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ancient

Ancient Japan for Kids: Fun and Simple Handwriting Activity

February 11, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have an Ancient Japan for Kids handwriting activity. Also, look at more ideas on my page Medieval Japan Unit Study and Lapbook 1185 – 1600 A.D.

We have studied the Ancient Greeks, Ancient Romans and Ancient Egyptians off and on for more than four years.

My children are natural historians, and love to imagine themselves as mini-Indiana Jones type archaeologists.

Ancient Japan for Kids: Fun and Simple Handwriting Activity

As I planned our studies for this school year, I wanted to incorporate this natural and significant interest into our approach.

Then, my oldest expressed an interest in learning Japanese to meet his foreign language requirement and the answer became clear. I began to pull together ideas and resources to study ancient Japan.

Japanese Ancient History

I am almost ashamed to admit how little I learned in school about this amazing country, much less its history. (I always say that I am learning as much as my boys are in this homeschooling journey!)

The vast timeline of Japanese Ancient History continues up until 538 AD. For thousands of years, Japanese culture experienced its own iron age and classical expression.

During this period, the first known written reference to Japan was recorded in the Chinese Book of Han in the first century AD. Then, between the fourth century and the ninth century, Japan’s numerous kingdoms and tribes gradually came to be unified under a centralized government, controlled by the Emperor.

The pottery of this same time period and the historical record itself details the evolution of the Japanese language and the development of not one, not two, but THREE different Japanese alphabets.

Ancient Japan for Kids: Fun and Simple Handwriting Activity. Your kids will love learning about Japan through Kanji. It was used to represent Japanese words with the corresponding meanings. Click here for this fun kids learning activity!

It was actually the Chinese practice of character writing that  had a huge effect on the development of the written language of ancient Japan. Chinese characters became the Kanji symbolic alphabet  in Japanese. ( Incidentally, written Chinese is one of the world’s oldest active, still in use, writing systems.

Many current Chinese characters have been traced back to the Shang dynasty about 1200–1050 BC, but the process of creating characters is thought to have begun some centuries earlier.)

 Ancient Japan for Kids

Kanjiwas first introduced to ancient Japan in the first half of the first millennium AD. At the time, Japanese had no universal writing system, so Kanji were used to represent Japanese words with the corresponding meanings.

Later years would bring the Japanese phonetic alphabets, Hiragana and Katakana.

(Yes, you read that correctly. The pottery of the time period and the historical record itself details the evolution of the Japanese language and the development of not one, not two, but THREE different Japanese alphabets.)

Ancient Japan for Kids: Fun and Simple Handwriting Activity | Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Next, add some books to round out the study of Japan.

11 Books and Resources for Studying About Japan

You'll love these resources and books for studying about Japan. Add them to my Medieval Japan Unit Study or just fun for the day.

Image for Samurai: An Illustrated History

Samurai: An Illustrated History

This Japanese history book traces the story of a unique historical phenomenon: a period of 700 years--equivalent to the entire stretch of Western history between the reigns of the Crusader king Richard the Lionhearted and of Queen Victoria at the height of the British Empire--during which an enclosed civilization was dominated by a single warrior caste.

The historical narrative of samurai history is supported by explanations of samurai armor, weapons, fortifications, tactics, and customs, and illustrated with nearly 800 fascinating color photographs, maps, and sketches, including ancient scroll paintings and surviving suits of armor preserved for centuries in Japanese shrines.

Image for Samurai Arms, Armour & the Tactics of Warfare

Samurai Arms, Armour & the Tactics of Warfare

Part of the acclaimed Book of Samurai series, which presents for the first time the translated scrolls of the historical Natori-Ry samurai school of war, this volume offers an exceptional insight into the weaponry and armour of the samurai era, as well as tactical advice for use on and off the battlefield.

Image for Life in Old Japan Coloring Book

Life in Old Japan Coloring Book

More than 40 handsome, ready-to-color illustrations depict samurai warriors, the imperial villa at Kyoto, a Shinto shrine, a tea ceremony, a Noh play, a typical city street, a restaurant, music makers, more. Introduction and detailed captions describe Japanese culture and provide detailed information on art, government, costume, and daily life.

Image for Japanese Picture Dictionary Coloring Book: Over 1500 Japanese Words and Phrases for Creative & Visual Learners of All Ages

Japanese Picture Dictionary Coloring Book: Over 1500 Japanese Words and Phrases for Creative & Visual Learners of All Ages

Learning a new language is a new way of meeting new people, opening doors in your professional career and attracting fresh opportunities when traveling around the world, as you may know. The great thing is - whether you want to learn Japanese to visit Japan’s precious historic landmarks, watch anime and movies or simply meet wonderful Japanese people - we’ve got you covered!

Image for All About Japan: Stories, Songs, Crafts and Games for Kids

All About Japan: Stories, Songs, Crafts and Games for Kids

A cultural adventure for kids, All About Japan offers a journey to a new place--and ways to bring it to life! Dive into stories, play some games from Japan, and learn some Japanese songs.

Image for The Inch-High Samurai

The Inch-High Samurai

The brave little boy who sailed to the Capital in a teacup and fought a demon with a needle to win the love of a Lady is a Japanese cousin to Tom Thumb.

Image for The Crane Girl

The Crane Girl

In this magical retelling of a Japanese folktale, a mysterious girl weaves silk to help repay the kindness of a boy and his father until the father's greed finally exposes her secret.

While gathering firewood, Yasuhiro comes upon an injured crane hidden in the snow. He rescues and comforts the bird, then watches as it flies away over the wintry hills.

The next night, a mysterious young girl arrives at Yasuhiro's home seeking shelter from the cold. The boy and his father welcome the girl, named Hiroko, to stay with them. When Hiroko notices that Yasuhiro's father is struggling to earn money, she offers to weave silk for him to sell. After the fabric fetches a good price, the boy's father becomes impatient for more silk, and his greed has a life-changing effect on them all.

Lyrical storytelling deftly interwoven with original haiku create a magical adaptation of a popular Japanese folktale--an inspirational story of friendship and the power of kindness to transform lives.

Image for Commodore Perry the Opening of Japan (Landmark Series, #56)

Commodore Perry the Opening of Japan (Landmark Series, #56)

For more than 200 years Japan had isolated herself from the world - now Commodore Perry, representing the US government had arrived on the shore of Japan. Perry's mission was to open a door into Japan so US ships might stop for fuel & water on their route to China.

Image for 3D Puzzle Wooden Craft Kits DIY Model Building Kit

3D Puzzle Wooden Craft Kits DIY Model Building Kit

This 3D wooden Puzzle is the oldest tower in Japan and one of the iconic buildings, ancient and elegant.

Image for Japan Tokyo Skyline Famous Architecture Model Block Set

Japan Tokyo Skyline Famous Architecture Model Block Set

The iconic landmark you love,Build this detailed Japan skyline model!Features an elaborate façade with Tokyo Tower,Tokyo SKYTREE, Mount Fuji,Sensoji Temple,Osaka Castle and more.

Image for Japanese Flower Pavilion Cherry Blossom Bonsai Tree Bricks Kit

Japanese Flower Pavilion Cherry Blossom Bonsai Tree Bricks Kit

Japan Sakura Tree House Building Set consists of 1810pcs + mini-blocks. It includes detailed step-by-step color instructions, and exquisite details of various sizes and color componentsand.

Hands-On Learning: Ancient Japan

In my years of homeschooling, one thing that I have learned is essential for our learning to be retained and, if I am honest, enjoyed, is that hands-on activities make all the difference for my two growing boys.

Because I wanted to bring the rich history of Japan alive for my boys, I knew I needed to include a hands-on activity in our study.

Because the three alphabets factoid stunned us all, I decided to challenged them to replicate Japanese Character Writing or Kanjii.

Ancient Japan for Kids: Fun and Simple Handwriting Activity | Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

What You Will Need For This Activity:

  • Free Japanese Symbolic Writing Printable included in this post.
  • Brush Pens (if available – it not, any thick marker will do)
  • Cardstock

Ancient Japan: Hands-On Learning Activity

After learning that the name of the Japanese symbolic alphabet is the Kanjii Alphabet and that it naturally flowed from the Chinese alphabet, we got to work.

One: Print printable (available for free with this post) and use as reference.

Two: Take the brush pens and practice brush strokes first. (This was an important step as none of us were accustomed to using this type of pen!)

Ancient Japan for Kids: Fun and Simple Handwriting Activity | Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Three: When comfortable with the brush pen, try your hand at a Kanji character.

Ancient Japan for Kids: Fun and Simple Handwriting Activity | Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus
Ancient Japan for Kids: Fun and Simple Handwriting Activity | Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Four: Once everyone is comfortable with creating the characters, ask your child to choose the top 3 symbols that are meaningful for his life and interests.

Five: Using the card stock, draw the three selected symbols.

Ancient Japan for Kids: Fun and Simple Handwriting Activity | Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Six: Label the characters in English.

Ancient Japan for Kids: Fun and Simple Handwriting Activity | Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Seven: Because this alphabet also looks like beautiful art, hang on the fridge or even frame your child’s historic creation!

I have to say, this is more difficult than it looks! Brush pens are obviously much different than the pens we use everyday and the slant of many of the symbols can be difficult to replicate.

In fact, if you are completing this activity with a young child, or one that struggles with fine motor skills, I highly recommend encouraging them to choose symbols that are less intricate to begin with. (For example: the symbol for dog is blissfully simple for the younger learner.)

Overall, expanding our ancient history study to include Japan has been a great success.

Not only have we moved into an area of the world that we are all less familiar with, but we have also found the differences in Japanese art, culture and yes, alphabets, to be fascinating.

Ancient Japan for Kids: Fun and Simple Handwriting Activity. Your kids will love learning about Japan through Kanji. It was used to represent Japanese words with the corresponding meanings. Click here for this fun kids learning activity!

If nothing else, you can remind your child when she is complaining about handwriting practice that in Japan, children learn three alphabets as opposed to our one!

How to Get the Free Japanese Handwriting Form

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. If you’re already a follower, re-enter your email because your email IS your password.
2) Download the printable.
3) Last, look for my emails in your inbox as a follower. Glad to have you.

You’ll also love these other resources for learning about Japan.

  • Medieval Japan Lapbook for Kids and Fun Hands-on Ideas
  • Celebrate Arbor Day With A Fun Flowering Cherry Tree Activity

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Ancient Civilizations, Hands-On Activities Tagged With: ancient, ancient civilizations, Ancient Japan, hands on history, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling

Building Wonders: Create the Great Sphinx of Giza with LEGO

January 25, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

The Great Sphinx of Giza is the oldest known sculpture in Egypt. Also, grab the Egypt – Famous Pharaohs and Queens Lapbook on my Ancient Civilizations page.

It stands in front of the pyramids on the west bank of the Nile in Giza, Egypt.

And it was created in a quarry to build the pyramids and other structures nearby.

By now you probably know what a fantastic resource LEGO is in your homeschool.

Building Wonders: Create the Great Sphinx of Giza with LEGO

They can be used for math manipulatives to building iconic treasures like the Great Sphinx of Giza.

We have amassed an astounding number of LEGOs over the years.

Still, I have a tutorial to show you how to build a small replica of the sphinx using basic LEGO pieces that you might find in a basic box except for the face.

But I am also giving you a simpler alternative for that as well.

Ancient Egypt Books for Kids

Next, add some of these books to your learning day.

I lean toward living books to bring a topic to life like history.

Then I add reference books.

17 Ancient Egypt Books & Resources for Kids Who Love Reading and Being Read To

Add some of these books to your home library and use them for a day of learning or for unit studies.

Image for The Egypt Game

The Egypt Game

The first time Melanie Ross meets April Hall, she’s not sure they have anything in common. But she soon discovers that they both love anything to do with ancient Egypt. When they stumble upon a deserted storage yard, Melanie and April decide it’s the perfect spot for the Egypt Game. Before long there are six Egyptians, and they all meet to wear costumes, hold ceremonies, and work on their secret code. Everyone thinks it’s just a game until strange things start happening. Has the Egypt Game gone too far?

Image for Tales of Ancient Egypt (Puffin Classics)

Tales of Ancient Egypt (Puffin Classics)

These stories include the great myths - of Amen-Ra, who created all the creatures in the world; of Isis, seaching the waters for her dead husband Osiris; of the Bennu Bird and the Book of Thoth. But there are also tales told for pleasure about magic, treasure and adventure - even the first ever Cinderella story.

Image for The Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt (Landmark Books)

The Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt (Landmark Books)

For more than 3,000 years, Egypt was a great civilization that thrived along the banks of the Nile River. But when its cities crumbled to dust, Egypt’s culture and the secrets of its hieroglyphic writings were also lost. The Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt explains how archaeologists have pieced together their discoveries to slowly reveal the history of Egypt’s people, its pharaohs, and its golden days.

Image for The Buildings of Ancient Egypt

The Buildings of Ancient Egypt

Uses archeological evidence to describe the construction, decoration, and furnishings of ancient Egyptian tombs, pyramids, and homes

Image for Science in Ancient Egypt (Science of the Past)

Science in Ancient Egypt (Science of the Past)

Discusses the achievements of the ancient Egyptians in science, mathematics, astronomy, medicine, agriculture, and technology.

Image for Great Ancient Egypt Projects: You Can Build Yourself

Great Ancient Egypt Projects: You Can Build Yourself

From reed boats, papyrus, and amulets, to pyramids, pharaohs, and mummies, Great Ancient Egypt Projects You Can Build Yourself explores the fascinating lives of ancient Egyptians through more than25 hands-on building projects and activities. Great Ancient Egypt Projects You Can Build Yourself gives readers today a chance to experience how the ancient Egyptians lived, cooked, worked, worshipped, entertained themselves, and interacted with their neighbors through building projects that use common household supplies.Detailed step-by-step instructions, diagrams, and templates for creating each project are combined with historical facts and anecdotes, biographies, and trivia for the real-life models of each project. Together they give kids a first-hand look at daily life in ancient Egypt.

Image for The Cat of Bubastes: A Tale of Ancient Egypt (Dover Children's Classics)

The Cat of Bubastes: A Tale of Ancient Egypt (Dover Children's Classics)

Chebron, the young son of an Egyptian high priest, and Amuba, a young slave in the boy's household, are close friends; but their lives are greatly altered when Chebron accidentally kills a cat, an animal held sacred by the ancient Egyptians. Forced to flee for their safety, the boys and their companions begin a long and dangerous journey. A thrilling adventure story, this is also a tale packed with historical facts. Among other fascinating details, young readers learn about the Egyptian religion and geography, how the Nile was used for irrigation, and how the Egyptians made war and were prepared for burial. A captivating book that accurately describes life in a once magnificent civilization, this volume will especially appeal to youngsters fascinated by the life and customs of ancient Egypt.

Image for A History of Ancient Egypt: From the First Farmers to the Great Pyramid (A History of Ancient Egypt, 1)

A History of Ancient Egypt: From the First Farmers to the Great Pyramid (A History of Ancient Egypt, 1)

The ancient world comes to life in the first volume in a two book series on the history of Egypt, spanning the first farmers to the construction of the pyramids. Famed archaeologist John Romer draws on a lifetime of research to tell one history's greatest stories; how, over more than a thousand years, a society of farmers created a rich, vivid world where one of the most astounding of all human-made landmarks, the Great Pyramid, was built. Immersing the reader in the Egypt of the past, Romer examines and challenges the long-held theories about what archaeological finds mean and what stories they tell about how the Egyptians lived. More than just an account of one of the most fascinating periods of history, this engrossing book asks readers to take a step back and question what they've learned about Egypt in the past. Fans of Stacy Schiff's Cleopatra and history buffs will be captivated by this re-telling of Egyptian history, written by one of the top Egyptologists in the world.

Image for Boy of the Pyramids

Boy of the Pyramids

The pictured wall of an Egyptian tomb supplied the inspiration for this unusual story, which takes place during the building of the Great Pyramid of Khufu more than 4,000 years ago. Kaffe and Sari, an Egyptian noble's son and a slave girl from the nomadic Sand People of the Sinai region, help solve a troublesome mystery and trap its culprit. All told against a colorfully detailed backdrop of ancient Egypt.

Image for The Golden Goblet

The Golden Goblet

Ranofer wants only one thing in the world: to be a master goldsmith like his beloved father was. But how can he when he is all but imprisoned by his evil half brother, Gebu? Ranofer knows the only way he can escape Gebu's abuse is by changing his destiny. But can a poor boy with no skills survive on the cutthroat streets of ancient Thebes? Then Ranofer finds a priceless golden goblet in Gebu's room and he knows his luck−and his destiny−are about to change.

Image for Seeker of Knowledge: The Man Who Deciphered Egyptian Hieroglyphs

Seeker of Knowledge: The Man Who Deciphered Egyptian Hieroglyphs

In 1802, Jean-Francois Champollion was eleven years old. That year, he vowed to be the first person to read Egypt’s ancient hieroglyphs. Champollion’s dream was to sail up the Nile in Egypt and uncover the secrets of the past, and he dedicated the next twenty years to the challenge.James Rumford introduces the remarkable man who deciphered the ancient Egyptian script and fulfilled a lifelong dream in the process. Stunning watercolors bring Champollion’s adventure to life in a story that challenges the mind and touches the heart.

Image for The Egyptian Cinderella

The Egyptian Cinderella

This Egyptian spin on the classic Cinderella tale was initially recorded in the first century by a Roman historian and is retold here by folklorist Shirley Climo.

Poor Rhodopis! She has nothing—no mother or father, and no friends. She is a slave, from the far-off country of Greece. Only the beautiful rose-red slippers her master gives her can make Rhodopis smile.

So when a falcon swoops down and snatches one of the slippers away, Rhodopis is heartbroken. For how is she to know that the slipper will land in the lap of the great Pharaoh himself? And who would ever guess that the Pharaoh has promised to find the slipper’s owner and make her queen of all Egypt?

Image for Augustus Caesar's World

Augustus Caesar's World

In her unique approach, Foster weaves a story of the world around her central character; rather than focusing exclusively on geo-political events, as most textbooks do, she includes stories of scientific discovery and invention, music, literature, art, and religion. Her keen intuition for stories will especially delight and amuse youthful readers. In Augustus Caesar's World, Foster traces the seven major civilizations of Rome, Greece, Israel, Egypt, China, India, and Persia from 4500 B.C. to the time of Augustus Caesar in 44 B.C. and culminating in 14 A.D. Within this timeframe readers will learn not only the stories of Julius Caesar, Cleopatra, and Marc Antony, but also the historian Livy and how Virgil came to write the Aeneid. Foster will then take her readers all over the world to learn what was happening at this same time in China, Persia, India and so on. Foster's detailed pen and ink drawings are fresh and appealing, and her illustrated timelines give a clear sense of chronology, enriching the engaging text.

Image for The Lost Queen of Egypt: The Tomb of Nefertiti

The Lost Queen of Egypt: The Tomb of Nefertiti

For professor of Egyptology Henry Markham, this would be the crowning glory of his career: an intact tomb of Nefertiti, the great royal wife of Akhenaten and the heretic pharaoh of eighteenth dynasty Egypt, whose bust of exquisite beauty resides in the Berlin Museum, which he had searched for the last ten years. He had an unspoken passion for her only excelled by his young assistant, Steven Sinclair, whose visions and dreams of her haunted him, much to the annoyance of Helen Carter, the freelance journalist on-site who, with her business partner Mike Mitcham, the digs photographer, saw Nefertiti as a rival for his affections. Thanks to a gambling debt, Mike finds himself the proud owner of a large luxury mobile home that four Mossad agents are interested in, along with Emil Brogini, who did a drug deal with two Mossad rogue agents since deceased. The arrival of Henry's estranged sister, Millicent, with her friend Jane Evesham, a gifted clairvoyant, does nothing to improve his temper, especially when Jane tells him they are in great danger. Can the danger come from four renegade Mossad agents or Emil Bratislav Brogini, Mr. Big in Cairo, into every racket going? Jane discovers that Helen has a latent gift of clairvoyance which, with their combined powers in a séance, sends them back to the eighteenth dynasty with Nefertiti, Akhenaten, and danger around every corner as they try to discover who is trying to kill them all using a large band of Libyan bandits. They survive ambushes, assassin's knives, and chariot chases, finally getting back to their own time with Nefertiti.

Image for Pyramid

Pyramid

Pyramid is a strong resource for readers looking to expand their knowledge of ancient Egyptian civilization, history, and architecture.

Award-winning author-illustrator David Macaulay explores the philosophy of life and death in ancient Egypt through richly detailed black-and-white illustrations and clear, concise text.

Though created with middle grade readers in mind, all with interest in the topic will enjoy this impressive look at what many consider to be one of the most awesome of humankind's creations.

Image for Pharaoh's Boat

Pharaoh's Boat

With poetic language and striking illustrations, Weitzman tells the story of how one of the greatest boats of ancient Egypt came to be built and built again.In the shadow of the Great Pyramid at Giza, the most skilled shipwrights in all of Egypt are building an enormous vessel that will transport Cheops, the mighty pharaoh, across the winding waterway and into a new world. Pharaoh's boat will be a wonder to behold, and well prepared for the voyage ahead. But no one, not even the Egyptian king himself, could have imagined just where the journey of Pharaoh's boat would ultimately lead.

Image for The Winged Cat

The Winged Cat

Merit is a servant girl in the temple of cat goddesses. In a rage, Waha, the High Priest, kills a sacred car, and Merit sees him do it.But when Merit reports the evil deed to Pharaoh, Waha denies that he is guilty.

Also, look at some of these fun facts about the Great Sphinx of Giza.

Uncovering the Mysteries of The Great Sphinx of Giza

  • Who made it? The mythological statue has the head of a human and the body of a lion. It was built by ancient Egyptians of the Old Kingdom.
  • What is it made from? It is made with a single piece of bedrock. Repairs have been made over time using limestone. This is a single carved piece, not smaller blocks.
  • Where is it located?  Giza, Egypt
  • When was it carved? It was carved in 2500 BC.
  • How big is it? 240 feet long and 66 feet high, it is an impressive sight!
  • Why was it built? It was made for the pharaoh Khafre, the builder of the Second Pyramid at Giza.
  • What happened to his nose? While there are several theories as to what happened to the nose (and it has never been found) close inspection suggests that it was a deliberate act using rods or chisels.
Building Wonders: Create the Great Sphinx of Giza with LEGO

Next, look at some more hands-on activities to learn about Ancient Egypt.

Hands-on Activities for Ancient Egypt

  • 7 Fun Ways to Play Go Fish Egyptian Games for Kids
  • Ancient Egypt DIY Simple and Fun Mummification Process Game
  • Egypt Crafts For Kindergarten Create a Fun Kid Sized Mummy
  • Fun Pharaohs and Queens Ancient Egypt Lapbook and Activities
  • The Geronimo Stilton Book Fourth Journey Fun Egypt Game
  • Fun and Easy Hands-On Ancient Egypt Craft: Create Canopic Jars
  • 11 Easy Hands-On Ancient Egypt Projects for Middle School
  • Ancient Egyptian Mathematics: Build a LEGO Math Calculator
  • Fun Hands-On History: Ancient Egyptian Collar Craft

Finally, how to make this fun Lego Great Spinx of Giza.

Create the Great Sphinx of Giza with LEGO

You can find every piece to create your own Sphinx of Giza in this LEGO Classic Creative Box.

You can make your sphinx with any color of bricks.

I chose a light tan to give it the sand look.

You can also use any mix of brick sizes and make the model as large or as small as you wish.

If you are new to building with LEGO, when i say 1×2, etc…

Here is an example of what I mean.

Building Wonders: Create the Great Sphinx of Giza with LEGO

In addition, for language arts, history and geography you can assign Where Are The Great Pyramids to learn more about the Sphinx as well as the pyramids.

Rather than a list, I am giving you a photo for reference that you can print and have your child gather the pieces or pieces that are as close as possible.

Building Wonders: Create the Great Sphinx of Giza with LEGO

Lay down your base. This is one of the few pieces that does not come in the basic box except in green, so use that if you like.

Building Wonders: Create the Great Sphinx of Giza with LEGO

Place 1×6 pieces on either side, one stud in and one stud away from the edge to create arms.

Building Wonders: Create the Great Sphinx of Giza with LEGO

Fill in a 4×8 area between the “arms” of the monument.

Building Wonders: Create the Great Sphinx of Giza with LEGO

Place another layer of bricks starting on the second stud from the back in a 4×4 grouping.

Building Wonders: Create the Great Sphinx of Giza with LEGO

For the back half of the lion’s body put pieces together like in this photo

Building Wonders: Create the Great Sphinx of Giza with LEGO

Use these special rounded pieces to give the straight edges some curve. If you don’t have them you can just finish it off with a straight-edged brick.

Building Wonders: Create the Great Sphinx of Giza with LEGO

To create the head and headpiece (Nemes) of the pharaoh put these pieces together like this.

Building Wonders: Create the Great Sphinx of Giza with LEGO

Then place them all together.

Building Wonders: Create the Great Sphinx of Giza with LEGO

Put directly in front of the second layer of the body.

If you have the bricks with forward-facing studs this will help create a general face shape.

 If not just use a tall 1×2 brick in its place like this.

Building Wonders: Create the Great Sphinx of Giza with LEGO

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: ancient, ancient civilizations, ancient egypt, egypt, hands on history, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, history, history resources, historyspine, homeschoolhistory, world 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.

Geronimo Stilton Race Against Time And Make Pottery Like Ancient Greeks

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.

Geronimo Stilton Race Against Time And Make Pottery Like Ancient Greeks

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.

  • Geronimo Stilton Back in Time Second Journey Through Time and Fun Mayan Mask
  • The Race Against Time Geronimo Stilton Activity Craft Fun Dragon Eggs
  • Geronimo Stilton The Second Journey Through Time Sun King Fun Medallion
  • The Journey Through Time Book And Knights Armor Engraving Fun Kids Craft
  • Journey Through Time Geronimo Stilton Time Warp Fun Lost City of Atlantis
  • Race Against Time Build a Fun Greek Water Clock
  • Out Of Time Fun Sir Francis Drake Ship Craft
  • Stilton Journey Through Time Series Fifth Journey Fun Eiffel Tower
  • 10 Things to Learn From The Fun Geronimo Stilton Chapter Books
  • The Fourth Journey Through Time Fun Cleopatra Collar
  • Learn About Mozart The Eight Journey Through Time Geronimo Stilton Series
  • The Geronimo Stilton Book Fourth Journey Fun Egypt Game
  • Geronimo Stilton Journey Through Time Craft a Fun England Tower Guard
  • Mouse in Space Fun Puffy Moon Craft (Glow in the Dark)
  • Down and Out Down Under Make a Fun Edible Coral Reef
  • Field Trip to Niagara Falls Summary And Fun Corn Craft
  • The Journey Through Time #2: Back in Time Colosseum Craft
  • The Race Against Time Geronimo Stilton Activities: Fun Edible Spine
  • #2: Back in Time Mayan Craft
  • The Curse of The Cheese Pyramid Barbie Mummy
  • Who Is Geronimo Stilton Rodent Notebooking Page

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.

  • Free Greek Mythology Unit Study and Greece Lapbook & Fun Hands on LEGO Zeus
  • Easy Hands-on Fun Ancient Greek Games for Kids DIY Knucklebones
  • Free Awesome Ancient Greece Lapbook and Fun Hands-on Activities
  • Geronimo Stilton The Race Against Time Build a Fun Greek Water Clock
  • Free Ancient Greece Go Fish Game
  • 9 EASY and Fun Hands-on Ancient Greece Kids Activities
  • Hands-On Ancient Greece Study: Politics and Pottery
  • Ancient Greece Unit Study. Play Stomachion Like Archimedes {Explore Geometry}
  • Hands-on Activity. Ancient Greece Chariot
  • Hands-on Activity. Refraction 
  • Beware of Greeks Bearing Gifts – Great Big List of Ancient Greece Freebies
  • 13 Living History Books about Ancient Greece
  • Cursive and Free Greece Copywork Poetry
Geronimo Stilton Race Against Time And Make Pottery Like Ancient Greeks

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
Geronimo Stilton Race Against Time And Make Pottery Like Ancient Greeks

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.

Geronimo Stilton Race Against Time And Make Pottery Like Ancient Greeks

You can draw on famous Greek landmarks.

Geronimo Stilton Race Against Time And Make Pottery Like Ancient Greeks

Add some Greek men and women.

Geronimo Stilton Race Against Time And Make Pottery Like Ancient Greeks

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.

Geronimo Stilton Race Against Time And Make Pottery Like Ancient Greeks

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.

Geronimo Stilton Race Against Time And Make Pottery Like Ancient Greeks

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

Geronimo Stilton Race Against Time And Make Pottery Like Ancient Greeks

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.

Geronimo Stilton Race Against Time And Make Pottery Like Ancient Greeks

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: ancient, ancient civilizations, Ancient Greece, Ancient HIstory, Geronimo Stilton, hands on history, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling

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

Ancient Egypt DIY Simple and Fun Mummification Process Game

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.

  • Nat Geo Kids How to Make a Mummy
  • DIY Senet Egypt Game
  • Create Canopic Jars
  • Fun Pharaohs and Queens Ancient Egypt Lapbook and Activities
  • The Geronimo Stilton Book Fourth Journey Fun Egypt Game
  • Hands-on Ancient Egypt: Israelite Mud Bricks for Kids
  • Ancient Egyptian Collar Craft
  • 11 Easy Hands-On Ancient Egypt Projects for Middle School
  • Free Ancient Egypt Mehen Printable Board Game
  • King Narmer Crown craft
  • Egypt Homeschool Unit Study – Hands-on and FUN
  • Who Was King Tut
  • 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.

  • Entertaining Games in the Past How to Make an Easy Backgammon Game
  • Easy Hands-on Fun Ancient Greek Games for Kids DIY Knucklebones
  • Unit Study: French Revolution + Free Storming the Bastille Game
  • 7 Super Fun History Games to Bring the Past to Life
  • Free Ancient Egypt Mehen Printable Board Game (Hands-on History)
  • Free Ancient Greece Go Fish Game – Ancient Greece Unit Study
  • 13 Free and Fun BEST Printable History Board Game

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

Ancient Egypt DIY Simple and Fun Mummification Process Game

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
Ancient Egypt DIY Simple and Fun Mummification Process Game

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

Ancient Egypt DIY Simple and Fun Mummification Process Game

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.

Ancient Egypt DIY Simple and Fun Mummification Process Game

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

Ancient Egypt DIY Simple and Fun Mummification Process Game

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.

Ancient Egypt DIY Simple and Fun Mummification Process Game

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.

1 CommentFiled Under: Teach Homeschool History Tagged With: ancient, ancient civilizations, ancient egypt, Ancient HIstory, ancientegypt, games, hands on history, hands-on, hands-on activities, handsonhomeschooling, history, history resources, homeschoolhistory, world history

Entertaining Games in the Past How to Make an Easy Backgammon Game

November 20, 2022 | 1 Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Games in the past can be a unit study or add to your history lessons. You’ll love the other history games I have too.

Do you ever wonder about people of the past spent their days?

Backgammon is one of the oldest games known right up there with chess.

It is thought to be about 5,000 years old or more and believed to have developed in Mesopotamia which is now known as Iraq.

Entertaining Games in the Past How to Make an Easy Backgammon Game

If you are going to study a period of history, one great way to do that is to study the way they lived, how they passed their days, and interacted with one another. 

Also, you can do that through playing games.

It’s even better if you create your own version.

Today, I’m showing you how to make your own easy to create and store version of  the game backgammon.

Games of the Past Ancient Mesopotamia

Nobody quite knows where the name actually came from.

However, historians believe that it came from Middle English: baec – back and gamen-game.

It possibly evolved from the Royal Game of Ur and is known as the game of kings.

There is a lot of historical literature and art that portrays people playing backgammon.

The boards that are very similar to today’s versions which we have developed and still play.

Next, add some historical facts.

Entertaining Games in the Past How to Make an Easy Backgammon Game

And hands-on ideas to make studying about games in the past fun.

Facts about Ancient Mesopotamia

  • Mesopotamia is the ancient Greek name  for the region that is the modern day area that is now Iraq and parts of Iran.
  • It was considered part of the cradle of civilization because so much .
  • Mesopotamia means 0the land between two rivers( Tigris and Euphrates).
  • Many theologies and political systems developed out of Mesopotamia.
  • Here the earliest writing system, cuneiform, was created.
  • The Sumerians from this area are credited with inventing the wheel.
  • The first law codes like the code of Hammurabi and the Code of Urukagina were created here.
  • Mesopotamia is located in the area that archaeologists call The Fertile Crescent, called so because of the rich soil beds from the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.
  • There is very little of ancient Mesopotamia that still stands because they made their buildings out of sun-dried bricks that didn’t last as long.
  • A lot of what we do know today is found out from clay tablets that were found in the library in the city of Nineveh.

Too, I’ll list some hands-on ideas below.

Entertaining Games in the Past How to Make an Easy Backgammon Game

In addition, you’ll love these other history game resources on my site.

Other Fun History Games Resources

Look at them below.

  • Easy Hands-on Fun Ancient Greek Games for Kids DIY Knucklebones
  • Unit Study: French Revolution + Free Storming the Bastille Game
  • 7 Super Fun History Games to Bring the Past to Life
  • Free Ancient Egypt Mehen Printable Board Game (Hands-on History)
  • Free Ancient Greece Go Fish Game – Ancient Greece Unit Study
  • 13 Free and Fun BEST Printable History Board Game

And look below here for hands-on activities.

  • Hands-on Geography Mesopotamia: Fun Salt Dough Map
  • Cook Sebetu Rolls
  • Easy STEM Irrigation Activity
Entertaining Games in the Past How to Make an Easy Backgammon Game

DIY Backgammon Game

Here is what you will need:

Finally, look below at how to make this DIY backgammon.

  • File folder
  • 2 colors or patterns of cardstock
  • Ruler
  • 30 small items- blocks, buttons, coins, flat beads, etc…
  • 2- six sided dice
  • Glue stick

To create the long narrow wedges (points) you want to first create a template so you only have to do the measurements once. 

Entertaining Games in the Past How to Make an Easy Backgammon Game

Then, cut cardstock down to a rectangle with the height being 5”.

This is a good length for your points on a file folder.

After measure 1” across the bottom from the left  and make a small pencil mark to create your 1” width.

Entertaining Games in the Past How to Make an Easy Backgammon Game

Next, on the top left corner mark ½” over and make a mark to create the point.

Use a ruler to draw the line from each mark at the bottom to the point at the top for the elongated triangle.

Entertaining Games in the Past How to Make an Easy Backgammon Game

Cut your template out and use it to trace and cut 12 of each of your chosen color or patterned cardstock.

Entertaining Games in the Past How to Make an Easy Backgammon Game

Open the file folder and glue down alternating color wedges.

Put 6 on either side of the fold. Repeat on the other side of the folder.

Entertaining Games in the Past How to Make an Easy Backgammon Game

Allow the glue to dry completely before closing the folder.

You can use anything you have on hand for your checkers if two different colors or other identification for each player.

For example, buttons, small erasers, coins, tiny figures, checkers from another game, etc..

I found these tiny little unfinished squares and painted half (15) gold and left half unfinished.

Entertaining Games in the Past How to Make an Easy Backgammon Game

Store them in a ziploc bag with your dice and tape to the back of your file folder if you like.

Entertaining Games in the Past How to Make an Easy Backgammon Game

Grab several file folders and challenge your child to invent their own file folder game for today’s civilization.

1 CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: ancient, ancient civilizations, games, hands on history, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, history, history resources, homeschoolhistory

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