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

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

If you’re doing hands-on history and want to add ancient Greek games for kids, you’ll love this knucklebones game and the other games on my page Kids History Games Boosts Learning & Promotes Critical Thinking.

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

It’s one of the oldest discovered ancient games.

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

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

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

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

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

The game of Knucklebones is 2,000 years old.

How Knucklebones Was Invented

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

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

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

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

And taught it to Greek soldiers during the Trojan War.

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

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

Ancient Greek Games for Kids

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

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

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

Ancient Greece Game Knucklebones Rules

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

You will want to practice.

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

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

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

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

Next, look how to make your own DIY Knucklebones.

How to Make DIY Knucklebones Game

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

You will need:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Other History Games for Kids

And finally, here are some other Ancient Greece activities.

Other Ancient Greece Activities

3 Fun Cocoa Winter Hands on Science Activities

October 6, 2022 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Your kids will love doing three different cocoa winter hands-on science activities to go with my winter season unit study.

And we’re taking one of our favorite winter treats and turning it into science.

Using a simple packet of cocoa, we’re going to do three fun winter hands on science activities that your kids will love.

3 Fun Cocoa Winter Hands on Science Activities

These activities will appeal to multiple senses and can be used to teach some basic science principles.

Adding a new sensory experience to some science activities that might be ordinary and basic can give them new life.

Too, it makes them interesting, stirs your child to ponder about science, and helps your child retain what he has learned in an exciting new way.

3 Fun Cocoa Science Activities for Kids

Grab some of your favorite chemistry books like Basher Chemistry to reference while exploring these cocoa winter science activities.

And learn some of the vocabulary and scientific terms that go with them.

Don’t forget to enjoy a delicious cup of cocoa with your little scientist while you have fun with these activities.

Don’t confuse it with one of science mixtures.

1. Hydrophobic Hot Cocoa Science Activity

First, begin with this hydrophobic hot cocoa activity.

You’ll need:

A clear container
Spoon
Hot cocoa mix
Water- hot and cold

Directions:

Grab a glass of cold water and a heaping tablespoon of hot cocoa powder.

Slowly lower the spoon into the glass.

Twist and move the spoon a bit.

Raise the spoon out of the glass. What happened? The liquid that was wrapped around the powder rolls right off.

Now heat up a cup of water. It doesn’t have to be boiling just nice and hot.

Stir another tablespoon of cocoa into the water and see how fast it dissolves.

What is the Science of Hydrophobic Hot Cocoa

Cocoa is a substance that is known as hydrophobic. This means that it repels water.

The fat in the cocoa makes it hydrophobic. Oil is also hydrophobic. Have you heard the old saying oil and water don’t mix? It’s true.

So why does it dissolve in hot water so much better than cold water? Simply put, hot water has more energy in it than cold water.

This means that the molecules move faster and break down the cocoa powder faster than cold water does.

You can also try this experiment with cold and hot milk. It will work the same due to the amount of water in the milk.

2. Hot Cocoa Slime Science Activity

Second, slime is not just a fun sensory activity.

It can be used to learn some basic chemistry terms like

molecules
polymers
chemical reactions
and nonnewtonian fluid ( neither a solid or a liquid).

And slime is also calming. It helps with focus and builds fine motor skills. This slime smells amazing and is a great winter themed experiment.

You’ll need:

1 packet of hot cocoa
1 cup of school glue
2 Tablespoons of contact solution
3 teaspoons baking soda

Directions:

Place glue, baking soda, and contact solution in a large bowl.

Stir in an entire packet of hot cocoa.

Remove from bowl and knead with your hands for a few minutes until desired texture is reached.

What is the Science of Cocoa Slime

When you mix baking soda with contact lens solution the main ingredients polyvinyl alcohol and borate ion undergo a chemical reaction called an endothermic reaction

Together, these two ingredients create a non-Newtonian fluid which is a substance that is neither liquid nor solid.

Slime is a polymer.

And polymers are made up of long chains of molecules.

Too, the glue contains polymers which can bend and slide past each other. This allows the slime to flow and to take the shape of the container it is in.

Last, this activity is the hot cocoa volcano.

3. Hot Cocoa Volcano Science Activity

This is a fantastic multi-sensory science experiment. It smells great and creates an exciting chemical reaction that kids love.

You can continue to add baking soda and vinegar to keep the reaction going indefinitely.

You’ll need:

Small plastic cup
1 Tablespoon Hot Cocoa
2 Tablespoons baking soda
Vinegar

Directions:

Mix baking soda and hot cocoa in a small cup.

Place your cup outside or on a surface that is easy to clean, this ~~could~~ WILL get messy.

Slowly pour vinegar into the cup and watch it bubble over.

Add more baking soda and vinegar to continue with the cocoa lava flow.

if you really want to get a bubbly foaming concoction that resembles lava add a bit of dish soap to your mixture.

What is the Science of the Hot Cocoa Volcano

Baking soda and vinegar react to neutralize each other.

Vinegar is an acid and baking soda is an alkali.

And the resulting reaction releases carbon dioxide which is the bubbles of gas that make it look like a bubbling volcano.

More Winter Season Unit Study Resources

Then, here are some other winter unit study resources you’ll love.

And add my other unit study Arctic Region.

What do you think? Are you ready for a bit of winter fun and science?

How To Study Human Anatomy For Science:Build An Edible DNA Model

September 28, 2022 | 1 Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

How to study human anatomy begins with the basics which is DNA. Today, for a human body unit study, we’re making an easy edible DNA model.Also I have this Human Body Crafts page for more fun ideas.

An anatomy unit study begins with the smallest building blocks of a cell and works its way up to DNA, genes, and so on.

DNA is usually a big part of a study of human anatomy so that is where we will focus for this activity.

How To Study Human Anatomy For Science:Build An Edible DNA Model

This hands-on project turns a simple lesson on DNA into a tasty edible treat.

But the best part is that teaches your kid’s what DNA is made of, how it works, what changes it, and more.

Whether you’re using a boxed or all-in-one curriculum or piecing together your own study, this activity is a fun way to teach your kids about the structure of DNA.

Add in a couple great books, some videos and you have a mini DNA unit study.

If you are studying anatomy and physiology with an older child, there is no reason it needs to be dry and boring.

As a matter of fact, hands-on is proven time and again to make a bigger impact on what a child retains.

DNA Resources for Kids

So, look at a few videos to get your children learning about what is DNA.

In addition, here are a few simple books that provide great reference for DNA material.

Basher Human Body
My First Book About Genetics Coloring Book
The DNA Book

Then, here are a few DNA facts.

DNA Facts for Kids

DNA is short for -deoxyribonucleic acid.
DNA is made from just 4 substances-Adenine, Thymine, Cytosine, and Guanine.
There are 46 chromosomes in the human body, arranged in 23 pairs.
DNA can be used to identify someone, just the way a fingerprint does.
No one has the exact same DNA, except twins.
Siblings share about 50% of similar genes.
You have about 25% similarity with grandparents, aunts, and uncles.
It is found in almost every cell of your body.
Friedrich Miescher discovered DNA in 1869.
DNA from a single cell if stretched out would be 6 feet long.
Mitochondrial DNA comes from your maternal (mothers) line.
A single gram of DNA can hold up to 700 terabytes’ worth of data. Cool!
After a cell divides, it makes and exact copy of itself, all cells carry the same code.

Human Body Lapbook

In addition, you’ll love my human body lapbook.

Dynamic and Fun Human Body Lapbook for Multiple Ages
$5.00 Add to cart

And start out by introducing the candy and what each part represents as well as what it’s made of.

Color code everything. Give it as separate color to avoid confusion.

Make paper labels to identify each part. Also, identify which two bases can be combined for reference.

The gummy rope is the backbone. It is comprised of sugar, deoxyribose, and bonded with phosphate.

It does not contain any genetic information, but it is important because it binds everything together.

Then the small gummies are the 4 chemical bases that make up the two types of nucleotide bonds.

These building blocks are hooked together to form a chain of DNA.

A nucleotide is composed of 3 parts:

five-sided sugar,
phosphate group,
and a nitrogenous base.

Bases store information and give the DNA the ability to code the phenotype – a persons visible traits.

This is called a complementary base paring.

And they are bonded together via hydrogen bonds, which are broken apart when the DNA needs to unzip and duplicate itself.

Human Body Crafts

How to Study Human Anatomy Resources

Also, look at these other human anatomy resources:

Finally, let’s make this hand-on edible DNA model for our fun study of human anatomy.

How to Make an Edible DNA Model

You will need:

Sour Straws, Twizzlers, or other long gummy rope shape
4 colors of gummy dots, bears, marshmallows, sour bites, etc
Toothpicks

Directions:

Separate 4 colors of gummies or marshmallows out of your package and label each Adenine, Thymine, Cytosine, and Guanine.

Make four different piles of nucleotides.

Create base pairs by pressing two candies onto a toothpick.

You can only combine Guanine with Cytosine, Adenine and Thymine to create proper chemical bonds.

The colors can go on either the left or the right side.

However, the colors must be paired correctly to create a proper chemical bond

Once you have enough pairs you can then create the backbone pieces by pressing a long length of chewy rope to each side.

Press each toothpick through until secure.

This double helix is what holds everything together.

Here is what your completed model looks like.

Finally, you will want to twist in one direction from the top and the opposite direction from the bottom to demonstrate what the 3d double helix looks like.

Now you can deconstruct your DNA and enjoy tasting it.

Create more than one to compare or compare siblings to see the different versions of DNA

The Geronimo Stilton Book Fourth Journey Fun Egypt Game

September 27, 2022 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today in the Geronimo Stilton The Fourth Journey Through Time in the Geronimo Stilton Books, we’re making a fun DIY Egypt Senet Game.

So, I’m combining a love for Geronimo Stilton, Ancient Egypt, and board games into one fun and educational activity.

The Geronimo Stilton Book Fourth Journey Fun Egypt Game

Flipping through the Geronimo Stilton The Fourth Journey Through Time, particularly the first adventure which is Cleopatra’s Reign in 48 BC we decided to learn about games.

So, we created the oldest known board game in the world which is Senet.

Many Egyptians were found buried with a Senet (or Game of Passing) game to represent passing to the afterlife.

Geronimo Stilton Book Pictures

This Geronimo Stilton book is just like the others.

The pages highlight great vocabulary words for the theme and show fashions of the time period.

And beautiful architecture like Cleopatra’s Palace.

This is a great way to introduce your child to ancient Egypt, the symbols, customs, and one of the ways they passed their time.

While this Geronimo Stilton story didn’t mention Senet, I love to think that Cleopatra sat around on a lazy afternoon playing a game of Senet.

And sipping on a favorite beverage while obviously being fanned and hand fed her favorite foods.

The oldest evidence of Senet we have are pieces found as far back as 3100 BCE.

And the hieroglyphics resembling Senet in the tomb of Merknera.

The rules were lost, but they have been put together using context clues, paintings, and the rules of similar games.

We checked out as much information on the internet as we could.

And we put together what we think is roughly the rules for the game.

Rather than dice they used colored sticks to determine how many moves to make.

The object is to move all your pieces off the board. It feels similar to backgammon or a very primitive chess game.

How to Make a Kid’s Egyptian Senet Game

Now, let’s make our own version of Senet.

You will need:

stiff cardboard
4 wood craft sticks
A ruler
Colored sharpies or other markers
White and black clay

Then, here are the directions for creating the game.

Paint or color 4 sticks black on one side and a bright color or you can draw patterns on the other side.

Cut a piece of cardboard to roughly 5” x 12”.

You could make it smaller or larger.

I used the carboard back from a pack of cardstock.

You could upcycle a cereal box or whatever type of cardboard you have on hand.

Mark of 3 rows of equal width with your ruler and draw the lines with a pencil.

Next, draw 10 vertical lines so that you have 3 rows of 10 squares. These squares represent “houses”.

Trace over all the lines with a black marker.

The original game does not have numbered squares, but you will want to mark yours at least lightly in the corner to track it easier.

The numbers snake back and forth.

Instead of starting at the first square in the 2nd row you will drop down from 10 to 11. Then, move toward the left and drop down from 20 to 21 and move right.

On each of the following squares draw the symbols for each:

Square 15-House of Rebirth, Ankh
Square 26- House of Happiness, bird
Square 27-House of Water, three squiggly lines
Square 28- House of the Three Truths, three dots forming a triangle
Square 29- House of the Re-Atoum, Eye of Horus

Finally, you want to create tokens to move.

You can use pawns from another game, glass gems (flat marbles) or create your own by using air dry or oven bake clay.

We tried to make ours to look similar, but simpler version of the original tokens.

And we formed the black ones into drops and flattened out the white ones like this. Bake or air dry according to package directions.

Then, create rules for your game.

Creating Rules for Ancient Egypt DIY SENET Game

Look at some of these rules.

Place pawns along the top row, alternating colors.

Player 1 takes first, third, fifth, seventh, and ninth houses. Player 2 takes second, fourth, sixth, eighth, and tenth houses

Toss your “dice” and make your move according to what side lands upright:
4 colored side up- move 5 spaces and throw again
3 colored side up- move 3 spaces
2 colored side up- move 2 spaces
1 colored side up- move 1 space

Two tokens cannot occupy the same square. So, if you land on a square with someone else’s pawn you move theirs back to where you were.

But if they have two or more pieces next to each other the house is protected and you will not be able to move their pawn or finish your turn.

Meaning of Special Places in DIY Senet Game

If you land on space 27 you go to Space 15 (House of Rebirth).

Every piece must stop on Space 26.

In some versions you must throw a certain number to leave the space (you can make this a house rule if you like).

For example, if you are on 25 and do not throw exactly one move you must stay there until your next turn and continue throwing until you can move the exact number of places to land there.

Space 27( House of Water)- if you land here, you are sent back to the House of Rebirth. If you fail to throw the correct number on space 28 or 29 you are sent here.

Space 28 (House of Three Truths)- You must throw a three to leave here, otherwise you are sent back to House of Water (27).

Space 29 (House of the Re-Atoum) You must throw a two to leave, if not you are sent back to the House of Water.

When you land on the last house you must toss your sticks each turn until on 1 colored stick is facing up and then you may remove your piece from the board.

Other Geronimo Stilton Book Activities

Then, add some ancient Egyptian activities.

Ancient Egyptian Hands-on Activities

Finally, because you’ll already have The Fourth Journey Through Time to use as a literature, add some of other Ancient Egypt homeschool hands-on activities.

Learning homeschool history should be just as much about doing as reading living history books.

The Geronimo Stilton Series: Make a Fun Edible Coral Reef

September 10, 2022 | 2 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today, for book Number 29 Down and Out Down Under of the Geronimo Stilton series, we’re making an edible coral reef. The Geronimo Stilton books are for ages 7 to 10 years old and are full of mouse fun and adventure.

In the Geronimo Stilton series book Down and Out Down Under, Geronimo is off to learn on adventure to Australia.

The Geronimo Stilton Series: Make a Fun Edible Coral Reef

And when you think of Australia you may immediately picture cute koalas and terrifying crocodiles but another famous and very important part of Australia is The Great Barrier Reef.

The idea for creating this fun hands-on coral reef is from our latest read which is Down and Out Down Under (Geronimo Stilton #29).

The Great Barrier Reef is one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World and is teeming with incredible life, color, and beauty.

The story covers a lot of topics of interest in Australia.

This fun book mentions land animals, Uluru, Aborigines, topography, and the Great Barrier Reef .

Great Barrier Reef Resources

Today’s hands-on activity is fun, colorful, and a great way to teach all ages about the life that is in the Great Barrier Reef.

If you want to make an impact, hands-on activities are always the best way to fully immerse your kids into your topic.

This hands-on fun activity also appeals to all 5 senses and will make certain that your kids do not forget while they learned anytime soon.

Besides Down and Out Down Under (Geronimo Stilton #29) here are a few beautifully illustrated spines you may want to add to your library.

They are great basics that give great bites of information about the ocean, reefs, ocean animals and plants, and more.

Ocean Anatomy . I am such a big fan of the illustrations in these books but also how much information is contained in each topic. This one covers everything from why the ocean is blue and salty to tides, animal life, and even a section on The Great Barrier Reef specifically!

I am such a big fan of the illustrations in these books but also how much information is contained in each topic.

This one covers everything from why the ocean is blue and salty to tides, animal life, and even a section on The Great Barrier Reef specifically

Facts About the Great Barrier Reef

:Next, here are a few facts to share about the The Great Barrier Reef.

The Great Barrier Reef, located off of the eastern coast of Australia, is the longest coral reef in the world.
It is home to 1500 species of tropical fish and 400 finds of hard and soft coral
The reef serves as a protective habitat for many other forms of marine life.
One of the threats to reefs is coral bleaching.
Crown-of-thorns starfish is one of the predators to the reef which feeds on the soft coral polyps.
A coral reef is a fragile ecosystem which requires very specific conditions. The water must be warm (between 69-84 F) and relatively shallow (to depths of 60-100 ft).
Coral reefs exist in shallow waters because they depend on photosynthesis for food production. Photosynthesis is the chemical process by which plants capture sunlight and convert it, along with water and carbon dioxide into energy.

While your child designs their own little slice of sea life you can talk about the various life that lives here, what is being done to preserve it and where its located.

Next, look at how to make this fun hands-on edible coral reef.

How to Make an Edible Reef

Here is a list of some things we used. Your list can vary depending on what you use for plants and animals

One half sheet cake or a boxed cake mix
Vanilla wafers
Assorted candy – airheads, licorice whips, swedish fish, cookies, sprinkles and white chocolate pretzels
Icing in various colors or food coloring for your own icing

Bake your cake according to package directions and allow to cool completely.

Flip pan to carefully remove cake and cut ⅓ of the cake off.

Flip over the two pieces and stack the smaller one on top of the other.

And because reefs have overhangs and caves, you can make some nooks and caves by digging out some of the cake.

Add a little food coloring to the frosting and stir. Use any shade you like to create your base.

Carefully ice all over the cake making different blobs and creating different textures creating the base mound of your coral.

You want it to look like big rocks.

Cut up airheads, licorice ropes and other candies to create colorful coral and push in all over the cake.

Broken white chocolate pretzels make nice coral.

Use the heat from your hands to soften Airheads or other taffy and make some fan coral for your reef.

Also, you could create a makeshift piping bag by putting warm wax into a sandwich bag, cut off a small corner and squeeze to make coral shapes onto wax paper.

Allow to cool and harden then remove carefully from waxed paper.

Finally, add in some fun sea creatures and you can add some fun decorations.

These are from obviously these are not edible.

Be sure to wash them well before using to disinfect them and keep your cake safe.

And you’ll love these other Geronimo Stilton.

Other Geronimo Stilton Resources:

Too, you’ll love the ocean and coral reef resources I have here.

handson

How Knucklebones Was Invented

Ancient Greek Games for Kids

Ancient Greece Game Knucklebones Rules

How to Make DIY Knucklebones Game

Other History Games for Kids

Other Ancient Greece Activities

3 Fun Cocoa Science Activities for Kids

1. Hydrophobic Hot Cocoa Science Activity

What is the Science of Hydrophobic Hot Cocoa

2. Hot Cocoa Slime Science Activity

What is the Science of Cocoa Slime

3. Hot Cocoa Volcano Science Activity

Directions:

What is the Science of the Hot Cocoa Volcano

More Winter Season Unit Study Resources

DNA Resources for Kids

DNA Facts for Kids

Human Body Lapbook

Dynamic and Fun Human Body Lapbook for Multiple Ages

Human Body Crafts

How to Study Human Anatomy Resources

How to Make an Edible DNA Model

Geronimo Stilton Book Pictures

How to Make a Kid’s Egyptian Senet Game

Creating Rules for Ancient Egypt DIY SENET Game

Meaning of Special Places in DIY Senet Game

Other Geronimo Stilton Book Activities

Ancient Egyptian Hands-on Activities

Great Barrier Reef Resources

Facts About the Great Barrier Reef

How to Make an Edible Reef

Other Geronimo Stilton Resources:

Ocean and Coral Reef Resources

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