Ancient HIstory

Geronimo Stilton Race Against Time And Make Pottery Like Ancient Greeks

July 6, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

In Geronimo Stilton Race Against Time, our favorite mouse finds himself smack dab in the middle of the Ice Age, Ancient Greece, and The Renaissance with the help of The Paw Pro Portal. Be sure to grab more Geronimo Stilton Books ideas and crafts on my page.

Geronimo shares a fun tale (or is it tail) which takes us through a very important period of ancient history.

Geronimo Stilton Race Against Time And Make Pottery Like Ancient Greeks

One thing I always enjoyed about the Geronimo Stilton books is that they introduce famous historical figures and places in a somewhat silly way, in graphic novel format.

We will focus on the second tale about Ancient Greece in the book The Race Against Time (Geronimo Stilton Journey Through Time #3.

The Race Against Time (Geronimo Stilton Journey Through Time #3

Kids really love the series. This story even gives an illustration of the Greek alphabet.

Your child will be introduced to Phidias the Greek Sculptor, playwright Sophocles, and historian Thucydides.

Too, they’ll learn about symposiums, Agora, the main square, and “visit” the Parthenon.

Ancient Greece was a period of massive growth in the arts, wars, fashion and had busy ports, architecture, and astronomy.

The Ancient Greeks made their pots from clay.

Their pots were used for cooking, storing food to eat and drink from, as decoration, for perfumes and oils, and even urns to store the ashes of those cremated.

Sure, they were very useful, but they were also works of art.

Over time they went from simple decorations on their pottery to more intricate artwork.

For example, they used zig-zag patterns, gods and goddesses, chariots, buildings, people, and animals.

Pottery was a dark orange with black designs and later became reversed.

We are going to recreate our Greek pottery using a terra cotta pot and turn it into something that might be found as archaeologists dig through the sites of Ancient Greece.

Then I have more Geronimo Stilton book activities for kids.

Geronimo Stilton Book Activities

Next, look at these other crafts to go with the books.

Also, add these other activities to your learning day.

Activities to Learn About Ancient Greece

Too, after reading about Geronimo’s adventures, here are more fun hands-on ideas.

Finally, look how to make this fun Ancient Greek pottery designs.

This art project is a great learning activity because first they are researching Greek designs and pottery, and then it leads neatly into a discussion about archeology.

You can even add a third component by having them attempt to put the pieces back together like a 3D puzzle at the end.

The broken pieces of pottery look great lying in a basket or loose on a shelf to create a fun-themed vignette in your homeschool space.

Before starting your project, examine pictures of Greek pottery that archeologists have uncovered to get an idea of the types of designs they used. Here is a great video on YouTube about Ancient Greek Pottery.

Geronimo Stilton Race Against Time – Recreate Greek Pottery Craft

You can purchase inexpensive terra cotta pots at home improvement stores, Walmart, or Dollar Tree even.

We found this one abandoned in the garden and loved the aging of it so we gave it a good cleaning and used it rather than a new one.

You will need:

Terra Cotta pot
Permanent marker
Pillowcase
Hammer

First, let your child decorate their pot using a black permanent.

You can also paint it, but I find that a permanent marker flows so nicely on the pots and makes a lot less mess.

You can draw on famous Greek landmarks.

Add some Greek men and women.

Or whatever you like. Let them take their time adding whatever they want, you can even make it comic style with large individual cells around it to tell a story.

Now at this point, you can leave your pot as it is or move on to the next step which is to create broken pot shards like archeologists often find.

Place the pot in an old pillowcase or wrap it in a towel.

Give it a few good hits with a hammer, you may prefer to take this part outside. I like to try and leave some larger pieces, so the art is still identifiable.

Carefully, remove the pieces from the pillowcase, the edges may be sharp.

Use them to decorate a shelf or move onto another step and challenge your child to put the pieces back together if they can.

I would recommend only doing this with older children as any glue, but hot glue is going to take too long to dry.

Here we assembled a few of our pot shards back together with glue and tape.

7 Fun Ways to Play Go Fish Egyptian Games for Kids

January 8, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have 7 ways to play Go Fish Egyptian Games for Kids. I have more fun game ideas for teaching history on my history games page.

The beauty of an interest-based study is that it can grow from a simple interest and from one book or even a game into a full fun unit that is easily adapted to your child.

This one stemmed from a simple game that was purchased a while back.

I wanted to pull it back out to see if I couldn’t give it new life by figuring out a few different ways to play with it.

7 Fun Ways to Play Go Fish Egyptian Games for Kids

Ancient Egypt Go Fish is one of a line of history go fish games created by Birdcage Press.

Games are a wonderful way to work in historical information in a way that seems less like school and more like fun.

If you have a child that is drawn to Ancient Egypt like mine was, you will have no problem getting them excited about this game and these other resources that I have gathered for you.

Hands-on Ancient Egypt Activities

First, look at these fun hands-on activities.

Try this Egypt Crafts For Kindergarten Create a Fun Kid Sized Mummy.
Make a beautiful Cleopatra Cuffs and Collar.
Craft these Fun and Easy Hands-On Ancient Egypt Craft: Create Canopic Jars.
Pharaohs and Queens Ancient Egypt Lapbook and Activities
11 Easy Hands-On Ancient Egypt Projects for Middle School
Egyptian Mathematics: Build a LEGO Math Calculator
Papyrus and Hieroglyph Activity
Mehen Printable Board Game (Hands-on History)
King Narmer Crown craft
Ancient Egypt Homeschool Unit Study

While Safari Toobs are geared at younger children I have found them to be so very useful even in later stages for everything from dioramas to game pieces, decorations for a theme, and even turned into jewelry.

They are probably one of the longest used homeschool items right up there with dictionaries and pencil sharpeners.

Fun History Games

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

Finally, look at some fun ways to use this game to do homeschool history.

7 Ways to Play Go Fish Egyptian Games for Kids

First, play by the directions. There is enough content and information that you can count it as history for the day.

Besides, learning history should be fun.

1. Play traditional Go Fish.

Next this just like traditional go fish except the pictures are not the same on the card.

2. Match up cards in the same categories to create sets.

There are 6 different categories- gods, goddesses, symbols, pharaohs, mummies, and afterlife.

Each category has a total of 6 cards each. The object is to collect as many complete sets as you can to win.

There is a simplified play for younger children.

Children can ask for one of a general category for example “do you have any mummies” etc… to create simple pairs.

There is a mini book that comes with the cards.

It contains the instructions as well as a breakdown of each item on every card.

Use the mini book like a textbook to learn more about Ancient Egypt.

There is a fun hieroglyphics chart in the book so that your child can write out a message.

3. Play memory.

While the pictures do not match the numbers for each category are the same and items from the same category can be matched.

4. Pick a card to choose a history topic.

Choose a card at random or let your child choose their topic.

Then use the card as a topic of study to dive deeper into. Use the internet or resource books to study more about the topic.

5. Use the cards for art inspiration.

Use the artwork on the cards as inspiration for your child to create from.

Your child can make their own hieroglyphics, clay sarcophagus, or paint a picture of an ancient symbol or god.

6. Play War.

Shuffle up the deck and divide it between two players.

Have each player flip their top card at the same time, the player with the higher number wins the pair.

Whoever has the most pairs at the end wins.

To keep it educational at the beginning and end of each round players must flip through their deck and share one fun fact about Egypt.

7. Ask random questions.

Each player grabs a card at random, players ask up to 10 questions to try and guess the card.

If they are able to guess correctly they get to keep the card and the player with the most at the end wins.

Example questions- Is this card a symbol? Is this card a bug? Does this card represent a god that is a bird?

Ancient Egypt DIY Simple and Fun Mummification Process Game

November 27, 2022 | 1 Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today, I have an Ancient Egypt diy mummification process game. You’ll love the other History Games I have on my page.

If you are studying Ancient Egypt and need a great hands-on activity to help teach your child you’ll love this mummification process game.

Yes, we made a game for that.

Games are an incredible way to learn something new.

Ancient Egypt DIY Simple and Fun Mummification Process Game

And games reinforce a topic that you are learning.

Now, I’ve bought all kinds of ready-made games.

However, creating your own game from the ground up and including your child in the process is the best way to learn.

I came up with this game that doesn’t require any special items and let’s your child be in charge of the game creation.

Creating the game will help the facts that they learn stick in their head better.

Benefits of Game Playing

Also, it will help teach your children research skills and give them a sense of pride in accomplishment.

I wanted to be sure it included more than just the history of this Ancient Egyptian ritual.

For younger children rolling and adding dice is a simple way to also incorporate math into your day.

They will learn or reinforce anatomy lessons through the anatomy drawings and labels.

I created a printable with the basic rules and values for the dice numbers rolled.

Creating the game requires reading, writing, and art skills

Before you begin use videos, resources, and books from your personal collection or borrow them from library to learn about the mummification process.

Fun Ancient Egypt Resources

This will make creating the cards much easier and give your child an understanding of the why.

Here are a few resources and activities that you might enjoy along with this diy mummification process game.

Inside Out Egyptian Mummy

These Toob Organs are a great teaching tool not only for anatomy but here in Ancient Egypt Studies. Also, they can be used for inspiration when drawing the organ cards. We have also used them in making large canopic jars as well.

There is also the Ancient Egypt Toob that can be used for art inspiration, sensory bins, dioramas, and so much more.

Let each child be responsible for creating their own set of cards for when you play

More Fun History Games Resources

Look at them below.

Depending on their age and ability level they may create the entire card on their own or may need some assistance.

They will be tickled with their own contributions to the game.

You don’t need anything other than the cards and dice but the props sure are fun to set the

How to Make a Mummification Process Game

Here is what you will need:

White cardstock
Colored cardstock
Paper slicer
Glue stick or double sided tape
Markers, colored pencils, or crayons
2 dice

First, cut white cardstock into 3 ½” x 4 ½” rectangles. You will need 9 for each player.

Then cut 9 of one colored cardstock for each child to 3 ¾ ” x 4 ¾”.

Write or instruct your child to write one of each of these phrases on the top of each of the 9 cards:

1-Wash body and remove organs
2-Remove brain through the nose
3-Place lungs in canopic jar
4-Place intestines in canopic jar
5-Place stomach in canopic jar
6-Place liver in canopic jar
7-Fill body and cover with salt for 40 days
8-Wrap body in linen bandages
9-Place body in sarcophagus

Next, encourage them to draw something to represent each of these steps.

I encourage a bit of silliness if it has something to do with what they are trying to accomplish for the step.

Use markers, crayons, colored pencils, or whatever they like to make it fun and colorful.

Here is a look at some more of the cards we created.

Glue the white completed cards to the colored cardstock to make it a bit sturdier.

Write the step numbers on the back of each card so they can easily be lined up for play face down.

Below is a printable with the rules and the assigned “value” for each dice combination.

You can choose to roll one or two dice depending on which numbers you need.

For instance, if all you are missing is a #1 you would want to roll only once die to attempt to get the number you need.

How to Get the Free Printable Rules

Grab the free page. It’s a subscriber freebie.

1) Sign up on my list.
2) Grab the freebie instantly.
3) Glad to have you following me. Look for my emails in your inbox now.

The Best Free Viking Lapbook and Hands-on Ideas

November 18, 2022 | 1 Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

My free Viking lapbook is such a fun lapbook and unit study. Be sure you look at my other fun Homeschool Lapbooks.

In the West, they were called Northmen, Norsemen and Danes.

In the East, they were known as Rus or Varangians. Vikings came from a word in the Old Norse language meaning “sea raiding.”

The Best Free Viking Lapbook and Hands-on Ideas

The Vikings came from Norway, Sweden and Denmark.

Their land was rocky and they found it hard to grow crops.

Fun Viking Facts

The Vikings used long ships to raid and steal from other lands.

And the long ships were powered by sails or by rowing with oars.

Constantinople was the main city of the Byzantine empire. The Vikings traded there.

The Vikings were farmers and where it was colder they hunted game and fished.

Norse farmers grew barley, rye, oats, cabbage, onions and other root vegetables.

Also, they were both excellent sailors since they could maneuver so easy and soldiers since they knew how to fight too.

Next, look at some of these hands-on activities to go with this Viking lapbook.

Hands-on Viking History Activities

Here are a few you’ll like.

And add a few books for reference.

Finally, look below at the minibooks which come with this free Viking lapbook.

Other Homeschool Lapbooks

You’ll love my other lapbooks for multiple ages.

Minibooks for Free Viking Lapbook for Homeschooled Kids

The minibooks included in this download are:

Drakkar-Knarr-Viking-Ships minibook
Key dates in Viking History timeline
Viking Woman Coloring Page or Front Cover
About Viking Ships Notebooking Page
Draw Your Vikings and Who Were the Barbarians Notebooking Pages
Iceland, Greenland and Newfoundland Layered Book
North America Explorers Cover
Vikings are Known For Their …. Book
The Vikings are Less Well-Known For
Viking Ship Base
Were Also Known As. ..
Words and Pocket
Land of the Vikings Geography
Who Were the Vikings minibook
Written in Stone – About Runes minibook

How to Get the Free Lapbook

Finally, how to grab the free page lapbook and notebooking pages. It’s a subscriber freebie.

1) Sign up on my list.

2) Grab the freebie.

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

15 World History Board Games Guaranteed to Make Learning Fun

November 13, 2022 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today, I’ve rounded up some fun world history board games. Also, you’ll love grabbing more ideas for history games on my page.

If you are digging deep into a study on Ancient Egypt, The Fall of Rome, or The Middle Ages the best ways to learn and have fun at the same time is with a great board game.

While not all may actually teach specifics of history they are a great way to get a taste and understanding of life back then.

15 World History Board Games Guaranteed to Make Learning Fun

Of course you don’t have to be studying a specific history topic.

All of these games are great for any history lover in general and have a lot to offer for fun and game schooling.

Learn about history through strategy, trivia, combat, role playing games and more.

Start by exploring three main periods of history

The three main time periods I’ve covered in these games are

The Ancient World
Middle Ages,
and Modern History of the world.

Cool History Games

After all, those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it according to George Santayana.

Besides the facts these games can help teach a period of history game play is just amazing for family bonding.

Too, family board games help your children learn other things like cooperation, strategy, memorization, and reading comprehension.

Besides being a diversion from the normal routine of your homeschool day, cool history games can motivate your kids if they find history boring.

I’ve divided up board games by time periods so that you can easily match to your unit studies.

15 World History Board Games Guaranteed to Make Learning Fun. I've rounded up some fun world history board games. Also, you’ll love grabbing more ideas for history games on my page. If you are digging deep into a study on Ancient Egypt, The Fall of Rome, or The Middle Ages the best ways to learn and have fun at the same time is with a great board game. While not all may actually teach specifics of history they are a great way to get a taste and understanding of life then. #worldhistoryboardgames

More Fun History Games

I know you’ll find something you’ll love in one of these time periods.

Ancient World History Board Games

This period covers the oldest records of human history from 3000 BCE – 500 CE. It ends with the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the Han Dynasty in China, and the Gupta Empire in India. It teaches us about origins, cultures, traditions, and beginning civilizations. Here is where we
learn of Egyptian Kings and Queens, the Trojan War, and Genghis Khan. It begins rising out of Mesopotamia and Egypt and ends with the fall of the Roman Empire

Imhotep Builder of Egypt | Family Board Game

Imhotep is the legendary architect of the Egyptian monuments like the Step Pyramid, in this game you play as him working to build in five different construction sites. This game is a great way to introduce or refresh some Egyptian vocabulary as well as just enjoy the theme.

Ancient Egypt Press Go Fish Cards

There is always a time and a place for a fun game of Go Fish, but these cards can be used for more than that.

Pandemic Fall of Rome Board Game

There are several versions of this game but in this one you travel back in time and try to stop the fall of Rome. This is a cooperative game for 1-5 players and is a great family game.

Age of Civilization Strategy Card Game

Get ready for war in this card game that can be played in as little as 30 minutes. Wage war, build civilizations with this set in ancient times, build wonders like the Hanging Gardens, Machu Pichu,
Great Pyramids, and Stonehenge. This is such a fun way to learn about ancient history.

Middle Ages World History Board Games

The Middle Ages refers to that time in European history that started with the collapse of Roman civilization in the 5th century CE to the Renaissance. It is full of conquerors, explorers, scholars, brave knights and Vikings.

Carcassonne Board Game

This strategy game lets you develop your medieval city and can be played with as few as 2 players and up to 5, or more with expansion packs! If you are into the Middle Ages this is your game.

Battle Line: Medieval

If you want a Medieval card game with quick play this is one to grab. Win battlefields with your strong card formations, recommended for 14 and up. You can also get this in other versions as well-
WWII or Ancient Greek.

Raiders of The North Sea

Do you wish to set sail with the adventurous Vikings? This game takes a little over an hour on average and puts you right in the action assembling a crew, battling, and on journeys.

(Dungeons & Dragons Intro Adventure Set)

While it is a fantasy game, Dungeons & Dragons develops strategy, risk assessment, communication, math, science, history, culture, ethics, critical reading, and introduces lots of Medieval vocabulary.

CATAN Cities & Knights Board Game

Defend against attack and build up the land of Catan of the Middle Ages in this expansion pack with knights, barbarians, merchants, and more. You will need the base Catan to play this version as it is an add on.

Modern Age World History Board Games

Explore card and strategy games that take place from the end of the Middle Ages to the middle of the 20th Century. Test your knowledge on things like the Industrial Revolution, Cold War, and the Wright Brothers first flight.

CHRONOLOGY - The Game Where You Make History

This timeline board game has you racing to be the first to place 10 timeline cards in the correct order. Do you know if the first bikini was introduced before the first man landed on the moon? This is a great family game for learning and reinforcing what you know about Modern History.

Anno 1800 - | A Civilization Game

Explore and build a city during the Industrial Revolution in the old world. Plot trade routes and gather resources to grow. This game is great for teaching about exploration and trade routes, the importance of gathering resources, and civilization growth and development

Axis & Allies Pacific 1940 Second Edition WWII Strategy Board Game

This strategy game is a great way to learn about the cold war playing as either President John F. Kennedy or the USSR Premier Nikita Khrushchev with the goal to avoid nuclear war.

World History Board Games Covering Multiple Time Periods

These games cover ancient to modern history for those that want a broader scope of time. Test your knowledge of everything from Ancient Egypt to Adolph Hitler and see who will hold the title of Hero of History.