• Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Activity, Change, Progress

  • HOME
  • How to
    • Preschool
    • Kindergarten
    • Middle School
    • High School
  • Planner
  • Lapbooks
    • Trioramas
    • History Games
  • Shop
  • GET STARTED NOW!
    • Learning Styles
  • 7 Step Planner
    • DIY Best Student Planner
    • Free & Easy DIY Home Management Binder
  • Unit Studies
    • Creation to Ancients
    • Middle Ages to Reform
    • Exploring to Revolution
    • World Wars to Today
    • Science
    • Free Art Curriculum Grades 1 – 8
  • Curriculum
    • More Unit Studies
    • Geography
    • Writing PreK to 12th
    • Geronimo Stilton
  • BootCamp
    • Resources
      • Dynamic Subscriber Freebies
      • Exclusive Subscribers Library
      • Ultimate Unit Study Planner

Marco Polo Unit Study – Terracotta Warriors and Free Resources

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

Share This!

971 shares
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

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

Salt Dough Recipe

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Marco Polo Unit Study Terra Cotta Warriors

Table of Contents

Toggle
  • Marco Polo Unit Study–Terracotta Warriors and Free Resources
    • Helpful Lessons Plans and Background Information
  • Free Teacher’s Guides
    • Other Free Printables
    • YouTube Marco Polo
  • Marco Polo Unit Study Hands-on Activities
  • Books About Marco Polo
    • Free Coloring Pages Marco Polo
    • Free Country Report
  • How to Get the Free Marco Polo Lapbook
  • Marco Polo Unit Study, Lapbook, and Hands-on Ideas

Marco Polo Unit Study–Terracotta Warriors and Free Resources

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

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

Helpful Lessons Plans and Background Information

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

Free Teacher’s Guides

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

Other Free Printables

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

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

Marco Polo Unit Study–Terracotta Warriors and Free Resources

YouTube Marco Polo

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

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

Watch the building of a yurt in fast time.

Marco Polo Unit Study Hands-on Activities

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

Books About Marco Polo

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

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

Marco Polo

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

The Adventures of Marco Polo

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

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

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

The Story of Marco Polo

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

Animals Marco Polo Saw (Explorer Series)

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

Marco Polo (Junior World Explorers)

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

The Travels of Marco Polo

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

He Went With Marco Polo

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

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

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

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

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

Genghis Khan and the Mongol Horde (World Landmark Books)

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

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

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

Marco Polo: his travels and adventures.

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

Free Coloring Pages Marco Polo

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

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

Free Country Report

Mongolia Country Report

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

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

Marco Polo Unit Study – Terracotta Warriors and Free Resources

How to Get the Free Marco Polo Lapbook

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

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

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

Hugs and love ya,

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

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

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jennifer Altman says

    January 31, 2015 at 9:50 am

    Thanks for sharing at Share it Saturday, I’m highlighting you post on today’s link up 😀
    Jennifer Altman recently posted…Week 24 in ReviewMy Profile

    Reply
    • Tina Robertson says

      February 2, 2015 at 8:34 am

      Hi Jennifer,

      So very welcome. Thanks for the feature and especially for hosting each week. Love your party!!!

      Reply
  2. Jill says

    January 25, 2015 at 9:19 pm

    Wow! This is a fantastic resource for Marco Polo studies.

    Thank you for stopping by the Thoughtful Spot Weekly Blog Hop this week. We hope to see you drop by our neck of the woods next week!
    Jill recently posted…E.H.M. February 2015 Monthly Meal PlannerMy Profile

    Reply
    • Tina Robertson says

      January 25, 2015 at 10:14 pm

      We are enjoying our study of Marco Polo. Such a great unit study for hands-on learning.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CommentLuv badgeShow more posts

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Footer

Privacy Policy | About Me | Reviews | Contact | Advertise

Categories

Archives

Tina Robertson is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2025 · 5 TNT LLC · Log in · Privacy Policy