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

Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Activity, Change, Progress

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

hands on history

Medieval Period: How To Make A Quill Pen

February 13, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

To create Medieval manuscripts, scribes had to learn first how to make a quill pen and that is what we are doing today. Also, you may like my posts 4 Week Free Middle Ages Unit Study & Best Hands-on Ideas and Medieval History for Homeschool.

Before printing machines were invented every copy of a book had to be written by hand.

Scribes would copy and meticulously write every word using ink and a quill pen.

Medieval Period: How To Make A Quill Pen

Fortunately, many medieval-era documents, including manuscripts, have survived the many centuries since the Middle Ages.

These important artifacts give scholars and historians information about life, laws, culture, and society of the Middle Ages,

Not only that but they also provide us with evidence of how they created many different colors of ink by using natural materials.

We are going to recreate the earlier used black carbon ink using a little bit more modern method that will give us roughly the same effect.

These amazing writers and artists paved the way for the books that you and I enjoy today and made it much easier for us to develop amazing technologies.

Books About the Middle Ages for Kids

9 Medieval History Books & Resources For Kids Who Love Reading and Being Read To

Add a few of these books to your Middle Ages or Medieval unit study.

King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table (Puffin Classics)

King Arthur is one of the greatest legends of all time. From the magical moment when Arthur releases the sword in the stone to the quest for the Holy Grail and the final tragedy of the Last Battle, Roger Lancelyn Green brings the enchanting world of King Arthur stunningly to life. One of the greatest legends of all time, with an inspiring introduction by David Almond, award-winning author of Clay, Skellig, Kit's Wilderness and The Fire-Eaters.

A Castle with Many Rooms: The Story of the Middle Ages

This covers people and events and covers a larger period of time.

Days of Knights and Damsels: An Activity Guide

Kids can re-create a long-ago world of kings, castles, jousts, jesters, damsels, magic fairies, and Robin Hood—all they need are their imaginations, materials they can find at home, and the activities in this book. Dressing up in a coat of armor made from plastic milk jugs, whipping up a batch of curds and whey, writing secret messages in invisible ink, and telling time with a sand glass made from soda bottles are just some of the fun projects. Every activity is illustrated, and sidebars highlight colorful facts about life hundreds of years ago.

The Usborne Encyclopedia of World History

This newly updated book will introduce you to world history, from prehistoric times to the start of the 21st century. Find out about dinosaurs, the first humans, Ancient Egypt, the Aztec Empire, Medieval Europe, the First World War and many more fascinating subjects.

The Door in the Wall

Set in the fourteenth century, the classic story of one boy's personal heroism when he loses the use of his legs.

The Kitchen Knight: A Tale of King Arthur

The Knights of the Round Table were in their glory. When an unknown stranger visits the castle and asks Kin Arthur's favor, he is allowed to serve in the kitchen for his meat and bread. Little does anyone suspect that he is of noble blood and will soon be knighted by the famous Sir Lancelot. Lush illustrations bring the reader into the book, as Sir Gareth meets adventures and battles to free a princess from the fearsome Red Knight of the Plain.

Castle: A Caldecott Honor Award Winner

In this 1978 Caldecott Honor Book, award-winning author and illustrator David Macaulay explores the history and construction of castles in a richly illustrated resource for curious young readers. The word itself conjures up mystery, romance, intrigue, and grandeur. What could be more perfect for an author/illustrator who has continually stripped away the mystique of architectural structures that have long fascinated modern man? With typical zest and wry sense of humor punctuating his drawings, David Macaulay traces the step-by-step planning and construction of both castle and town.

The Middle Ages: An Interactive History Adventure

I like to incorporate a wonderful and informational book to support our topic while making it fun and engaging. The Middle Ages, choose your own adventure style book is fantastic for middle elementary.

The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood (First Edition): Illustrated Classics

The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood was written and illustrated by Howard Pyle and published in 1883. It is the best known version of the story of Robin Hood which had been popular throughout the previous century. Pyle popularized Robin Hood, his adventures, and his band of merry men in a way that influenced most later depictions in writing, drawing, and film. The book consists of a series of episodes pitting the outlaw Robin Hood, Little John, Friar Tuck and the rest of his band against corrupt authorities epitomized by the evil Sheriff of Nottingham.

Medieval Manuscripts 101

The word “manuscript” is derived from the Latin words manus (hand).

And from scriptus (writing) literally means “written by hand.”

Manuscripts were decorated with small painted scenes.

They were called miniatures.

And ornately decorated letters began a chapter. They had very intricate borders, and sometimes full-page painted illustrations.

These photos meant that the many people during medieval times that could not read scrolls still own and enjoy the manuscripts.

Making and using quills was central to a scribes profession.

During this time period they were generally taken from geese and swans.

Quills were used to write the Magna Carta and the Declaration of Independence.

Besides the important quill they would of course also need ink.

During the medieval period there were two kinds of ink.

From around 2500 BCE black carbon ink was used. It was a mixture of carbon, water, and gum.

Medieval Period: How To Make A Quill Pen

Later in the period, between the 5th and 19th centuries they used brown iron-gall ink.

It was made using iron salts and tannic acids from vegetable sources.

Other Medieval Projects to Try With How to Make a Quill Pen

  • Learn How to Make a Knight Templar Helmet for Fun Medieval Times Crafts from cardboard for a DIY that is fun for dramatic play or medieval presentations that need a little more pizazz.
  • For younger learners this Art History – Medieval Art lesson is a great way to practice identifying and making letters while learning about this old art form.
  • Jump into Hands-On History: Make a Coat of Arms Activity (Middle Ages History).
  •  Medieval Coronets are the perfect topper for Marquesses and Marchionesses, Earls and Countesses, Barons and Baroness.
  • This Geronimo Stilton Time Travel How to Make a Medieval Stained Glass Craft is a fun way to create some middle ages decor.
  • Medieval Chemistry and Homeschool History – Fun Hands-On Activity.

Finally, look how to make a quill pen fun activity.

How To Make A Quill Pen

While you can crush your own charcoal from charcoal briquettes for the grill, purchasing ready to use powder is a much easier and less messy way to go.

You will need:

  • Good sized feather
  • Sharp knife
  • Charcoal
  • Honey
  • Small jar
  • Scissors
Medieval Period: How To Make A Quill Pen

First, wipe your feather tip down with alcohol to clean and sanitize it.

You can cut off the bottom ½” to 1” of feathers from the shaft to make a larger gripping surface if you want.

Then use the side of the edge of the knife to scrape the membrane off the shaft, it will come off as waxy scraps.

Medieval Period: How To Make A Quill Pen

Use scissors to cut a quill point for the barrel, you want your quill to curve downward, with the cut side being underneath.

You can use the knife but I find it is a little bit too difficult to cut with a knife on the curved shaft.

Medieval Period: How To Make A Quill Pen

To create your ink mix the charcoal powder with a little water until it is a watery paste. Add a few drops of honey to act as a binder.

Medieval Period: How To Make A Quill Pen

When ready to write, dip the quill into the ink pot (in my case a 4 oz mason jar with lid).

Medieval Period: How To Make A Quill Pen

Practice writing on your paper by making circles, straight lines, and then letters. You will need to re-dip the quill frequently.

Medieval Period: How To Make A Quill Pen

Once you are more comfortable with the quill and ink you can try more complicated words and fancier letters like in manuscripts.

Medieval Period: How To Make A Quill Pen

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: hands on history, hands-on, hands-on activities, handsonhomeschooling, history, homeschoolhistory, medieval homeschool history, pen, quill

8 Insect Fun Facts About Texas For Kids | Easy Dragonfly Craft

February 12, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Let’s fly right into 10 insect fun facts about Texas for kids and a cute and simple dragonfly craft made from just 2 art supplies to round out this little mini unit. Also, look at my Free Texas Homeschool Lapbook and Fun Homeschool Unit Study Ideas page.

And look at my Insect Unit Study page.

Because of its climate and habitats Texas is a very insect-friendly state.

It falls into spot # 3 for insect hospitality right after Florida and California.

Also, you know what they say…everything is bigger in Texas, including some of the insects.

8 Insect Fun Facts About Texas For Kids | Easy Dragonfly Craft

Some are huge, some dangerous, some pretty like the Monarch that passes through.

Others do a lot of damage, and others can even mimic other creatures.

We are creating cute and simple dragonflies from beads and pipe cleaners.

These graceful flyers are so easy to identify as they dip and dart around with their two pairs of iridescent wings and a long and slender abdomen.

Books about the Great State of Texas for Kids

Next, look at these living books about Texas to add to your study.

In addition, I add reference books as necessary.

27 Books For Kids Who Love Reading And Being Read to About Texas

 Forget a boring textbook and add some of these books about Texas to your unit study or add to your learning day.

Susanna of the Alamo: A True Story

Relates the experiences of the Texas woman who, along with her baby, survived the 1836 massacre at the Alamo.

The Boy in the Alamo

The classic story of the siege of the Alamo, as told for young readers. Originally published in 1958, thousands of children each year enjoy this story from the unique point of view of twelve-year old Billy Campbell.

Plains Warrior: Chief Quanah Parker and the Comanches

A biography of the legendary Comanche leader profiles the son of a white woman, who fiercely defended tribal lands against those who tried to seize them and who, after being moved with his people to a reservation, fought for the recognition and decent treatment of his tribe.

A Paradise Called Texas

Searching for a better life, Mina, Papa, and Mama left their German fatherland aboard the brig Margaretha ,bound for Texas. They had been told it was the paradise of North America, but when Mina steps onto the desolate beach at Indian Point on a cold December day in 1845, she wants to go back to Germany and Opa's cozy house in the village of Wehrestedt. But go on they must. In spite of mama's tragic death, Mina and Papa push inland with the Kaufmann family to the Texas Hill Country. There Mina encounters an Indian chief and his young daughter, Amaya, whose help she needs when Papa falls ill. Based on her ancestors' immigration to Texas, Janice Shefelman tells of a journey into the wilderness that is filled with hardship, tragedy and adventure.

The Texans! Tejas to Today

Lessons Taught In Story Form.

Alamo All-Stars (Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales #6): A Texas Tale (Volume 6)

“Remember the Alamo!” That rallying cry has gone down in Texas history. But what, exactly, should we remember? Who were the ragtag group of adventurers behind the famous slogan, and how did they end up barricaded in a fort against a Mexican army Who survived, who died, and how. In the early 1800s, Native Americans, the Mexican government, and settlers from other areas of the United States were fighting over the territory that would become the Lone Star state. Here, vivid illustrations—rendered in black, white, and shades of gray, with tinges of yellow—and witty text tell the story, from Texas’s near wilderness beginnings to the Battle of the Alamo and General Sam Houston’s ultimate victory over General Antonio López de Santa Anna at the Battle of San Jacinto.

Indians Who Lived in Texas

Briefly describes the environment, daily life, and customs of four Indian groups that lived in Texas--the farmers, the fishermen, the plant gatherers, and the hunters.

Make Way for Sam Houston (Unforgettable Americans)

Colorful Sam Houston leaps to life in the pages of this fresh and funny biography, set against the story of Texas's fight for independence from Mexico.

Wilderness Pioneer, Stephen F. Austin of Texas

I wanted to tell Austin's story so that boys and girls all over the United States would come to know him not as a stuffy figure in a history book but as a man who had a great dream for the welfare of his fellowmen, and in working to make that dream come true met adventure and danger, heartache and happiness.

Caleb's Choice (Puffin Novel)

In 1858 Texas, people are violently divided over a law that makes it a crime to help runaway slaves. Caleb isn't sure how he feels. When an escaped slave saves his life, Caleb knows he has a debt to repay. But should he break the law and risk his life to help two slaves escape?

A Gentle Tour Through Texas History

A guide for teaching Texas History through literature. It is based on a 34-week timeframe and is useful for students in grades K-6/7.

Johnny Texas

In the early days of Texas history, ten-year-old Johann comes from Germany with his family to settle in this vast land and soon grows to love his new home.

Remember the Alamo! (Landmark books)

I love this series of books and this one tends to be fairly accurate.

A Time to Stand: The Epic of the Alamo

The #1 New York Times–bestselling author of The Miracle of Dunkirk tells the story of the Texans who fought Santa Anna’s troops at the Battle of the Alamo. Looking out over the walls of the whitewashed Alamo, sweltering in the intense sun of a February heat wave, Colonel William Travis knew his small garrison had little chance of holding back the Mexican army. Even after a call for reinforcements brought dozens of Texans determined to fight for their fledgling republic, the cause remained hopeless. Gunpowder was scarce, food was running out, and the compound was too large to easily defend with less than two hundred soldiers. Still, given the choice, only one man opted to surrender. The rest resolved to fight and die. After thirteen days, the Mexicans charged, and the Texans were slaughtered. In exquisite detail, Walter Lord recreates the fight to uphold the Texan flag. He sheds light not just on frontier celebrities like Jim Bowie and Davy Crockett, but on the ordinary soldiers who died alongside them. Though the fight ended two centuries ago, the men of the Alamo will never be forgotten.

I Survived the Galveston Hurricane, 1900

More than a century later, the Galveston Hurricane of 1900 is still America's deadliest disaster. Lauren Tarshis's story of one child surviving the horrible event churns with page-turning action and bold hope.

The city of Galveston, Texas, was booming. Perched on an island off the southern coast of Texas, Galveston had been founded in the 1830s. By 1900, it was Texas's richest and most important city. Boats loaded up with American cotton and wheat steamed from Galveston to countries around the world. Arriving ships were crowded with immigrants. The streets, paved with crushed oyster shells, sparkled like they'd been sprinkled with diamonds.

Galveston's Summer of the Storm (Chaparral Books)

When fourteen-year-old Abby Kate boards the train in Austin to spend three weeks with her grandmother in Galveston, she’s full of excitement—about the train ride and the prospect of days on the beach, exploring Galveston with her cousin Jane, family picnics, and her grandmother’s good food. But things go wrong even before she gets to her grandmother’s house. Abby Kate gets off the train briefly in Houston—and the train leaves without her. Stranded in the railroad station, she is befriended by a man traveling with his two sons and eventually reaches Galveston safely.

Texas Rangers: Legendary Lawmen

In the 1820s, the Texas frontier was a rugged, lawless place that needed defending. The men that banded together to protect the citizens of Texas from the threats of bandits and raiding native tribes were known as the Texas Rangers. Since bravery was never in short demand, any unmarried man with a good horse and a sharp shot could be selected to join the ranks. As they roamed the Texas frontier maintaining peace and order, the Rangers were present for many of the most famous moments in Texas's exciting history-they defended the Alamo alongside Davy Crockett and Jim Bowie, spied on the Mexican army during the war for independence, and chased down outlaws in the booming oil towns of the Wild West.

Texas Tomboy

The entire ranch is thirsty—will the rains ever come?

Remember Goliad: Their Silent Tents

Palm Sunday, March 27, 1836, turned out to be the blackest day in the war of independence between Texas and Mexico. Colonel James Walker Fannin Jr. and his men were ruthlessly slaughtered at the Presidio La Bahia near Goliad. The order was given directly by General Santa Anna. The author describes the background leading up to the start of hostilities in October 1835 and the two Mexican armies which threatened to overrun the Texans, with the massacre at the Alamo on March 2 and then the attack on the Presidio La Bahia, which Fannin called Fort Defiance. A description of garrison life and the men under Fannin's command precedes the battle of Coleto Plains, where Fannin's Texans, without an adequate water supply and defenses, were surrounded by General Urrea's army and forced to surrender. One of the more traumatic aspects of the battle and executions involved a group of young soldiers from Alabama, mainly from the same area, whose leader, Dr. Shackleford, was spared to minister to the sick and injured and was forced to witness the deaths of his protégées.

Jane Long Mother of Texas

A biography of the brave wife of General James Long who was the first woman of English descent to enter Texas and bear a child there.

Camel express; A story of the Jeff Davis experiment (Winston adventure books)

Story of a little known chapter in American military history; extensive illustrations throughout book by Joseph C. Camana.

Texas Yankee: The Story of Gail Borden

Famous as a newspaperman and surveyor in Texas, Gail Borden was the discoverer of how to condense milk. 

Tex's Tales

Picked up by a tornado and swept away from his family in nineteenth-century Texas, a dog has some exciting adventures in the frontier wilderness before making his way home again.

Miriam “Ma” Ferguson: First Woman Governor of Texas (Volume 3) (Stars of Texas Series)

Miriam Ferguson was a quiet, private person who preferred to stay home in her big house in Temple, Texas, and take care of her husband, raise her two daughters, and tend to her flower garden. But in 1924 she was elected governor of Texas, the first woman governor elected in the United States.

Texas History for Kids: Lone Star Lives and Legends, with 21 Activities

Encapsulating the 500-year saga of the one-of-a-kind state of Texas, this interactive book takes readers from the founding of the Spanish Missions and the victory at San Jacinto to the Great Storm that destroyed Galveston and the establishment of NASA’s Mission Control in Houston while covering everything in between. Texas History for Kids includes 21 informative and fun activities to help readers better understand the state’s culture, politics, and geography. Kids will recreate one of the six national flags that have flown over the state, make castings of local wildlife tracks, design a ranch’s branding iron, celebrate Juneteenth by reciting General Order Number 3, build a miniature Battle of Flowers float, and more. This valuable resource also includes a timeline of significant events, a list of historic sites to visit or explore online, and web resources for further study.

Make Way for Sam Houston

Colorful Sam Houston leaps to life in the pages of this fresh and funny biography, set against the story of Texas's fight for independence from Mexico. Lively, readable, and solidly researched, this is the kind of biography every child needs. Booklist, starred review Jean Fritz has done it again. Her writing turns this larger-than-life character into a very real person.School Library Journal, starred review ?Young readers will find the book fast-paced and fact-packed. The New York Times Book Review Jean Fritz lives in Dobbs Ferry, New York.

Trail Fever: The Life of a Texas Cowboy

The story of one of Texas's most famous cowboys is filled with cattle drives, stampedes, floods, droughts, freezing desert nights, raiders and bandits, and one man's endurance and love of life on the plains.

8 Insect Fun Facts About Texas For Kids

  1. Texas has one of the largest insects in North America, a stick insect called Megaphasma that can grow up to 7” long.
  2. The Monarch Butterfly was the Texas state insect in 1995. These beautiful orange and black butterflies pass through Texas twice a year during their migrations both north and south.
  3. Dog-Day Cicadas make their home in Texas, while each species of cicada has its own sound it is a very loud buzzing sound that is very distinctive, it might be a little annoying but to many, it’s like a soothing lullaby. Listen to these Texas Cicadas and see if it is a familiar sound to you.
  4. Some of the most dangerous bugs in Texas are (in no order) the Southern Black Widow, Brown Recluse, Striped Bark Scorpion, and Texas Red-Headed Centipede.
  5. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife 327 damselflies species have been documented in North America,. 160 of those being found in Texas and 70 that are native to Texas. All are found in or around watery environments. 
  6. Texas has the most variety of insects of any of the states at over a whopping 37,000 different species.
  7. The Texas Redheaded Centipede can reach up to 8 inches in length. While a bite to a human causes sharp, local pain and swelling they are venomous but not deadly.
  8. While they look and act similar to hummingbirds, Sphinx Moths can be identified by their two long antennae on their heads and 6 legs rather than two. They are found throughout North America including Texas. These moths sip from a variety of nectar flowers and are quite large with wing spans up to 5”.
8 Insect Fun Facts About Texas For Kids | Easy Dragonfly Craft

Next, look at more activities for kids about Texas.

More Texas History Crafts & Activities

  • 25+ Texas History Books For Middle School For a Fun Unit Study
  • Free Texas Homeschool Lapbook and Fun Homeschool Unit Study Ideas
  • Facts About Wildflowers And a Fun Felt Texas Bluebonnet Craft
  • How Texas Cattle Drives Shaped Its History and Longhorn Craft
  • History of the Texas Cowboy, Cattle Drives, and Chisholm Trail
  • Texas Native American History Quick Unit Study (Middle School)
  • How to Build the Alamo: Hands-on Learning (Free Texas Unit Study)
  • Free Copywork Cattle A Texas Poem For a Fun Unit Study
  • 22 Famous Texans Notebooking Pages (editable) For a Fun History Study
8 Insect Fun Facts About Texas For Kids | Easy Dragonfly Craft

Finally, look how to make easy dragonfly crafts.

You will need:

  • 3 pipe cleaners
  • Beads
8 Insect Fun Facts About Texas For Kids | Easy Dragonfly Craft

First, thread 12-14 beads on one pipe cleaner, roll and twist up one end into a little knot to stop the beads from sliding off, and push the beads down to press against the knot.

8 Insect Fun Facts About Texas For Kids | Easy Dragonfly Craft

On the end without beads, roll and form another knot into a head shape ½” above where the beads begin, you might use a bead or two at the center to help give it shape.

Gather two more pipe cleaners. Trim 1.5” off one pipe cleaner and then thread beads into whatever color or pattern you wish onto both leaving 1” of space on each.

8 Insect Fun Facts About Texas For Kids | Easy Dragonfly Craft

Twist one of the wings around the body near the head, this is why we left a little space, if you need more unroll the head a bit.

8 Insect Fun Facts About Texas For Kids | Easy Dragonfly Craft

Move down one bead and add the second set of wings.

To make your dragonfly look less like a butterfly you want to pull the wings out and elongate them rather than leaving them round, squeeze them close together where they’re almost touching along the line.

If you want more whimsical dragonflies, you can also glue Googly eyes to the head. We opted to leave ours at this stage.

8 Insect Fun Facts About Texas For Kids | Easy Dragonfly Craft

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: hands on history, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, insects, life science, science, Texas, Texas history, texasunit

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Amazing Hands-on History Activities for 14 Ancient Empires (free notebook cover too)

February 10, 2024 | 3 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

You’ll love these hands-on history activities for ancient empires. Also, there are more Ancient Civilization hands-on ideas on my page.

Over the years I have shared my passion for hands-on history activities.

They breathe life into lifeless events of the past.

Amazing Hands-on History Activities for 14 Ancient Empires (free notebook cover too)

So when planning our year end history co-op, I decided to use the Great Empires Activity Study.

It is an activity study by Home School in the Woods.

Why? Because of the scope of empires that the Great Empires Activity Study covers.

Your kids will love these hands-on history activities for 14 Ancient Empires.Great Empires Activity Study by Home School in the Woods covers fourteen empires:

I was given this product for free. ALL opinions are my own and I will always tell you what is on my mind. When I do accept a product it’s because I’m giddy to tell you about it. Read my full disclosure here. Now on to the fun stuff!

Hands-on History Activities Ancient Empires

  • Ancient China
  • Ancient Egypt
  • Ancient Greece
  • Ancient Rome
  • Arab-Muslims,
  • English Empire
  • French Empire
  • German Empire
  • Japanese Empire
  • Mongols
  • Russian Empire
  • Spanish Empire
  • United States and
  • Viking.

I decided to cover a little about each of these empires through hands-on projects.

Organizing and assigning hands-on projects for our Great Empires co-op was easy.

The information is laid out simply. After reviewing the download, you’ll see the files organized by master, texts and projects.

Amazing Hands-on History Activities for 14 Ancient Empires (free notebook cover too)

The projects page for each empire, I found extremely useful in wading through all of the excellent material.

The project page is like your weekly lesson plan at a glance page.

And the master is your lesson plan for the day. The master pages include a helpful teacher’s key reference. It is a map marked with key areas, boundaries and other helpful features for each region covered by that empire.

Ancient Empires Study for Kids

Glancing at the project page, we could select all the hands-on activities that we wanted to do.

Then find them among the 107 master pages.

Too, background information on each empire is vital in covering the topics like we did because we wanted to savor a morsel of each empire. The text pages for each empire are 2-3 pages. However, one gem about the text pages is that they cover the empire at its height.

Non-history loving folks are turned off by many details. A quagmire of details drains the life out of learning history.

Unsure of which invention, event or key point to highlight, a budding history buff may come away more confused.

Amazing Hands-on History Activities for 14 Ancient Empires (free notebook cover too)

However, the text pages by Home School in the Woods shaves off non-essential details for the elementary age child but builds appreciation by covering key events that are significant for each civilization.

If you are a give-me-the-facts-only type of person, you will enjoy reading about each empire in the condensed text because you won’t come away feeling overwhelmed.

Ancient Empires Study for Kids

Beyond covering key events for each empire or covering significant inventions, the text unifies the past to the present.

Your child comes away with a better understanding of the impact previous civilizations made in today’s world. Keeping it simple without being boring makes the text a nifty feature.

However, if you already have a basic framework of history knowledge and want to explore beyond that foundation, you will enjoy the additional reading suggestions in each projects page and the extensive links found in the text which directs you to a website page at Home School in the Woods.

Easily, you could spend a week on each empire.

Amazing Hands-on History Activities for 14 Ancient Empires (free notebook cover too)

Because the Great Empires Activity Study is about exploring, discovering and hands-on learning, you will find plenty of activities for each empire from making scones when learning about the English empire to making an Egyptian cartouche.

Activities vary with each empire from learning about history through cooking, painting pottery like the Greeks and printing minibooks about famous people to Japanese kiragami.

Amazing Hands-on History Activities for 14 Ancient Empires (free notebook cover too)

You will not find cheesy analogies of history clip art in this product.

All of the clip art, projects and pictures have amazing detail. If you are a non-artsy person you will enjoy assembling the easy to do projects because a lot of them are printable.

You decide if you want to color or not.Here is what I find most appealing about this product:

Hands-on History Projects

  • The scope of empires covered. If you have been lagging behind in covering history topics or are trying to follow the 4 year cycle used by a lot of homeschoolers and it is going slower than you would like to, using Great Empires Activity Study would be a useful tool if you want a bird’s-eye view.
  • It can be a stand-alone history curriculum. You have the option with additional reading material listed in the projects pages and links provided by Home School in the Woods to extend each empire. With the abundance of reading recommendations and because we love history, I personally would take two weeks to cover each empire if I were using this as a stand-alone curriculum. Doing one hands-on activity per week would not be overly time consuming and you could easily end up with a year’s worth of history.  What a bargain for the price and you are using it for all of your children.
  • Adding in an activity to enrich your reading. Then Great Empires Activity Study would be a nice fit.
  • Great Empires Activity Study allowed a lot of room for flexibility in our co-op setting because it allowed each family to focus on the topic that interested them.
  • History clip art matters to me because pictures are important in history. The fine detail and high quality pictures can be used for a timeline, history notebook or to add to a lapbook.
  • Many of the creative activities can be printed. They do not involve a lot of teacher supervision or tons of crafty artsy items on hand to do them.
  • The constant in all the empires is the beautiful teacher’s key map. Providing a key map for each empire is like having a mini geography curriculum as a bonus.
If you’re wanting to breathe life into homeschool history, your kids will love these hands-on learning history activities for studying 14 Great Empires! CLICK HERE to look at these fun and engaging hands-on ideas!

I feel that persons can vary tremendously on what each one thinks is a disadvantage in a product. I prefer using the word considerations because it gives you pause for thought to see if your circumstances fit that product.

Ancient Empire History Projects

Considerations for this product would be:

Amazing Hands-on History Activities for 14 Ancient Empires (free notebook cover too)
  • There is not a lesson planning guide or checklist for each day’s activities. For some homeschoolers that may feel like freedom to explore and breathe but for others having a to-do checklist each day may feel a bit more secure.
  • Some of these activities are ones that history lovers may have already done. However, the product is aimed at elementary age..

How to Get the Free History Notebook cover

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

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

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

You know I have to organize most products I get and this one was no different. I have created a printable for you to use as cover page for your binder when covering these empires.Home School in the Woods is an excellent example of showing how history does not have to involve a textbook or always acquiring random uninteresting facts.

With background information on each past civilization and several creative activities you won’t be disappointed with Great Empires Activity Study.

Whether you are studying about the legends of Crete or are exploring the adventures of Captain John Smith, adding in hands-on history along with a huge dose of field trips and a history co-op or two is a sure way to making learning about the past meaningful.

If you’re wanting to breathe life into homeschool history, your kids will love these hands-on learning history activities for studying 14 Great Empires! CLICK HERE to look at these fun and engaging hands-on ideas!

You’ll also love these other helpful posts with activities:

  • Hands-on History Activities for Learning about Ancient Civilizations
  • 20 Ancient Civilization History Coloring Pages
  • 100 Easy & Fun Ancient Civilization Hands-on Projects

3 CommentsFiled Under: Ancient Civilizations, Hands-On Activities, History Resources, Homeschool Curriculum Review, Product Review, Teach Homeschool History Tagged With: ancient civilizations, hands on history, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, history, history resources, historyspine, homeschoolhistory

Kids Ancient China Activity | How To Make a Simple Ming Dynasty Craft

February 9, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Make your own Ming Dynasty plate for a fun and educational ancient China activity. Also, look at my post Free Ancient China Lapbook for Kids Who Love Hands-on History.

This hands-on history craft leaves a lasting impression and makes for a wonderful keepsake of your study.

The blue and white porcelain is from the Yuan Dynasty.

It is attributed to the Ming Dynasty because it was during the Ming Dynasty period that it started coming to Europe and gained popularity.

Kids Ancient China Activity | How To Make a Simple Ming Dynasty Craft

Popular designs and motifs were Chinese characters, dragons, pagodas, fish, birds, botanical, and waves.

Ming China was not the first or the highest in quality and design.

However, it holds as one of the most significant milestones in ceramic history because it was during this dynasty that China dramatically improved its ceramic technology.

The blue and white coloration is the most popular and identifiable.

Ming Dynasty was a period of imperial China which existed from 1368 to 1644. It was a hereditary monarchy that was dominated by a single family.

Many achievements were made during the Ming Dynasty.

For example, doubling its population, refurbishing the Great Wall to its greatest glory and large naval expeditions.

Also, there was robust maritime trade, the production of beautiful porcelains, paintings, and textiles.

In the last century the dynasty was plagued with crop failures, monetary instability, and corruption in the courts.

That allowed it to be overthrown by a combined effort of  Wu Sangui and the Manchu Prince Dorgon.

This is just one of the fascinating ancient dynasties that you can learn more about.

Research rulers and the contributions each made to their time.

Books About China For Kids

Next, along with this hands-on ancient China activity, look at some of these living books.

I like to add living books to our day then reference books too.

12 Books & Resources For Kids Who Love Reading and Being Read to About Ancient China

Add some of these books to your home library about Ancient China. Also, use them for a homeschool unit study.

Zheng He, The Great Chinese Explorer: A Bilingual Story of Adventure and Discovery

In the West, legendary explorers like Christopher Columbus, Ernest Shackleton and Sir Edmund Hillary are a recognized part of our history. But in China, that legend belongs to the great explorer Zheng He (1371–1433), who lived during China's renowned Ming Dynasty. Zheng He, the Great Chinese Explorer is a bilingual (English and Chinese) tale of his adventures.

When he was a child, Zheng He dreamed of foreign lands, his imagination was inspired by the travels of his father and grandfather and the wonderful items they brought back from trading trips to the West. A simple but exotic porcelain vase in cobalt, a color not found in China at the time, drove Zheng He to discover the origins of this unique color—and become one of the most famous explorers in China's history.

Chee-Lin: A Giraffe's Journey

Eighty years before Columbus, China sent ships to explore the world.The Chinese discovered many marvelous things, but one discovery stood out above the others: the chee-lin.This chee-lin was just a giraffe, but to the Chinese it was an omen of good fortune so rare that it had appeared only once before—at the birth of Confucius.

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon

A Time Magazine 100 Best Fantasy Books of All Time selection!​A Reader’s Digest Best Children’s Book of All Time​!This stunning fantasy inspired by Chinese folklore is a companion novel to Starry River of the Sky and the New York Times bestselling and National Book Award finalist When the Sea Turned to SilverIn the valley of Fruitless mountain, a young girl named Minli lives in a ramshackle hut with her parents. In the evenings, her father regales her with old folktales of the Jade Dragon and the Old Man on the Moon, who knows the answers to all of life's questions. Inspired by these stories, Minli sets off on an extraordinary journey to find the Old Man on the Moon to ask him how she can change her family's fortune. She encounters an assorted cast of characters and magical creatures along the way, including a dragon who accompanies her on her quest for the ultimate answer.Grace Lin, author of the beloved Year of the Dog and Year of the Rat returns with a wondrous story of adventure, faith, and friendship. A fantasy crossed with Chinese folklore, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is a timeless story reminiscent of The Wizard of Oz and Kelly Barnhill's The Girl Who Drank the Moon. Her beautiful illustrations, printed in full-color, accompany the text throughout. Once again, she has created a charming, engaging book for young readers.

Science and Scientists (True Stories From Ancient China)

Ancient China has a long history of scientific excellence. Learn more about some of China’s greatest scientific wonders and the scientists who studied them. Features stories about astronomy, seismology, mathematics, calendar-making, and geography.

The Warlord's Beads (Warlord's Series)

Clever Chuan devises a simple way for his father to quickly and accurately count all the warlord's treasure.

The Five Chinese Brothers (Paperstar)

The classic picture book about five clever brothers, each with a different extraordinary ability, has been in print for almost 80 years."An original nonsense tale told with...spirit and gusto." -- The Horn Book

The Great Wall Of China (Aladdin Picture Books)

Angela FIsher's The Great Wall is an "awe-inspiring, impressive, black and gray illustrations set the tone for this history of the building of the Great Wall of China." (School Library Journal)

The Story about Ping

No one can deny the appeal of the book's hero, Ping, the spirited little duck who lives on a boat on the Yangtze River. Ping's misadventures one night while exploring the world around his home form the basis of this timeless classic, which is brought to life by Kurt Wiese's warm and poignant illustrations.

In the Forbidden City (We All Live in the Forbidden City)

Serving as the seat of imperial power for six centuries, the Forbidden City is one of China's most famous and enigmatic landmarks. Accompanied by a mischievous cat, readers will tour this colossal architectural structure, discovering the secrets hidden inside the palace walls. They will encounter the people who have walked through its halls and gardens, including emperors, empresses, and rebel leaders, and hear exciting tales about the power struggles and intrigues of everyday life.This large format book conveys the grandeur of the Forbidden City through highly detailed line drawings of its buildings, gardens, and courtyards with numerous fold-out spreads. Each page is populated by a large variety of characters and peppered with entertaining anecdotes. Every book includes a plastic magnifying glass for looking at the drawings more closely."Readers receive a lavish tour of the Forbidden City, once home to Chinese emperors and now a museum, courtesy of Chiu and the Design and Cultural Studies Workshop, which he founded. Delicate line drawings highlight the architectural intricacies of the nearly 178-acre complex (several foldout spreads emphasize its size) while Chiu examines the Ming and Qing dynasties in thorough detail, along with major events in the palace's history. (In one foldout scene, 24 emperors offer pithy, even brusque notes on their reigns — "I was entirely unaccomplished," says Emperor Longqing.) A magnifying glass is wisely included to help readers appreciate the wealth of visual detail." — Publishers Weekly

The Emperor Who Built The Great Wall

DID YOU KNOW that China was named after its first emperor – the brilliant, all-powerful emperor who built The Great Wall? In this book, discover why he started building the Wall, how he made China the biggest country on earth, and what treasures he hid in his secret tomb. Find out how he became one of the most important people in the history of China. Read all about the first emperor’s fascinating life in The Emperor Who Built The Great Wall.The simple language and beautiful illustrations make this book a wonderful reader or bedtime story. It is suitable for all ages, but children aged six to twelve years will especially enjoy reading this book.~ About the ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA… Series ~China has a long history, but its many stories are often too complex for children. In this series, Jillian Lin retells China’s best historical tales so they are easy and fun to read. Children will embark on a journey through time where they will get a glimpse inside the colorful lives of famous Chinese figures. Beautiful illustrations, gripping stories, and fascinating facts make these books wonderful readers or bedtime stories for ages six and above. Other titles in this series include:The King Without A Throne (Confucius)The Mountain Man Of Music (Zhu Zaiyu)The Miracle Doctor (Hua Tuo)The Girl Who Became Emperor (Wu Zetian)The Dreamer Of Stars (Zhang Heng)The Greatest Explorer In The World (Zheng He)The Pirate King (Koxinga/Zheng Chenggong)

Where Is the Great Wall?

More than two thousand years ago, with his land under constant attack from nomads, the First Emperor of China came up with a simple solution: build a wall to keep out enemies. It was a wall that kept growing and growing. But its construction came at a huge cost: it is believed that more than a million Chinese died building it, earning the wall its nickname--the longest cemetery on earth. Through the story of the wall, Patricia Brennan Demuth is able to tell the story of China itself, the rise and fall of dynasties, the greatness of its culture, and its present-day status as a Communist world power.

DK Eyewitness Books: Ancient China: Discover the History of Imperial China―from the Great Wall to the Days of the La

A spectacular and informative guide to the history of the great Chinese empire and the customs and traditions of its people.  Stunning real-life photographs and lifelike models offer a unique "eyewitness" view of life in imperial China, from its earliest beginnings in the Bronze Age to its final years in the early 20th century. See the stunning bronze work of the ancient Chinese and the beautiful techniques used for Chinese calligraphy. Learn why the First Emperor created the Terracotta Army, what kinds of goods were carried along the Silk Route, who invented paper, and much, much more. 

Activities Resources For Ancient China Unit Study

  • Learn the Quick and Easy Ancient Chinese Paper making for Kids and practice writing characters to spell out names or spelling words.
  • Before you make your plate, watch Ming Dynasty Pottery For Kids for a quick and easy art lesson.
  • Make Bamboo Scrolls like they would have started as far back as the third or fourth century B.C.E.

Find out about Terra Cotta Warriors, these were made in the Qin Dynasty (221–206 BCE), and were created to protect the kingdom of Emperor Qin Shi Huang.

Kids Ancient China Activity | How To Make a Simple Ming Dynasty Craft

Finally, look how to make this Ming Dynasty plate.

How To Make a Simple Ming Dynasty Craft

You can use a regular sharpie to make your plate.

However, if you use the sharpie paint markers like I linked below you will get a much richer and longer lasting color.

 Also, you can also choose to make a bowl, cup, or vase using the same method as below.

You will need:

  • White plate (Dollar Tree)
  • Oil based Sharpie markers
  • Dry erase marker
  • Rubbing alcohol/cloth
  • Oven

First, google various pieces of Ming China until you decide on some pattern ideas you like for inspiration.

Or your child can create their own modern version of the popular blue and white porcelain that has been reproduced many times over the years.

Kids Ancient China Activity | How To Make a Simple Ming Dynasty Craft

Wipe down the plate with rubbing alcohol and a clean cloth to remove any oils and dirt from the plate and then let it dry completely.

Draw your design, if you make a mistake that you can’t or don’t want to work into your design you can color over it completely with a dry erase marker and it will completely wipe away.

Kids Ancient China Activity | How To Make a Simple Ming Dynasty Craft

You can start along the rim like this repeating simple patterns if you like.

Kids Ancient China Activity | How To Make a Simple Ming Dynasty Craft

Now fill in the center of your plate with a scene.

Ming porcelain was usually very detailed and full of some sort of designs, so I encouraged as much drawing as possible. We went with a couple of pagodas to make it obvious.

Kids Ancient China Activity | How To Make a Simple Ming Dynasty Craft

When you are satisfied with your design, place it on a baking sheet in an oven that has been preheated to 350 and bake for 30 minutes before turning it off.

Allow it to sit until completely cooled and then remove it.

These plates are not food safe, but the designs are now permanent and can be used in a display.

Kids Ancient China Activity | How To Make a Simple Ming Dynasty Craft

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

  • « Go to Previous Page
  • Page 1
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Page 11
  • Page 12
  • Page 13
  • Page 14
  • Page 15
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Page 60
  • Go to Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

Footer

Privacy Policy | About Me | Reviews | Contact | Advertise

Categories

Archives

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

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