demeaned by being told to raise their hand to go to the bathroom, eat, or drink. That is very opposite of the real world.
  12. It is the right of a parent to pick associates or peers instead of children being poorly influenced in a classroom.
  13. Nobody knows children better than the parents. Nobody.
  14. College tuition is overpriced and homeschool parents have options like CLEP and dual credit.
  15. Public schools cannot simply meet the needs of all children.

MORE RESOURCES TO SUPPORT YOUR LIFESTYLE CHANGE

  • Must-Have Best Homeschooling Materials for The New Homeschooler
  • Free Boot Camp Online Self Paced New Homeschooler Course
  • Transitioning from Public School to Homeschool For a Relaxed Lifestyle
  • How to Cope Successfully With Homeschool Mental Stress
  • Socialization – A Homeschool Hallucination?
  • How Do I Socialize My Homeschooled Kids?
  • 12 Easy Ways Homeschooled Teens and Tweens Socialize
  • It’s a New Homeschool Year and My Child Wants to Go Back to Public School
  • Deschool – Get off the Public School Treadmill!
  • Why My Homeschooled Kids Are Not Given the Choice to Go to Public School
100 Reasons Why Homeschooling is a SUPERIOR Education. I don't think homeschooling is for everyone.  

There are valid reasons why folks can't homeschool, but not having favorable circumstances doesn't negate the superior value of the homeschool approach. CLICK HERE! #homeschool #homeschooling #newhomeschooler

I don’t EVER talk folks into homeschooling because some days are flat out hard, but in the end it’s been worth every bit of stress.

Nothing beats the unique journey which each of my children have had. They’ve all had a private and elite education with less then half the cost of public education.

In the process, they have formed lifelong friends; we constantly have had to cut back on time spent in 4 H club, art classes, foreign language classes and ballroom dance classes to name a few so we could be at home.

What else will I add to my list in the next 10 years?

What questions do you have about homeschooling?

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Begin Homeschooling, Homeschool Simply, Homeschooling, Kick Off Your Homeschool Year Tagged With: deschooling, homeschool, homeschool challenges, homeschool joy, homeschool lifestyle, homeschoolplanning, newbeehomeschooler, reasonstohomeschool

Free Seasons Lapbook For Kids Who Love Hands-on Science

July 11, 2026 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have a free seasons lapbook. Also, look at my pages Homeschool Lapbooks – Powerful Tools For Mastery Learning for more lapbook ideas. And look at my pages, Fall Unit Study, Winter Season Lapbook, 4 Weeks Free Spring Unit Study and Free Summer Unit Study for more hands-on activities about seasons.

Whether you’re teaching preschoolers or elementary-aged children, a seasons lapbook can become a treasured keepsake.

Free Seasons Lapbook For Kids Who Love Hands-on Science

Children often remember what they create far better than what they simply read.

Instead of memorizing that there are four seasons, they begin to understand why the seasons change and what makes each one unique.

You can flesh out this easy lapbook for older elementary aged kids by adding topics like weather patterns, plants and animals and daylight changes.

BOOKS ABOUT THE SEASONS FOR KIDS

Next, use some of these living books as a read aloud or for a unit study spine.

When possible we prefer living books, then add reference books.

10 Books About the Seasons

Add some of these beautiful books for multiple ages to your home library or use for a unit study.

Image for Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn (Kenard Pak's Changing Seasons)

Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn (Kenard Pak's Changing Seasons)

As trees sway in the cool breeze, blue jays head south, and leaves change their colors, everyone knows--autumn is on its way!

Join a young girl as she takes a walk through forest and town, greeting all the signs of the coming season. In a series of conversations with every flower and creature and gust of wind, she says good-bye to summer and welcomes autumn.

Read More
Image for Goodbye Autumn, Hello Winter

Goodbye Autumn, Hello Winter

Join a brother and sister as they explore nature and take a stroll through their twinkling town, greeting all the signs of the coming season. In a series of conversations with everything from the setting sun to curious deer, they say goodbye to autumn and welcome the glorious first snow of winter in Kenar Pak's Goodbye Autumn, Hello Winter.

Read More
Image for The Reasons for Seasons (New & Updated Edition)

The Reasons for Seasons (New & Updated Edition)

Cold winters, hot summers--year after year the seasons repeat themselves. But what causes them?Why is there winter in the Southern Hemisphere at the same time there is summer in the Northern Hemisphere? In summertime, why is it still light out in the evening? With simple language appropriate for young readers, non-fiction master Gail Gibbons introduces young readers to the four seasons and explains why they change throughout the year.Newly revised and vetted by experts, this updated edition of The Reasons for Seasons introduces the solstices, the equinoxes, and the tilt in Earth's axis that causes them, and gives examples of what each season is like across the globe from pole to pole. Clear, simple diagrams of the earth's orbit are labeled with important vocabulary, explained and reinforced with accessible explanations.

Read More
Image for The Secret Garden (Classics Made Easy): Unabridged, with Glossary, Historic Orientation, Character, and Location Guide

The Secret Garden (Classics Made Easy): Unabridged, with Glossary, Historic Orientation, Character, and Location Guide

  • A biographical article covering the life of the author, including where she got the idea for The Secret Garden.

Follow Mary Lennox from India to Yorkshire, England, and watch her grow from an over-privileged girl who has never tied her own shoes, to a caring young woman. In her adventures, Mary meets a young man who can converse with animals, discovers and solves the hidden mystery of a secret garden, and helps her sick cousin to recover. Guided by a remarkable red robin, through her deeds and work she grows right along with this very special garden.

Read More
Image for Red Sings from Treetops: A Caldecott Honor Award Winner

Red Sings from Treetops: A Caldecott Honor Award Winner

With original and spot-on perceptions, Joyce Sidman's poetry brings the colors of the seasons to life in a fresh light, combining the senses of sight, sound, smell and taste. In this Caldecott Honor book, illustrator Pam Zagarenski's interpretations go beyond the concrete, allowing us to not just see color, but feel it.

Read More
Image for Minn of the Mississippi

Minn of the Mississippi

The history of the Mississippi River Valley is told in text and pictures through the adventures of Minn, a snapping turtle, as she travels downstream. A story that naturally follows seasonal rhythms.

Read More
Image for The Story-book of Science: With original illustrations

The Story-book of Science: With original illustrations

The wonders of plant and animal life told with rare literary charm by Uncle Paul in conversations with three children. Besides such stories as the ants' subterranean city, the spider's suspension bridge, and the caterpillars' processing, he unlocks the mystery behind thunder and lightning, clouds and rain, the year and its seasons, and volcanoes and earthquakes.

Read More
Image for The Peregrine (New York Review Books Classics)

The Peregrine (New York Review Books Classics)

From fall to spring, J.A. Baker set out to track the daily comings and goings of a pair of peregrine falcons across the flat fen lands of eastern England. He followed the birds obsessively, observing them in the air and on the ground, in pursuit of their prey, making a kill, eating, and at rest, activities he describes with an extraordinary fusion of precision and poetry. And as he continued his mysterious private quest, his sense of human self slowly dissolved, to be replaced with the alien and implacable consciousness of a hawk.

Read More
Image for When Spring Comes

When Spring Comes

A young girl dreams of the arrival of spring, with the blossoming apple trees and the music of tree frogs that accompany warm weather, but she soon learns to also appreciate the magic of winter.

Read More
Image for Dear Rebecca, Winter Is Here

Dear Rebecca, Winter Is Here

From a letter written by her grandmother, Rebecca learns that winter began on June 21, while she was cooling off under the hose. The northern half of the Earth began to grow cold, and the days grew shorter. The birds began to fly to the sunny underside of the Earth, and the groundhogs and bears went to sleep. But on December 22, summer will begin. Before long, Rebecca will take off her shoes and jump over bluebells.

Read More

Too, here are some hands-on activities to pair with each season.

HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES ABOUT THE SEASONS

  • Summer Cool Stem Projects For All Ages Free Printable
  • Fun Summer Girl Activities And How To Make A Soda Can Candle
  • 10 Sea Shell Activities for Kids and Make Crystal Sea Shells
  • How To Make A Pipe Cleaner Fall Tree
  • Fall Nature Crafts & How To Make A Pumpkin Nature Collage
  • Fun and Easy Leaf Hedgehog Craft for Autumn Days
  • How To Craft A Winter Scene: Forest Playdough Ideas
  • Colorful Winter Bird: Northern Cardinal Lapbook & Unit Study
  • Nature Craft: How to Make Easy DIY Bird Feeders
  • Fun Math Activities for Spring: How to Make Flower Bead Counters
  • Free Spring Activities For Kids And 8 Spring Scavenger Hunts
  • Simple Flower Dissection & Awesome Spring Science Experiments Middle School
Free Seasons Lapbook For Kids Who Love Hands-on Science

Too, look at these other science based homeschool lapbooks.

MORE SCIENCE LAPBOOKS

  • Arctic and Inuit Free Lapbook
  • Carnivorous Plants
  • Fall Unit 1 {Pumpkins, Leaves, Corn, & More}
  • North American Robin Lapbook
  • Above & Below A Pond Lapbook
  • From Egg to Sea Turtle Lapbook
  • Foraging and Feasting Lapbook
  • Free Earth Science Lapbook
  • Free Arctic Ground Squirrel Lapbook
  • Super Seashore Watching and Beach Lapbook
  • Fun Apple Lapbook and Hands-on Unit Study for Multiple Ages
  • 3 Free and Amazing Amazon Rainforest Lapbooks for Kids
  • Free Bird Unit Study and Lapbook And Fun Edible Bird Nests

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

HOW TO GET THE FREE SEASONS LAPBOOK

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

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Lapbook Tagged With: fall, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, lapbook, lapbooking, lapbookresources, lapbooks, seasons, spring, summer, winter season

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