history resources

Amazing and Free American Revolution Lapbook for Multiple Ages

October 19, 2022 | 2 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

This free American Revolution lapbook and hands-on unit study for multiple ages is fun to use as spine. Be sure you grab my other lapbooks for hands-on history.

The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America.

Amazing and Free American Revolution Lapbook for Multiple Ages

And using a history lapbook to contain all the subtopics which interests your children is a fun way to not only learn, but memorize important parts.

American Revolution Facts for Kids

Here is some information about the colonies which will help you to start your lapbook and unit study.

New England Colonies

Connecticut
New Hampshire
Massachusetts
Rhode Island

Middle Colonies

Delaware
New Jersey
New York
Pennsylvania

Southern Colonies

Maryland
Georgia
North Carolina
South Carolina
Virginia

Also, look at this book The American Revolution for Kids: A History with 21 Activities.

There are many ways you can arrange the lapbook and it’s necessary to use all my minibooks.

Mix and match my lapbook with other topics that interest your children.

Minibooks for an American Revolution Unit Study

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

There are 6 cover pages
Battles of the American Revolution
Boston Massacre
Boston Tea Party and the Sugar Act
Can You Answer
Causes of the War
England’s Reason for Taxing the Colonist
Join or Die political cartoon
Map of the 13 colonies
Patriots
Road to Liberty timeline
The Stamp Act
Paul Revere
Taxation Without Representation
Who was King George and Who Were the Colonist

Too, you’ll love these ideas for a fun co-op or just to do at home.

Besides, it’s the hands-on fun which make history come alive.

American Revolution Hands-on Ideas

First, we made a trip to Goodwill and picked up teacups (mismatched is perfect), some fall foliage from Hobby Lobby. and we picked up a lot of clothes.

As you can see in the picture above, our table decorations for the Early American co-op rocked.

We had different tables or stations set up for the following activities.

Because silhouette photos were popular, we had a station for pictures. Bring a lamp, and a chair, and tape paper to the wall for your little artist to trace their sibling or friend.
Of course we had to try different flavored teas.

In addition, we had other activities.

One table we had corn husk doll making and another table the kids made bead decorating or flint corn.
Additionally, we had a guest speak from the Daughters of the American Revolution who was “George Washington’s” mom and told us stories about him.
We learned George Washington’s favorite dance, the Minuet. He was supposed to be quite the dancer.

Also, one of the activities the kids loved the most was the Minute Man race.

Our co-op bought tons of oversized clothes and just like the Minute Man, the kids had a minute to change into them.

Remember to buy the clothes oversized so the kids can leave their clothes on. (lol). Then have them race for their teams.

How to Get the American Revolution Lapbook

Finally, how to Grab the Free 33 page lapbook. It’s a subscriber freebie.

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

2) Grab the freebie now.

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

Exploring Space and Astronomy Free Unit Study for Multiple Ages

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

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

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

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

It’s one of the oldest discovered ancient games.

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

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

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

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

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

The game of Knucklebones is 2,000 years old.

How Knucklebones Was Invented

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

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

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

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

And taught it to Greek soldiers during the Trojan War.

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

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

Ancient Greek Games for Kids

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

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

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

Ancient Greece Game Knucklebones Rules

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

You will want to practice.

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

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

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

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

Next, look how to make your own DIY Knucklebones.

How to Make DIY Knucklebones Game

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

You will need:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Other History Games for Kids

And finally, here are some other Ancient Greece activities.

Other Ancient Greece Activities

How to Make a Wigwam Craft for a Fun Native American Unit Study

September 29, 2022 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today, I’m sharing how to make a wigwam craft for a fun Native American Study.

This wigwam craft is simple and can be done mostly independently by your preschooler or kindergartener.

Younger kids probably need help with the house base.

How to Make a Wigwam Craft for a Fun Native American Unit Study

But this craft will give them an understanding of how the house was built and what it looked like.

This is a great craft for Native American studies and is perfectly timed to go with a fall season theme too.

Start first by explaining to your kids what are the pre-colonial days.

And learn a bit about the Powhatan Tribe of Eastern Virginia. However, they were not the only Algonquin tribe to build wigwams.

Some of the other tribes which built wigwams were the Winnebago, Kickapoo, Wampanoag, Pequot, Sauk, Fox, Abenaki, Shawnee, Ojibwe and Oto.

The Algonquins and Wigwams

They did not live in teepees rather they built longhouses or wigwams for shelter.

Longhouses, while built very similarly, were more permanent structures.

On the other hand, wigwams were quicker and easier to build.

They were often used as more temporary houses like in hunting camps.

Wigwams were made from birch bark, branches, and poles that were gathered by the men.

And the women would heat up sap from the trees to create a kind of glue or sealer to hold the bark onto the structure.

Today, our glue will be the tree sap and our construction paper the bark.

This Powhatan Indian Toob is a great addition to turn this craft into a dramatic play activity.

The Powhatans were a tribe of Algonquin Indians, named for the language they spoke.

You could also add this set of Jamestown Settlers.

Then, talk more about the interactions between the natives and the newcomers.

Powhatan Facts for Kids

Wigwams were roughly 15’ wide.

Grab a measuring tape and mark off 15’ inside your house or out in the yard.

Do you think you could live with your immediate family, and sometimes extended family the way the Native Americans did in this small space?

Fires were centered inside the wigwam.

So, it was important to leave a small hole at the top of their structure to allow the smoke to escape.

The ground was covered in animal hides and platforms were used for sleeping.

More Powerful Powhatan Facts

One of the most famous Powhatans was Pocahontas. She was the daughter of chief Powhatan, whose proper name was Wahunsenacawh.
Powhatan children did more chores and less play than most children do now. But they did play with dolls and toys like a miniature bow and arrow and hand-held ball games. They learned and played together.
Powhatan means “waterfall” in the Algonquin language.
The Powhatan territory was known as Tsenacommacah. It covered all of Tidewater Virginia and the Eastern Shore. Find Virginia on a map and compare where it is to where you live.
Their main mode of transportation was dugout canoes.

How to Create a Wigwam Kindergarten Native American Craft

You will need

Smooth scrap cardboard
Brown construction paper
School glue
Foam paint brush
Scissors

To construct the frame for this craft, cut a rectangle out of a thin cardboard box.

I raided the pantry for this cracker box.

You can make it whatever size you like. I tried to keep mine reasonably scaled to the figures I had.

Then, once you have cut your rectangle, roll it into a tube.

Also, cease it a bit around the roll. This will help it maintain a more rounded shape.

Unroll the cardboard and tape the ends together to form a cylinder.

Cut down from the top about 2” every 2”.

Bend those tabs downward to form the domed roof similar to the way they would have bent poles to form their structure.

Secure with tape or hot glue.

Since it is going to be covered in paper it doesn’t have to be pretty.

Leave a small opening in the center to create a smoke hole.

Now, the fun part for littles. Get them to tear up paper.

I like to task the kids with doing this instead of doing it myself because

. It gives them more ownership over their activity and
It is a good task for fine motor skill building.

Also, encourage them to tear them up fairly small and in different random pieces.

More Native American Resources

Too, look at some of these other resources:

Continuing on with the craft, you are probably going to want to lay down a shower curtain liner or plastic tablecloth. This next part gets messy.

Pour school glue into a bowl.

Then demonstrate for your child how to dip the torn pieces of paper into the glue on both sides.

Scrape excess away on the lip of the bowl.

They can use their fingers or a foam brush to coat everything well.

A foam brush can also help smooth the pieces on the structure.

Let them cover the entire house with their “bark”. This will need to dry overnight at least.

If your child covered the smoke hole that was left you can cut it back out with scissors.

Explain that the smoke needed a place to escape so the Native Americans wouldn’t be closed up with it.

You can use the wigwam to create a simple diorama.

Also, add it to a sensory bin or simply leave it on the shelf with your other resources for your native American study.

Longhouses were similarly built-just long but still dome shaped.

You can recreate one of those as well with the materials and compare the living quarters.

15 Fun Resources For History for Kindergarten Homeschool

September 24, 2022 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

These 15 fun resources for history for kindergarten homeschool can be added to the solids tips I share for kindergarten homeschool curriculum.

In addition, teaching history to a kindergarten aged child is not easy to know how to do.

In my 20+ years of homeschooling, I am familiar with how some public school teach it.

Combining an amalgam of subjects that fall under the social studies umbrella is how many schools teach kindergarten homeschool history.

15 Fun Resources For History for Kindergarten Homeschool

And many homeschool families of kindergarten children are not even sure what is social studies.

In addition, if not taught at the level your child can understand history can go right over a child’s head.

Then, the next important thing to consider about teaching history is to know what is your local homeschool law.

4 Ways to Teach Kindergarten Homeschool History

Look at what is important to know about how to teach history to kindergarten aged children.

1. Start With An All About Me Focus

Unlike many history resources which start from the beginning like ancient history and move forward that concept can be hard to understand by young children.

Until a child is older, he doesn’t have a full grasp on understanding the passing of time or how earlier cultures influenced later ones.

So, the point I’m making is that if you start by teaching history by teaching the child about him and his family.

Learn about the house, city, state, country and continent where your child lives and work from the inside out.

Too, learning what are community helpers, helping a five-year-old learn about past and present, and simply reading aloud are effective ways of teaching beginning history.

One of the reasons this is a powerful way for a child this age to learn is that it helps them to make the connection of what is history.

2. History Should be Play-Based.

In addition, some families feel homeschooling should be worksheet based or homeschool like a public school.

I don’t embrace those mindsets for the fact that learning should be developmentally appropriate.

Although these mindsets have loomed in the homeschooling community, it’s more prevalent now.

Perhaps it’s because we have many post pandemic homeschooling families now.

Whatever the reason, the way children at this age learn best for any subject is play-based.

And incorporating play-based learning into history for kindergarten homeschool is not as hard as it may seem.

For example, look at a few of these ideas which can be used for any history topic.

Play dough is timeless. Your child can create any landmark, history figure, or play food.
Dress up for any time period or to act any event is memorable. Your child won’t easily forget what you’re teaching.
Get outside. Many history topics like all homeschool subjects are intertwined with science. Whether you child is on the hunt for something that looks like a fossil or arrow heads, you’ll give him a creative outlet.

3. Understand what is Social Studies.

Additionally, as I mentioned many subjects are intertwined.

There are certain times in your journey when children need exposure to a variety of topics to see their connection.

Understanding what is meant by social studies can help you to intertwine or make connections for your child.

For example, there are many definitions for social studies, but one general one is that the term means to combine learning bits on these topics:

History
Geography
Social science
American government and
World Geography.

As you can see doing map work along with learning about cultures, countries, foods, and animals around the world stimulates a love of history in your child.

So, history is much more than about dead people or much more than map work. It’s far from boring.

4. Use Living Books.

Finally, use living books. I had a love of books and classics when I began to homeschool but didn’t understand what is a living book.

Look at these things that are tell-tale signs of a living book.

Opposite a textbook is a book written by an author that is passionate about the subject. He either is knowledgeable about the subject because it could be his lifework or it’s personal experience.
Instead of presenting dry hard facts, a reader is drawn in through a story, which is always the best way of remembering any set of facts.

And if you’re teaching multiple ages, it can be hard to find resources.

So, be sure you look at 35 Simple But Powerful American History Homeschool Resources K to 12.

More Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum Resources

Then, you’ll love these other kindergarten homeschool resources:

Whether you want to do a basic history introduction or a full-blown curriculum, you have many ways to keep history fun.

More Homeschool History Curriculum Tips

Besides, you have many years ahead to teach a five-year-old. Make the beginning fun and spark a love of history.

History for Kindergarten Homeschool

Finally, unless you state requires it, you can follow your child’s lead and learn what interests your child.

A lot of social studies curriculum include some of the following concepts:

What is a town
Where are you on a map
What is a map
Introducing the cardinal directions
What are American symbols
What is a citizen
and I mentioned about community helpers before.

Field trips and visiting museums are the backbone of a amazing history experience.

Reading aloud, doing fun hands-on history activities, and taking field trips you’re sure to nurture a budding history lover.

Lastly, look at these history resources for kindergarten.

History Resources for Homeschool Kindergarten

Because homeschool kindergarten history can be taught in many ways, you'll want curriculum and resources along with hands-on fun.

Photo Credit: blossomandroot.gumroad.com

Arts and the History of Me

- History and geography with a focus on your child's own ancestry, family, and community. Adaptable to your home country! Includes child workbook.

Geronimo Stilton Field Trip to Niagara Falls Summary

The series of Geronimo Stilton books includes history and geography and is geared toward budding readers.

The best thing is that there are so many ideas for fun hands-on ideas.

Around the World Coloring Book

Ideal for home or classroom use, this entertaining and educational coloring book helps youngsters identify and locate Mexico, Argentina, Saudi Arabia, India, Spain, France, Nigeria, and 23 other countries of the world.

And because Dover makes such beautiful quality coloring books, they are perfect for teaching children history.

Photo Credit: www.bfbooks.com

AROUND THE WORLD WITH PICTURE BOOKS

Then Beautiful Feet has living literature and I've used them for years from K to 12.

Il love that they give a framework to learn with beautiful literature.

Reading aloud and learning about other countries through picture books is one of the best ways to learn.

All your children are sure to love their literature.

180 Days of Social Studies: Grade K

Although I'm not a fan of worksheets, some color pages and activities have merit.

Plus, the pages are great at helping your and your child to understand what is history and civics, etc.

I've used these books to get an idea of what to make hands on to teach concepts.

And as it states, it has a mix of social studies topic.

The Story of the World: History for the Classical Child: Volume 1: Ancient Times: From the Earliest Nomads to the Last Roman Emperor

Story of the World is one of the first resources I used when I had a Kindergartener and older children.

Don't be put off by the fact it says it's for 1 to 6th grade.

It's a VERY flexible resource in helping you to teach multiple ages.

I list books based for different levels and explains history in a story format.

The 50 States: Activity Book: Maps of the 50 States of the USA

And children are at different levels of maturity, but most doing some kind of activity and sticker book.

Me on the Map

What a beautiful resource to help even the younger learner to learn about maps.

Maps can show you where you are anywhere in the world!

A beloved bestseller that helps children discover their place on the planet.

Photo Credit: buildyourlibrary.com

Level 0 curriculum Around the World

.Buiild Your Library is an unusual curriculum resource in that you buy or borrow your own books and use the download as a guide. Here is what it says about Level O Around the World

You are about to embark on an adventure around the world with your kindergarten child! We’ll be visiting each of the seven continents and exploring the amazing places found on our planet earth! This is a gentle but exciting tour around the world.

The White House Cut & Assemble

Simple instructions and clear diagrams to create an expertly designed, beautifully crafted, authentically detailed model of the White House.

And the best part about books like this is that all your children can join in.

George Washington Coloring Book

Born and raised among the wealthy, slave-holding aristocracy of colonial Virginia, George Washington devoted his life to the establishment and success of America as an independent nation

Who Was Anne Frank? (Who Was? Series)

And you'll love the Who Is Series for your kids. Read aloud and learn about different characters.

You can go through part of the collection or just add a few famous history makers.

Bede's History of ME

Bede is a timeline ... who strongly resembles a ball of yarn.

This loveable character introduces young children to the basics of history in a fun way-once a week, all year long.

Standups! Presidents: 8 Easy-to-Make Models!

Then I've always had books like these stand up presidents around. However, this book is now limited availability.

But I'm still putting it here in case you come across it. Too, Dover makes this book and hopefully will come out with more models.

It's fun to have some thing hands on as you're teaching about the presidents.

History, Geography, and Hands On Learning Ideas for Homeschool Kindergarten

Children this age love to learn about the world around them, but it doesn't have to be complicated.

World Map Puzzle for Kids -With Continents

World Map Puzzle set is an entertaining educational activity for kids to help stimulate and challenge their minds, and aid in development as they play and learn

United States Puzzle for Kids

United States Puzzle for Kids set is an entertaining educational activity for kids to help stimulate and challenge their minds.

Geronimo Stilton Adventures The Journey Through Time #2: Back in Time (Colosseum Craft)

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

Geronimo Stilton adventures abound. And your kids will love the Geronimo Stilton book, The Journey Through Time #2: Back in Time for the next time travel adventure.

Too, I have a hands-on history Ancient Rome Colosseum craft idea for this book.

Not only is this activity a great way to use up some of those Amazon boxes, but it is a great hands-on way to study one of the most famous historical landmarks and Ancient Rome.

Geronimo Stilton Adventures The Journey Through Time #2: Back in Time (Colosseum Craft)

Your child can learn about the advanced building techniques, the events, the people, their homes, clothes, and more through eyes of that fun loving mouse, Geronimo Stilton.

As you peek into ancient Rome through the eyes of Geronimo Stilton in The Second Journey Through Time, he travels to Ancient Rome in the year 45 BCE.

Hands-on History Activity

While the Colosseum wasn’t built until later than is depicted in this Geronimo Stilton story, you can hardly talk about the incredible architecture of Ancient Rome without mentioning the Colosseum.

This gives you the perfect opportunity to talk about when each building was created and perhaps even make a timeline to help make it more concrete. See how naturally a unit study grows from a topic of interest?

Geronimo Stilton gives a colorful and interesting view into the Circus Maximus, Roman mythology, a great visual of Roman attire and a Roman House.

These would all make great unit study topics taken from The Second Journey Through Time.

The books are thorough on the topics they cover and pull kids in with pictures and words. This is just part 1 of 3 parts of the book.

Also, Safari Toobs are a great addition to hands on homeschool activities.

They can be added to simple or complex sensory bins, used in dioramas, or as art inspiration.

And the toobs set can be a visual for people and landmarks of those times or even to make our cardboard Roman Colosseum come alive.

Ancient Roman Colosseum Facts

Next, look at some Ancient Roman Colosseum facts to share while you’re teaching this hands-on cardboard history craft.

The Colosseum was originally called the Flavian Amphitheater
It was completed in the year 80 AD
In medieval times the colosseum was used as a church
The Colosseum is made of travertine stone and thousands of iron clamps.
It’s oval not round as it tends to look in photos.
Beneath the Colosseum is the Hypogeum, a complex network of tunnels that animals, gladiators, and prisoners were kept prior to events.
The last record of gladiator battles in the Colosseum are from the year 435.

These books also make fantastic supplements to an Ancient Rome Unit Study and round it out nicely

Look at these other books.

Easy Books about Ancient Rome

Where is the Colosseum? Perfect for read aloud or independent reading time.

Tools of The Ancient Romans – This has some fantastic information as well as hands on activities for the time period.

Again, they make great add-ons for this unit study and to compliment the Geronimo Stilton adventures.

How to Make An Ancient Rome Cardboard Colosseum

Finally, here is what you will need to build your own Cardboard Roman Colosseum:

Corrugated cardboard boxes
Packaging tape
craft paints
Straight edge cutter
Baking soda
paint brushes, sponge brush

You will need a larger box or several to join together to create the largest piece

First, slice your cardboard into a large strip.

Because mine had flaps already on it, I just left one that I trimmed down rather than cutting it off and reattaching it to create the taller portion of the Colosseum.

I found that if you cut the bottom flaps off the box from the inside so that your hand/knife rests on the bottom it is much easier to cut a straight line.

Peel off as much of your tape and labels as you can.

If some doesn’t come off its okay, the textured paint will help cover these up.

Score from the top to the bottom down the inside the long piece about every 4-6”.

Make sure you just go through the first layer of cardboard as this will make it easier to create the curved shape of the exterior.

Paint a basecoat of white all over the box template.

Allow to dry on one side and then repeat on the other. Allow to dry partially before moving on to the next step.

Create a mixture of 3 parts paint to 1 part baking soda. This combo gives a great texture like limestone or plaster to make it a little more realistic.

Ancient Rome Project

I added a little bit of brown to mine to dull the brightness of the white as well.

Paint this on thickly, tap with brush and do some areas thinner and thicker to create an aged effect.

You only need to paint this on the outside of your structure but you can do both if you like. Allow to dry completely.

Draw on the many windows with a pencil and then paint them in.

This technique is easiest and the best choice for younger children. You could make it even easier by using a paint pen or just a black sharpie to color in the windows.

For older children you may choose to pencil in the windows and have them cut them out with a sharp blade.

Another option is to cut out a bunch of hte rounded windows and let your child glue them into place.

Curve your cardboard template into a circle shape and tape the back seam, you can use clear packing tape or box tape on the inside.