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Amazing Daniel Boone Explorer Lapbook and Fun Hands-on Unit Study

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

This amazing Daniel Boone Explorer lapbook is such a fun lapbook. It can go with a study of colonial period, American Revolution or French and Indian War. I have many more lapbooks on my Homeschool Lapbooks page.

Daniel Boone is one of the most famous figures in American history, a legendary frontiersman, hunter and explorer credited with opening up the area now known as Kentucky to settlers.

Amazing Daniel Boone Explorer Lapbook and Fun Hands-on Unit Study

And I especially love this excerpt from a 1910 article by Genealogy Bank.

“He found more profit in the woods than in tilling the soil, and for months at a time he was away hunting beaver, otter, bear, deer, wolves and wildcats.

Garbed in hunting shirt of deerskin, with leggings and moccasins of the same material, and with powder horn, bullet pouch, scalping knife and tomahawk, the world afforded him plenty.

The bare ground or the bushes furnished him a bed, and the sky was his canopy. His skill with a gun or in throwing a tomahawk was marvelous. Of Indian fighting he had enough to satisfy.”

5 Benefits of History Lapbooks

But first, there are many benefits to using history lapbooks.

  1. If a child learns visually, a lapbook helps to cement important events in time.
  2. Hands-on learners grasp history points when they interact with mine timelines or maps placed in the lapbook
  3. Because minibooks can be placed in any order in the lapbooks, they can be placed in sequential order if you want your child to understand events
  4. Not all children do well with trying to memorize facts. So, by opening, closing, and folding the minibooks constantly, kids have an interactive way to relate to the historical facts.
  5. Lastly, lapbooks can be as large or as small as your child wants. If the topic has several events or persons, create more flaps. If you want to focus on a narrow topic then your lapbook adjusts to just the right amount of information for your learner.

However, add some more facts about Daniel Boone’s life to your study or lapbook.

Amazing Daniel Boone Explorer Lapbook and Fun Hands-on Unit Study

Look below for more facts because he was the ultimate explorer.

Daniel Boone Explorer

First, Daniel Boone, a famous hunter from North Carolina, opened up a road through the forest, from the mountains of Eastern Tennessee to the Kentucky River.

It was called the “Wilderness Road,” and over it thousands of emigrants went into Kentucky to settle. Boone, with others, built the fort at Boonesboro, Kentucky, and went there to live

Amazing Daniel Boone Explorer Lapbook and Fun Hands-on Unit Study

In his long, adventurous life, Boone was an officer in the American Revolutionary War, a captive of the Shawnees, who later adopted him into their tribe.

Also, he was a successful politician.

It was said that when he died in 1820 that all of America mourned.

Amazing Daniel Boone Explorer Lapbook and Fun Hands-on Unit Study

Additionally, look at my post here 30 Fun Resources for Learning About Daniel Boone.

Look at Daniel Boone: Frontiersman (Heroes of History).

More Hands-on History Lapbooks

Also, you’ll love these other history homeschool lapbooks.

Lastly, look below at how to grab this free lapbook.

How to Get the Free Daniel Boone Explorer Lapbook 15 page download

Finally, how to grab the free lapbook. It’s a subscriber freebie.

 1) Sign up on my list.

2) Grab the freebie now.

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

Daniel Boone Exploration DIY Easy Compass Activity and Survival Ideas

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

Today, we’re learning about Daniel Boone exploration and ideas to learn from his life. You’ll love my unit study and other ideas on my page Daniel Boone – North American Explorer.

And when you think about Daniel Boone and his life you think about his amazing skills on the frontier. 

After all, he is best known for exploring and settling the area we now know as Kentucky.

Daniel Boone Exploration DIY Easy Compass Activity and Survival Ideas

He used his knowledge of the area and the skills he learned growing up to become a folk hero and create a legacy that lives on today.

What was commonplace living then is considered survival skills in today’s world.

Survival skills are something that you might want to incorporate into your child’s homeschool goals.

Survival Skill Ideas for Kids

Some things that you might want to teach them that would have been a part of the upbringing in Daniel Boone’s world are:

  • Building a shelter- How to gather and arrange whatever is at hand to protect themselves from the elements.
  • Starting a fire- Not only arranging wood but starting a fire without a lighter or matches.
  • Using a compass- A good skill to help them find their way in the wilderness.
  • Finding and filtering clean water- Knowing how to find and different methods for purifying water.
  • Basic First Aid- Learning to clean and care for basic emergencies.
  • How to use a knife-Safely handling and storing
  • Acquiring food- An important basic wilderness skill, identifying edible plants, making fish traps, and animal traps.
  • And be sure to grab my free Daniel Boone Lapbook.
  • Also, look at Daniel Boone: The Complete Series.

Even if you did not grow up this way teaching these skills may appeal to you, but how do you teach what you aren’t skilled in yourself?

Daniel Boone Exploration DIY Easy Compass Activity and Survival Ideas

Grab some of these resources to help you.

First, I have a Foraging and Feasting Nature Unit Study and Lapbook.

Books for Daniel Boone Unit Study & Survival Ideas

Second, one of my favorite resources to learn anything and about Daniel Boone Exploration are books.

10 Resources for A Daniel Boone Unit Study

Whether you want to add a hands-on unit study or are looking for a few resources, you'll love one of these.

Then learn about how a compass works.

How a Compass Works

Here is a bit of science,

How does this work? A needle is made from steel which contains iron.

When you stroke the needle on the magnet the iron particles are magnetized. It only works temporarily, but you do get to see a cool effect of a needle working like a compass.

The metals iron, steel, nickel and cobalt are magnetic.

Now, a compass works by detecting and responding to the Earth’s natural magnetic fields – always pointing north.

Earth’s core is made of iron that is part liquid and part solid crystal.

The movement of the liquid core produces the earth’s magnetic field. 

Now, look at these easy directions in how to make a compass.

How to Make a Compass

You will need:

  • Small cork
  • Fine sharpie
  • A needle
  • A Small cup
  • Water
  • A magnet
Daniel Boone Exploration DIY Easy Compass Activity and Survival Ideas

The first thing you want to do is slice off a piece of the cork about ¼” thick.

Daniel Boone Exploration DIY Easy Compass Activity and Survival Ideas

Slide the needle through the center of the cork, it helps to use a pair of needle nose pliers rather than trying to do it with your bare fingers.

Daniel Boone Exploration DIY Easy Compass Activity and Survival Ideas

Next rub the pointed tip of the needle back and forth across the magnet 25-30 times to magnetize it.

Daniel Boone Exploration DIY Easy Compass Activity and Survival Ideas

Fill a small jar about ⅔ full of water and place your compass in the water, the needle will point north/south.

Daniel Boone Exploration DIY Easy Compass Activity and Survival Ideas

You can use a real compass or a compass on your phone to test and be sure which direction is north to prove it.

Daniel Boone Exploration DIY Easy Compass Activity and Survival Ideas

Use a fine point sharpie to mark North, South, East, and West on the cork.

Daniel Boone Exploration DIY Easy Compass Activity and Survival Ideas

Place it back into the jar of water.

Daniel Boone Exploration DIY Easy Compass Activity and Survival Ideas

Remember you will need to re-magnetize it for each use.

18 American History Board Games Which Brings History to Life

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

Today, I have 18 American history board games which breathe life into your history teaching. You’ll love the other history games I have on my page Kids History Games Boosts Learning & Promotes Critical Thinking.

I am a big fan of gameschooling.

No matter what your homeschooling style is, gameschooling can add a fun element which helps kids retain more than just facts.

Playing American history games can help them gain an understanding of the why, how, where, when, and who of history through learning geography, trivia, strategy, and general information.

Today we are focusing on some American history board games to add to your homeschool day.

I have drawn deep from the Amazon well and found games to cover quite a few major periods of American history and they’re ones we’ve used too.

From the first people that set sail on the soil of the new world to revolutions, Civil War within America, westward expansion to a cover up at the Watergate hotel, your kids will love them.

American History Games

You can play them at home as a supplement to your history lessons or in place of a lesson some days for a fun break.

They are a great tool for co-op days as well.

And small card games can be great for waiting at restaurants or doctor’s offices.

Additionally, look at some of the topics your child can learn about.

  • Political History
  • Social History
  • Economic History
  • Religious History
  • Diplomatic History
  • Art History
  • Women’s History
  • Science/Medicine History
  • Food History
  • Environmental History

Then there are academic skills as well. Look at this list below.

  • reading fluency
  • comprehension
  • problem solving skills
  • critical thinking, reasoning
  • self regulation
  • verbal communication skills
  • increased vocabulary
  • social skills, patience, resilience, logic,
  • and a lot more skills that come with board game play whether its trivia, strategy, or role playing.

Did I also mention that a lot of these games below will also teach civics, geography, math and science? Yes! yes!

Other Fun History Games Resources

Too, look at these other fun history games resources:

You’re sure to find something here to go with your unit studies, unschooling, relaxed schooling, or gameschooling.

Let’s jump into finding your family the perfect American history board game.

18 American History Board Games to Bring History to Life

No matter what your homeschooling style is, gameschooling can add a fun element that really helps kids retain more than just facts.

Amazing and Free American Revolution Lapbook for Multiple Ages

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

This free American Revolution lapbook and hands-on unit study for multiple ages is fun to use as spine. Be sure you grab my other lapbooks for hands-on history.

The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America.

Amazing and Free American Revolution Lapbook for Multiple Ages

And using a history lapbook to contain all the subtopics which interests your children is a fun way to not only learn, but memorize important parts.

American Revolution Facts for Kids

Here is some information about the colonies which will help you to start your lapbook and unit study.

New England Colonies

Connecticut
New Hampshire
Massachusetts
Rhode Island

Middle Colonies

Delaware
New Jersey
New York
Pennsylvania

Southern Colonies

Maryland
Georgia
North Carolina
South Carolina
Virginia

Also, look at this book The American Revolution for Kids: A History with 21 Activities.

There are many ways you can arrange the lapbook and it’s necessary to use all my minibooks.

Amazing and Free American Revolution Lapbook for Multiple Ages

Mix and match my lapbook with other topics that interest your children.

Minibooks for an American Revolution Unit Study

Also, look at the minibooks included in this free lapbook.

  • There are 6 cover pages
  • Battles of the American Revolution
  • Boston Massacre
  • Boston Tea Party and the Sugar Act
  • Can You Answer
  • Causes of the War
  • England’s Reason for Taxing the Colonist
  • Join or Die political cartoon
  • Map of the 13 colonies
  • Patriots
  • Road to Liberty timeline
  • The Stamp Act
  • Paul Revere
  • Taxation Without Representation
  • Who was King George and Who Were the Colonist

Too, you’ll love these ideas for a fun co-op or just to do at home.

Amazing and Free American Revolution Lapbook for Multiple Ages

Besides, it’s the hands-on fun which make history come alive.

American Revolution Hands-on Ideas

First, we made a trip to Goodwill and picked up teacups (mismatched is perfect), some fall foliage from Hobby Lobby. and we picked up a lot of clothes.

As you can see in the picture above, our table decorations for the Early American co-op rocked.

We had different tables or stations set up for the following activities.

  • Because silhouette photos were popular, we had a station for pictures. Bring a lamp, and a chair, and tape paper to the wall for your little artist to trace their sibling or friend.
  • Of course we had to try different flavored teas.
Amazing and Free American Revolution Lapbook for Multiple Ages

In addition, we had other activities.

  • One table we had corn husk doll making and another table the kids made bead decorating or flint corn.
  • Additionally, we had a guest speak from the Daughters of the American Revolution who was “George Washington’s” mom and told us stories about him.
  • We learned George Washington’s favorite dance, the Minuet. He was supposed to be quite the dancer.
Amazing and Free American Revolution Lapbook for Multiple Ages

Also, one of the activities the kids loved the most was the Minute Man race.

Our co-op bought tons of oversized clothes and just like the Minute Man, the kids had a minute to change into them.

Remember to buy the clothes oversized so the kids can leave their clothes on. (lol). Then have them race for their teams.

Amazing and Free American Revolution Lapbook for Multiple Ages

How to Get the American Revolution Lapbook

Finally, how to Grab the Free 33 page lapbook. It’s a subscriber freebie.

 1) CLICK HERE ON THIS LINK TO SIGN UP ON MY EMAIL LIST & TO GET THIS FREEBIE

2) Grab the freebie now.

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

Exploring Space and Astronomy Free Unit Study for Multiple Ages

15 Fun Resources For History for Kindergarten Homeschool

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

These 15 fun resources for history for kindergarten homeschool can be added to the solids tips I share for kindergarten homeschool curriculum.

In addition, teaching history to a kindergarten aged child is not easy to know how to do.

In my 20+ years of homeschooling, I am familiar with how some public school teach it.

Combining an amalgam of subjects that fall under the social studies umbrella is how many schools teach kindergarten homeschool history.

15 Fun Resources For History for Kindergarten Homeschool

And many homeschool families of kindergarten children are not even sure what is social studies.

In addition, if not taught at the level your child can understand history can go right over a child’s head.

Then, the next important thing to consider about teaching history is to know what is your local homeschool law.

4 Ways to Teach Kindergarten Homeschool History

Look at what is important to know about how to teach history to kindergarten aged children.

1. Start With An All About Me Focus

Unlike many history resources which start from the beginning like ancient history and move forward that concept can be hard to understand by young children.

Until a child is older, he doesn’t have a full grasp on understanding the passing of time or how earlier cultures influenced later ones.

So, the point I’m making is that if you start by teaching history by teaching the child about him and his family.

Learn about the house, city, state, country and continent where your child lives and work from the inside out.

Too, learning what are community helpers, helping a five-year-old learn about past and present, and simply reading aloud are effective ways of teaching beginning history.

One of the reasons this is a powerful way for a child this age to learn is that it helps them to make the connection of what is history.

2. History Should be Play-Based.

In addition, some families feel homeschooling should be worksheet based or homeschool like a public school.

I don’t embrace those mindsets for the fact that learning should be developmentally appropriate.

Although these mindsets have loomed in the homeschooling community, it’s more prevalent now.

Perhaps it’s because we have many post pandemic homeschooling families now.

Whatever the reason, the way children at this age learn best for any subject is play-based.

And incorporating play-based learning into history for kindergarten homeschool is not as hard as it may seem.

For example, look at a few of these ideas which can be used for any history topic.

  • Play dough is timeless. Your child can create any landmark, history figure, or play food.
  • Dress up for any time period or to act any event is memorable. Your child won’t easily forget what you’re teaching.
  • Get outside. Many history topics like all homeschool subjects are intertwined with science. Whether you child is on the hunt for something that looks like a fossil or arrow heads, you’ll give him a creative outlet.

3. Understand what is Social Studies.

Additionally, as I mentioned many subjects are intertwined.

There are certain times in your journey when children need exposure to a variety of topics to see their connection.

Understanding what is meant by social studies can help you to intertwine or make connections for your child.

For example, there are many definitions for social studies, but one general one is that the term means to combine learning bits on these topics:

  • History
  • Geography
  • Social science
  • American government and
  • World Geography.

As you can see doing map work along with learning about cultures, countries, foods, and animals around the world stimulates a love of history in your child.

So, history is much more than about dead people or much more than map work. It’s far from boring.

4. Use Living Books.

Finally, use living books. I had a love of books and classics when I began to homeschool but didn’t understand what is a living book.

Look at these things that are tell-tale signs of a living book.

  • Opposite a textbook is a book written by an author that is passionate about the subject. He either is knowledgeable about the subject because it could be his lifework or it’s personal experience.
  • Instead of presenting dry hard facts, a reader is drawn in through a story, which is always the best way of remembering any set of facts.

And if you’re teaching multiple ages, it can be hard to find resources.

15 Fun Resources For History for Kindergarten Homeschool

So, be sure you look at 35 Simple But Powerful American History Homeschool Resources K to 12.

More Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum Resources

Then, you’ll love these other kindergarten homeschool resources:

Whether you want to do a basic history introduction or a full-blown curriculum, you have many ways to keep history fun.

More Homeschool History Curriculum Tips

15 Fun Resources For History for Kindergarten Homeschool

Besides, you have many years ahead to teach a five-year-old. Make the beginning fun and spark a love of history.

History for Kindergarten Homeschool

Finally, unless you state requires it, you can follow your child’s lead and learn what interests your child.

A lot of social studies curriculum include some of the following concepts:

  • What is a town
  • Where are you on a map
  • What is a map
  • Introducing the cardinal directions
  • What are American symbols
  • What is a citizen
  • and I mentioned about community helpers before.
15 Fun Resources For History for Kindergarten Homeschool

Field trips and visiting museums are the backbone of a amazing history experience.

Reading aloud, doing fun hands-on history activities, and taking field trips you’re sure to nurture a budding history lover.

Lastly, look at these history resources for kindergarten.

History Resources for Homeschool Kindergarten

Because homeschool kindergarten history can be taught in many ways, you'll want curriculum and resources along with hands-on fun.

History, Geography, and Hands On Learning Ideas for Homeschool Kindergarten

Children this age love to learn about the world around them, but it doesn't have to be complicated.