Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Activity, Change, Progress

hands on history

Ancient Phoenicia MinibookModern Day Lebanon

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The Phoenicians were famous seaman and founded colonies all over the Mediterranean Sea. When we studied the ancients this time, I tried to focus on making it matter by tying it to its modern day location which is Lebanon. 

Though the boys enjoyed reading about Beirut and understanding that Beirut is the capital of Lebanon, I think they enjoyed it a little more when we made the glass blowing connection. After we studied it last time, we focused on the Phoenicians craft of glass making.

Because I like to keep my units with some hands-on activities, I collected a few activities about Ancient Phoenicia at the bottom of this post.  That way we both have some resources when we review this again.

Phoenicians Ancient Civilization

Today, I also have the next minibook on Ancient Phoenicia. It is a tab book and I have a map included in this download that glues on the inside and a few facts too if you want to use them.

Ancient Civilization Lapbook

It is book 6 and it goes placed at the top right side.  We did revisit our glass blowing lapbook to make it somewhat hands-on.

Ancient Phoenicia Craft Roundup

I rounded up a few other hands-on ideas because it really makes learning about any topic a bit more lively. Even something simple is more memorable than a worksheet.

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Look at this fun boat made by the kids at Creekside Learning..They also made purple dye. Pic. Att: Satori Smiles) Over at Satori Smiles they used an expired bag of frozen blueberries to make the dye.

Glass Blowing Lapbook

My glass blowing lapbook ties in with this unit too. Click here to go there.

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Lovelearnplay
Ancient Phoenicia MinibookModern Day Lebanon

The Phoenician alphabet. I could see making a code of some sort to make this more interactive.

The Artful Parent has some beautiful ideas for doing some glass activities that would make studying this topic take an art trail. Click here to go there.

Then some links we marked/found helpful.

I hope some of these ideas help to spark your creative ideas or add to enrich your study about the Ancient Phoenicians.

HOW TO GET THE ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS II LAPBOOK

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

Free Minoan and Mycenaean Minibook for an Ancient Civilization Study

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Our year end co-op is always worth the time that it “distracts” me. Making a Roman shield and helmet compliments of some free cardboard and an easy costume equals a memorable day for Tiny. I promise to share all the easy how-to tips in upcoming posts.

But now that its May–YIKES– that means curriculum planner updates are coming soon too.  Hold on to your britches as I switch between topics in the upcoming weeks like my home management binder + my unit study printables + adding in my curriculum planner updates and yes I even have another giveaway coming up.

Free Minoan and Mycenaean Minibook for an Ancient Civilization Study

My year end co-op is finished, my New Bee workshops are done for the year and I am feeling all energetic and zippy.

Okay—-well almost because the kids said they could use a day or two to sleep in and my house still needs to be put back together. Just sounds better if I say the kids need it.

Today, I want to share with you the next minibook in our ancient civilization unit because we did our own lapbook too while we did the Great Empires Activity Study by Home School in the Woods.

On a side note: I was excited after searching high and low for some great clip art that I actually found some to purchase. You have to love those folks making donations to the Dynamic 2 Moms site because when they donate, I buy for you. I always try to be sure they get a Thank You from me.

Our reading focused on the Minoans and Mycenaean. The Minoans settled on the island of Crete at the same time as the rise of Mesopotamia and Egypt. This civilization too has royal palaces and paved roads.

In Minoan culture, bulls were significant and vaulting off the back of bulls was a sport. The Mycenaean were skilled at using gold, built the first Greek empire and were highly civilized even though all around them were barbarian tribes.

That is enough to understand about each culture if you are trying to keep it simple. I like simple.

This next minbook is a layered book about the Minoan and Mycenaean and all you do is staple on the side. As I have time you know I like to create minibooks that have text and create another set that is blank in case you want to fill in your own information. This one is no different. I have text on one set and the duplicate set is without text.

This allows you to use it with both, older and younger children, or to use the information given if you are in a bind for time. We do a lot of writing so I keep our minibooks easy because the focus is on the delight of learning not on penmanship. However, if you are working on penmanship you will enjoy having them blank. As you can see, lots of ways to use all of my minibooks

You know I told you that this lapbook is going to have many different civilizations in it. When I first started homeschooling, I focused on one civilization at a time and I still like to do that, but too after going through them with each kid or each year, sometimes its nice to have a quick glance at one time.  I think it helps younger children to get a panorama of history and its equally important for my older sons because it serves as a review. One reason also is if history is not your first love like it is for us, then looking at each ancient civilization with not so much detail keeps it from becoming overwhelming. I can’t imagine people not wanting to study history their every waking minute. Just saying.

Hugs and love ya,

Update: This lapbook is now complete.

HOW TO GET THE ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS II LAPBOOK

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

Ancient Maya Lapbook (Free Homeschool Unit Study)

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

We have been putting the final touches on our unit study for the ancient Maya. We started off our discussion on Meso-America and narrowed our interest down to the ancient Maya.

Free Ancient Maya Lapbook and homeschool unit study @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

I want to focus more on the Aztecs but Mr. Awesome and Mr. Senior 2013 are throwing out other topics for our next unit study topic.

Ancient Maya Lapbook (Free Homeschool Unit Study)

Tiny still likes this topic so we haven’t settled on our next unit study. Too, I think we may focus some on our new curriculum we just got. It’s hard for us to stay away from a good unit study for long so maybe the change to cooler weather will make them decide on a topic.

Ancient Maya Lapbook (Free Homeschool Unit Study)

In most unit studies we find an abundance of hands-on things to do but for this topic they really were focused on reading. However, we did find some hands-on things in the book Amazing Maya Inventions You Can Build Yourself that we liked.

We spent quite a few days learning about the tzolk’in calendar, also called the Sacred Round. It wasn’t as easy as the Maya made it look to line up the two circles for the calendars side by side.

Ancient Maya Lapbook (Free Homeschool Unit Study)

{tzolk’in calendar. pic att and link to learn about it.}

But we did manage to make two circles like the book said and followed the directions but I am not so sure we managed to use it like they did. It made us appreciate the advancements they made in math, building and a written language.

I added this calendar circle as a minibook in the lapbook. So here it is, the next lapbook for you. It has 9 minibooks.

Ancient Maya Lapbook (Free Homeschool Unit Study)

Then of course you know I have to make something for you to  put on the outside of your lapbook for a cover in case you don’t have wild hair and want to create one. So here are two cover choices.

Remember too all of my minibooks or downloads are usually kept separate and not one big HUGE download. I do this because it helps to keep organized when you can pick/choose what you want to download or keep on your computer.

Also, I do it this way because you may prefer to notebook and you can use individual minibooks and decorative pieces from the front cover to create your own notebooking pages. It is rare that I do one huge download. Just letting you know there is a method to my madness.

I made a few organizational changes to our school area this year and am ready to share that with you next. Here is a glimpse of one area I had to redo. I FINALLY got my teacher’s manuals for history and other subjects in a notebooking system I heart. I will have my pictures to share on the small but meaningful changes made to our area.

organization homeschool binders

You know I heart quotes each day. I find this one inspirational today as I think about you and the countless other educators as we daily give to our kids. Also, I was talking in my workshop Monday night how you do give up some things to homeschool but they seem so insignificant now when you see the blessing of your children. {sappy moment thought}. It just made me think of this today.

The things you do for yourself are gone when you are gone, but the things you do for others remain as your legacy.”

~ Kalu Kalu~

How to Get the Free Lapbook Maya and Free Notebooking Pages

Now, how to grab the free maya lapbook. This is a subscriber freebie.

That means when you sign up to follow me, you get access to my subscribers library and this freebie.

However, not all my freebies are in the library (wink).

I like to keep up to date with what is valuable to you so I can give you more, some freebies you must sign up again on the form below even if you are already a follower.

And it’s the only way I have of freely delivering them to you. Just follow the steps below.

► 1) Sign up on my list.
► 2) Go to your inbox and confirm your email from the automatic reply I sent you. If you’re already a confirmed subscriber, you will not have to do this. You’ll receive the freebie instantly.
 ►3) Last step. look for my reply AFTER you’ve confirmed your email.

FBI Unit Study Experiment 2 Invisible Ink

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Today, I have a FBI Unit Study Experiment 2 Invisible Ink. Also, you’ll love my free FBI American History Free Unit Study for more ideas.

I promise you I have not forgotten about releasing the newest free lapbook about the FBI, but it was such an extensive unit for us. I still have more to share before I release it.

FBI Unit Study Experiment 2 Invisible Ink

Today, I want to share another activity we did on the FBI unit study and that was to make invisible ink.

Of course, according to my teenagers anyway, you have to try the experiment out the way they did it on the movie, National Treasure.

INVISIBLE INK ACTIVITY FBI UNIT STUDY

There are several ways to make invisible ink and we did a couple of them.

FBI Unit Study Experiment 2 Invisible Ink

So the teens gathered some supplies and printed off some of the invisible ink activities from the internet. The one they really wanted to do was the one using cornstarch.

An iodine solution is used to reveal the writing. You make a gravy using cornstarch and write with that.

Are you looking to study modern American history? You'll love this AWESOME free FBI Lapbook and Unit Study | Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Then the message will appear purple after rubbing an iodine solution over it. The iodine binds to the starch molecules.

FBI Unit Study Experiment 2 Invisible Ink

Instead of waiting for me to get some more iodine, they decided to try it the easy way with lemon juice.

They wrote with milk too.

Do you think it would appear with just the heat of the blow dryer?

The boys determined that though the blow dryer was beneficial, they needed a much greater heat source like a hot burner or stove.

Once we got the burners going on the stove, we had messages.There are many methods to making invisible ink like white wine, vinegar, apple juice and even orange juice.

FREE FBI UNIT STUDY & LAPBOOK

Click here for making invisible ink appear if you want some recipes. This activity is an overall easy activity to do and it appeals to kids or adults of any age. They still would like to see a purple message though using iodine.

I have a few more printables to add to this growing unit.

We needed some covers for the notebooks the boys decided to use. I leave it up to my high school sons to decide whether they want to lapbook or notebook. It is such a fine line, I feel, between those two concepts because minibooks can be used in a notebook.

So it really is just a matter of how you want to present the information. Presentation is part of the grade for my high school sons so they get the say in how the cover pages are put together. For younger kids using lapbooks, the emphasis could be on crafting and decorating the outside flaps of lapbooks.

The next round of notebooking pages makes me feel better anyway preparing for the graduation of Mr. Senior 2013. The two pages can be used to track the history of the FBI from 1908 to present and/or add in world events. Just in case I missed anything in the last 100 hundred years of American History he can get the general idea of it in now before he graduates.

BEST HOMESCHOOL UNIT STUDIES

You know history is our very favorite subject and we probably didn’t miss any big events. It just comforts me when I have those moments wondering if I did enough with him.

There are just a few lines on the page to jot down the main world events and/or mix match to line up with the history of the FBI. It is meant to be used as a quick reference for history. 

Too, I think it really builds appreciation in understanding what was happening in the world around the special agents as they tried to keep up with changing times.

Are you to looking study modern American history? You'll love this AWESOME free FBI Lapbook and Unit Study | Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

By the way if you want to do some more reading about the way they did the invisible ink in the movie, National Treasure, read National Treasure – can lemon juice and hot breath reveal invisible ink. The article, National Treasure – can lemon juice and hot breath reveal invisible ink? is from The Creative Science Center.

MORE FBI UNIT STUDY ACTIVITIES

FBI Unit Study Experiment 1 Forensic Science Fingerprints

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today, I have a FBI Unit Study Experiment 1 Forensic Science Fingerprints. Also, you’ll love my free FBI American History Free Unit Study for more ideas.

I can’t wait until the first of the year to start sharing with you what we have been doing on our newest unit study.

I knew when the boys decided to study about the FBI that it was going to be a longer study because of how many sub-topics we had listed.

It has taken us more like 6 weeks instead of the normal 4 weeks pace that I try to stick with. Taking fingerprints was a pretty easy experiment to tie in with this study.

Prior to fingerprinting, the Bertillon system of measuring offenders was used in identifying criminals.

Mr. Senior 2013 likes anything pertaining to learning about civil or criminal law so this topic made for a nice day or two to spend reading about it.

FBI Unit Study Experiment 1 Forensic Science Fingerprints

It wasn’t until July 1, 1924 that the FBI begin to manage fingerprint files for the nation under the leadership of J. Edgar Hoover. 

Prior to that time it took as long as 20 to 30 minutes to measure an offender. 

Interesting enough you could see where persons of the same race and similar build were being convicted of crimes they did not commit.

Gradually, the FBI expanded their knowledge to include being able to detect latent fingerprints by laser. Latent fingerprints are prints left at the scene of a crime which can’t be seen to the visible eye.

The Bureau goes from using a very antiquated system like the Bertillon system to using state of the art lasers to detect marks.

Once they utilized technology they didn’t stop using it.

So we started gathering what books and magazines we have at home to continue studying about law enforcement and technology too.

FBI Unit Study Experiment 1 Forensic Science Fingerprints

We pulled out some magazines that we love. How it Works is a British magazine that has so many facts, beautiful illustrations and tons of information in each one.

Do you use any of these?  Pricey, but we love these magazines and they are keepers around our house as we collect them.

The one about robots has facts in it about self destructing memory sticks and an explanation about how handcuffs work.

Chain, keyhole, ratchet and pawl are all parts of a handcuff.

Then we couldn’t wait any longer and had to go ahead and get started on something hands-on. I always grab my basic “go to books” that have been with me for years.

FBI Unit Study Experiment 1 Forensic Science Fingerprints

These books,  How the _____ Works are made by Readers Digest. I know, crazy, but they have been timeless while I have schooled and still have experiments we haven’t done yet.

In How the Body Works is an experiment on making fingerprints that my oldest boys did when they were Tiny’s age, so we knew right where it was.

Tying in a spy or detective element makes it even better.

So the objective to this experiment wasn’t just to study the types of fingerprints but to see who “moved the glass”.

Understanding the three main patterns called whorl {spirals}, arches and loops and the percentage of people in the world who have them makes for a great math assignment for your older kids.

……{Arch}…………………. Loop………………………….Whorl……………..

In the prints encountered approximately 25% – 35% are whorls,  5% -10% are arches and 65% – 70% are loops.

If you had a co-op group or even in your own family, do the percentages.

Obviously the more kids you have the longer it will take to figure out the percentage. It makes for a fun way to apply some math skills

EXPERIMENT 1 FORENSIC SCIENCE FINGERPRINTS

After reviewing all of that, Tiny gathered all the supplies for our fingerprints.

  • sheet of colored paper
  • wide double-sided tape
  • talcum powder
  • magnifying lens
  • soft graphite pencil
  • spoon
  • felt-tip pen
  • glass
  • ruler
  • scissors
  • soft brush {uhmm clear throat here. Yes that is another one of my make up brushes that bit the dust.}
  • craft knife
FBI Unit Study Experiment 1 Forensic Science Fingerprints

While I do encourage all of you to have a high school senior set up and lead your experiment, I know it is not always possible to have one on hand.

FBI Unit Study Experiment 1 Forensic Science Fingerprints

I am telling you I have soaked up every minute we have had this year as I sit back and let him run things. Now that we are almost  to 2013, I have such mixed emotions about his pending graduation.

After adding the double sided tape to your grid on the paper, mix the powder and some scraped graphite, Senior style.

FBI Unit Study Experiment 1 Forensic Science Fingerprints

Then get everybody’s finger prints on the top grid after they take a dip in the graphite. (Walk away. Enjoy a cup of coffee, blog, go exercise, go read as your Senior has this one under control.)

After all the fingerprints are taken, label which prints belong to whom. Then have your youngest sleuth leave the room so you can determine who will be the offender and pick up/move the glass.

Have your criminal move the glass so that his fingerprints only are on the glass.

FBI Unit Study Experiment 1 Forensic Science Fingerprints

You usually have to wait some time until the oil returns back to your skin, or you can cheat like we did and add some oil to your fingertips.

Crazy kid. My sleuth leaves the room and comes back with his best sleuthing outfit. A must have to solve this crime. Tell me he is not soaking this up as he walks back into the room.

Of course the more sleuthing paraphernalia you have the better.

Use the mix of powder and graphite for the dusting powder.

Identify the prints and match to your premade grid.

Find your offending party.

With a little cheating “help” {oil on the offending party’s fingertips} so that we could do the experiment all at one time, it made for a morning of learning about forensics fun. My older boys want to do this with iodine fuming too.

FBI Unit Study Experiment 1 Forensic Science Fingerprints

I’ll be sharing our second hands on activity soon. Have you tried an easy or not so easy version of fingerprint matching before?

You know my obsession with quotes too. I love this one about fingerprints, such a terrific science lesson we had about them.

I love old books. They tell you stories about their use. You can see where the fingerprints touched the pages as they held the book open. You can see how long they lingered on each page by the finger stains.

~Jack Bowman~