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Medieval Japan Lapbook for Kids and Fun Hands-on Ideas

December 9, 2022 | 1 Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

You’ll love this Medieval Japan lapbook for a fun unit study. I have many more on my Homeschool Lapbooks page.

This Medieval Japan Unit Study and Lapbook covers from 1185 – 1600 A.D.{1185 – 1600 A.D.} or from the end of the Heian Period to the Beginning of Tokugawa {Edo} Period.

Medieval Japan Lapbook for Kids and Fun Hands-on Ideas

Too, you’ll love learning about the culture and geography of Japan.

Include some fun hands-on ideas and this fun Medieval Japan lapbook can turn to a unit study for multiple ages.

Facts and Vocabulary Words about Japan

Too, here are some fun facts about Japan.

  • Geography features and terms are Pacific Ocean; Sea of Japan, four major islands: Hokkaido, Honshu (largest), Shikoku, Kyushu; typhoons, earthquakes, tsunamis and the Pacific Rim
  • Typhoon. A typhoon is a strong wind storm with winds in excess of 74 miles per hour creating strong winds and heavy rains.
  • Tsunamis. Tsunamis are giant waves caused when an earthquake on the ocean floor creates waves up to ten stories high,
  • Pacific Rim. The Pacific Rim is a great circle of lands bordering the Pacific Ocean. And the Philippines, Indonesia, Australia, Chile, California, Alaska, and Japan are part of the Pacific Rim.
  • Samurai. A samurai is a Japanese warrior whose duty was to serve and protect his lord or give up his life doing so.

Japan lies east of China, in the direction of the sunrise.

The name Japan comes from the Chinese word ri-ben, which means “origin of the sun” or “land of the rising sun.”

Since ancient times, Japan had borrowed ideas, institutions, and culture from the Chinese people.

Japan’s genius was its ability to take in new ideas and make them uniquely its own.

Too, about 4,000 islands make up the Japanese archipelago or island group which extends in an arc
more than 1,200 miles long.

Most Japanese people have lived on the four largest islands: Hokkaido (hah•KY•doh), Honshu (HAHN•shoo), Shikoku (shee•KAW•koo), and Kyushu (kee•OO•shoo).

Medieval Japan Lapbook for Kids and Fun Hands-on Ideas

Also, add this fun Ancient Japan for Kids: Fun and Simple Handwriting Activity.

More Hands-on History Lapbooks

Also, you’ll love these other history homeschool lapbooks.

  • Amazing and Free American Revolution Lapbook for Multiple Ages
  • Fun Pharaohs and Queens Ancient Egypt Lapbook and Activities
  • Free Native American Plains Indians Fun Lapbook for Kids (& resources)
  • 18 Colorful and Free Lapbooks for History Unit Studies
  • Free Awesome Ancient Greece Lapbook and Fun Hands-on Activities

Additionally, you’ll love the books below.

Books about Japan

I added some fun resources too.

11 Books and Resources for Studying About Japan

You'll love these resources and books for studying about Japan. Add them to my Medieval Japan Unit Study or just fun for the day.

Samurai: An Illustrated History

This Japanese history book traces the story of a unique historical phenomenon: a period of 700 years--equivalent to the entire stretch of Western history between the reigns of the Crusader king Richard the Lionhearted and of Queen Victoria at the height of the British Empire--during which an enclosed civilization was dominated by a single warrior caste.

The historical narrative of samurai history is supported by explanations of samurai armor, weapons, fortifications, tactics, and customs, and illustrated with nearly 800 fascinating color photographs, maps, and sketches, including ancient scroll paintings and surviving suits of armor preserved for centuries in Japanese shrines.

Samurai Arms, Armour & the Tactics of Warfare

Part of the acclaimed Book of Samurai series, which presents for the first time the translated scrolls of the historical Natori-Ry samurai school of war, this volume offers an exceptional insight into the weaponry and armour of the samurai era, as well as tactical advice for use on and off the battlefield.

Life in Old Japan Coloring Book

More than 40 handsome, ready-to-color illustrations depict samurai warriors, the imperial villa at Kyoto, a Shinto shrine, a tea ceremony, a Noh play, a typical city street, a restaurant, music makers, more. Introduction and detailed captions describe Japanese culture and provide detailed information on art, government, costume, and daily life.

Japanese Picture Dictionary Coloring Book: Over 1500 Japanese Words and Phrases for Creative & Visual Learners of All Ages

Learning a new language is a new way of meeting new people, opening doors in your professional career and attracting fresh opportunities when traveling around the world, as you may know. The great thing is - whether you want to learn Japanese to visit Japan’s precious historic landmarks, watch anime and movies or simply meet wonderful Japanese people - we’ve got you covered!

All About Japan: Stories, Songs, Crafts and Games for Kids

A cultural adventure for kids, All About Japan offers a journey to a new place--and ways to bring it to life! Dive into stories, play some games from Japan, and learn some Japanese songs.

The Inch-High Samurai

The brave little boy who sailed to the Capital in a teacup and fought a demon with a needle to win the love of a Lady is a Japanese cousin to Tom Thumb.

The Crane Girl

In this magical retelling of a Japanese folktale, a mysterious girl weaves silk to help repay the kindness of a boy and his father until the father's greed finally exposes her secret.

While gathering firewood, Yasuhiro comes upon an injured crane hidden in the snow. He rescues and comforts the bird, then watches as it flies away over the wintry hills.

The next night, a mysterious young girl arrives at Yasuhiro's home seeking shelter from the cold. The boy and his father welcome the girl, named Hiroko, to stay with them. When Hiroko notices that Yasuhiro's father is struggling to earn money, she offers to weave silk for him to sell. After the fabric fetches a good price, the boy's father becomes impatient for more silk, and his greed has a life-changing effect on them all.

Lyrical storytelling deftly interwoven with original haiku create a magical adaptation of a popular Japanese folktale--an inspirational story of friendship and the power of kindness to transform lives.

Commodore Perry the Opening of Japan (Landmark Series, #56)

For more than 200 years Japan had isolated herself from the world - now Commodore Perry, representing the US government had arrived on the shore of Japan. Perry's mission was to open a door into Japan so US ships might stop for fuel & water on their route to China.

3D Puzzle Wooden Craft Kits DIY Model Building Kit

This 3D wooden Puzzle is the oldest tower in Japan and one of the iconic buildings, ancient and elegant.

Japan Tokyo Skyline Famous Architecture Model Block Set

The iconic landmark you love,Build this detailed Japan skyline model!Features an elaborate façade with Tokyo Tower,Tokyo SKYTREE, Mount Fuji,Sensoji Temple,Osaka Castle and more.

Japanese Flower Pavilion Cherry Blossom Bonsai Tree Bricks Kit

Japan Sakura Tree House Building Set consists of 1810pcs + mini-blocks. It includes detailed step-by-step color instructions, and exquisite details of various sizes and color componentsand.

Medieval Japan Lapbook Minibooks

Next, look at the minibooks you get in this free lapbook download.

  • There are 4 lapbook covers and most of the pages have parts for your child to color. Glue on the outside of your lapbook.
  • Feudal system layered book.
  • Japanese fan book to add your own research about the history of the fan or other research.
  • Japanese Swords minibook. Add the history of the swords from my printed page in the download or add your own information.
  • Map of Japan to label.
  • Kimono shaped book to add my printed information on the kimono or add your own.
  • One page so you can write facts or illustrate information about Japanese women.
  • Samurai minibook to explain who they were.
  • Theater minibook. Explain what influence the theater had on the Japanese.
Medieval Japan Lapbook for Kids and Fun Hands-on Ideas

How to Get the Free Lapbook 14 page download

Finally, how to grab the free lapbook and notebooking pages. It’s a subscriber freebie.

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

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

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

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

 1) Sign up on my list or re-enter your email if you’re a follower because your email is your password.
 2) Download the freebie,
3) Last, look for my emails in your inbox. If you’re new, glad to have you following!

1 CommentFiled Under: Lapbook, Lapbooks Tagged With: Ancient Japan, hands on history, hands-on, hands-on activities, handsonhomeschooling, history resources, lapbook, lapbookresources, lapbooks, Medieval Japan

Kids Art History Board Game Ideas

December 3, 2022 | 1 Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

If you’re looking for fun kids art history board game ideas. you’ll love Professor Noggins. Also, look at the other History Games on my page.

Too, sometimes instead of an art history board game, you can substitute a card game and that is what we did.

I love the Professor Noggin games because they contain a wealth of information in an easy to play format and cover a huge variety of topics.

Kids Art History Board Game Ideas

In addition, the games cover nature, science, animals, birds, reptiles, history, and geography.

Today we are going to look closer at Professor Noggin’s History of Art.

Games teach children, critical thinking, curiosity, accepting failure, creativity, innovation, and more.

9 Things to Love About Art History

However, look at these nine things I love about Professor Noggin’s History of Art.

  1. Teach on a specific subject in a fun way.
  2. Are easy to learn and play.
  3. Build observation and memory skills.
  4. Have a quick play time.
  5. Are portable for road trips and waiting at doctors offices/restaurants.
  6. Have a great price point- around $10- $15
  7. Cover an excellent variety of topics- currently 39 titles on their website.
  8. Have two levels of play for players of different skill levels.
  9. Games have a variety of trivia, true or false, and multiple-choice questions.
Kids Art History Board Game Ideas

The only drawback is that they are small games with limited questions.

I like to get as much value out of things as I can so I started thinking of other ways we could use the games beyond their intended use.

First, look at some of these other fun history games.

Fun History Games Resources

Look at them below.

  • Ancient Egypt DIY Simple and Fun Mummification Process Game
  • Entertaining Games in the Past How to Make an Easy Backgammon Game
  • Easy Hands-on Fun Ancient Greek Games for Kids DIY Knucklebones
  • Unit Study: French Revolution + Free Storming the Bastille Game
  • 7 Super Fun History Games to Bring the Past to Life
  • Ancient Egypt Mehen free Printable Board Game (Hands-on History)
  • Free Ancient Greece Go Fish Game – Ancient Greece Unit Study
  • 13 Free and Fun BEST Printable History Board Game

Moreover, Professor Noggin’s History of Art is an easy way to introduce artists and their masterpieces to kids of any age and ability.

Even if you do not know a lot about art, you can learn art history through a game.

Too, when you use this game, you teach so much more than just a particular artist or style of art.

Through art history you learn geography, get a better understanding of various time periods throughout history, improve reading and research skills, and more.

About Professor Noggin’s History of Art Game

However, look first at a few facts about how the game is intended to be played.

Professor Noggin History of Art comes with 30 cards.

The cards contain a famous artwork on one side and 6 questions on the other.

In addition, there are three questions for the younger or newer student and three for older children or more knowledgeable players.

Also, it’s recommended for ages 8 and up.

From this game you will learn about.

  • Famous artists
  • Major art periods
  • Works of Art
  • Art techniques
  • World architecture
Kids Art History Board Game Ideas

Next, look at these there creative and fun ways you can use the game to turn into a learning day.

8 Ways to Use a Art History Game

I have come up with 8 fun and educational additional activities  to do with this art history game to extend the basic game,

1. Get Artsy Fartsy

If you are not using a formal art curriculum, games like this are a great choice.

First, you can choose cards and have your child attempt to recreate the art piece including using the same medium.

These little tubes of acrylic paints really help you feel like an artist.

Next, do an artist study.

Kids Art History Board Game Ideas

However, I also want you to know about this wonderful Art History for Kids curriculum.

2. Do an Artist Study

Randomly choose a card and study that artist for the week.

Focus on their art, techniques, life story, what period or style they were.

Kids Art History Board Game Ideas

Add in this fun book The Story of Paintings.

3. Focus on Art Period Definitions

Additionally, there are plenty of great vocabulary and spelling words to choose from in this game.

Flip through cards to list all the great art periods and list them. Have your child define each one.

4. Guess the Story

Further, have your child write a poem or a story about an art piece before they learn anything about it.

Then check out the real story or at least the name behind it and see how close they were.

5. Reverse Pictionary

Another one is to pull a random card or one of your choosing and describe the photo for your child and have them draw it from your description.

Kids Art History Board Game Ideas

This can end up being funny and entertaining.

6. Teach Geography or World Culture

Also, pull a random card and locate the country on the map where the artist is from as well as the museum where their artwork is displayed.

Kids Art History Board Game Ideas

This scrunch map gets a lot of use as a favorite resource for just about any theme we choose.

7. Place the Cards in Timeline Order

Give your child a stack of 5 random cards and have them lay them out in timeline order.

Kids Art History Board Game Ideas

They either from memory if they can or allow them to research the time periods in a book or online.

8. Host a Fun Share and Tell

Finally, host a share and tell.

Go through the stack of cards with your child.

Each of you choose your favorite artwork, share it and tell why. And you can include extended family members.

Kids Art History Board Game Ideas

Encourage your child to use descriptive words to help strengthen their vocabulary.

What do you think? Ready to turn a game into a fun and full day of learning?

1 CommentFiled Under: Teach Homeschool History Tagged With: art, hands on history, hands-on, hands-on activities, handsonhomeschooling, history, history resources, homeschool art, homeschoolhistory

Ancient Egypt DIY Simple and Fun Mummification Process Game

November 27, 2022 | 1 Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today, I have an Ancient Egypt diy mummification process game. You’ll love the other History Games I have on my page.

If you are studying Ancient Egypt and need a great hands-on activity to help teach your child you’ll love this mummification process game.

Yes, we made a game for that.

Games are an incredible way to learn something new.

Ancient Egypt DIY Simple and Fun Mummification Process Game

And games reinforce a topic that you are learning.

Now, I’ve bought all kinds of ready-made games.

However, creating your own game from the ground up and including your child in the process is the best way to learn.

 I came up with this game that doesn’t require any special items and let’s your child be in charge of the game creation.

Creating the game will help the facts that they learn stick in their head better.

Benefits of Game Playing

Also, it will help teach your children research skills and give them a sense of pride in accomplishment.

I wanted to be sure it included more than just the history of this Ancient Egyptian ritual.

For younger children rolling and adding dice is a simple way to also incorporate math into your day.

They will learn or reinforce anatomy lessons through the anatomy drawings and labels.

I created a printable with the basic rules and values for the dice numbers rolled.

Creating the game requires reading, writing, and art skills

Ancient Egypt DIY Simple and Fun Mummification Process Game

Before you begin use videos, resources, and books from your personal collection or borrow them from library to learn about the mummification process.

Fun Ancient Egypt Resources

This will make creating the cards much easier and give your child an understanding of the why.

Here are a few resources and activities that you might enjoy along with this diy mummification process game.

  • Nat Geo Kids How to Make a Mummy
  • DIY Senet Egypt Game
  • Create Canopic Jars
  • Fun Pharaohs and Queens Ancient Egypt Lapbook and Activities
  • The Geronimo Stilton Book Fourth Journey Fun Egypt Game
  • Hands-on Ancient Egypt: Israelite Mud Bricks for Kids
  • Ancient Egyptian Collar Craft
  • 11 Easy Hands-On Ancient Egypt Projects for Middle School
  • Free Ancient Egypt Mehen Printable Board Game
  • King Narmer Crown craft
  • Egypt Homeschool Unit Study – Hands-on and FUN
  • Who Was King Tut
  • Inside Out Egyptian Mummy
  • These Toob Organs are a great teaching tool not only for anatomy but here in Ancient Egypt Studies. Also, they can be used for inspiration when drawing the organ cards. We have also used them in making large canopic jars as well.

There is also the Ancient Egypt Toob that can be used for art inspiration, sensory bins, dioramas, and so much more.

Let each child be responsible for creating their own set of cards for when you play

More Fun History Games Resources

Look at them below.

  • Entertaining Games in the Past How to Make an Easy Backgammon Game
  • Easy Hands-on Fun Ancient Greek Games for Kids DIY Knucklebones
  • Unit Study: French Revolution + Free Storming the Bastille Game
  • 7 Super Fun History Games to Bring the Past to Life
  • Free Ancient Egypt Mehen Printable Board Game (Hands-on History)
  • Free Ancient Greece Go Fish Game – Ancient Greece Unit Study
  • 13 Free and Fun BEST Printable History Board Game

Depending on their age and ability level they may create the entire card on their own or may need some assistance.

Ancient Egypt DIY Simple and Fun Mummification Process Game

They will be tickled with their own contributions to the game.

You don’t need anything other than the cards and dice but the props sure are fun to set the

How to Make a Mummification Process Game

Here is what you will need:

  • White cardstock
  • Colored cardstock
  • Paper slicer
  • Glue stick or double sided tape
  • Markers, colored pencils, or crayons
  • 2 dice
Ancient Egypt DIY Simple and Fun Mummification Process Game

First, cut white cardstock into 3 ½” x 4 ½” rectangles. You will need 9 for each player.

Ancient Egypt DIY Simple and Fun Mummification Process Game

Then cut 9 of one colored cardstock for each child to 3 ¾ ” x 4 ¾”.

Write or instruct your child to write one of each of these phrases on the top of each of the 9 cards:

  • 1-Wash body and remove organs
  • 2-Remove brain through the nose
  • 3-Place lungs in canopic jar
  • 4-Place intestines in canopic jar
  • 5-Place stomach in canopic jar
  • 6-Place liver in canopic jar
  • 7-Fill body and cover with salt for 40 days
  • 8-Wrap body in linen bandages
  • 9-Place body in sarcophagus

Next, encourage them to draw something to represent each of these steps.

I encourage a bit of silliness if it has something to do with what they are trying to accomplish for the step.

Use markers, crayons, colored pencils, or whatever they like to make it fun and colorful.

Ancient Egypt DIY Simple and Fun Mummification Process Game

Here is a look at some more of the cards we created.

Ancient Egypt DIY Simple and Fun Mummification Process Game

Glue the white completed cards to the colored cardstock to make it a bit sturdier.

Write the step numbers on the back of each card so they can easily be lined up for play face down.

Ancient Egypt DIY Simple and Fun Mummification Process Game

Below is a printable with the rules and the assigned “value” for each dice combination.

You can choose to roll one or two dice depending on which numbers you need.

For instance, if all you are missing is a #1 you would want to roll only once die to attempt to get the number you need.

How to Get the Free Printable Rules

Grab the free page. It’s a subscriber freebie.

 1) Sign up on my list.
 2) Grab the freebie instantly.
3) Glad to have you following me. Look for my emails in your inbox now.

1 CommentFiled Under: Teach Homeschool History Tagged With: ancient, ancient civilizations, ancient egypt, Ancient HIstory, ancientegypt, games, hands on history, hands-on, hands-on activities, handsonhomeschooling, history, history resources, homeschoolhistory, world history

National Native American Heritage Day Make a Fun Kids Iroquois Bracelet

November 25, 2022 | 1 Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today is National Native American Heritage Day and we’re making a fun Iroquois bracelet. Add this to my Iroquois lapbook for an amazing unit study.

When studying the Iroquois, you can’t forget the beautiful beadwork that was so important to the culture for many reasons. 

National Native American Heritage Day Make a Fun Kids Iroquois Bracelet

Additionally, wampum belts were worn for ornamental, ceremonial, diplomatic and commercial purposes.

They were made to identify agreements and treaties between peoples.

For example, like between the Haudenosaunee and newcomers to North America.

Also, they were used as currency between tribes and the colonists.

We are going to take some liberties and use regular beads to work on fine motor skills with some simple coloring in squares and bead stringing.

Adding in some Native American history we’ll create simple a beadwork bracelet and have fun in the process.

While there are more complex weaving patterns for the wampum, this simple tutorial makes it easy for anyone to create.

Books About the Iroquois

Grab a few books from your library or pick up a couple that I have linked below to learn a little more about the Iroquois and the importance of wampum.

5 Books About the Iroquois

Learn about how the Iroquois lived.

The Iroquois (A True Book: American Indians)

A True Book: American Indian series allows readers to experience what makes each American Indian people distinctive and exceptional. Readers will get to know each tribes culture, influence and history

Hiawatha: Founder of the Iroquois Confederacy (North American Indians of Achievement)

Examines the life and career of the fifteenth-century Iroquois Indian.

The Iroquois: The Six Nations Confederacy (American Indian Nations)

The Iroquois have lived in what is now upper New York State and Ontario, Canada, for more than 4,000 years. In the 12th century, a man of their tribe called the Peacemaker convinced the five other nearby tribes - the Mohawk, Onondaga, Oneida, Cayuga, and Seneca - to work together with the Iroquois in a peaceful confederacy. 

Keepers of the Animals: Native American Stories and Wildlife Activities for Children (Keepers of the Earth)

These traditional Native American stories along with related activities show parents and teachers how to teach children the importance of wildlife in Native American traditions. As the stories unfold and the activities come to life, the importance of our connections to animals became apparent.Features traditional Native American stories.Includes field-tested activities appropriate for all ages.Connects wildlife ecology and environmental issues.Fosters creative thinking and the synthesis of knowledge and experience.The stories in this book present some of the basic perspectives that Native North American parents, aunts and uncles use to teach the young. They are phrased in terms that modern youngsters can understand and appreciate, along with eye-catching illustrations and photographs throughout.

Children of the Longhouse

When Ohkwa'ri overhears a group of older boys planning a raid on a neighboring village, he immediately tells his Mohawk elders. He has done the right thing—but he has also made enemies. 

Then look at some facts below.

Interesting Iroquois Facts

  • They were originally Five Nations that made up the Iroquois people- Mohawk, Onondaga, Oneida, Cayuga, Seneca. Later the Tuscarora joined.
  • There was a trail that connected the Five Nations that make up the Iroquois, it was called the Iroquois Trail.
  • The Iroquois Great Council still meets today.
  • Wampum Is a shortened version of wampumpeag, which is derived from the Narragansett word meaning “white strings of shell beads. They were tubular beads made from seashells on the coast and were most often the white shells from the whelk shell and purple from the quahog clam shell.
  • The main homeland of the Iroquois was in what is now New York State. They were also spread across Ohio, Pennsylvania, Quebec and Ontario.
  • Up to 60 people would live in a single longhouse.
  • The Iroquois slept on raised platforms.
  • Besides the animals that they hunted, they mainly ate corn, beans and squash, named the Three Sisters.
  • Men of the Iroquois hunted and fished, were the traders and fighters. And the women took care of farmed, gathered and processed food, raised the children, and took care of the housekeeping.
  • The Iroquois moved to a new settlement near water every 10-30 years because the soil lost its nutrients and the animal and fish population declined from use.

Also, I have these other resources.

National Native American Heritage Day Make a Fun Kids Iroquois Bracelet

Finally, look at these Iroquois resources below.

More Iroquois Resources

  • First, learn about the Confederacy here.
  • Then, grab my free Iroquois lapbook here.
  • Watch YouTube for Iroquois Haudenosaunee Long House Crafts for Kids
  • Iroquois Diorama
National Native American Heritage Day Make a Fun Kids Iroquois Bracelet

In addition, look below at how to make a Native American wampum bracelet.

National Native American Heritage Day Make a Fun Kids Iroquois Bracelet

How to Make a Native American Wampum Bracelet

Next, you will need:

  • Colorful beads
  • Pipe cleaners/chenille stems
  • Graph paper
  • Markers in the same colors as the beads you use.
  • Small piece of cardboard
  • scissors
National Native American Heritage Day Make a Fun Kids Iroquois Bracelet

The number of beads you will need will depend on the length you want it and the size of the beads you choose.

First, determine how long you want the bracelet to be.

Line up beads along the length of the pipe cleaner to designate the length and this will help you decide how many you need for one row to determine the pattern in the next step.

You want to make it large enough that it can slide on and off without opening.

Decide on a pattern you would like to use, you can keep it simple and just alternate 2 to 3 colors, or a simple shape.

Mark it on a sheet of graph paper by coloring in each of the squares to represent the bead color you will use. For a bracelet 3 to 4 lines tall is perfect.

National Native American Heritage Day Make a Fun Kids Iroquois Bracelet

Next, cut a piece of cardboard a little shorter than the pipe cleaners and about  4”- 5” wide.

Cut slits in one end ¼” apart.

National Native American Heritage Day Make a Fun Kids Iroquois Bracelet

Place pipe cleaners on cardboard, press them through the slits and bend a small amount of one end over the back

National Native American Heritage Day Make a Fun Kids Iroquois Bracelet

Follow the pattern.

Put either one pipe cleaner at a time or across from one side to the other to replicate the pattern you created on paper.

National Native American Heritage Day Make a Fun Kids Iroquois Bracelet

Once all your beads are in place, remove the strands and twist one end together tightly without moving all the strands.

National Native American Heritage Day Make a Fun Kids Iroquois Bracelet

On the opposite end of the bracelet twist the ends together around one strand leaving it longer than the others.

Bend into a bracelet shape and wrap the longer strand from the end around the other piece to close it off.

National Native American Heritage Day Make a Fun Kids Iroquois Bracelet

1 CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: crafts, hands on history, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, history, history resources, homeschoolhistory, Iroquois, Native Americans, nativeamerican

Entertaining Games in the Past How to Make an Easy Backgammon Game

November 20, 2022 | 1 Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Games in the past can be a unit study or add to your history lessons. You’ll love the other history games I have too.

Do you ever wonder about people of the past spent their days?

Backgammon is one of the oldest games known right up there with chess.

It is thought to be about 5,000 years old or more and believed to have developed in Mesopotamia which is now known as Iraq.

Entertaining Games in the Past How to Make an Easy Backgammon Game

If you are going to study a period of history, one great way to do that is to study the way they lived, how they passed their days, and interacted with one another. 

Also, you can do that through playing games.

It’s even better if you create your own version.

Today, I’m showing you how to make your own easy to create and store version of  the game backgammon.

Games of the Past Ancient Mesopotamia

Nobody quite knows where the name actually came from.

However, historians believe that it came from Middle English: baec – back and gamen-game.

It possibly evolved from the Royal Game of Ur and is known as the game of kings.

There is a lot of historical literature and art that portrays people playing backgammon.

The boards that are very similar to today’s versions which we have developed and still play.

Next, add some historical facts.

Entertaining Games in the Past How to Make an Easy Backgammon Game

And hands-on ideas to make studying about games in the past fun.

Facts about Ancient Mesopotamia

  • Mesopotamia is the ancient Greek name  for the region that is the modern day area that is now Iraq and parts of Iran.
  • It was considered part of the cradle of civilization because so much .
  • Mesopotamia means 0the land between two rivers( Tigris and Euphrates).
  • Many theologies and political systems developed out of Mesopotamia.
  • Here the earliest writing system, cuneiform, was created.
  • The Sumerians from this area are credited with inventing the wheel.
  • The first law codes like the code of Hammurabi and the Code of Urukagina were created here.
  • Mesopotamia is located in the area that archaeologists call The Fertile Crescent, called so because of the rich soil beds from the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.
  • There is very little of ancient Mesopotamia that still stands because they made their buildings out of sun-dried bricks that didn’t last as long.
  • A lot of what we do know today is found out from clay tablets that were found in the library in the city of Nineveh.

Too, I’ll list some hands-on ideas below.

Entertaining Games in the Past How to Make an Easy Backgammon Game

In addition, you’ll love these other history game resources on my site.

Other Fun History Games Resources

Look at them below.

  • Easy Hands-on Fun Ancient Greek Games for Kids DIY Knucklebones
  • Unit Study: French Revolution + Free Storming the Bastille Game
  • 7 Super Fun History Games to Bring the Past to Life
  • Free Ancient Egypt Mehen Printable Board Game (Hands-on History)
  • Free Ancient Greece Go Fish Game – Ancient Greece Unit Study
  • 13 Free and Fun BEST Printable History Board Game

And look below here for hands-on activities.

  • Hands-on Geography Mesopotamia: Fun Salt Dough Map
  • Cook Sebetu Rolls
  • Easy STEM Irrigation Activity
Entertaining Games in the Past How to Make an Easy Backgammon Game

DIY Backgammon Game

Here is what you will need:

Finally, look below at how to make this DIY backgammon.

  • File folder
  • 2 colors or patterns of cardstock
  • Ruler
  • 30 small items- blocks, buttons, coins, flat beads, etc…
  • 2- six sided dice
  • Glue stick

To create the long narrow wedges (points) you want to first create a template so you only have to do the measurements once. 

Entertaining Games in the Past How to Make an Easy Backgammon Game

Then, cut cardstock down to a rectangle with the height being 5”.

This is a good length for your points on a file folder.

After measure 1” across the bottom from the left  and make a small pencil mark to create your 1” width.

Entertaining Games in the Past How to Make an Easy Backgammon Game

Next, on the top left corner mark ½” over and make a mark to create the point.

Use a ruler to draw the line from each mark at the bottom to the point at the top for the elongated triangle.

Entertaining Games in the Past How to Make an Easy Backgammon Game

Cut your template out and use it to trace and cut 12 of each of your chosen color or patterned cardstock.

Entertaining Games in the Past How to Make an Easy Backgammon Game

Open the file folder and glue down alternating color wedges.

Put 6 on either side of the fold. Repeat on the other side of the folder.

Entertaining Games in the Past How to Make an Easy Backgammon Game

Allow the glue to dry completely before closing the folder.

You can use anything you have on hand for your checkers if two different colors or other identification for each player.

For example, buttons, small erasers, coins, tiny figures, checkers from another game, etc..

I found these tiny little unfinished squares and painted half (15) gold and left half unfinished.

Entertaining Games in the Past How to Make an Easy Backgammon Game

Store them in a ziploc bag with your dice and tape to the back of your file folder if you like.

Entertaining Games in the Past How to Make an Easy Backgammon Game

Grab several file folders and challenge your child to invent their own file folder game for today’s civilization.

1 CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: ancient, ancient civilizations, games, hands on history, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, history, history resources, homeschoolhistory

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