hands on history

I have gathered up a list of Napoleon’s battles. And put together a tutorial for creating a peg doll. It bears a striking resemblance to the petite commander in chief of the French army. Also, look at my page French Revolution 1789 – 1799 Unit Study & Lapbook for more ideas.

Napoleon Bonaparte is one of the most fascinating leaders in history. Born on the island of Corsica in 1769, he rose quickly from being a relatively unknown officer. He became Emperor of France and the most powerful man in Europe.

His story is filled with ambition, clever strategies, victories, defeats, and lessons that still capture the imagination today.

Because he lived during a time of dramatic change, studying Napoleon gives homeschoolers a chance to explore history, geography, leadership, and even art.

One fun way to make history hands-on is to pair the study of Napoleon’s battles with a simple craft, creating a peg doll that looks like Napoleon himself.

This combination of storytelling, history, and creativity can help your child understand and remember what they learn and bring the past to life.

BOOKS ABOUT NAPOLEON BONAPARTE FOR KIDS

Next, look at a few books about Bonaparte.

5 Napoleon Bonaparte Books for Kids

Add some of these books about Napoleon Bonaparte to your home library or to use as a spine for a unit study.

Napoleon Bonaparte: Biography

"Napoleon Bonaparte" by John S. C. Abbott is a biography of one of the most famous and controversial figures of European history. The book provides a detailed account of Napoleon's life and achievements, from his humble beginnings on the island of Corsica to his rise to power as one of the most powerful emperors in European history.

The book begins with a description of Napoleon's early life, including his education and military training. It then goes on to describe his rise to power, including his military victories and political maneuvering. The book also delves into Napoleon's personal life, including his relationships with his family and mistresses, as well as his health problems and eventual downfall.

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The story of Napoleon

First published in 1906, The Story of Napoleon presents historian H. E. Marshall’s vivid narrative portrait of a man whose ambition reshaped Europe. Writing in her signature storytelling style—lively, accessible, and rich with dramatic detail—Marshall guides readers through the milestones of Napoleon Bonaparte’s meteoric rise and eventual downfall:

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Who Was Napoleon?

Learn more about Napoleon Bonaparte, the decorated French military leader who conquered much of Europe in the early nineteenth century.Born in the Mediterranean island of Corsica, Napoleon Bonaparte felt like an outsider once his family moved to France. But he found his life's calling after graduating from military school. Napoleon went on to become a brilliant military strategist and the emperor of France. In addition to greatly expanding the French empire, Napoleon also created many laws, which are still encoded in legal systems around the world.

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Napoleon and the Napoleonic Wars

Follows Napoleon Bonaparte from his origins as a lowly soldier to his rise to military power and his conquest of Europe.

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Napoleon (A Wicked History)

The wicked ways of some of the most ruthless rulers to walk the earth are revealed in these thrilling biographies (A Wicked History) about men and women so monstrous, they make Frankenstein look like a
sweetheart.

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Next, look at the battles of Napoleon Bonaparte.

LIST OF NAPOLEON’S BATTLES

Napoleon fought many battles during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

Some were dazzling victories that made him a legend, while others showed the limits of ambition and the dangers of overreaching.

Here are some of the most important and interesting battles to explore in your homeschool:

Battle of Toulon (1793)- Napoleon was only 24 years old when he helped recapture Toulon from British and royalist forces. As a young artillery officer, his skill and leadership impressed his superiors and he began his rise to fame.

Battle of the Pyramids (1798)– During his Egyptian campaign, Napoleon used clever square formations to defeat the powerful Mamluk cavalry near Cairo.

The victory gave France control of Egypt, though the campaign ultimately faced setbacks.

This battle is memorable because it happened in the shadow of the ancient pyramids, blending old and new history.

Battle of Marengo (1800)- In northern Italy, Napoleon’s army seemed destined for defeat. But with determination and reinforcements, he turned the tide and secured a stunning victory.

This win cemented his political power as First Consul of France.

Battle of Austerlitz (1805)– Sometimes called Napoleon’s greatest triumph, this battle is also known as the “Battle of the Three Emperors” because Napoleon faced both the Austrian Emperor and the Russian Tsar.

BONAPARTE’S BATTLES

Using deception and brilliant tactics, he defeated both armies in a single day, proving his genius as a strategist.

Battle of Jena-Auerstedt (1806)-Here Napoleon crushed the Prussian army. The victory allowed him to dominate much of Germany and showed how quickly his armies could move and overwhelm enemies.

Battle of Wagram (1809)-This was a harder-fought battle against Austria. Though Napoleon won, the battle revealed growing difficulties of ruling such a vast empire. It was one of the bloodiest battles of his career.

 Battle of Borodino (1812)– This clash during Napoleon’s invasion of Russia was one of the bloodiest single-day battles of the Napoleonic Wars.

Though the French technically won, the campaign itself ended in disaster as Napoleon’s army suffered from the Russian winter and lack of supplies.

Battle of Leipzig (1813)- Also called the “Battle of Nations,” this was one of the largest battles of the 19th century.

Napoleon was defeated by a coalition of Russian, Prussian, Austrian, and Swedish forces. It marked a turning point as his empire began to crumble.

Battle of Waterloo (1815)- Napoleon’s final battle is also his most famous. After escaping exile on Elba, he tried to reclaim power in France but was defeated by the Duke of Wellington and the Prussian army.

After Waterloo, he was exiled to the remote island of Saint Helena, where he lived out the rest of his life.

Studying Napoleon Bonaparte can open doors to discussions about leadership, ambition, the consequences of decisions, and the dramatic changes of early 19th-century Europe.

By pairing a list of his most famous battles with the fun, creative activity of making a Napoleon peg doll, homeschoolers get the best of both worlds—academic learning and hands-on creativity.

ACTIVITIES ABOUT NAPOLEON BONAPARTE

• Napoleonic Wars History Lesson
• Napoleon Bonaparte Word Search
• Napoleon Cookie Hats
• YouTube Bonapart’s Life in Drawings

Finally, look at how to make this cool Napoleon mini figure.

HOW TO CREATE A NAPOLEON WOODEN PEG MINI FIGURE

You will need:

• Wooden peg doll (craft store or online)
• Acrylic paints: blue, white, red, gold, black, flesh tone
• Fine-tip paintbrushes
• Black permanent marker or paint pen
• Felt or fabric scraps (optional for cape or hat)
• Glue

First, use flesh-colored paint for the face or just leave it bare wood to save a step, add tiny black dots for eyes with a fine brush or marker.

Paint the body white as a base and set aside to dry.

Once dry add a dark blue layer for his jacket.

Use gold to paint the trim and buttons on his famous uniform. Napoleon often wore a blue jacket with gold accents. You can also add some small medals with paint pens or tiny brushes.

Paint the bottom part of the peg doll black to look like tall boots.

Draw on some hair if you like with a paint pen or paint brush.

Napoleon is almost always shown with his black bicorne hat. Cut two small pieces of black felt into the shape of the hat and a small strip of red for sash.

Run hot glue across the bottom of both pieces of the hat and press onto the top of his head and then along the top to close it.

Add a sash across his chest and secure it with glue.

Extension Ideas:

• Create multiple peg dolls to represent different historical figures, such as Wellington, Tsar Alexander I, or Austrian Emperor Francis I. Then your children can “reenact” battles on a map using their dolls as playing pieces.
• You could also create a battle timeline, as you learn about each major battle, move Napoleon’s peg doll along the timeline. This gives children a strong visual connection to the rise and fall of his career.