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hands on history

9 EASY and Fun Hands-on Ancient Greece Kids Activities

November 19, 2017 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today, I rounded up 9 easy hands-on Ancient Greece kids activities because I know the value of hands-on when it comes to learning.

You know my obsession with easy hands-on activities. I’m not the bomb mom for easy hands-on activities, but I try.

Because I never felt like the bomb mom I pushed myself out of my comfortable worksheet approach and never regretted one moment of it.

9 Easy and Fun Hands On Ancient Greece Kids Activities. Click here to grab them!

Sure, some kids activities I planned were complicated, but I learned from that.

I don’t always have to have over the top, knock your socks off, time sucking kids activities. Easy is perfect for us.

Too, most kids learn best from hands-on activities.

Yes even the ones who claim they’d rather read it in the book. And no, it’s not a waste of time.

I have a few kids that tried to tell me that.

9 Easy and Fun Hands On Ancient Greece Kids Activities. Click here to grab them!

Instead of forcing complicated hands-on ideas or projects, I created many easy ones to add just a sprinkle of fun to our unit studies.

Reading is an additional activity for learning and although it’s probably the one we use the most, it’s not the one my kids remember the most.

Yep, it’s the easy hands-on activities my kids do that brings us together and helps them to remember significant points about different civilizations.

Most of the Ancient Greece kids activities I rounded up today require very little supplies and most can be found in your house.

First, look at these fun books about Ancient Civiliztions to add to your study about Ancient Greece.

13 Ancient Civilization Hands-on Resources and Books

Add some of these fun resources to your unit study or study for the day of Ancient Civilizations.

The Greeks Pop-up: Pop-up Book to Make Yourself (Ancient Civilisations Pop-Ups)

Tarquin Popups are a special kind of do it yourself activity book. Not only is there the fun of making the scenes and seeing them popup but they are full of interesting information and ideas. This book contains six main scenes to make: Knossos, the Palace of Minos, the Lion Gate at Mycenae, the Battle of Salamis, the Golden Age of Athens, the Theatre, Alexander the Great and King Porus.

The Ancient Egypt Pop-up Book:

A magnificently illustrated, interactive pop-up book chronicles the history of ancient Egypt and its diverse cultural innovations, covering everything to the construction of the Egyptian pyramids and the elaborate mummification process, to the mysterious rites performed at an Egyptian god's temple and the ancient hieroglyphic writings.

Ancient Israelites and Their Neighbors: An Activity Guide (Cultures of the Ancient World)

Children can try their hand at re-creating ancient Israelite culture—along with the cultures of their neighbors, the Philistines and Phoenicians—in a way that will provide perspective on current events.
The book covers a key period from the Israelites’ settlement in Canaan in 1200 B.C.E. to their return from exile in Babylonia in 538 B.C.E.
This part of the Middle East—no larger than modern-day Michigan—was the birthplace of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. More than 35 projects include stomping grapes into juice, building a model Phoenician trading ship, making a Philistine headdress, and writing on a broken clay pot. Israelites', Phoenicians', and Philistines' writing and languages, the way they built their homes, the food they ate, the clothes they wore, and the work they did, and of course, their many interesting stories.

Treasury of Greek Mythology: Classic Stories of Gods, Goddesses, Heroes & Monsters

The new National Geographic Treasury of Greek Mythology offers timeless stories of Greek myths in a beautiful new volume. Brought to life with lyrical text by award-winning author Donna Jo Napoli and stunning artwork by award-winning illustrator Christina Balit, the tales of gods and goddesses such as Zeus, Aphrodite, Apollo, and Athena and heroes and monsters such as Helen of Troy, Perseus, and Medusa will fascinate and engage children’s imaginations.

Photo Credit: store.homeschoolinthewoods.com

Activity Study: Great Empires

Included in this study are over 35 projects, games, recipes, links, and the history of fourteen empires! Generally, each empire's materials can be covered in 1-3 days

Tools of the Ancient Romans: A Kid's Guide to the History & Science of Life in Ancient Rome

Tools of the Ancient Greeks: A Kid’s Guide to the History and Science of Life in Ancient Greece explores the scientific discoveries, athletic innovations, engineering marvels, and innovative ideas created more than two thousand years ago. Through biographical sidebars, interesting facts, fascinating anecdotes, and fifteen hands-on activities, readers will learn how Greek innovations and ideas have shaped world history and our own world view.

Ancient Egypt Activity Book For Kids: Ancient Egypt

Is your child fascinated by Ancient Egypt? if so then this Ancient Egypt themed activity book is just for them. This is a great book for boys and girls who have an interest in Ancient Egypt. This Ancient Egypt themed activity book will keep them entertained and happy for hours.

Great Ancient China Projects You Can Build Yourself (Build It Yourself)

Great Ancient China Projects You Can Build Yourself explores the incredible ingenuity and history of ancient China with 25 hands-on projects for readers ages 9 and up. Great Ancient China Projects covers topics from porcelain pottery, paper, gunpowder, and dynasties, to martial arts, medicinal healers, jade carvers, and terracotta warriors.

Tools of the Ancient Greeks: A Kid's Guide to the History & Science of Life in Ancient Greece (Build It Yourself)

Tools of the Ancient Greeks: A Kid’s Guide to the History and Science of Life in Ancient Greece explores the scientific discoveries, athletic innovations, engineering marvels, and innovative ideas created more than two thousand years ago. Through biographical sidebars, interesting facts, fascinating anecdotes, and fifteen hands-on activities, readers will learn how Greek innovations and ideas have shaped world history and our own world view.

Sumerian Mythology: History for kids: A captivating guide to ancient Sumerian history,Sumerian myths of Sumerian Gods, Goddesses, and Monsters

What humans call “civilization” didn’t always exist. We didn’t always live in big cities, have roads to get places easier, or grow food on farms. For a long time, humans were hunter-gatherers. Hunter-gatherers wandered from place to place looking for food. They didn’t build homes or stay in one place. The Sumerians, as far as we know, were the first people to start a civilization.

History Pockets: Ancient Civilizations, Grades 1-3

The book includes the following pockets:

  • What Is History?
  • Ancient Mesopotamia
  • Ancient Egypt
  • Ancient Greece
  • Ancient Rome
  • Ancient China
  • Ancient Aztec World

This resource contains teacher support pages, reproducible student pages, and an answer key.

Cleopatra and Ancient Egypt for Kids: Her Life and World, with 21 Activities (69) (For Kids series)

Cleopatra has been called intelligent and scheming, ambitious and ruthless, sensual and indulgent. This unique biography captures the excitement of her life story, including portions that have been largely neglected, such as her interest in literature and science and her role as a mother, and allows readers to draw their own conclusions. Cleopatra and Ancient Egypt for Kids also includes maps, time lines, online resources, a glossary, and 21 engaging hands-on activities to help readers better appreciate the ancient culture.

DIY Ancient Egypt Box, Learn About Geography and World History, Hands on Learning for Kids

HANDS ON LEARNING: Supernow educational boxes includes an adventure box with 4 hands-on projects and interactive digital content to bring the projects to life!

INTERACTIVE PLAY: Kids get a monthly adventure box that serves as a portal to an immersive adventure. Participate in an unfolding mission by attending live, interactive classes and solving fun clues.

Also, I have this cursive and free Greece copywork poetry.

EASY HANDS-ON ANCIENT GREECE KIDS ACTIVITIES

And you can’t get any easier that coloring pages for studying history.

Check out these fun coloring pages! There are some for Ancient Egypt and Ancient Greece too.

Look at this list.

Page 3: Ancient Egypt Court,
Page 4: Ancient Egypt Spinning,
Page 5: Ancient Egypt Life of the Royals,
Page 6: Ancient Egypt Battles,
Page 7: Ancient Egypt The Nile,
Page 8: Life Along the River – The Nile,
Page 9: Metal Workers & Crafts of Ancient Egypt,
Page 10: Egyptian Hieroglyphics,
Page 11: Egyptian Queen Cleopatra,
Page 12: Aztecs Floating Gardens,
Page 13: Aztecs,
Page 14: Aztec Life,
Page 15: Mayans,
Page 16: Ancient Greece Wedding,
Page 17: Ancient Greek Galley,
Page 18: Ancient Greece Crafts,
Page 19: Ancient Greece Bank,
Page 20: Athens,
Page 21: Spartan Warrior and
Page 22: The Vikings.

Grab your fun copy below!

  • 00. Ancient Civilization History 20 Coloring Pages

    00. Ancient Civilization History 20 Coloring Pages

    $3.50
    Add to cart

9 EASY and Fun Hands-on Ancient Greece Kids Activities

Finally, look at these 9 hands-on Ancient Greece kid’s activities.

Ancient Greece Kids Activities

1. Play Stomachion Like Archimedes {Explore Geometry}

It just requires a few things and instead of printing off the puzzle pieces.

Go here to Ancient Greece Unit Study.Play Stomachion Like Archimedes {Explore Geometry}.

2. Create An Ancient Greek Theatre Mask 

Drama included performances of tragedies, which often told stories of the mythical past, and comedies, in which performers poked fun at politicians, famous people, and even the gods.

Go here to Ancient Greek Theatre Mask – Easy Hands-on History.

3. Do Surface Tension Science

These activities are geared for middle school, but a high school student that has a science aversion would be engaged too. While studying the ancient civilizations, grab these ideas for an Ancient Greece hands-on science unit study.

Go here to (Hands-on Science) 3 EASY Activities.

4. Ancient Greece Go Fish Game

There’s not a better way to start back to our Ancient Greece unit study than playing a game.

Go here to Free Ancient Greece Go Fish Game.

5. Make An Ancient Greece Chariot

Craft this easy chariot from things you have around the house already. Go here to Make An Ancient Greece Chariot.

6. Craft this Fun Ancient Greece Pottery Piece

An ostracon is a piece of pottery, usually broken off from a vase or some other container.

Go here to Hands-On Ancient Greece Study: Politics and Pottery.

7. Grab this Free Ancient Greece Lapbook

History lapbooks can make history come to life because they’re interactive.

Go here to download this Free Ancient Greece Lapbook.

8. Snack Like They Did In Ancient Greece – Make Baklava

Learning that the Ancient Greeks rolled out pastry real thin and made Spanakopita (spinach pie) or Baklava, we decided to try out a new recipe.

Go here to Snack Like They Did In Ancient Greece – Make Baklava (Delicious).

9. Do a Refraction Science Experiment

We were reading about Ancient Greeks studying refraction and did this fun activity.

Go here to Ancient Greece Unit Study. Hands-on Activity 1. Refraction.

Learning sticks when you’re able to include even one or two easy hands-on history activities to any topic you study. I hope you try one or two!

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

10 Westward Expansion History Fun Coloring Pages

November 16, 2017 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today, I have 10 Westward Expansion coloring pages that enhance all the free unit studies here or ones that you’re planning. Also, you love my page BEST Westward Ho Unit Study and Lapbook!

Sometimes the boys want to create their own covers for the lapbooks or notebooks from coloring pages.

10 Westward Expansion History Fun Coloring Pages. If you're studying about The Oregon Trail, Lewis and Clark or Westward Ho, your kids will love these pages. Click here to grab them!

I know with younger children, it can be hard to find history coloring pages based on everyday life.

But these coloring pages work well with middle and high school too if your kid still loves to color.

WESTWARD HO HISTORY FUN COLORING PAGES

I made sure they have no baby-ish looking clip art.

I have always tried to use museum quality coloring pages when the coloring mood did strike with my boys.

Also, instead of me adding titles on pages or naming the pages, this allows you to use the clip art/coloring pages any way you want to.

Whether it is a cover page, notebooking page, journal page or just to enrich a topic. You have the flexibility.

HOW TO EASILY BRING HISTORY ALIVE

Here is what the 10 page download contains. I put a few key words to explain each picture on the page. This way you can use the coloring pages as title pages too.

Page 3:  Native American on horseback,
Page 4: Lewis and Clark Trek,
Page 5: Lewis and Clark and The Piegan,
Page 6: Lewis and Clark Exploring Rivers,
Page 7: The Plains Indians,
Page 8: Pioneer Life,
Page 9: Moving West,
Page 10: Westward Ho,
Page 11: Settlers, and
Page 12: Fur Trappers and Mountainmen

Grab your fun copy below!

  • 0. Westward Expansion History Fun 10 Coloring Pages

    0. Westward Expansion History Fun 10 Coloring Pages

    $1.75
    Add to cart
10 Westward Expansion History Fun Coloring Pages. If you're studying about The Oregon Trail, Lewis and Clark or Westward Ho, your kids will love these pages. Click here to grab them!

Also, these coloring pages go well with these free unit studies and lapbooks:

  • Lewis and Clark Unit Study & Lapbook
  • Plains Indians Unit Study & Lapbook
  • Westward Ho Unit Study & Lapbook

Hugs and love ya,

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Geography Based, Hands-On Activities, History Based, History Resources, Middle School Homeschool Tagged With: coloringpages, explorers, hands on history, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, lewis and clark, lewisandclark, Native Americans, nativeamerican, nativeamericans, westward expansion, westwardho

Texas Native American History Quick Unit Study (Middle School)

November 15, 2017 | 1 Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today, I’m sharing a few links for a Texas Native American history unit study. Also, look at my page Homeschool Middle School for more fun tips. Also, look at my Native American Unit Study to learn about other Native Americans.

Since the time my kids were little we’ve always incorporated some of our Texas heritage and history.

Studying Texas history has so many topics to choose from.

Texas Native American History Quick Unit Study (Middle School)

However, studying about Native Americans will help to keep Texas history in a manageable chunk.

First, look at ten of the tribes native to Texas.

I’ve tried to hone in on these in this roundup so this topic doesn’t become overwhelming.

10 Tribes Native to Texas.

  • Apache
  • Atakapa
  • Caddo
  • Coahuiltecan Region
  • Comanche
  • Jumano
  • Karankawa
  • Kiowa
  • Tonkawa
  • Wichita

Glancing at the geography of Texas will help your kids to understand how each group adjusted to their surroundings.

Geography of Texas

The Geography of Texas.
Learn about the plant and animal life.

Texas Native American History Lesson Plans/Guides/Resources/

Download these lesson plans for activities and background information.
Download this 17 page free guide for background information about Texas Native Americans: The Texas Revolution: Exactly Who Where the Texans.
Brief overview of the major tribes that existed at the time of the first European exploration.

Fascinating background information about the Karankawa. A free 10 page download.

Heads up: You’ll want to look this over and glean the points you want to teach your child because it addresses all issues the Karankawa faced including very intimate ones.

And no, there are no pictures, just text. But I’ve listed it because it is so comprehensive in helping us to understand their every day life and one of the better resources I found.

Even though it’s says it’s a fourth grade lesson plan, it really is helpful for comparing tribes.

Texas Native American History Quick Unit Study (Middle School). Click here to grab it!

Understand the importance of the buffalo to the Comanche. Grab this free curriculum guide.
Learn about smoke signals like the Karankawa used.

Free Native Tribes of Texas 26 page download with facts and pictures.
Texas Indians: Southeastern and Gulf Cultures.
Background information on Jumano, Caddo, Karankawa, and Comanche.

Texas Native American Hands-on Ideas

Make a grinding tool from a flat rock.
Cook corn soup like the Caddo.
Make teepee cupcakes like the Comanche and Apache (okay maybe not cupcakes)
If you’re real adventurous make this wiki-up like the semi-permanent homes of the Coahuiltecans and Karankawa.
Paint on pebbles.
Make a Caddo circle book.
Make a pipecleaner wigwam.
Eat prickly pear like the Coahuiltecans.
The Comanche dominated the Plains of Texas and were great warriors and horsemen. Grab this free horse lapbook.

Also, grab my free Plains Indians unit study and lapbook.

▼ Exploring to Revolution - Plains Indians lapbook and HUGE homeschool unit study.

Karankawa YouTube
Comanche YouTube
Apache YouTube

Texas Beyond History – Virtual Museum of Texas’ Cultural Heritage. From an interactive map, to games to lesson plans to history, this site is one of the ones we have enjoyed most and spent hours on. Prepare to stay here on this site for days.

From the website: Texas Beyond History covers not only the prehistory and history of Texas’ true native peoples, but also much of the early history of the Spanish, French, Mexican, and Anglo explorers, missionaries, soldiers, miners, traders, and settlers who lived and often died in Texas. And later history, too—that of German farmers, Black freedmen, and Mexican-American laborers among many others.

Caddo. Be sure to click through to learn their history and how they live today. Also, click on the games page and download this printable free board game.

Language Arts

Plains Indians Free Writing Prompts. For Elementary, Middle and High School Homeschooled Kids

Books

  • Indians Who Lived in Texas – A beautiful story of the 10 native tribes of Texas.
  • A History of Texas and the Texans – An outstanding history of Texas for a serious budding Texas history buff.
  • Legend of the Bluebonnet.

Texas Field Trips

The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum.
San Jacinto Museum. Also grab the HUGE 449 page free Educator’s Guide with lesson plans, pictures, and activity ideas.
Washington on the Brazos Historic Site. We’ve been many times because it’s a great place to visit. It is the final home of the last president of the Republic of Texas along with a hands on history room and museum. Be sure to download the educator’s guides at the bottom of the page.

Also, you may love to use my 10 Westward Expansion History Fun Coloring Pages! You know the quality of my work here and I don’t use baby-ish clip art. The coloring pages are suitable for middle school even in high school.

Here is what the 10 page download contains. I put a few key words to explain each picture on the page. This way you can use the coloring pages as title pages too.

Page 3:  Native American on horseback,
4: Lewis and Clark Trek,
5: Lewis and Clark and The Piegan,
6: Lewis and Clark Exploring Rivers,
7: The Plains Indians,
8: Pioneer Life,
9: Moving West,
10: Westward Ho,
11: Settlers, and
12: Fur Trappers and Mountainmen

You can grab them below!

  • 0. Westward Expansion History Fun 10 Coloring Pages

    0. Westward Expansion History Fun 10 Coloring Pages

    $1.75
    Add to cart
Texas Native American History Quick Unit Study (Middle School). Your middle school kids will love this free AWESOME unit study to learn about the first Native Americans of Texas. Click here to grab it!

You may also love these hands-on ideas that can bring this unit study alive!

  • How to Build the Alamo: Day 5 Hands-on Learning (Free Texas Unit Study)
  • Exploring Edible Cactus: Day 4 Hands-on Learning (The Desert) – Eat cactus like the Coahuiltecan
  • Pioneer Living and Cloth Dyeing (Hands-on History)

This is suppose to be a quick unit study but we love studying about Texas history. So I hope you’ll find a few of these resources inspiring and helpful.

Hugs and love ya,

1 CommentFiled Under: Geography Based, History Based, My Unit Studies {Free Printables & Hands-on Ideas} Tagged With: american history, early American history, hands on history, hands-on activities, Native Americans, nativeamerican, Plains Indians, Texas, texasunit

20 Ancient Civilization History Coloring Pages

November 11, 2017 | 13 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today, I have 20 ancient civilization history coloring pages that match up to my units here on my blog. Also, look at my page Ancient Civilizations for more ideas. The coloring pages were free for a limited time, but I think you’ll still want them.

Sometimes the boys want to create their own covers for the lapbooks or notebooks from coloring pages.

I know with younger children, it can be hard to find history coloring pages based on everyday life.

20 Ancient Civilization History Coloring Pages

But these coloring pages work well with middle and high school too if your kid still loves to color. I made sure they have no baby-ish looking clip art.

I have always tried to use museum quality coloring pages when the coloring mood did strike with my boys.

Ancient Civilization History Activities

First, look at these ancient history posts.

  • Fun and Easy Hands-On Ancient Egypt Craft: Create Canopic Jars
  • Ancient Egyptian Mathematics: Build a LEGO Math Calculator
  • Building Wonders: Create the Great Sphinx of Giza with LEGO
  • Hands-on Ancient Phoenicia: Alphabet Clay Tablet Craft
  • 11 Easy Hands-On Ancient Egypt Projects for Middle School
  • Amazing Hands-on History Activities for 14 Ancient Empires (free notebook cover too)
  • Easy Israel Crafts for Preschoolers: How to Make Mini Torah Scrolls
  • Fun and Easy Hands-On Ancient Egypt Craft: Create Canopic Jars
  • How to Make an Ancient Rome-Inspired DIY Clown Collar No Sew
  • Discover The Secrets Of Ancient Egypt: Free Printable Hieroglyphics Alphabet

We have used various museum quality history coloring books through the years that have made a big difference in how my boys understood history in the early years.

20 Ancient Civilization History Coloring Pages at Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus. You'll love adding these to your unit studies or notebooking.

I think clip art should be as real as possible and based on real events in history. They are not always easy to find. I wish I could draw my own history clip art, but you don’t want me to draw for you. Just saying.

Anyway, I collect the clip art as I find it.

Here is what the 20 page download contains. I put a few key words to explain each picture on the page. This way you can use the coloring pages as title pages too.

Learning History Through Coloring

Page 3: Ancient Egypt Court,
Page 4: Ancient Egypt Spinning,
Page 5: Ancient Egypt Life of the Royals,
Page 6: Ancient Egypt Battles,
Page 7: Ancient Egypt The Nile,
Page 8: Life Along the River – The Nile,
Page 9: Metal Workers & Crafts of Ancient Egypt,
Page 10: Egyptian Hieroglyphics,
Page 11: Egyptian Queen Cleopatra,
Page 12: Aztecs Floating Gardens,
Page 13: Aztecs,
Page 14: Aztec Life,
Page 15: Mayans,
Page 16: Ancient Greece Wedding,
Page 17: Ancient Greek Galley,
Page 18: Ancient Greece Crafts,
Page 19: Ancient Greece Bank,
Page 20: Athens,
Page 21: Spartan Warrior and
Page 22: The Vikings.

Grab your fun copy below!

  • 00. Ancient Civilization History 20 Coloring Pages

    00. Ancient Civilization History 20 Coloring Pages

    $3.50
    Add to cart
20 Free Ancient Civilization History Coloring Pages @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Also, instead of me adding titles on pages or naming the pages, this allows you to use the clip art/coloring pages any way you want to.

Whether it is a cover page, notebooking page, journal page or just to enrich a topic, you have the flexibility.

20 Ancient Civilization Coloring Pages. Grab these AWESOME pages at Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Also, you’ll want to download

  • Geography Resource + Set of 12 History Makers Notebook Pages – Set 1 and
  • History Makers Notebooking Pages – Famous Persons from Ancient to Modern – Set 2.

Hugs and you know I love ya,

13 CommentsFiled Under: Ancient Civilizations, Hands-On Activities, History Resources Tagged With: ancient civilizations, Ancient Greece, coloringpages, hands on history, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschoolhistory

Hands-On Ancient Greece Study: Politics and Pottery

October 31, 2017 | 2 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today, I have an Ancient Greece pottery and politics hands-on idea. Also, you’ll love my two Ancient Greece Lapbooks. Go here to Fun Ancient Greece Homeschool Unit Study and Lapbook and Free Awesome Ancient Greece Lapbook and Fun Hands-on Activities to grab both free lapbooks.

My boys have been in love with the Percy Jackson books series for years now.

It began with my oldest binge reading every single book and, soon after, my youngest was reenacting mythological Greek monster slayings.

Because they are older (ages 14 and 11) finding hands-on learning activities has been a bit of a challenge. The good news is, it’s totally worth it.

I find my boys are not only much more engaged in the material, but also retain so much more when we incorporate hands-on learning activities.

Because they already have a natural interest in Greek Mythology and Ancient Greece, this hands-on activity has been one of our most successful to date.

Ancient Greece Study: Politics and Pottery

An ostracon  is a piece of pottery, usually broken off from a vase or some other container.

In archaeology, ostraca refer to small pieces of stone or pottery that have writing scratched onto them.

Usually these pieces were broken before the writing was added – broken pieces of pottery were everywhere and easily re-used for writing. (Recycling in ancient times!)

Ancient Greece Pottery Activity

In Classical Athenian politics, when the decision at hand was to banish or exile a certain member of society, the citizens would vote by writing the name of the person on a broken piece of pottery.

If the citizens voted to do so, the person was exiled for a period of ten years from the city (this is where we get the term ostracism).

After convincing my boys that it was not an option to vote to ostracise one another, and reviewing the historic significance of ostraca, we set about making our own examples – complete with Ancient Greek writing.

Hands-On Ancient Greece Pottery Activity

For this activity, you will need the following:

  • A broken pot, or if none are available, air-dry clay to create your own ‘pottery pieces’
  • Tempura paint and paint brushes
  • A sharp instrument to carve letters (we used a ceramics tool, but many kitchen implements will also work)
  • Printable Greek Alphabet 

Our first step was finding broken pieces of pottery. In our backyard, this is not difficult to do as my sons enjoy a wide array of outdoor activities that may or may not break things from time to time.

Just in case, we also used air-dry clay to quickly create our own, easier to carve, “pottery pieces.”

Painting Ancient Grecian Pottery

After the pieces dried, we painted the pottery lightly, and then sanded it to make it appear as if the paint had worn off over time.

It was then time to carve Greek letters onto our newly formed Ostraca.

Using the sample printable, my boys experimented with greek lettering. We discussed the differences between our own and that of the ancients.

Making Letters in Greek Pottery

When we were all finished up, the boys and I were pretty impressed with the outcome.

Our pottery pieces really did look like something you might see in a book or museum.

To make it official, my youngest actually buried them and then dug them back up – not only to get them authentically dirty but to pretend to be an archeologist for the afternoon.

Ancient Greece Pottery and Greek Alphabet Writing

Overall, this hands-on activity worked well for us.

The chance to learn a bit more about Ancient Greece and politics in a new democracy was certainly educational (even for me) and the pottery activity made it so much more engaging and fun!

Hands-on History Ancient Greece Activity - Politics and Pottery. Bring the study of Ancient Greece alive with this fun hands-on activity. Your kids will love learning about the meaning of the broken pieces of pottery! Click here to learn about this fun activity and oh pssst learn a bit of history!

To learn more about Ancient Greece with the kids, try these other hands-on Grecian learning activities!

  • Free Ancient Greece Lapbook
  • Snack Like They Did in Ancient Greece – Make Baklava
  • Free Ancient Greece Go Fish Game

Written by Shawna at Not the Former Things.

2 CommentsFiled Under: Ancient Civilizations, Hands-On Activities, History Resources Tagged With: ancient civilizations, Ancient Greece, hands on history, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, history

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