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hands on history

Free Lapbook Holocaust For Kids Who Love Hands-On Learning

February 1, 2026 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have a free lapbook Holocaust for one of the unavoidably dark to address periods in history. Also, look at my page Homeschool Lapbooks – Powerful Tools For Mastery Learning for more ideas.

Also, look at my page World War II Hands-On History – Make Ration Cakes.

The Holocaust happened during World War II. Millions of Jewish people and others were treated cruelly, taken from their homes, and killed simply because of who they were. And learning about the Holocaust can be hard to teach your child about.

Free Lapbook Holocaust For Kids Who Love Hands-On Learning

The Holocaust occurred in Europe between the years of 1933 to 1945. Others were also persecuted, including Roma people, people with disabilities, and others the Nazis did not accept.

The people were led by the Nazi Party in Germany, under a leader named Adolf Hitler.

The Jews and others rejected by them were sent by train to concentration camps.

BOOKS ABOUT THE HOLOCAUST FOR KIDS

First, look at these books about the Holocaust to add to your home library.

I prefer living books when I can find them. Too, you the parent know what a heart-wrenching subject this can be and how to approach each fact.

10 Holocaust Books

Add some of these books to your Holocaust unit study or if you're just learning about the Holocaust.

Image for Terrible Things: An Allegory of the Holocaust (Edward E. Elson Classic)

Terrible Things: An Allegory of the Holocaust (Edward E. Elson Classic)

The animals in the clearing were content until the Terrible Things came, capturing all creatures with feathers. Little Rabbit wondered what was wrong with feathers, but his fellow animals silenced him. “Just mind your own business, Little Rabbit. We don’t want them to get mad at us.”

Image for Number the Stars: A Newbery Award Winner

Number the Stars: A Newbery Award Winner

. As the German troops begin their campaign to "relocate" all the Jews of Denmark, Annemarie Johansen’s family takes in Annemarie’s best friend, Ellen Rosen, and conceals her as part of the family.

Through the eyes of ten-year-old Annemarie, we watch as the Danish Resistance smuggles almost the entire Jewish population of Denmark, nearly seven thousand people, across the sea to Sweden. The heroism of an entire nation reminds us that there was pride and human decency in the world even during a time of terror and
war.

Image for A Chicken Was There: World War II

A Chicken Was There: World War II

This is a book about heroes. They don't have superpowers and can't be found on a stage or in a sports arena. It's about everyday people who stood up for others in a time of darkness. They're the kind of heroes whose stories will inspire readers young and old alike to see that making a difference in the world happens one person at a time.Using a chicken as a narrator brings both wit and innocence to the
twenty-five historically based short stories of World War II. Focusing on everyday heroes, each story draws the reader in with factual aspects of the battles and people of the time period mixed in with the more
personal, human side of war.

Image for The Hiding Place

The Hiding Place

Corrie ten Boom was the first licensed female watchmaker in the Netherlands who became a heroine of the Resistance, a survivor of Hitler's concentration camps, and one of the most remarkable ministers
of hope in the twentieth century. In World War II she and her family risked their lives to help Jews and underground workers escape from the Nazis. In 1944 their lives were forever altered when they were
betrayed, arrested, and thrown into the infamous Nazi death camps. Only Corrie among her family survived.

Image for I Have Lived A Thousand Years: Growing Up In The Holocaust

I Have Lived A Thousand Years: Growing Up In The Holocaust

So wonders thirteen-year-old Elli Friedmann as she fights for her life in a Nazi concentration camp. A remarkable memoir, I Have Lived a Thousand Years is a story of cruelty and suffering, but at the same time a story of hope, faith, perseverance, and love. It wasn’t long ago that Elli led a normal life that included family, friends, school, and thoughts about boys. A life in which Elli could lie and daydream for hours that she was a beautiful and elegant celebrated poet. But these adolescent daydreams quickly darken in March 1944, when the Nazis invade Hungary. First Elli can no longer attend school, have possessions, or talk to her neighbors. Then she and her family are forced to leave their house behind to move into a crowded ghetto, where privacy becomes a luxury of the past and food becomes a scarcity. Her strong will and faith allow Elli to manage and adjust, but what she doesn’t know is that this is only the beginning. The worst is yet to come...

Image for Winged Watchman (Living History Library)

Winged Watchman (Living History Library)

This acclaimed story of World War II is rich in suspense, characterization, plot and spiritual truth. Every element of occupied Holland is united in a story of courage and hope: a hidden Jewish child,
an “underdiver,” a downed RAF pilot, an imaginative, daring underground hero, and the small things of family life which surprisingly carry on in the midst of oppression. The Verhagen family, who live in the old windmill called the Winged Watchman, are a memorable set of individuals whose lives powerfully demonstrate the resilience of those who suffer but do not lose faith.

Image for Facing the Lion: Memoirs of a Young Girl in Nazi Europe

Facing the Lion: Memoirs of a Young Girl in Nazi Europe

Simone Arnold is an ordinary French schoolgirl, spirited and stubborn. Then the Nazis march in, demanding complete conformity. Friends become enemies. Teachers spout Nazi propaganda. School officials recruit for the Hitler Youth. Simone's family refuses to heil Hitler as Germany's savior. They are Jehovah's Witnesses, and they reject Nazi racism and violence. The Nazi Lion makes them pay the price.

Image for The Upstairs Room: A Newbery Honor Book―A True Story of Holocaust Survival in Nazi-Occupied Holland for Children (Ages 8-12)

The Upstairs Room: A Newbery Honor Book―A True Story of Holocaust Survival in Nazi-Occupied Holland for Children (Ages 8-12)

When the German army occupied Holland in 1940, Annie was only eight years old. Because she was Jewish, the occupation put her in grave danger. Most people thought the war wouldn’t last long, but Annie knew that if she wanted to stay alive, she would have to go into hiding.

Fortunately, a Gentile family, the Oostervelds, offered refuge to Annie and her older sister, Sini. For two years they hid in the cramped upstairs room of the Oostervelds’s remote farmhouse. There, Annie and Sini would struggle to hold on to hope—separated from their family and confined to one tiny room—as a frightful and seemingly endless war raged on outside their window.

Image for When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit

When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit

Anna is not sure who Hitler is, but she sees his face on posters all over Berlin. Then one morning, Anna and her brother awake to find her father gone! Her mother explains that their father has had to leave
and soon they will secretly join him. Anna just doesn't understand. Why do their parents keep insisting that Germany is no longer safe for Jews like them? Because of Hitler, Anna must leave everything behind
as her family embarks on a journey that extends over several years and over the borders of many countries.

Image for Night

Night

Night is Elie Wiesel's masterpiece, a candid, horrific, and deeply poignant autobiographical account of his survival as a teenager in the Nazi death camps. This new translation by Marion Wiesel, Elie's wife and frequent translator, presents this seminal memoir in the language and spirit truest to the author's original intent. And in a substantive new preface, Elie reflects on the enduring importance of Night and his lifelong, passionate dedication to ensuring that the world never forgets man's capacity for inhumanity to man.Night offers much more than a litany of the daily terrors, everyday perversions, and rampant sadism at Auschwitz and Buchenwald; it also eloquently addresses many of the philosophical as well as personal questions implicit in any serious consideration of what the Holocaust was, what it meant, and what its legacy is and will be.

And then look at other events during World War II.

WORLD WAR II ACTIVITIES TO PAIR WITH THE HOLOCAUST LAPBOOK

  • Free World War II Unit Study Ideas and Fun Lapbook
  • World War II Hands-On History – Make Ration Cakes
  • Holocaust Resources for Middle School
  • World War II Hands-On History – Make a Secret Message Deck
  • Holocaust Movies for Middle School and High School
  • 8 World War II Historical Fiction Books for Middle School
  • World War II Free Resources For a Middle School Unit Study & Make Victory Garden Soup
  • World War II Homeschool History-Manhattan Project,Vocabulary & A. Frank
  • World War II Homeschool History: Life During the War & Pearl Harbor Minibook
  • World War II Homeschool History: Minibooks Causes & Great Depression
  • World War II Homeschool History: Staged For War & Quick Facts Minibooks & Links
  • World War II Homeschool History Free Unit Study and Lapbook

Then of course adjust the lapbook to your learners as this is a dark, dark subject as I mentioned before.

I tried to pick books which were a balance of not too graphic but also some that are true to facts so that you can decide which books work for your family.

You can add more minibooks to it. I included basic minibooks.

Also, look at the minibooks included in this Holocaust lapbook.

Free Lapbook Holocaust For Kids Who Love Hands-On Learning
  • Timeline of events
  • What was the Holocaust
  • Vocabulary Words
  • Anne Frank
  • What We Learn

This is a subscriber freebie.

HOW TO GET THE FREE HOLOCAUST LAPBOOK

That means when you sign up to follow me, you get my emails in your inbox and you get this freebie.

1) CLICK HERE ON THIS LINK TO SIGN UP ON MY EMAIL LIST & TO GET THIS FREEBIE

2) Grab the freebie instantly.

3) Last, look for all my emails in your inbox. Glad to have you following me

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Lapbooks Tagged With: hands on history, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, holocaust, lapbook, lapbooking, lapbookresources, lapbooks

Fun And Easy Nile River Project Ideas To Spark Your Creativity

January 26, 2026 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have some easy Ancient Egypt Nile River project ideas to add to your hands-on history ideas. Also, look at my page Ancient Egypt Unit Study – Trip through Ancient History for more ideas. Also, look at my page Hands-On Simple And Best Homeschool Geography Ideas & Tips for more ideas.

Studying the Nile River is a fun way to explore history, geography, science, and culture. And at times it’s not easy to add your youngest history learners in a unit study about Ancient Egypt.

I have a fun hands-on sensory way to introduce your littles to the Nile River with this Egyptian River Nile tray. And I have some ideas for multiple ages.

Fun And Easy Nile River Project Ideas To Spark Your Creativity

Besides studying about the Nile River you can include many subjects. For example, if studying geography your kids can read how long it is, where it is and why it matters.

For science your children can learn about farming, plants and animals. Learn why the Nile River is one of the longest rivers in the world.

Then for history learn about how Ancient Egyptians depended on the Nile River.

BOOKS ABOUT ANCIENT EGYPT FOR KIDS

First, look at some of these living books about Ancient Egypt.

8 Ancient Egypt Hands-on Resources & Books

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

Image for The Ancient Egypt Pop-up Book:

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.

Image for THE CAT OF BUBASTES: A Tale Of Ancient Egypt : Classic Edition with Complete Original Illustrations

THE CAT OF BUBASTES: A Tale Of Ancient Egypt : Classic Edition with Complete Original Illustrations

Amuba, a young prince of the Rebu tribe, was taken captive by the Egyptians after his people were defeated in battle. Brought to Thebes as a slave, Amuba found himself serving under the household of Ameres, a high priest of the great temple of ubastes. Despite his initial resentment, Amuba came to respect Ameres for his wisdom and fairness, and he formed a close friendship with Chebron, the priest’s son. Life in ancient Egypt revealed to Amuba a world of art, religion, and politics unlike any he had known.

Amuba’s peaceful life was disrupted when Chebron accidentally killed the sacred cat of Bubastes, an act considered a grave offense. The incident placed the family in mortal danger as the wrath of the temple authorities and the superstitious populace descended upon them. Amuba stood by his friend, using his courage and resourcefulness to help the family escape the city. Their journey was fraught with peril, from evading temple guards to navigating treacherous desert terrain.

Image for Activity Study: Great Empires
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

Image for Ancient Egypt Activity Book For Kids: Ancient Egypt

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.

Image for Boy of the Pyramids: A Mystery of Ancient Egypt

Boy of the Pyramids: A Mystery of Ancient Egypt

The best mystery of Ancient Egypt for younger children!

At any time and in any place, when there is a mystery to be solved, a ten-year-old boy will want to have a hand in it. So it was with Kaffe, an Egyptian boy of long ago. With his friend Sari, a slave-girl, Kaffe had many adventures—the harvest feast, the fight of the bulls, the flood. Then came the mystery of the pyramid’s missing jewels and a dark night when Kaffe, his father, and Sari set out to catch the thief.

  • Gentle, Yet Exciting, Mystery—No murders or grizzly mummy stories here. Readers are eased into the mystery of the missing jewels with some clues and characters among the first chapters, then the excitement builds as they set out to catch the thief.
Image for The Golden Goblet (Newbery Library, Puffin)

The Golden Goblet (Newbery Library, Puffin)

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

Next, look at hands-on activities to accompany your study about Ancient Egypt.

HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES ABOUT ANCIENT EGYPT

  • The Vanishing Of Queen Nefertiti Free Ancient Egypt Printable
  • Ancient Egyptian Mathematics: Build a LEGO Math Calculator
  • Discover The Secrets Of Ancient Egypt: Free Printable Hieroglyphics Alphabet
  • Fun Hands-On History: Ancient Egyptian Collar Craft
  • Ancient Egypt DIY Simple and Fun Mummification Process Game
  • Fun Pharaohs and Queens Ancient Egypt Lapbook and Activities
  • Fun and Easy Hands-On Ancient Egypt Craft: Create Canopic Jars
  • 11 Easy Hands-On Ancient Egypt Projects for Middle School
  • Hands-on Ancient Egypt: Israelite Mud Bricks for Kids
  • Day 1. Ancient Egypt Civilization (Hands-on History): King Narmer Crown
  • Free Ancient Egypt Mehen Printable Board Game (Hands-on History)

Fun And Easy Nile River Project Ideas To Spark Your Creativity

Then, look at these Nile River project ideas.

10 NILE RIVER PROJECT IDEAS

  1. Nile River Delta Activity
  2. Egyptians Lived on the Nile River
  3. How to Make a Rice Krispies Edible Map
  4. Cool Facts About The Nile River For Kids
  5. Nile River Activity
  6. Nile River Delta model, homeschool history
  7. Nile River Diorama
  8. Cookie Maps of ANCIENT EGYPT!
  9. Fun Ancient Egypt Lesson Plans and Activities for Kids
  10. River Nile Facts for Kids – 5 Super Facts about the River Nile

Finally, look at this Egyptian Nile River tray.

HOW TO MAKE AN EGYPTIAN NILE RIVER TRAY

Then, here is another Nile River craft idea you can add to your unit study.

Supplies

  • Tray or shallow bin
  • Blue playdough
  • Kinetic sand
  • LEGO bricks
  • Small toy trees
  • Small toy rocks
Fun And Easy Nile River Project Ideas To Spark Your Creativity

First, roll and shape the blue playdough into a long river across the center of the tray to represent the Nile River.

Fun And Easy Nile River Project Ideas To Spark Your Creativity

Pour kinetic sand on both sides of the playdough river, spreading it out evenly to form the land.

Fun And Easy Nile River Project Ideas To Spark Your Creativity

Use LEGO bricks to build pyramids.

Add small trees and rocks throughout the tray to create texture and detail.

Fun And Easy Nile River Project Ideas To Spark Your Creativity

Adjust the materials as needed for open-ended exploration and play.

SENSORY TRAY BENEFITS FOR HISTORY

  • Builds fine motor skills through shaping playdough, sand, and small objects.
  • Encourages imaginative and open-ended play.
  • Supports early geography and social studies concepts.
  • Provides calming sensory input through hands-on materials.
  • Strengthens hand-eye coordination and spatial awareness.

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: ancient egypt, ancientegypt, egypt, hands on history, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, history, homeschool

Free Lapbook Napoleon Bonaparte for Kids Who Love Hands-on History

January 24, 2026 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have a free lapbook Napoleon Bonaparte for kids who love history. Also, you’ll love my other Homeschool Lapbooks – Powerful Tools For Mastery Learning on my page.

Too, look at my page French Revolution 1789 – 1799 Unit Study & Lapbook for more ideas.

And lapbooks turn reading and research into an interactive project that helps kids actually remember what they learn.

Plus, with this Napoleon Bonaparte lapbook you can combine history, geography, writing, and critical thinking.

Free Lapbook Napoleon Bonaparte for Kids Who Love Hands-on History

Napoleon Bonaparte is one of those historical figures who feels larger than life.

Napoleon shaped Europe in ways your child still sees reflected in history today.

A Napoleon unit study is ideal to do together because his life naturally invites discussion and critical thinking.

BOOKS FOR KIDS ABOUT NAPOLEON BONAPARTE

First, look at these 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.

Image for Napoleon Bonaparte: Biography

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.

Image for The story of Napoleon

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:

Image for Who Was Napoleon?

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.

Image for Napoleon and the Napoleonic Wars

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.

Image for Napoleon (A Wicked History)

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.

Then look at some hands-on activities about the French way of life and history.

MORE ACTIVITIES ABOUT THE FRENCH EMPIRE

  • Interesting List of Napoleon’s Battles & How to Create a Peg Doll
  • French Art for Kids: Unleash Creativity with a Free Pointillism Lesson
  • French And Indian War Activity: How To Make An Iroquois Longhouse
  • 10 Easy Resources About The French And Indian War For Kids
  • Dive Into The French Revolution Recipe Project: Easy Crepes
  • Pain Au Chocolat Easy Recipe
  • Learn About the Geography of France by Creating A Solar Oven
  • French Revolution Unit Study + Free Copywork Tale of Two Cities
  • Unit Study: French Revolution + Free Storming the Bastille Game
Free Lapbook Napoleon Bonaparte for Kids Who Love Hands-on History

Also, look at what you get in this download of the Napoleon Bonaparte lapbook.

  • Napoleon as Emperor
  • Battles & War
  • Napoleon’s Character Traits
  • The World of Napoleon Bonaparte
  • Before and After the French Revolution
  • Meet Napoleon Bonaparte

Also you can add minibooks of your own. For example, read about Napoleon’s early life and create a timeline mini-book, cover his downfall, exile, and death, and write whether his legacy was a hero or tyrant.

This is a subscriber freebie.

HOW TO GET THE FREE NAPOLEON BONAPARTE LAPBOOK

That means when you sign up to follow me, you get my emails in your inbox and you get this freebie.

1) CLICK HERE ON THIS LINK TO SIGN UP ON MY EMAIL LIST & TO GET THIS FREEBIE

2) Grab the freebie instantly.

3) Last, look for all my emails in your inbox. Glad to have you following me

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Lapbooks Tagged With: French Empire, frenchrevolution, hands on history, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, lapbook, lapbooking, lapbookresources, lapbooks, Napoleon Bonaparte

Ancient Civilizations: The History & Significance Of The Simple LEGO Ziggurat

January 18, 2026 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Creating a LEGO Ziggurat gives your child a better understanding of how ancient people lived, worshiped, and organized their cities. Also, look at my page From Simple to Spectacular: Easy LEGO Ideas for Everyone.

And look at my Ancient Civilizations and Ancient Civilizations II pages.

Ancient Mesopotamia is often called the “Cradle of Civilization.” It was home to some of the world’s first cities, writing systems, and monumental architecture.

Ancient Civilizations: The History & Significance Of The Simple LEGO Ziggurat

One of the most impressive structures built by the Mesopotamian civilizations was the ziggurat that we are going to recreate from LEGO today.

A ziggurat was a massive, stepped temple tower built in ancient Mesopotamia between 3000 and 500 BCE. Ziggurats were constructed by civilizations such as the Sumerians, Akkadians, Babylonians, and Assyrians.

Unlike Egyptian pyramids, which were tombs, ziggurats were religious centers. Each ziggurat was dedicated to a specific god or goddess.

MORE EASY LEGO IDEAS

  • How To Use LEGO Maths to Teach Essential Foundational Skills
  • Create Your Own Masterpiece: The Scream – Easy LEGO Art Tutorial
  • 5 Exciting LEGO Science Activities for Kids Who Love Hands-On Learning
  • Craft Lego Mythology Sets – How To Craft The Powerful Titan Atlas
  • How to Make a LEGO Solar System That Educates & Entertains
  • How to Create a LEGO Duck Pond: Step-by-Step Guide
  • How To Make A DIY LEGO Turkish Design Craft
  • Easy and Creative LEGO Eye Anatomy Activity for Curious Kids
  • A Splash Of Fun: The Ultimate LEGO Minecraft Coral Reef
  • Crust to Core: How to Build LEGO Earth Layers
  • Unleashing Creativity: An Easy Guide to a LEGO Stonehenge Model
  • Crafting Connections: How to Design a LEGO Family Tree
  • Ancient Civilizations: The History & Significance Of The Simple LEGO Ziggurat

KIDS BOOKS ABOUT ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA

Next, look at some books about ancient Mesopotamia.

7 Books to Read About Ancient Mesopotamia

Mesopotamia is a region situated within the Tigris–Euphrates River system, in the northern part of the Fertile Crescent. Today, Mesopotamia occupies modern Iraq.  In the broader sense, the historical region included present-day Iraq and parts of present-day Iran, Kuwait, Syria, and Turkey.

Image for Gilgamesh the King (The Gilgamesh Trilogy)

Gilgamesh the King (The Gilgamesh Trilogy)

Gilgamesh, half-god and half-man, in his loneliness and isolation becomes a cruel tyrant over the citizens of Uruk. To impress them forever he orders a great wall to be built, driving his people to exhaustion and despair so that they cry to the Sun God for help.

Image for The Golden Bull: A Mesopotamian Adventure

The Golden Bull: A Mesopotamian Adventure

5,000 years ago in ancient Mesopotamia during a terrible drought, Jomar and Zefa's father must send his children away to the city of Ur because he can no longer feed them. At fourteen, Jomar is old enough to apprentice with Sidah, a master goldsmith for the temple of the moongod, but there is no place for Zefa in Sidah's household. Zefa, a talented but untrained musician, is forced to play her music and sing for alms on the streets of Ur.

Image for Science in Ancient Mesopotamia

Science in Ancient Mesopotamia

Describes the enormous accomplishments of the Sumerians and Babylonians of ancient Mesopotamia in every scientific area, a heritage which affects our own everyday lives

Image for Ancient Mesopotamia: The Sumerians, Babylonians, And Assyrians

Ancient Mesopotamia: The Sumerians, Babylonians, And Assyrians

Explores Sumerian, Babylonian, and Assyrian cultures, discussing social structure, lifestyles, and the military in these societies.

Image for Lugalbanda: The Boy Who Got Caught Up in a War: An Epic Tale From Ancient Iraq

Lugalbanda: The Boy Who Got Caught Up in a War: An Epic Tale From Ancient Iraq

Lugalbanda woke with a jolt. He opened his eyes and what did he see but the terrible Anzu bird beating its wings in its nest high above. . . . Did he quake? Did he quail? No. Lugalbanda the Brave sat and stared, and into his head came a brilliant idea.

Image for Mesopotamia (A True Book)

Mesopotamia (A True Book)

Presents the history of ancient Mesopotamia, describing the different groups of people who lived there, and their government, cities, everyday life, religion, and writing.

Image for You Wouldn't Want to Be a Sumerian Slave!

You Wouldn't Want to Be a Sumerian Slave!

Invites readers them to become the main character. Each book uses humorous illustrations to depict the sometimes dark and horrific side of life during important eras in history.

Then, look at more about ziggurats.

ABOUT ZIGGURATS

The temple at the top was believed to be the dwelling place of the deity, and only priests were allowed to enter. Ordinary citizens worshiped at the base.

Ziggurats also showed a city’s power and wealth. Building one required organized labor, skilled workers, and careful planning. This reveals how advanced Mesopotamian governments were and helps us understand the importance of cooperation, leadership, and shared belief systems in early civilizations.

Ziggurats were built in tiered levels, with each level smaller than the one below it. This gave them a staircase or pyramid-like appearance.

Common features of a ziggurat included:

  • A rectangular or square base
  • Multiple levels (usually 2–7 tiers)
  • Staircases or ramps leading to the top
  • A temple shrine at the summit
  • Thick walls made of sun-dried mud bricks

Because Mesopotamia had very little stone, builders relied heavily on mud bricks. To protect the structure from rain, the outer layers were often coated with fired bricks or bitumen (natural tar).

One of the most well-known ziggurats is the Great Ziggurat of Ur, built around 2100 BCE in the Sumerian city of Ur (modern-day Iraq). It was dedicated to Nanna, the moon god. At its original height, it stood about 100 feet tall, making it one of the tallest structures of its time.

Religion was central to Mesopotamian life. People believed the gods controlled natural events like floods, droughts, and disease.

Ziggurats symbolized a connection between heaven and earth, serving as a meeting place between humans and the divine.

Ancient Civilizations: The History & Significance Of The Simple LEGO Ziggurat

Priests played an important role, offering sacrifices, interpreting omens, and caring for the temple. Ziggurats were often located in the center of the city, surrounded by homes, markets, and government buildings.

KEY ZIGGURAT FACTS

Here are some quick facts to share with your learner while building your own..

  • Only priests entered the top temple
  • Ziggurats were religious temples, not tombs
  • Built mainly from mud bricks
  • Found in ancient Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq)
  • Dedicated to specific gods or goddesses
  • Located at the center of the city

Also, look at more ziggurat resources and hands-on activities.

LEGO ZIGGURAT RESOURCES AND HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES

  • Watch the fascinating video –Interesting Facts About Ancient Mesopotamia Ziggurat.
  • Locate Mesopotamia on a map and identify the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.
  • Learn How to Make Unleavened Bread: Ancient Mesopotamia Bread Recipe
  • Have students write a diary entry from the perspective of a priest or city resident.
  • Hands-on Ancient Egypt: Israelite Mud Bricks for Kids
  • Check out my post on How To Make A LEGO Map Of The Mesopotamian Civilization for an eagle eye view of life back then.
  • Ancient Mesopotamia STEM Ideas! – Student Savvy
  • Discuss how mud bricks were made and why they worked in a hot, dry climate.

HOW TO BUILD A LEGO ZIGGURAT

You will need:

  • A variety of tan LEGO bricks
  • Tan baseplate if you have one
Ancient Civilizations: The History & Significance Of The Simple LEGO Ziggurat

First, gather up all the tan LEGO bricks you can find, of all sizes. Though it’s a small build, it will take more than you think.

If you don’t have enough tan, you can make it in white or yellow as well.

Begin by building boxes using small tan baseplates and create a border around them with 1-stud or 2-stud wide bricks. Start with a small one. No need to fill in the center and use up extra bricks.

Ancient Civilizations: The History & Significance Of The Simple LEGO Ziggurat

Top it off with another small tan baseplate.

Ancient Civilizations: The History & Significance Of The Simple LEGO Ziggurat

Build another larger one and place it underneath, and snap it into place.

Ancient Civilizations: The History & Significance Of The Simple LEGO Ziggurat

Repeat the steps, building these boxes, going larger and larger until you have created 3-5 to stack together.

Ancient Civilizations: The History & Significance Of The Simple LEGO Ziggurat

If you have a baseplate or smaller pieces, you can put them together to form a base and put your structure on it.

Build stair steps up the structure, leaving a space of 2 studs wide. Place a 1×2 stud at the base to hold the next step in place.

Ancient Civilizations: The History & Significance Of The Simple LEGO Ziggurat

Add a 2-stud wide, tall baseplate at an angle to create the “steps”.

Ancient Civilizations: The History & Significance Of The Simple LEGO Ziggurat

You can add steps around several sides if you like, or just leave it on the one.

The temple is thought to have been painted and maintained in an indigo color. You can top your structure with a blue LEGO brick to give it this look.

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: hands on history, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, history, LEGO

Crafting Connections: How to Design a LEGO Family Tree

January 16, 2026 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Creating a LEGO family tree is a simple but powerful way to help children understand relationships, generations, and their place in a larger story while tapping into creativity and play. Also, look at my page From Simple to Spectacular: Easy LEGO Ideas for Everyone.

Family history can feel abstract to children when it’s limited to names and dates written on paper. Turning genealogy into a hands-on project makes it meaningful, memorable, and personal.

This activity works well across multiple ages, learning styles, and especially for visual and hands-on learners.

Crafting Connections: How to Design a LEGO Family Tree

Studying family history helps children develop identity, empathy, and perspective. They learn that they are part of a larger story, one shaped by choices, challenges, faith, culture, and perseverance.

Using LEGO bricks removes pressure and perfectionism. There’s no “wrong” way to build a family tree. Instead, it becomes an evolving project that can grow year after year as children learn more.

This is one of those wonderful homeschool activities that blends play, academics, and meaningful connection, and it’s often remembered long after worksheets are forgotten.

Combine it with other activities like looking through old family keepsakes and pictures as well as doing further research on sites like ancestry.com.

MORE EASY LEGO IDEAS

  • How To Use LEGO Maths to Teach Essential Foundational Skills
  • Create Your Own Masterpiece: The Scream – Easy LEGO Art Tutorial
  • 5 Exciting LEGO Science Activities for Kids Who Love Hands-On Learning
  • Craft Lego Mythology Sets – How To Craft The Powerful Titan Atlas
  • How to Make a LEGO Solar System That Educates & Entertains
  • How to Create a LEGO Duck Pond: Step-by-Step Guide
  • How To Make A DIY LEGO Turkish Design Craft
  • Easy and Creative LEGO Eye Anatomy Activity for Curious Kids
  • A Splash Of Fun: The Ultimate LEGO Minecraft Coral Reef
  • Crust to Core: How to Build LEGO Earth Layers
  • Unleashing Creativity: An Easy Guide to a LEGO Stonehenge Model
  • Crafting Connections: How to Design a LEGO Family Tree
  • Ancient Civilizations: The History & Significance Of The Simple LEGO Ziggurat

LEARNING THROUGH FAMILY PHOTOS

Once the LEGO family tree is built, extend the lesson by looking through family photos together. Pull out albums, boxes of old pictures, or digital photo folders.

Crafting Connections: How to Design a LEGO Family Tree

Encourage children to:

  • Match photos to people on the LEGO tree
  • Notice changes in clothing, hairstyles, or technology over time
  • Ask questions about unfamiliar faces
  • Compare family resemblances across generations
  • You can turn this into a gentle storytelling session by sharing short memories or letting grandparents tell stories if possible. This builds listening skills, emotional connection, and historical awareness.

EXPLORE KEEPSAKES AND HEIRLOOMS

Family keepsakes are tangible links to the past. These might include:

  • Jewelry
  • Military medals
  • Old letters or postcards 
  • Baby books
  • Bibles with handwritten records
  • Tools, toys, or handmade items

Invite your child to examine one or two keepsakes and discuss them and how they fit into the family history.

Who did this belong to?
How old might it be?
Why was it important enough to keep?

Younger children can draw the item, while older students can write a short paragraph or create a LEGO display to represent it.

Researching Genealogy Beyond Your Home

As children grow more curious, you can introduce genealogy research tools to expand learning beyond what your family already knows. This is a great challenge for older children to take it beyond LEGO.

Helpful places to research include:

  • FamilySearch.org (free and very homeschool-friendly)
  • Ancestry.com (paid, but often free through libraries)
  • Local libraries and historical societies
  • Census records
  • Immigration and ship passenger lists
  • Church baptism, marriage, and burial records
  • Old newspapers and obituaries
Crafting Connections: How to Design a LEGO Family Tree

This LEGO family tree project can easily connect other subjects:

IDEAS TO TURN GENEALOGY INTO A UNIT STUDY

For example, look at these creative ideas.

LANGUAGE ARTS

  • Write a short biography of a family member
  • Create interview questions for grandparents
  • Keep a genealogy journal

HISTORY

  • Map where ancestors lived or immigrated from
  • Study historical events that affected your family
  • Discuss how communities change over time

MATH

  • Count generations
  • Estimate ages and timelines
  • Compare lifespans across centuries

ART

  • Build LEGO scenes showing family occupations or traditions
  • Design decorative family tree backdrops

Additionally, look at more resources to craft a family tree.

MORE WAYS TO CRAFT A FAMILY TREE

  • How to Make a Stunning DIY Family Tree for Grandparents Day (A Gift to Cherish!)
  • Here are 10 Different FREE family Tree printables to use.
  • Don’t Eat Grandpa Pete: Family History Game for Kids.
  • Grab a preprinted family tree to fill out, frame, and hang in your living room.
  • How to Make a 3D Family Tree.

Finally, look at how to design a LEGO family tree.

HOW TO DESIGN A LEGO FAMILY TREE

You will need:

  • LEGO Baseplate
  • Minifigures
  • Brown LEGO bricks
Crafting Connections: How to Design a LEGO Family Tree

For your LEGO family tree, start by deciding how many generations you want to include. I kept it pretty simple- younger children may focus on immediate family-parents, siblings, and grandparents, while older students can extend the tree further.

Design your minifigures to represent each person you want to display in your family tree.

If you don’t have a lot of minifigures, you can insert printed photos, certain color bricks, or handwritten names into the correct spots.

Crafting Connections: How to Design a LEGO Family Tree

The next thing you are going to do is build a simple tree trunk by creating a vertical column of brown. You can use regular bricks or the flat ones, as I did.

You want to leave enough room at the top of the plate to place your top minifigures.

Crafting Connections: How to Design a LEGO Family Tree

Then place horizontal pieces wide enough to hold 2 minifigures at the top, and work your way down to create the branches for each side and generation.

Now you can start to place the generations. We started with great-grandparents, but you can add a LEGO baseplate to make your tree taller or wider and encompass siblings, cousins, and generations even further back if you like.

Crafting Connections: How to Design a LEGO Family Tree

As you build, talk through relationships out loud:

“These bricks represent your grandparents.”

“This branch shows your dad’s side of the family.”

“Notice how families grow wider over time.”

Crafting Connections: How to Design a LEGO Family Tree

This conversation is just as important as the build itself.

Crafting Connections: How to Design a LEGO Family Tree

Continue your way down the tree with grandparents and parents, each on their own branch.

Crafting Connections: How to Design a LEGO Family Tree

Finally, have your child place themselves and their siblings at the bottom of the tree.

Crafting Connections: How to Design a LEGO Family Tree

To finish off your family tree with a little more detail, you can add some greenery around the branches as well.

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: hands on history, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, history, LEGO

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