• Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Activity, Change, Progress

  • HOME
  • How to
    • Preschool
    • Kindergarten
    • Elementary
      • Geronimo Stilton Books
    • Middle School
    • High School
      • Science 
  • Planner
  • Lapbooks
    • Trioramas
    • History Games
    • LEGO
  • Shop
  • GET STARTED NOW!
    • Learning Styles
  • 7 Step Planner
    • Free Student Planner
    • Free Home Binder
  • Unit Studies
    • Creation to Ancients
      • Mesopotamia
    • Middle Ages to Reform
    • Exploring to Revolution
    • World Wars to Today
    • Science
  • Curriculum
    • More Unit Studies
    • Geography
    • Writing PreK to 12th
    • Free Art Curriculum
  • BootCamp
    • Resources
      • Ultimate Unit Study Planner

handson

Unique Curiosity Chains Short Questions And Answers Freebie

January 2, 2026 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have a short questions and answers freebie for young learners. It is a curiosity chain.

Curiosity chains are a series of questions that follow one another. They guide you from one idea to the next so your child can explore, wonder and discover new things.

As homeschool families we want to nurture the natural curiosity kids have. A series of short questions and answers is a fun way to guide their curiosity.

Unique Curiosity Chains Short Questions And Answers Freebie

One of the things I like is that young learners don’t learn in isolation. One question leads to another.

For example, a guided curiosity chain lets learning flow across science, reading, art, and even math subjects.

Too, this encourages children to understand why not just what.

BOOKS FOR A UNIT STUDY SPINE

Next, look at these fun books to use as a unit study spine.

If your child finds a subject he is curious about, then you can use one of these books listed.

17 Favorite Unit Study Science Spines

I love to pair a living book about a topic with a reference book to use as spines. Sometimes, it’s easier to use a reference book as a spine and add living books as we go along. These are some of my favorite science spines.

Image for DK Eyewitness Collection 15 Books Set (Human Body,Ocean,Volcano & Earthquake,Animal,Planets,Periodic Table,Dinosaurs,Mythology,Ancient Egypt,Tudor,Victorians,Ancient Rome,Ancient Greece and More)

DK Eyewitness Collection 15 Books Set (Human Body,Ocean,Volcano & Earthquake,Animal,Planets,Periodic Table,Dinosaurs,Mythology,Ancient Egypt,Tudor,Victorians,Ancient Rome,Ancient Greece and More)

(Human Body, Ocean,Volcano & Earthquake, Animal, Planets, Periodic Table, Dinosaurs, Mythology, Ancient Egypt, Tudor, Victorians, Ancient Rome, Ancient Greece and More)
Image for The Water Cycle!: With 25 Science Projects for Kids

The Water Cycle!: With 25 Science Projects for Kids

Drip―Drop―Splash! Water is essential to all forms of life. So let’s learn all about it! The Water Cycle! With 25 Science Projects for Kids captures kids’ imaginations with a deep look at the world of water. Combining hands-on activities with history and science, The Water Cycle! invites kids to have fun learning about the water cycle, water resources, drinking water and sanitation, water pollution and conservation, water use, water folklore and festivals, and the latest in water technology.

Image for Skulls and Skeletons!: With 25 Science Projects for Kids

Skulls and Skeletons!: With 25 Science Projects for Kids

What would happen if you had no bones? You might fall over flat on the floor!

Bones are those hard parts of our bodies that make up our skeletons and skulls, and we need them in lots of different ways. In Skulls and Skeletons! With 25 Science Projects for Kids, readers learn about the bones in their bodies and why we can’t live without them. And bones aren’t just good for humans―many animals can’t live without them! But do all animals have bones? No, they don’t! And why do fish look so much different from birds, even though both have bones? Organisms use their bodies in different ways to successfully live in different habitats. For example, a bird’s light bones are great for flying, but would not support them deep in the ocean.

Image for Weather and Climate!: With 25 Science Projects for Kids

Weather and Climate!: With 25 Science Projects for Kids

What’s it like outside? Is it a day for building a snowman, constructing a sandcastle, or planting a garden? Weather and Climate! With 25 Science Projects for Kids introduces kids ages 7 to 10 to the fascinating world of meteorology and all of the ways what’s going on in the atmosphere above our heads can affect us here on the earth! Plus, discover how weather and climate change are linked but not the same, and figure out ways to be part of the solution to the problem of global warming.

The activity in our atmosphere plays a critical role in our lives and in the health of our planet. Today’s weather determines what clothes you wear and what you are going to do after school, while the local climate influences what kind of car your parents drive, what kind of house you live in, and―believe it or not―what foods you eat!

Image for Rivers and Streams!: With 25 Science Projects for Kids

Rivers and Streams!: With 25 Science Projects for Kids

Did you know that without rivers, human life might not have developed as it did? We might be a very difference species if it wasn’t for rivers, as would the other plants and animals who depends on rivers and streams for food, transportation, water, and power!

In Rivers and Streams! With 25 Science Projects for Kids, readers ages 7 to 10 dive in and discover how rivers change the shape of the land while plants, animals, and humans change the shape of
rivers. Through fun facts, engaging content, and essential questions, kids learn about the vital role that rivers and streams have played in human history and explore the ways rivers and streams might affect our future. Science experiments that promote critical thinking and creative problem solving encourage kids to make their own discoveries about the waterways they might pass every day.

Image for Kitchen Chemistry: Cool Crystals, Rockin’ Reactions, and Magical Mixtures with Hands-On Science Activities

Kitchen Chemistry: Cool Crystals, Rockin’ Reactions, and Magical Mixtures with Hands-On Science Activities

Bring chemistry to your kitchen with a book that offers hands-on science activities that can be done with ingredients from your pantry and the refrigerator!

What’s going on when you cook in the kitchen? Science!

In Kitchen Chemistry: Cool Crystals, Rockin’ Reactions, and Magical Mixtures with Hands-On Science Activities, readers ages 9 to 12 discover that the cooking, mixing, and measuring you do in the kitchen all has its roots deep in science―chemistry to be exact!

Image for Explore Rivers and Ponds!: With 25 Great Projects

Explore Rivers and Ponds!: With 25 Great Projects

Explore Rivers and Ponds! with 25 Great Projects, introduces kids to the fascinating world of freshwater habitats and the creatures they contain. Combining hands-on activities with ecology and
science, kids will have fun learning about the freshwater biome, including lakes and ponds, streams and rivers, and wetlands. Entertaining illustrations and fascinating sidebars illuminate the topic and bring it to life, while Words to Know highlighted and defined within the text reinforce new vocabulary. Projects include assembling an ecologist’s field kit, creating a fishless aquarium, pouring casts of animal tracks, and building a watershed replica. Additional materials include a glossary, and a list of current reference works, websites, museums, and science centers.

Image for Robotics!: With 25 Science Projects for Kids

Robotics!: With 25 Science Projects for Kids

Where was the last time you saw a robot? Did you read about one in a book or see one in a movie? Maybe you saw one in a video game!

Some people think robots exist only in our imagination, but actually, robots are all around us right now. Robotics! With 25 Science Projects for Kids offers readers ages 7 to 10 an introduction to the history, mechanics, and future use of robots! Readers explore the history of robotics and discover how the first types looked and moved and what people expected they could do. Compare these early robots to those we have today, some of which don’t even have bodies! Kids discover how robots have changed as decades have passed and see how they now look, think, sense, move, and do things.

Image for Gutsy Girls Go For Science: Astronauts: With Stem Projects for Kids

Gutsy Girls Go For Science: Astronauts: With Stem Projects for Kids

Hands-on space science projects help launch kids ages 8 to 11 into learning about fearless female astronauts who broke barriers across space and gender in this full-color book full of real-world connections!

Do you dream of going into space? Do you wonder what it’s like on the moon? In Gutsy Girls Go for Science: Astronauts with STEM Projects for Kids, readers ages 8 through 11 explore the lives of some of the world’s most amazing female astronauts, including Bonnie Dunbar, Sally Ride, Mae Jemison, Sunita Williams, and Serena Auñón-Chancellor―all pioneers in the field of space exploration. Their hard work and dedication to science and experimentation gave the world much new knowledge about space, biology, and more. These brave women took risks and pushed the limits of what we know about life in space.

Image for Energy: 25 Projects Investigate Why We Need Power & How We Get It

Energy: 25 Projects Investigate Why We Need Power & How We Get It

Energy is a vital part of our lives. It powers our computer, lights our home, and moves our car. It also costs a lot of money and pollutes our environment. In Energy: 25 Projects Investigate Why We Need Power and How We Get It, kids ages 9–12 learn about the history and science of the world’s energy sources, from nonrenewable fossil fuels such as oil and natural gas to renewable sources such as solar and wind power.

Image for Zoology: Inside the Secret World of Animals (DK Secret World Encyclopedias)

Zoology: Inside the Secret World of Animals (DK Secret World Encyclopedias)

This visual reference book starts with the question "what is an animal?" and takes you through the animal kingdom - mammals, reptiles, birds, and sea creatures. It uses a unique head-to-toe approach that showcases in spectacular detail special features like the flight feathers of a parrot, the antenna of a moth, or the tentacles of coral.This visual encyclopedia is filled with clear and fascinating information on everything about the social lives of animals. Read exciting stories like how animals communicate, defend their territories, and attract mates.

Image for The Animal Book: A Visual Encyclopedia of Life on Earth (DK Our World in Pictures)

The Animal Book: A Visual Encyclopedia of Life on Earth (DK Our World in Pictures)

This inspiring children’s reference guide welcomes you to the animal kingdom where you can meet more than 1,500 species, ranging from ants to zebras and everything in between. Stunning pictures bring you face to face with giant predators you know and love, including polar bears and tigers, as well as mysterious microscopic life, including amoebas and bacteria.

Image for Space A Visual Encyclopedia (DK Children's Visual Encyclopedias)

Space A Visual Encyclopedia (DK Children's Visual Encyclopedias)

From the Moon, Sun, and planets of our Solar System to space exploration, black holes, and dark matter, this completely revised and updated children’s encyclopedia covers all you need to know about the cosmos. The most up-to-date images from space agencies such as NASA and ESA combine with info panels, timelines, interviews, diagrams, and activities you can do at home to help you understand the majesty and wonder of space. 

Image for Backyard Biology: Investigate Habitats Outside Your Door with 25 Projects

Backyard Biology: Investigate Habitats Outside Your Door with 25 Projects

BIOLOGY IS THE STUDY OF LIFE. Life is everywhere, thriving in the city and in the country, teeming in ecosystems around the planet—in deserts, oceans, and even the Arctic. And life is right outside your door! Backyard Biology invites children ages 9 and up to investigate living things —especially in yards, parks, nature areas, and playgrounds. Trivia and fun facts bring animals, plants, and microorganisms to life, in all their wonder.

Image for Inventions: A Visual Encyclopedia (DK Children's Visual Encyclopedias)

Inventions: A Visual Encyclopedia (DK Children's Visual Encyclopedias)

This stunning visual guide explores and explains the greatest inventions, ideas, and discoveries throughout the ages, and introduces their inventors. From fire, stone tools, and the wheel to ploughs and paper, discover the first inventions that shaped societies and grew mighty civilizations and empires such as those in ancient Greece, ancient Rome, and ancient China.

Image for The Arts: A Visual Encyclopedia (DK Children's Visual Encyclopedias)

The Arts: A Visual Encyclopedia (DK Children's Visual Encyclopedias)

From the first strokes of paint on prehistoric caves to contemporary street art in the 21st century, every artistic style and movement is explored and explained in stunning detail. Special features celebrate the lives of groundbreaking painters, sculptors, and photographers, from Dutch master Johannes Vermeer to photography pioneer Julia Margaret Cameron. Many best-loved pieces of art are showcased in iconic images. Marvel at Leonardo da Vinci's mysterious Mona Lisa, the most famous painted lady. March alongside China’s statues of the Terracotta Army, and gaze in awe at Barbara Hepworth's stunning Pelagos sculpture.

Image for Ocean: A Visual Encyclopedia (DK Children's Visual Encyclopedias)

Ocean: A Visual Encyclopedia (DK Children's Visual Encyclopedias)

From the shimmering surface to the darkest depths, this breathtaking visual encyclopedia presents our blue planet as never before. Stunning photography, accessible information, and fascinating facts are spilling over in this essential guide to the oceans. Take a dip in all the world’s waters to experience their incredible diversity. Make a splash in the icy Arctic waters before warming up in the tropical Indian Ocean. Experience the super size of mighty whales compared to swarms of tiny krill. Cast your eyes to the skies to see circling sea birds before diving down to meet mysterious creatures of the deep. 

Next, look at some fun unit studies to nurture curiosity.

UNIT STUDIES

  • How Do Sharks Float STEM Activity Free Shark Unit Study & Notebooking Pages
  • Volcano Unit Study and Fun Apple Volcano
  • Homeschool Unit Study Egg to Sea Turtle Lesson Plans & Lapbook
  • Deer Unit Study & Notebooking Pages
  • Geology Unit Study And Easy DIY Eggshell Geode
  • Coral Reef Printable Lapbook and Fun Hands-on Unit Study Ideas
  • 5 Fun Candy Science Experiments and Unit Study & Homemade Lollipops
  • How to Incorporate Subjects into a Fun Homeschool Cooking Unit Study
  • Mushroom Unit Study and Kids Learning Activities
  • North American Robin Bird Lapbook and Fun Homeschool Unit Study Ideas
  • Ocean Lapbook and Homeschool Unit Study
  • Kids Dandelion Flower Unit Study and Easy Tea Recipe & Notebooking Pages
  • Chicken Unit Study and Anatomy of an Egg Felt Activity & Worksheet
  • Fun Dragon Unit Study Ideas and Salt Dough Dragon Craft
Unique Curiosity Chains Short Questions And Answers Freebie

This is a subscriber freebie.

HOW TO GET THE FREE CURIOSITY CHAINS PRINTABLE

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: 1. My FREE Learning Printables {Any Topic} Tagged With: hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool

The DIY Marco Polo Timeline Board Game: How to Play

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

What better way to create a Marco Polo timeline than to turn it into a fun board game? We are going to do just that with a DIY as we learn about the Silk Road. Also, look at my page free Marco Polo Unit Study and Lapbook 1254 to 1324.

And we set our game up like a Monopoly-style game to follow as a pattern.

Marco Polo’s journey was remarkable not only because of the distance he traveled, but because of what he observed and recorded. Very few Europeans had seen Asia in such detail during the 1200s, making his account one of the most important sources historians still use today.

The DIY Marco Polo Timeline Board Game: How to Play

Marco Polo was born in 1254 in the city of Venice, a powerful trading center. Venice was filled with merchants who traveled by sea and land to trade goods from faraway places. Marco’s father, Niccolò Polo, and his uncle, Maffeo Polo, were successful merchants who had already traveled deep into Asia before Marco joined them.

Marco’s mother likely died when he was young, and he was raised mainly by relatives while his father was traveling. Because of this, Marco did not meet his father again until he was about 15 years old. When Niccolò and Maffeo prepared to return to Asia, they invited Marco to come with them.

Marco Polo helped connect East and West by sharing knowledge at a time when the world felt much larger and more mysterious. His journey shows the importance of curiosity, courage, and cultural exchange.

BOOKS ABOUT MARCO POLO FOR KIDS

Next, look at these books about Marco Polo.

10 Marco Polo Books & Resources for Kids Who Love Reading and Being Read To

Add some of these fun books about Marco Polo to your home library or use them in your unit studies.

Image for Marco Polo

Marco Polo

The amazing story of a Venetian trader who becomes an aide to the great Kublai Khan comes to life in this retelling for students by Manuel Komroff. Follow along as Marco Polo travels through deserts littered with bones, encounters animals previously unknown to Europeans, and comes to serve in the court of one of the greatest kingdoms ever known.Included is a gorgeous new map tracing his journey, and 29 full page illustrations from an early edition written for adults.The text in this edition is a reprint of the original Messner Biography, a series that was created for students. "Well told and with engaging narratives, they unknowingly flow nicely from story to fact. You will find a plethora of information packed between these pages, not only about the title’s subject, but the subject's time and the world they lived in."

Image for The Adventures of Marco Polo

The Adventures of Marco Polo

Was Marco Polo the world's greatest explorer -- or the world's greatest liar? Newbery Medalist Russell Freedman turns his eagle eye on the enigmatic Marco Polo in his most exciting biography yet.

He claimed to have seen rocks burn, bandits command sandstorms, lions tamed with a look, and sorcerers charm sharks while divers gathered pearls on the ocean floor. Marco Polo shook Europe with descriptions of the world he'd seen on his epic journey to the court of Kublai Khan.

But was Marco Polo the world's most accomplished explorer? Had he really seen the "Roof of the World" in Central Asia, and the "City of Heaven" in far-off China? Or was he a charlatan who saw nothing more than the conjurings of his inventive mind? Join Russell Freedman as he tackles a centuries-old mystery.

Image for The Story of Marco Polo

The Story of Marco Polo

This is volume number 22 in the Signature Books series for young readers. This series, under the general editorship of Enid Lamonte Meadowcroft, provides easy to read, exciting stories based upon the lives of historical figures. A vivid story of the life and adventures of perhaps the most romantic traveler of all time, a man who returned from the East with tales so fantastic that no one believed him until he was vindicated by later travelers.

Image for Animals Marco Polo Saw (Explorer Series)

Animals Marco Polo Saw (Explorer Series)

A continuation of the Explorers series by award-winning author Sandra Markle, Animals Marco Polo Saw brings to life the amazing, exotic animals Marco Polo encountered during his explorations in Asia, how the animals sometimes affected the outcome of the journey, and even helped the explorer survive!

Image for Marco Polo (Junior World Explorers)

Marco Polo (Junior World Explorers)

Examines the political forces and personal ambition that drove Marco Polo in his explorations.

Image for The Travels of Marco Polo

The Travels of Marco Polo

Marco Polo was the most famous traveller of his time. His voyages began in 1271 with a visit to China, after which he served the Kubilai Khan on numerous diplomatic missions. On his return to the West, he was made a prisoner of war and met Rustichello of Pisa, with whom he collaborated on this book. The accounts of his travels provide a fascinating glimpse of the different societies he encountered: their religions, customs, ceremonies and way of life; on the spices and silks of the East; on precious gems, exotic vegetation and wild beasts. He tells the story of the holy shoemaker, the wicked caliph and the three kings, among a great many others, evoking a remote and long-vanished world with colour and immediacy. He found himself traversing the most exotic lands-from the dazzling Mongol empire to Tibet and Burma. This fascinating chronicle still serves as the most vivid depiction of the mysterious East in the Middle Ages.

Image for He Went With Marco Polo

He Went With Marco Polo

Cathay is a long way from his home in Venice, but when 14-year-old gondolier, Tonio Tumba receives the chance of a lifetime, he doesn’t say no. Leaving behind his only possession, a shabby green gondola, Tonio eagerly joins Marco Polo on his adventure.

As Tonio and the Polo family travel the dangerous silk road to modern-day China, they encounter many fascinating people and dangerous perils. When Tonio rides into Cathay on one of the Khan’s elephants, he says to his friend, Pietro: “Elephants are grand… but give me a horse any time – unless I could have a gondola. When we get back to Venice, I’ll take you out in mine.”

There are many wonderful sights, amazing inventions and great riches to discover, though Tonio looks forward to getting back home - but many years will pass before his chance to see the canals of Venice again. When so much has changed, will Tonio find anything worth returning for?

Louise Andrews Kent is a master storyteller, weaving historical accuracy and immersive adventure into one epic voyage of discovery.

This new edition features all the original illustrations and clean, readable text. It is a fantastic living book teaching about history and geography, recommended for ages 10 and up.

Image for Genghis Khan and the Mongol Horde (World Landmark Books)

Genghis Khan and the Mongol Horde (World Landmark Books)

Excellent, historic story well told by Harold Lamb and beautifully illustrated by Elton Fax. Originally published in 1954, this paperback edition was released in 1982.

Image for Marco Polo: Overland to China (In the Footsteps of Explorers)

Marco Polo: Overland to China (In the Footsteps of Explorers)

Relive Italian voyager Marco Polo's adventures in China in1275, including his legendary meeting with Kublai Khan, emperor of the powerful Mongol Empire. This exciting new book separates fact from myth using excerpts from Polo's actual journals and vivid illustrations and photographs to portray Polo himself and his impressions of the unique traditions and customs of the Mongols. A recipe from the period is also included. Topics include - what the Medieval period meant to Europe and exploration - the Silk Road - Marco Polo's service in Kublai Khan's court - life at sea and in the Mongol Empire - Marco Polo's influence on later explorers Teacher's guide available.

Image for Marco Polo: his travels and adventures.

Marco Polo: his travels and adventures.

This edition is presented complete and unabridged, with larger text for easier reading by younger readers, and all the original illustrations and decorations.“I have attempted to transform the somewhat dry and monotonous translation of this narrative into an entertaining story, that may engage the attention and the interest of my young readers; for which it certainly presents ample opportunities. If the task is properly done, no one can fail to follow Marco Polo from his Venetian home, across the entire continent of Asia to the court of Kublai Khan, and in his various adventures and journeys while in the far-off Orient, without eager curiosity and ever-deepening interest. The central figure of the story is heroic, for Marco Polo was in all things manly, brave, persevering, intelligent, and chivalrous; and the scenes and incidents in which he was the leading actor were in the highest degree thrilling and dramatic.”-From the Preface by the Author.

A Monopoly-style Marco Polo Silk Road game will allow your child to research Marco Polo and the Silk Road to determine the cities used on property spaces and other themes throughout the board game. 

The DIY Marco Polo Timeline Board Game: How to Play

The Usborne World History Book was a great resource.

MARCO POLO’S JOURNEY TO ASIA

The Polos began their journey in 1271, traveling mostly by land. They crossed dangerous terrain, including mountains, deserts, and hostile regions. One of the most difficult parts of the journey was crossing the Gobi Desert, which Marco described as a place of extreme heat, cold, and isolation.

The trip to China took nearly four years. Along the way, Marco learned multiple languages and studied the customs of the people he met. These skills helped him gain the trust of rulers and merchants throughout Asia.

LIFE IN THE COURT OF KUBLAI KHAN

Marco Polo spent many years in the service of Kublai Khan, the Mongol emperor and grandson of Genghis Khan. According to Marco’s account, Kublai Khan was impressed by Marco’s intelligence and honesty and gave him important responsibilities.

Marco claimed that he served as a government official, a tax inspector, and a diplomatic messenger.

Innovations He Recorded

  • Paper money used instead of coins
  • Coal used as fuel
  • Large cities with organized streets and marketplaces
  • Advanced postal systems with relay stations
  • Canals and bridges used for transportation

Some Europeans doubted these stories, but many of Marco Polo’s observations have since been confirmed by historians and archaeologists.

MARCO POLO’S RETURN TO EUROPE

After about 17 years in Asia, the Polo family was permitted to return home in 1291. They traveled by sea, escorting a Mongol princess to Persia as part of a diplomatic marriage agreement.

The journey home was dangerous. Ships faced storms, disease, and shipwrecks. Many travelers did not survive the trip. Marco finally returned to Venice in 1295.

THE BOOK OF MARCO POLO

In 1298, Marco Polo was captured during a war between Venice and Genoa. While imprisoned, he told his travel stories to a fellow prisoner, Rustichello of Pisa, who recorded them.

This book became known as The Travels of Marco Polo. It influenced European trade ambitions, mapmakers, and future Explorers, including Christopher Columbus.

Although some details may be exaggerated, historians agree that the book greatly expanded Europe’s knowledge of Asia.

The DIY Marco Polo Timeline Board Game: How to Play

Some historians have questioned whether Marco Polo actually traveled as far as China because he did not mention certain things like the Great Wall.

However, many details he recorded match Chinese historical records, especially about Mongol rule, government systems, and trade practices.

TIP FOR YOUR DIY MARCO POLO TIMELINE GAME SIMILAR TO MONOPOLY

Before we begin putting our game together, I want to give you some ideas for your adventure cards, board spaces, and other components of the game.

MONEY REPLACEMENT IDEAS:

  • Real bills and coins-this is especially good for younger kids who need the practice.
  • Trade coins/tokens made from gold cardstock or plastic pirate coins.

You decide how much each player begins with, what each property costs, and what penalties and prizes will be set at.

PROPERTIES CAN BE:

  • Major Silk Road cities
  • Trade hubs
  • Caravan stops
  • City Properties (Buy & Trade)

I found this extensive list of cities along the Silk Road on Wikipedia that can be used for your “properties”.

RAILROADS CAN BE:

  • Caravan routes (land routes)
  • Sea routes

CHANCE BECOMES MARCO POLO TRIVIA:

  • Answer a Silk Road or Marco Polo fact question
  • Correct answer = reward
  • Incorrect = penalty

COMMUNITY CHEST CARDS BECOME ADVENTURE CARDS

  • “You run out of water in the Gobi Desert.”  Pay 50 coins OR skip one turn.
  • “A sudden sandstorm slows your caravan.” Move back 3 spaces.
  • “You must cross dangerous mountain terrain.”  Roll the dice. Even number: safe passage. Odd number: lose 25 coins.
  • “Freezing nights and scorching days weaken your caravan.” Skip one turn to recover.
  • “Bandits attack your caravan.” Pay 50 coins OR give up one trade card.
  • “You hire armed guards for protection.”  Pay 25 coins, then ignore the next bandit card.
  • “A trader deserts during the journey.”  Lose one turn reorganizing supplies.
  • “A sickness spreads among travelers.”  Skip one turn OR pay 30 coins for medicine.
  • “Contaminated water slows your journey.”  Move back 2 spaces.
  • “You stop at a city to recover.” Skip one turn but collect 20 coins from the bank.
  • “Local rulers demand taxes to pass.”  Pay 25 coins.
  • “You receive permission to travel through Mongol lands.”  Advance to the next city space.
  • “A cultural mistake offends local officials.” Pay 20 coins OR miss your next turn.
  • “The Khan favors your honesty.” Collect 100 coins.
  • “You carry messages for the Khan.”  Advance to any city space.
  • “You travel under Mongol protection.”  You are immune to danger cards for one full round.

Special Spaces (Replace Jail, Free Parking, etc.)
“Stranded in the Desert” or “ Prison” (Jail Equivalent)
You are lost. To get out: Pay 50 coins, use a “Safe Passage” card, or roll doubles

“Caravan Rest Stop” (Free Parking)
Collect trade tokens or coins placed there as a result of taxes and penalties.

Utilities can be camels or ships.

DIY MARCO POLO TIMELINE BOARD GAME

You will need:

  • A blank game board
  • Acrylic Paint
  • Paintbrushes
  • Paint markers
  • Painter’s tape or washi tape
  • Pencil

Here is an entire game kit I found where you can get everything included at once.

The DIY Marco Polo Timeline Board Game: How to Play

The first thing you want to do is list out what each space will be, either from above or your own ideas. This will help you plan out your design and make sure you have enough

The DIY Marco Polo Timeline Board Game: How to Play

If you are going to color the tops of the “properties,” you can tape off the area with painters’ tape or tacky tape.

The DIY Marco Polo Timeline Board Game: How to Play

Paint the area in the chosen colors.

The DIY Marco Polo Timeline Board Game: How to Play

Use a pencil to mark colors or sketch out pictures in the spaces.

The DIY Marco Polo Timeline Board Game: How to Play

Trace your cards onto either side of the board’s center to mark the space.

The DIY Marco Polo Timeline Board Game: How to Play

Count out how many cards you need for each and decorate the back for “Adventure” and “Chance”.

The DIY Marco Polo Timeline Board Game: How to Play

On the opposite side, write out all your questions and challenges.

The DIY Marco Polo Timeline Board Game: How to Play

If your board has dried, you can now paint in any further designs, squares, or borders you have chosen. Paint pens are great for the smaller details.

The DIY Marco Polo Timeline Board Game: How to Play

Write the countries on the “property” cards and color-code them by adding a strip of paint to the top of the card that coincides with its spot on the board.

The DIY Marco Polo Timeline Board Game: How to Play

Design the center any way you wish. For us, we added a big swipe of paint, let it dry, and wrote in our game title with a paint marker.

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

Free Sleuths Calendar Daily Challenge For Your Science Lover

December 31, 2025 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have a fun freebie for your science lover. It is a science sleuths’ calendar daily challenge with answers.

A daily science challenge is a nice change to laid out science curriculum. And your child can do this independently or with you.

For example, kids can learn without burnout because there is no pressure. Too, it nurtures natural curiosity.

Free Sleuths Calendar Daily Challenge For Your Science Lover

Also, everyday turns to unforced learning moments.

In addition, I provided answers so it can be self-checking. Add this printable to a student’s notebook so your student can do it anytime and take it on the go.

So this science sleuth challenge invites students to observe, ask questions and make predictions. Besides, one of the questions and answers may spark a topic that can turn unit study.

SCIENCE BOOKS FOR KIDS

Next, look at these books that you can use for multiple ages or to spark an investigation, activity or experiment.

10 Science Books for Middle School

While not an exhaustive list, here is a good start on all three types of books to fill your bookshelves and offer your 6-8th graders brain food.

Image for Everything You Need to Ace Science in One Big Fat Notebook: The Complete Middle School Study Guide

Everything You Need to Ace Science in One Big Fat Notebook: The Complete Middle School Study Guide

The BIG FAT NOTEBOOK™ series is built on a simple and irresistible conceit—borrowing the notes from the smartest kid in class. There are five books in all, and each is the only book you need for each main subject taught in middle school: Math, Science, American History, English Language Arts, and World History. Inside the reader will find every subject’s key concepts, easily digested and summarized: Critical ideas highlighted in neon colors. Definitions explained. Doodles that illuminate tricky concepts in marker. Mnemonics for memorable shortcuts. And quizzes to recap it all.

Image for The Science Chef: 100 Fun Food Experiments and Recipes for Kids

The Science Chef: 100 Fun Food Experiments and Recipes for Kids

What melts in your mouth and not in your hands, plumps when youcook it, and comes in more than forty-eight scrumptious flavors?Give up? The correct answer is: Science!With The Science Chef you'll learn loads of basic science by doingfun, easy-to-perform cooking projects. And you get to eat theresults when you're finished!Why do onions make you cry? How does yeast make bread rise? Whatmakes popcorn pop, whipped cream frothy, and angel food cakefluffy? You'll discover the scientific answers to these and dozensof other tasty mysteries when you prepare kid-tested recipes foreverything from Cinnamon Toast and Basic Baked Potatoes toStromboli Pizzoli and Monkey Bread.Whether you're a beginner or an experienced cook, you can become agreat Science Chef. All 100 experiments and recipes require onlycommon ingredients and standard kitchen utensils. And The ScienceChef includes rules for kitchen safety and cleanup, plus a completenutrition guide.

Image for The Physics of Popcorn (Curious World of Kitchen Science)

The Physics of Popcorn (Curious World of Kitchen Science)

Learn how the microwave oven works, conduct experiments with static electricity, and discover the truth about toast!

Image for The Kingfisher Science Encyclopedia

The Kingfisher Science Encyclopedia

Science is vital for every inhabitant of today’s world, and being scientifically informed and literate is a crucial part of any child’s education. Science can seem daunting –- especially as scientific knowledge advances so quickly –- and this volume is the perfect purchase for any family. It will bear repeated use by all the family from 10+ through the teenage years.Fully updated for this new 4th edition with the very latest facts and data; clear text and more than 1000 photos and illustrations will inform and amaze.

Image for How to Survive Middle School: Science: A Do-It-Yourself Study Guide

How to Survive Middle School: Science: A Do-It-Yourself Study Guide

Learning is an adventure both inside and outside of the classroom with the How to Survive Middle School study guide series!These colorful, highly visual books cover all the essential info kids need to ace important middle school classes. Large topics are broken down into easy-to-digest chunks, and reflective questions help kids check understanding and become critical thinkers.Written by middle school teachers and vetted by curriculum experts, thisseries is the perfect school supplement or homeschool resource—and a great way to help create independent learners.

Image for The Chemistry of Cola

The Chemistry of Cola

Get ready to play (and learn) with your food! Discover the truth about the problems with plastic and recycling, learn how to read the periodic table, conduct experiments with soda rockets, and more.The Chemistry of Cola uses applied science for a fun and interactive approach to learning for the whole family.

Image for 7 Subject Science Portfolio - Minecraft & The Real World: Ages 10 to 17 - Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Meteorology, Physics, Technology and Zoology ... Homeschooling Workbooks by Thinking Tree)

7 Subject Science Portfolio - Minecraft & The Real World: Ages 10 to 17 - Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Meteorology, Physics, Technology and Zoology ... Homeschooling Workbooks by Thinking Tree)

7 Subject Science Portfolio - Minecraft & The Real World: Ages 10 to 17 - Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Meteorology, Physics, Technology and Zoology ... Homeschooling Workbooks by Thinking Tree)

Image for Exploring Creation with Human Anatomy and Physiology (Young Explorer Series)

Exploring Creation with Human Anatomy and Physiology (Young Explorer Series)

Exploring Creation with Human Anatomy and Physiology (Young Explorer Series)
Image for Science Comics: The Digestive System: A Tour Through Your Guts

Science Comics: The Digestive System: A Tour Through Your Guts

Your guide to the gut is a friendly bacterium who will take you on a journey beyond imagination. Uncover how food is transformed into nutrients! Explore strange and dangerous glands! Behold the wonders of saliva, mucus, and vomit! Writer Jason Viola and illustrator Andy Ristaino provide a trip to the toilet you will never forget!Every volume of Science Comics offers a complete introduction to a particular topic―dinosaurs, the solar system, volcanoes, bats, robots, and more! Whether you're a fourth grader doing a natural science unit at school or a thirty-year-old with a secret passion for airplanes, these graphic novels are for you!

Image for Stargazer's Guide to the Night Sky, The

Stargazer's Guide to the Night Sky, The

The Stargazers Guide to the Night Sky offers everything you need to explore the remarkable beauty of the stars, moon, and planets. Dr. Jason Lisle, a research scientist with a masters and Ph.D. in astrophysics provides a very thorough, practical and easy to read resource to fuel the curiosity of amateur astronomers ages 10 to 100.

  • Understand how the eye works to enhance your views of the night sky
  • Study the 150 stunning, full-color star charts to learn the names and placement of constellations
  • Discover how to observe the galaxies with the naked eye
  • Learn how to choose and use a telescope
  • Investigate the celestial motions and events
  • Learn best practices for astrophotography

These simple tips and tricks from Dr. Lisle will make your stargazing sessions go from mediocre to spectacular. The Stargazers Guide to the Night Sky is the size of a hardcover textbook, boasting 240 glossy pages of education for the hobby astronomer or science student. This resource is excellent for the family, couples, or individuals who like to learn and explore

Then, look at these activities to pair with this free printable challenge.

ACTIVITIES FOR YOUR SCIENCE LOVER

  • Easy Earth Science: Create Layers Of The Earth With Playdough
  • Science Books for Middle School: An Easy Guide for Parents
  • How Cacti Drink: A Fun and Easy Desert Science Experiment
  • Backyard Science Fun and Amazing Spider Web Facts For Kids
  • Chemistry Activities & Free Printable Science Behind Everyday Compounds
  • Oreo Phases Of The Moon Kids Science They’ll Love
  • How to Choose the Right Homeschool High School Science 
  • Online High School Science Courses For Homeschoolers Who Love Choices
  • How To Create An Edible Brain Model For Fun Science
  • How To Build High School Environmental Science Homeschool Curriculum
  • Biology Science Curriculum For Elementary Students They Love & Tiger Craft
Free Sleuths Calendar Daily Challenge For Your Science Lover

This is a subscriber freebie.

HOW TO GET THE FREE SCIENCE SLEUTHS CALENDAR DAILY CHALLENGE & ANSWERS

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: 1. My FREE Learning Printables {Any Topic} Tagged With: freeprintables, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, homeschoolscience, printable, science, science challenges

Stitches Through Time: Colonial And Pioneer Quilts History & Easy Collage

December 30, 2025 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Learning about colonial and pioneer quilts and their history gives a unique glimpse into the past.

Quilting is a handicraft that has been around for years. There is evidence that they were used in ancient times. Quilted garments were under armor to protect impact.

Quilts were not just used for warmth as we do today. Normally, a quilt is made of three layers.

Stitches Through Time: Colonial And Pioneer Quilts History & Easy Collage

There is a top layer, middle layer and a backing. Actually, the word quilt comes from a Latin word meaning “stuffed sack. ”The layers are stitched together in patterns.

And when settlers came to America, fabric was expensive. So nothing went to waste. Flour sacks, worn out clothes and scraps could be use to make a quilt.

But quilts are more than just blankets. They’re a glimpse into history through fabric.

BOOKS ABOUT QUILTS FOR KIDS

Next, look at some of these fun books about quilts.

I prefer living books when I can find them.

8 Quilts And The History of Quilts Books

Grab some of these books and resources. You can use a book as a unit study spine to learn about quilts and the history of quilts.

Image for Quilting Now & Then

Quilting Now & Then

Quilting Now & Then explains how quilts are made and compares today's methods with those used in olden days. Nineteen exquisite quilts sewn exclusively for this book brighten the 36 pages of full-color illustrations.

Image for Papa And The Pioneer Quilt

Papa And The Pioneer Quilt

Collecting pieces of cloth along her family's long journey on the Oregon Trail, Rebecca looks forward to the day when they are finally in their new home out west and can make her special quilt that will forever remind her of this amazing experience.

Image for The Patchwork Quilt

The Patchwork Quilt

Tanya finds her grandmother sitting by the window one day surrounded by pieces of material. Grandma has decided to make herself a patchwork quilt to replace the old one her mother made her. This story covers the progress of the quilt.

Image for Colonial Craftsmen: And the Beginnings of American Industry

Colonial Craftsmen: And the Beginnings of American Industry

The vanished ways of colonial America's skilled craftsmen are vividly reconstructed in this superb book by Edwin Tunis. With incomparable wit and learning, and in over 450 meticulous drawings, the author describes the working methods and products, houses and shops, town and country trades, and individual and group enterprises by which the early Americans forged the economy of the New World.

In the tiny coastal settlements, which usually sprang up around a mill or near a tanyard, the first craftsmen set up their trades. The blacksmith, cooper, joiner, weaver, cordwainer, and housewright, working alone or with several assistants, invented their own tools and devised their own methods. Soon they were making products that far surpassed their early models: the American ax was so popular that English ironmongers often labeled their own axes "American" to sell them more readily. In the town squares a colonist could have his bread baked to order, bring in his wig to be curled, have his eyeglasses ground, his medicine prescription filled, or buy snuff for his many pocket boxes. With the thriving trade in "bespoke" or made-to-order work, fine American styles evolved; many of these are priceless heirlooms now―the silverware of Paul Revere and John Coney, redware and Queensware pottery, Poyntell hand-blocked wallpaper, the Kentucky rifle, Conestoga wagon, and the iron grillework still seen in some parts of the South. The author discusses in detail many of the trades which have since developed into important industries, like papermaking, glassmaking, shipbuilding, printing, and metalworking, often reconstructing from his own careful research the complex equipment used in these enterprises.

Image for Mother Earth and Her Children: A Quilted Fairy Tale

Mother Earth and Her Children: A Quilted Fairy Tale

The incredibly intricate and vivid illustrations in this book are details of a modern quilt inspired by Sibylle von Olfers' classic storybook Mother Earth and Her Children. This vibrant new translation, in turn inspired by the quilt, explores the changing of the seasons and delicately touches upon the circle of life. When Mother Earth calls her children to prepare for spring, the earthly children yawn and stretch before they busy themselves with
beautification. They dust off the bumblebees, scrub the beetles, paint bright new coats on the ladybugs, and rouse the caterpillars from their cocoons. Bedecked with new blossoms, the children emerge from the earth
and become spring flowers that frolic through the summer and autumn, until the leaves begin to fall and they return to Mother Earth, bringing the weary bugs and beetles back to their winter refuge.

Image for Early Family Home (Early Settler Life)

Early Family Home (Early Settler Life)

Describes the life of early settlers, including the construction of a home, the clearing of land, folk medicine, candle making, quilting bees, weaving, and wedding parties

Image for Made By Hand: A Crafts Sampler

Made By Hand: A Crafts Sampler

Whirr, buzz, hum. Before busy machines in factories turned out most of what we need and use, people crafted these items by hand. From a globe to a pie crimper, a butter churn to a rocking horse, this unique collection highlights fourteen one-of-a-kind objects — each one drafted, stitched, painted, or engraved by hand. Author Carole Lexa Schaefer draws inspiration from real historical artifacts to create thirteen short works of fiction, imagining the hands that might have made and used each item. Several artifacts can be traced to their origin, while others remain complete mysteries, making for a fascinating patchwork of fact, guesswork, and imagination. Illustrator Becca Stadtlander breathes color and charm into this handmade history, bringing to life the different objects, people, and times. The result is a singular glimpse of everyday objects and
treasures alike — back when such things were made by hand.

Image for The Quiltmaker's Gift

The Quiltmaker's Gift

In this enchantingly told original folktale, a wise quiltmaker makes the most beautiful quilts in the world – but she will give them only to those who have nothing. When a rich, dissatisfied king insists that she give him one of her quilts, she gives him what seems an impossible task: to give away all he owns. One by one, the king gives away his many possessions, and finds that the more he gives away, the happier he is. Finally, when the king has nothing, the quiltmaker gives him the promised quilt. But he knows that the true reward for his generosity has been the smiles of those he has helped.The Quiltmaker's Gift has touched the hearts of readers young and old, bringing it to the PW bestseller list and earning it numerous awards and commendations. The heartwarming, strongly moral tale supports important values, and the detailed illustrations, featuring dozens of lovingly rendered quilt patterns, offer hours of delight.

Image for Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt (Reading Rainbow Books)

Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt (Reading Rainbow Books)

Clara, a slave and seamstress on Home Plantation, dreams of freedom—not just for herself, but for her family and friends. When she overhears a conversation about the Underground Railroad, she has a flash of inspiration. Using scraps of cloth from her work in the Big House and scraps of information gathered from other slaves, she fashions a map that the master would never even recognize. . . .From the award-winning author-illustrator team of Deborah Hopkinson and James Ransome, this fictional tale of the Underground Railroad continues to inspire young readers 25 years after its original publication.

Also, look at some of the other activities about colonial and pioneer quilts.

MORE COLONIAL AND PIONEER QUILT CRAFTS

  • Post It Note Paper Quilt Art
  • Paper Quilts
  • Colonial Quilt
  • A Brief History of Quilting in America
  • Make a Pioneer Quilt Craft
  • Kirsten Pioneer Craft – Crazy Quilt

Finally, look how to make this easy paper quilt.

QUILTING SQUARE COLLAGE

This paper collage activity introduces kids to the look and layout of traditional colonial quilts using simple shapes and patterns.

By arranging colorful paper squares into repeating designs, kids explore symmetry, patterning, and early American history in a hands-on way.

Stitches Through Time: Colonial And Pioneer Quilts History & Easy Collage

Supply List

  • Construction paper in a variety of colors
  • Scissors
  • Optional: Glue
Stitches Through Time: Colonial And Pioneer Quilts History & Easy Collage

First, cut construction paper into small, evenly sized squares.

Invite kids to arrange the paper squares into a quilt-style pattern.

Stitches Through Time: Colonial And Pioneer Quilts History & Easy Collage

Encourage rows, repeating colors, or mirrored designs inspired by traditional quilts.

Optional: Once the design is complete, glue each square down one at a time on a piece of paper.

Stitches Through Time: Colonial And Pioneer Quilts History & Easy Collage

Benefits

  • Supports creativity while working within simple design rules
  • Builds pattern recognition and early math skills
  • Strengthens fine motor skills through cutting and gluing
  • Encourages planning, sequencing, and visual organization
  • Introduces children to colonial history and traditional textile art

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

How To Make The Great Wall Of Ancient China Sensory Bin

December 29, 2025 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

How to make the great wall of Ancient China sensory bin with preschoolers is a way to include them in a unit study. Also, look at my post Free Ancient China Lapbook for Kids Who Love Hands-on History.

And look at my page How to Homeschool Preschool for more ideas for your littles.

Sensory play is a simple and fun way to introduce topics to your preschoolers. While they play with the sensory bin to build the Great Wall of Ancient China, you can read aloud.

How To Make The Great Wall Of Ancient China Sensory Bin

If you have older children, you can include your preschoolers as you teach history, geography, and science.

However, even older children have a hard time grasping the huge feat of hundreds of years of building. Too, the sensory bin can make for a fun visual to incorporate narration to your day.

In addition you can make your sensory bin as full or as simple as you want. For example, if you have older learners you can incorporate wooden pegs for the workers. And include other materials since many natural materials were used.

BOOKS ABOUT ANCIENT CHINA FOR KIDS

Next, look at these books about Ancient China for kids.

We prefer living books when we can find them.

12 Ancient China Books & Resources For Kids Who Love Reading and Being Read To

Add some of these books to your home library about Ancient China. Also, use them for a homeschool unit study.

Image for Zheng He, The Great Chinese Explorer: A Bilingual Story of Adventure and Discovery

Zheng He, The Great Chinese Explorer: A Bilingual Story of Adventure and Discovery

In the West, legendary explorers like Christopher Columbus, Ernest Shackleton and Sir Edmund Hillary are a recognized part of our history. But in China, that legend belongs to the great explorer Zheng He (1371–1433), who lived during China's renowned Ming Dynasty. Zheng He, the Great Chinese Explorer is a bilingual (English and Chinese) tale of his adventures.

When he was a child, Zheng He dreamed of foreign lands, his imagination was inspired by the travels of his father and grandfather and the wonderful items they brought back from trading trips to the West. A simple but exotic porcelain vase in cobalt, a color not found in China at the time, drove Zheng He to discover the origins of this unique color—and become one of the most famous explorers in China's history.

Image for Chee-Lin: A Giraffe's Journey

Chee-Lin: A Giraffe's Journey

Eighty years before Columbus, China sent ships to explore the world.The Chinese discovered many marvelous things, but one discovery stood out above the others: the chee-lin.This chee-lin was just a giraffe, but to the Chinese it was an omen of good fortune so rare that it had appeared only once before—at the birth of Confucius.

Image for Where the Mountain Meets the Moon

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon

A Time Magazine 100 Best Fantasy Books of All Time selection!​A Reader’s Digest Best Children’s Book of All Time​!This stunning fantasy inspired by Chinese folklore is a companion novel to Starry River of the Sky and the New York Times bestselling and National Book Award finalist When the Sea Turned to SilverIn the valley of Fruitless mountain, a young girl named Minli lives in a ramshackle hut with her parents. In the evenings, her father regales her with old folktales of the Jade Dragon and the Old Man on the Moon, who knows the answers to all of life's questions. Inspired by these stories, Minli sets off on an extraordinary journey to find the Old Man on the Moon to ask him how she can change her family's fortune. She encounters an assorted cast of characters and magical creatures along the way, including a dragon who accompanies her on her quest for the ultimate answer.Grace Lin, author of the beloved Year of the Dog and Year of the Rat returns with a wondrous story of adventure, faith, and friendship. A fantasy crossed with Chinese folklore, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is a timeless story reminiscent of The Wizard of Oz and Kelly Barnhill's The Girl Who Drank the Moon. Her beautiful illustrations, printed in full-color, accompany the text throughout. Once again, she has created a charming, engaging book for young readers.

Image for Science and Scientists (True Stories From Ancient China)

Science and Scientists (True Stories From Ancient China)

Ancient China has a long history of scientific excellence. Learn more about some of China’s greatest scientific wonders and the scientists who studied them. Features stories about astronomy, seismology, mathematics, calendar-making, and geography.

Image for The Warlord's Beads (Warlord's Series)

The Warlord's Beads (Warlord's Series)

Clever Chuan devises a simple way for his father to quickly and accurately count all the warlord's treasure.

Image for The Five Chinese Brothers (Paperstar)

The Five Chinese Brothers (Paperstar)

The classic picture book about five clever brothers, each with a different extraordinary ability, has been in print for almost 80 years."An original nonsense tale told with...spirit and gusto." -- The Horn Book

Image for The Great Wall Of China (Aladdin Picture Books)

The Great Wall Of China (Aladdin Picture Books)

Angela FIsher's The Great Wall is an "awe-inspiring, impressive, black and gray illustrations set the tone for this history of the building of the Great Wall of China." (School Library Journal)

Image for The Story about Ping

The Story about Ping

No one can deny the appeal of the book's hero, Ping, the spirited little duck who lives on a boat on the Yangtze River. Ping's misadventures one night while exploring the world around his home form the basis of this timeless classic, which is brought to life by Kurt Wiese's warm and poignant illustrations.

Image for In the Forbidden City (We All Live in the Forbidden City)

In the Forbidden City (We All Live in the Forbidden City)

Serving as the seat of imperial power for six centuries, the Forbidden City is one of China's most famous and enigmatic landmarks. Accompanied by a mischievous cat, readers will tour this colossal architectural structure, discovering the secrets hidden inside the palace walls. They will encounter the people who have walked through its halls and gardens, including emperors, empresses, and rebel leaders, and hear exciting tales about the power struggles and intrigues of everyday life.This large format book conveys the grandeur of the Forbidden City through highly detailed line drawings of its buildings, gardens, and courtyards with numerous fold-out spreads. Each page is populated by a large variety of characters and peppered with entertaining anecdotes. Every book includes a plastic magnifying glass for looking at the drawings more closely."Readers receive a lavish tour of the Forbidden City, once home to Chinese emperors and now a museum, courtesy of Chiu and the Design and Cultural Studies Workshop, which he founded. Delicate line drawings highlight the architectural intricacies of the nearly 178-acre complex (several foldout spreads emphasize its size) while Chiu examines the Ming and Qing dynasties in thorough detail, along with major events in the palace's history. (In one foldout scene, 24 emperors offer pithy, even brusque notes on their reigns — "I was entirely unaccomplished," says Emperor Longqing.) A magnifying glass is wisely included to help readers appreciate the wealth of visual detail." — Publishers Weekly

Image for The Emperor Who Built The Great Wall

The Emperor Who Built The Great Wall

DID YOU KNOW that China was named after its first emperor – the brilliant, all-powerful emperor who built The Great Wall? In this book, discover why he started building the Wall, how he made China the biggest country on earth, and what treasures he hid in his secret tomb. Find out how he became one of the most important people in the history of China. Read all about the first emperor’s fascinating life in The Emperor Who Built The Great Wall.The simple language and beautiful illustrations make this book a wonderful reader or bedtime story. It is suitable for all ages, but children aged six to twelve years will especially enjoy reading this book.~ About the ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA… Series ~China has a long history, but its many stories are often too complex for children. In this series, Jillian Lin retells China’s best historical tales so they are easy and fun to read. Children will embark on a journey through time where they will get a glimpse inside the colorful lives of famous Chinese figures. Beautiful illustrations, gripping stories, and fascinating facts make these books wonderful readers or bedtime stories for ages six and above. Other titles in this series include:The King Without A Throne (Confucius)The Mountain Man Of Music (Zhu Zaiyu)The Miracle Doctor (Hua Tuo)The Girl Who Became Emperor (Wu Zetian)The Dreamer Of Stars (Zhang Heng)The Greatest Explorer In The World (Zheng He)The Pirate King (Koxinga/Zheng Chenggong)

Image for Where Is the Great Wall?

Where Is the Great Wall?

More than two thousand years ago, with his land under constant attack from nomads, the First Emperor of China came up with a simple solution: build a wall to keep out enemies. It was a wall that kept growing and growing. But its construction came at a huge cost: it is believed that more than a million Chinese died building it, earning the wall its nickname--the longest cemetery on earth. Through the story of the wall, Patricia Brennan Demuth is able to tell the story of China itself, the rise and fall of dynasties, the greatness of its culture, and its present-day status as a Communist world power.

Image for DK Eyewitness Books: Ancient China: Discover the History of Imperial China―from the Great Wall to the Days of the La

DK Eyewitness Books: Ancient China: Discover the History of Imperial China―from the Great Wall to the Days of the La

A spectacular and informative guide to the history of the great Chinese empire and the customs and traditions of its people.  Stunning real-life photographs and lifelike models offer a unique "eyewitness" view of life in imperial China, from its earliest beginnings in the Bronze Age to its final years in the early 20th century. See the stunning bronze work of the ancient Chinese and the beautiful techniques used for Chinese calligraphy. Learn why the First Emperor created the Terracotta Army, what kinds of goods were carried along the Silk Route, who invented paper, and much, much more. 

Too, look at these other activities to pair with the Great Wall of Ancient China activity.

ACTIVITIES TO PAIR WITH THE GREAT WALL OF ANCIENT CHINA

  • How To Make The Great Wall Of China Out Of Paper
  • Learn the Quick and Easy Ancient Chinese Paper making for Kids and practice writing characters to spell out names or spelling words.
  • The Great Wall of China is made of play dough.
  • Virtual Tour of the Great Wall of China
How To Make The Great Wall Of Ancient China Sensory Bin

Finally, look how easy you can assemble a hands-on activity for your little history learner.

GREAT WALL SENSORY BIN

Supplies

  • Brown kinetic sand
  • Cardboard cut into rectangles (vary the sizes for interest)
  • Greenery (real leaves, faux plants, or small branches)

We kept ours very easy. However, you can add a variety of natural materials like rocks, stones and mud. And add some people using wooden pegs to represent various workers.

For example, The Great Wall was built by soldiers, farmers, craftsmen, and laborers, not just trained builders.

How To Make The Great Wall Of Ancient China Sensory Bin

Fill the sensory bin with brown kinetic sand, spreading it evenly to create a solid base.

How To Make The Great Wall Of Ancient China Sensory Bin

Scatter greenery around the edges.

Place the cardboard rectangles so kids can easily grab and experiment with them.

How To Make The Great Wall Of Ancient China Sensory Bin

Encourage kids to stand the cardboard pieces upright in the sand, pressing them down gently so they stay in place.

Kids can line the pieces up to form long walls.

Allow plenty of time for rebuilding, knocking walls down, and trying new designs.

HOW KIDS PLAY

Kids push, press, and balance the cardboard pieces in the kinetic sand to construct their own version of the Great Wall.

They experiment with spacing, height, and stability while arranging greenery around the wall to create a surrounding landscape. The open-ended setup encourages rebuilding again and again.

BENEFITS

  • Strengthens fine motor skills through pressing and positioning materials
  • Encourages problem-solving and early engineering concepts
  • Supports spatial awareness and planning
  • Provides rich sensory input through texture and resistance
  • Inspires imaginative and historical play connections

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

  • « Go to Previous Page
  • Page 1
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Page 15
  • Page 16
  • Page 17
  • Page 18
  • Page 19
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Page 177
  • Go to Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

Footer

Privacy Policy | About Me | Reviews | Contact | Advertise

Categories

Archives

Tina Robertson is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2026 · 5 TNT LLC · Log in · Privacy Policy