I have a Marco Polo Unit Study salt dough map activity today. Also, check out my Free Marco Polo Unit Study, Lapbook, and Hands-on Ideas.
Tiny never tires of salt dough maps. It is one of his favorite go to geography projects.
Our Marco Polo unit study is not only an awesome unit study for a salt dough map, but the map is a project he can mostly do by himself now.
We gathered our supplies and yes we are finally starting to add to our school supplies here in Ecuador. Thank goodness they have Pizza Hut delivery here so we have a box for our project.
This is the basic recipe I am always sharing in case you don’t have it already.
Hands-on Geography
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Too, when we left the states, I made sure our suitcases had plenty of room for our much loved atlases.
We made it here to South America with our atlases in great shape and now that books in English are almost non-existent here, we take care real good care of what we do have.
No running to drool over books at Barnes & Noble here.
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Back to our project.After mixing the dough, we just drew by free hand on the box with a pencil and then traced back over with a permanent marker.
Not only did we add some of the places visited by Marco Polo, but Tiny wanted to label some of the areas around it, so we did.
Also, look at some of these books to add to your study.
Marco Polo Books for Kids
10 Marco Polo Books & Resources for Kids Who Love Reading and Being Read To
Add some of these fun books about Marco Polo to your home library or use them in your unit studies.
The amazing story of a Venetian trader who becomes an aide to the great Kublai Khan comes to life in this retelling for students by Manuel Komroff. Follow along as Marco Polo travels through deserts littered with bones, encounters animals previously unknown to Europeans, and comes to serve in the court of one of the greatest kingdoms ever known.Included is a gorgeous new map tracing his journey, and 29 full page illustrations from an early edition written for adults.The text in this edition is a reprint of the original Messner Biography, a series that was created for students. "Well told and with engaging narratives, they unknowingly flow nicely from story to fact. You will find a plethora of information packed between these pages, not only about the title’s subject, but the subject's time and the world they lived in."
Was Marco Polo the world's greatest explorer -- or the world's greatest liar? Newbery Medalist Russell Freedman turns his eagle eye on the enigmatic Marco Polo in his most exciting biography yet.
He claimed to have seen rocks burn, bandits command sandstorms, lions tamed with a look, and sorcerers charm sharks while divers gathered pearls on the ocean floor. Marco Polo shook Europe with descriptions of the world he'd seen on his epic journey to the court of Kublai Khan.
But was Marco Polo the world's most accomplished explorer? Had he really seen the "Roof of the World" in Central Asia, and the "City of Heaven" in far-off China? Or was he a charlatan who saw nothing more than the conjurings of his inventive mind? Join Russell Freedman as he tackles a centuries-old mystery.
This is volume number 22 in the Signature Books series for young readers. This series, under the general editorship of Enid Lamonte Meadowcroft, provides easy to read, exciting stories based upon the lives of historical figures. A vivid story of the life and adventures of perhaps the most romantic traveler of all time, a man who returned from the East with tales so fantastic that no one believed him until he was vindicated by later travelers.
A continuation of the Explorers series by award-winning author Sandra Markle, Animals Marco Polo Saw brings to life the amazing, exotic animals Marco Polo encountered during his explorations in Asia, how the animals sometimes affected the outcome of the journey, and even helped the explorer survive!
Examines the political forces and personal ambition that drove Marco Polo in his explorations.
Marco Polo was the most famous traveller of his time. His voyages began in 1271 with a visit to China, after which he served the Kubilai Khan on numerous diplomatic missions. On his return to the West, he was made a prisoner of war and met Rustichello of Pisa, with whom he collaborated on this book. The accounts of his travels provide a fascinating glimpse of the different societies he encountered: their religions, customs, ceremonies and way of life; on the spices and silks of the East; on precious gems, exotic vegetation and wild beasts. He tells the story of the holy shoemaker, the wicked caliph and the three kings, among a great many others, evoking a remote and long-vanished world with colour and immediacy. He found himself traversing the most exotic lands-from the dazzling Mongol empire to Tibet and Burma. This fascinating chronicle still serves as the most vivid depiction of the mysterious East in the Middle Ages.
Cathay is a long way from his home in Venice, but when 14-year-old gondolier, Tonio Tumba receives the chance of a lifetime, he doesn’t say no. Leaving behind his only possession, a shabby green gondola, Tonio eagerly joins Marco Polo on his adventure.
As Tonio and the Polo family travel the dangerous silk road to modern-day China, they encounter many fascinating people and dangerous perils. When Tonio rides into Cathay on one of the Khan’s elephants, he says to his friend, Pietro: “Elephants are grand… but give me a horse any time – unless I could have a gondola. When we get back to Venice, I’ll take you out in mine.”
There are many wonderful sights, amazing inventions and great riches to discover, though Tonio looks forward to getting back home - but many years will pass before his chance to see the canals of Venice again. When so much has changed, will Tonio find anything worth returning for?
Louise Andrews Kent is a master storyteller, weaving historical accuracy and immersive adventure into one epic voyage of discovery.
This new edition features all the original illustrations and clean, readable text. It is a fantastic living book teaching about history and geography, recommended for ages 10 and up.
Excellent, historic story well told by Harold Lamb and beautifully illustrated by Elton Fax. Originally published in 1954, this paperback edition was released in 1982.
Relive Italian voyager Marco Polo's adventures in China in1275, including his legendary meeting with Kublai Khan, emperor of the powerful Mongol Empire. This exciting new book separates fact from myth using excerpts from Polo's actual journals and vivid illustrations and photographs to portray Polo himself and his impressions of the unique traditions and customs of the Mongols. A recipe from the period is also included. Topics include - what the Medieval period meant to Europe and exploration - the Silk Road - Marco Polo's service in Kublai Khan's court - life at sea and in the Mongol Empire - Marco Polo's influence on later explorers Teacher's guide available.
This edition is presented complete and unabridged, with larger text for easier reading by younger readers, and all the original illustrations and decorations.“I have attempted to transform the somewhat dry and monotonous translation of this narrative into an entertaining story, that may engage the attention and the interest of my young readers; for which it certainly presents ample opportunities. If the task is properly done, no one can fail to follow Marco Polo from his Venetian home, across the entire continent of Asia to the court of Kublai Khan, and in his various adventures and journeys while in the far-off Orient, without eager curiosity and ever-deepening interest. The central figure of the story is heroic, for Marco Polo was in all things manly, brave, persevering, intelligent, and chivalrous; and the scenes and incidents in which he was the leading actor were in the highest degree thrilling and dramatic.”-From the Preface by the Author.
More Activities to Go With the Salt Dough Map
- Make a Persian Mosaic
- Learn how to make the extend a timeline book
- Make Terra Cotta Warriors
- Grab these free Notebooking Pages
- Create this salt dough map of the Travels of Marco Polo and grab the printable map flags.
Marco Polo Unit Study – Salt Dough Map + Free Printable Map Flags
Too, I made some printable flags to put on the salt dough map.
A few places, I added in the name that would have been used back in the time of Marco Polo and then put the name of the modern day city to help Tiny make a connection.
Names are boring to learn about unless they make sense today.
Remember, before the salt dough dries, stick a toothpick in the dough so when it dries, the hole is there already for the flag pennant.
There is just something a lot more engaging for Tiny to add the pennants on some of the places Marco Polo traveled instead of labeling a printed out map, which would have been a lot more easier for me.
Then again, he remembers geography a lot better this way.
At the last minute, he decided he wanted to paint the trail of Marco Polo’s travels white because it would be easier for him to remember.
Don’t you love it when your kids come up with their own ways of remembering information?
I love it because Tiny was so ultimately satisfied with his work.
Too, though hands-on ideas sometimes are time consuming or in our case we plod along over a few days working on them, you don’t have to do much more review because they retain so much information in the beginning.
How to Download the DIY Printable Map Flags
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When you sign up to follow me, you get access to this freebie AND you’re now a follower of me by getting emails in your inbox.
1) Sign up on my email list.
2) Grab the printable.
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Marco Polo Unit Study, Lapbook, and Hands-on Ideas
