hands on history

Easy Hands-on Fun Ancient Greek Games for Kids DIY Knucklebones

October 16, 2022 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

If you’re doing hands-on history and want to add ancient Greek games for kids, you’ll love this knucklebones game and the other history games on my page.

I am sharing with you how to make and play Knucklebones.

It’s one of the oldest discovered ancient games.

Knucklebones is an ancient Greek game typically played with 5 small objects.

Easy Hands-on Fun Ancient Greek Games for Kids DIY Knucklebones

They were initially made from the knuckles of sheep or goats.

It was also called Tali, 5 stones, Jacks, scatter jacks, dibs, jackstones, or astragalus.

It is a primitive form of the modern game of jacks that is played with little metal pieces and a rubber ball.

The game of Knucklebones is 2,000 years old.

How Knucklebones Was Invented

The official rules are not known as it is such an ancient game.

But several versions have been guessed at through paintings and sculptures.

We are making the version that is like the more modern jacks game.

According to Sophocles, the mythical figure Palamedes invented te game of Knucklebones.

And taught it to Greek soldiers during the Trojan War.

Here is an image of a sculpture depicting two Greek girls playing Knucklebones.

They look so much like two little modern girls playing on the sidewalk, don’t they?

Ancient Greek Games for Kids

Look at some other toys ancient Greek children played with or spent their day being entertained with. And learn the Greek name for them.

Spinning Top-Stromvos
Rattles- Platagi
Animal Figurines- Athyrma
Marbles- Spheria
Piggyback game- Ephedrismos
Ourania- Game with a ball
Passe-boule- Similar to basketball

Here are some images of Ancient Gr e ek Toys to get an idea of what they looked like.

Ancient Greece Game Knucklebones Rules

You can play this game with 1 to 4 players. Cast (or toss) the knucklebones the same way you would dice.

Toss one knucklebone up into the air and try to grab one off the ground. Catch the falling one before it hits the ground.

Repeat but grab 2, then 3, then 4 to complete a sequence.

The winner is the first person to complete all the required sequences.

You can also play by tossing up all into the air and trying to catch as many as you can on the back of the hand or in your palm.

If you are going to play this version make your knucklebones smaller so they are easier to catch and don’t hurt.

Yet another variation is to try to toss one up and grab as many as you can in your hand before it falls.

You will want to practice.

Don’t scatter them to much or throw them too high. This will give you more control over catching them or grabbing them up.

Also, a completely different take on knucklebones assigns a points system to each side of the die.

And the winner is the one with the highest point value after tossing the knucklebones and counting up where they land. This is where the numbers or symbols you added come into the game.

Encourage your children to make up their own game with the Knucklebones. See what their imagination comes up with.

Next, look how to make your own DIY Knucklebones.

How to Make DIY Knucklebones Game

I found this terra cotta air dry clay at dollar tree and thought it looked pretty ancient so it was perfect.

You will need:

Air dry clay
Paint pen or permanent marker

Then, create a rustic dice shape by first rolling 4 to 5 similar sized balls of clay out.

Next, pinch to create a bowed shape on the top and bottom of one face. But don’t invert too much if you plan on writing/drawing on them.

Rotate and repeat this step all the way around, this will give us a basic shape similar to real knucklebones.

Allow the clay to dry completely. This is what your final shape should look like.

Decorate your sides with numbers or symbols if you like using a small paintbrush and paint or a paint pen.

We researched ancient Greek numbers and used those. This will give your child some math practice too. You could also make up your own symbols for your family if you want.

Make a key like I did here to keep track of what each Greek number represents.

What do you think? What other Ancient Greek games for kids will you add to your Ancient Greece Unit study?

Other History Games for Kids

And finally, here are some other Ancient Greece activities.

Other Ancient Greece Activities

Native American Crafts for Kindergarten How to Make a Kids Pinch Pot

October 5, 2022 | 1 Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

If you’re looking for Native American crafts for kindergarten, you’ll love this fun pinch pot. Besides this fun activity grab more on my page kindergarten homeschool curriculum.

I can clearly remember creating little pinch pots in early elementary school.

They were the perfect little art project when you were ready to move beyond crayons and paper.

Native American Crafts for Kindergarten How to Make a Kids Pinch Pot

No matter how imperfect they were they were perfect in your eyes. And I suspect your mother’s too.

When considering a simple Native American kindergarten craft, I immediately thought of these sweet little pinch pots.

Many tribes made their pottery in a similar fashion.

In fact, pinch pots are one of the oldest methods of making pottery.

About Native American Pinch Pots

Native Americans would usually gather their clay by hand from streams or hillsides.

It was a very labor-intensive process.

First, they had to extract the clay from the ground and then it had to be purified.

It was often mixed with plant fibers or sand to reduce shrinkage and cracking.

They would then create their clay pieces. Then, place them to dry in the sun and then heat with fire to be sure all moisture was removed.

For the most part these pots were used strictly as storage and for gathering.

Later on, they became a decorative item in many Native American homes.

Different patterns and designs mean different things to different groups.

Tribes like Pueblo, Navajo, and Cherokee are just a few of the groups that would have made pinch pots. Too, they would pass the skills of how to make them down to each generation.

Native Americans: A Visual Exploration had a great breakdown of maps, pictographs, and timelines.

The pictures are bright and offered a lot of information that can be shared with your child.

We are going to try out two different clay pot methods that were used by Native Americans

Sometimes these methods were even combined.

Once done these are great little trinket holders for beads, barrettes, paper clips, or other small items.

How to Make a Native American Pinch Pot

Next, look at this short list of supplies for making this fun Native American pot.

You will need:

Air Dry Clay
Paintbrushes
Acrylic craft paint

Roll a lump of air dry clay into a ball and how much is up to you.

You may start and decide your pot needs to be larger.

Just mush it up, add some more and begin again.

I had white on hand so that is what I used.

But you could also buy it in terra cotta color for a more natural mud look. And you can use the rest to mix and match pots for more Native American crafts for kindergarten.

Press your thumb or fingers into the center to create a large impression.

Be careful to not poke all the way through.

If you do, you can easily repair it by squeezing and pinching it together again.

Show your child how to pinch the sides and bottom to widen the bowl and thin the side.

You want it to have relatively the same thickness all over.

Press the bowl gently into a hard surface like the counter to flatten and level out the bottom.

Allow your bowl to dry overnight and then flip over. Let it dry for 24 hours.

Flip once more so that the bottom can dry and let it sit another 24 hours.

You can put your pot out in the sun to dry just like the Native Americans did.

Finally, it is time to decorate your pinch pot.

A good plan is to show your child Native American designs from books or online.

And let them try to replicate them on their pot with acrylic craft paint, watercolors, or markers.

Native American Crafts for Kindergarten How to Make a Kids Pinch Pot. If you're looking for Native American crafts for kindergarten you'll love this fun pinch pot. Besides this fun activity can be added to my tips in how to homeschool kindergarten. Native Americans would usually gather their clay by hand from streams or hillsides. It was a very labor intensive process. Tribes like Pueblo, Navajo, and Cherokee are just a few of the groups that would have made pinch pots.

Then, try the second method.

Native American Kindergarten Crafts: Coil Pot

Another method of creating pottery that is similar to pinch pots is a coil pot.

Roll the clay out in coils and layer them to create your desired width and height.

Roll clay into snakelike coils.

Spiral the coil around itself until you have created a base as large as you would like it to be.

Gently pinch the coils together so that they hold to one another.

Start coiling around the outside edge and upward to create the sides of the bowl to the desired height.

Again press them gently together to remove cracks and gaps and help the coils stick together.

Let dry for 2-3 days until completely dry, flip every 24 hours.

What do you think? Are you ready to make a few?

Other Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum Resources

Additionally, look at these other homeschool kindergarten resources.

Other Homeschool Native American Unit Study Resources

Finally, here are some Native American unit study resources.

I know you can find an idea or two here.

How to Make a Wigwam Craft for a Fun Native American Unit Study

September 29, 2022 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today, I’m sharing how to make a wigwam craft for a fun Native American Study.

This wigwam craft is simple and can be done mostly independently by your preschooler or kindergartener.

Younger kids probably need help with the house base.

How to Make a Wigwam Craft for a Fun Native American Unit Study

But this craft will give them an understanding of how the house was built and what it looked like.

This is a great craft for Native American studies and is perfectly timed to go with a fall season theme too.

Start first by explaining to your kids what are the pre-colonial days.

And learn a bit about the Powhatan Tribe of Eastern Virginia. However, they were not the only Algonquin tribe to build wigwams.

Some of the other tribes which built wigwams were the Winnebago, Kickapoo, Wampanoag, Pequot, Sauk, Fox, Abenaki, Shawnee, Ojibwe and Oto.

The Algonquins and Wigwams

They did not live in teepees rather they built longhouses or wigwams for shelter.

Longhouses, while built very similarly, were more permanent structures.

On the other hand, wigwams were quicker and easier to build.

They were often used as more temporary houses like in hunting camps.

Wigwams were made from birch bark, branches, and poles that were gathered by the men.

And the women would heat up sap from the trees to create a kind of glue or sealer to hold the bark onto the structure.

Today, our glue will be the tree sap and our construction paper the bark.

This Powhatan Indian Toob is a great addition to turn this craft into a dramatic play activity.

The Powhatans were a tribe of Algonquin Indians, named for the language they spoke.

You could also add this set of Jamestown Settlers.

Then, talk more about the interactions between the natives and the newcomers.

Powhatan Facts for Kids

Wigwams were roughly 15’ wide.

Grab a measuring tape and mark off 15’ inside your house or out in the yard.

Do you think you could live with your immediate family, and sometimes extended family the way the Native Americans did in this small space?

Fires were centered inside the wigwam.

So, it was important to leave a small hole at the top of their structure to allow the smoke to escape.

The ground was covered in animal hides and platforms were used for sleeping.

More Powerful Powhatan Facts

One of the most famous Powhatans was Pocahontas. She was the daughter of chief Powhatan, whose proper name was Wahunsenacawh.
Powhatan children did more chores and less play than most children do now. But they did play with dolls and toys like a miniature bow and arrow and hand-held ball games. They learned and played together.
Powhatan means “waterfall” in the Algonquin language.
The Powhatan territory was known as Tsenacommacah. It covered all of Tidewater Virginia and the Eastern Shore. Find Virginia on a map and compare where it is to where you live.
Their main mode of transportation was dugout canoes.

How to Create a Wigwam Kindergarten Native American Craft

You will need

Smooth scrap cardboard
Brown construction paper
School glue
Foam paint brush
Scissors

To construct the frame for this craft, cut a rectangle out of a thin cardboard box.

I raided the pantry for this cracker box.

You can make it whatever size you like. I tried to keep mine reasonably scaled to the figures I had.

Then, once you have cut your rectangle, roll it into a tube.

Also, cease it a bit around the roll. This will help it maintain a more rounded shape.

Unroll the cardboard and tape the ends together to form a cylinder.

Cut down from the top about 2” every 2”.

Bend those tabs downward to form the domed roof similar to the way they would have bent poles to form their structure.

Secure with tape or hot glue.

Since it is going to be covered in paper it doesn’t have to be pretty.

Leave a small opening in the center to create a smoke hole.

Now, the fun part for littles. Get them to tear up paper.

I like to task the kids with doing this instead of doing it myself because

. It gives them more ownership over their activity and
It is a good task for fine motor skill building.

Also, encourage them to tear them up fairly small and in different random pieces.

More Native American Resources

Too, look at some of these other resources:

Continuing on with the craft, you are probably going to want to lay down a shower curtain liner or plastic tablecloth. This next part gets messy.

Pour school glue into a bowl.

Then demonstrate for your child how to dip the torn pieces of paper into the glue on both sides.

Scrape excess away on the lip of the bowl.

They can use their fingers or a foam brush to coat everything well.

A foam brush can also help smooth the pieces on the structure.

Let them cover the entire house with their “bark”. This will need to dry overnight at least.

If your child covered the smoke hole that was left you can cut it back out with scissors.

Explain that the smoke needed a place to escape so the Native Americans wouldn’t be closed up with it.

You can use the wigwam to create a simple diorama.

Also, add it to a sensory bin or simply leave it on the shelf with your other resources for your native American study.

Longhouses were similarly built-just long but still dome shaped.

You can recreate one of those as well with the materials and compare the living quarters.

15 Fun Resources For History for Kindergarten Homeschool

September 24, 2022 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

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

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

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

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

15 Fun Resources For History for Kindergarten Homeschool

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

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

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

4 Ways to Teach Kindergarten Homeschool History

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

1. Start With An All About Me Focus

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

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

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

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

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

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

2. History Should be Play-Based.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

3. Understand what is Social Studies.

Additionally, as I mentioned many subjects are intertwined.

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

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

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

History
Geography
Social science
American government and
World Geography.

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

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

4. Use Living Books.

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

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

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

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

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

More Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum Resources

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

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

More Homeschool History Curriculum Tips

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

History for Kindergarten Homeschool

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

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

What is a town
Where are you on a map
What is a map
Introducing the cardinal directions
What are American symbols
What is a citizen
and I mentioned about community helpers before.

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

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

Lastly, look at these history resources for kindergarten.

History Resources for Homeschool Kindergarten

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

Photo Credit: blossomandroot.gumroad.com

Arts and the History of Me

- History and geography with a focus on your child's own ancestry, family, and community. Adaptable to your home country! Includes child workbook.

Geronimo Stilton Field Trip to Niagara Falls Summary

The series of Geronimo Stilton books includes history and geography and is geared toward budding readers.

The best thing is that there are so many ideas for fun hands-on ideas.

Around the World Coloring Book

Ideal for home or classroom use, this entertaining and educational coloring book helps youngsters identify and locate Mexico, Argentina, Saudi Arabia, India, Spain, France, Nigeria, and 23 other countries of the world.

And because Dover makes such beautiful quality coloring books, they are perfect for teaching children history.

Photo Credit: www.bfbooks.com

AROUND THE WORLD WITH PICTURE BOOKS

Then Beautiful Feet has living literature and I've used them for years from K to 12.

Il love that they give a framework to learn with beautiful literature.

Reading aloud and learning about other countries through picture books is one of the best ways to learn.

All your children are sure to love their literature.

180 Days of Social Studies: Grade K

Although I'm not a fan of worksheets, some color pages and activities have merit.

Plus, the pages are great at helping your and your child to understand what is history and civics, etc.

I've used these books to get an idea of what to make hands on to teach concepts.

And as it states, it has a mix of social studies topic.

The Story of the World: History for the Classical Child: Volume 1: Ancient Times: From the Earliest Nomads to the Last Roman Emperor

Story of the World is one of the first resources I used when I had a Kindergartener and older children.

Don't be put off by the fact it says it's for 1 to 6th grade.

It's a VERY flexible resource in helping you to teach multiple ages.

I list books based for different levels and explains history in a story format.

The 50 States: Activity Book: Maps of the 50 States of the USA

And children are at different levels of maturity, but most doing some kind of activity and sticker book.

Me on the Map

What a beautiful resource to help even the younger learner to learn about maps.

Maps can show you where you are anywhere in the world!

A beloved bestseller that helps children discover their place on the planet.

Photo Credit: buildyourlibrary.com

Level 0 curriculum Around the World

.Buiild Your Library is an unusual curriculum resource in that you buy or borrow your own books and use the download as a guide. Here is what it says about Level O Around the World

You are about to embark on an adventure around the world with your kindergarten child! We’ll be visiting each of the seven continents and exploring the amazing places found on our planet earth! This is a gentle but exciting tour around the world.

The White House Cut & Assemble

Simple instructions and clear diagrams to create an expertly designed, beautifully crafted, authentically detailed model of the White House.

And the best part about books like this is that all your children can join in.

George Washington Coloring Book

Born and raised among the wealthy, slave-holding aristocracy of colonial Virginia, George Washington devoted his life to the establishment and success of America as an independent nation

Who Was Anne Frank? (Who Was? Series)

And you'll love the Who Is Series for your kids. Read aloud and learn about different characters.

You can go through part of the collection or just add a few famous history makers.

Bede's History of ME

Bede is a timeline ... who strongly resembles a ball of yarn.

This loveable character introduces young children to the basics of history in a fun way-once a week, all year long.

Standups! Presidents: 8 Easy-to-Make Models!

Then I've always had books like these stand up presidents around. However, this book is now limited availability.

But I'm still putting it here in case you come across it. Too, Dover makes this book and hopefully will come out with more models.

It's fun to have some thing hands on as you're teaching about the presidents.

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

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

World Map Puzzle for Kids -With Continents

World Map Puzzle set is an entertaining educational activity for kids to help stimulate and challenge their minds, and aid in development as they play and learn

United States Puzzle for Kids

United States Puzzle for Kids set is an entertaining educational activity for kids to help stimulate and challenge their minds.

Geronimo Stilton Journey Through Time Craft a Fun England Tower Guard

September 21, 2022 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Geronimo Stilton Journey Through Time book #4 has many topics but one is the Elizabethan period. If your child is loving the Geronimo Stilton books, your child will love making a fun England Tower Guard craft.

We’ll travel back to Elizabethan Times, specifically 1595, with the third story in Geronimo Stilton Lost in Time The Fourth Journey.

Geronimo Stilton Journey Through Time Craft a Fun England Tower Guard

It begins with a visit with Queen Elizabeth I.

As usual Geronimo gives us a great look at the time period through maps, images of fashion, buildings, vocabulary, and famous people such as Sir Francis Drake and Queen Elizabeth.

Take a look at the rich clothing from the time period.

There were ruffles, lace, ribbons, fancy cuffs, and collars.

I love that this fun series of Geronimo Stilton books because they always include important historical details to make it real to kids.

Geronimo Stilton Journey Through Time Craft

The Queen’s Guard (or King’s, depending on who the reigning monarch is) did not come about for another 200 years after Elizabeth I ‘s time.

But I thought it would be fun to draw some comparisons to Elizabethan England and modern England with these cute little figures.

They can be used as a bookmark, pointer to keep your place while reading, or as a little puppet.

Even if you are not reading Geronimo Stilton, this is a fantastic simple craft to do during any England unit study.

And this simple craft can be done by a wide range of ages.

You can set out photos of the guard and supplies and let your child take the lead to allow for process art rather than product art, this is especially good for younger children to experience.

Facts about Elizabethan England and Modern England

This is a great time to study England with the passing of the Queen, to study how her country honors her, to learn about the line of secession, what life was like during the reign of the first Queen Elizabeth and current times, and more.

Here are some fun facts to share to get you started on your mini unit study journey.

Share them over tea or while your child colors or creates these fun tower guards while using Geronimo Stilton Lost in Time The Fourth Journey.

Fun Facts about England Then and Now

The Elizabethan Period lasted for 45 years.
The capital of England is London.
Queen Elizabeth I never married or had children.
The Elizabethan Era is famous for its works by William Shakespeare.
Elizabeth I was the daughter of King Henry VIII and his second wife, Anne Boleyn.
The last king to reign prior to Queen Elizabeth II’s death was George VI.
Queen Elizabeth II was England’s longest reigning monarch at 70 years on the throne.
Charles is now the king of England and wife Camilla will be known as Queen Consort.
The Tower Guard consists of one officer, six non-commissioned officers and fifteen soldiers.
The longest river in England is The River Thames.
The English drink more tea than any other nation.
There were over 400 years between Queen Elizabeth I and II.
Both queens were 25 years old when they took over the throne.
Elizabeth I’s younger brother Edward VI was actually the last King of England, Elizabeth II’s father Edward I was the last king of the United Kingdom consisting of the joined kingdoms of England and Wales.

You can use any subtopic in the book to engage your child.

The Big Ben you see in the photos came from the Safari Ltd Around The World Toob and is a must to add to sensory bin or dioramas when studying famous places or landmarks around the world.

How to Make an England Tower Guard Craft

Next, look at the easy supplies to make this fun England tower guard crafts.

You will need:

Jumbo popsicle sticks
Red, black, white, gold craft paint
Black felt
Craft glue
Small paintbrushes

Trace around the top of your jumbo craft stick a little larger than the actual stick and about 2” down to create the hat. Set aside.

Leave the top ¼ unpainted.

Paint the rest half red up top for the jacket and black on the bottom half for their trousers.

Let dry completely. You can flip it over and do the other side if you like or paint it a solid color to make it look more finished off.

Use a paint pen or the back end of a small brush to add details like gold buttons, eyes, a white belt and gold buckle to your guard.

Let it dry again.

Glue the hat into place just above the eyes and let it dry a final time.

If you use hot glue it will be ready to use much quicker.

Other Geronimo Stilton Resources

Look at these other craft ideas to go with the Geronimo Stilton Books.

Whether you want to do a literature unit study or easy history unit study, these are great books to use for both.

You can use your tower guard to hold your spot between reading sessions, to follow along the line as you read or for play time.

Learning about England then and now is a great way discover what has remained the same, what has changed, and how different countries governments rule.